| In the automotive aftermarket, one of the most | | | | nominal power, which is the amount of power |
| upgraded items in any car is the stereo. Car | | | | your speakers are supplied with at all times, which |
| owners of all ages often choose to upgrade their | | | | on most head units is between 15-18 watts. |
| stereo first. The first step in upgrading the stereo | | | | Ipod/MP3 Player |
| is changing out the head unit or deck. The head | | | | In today's music world, everything revolves |
| unit is the control center for the entire stereo | | | | around one thing: the Ipod or MP3 player. Many |
| system and is the piece of the equipment the | | | | consumers in the market for a new radio are |
| driver uses to control the system. There are | | | | simply looking for one that will allow you to play |
| many options and add-on accessories you can | | | | an Ipod or MP3 player through, as they may not |
| add to any head unit and it is good to consider | | | | have the option of adding it to their OEM radio. |
| which of these you may be interested in prior to | | | | There are a couple different ways this is |
| purchasing the head unit. | | | | accomplished on an aftermarket radio. You can |
| Depending on your car, you may have a few | | | | purchase a radio with a dedicated Ipod connection |
| options on the size of radio you choose. "DIN" is | | | | on the back or one with an auxiliary headphone |
| the terminology used to describe the physical size | | | | jack on the front or the rear. The advantage of |
| of the radio, a single din unit is 2x7 in size and a | | | | the direct connection is that it allows you to pull |
| double-din is 4x7. Most cars come with one of | | | | up your playlists, songs, and artists through the |
| three size factory radios a single "DIN", a double | | | | radio; it does not require you to have the Ipod or |
| "DIN" and a "DIN and a half." Many late model cars | | | | MP3 player in your hand to select a song. The |
| come with a double din sized stereo or the ability | | | | other option is the auxiliary jack, which can be |
| to add one. Some cars come equipped with a | | | | cheaper to connect. All that is needed is a |
| "DIN and a half" radio or even a single "DIN", but | | | | headphone-to-headphone cable, but it requires you |
| have the ability to add a double din unit without | | | | to select songs on your Ipod, adding another step |
| major modifications, other cars do not. If you | | | | and another distraction to a driver. A direct |
| take a tape measure and measure the face of | | | | connection to your radio is the only way to go. |
| your factory radio you can determine what size | | | | The add on wireless modulators you might see in |
| radio you are going to need. Doing some research | | | | the store offer terrible sound quality and will |
| online can also help you determine if you are able | | | | annoy you with their problems rather quickly. |
| to install a double din radio in your car. | | | | These can range from interference issues, to bad |
| Once you have decided what size head unit you | | | | sound quality, to possibly no sound at all. They use |
| would like to purchase, you will have to make | | | | a wireless signal to transfer sound to your radio |
| choices on a wide variety of other options. Some | | | | and in the process will pick up the noise from any |
| of these include: | | | | and all electronic devices in your car. You may be |
| Video Features | | | | required to purchase an add-on module or cable |
| One of the first decisions to make when | | | | to allow you to connect your Ipod or MP3 player. |
| purchasing a head unit is to decide whether you | | | | USB |
| want a head unit that will play video or not. This | | | | Another option for listening to your MP3's or |
| decision will help narrow down your choice for a | | | | portable music on your car stereo is a USB |
| head unit. If you do decide to purchase a head | | | | connection. Some radios will have a plug on the |
| unit that will play video, there are three varieties | | | | back while some will have a jack on the front of |
| you can choose from: the flip-out single din, the | | | | the radio. You can load a lot of music on a small |
| double din, or the single din with a tv built in. The | | | | zip drive and then just plug it in and go. |
| flip out style features a 6.5" or 7" tv with either | | | | Bluetooth |
| touch screen controls or buttons on the side or | | | | As more and more states require a hands-free |
| bottom. The radio will motor out from the dash | | | | kit to talk on your cell phone while you drive, this |
| and then flip up for the driver to see the screen. | | | | may be something you can't skimp on. It is far |
| A double din also features a 6.5" or 7" screen, | | | | easier, and usually cheaper, to select a head unit |
| touchscreen controls, or a row of buttons either | | | | that will allow you to run all your accessories |
| on the side or bottom or a mixture of the two, | | | | through. In this case, you purchase an add-on |
| having a touch screen plus other buttons on the | | | | bluetooth interface and the radio itself will act as |
