Good music on the road helps to relax, brighten up the trip or fill the silence when there is only one person in the cabin. To do this, turn on the car stereo. The head unit is able to play songs, play videos, movies, and even show the way. The cost of equipment varies greatly from the internal characteristics, so we will help the buyer to figure out what they are and choose the best option in terms of the number of requested functions and price.
Content:
The best manufacturers of car stereos - which company to choose
When you need to quickly buy music equipment in the salon, you can contact the masters of this industry.
Proven companies producing high-quality head units for cars are:
- Pioneer;
- Sony;
- Soundmax;
- Kenwood;
- Mystery.
But the capabilities of specific models are very different from each other, so it is reasonable to get acquainted with their advantages and disadvantages in ranking of the best car stereo. And this review is devoted to the independent choice of the car radio exclusively by parameters.
The principle of operation and the device recorder for cars
The head unit is installed in new cars at the factory or purchased separately. They equip private cars, taxis, intercity buses and long-length cargo vehicles.
Installation is usually done to the right of the driver on the dashboard at a distance of 40-60 cm from the steering wheel in order to easily reach the control buttons without distracting from the road.
The car stereo, depending on the characteristics, is capable of playing music of various formats, clips and films, picking up broadcast stations, showing the road or the image from the rear view cameras. To interact with the media in it there are connectors for flash drives, memory cards and disks.
On the front panel there are controls and a small screen to display the settings and navigate the flash drive folders.
Most models have keys:
1. Enable / Disable;
2. Numbers for selecting a radio station;
3. Menu;
4. Volume;
5. Switch between carriers and radio;
6. Recognition of the type of program;
7. Displays messages about the situation on the road.
To use the car radio, you need to turn on the ignition, press the power button on the head unit, select the media (CD card or USB drive, disk, radio station), set the volume and enjoy.
Inside the radio has a number of key components and parts to ensure its functionality:
1. UMZCH microcircuit;
2. Audio processor;
3. Flash memory;
4. Decoder;
5. Protective diode;
6. Radio chip;
7. Capacitors;
8. Plume;
9. Pay with contacts.
A feature of some car stereo is to connect the phone wirelessly to play music from it. This gives access to the speakerphone, so as not to be distracted while driving. Another device is able to interact with the joystick on the steering wheel, which simplifies the switching of tracks and setting.
Types of car stereo
DIN1
This designation refers to the size of the head unit 180x50 mm. In the majority of small cars, family sedans and minibuses there is such a cutout on the dashboard for mounting the radio. They equip them with intercity buses and wagons. Models differ in the available cost and a variety of functions.
Advantages:
- recognition of memory cards 32 and 64 GB;
- large selection of power;
- sensitive radio reception;
- reading disks, cards, flash drives;
- interaction with the phone over the wire;
- acceptable price.
Disadvantages:
- simple display;
- there is a limit on the number of displayed files in one folder;
- not all tags are displayed on the screen;
- Bluetooth is almost never encountered.
DIN2
This size refers to larger devices that have parameters of 180x100 mm. Such devices are different enlarged screen for 6-7 inches and advanced features.
Most often this is multimedia playback with clips and movies, which is convenient when you expect in the car or standing in traffic. Control is carried out either by physical keys, or directly from the touch screen.
Looking at the map and following the GPS instructions is much more convenient. They are placed in business class cars and crossovers, where the dashboard has a corresponding cutout.
Advantages:
- good viewing angles;
- a large number of supported audio and video formats;
- connection to the joystick on the steering wheel;
- multiband equalizer;
- display of all recorded tags;
- Bluetooth;
- combination with a phone based on iOS and Android;
- video output;
- GPS;
- Speakerphone.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- USB location is not always convenient.
Parameters for selecting the radio for the car
Type of connectable media
Choosing a car radio is worth considering what kind of media will be used for connection.
They can be all together on one device, or only one:
1. SD is very compact in size, the slot is always in front, the card can accommodate up to 64 or 128 GB. A plus is the complete concealment of the carrier when connected, which protects the card from accidental separation by careless movement with the hand of the driver or passenger. A good option for a taxi or modern cars.
2. DVD - is inserted from the front into the corresponding slot located at the top of the device or behind the dashboard. Allows you to listen to music from the disc or watch movies. The technology is becoming obsolete, but if there are a lot of movies on such media left at home, it will be very convenient in traffic or waiting. Suitable for family cars and buses where you need to entertain passengers during a long trip.
3. USB - allows you to interact with drives up to 64 GB and play music and movies. Due to its large capacity, this is a good option for long trips with family or work. It is practical to have such a port on the radio for truck drivers.