| bottom or side, but is flush in the dash board. A | | | | the hand-free kit and automatically interrupt music |
| single din with a built in tv is a standard size din | | | | when your phone rings. You will need to mount an |
| radio, typically with a 2.5"-4" tv built into the face. | | | | antenna in the car's interior which will pick up your |
| Navigation | | | | voice during a phone call, and you will hear the |
| If you have selected to use a head unit that will | | | | person you are talking to through your car stereo. |
| play video, you may have the option of adding | | | | CD Changer |
| on-screen navigation to that head unit. You may | | | | If you use a CD changer or plan to, you may be |
| also have the option of purchasing a video deck | | | | able to directly connect it to your radio and select |
| that also has built-in navigation. Installing navigation | | | | your songs on the changer through your radio. |
| generally requires a disk or hard drive and an | | | | This prevents you from having to have a |
| antenna you must mount on the outside of the | | | | separate lcd screen and controller to choose your |
| car to track your position. If you plan on adding | | | | songs. Purchasing a separate CD changer would |
| navigation, it is generally more expensive to add a | | | | be required. |
| video head unit that will allow on-screen navigation | | | | HD Radio |
| than to purchase a hand-held navigation. However, | | | | An HD tuner allows your radio to pick up high |
| the looks and ease of use with having it built in to | | | | definition versions of local radio channels. The |
| your radio is well worth the extra cost. | | | | programming is generally the same, you just get |
| RCA Pre-Outs | | | | a higher quality signal. A separate tuner is required |
| A RCA pre-out is a jack on the back of a head | | | | to pick up these stations. |
| unit that allows you to connect signal cables or | | | | Sirius/XM, Satellite Radio |
| RCA cables to, to transfer the sound from the | | | | Many drivers today use satellite radio as their |
| head unit to the amplifier. The number of RCA | | | | primary source of listening pleasure. These |
| pre-outs your new radio will have is an important | | | | subscription services feature commercial free |
| feature to look for. Many high end radios will have | | | | music channels and censor free talk radio. |
| 3 pre-outs: one for a front stage amplifier, one | | | | These services offer up to 200 channels and |
| for rear stage amplifier and one specified for a | | | | have very good programming. Truck drivers and |
| subwoofer amplifier. If you plan on building an | | | | folks who travel a lot especially like satellite radios |
| extensive stereo and using a 4 channel amplifier | | | | as it allows them to pick up the same radio |
| for your mid-range and high sound, 3 pre-outs is | | | | stations no matter where they are. A radio that |
| the only way to go. It will allow more adjustability | | | | is set up for satellite radio allows you to play the |
| and make tuning the amplifiers a breeze. | | | | music directly through the radio and control all |
| Subwoofer level control | | | | your options through the radio. This prevents you |
| Having the ability to adjust the level of the | | | | from having a separate tuner for your satellite |
| subwoofer amplifier through the radio is a feature | | | | radio and makes using it that much easier. An |
| many desire. This allows you to slightly change the | | | | add-on tuner and a paid subscription are required |
| gain of the amp through the radio, preventing you | | | | to tune in to these channels. |
| from having to get in the trunk or where your | | | | Once you have decided on the features you are |
| amplifier is located to adjust it. If you desire this | | | | looking for in your radio, happy shopping. Many of |
| feature, select a radio that has a subwoofer level | | | | the name brands in car audio, including Alpine, |
| control, which can be signified by a seperate RCA | | | | Kenwood, Pioneer, JVC, Sony, Jensen and many |
| pre-out labeled subwoofer, or SW. | | | | others will offer head units that offer some or |
| Wattage of Radio | | | | possibly all of these features. Picking the proper |
| The wattage of the radio is the amount of power | | | | head unit that will allow for the easiest integrations |
| the head unit supplies to the speakers. Most | | | | of your current or future accessories, including |
| radios will be labeled "45x4" or "50x4"; this simply | | | | Ipod, satellite radio, bluetooth, etc., is essential. By |
| means 45 watts for each of 4 speakers, or | | | | making the right choice first, you can set it up |
| channels. What you have to understand is the 45 | | | | where you can control all of this through the radio |
| or 50 watts is what is supplied to your speakers | | | | and not have a separate Ipod adapter, satellite |
| at peak moments in a given song, not throughout | | | | radio tuner, etc. This will allow you to have a |
| the entire song. The rating that is more important | | | | much more streamlined system and allow for a |
| is the RMS rating. RMS simply refers to the | | | | good, clean finished look in your car. |