Output power
The car radio does not have its own speakers, so it connects to the acoustics in the cabin. Four outlets are usually provided for interaction with four speakers (two at the door and two at the back). Output power is measured in watts and can be from 35 to 200 watts.
When choosing a device, it is necessary to determine this parameter due to the effect of power on the audibility in the cabin. The more watts, the louder you can adjust the sound.
1. If the machine is well isolated from the noise of the track and the work of the motor, then a minimum of 35-40 watts is sufficient.
2. Owners of VAZ and DAEWOO, where not the best sealing, will need 45-50 watts.
3. Lovers of loud music put the radio on 55 W or more, especially if the car has a subwoofer.
4. For trucks with a powerful engine and significant extraneous noise may require up to 200 watts.
Multimedia
The ability of the device to play not only music, but also clips with clips will be useful in a long wait. So, in a traffic jam, you can watch a movie in parts, which was not enough time at home. If this is a job, where you often have to wait for a product or a passenger, then the downloaded program or show will take some time.
Multimedia is also useful for minibus drivers to entertain passengers. It is practical for a long family trip, so that relatives do not get bored on the road. Children will appreciate the downloaded cartoons that will distract from the monotony of the track. Conveniently it is for taxi services.
For short trips around the city to work and back, or in the case of freight transport and constant driving, this function will be unclaimed.
Button illumination
To accurately hit the buttons in the dark on the radio provided backlight. It can be of different colors: blue, blue, white, red, yellow, purple, green.
For drivers who move only during the day, it does not matter, but in the evening and at night, the burning red radio tape recorder will be very distant on the green glow of other devices.
Established devices are always highlighted with the same speedometer and tachometer, so it is reasonable to choose the color of the radio buttons in accordance with the design of the cabin.
Bluetooth
This function is not present in all devices, but can be useful in some situations:
1. Thanks to the wireless connection, you can connect the music device to the phone and play files from it. This is convenient when I forgot the flash drive at home or did not have time to write new works on it. The phone is always at hand and something is added to it, so you can vary the trip. This is practical for busy people.
2. You can control the equipment with the joystick on the steering wheel. So you can not be distracted by pushing the buttons to the radio, and switch tracks and pause the songs by feeling the keys on the steering wheel. It is useful for drivers in a city with heavy traffic.
3. It is possible to configure the speakerphone for the phone. Sometimes the dynamics of the phone is not enough for a full conversation in the cabin while driving. Tying it over Bluetooth with a radio tape recorder you can display the answers of the interlocutor to the acoustics of the machine. This is practical for official cars, taxis and cars for the transport of goods, which will allow to solve problems on the road and not be distracted from driving.
Equalizer
Forced change in the sound of the composition is possible thanks to the equalizer. The function is able to make some waves louder and clearer and to muffle others.
There are equalizers on 2-13 tracks. The more of them, the more varied you can adjust the sound. Fans of rock, electronic music and classics will appreciate this. Increasing bass and drums in combination with good acoustics will allow you to enjoy the composition.
For simple listening to the radio or with high extraneous noise in the cabin, this function is not required.
The size
1. DIN1 is most often mounted in domestic cars and foreign cars of the middle class. They equip buses, family minivans and trucks. To insert DIN2 into them, it is required to cut an additional 50 mm from the top into the panels, which is not always possible and can distort the shape of the torpedo or add squeaks.
2. DIN2 is mounted in jeeps, crossovers and foreign cars of the executive class, where a place from the factory is provided for this. When DIN1 is installed in them, a free black hole will turn out over the playing device, spoiling the entire interior of the cabin.
GPS
Some auto music stations have a built-in GPS module and are able to communicate with the satellite to display the location of the car and plot a route. This allows you to combine the radio with a navigator and not to buy separate equipment.
Such a function will be useful to taxi drivers and those who often travel to unfamiliar cities for work or personal circumstances.
USB slot
Connecting a flash drive to the car radio can be done either from the rear or from the front panel. It all depends on the location of the USB connector. Both options have their pros and cons.
1. Logging in from the back implies buying an additional cable and laying the element in the glove box or bringing it to the front console. This requires additional expenses of finance and time for arrangement. To connect the media, you must open the glove compartment flap or lift the armrest. But the included flash drive will not interfere and passengers will not be beaten off by careless movement. This is a good option for a taxi or a family with small children.
2. Installing the drive on the front side (front) is simple and does not require additional work and funds.But the element constantly sticking out of the radio can easily be touched by hand. Therefore, this radio is suitable for a spacious cabin or a driver who often travels himself.
Remote control
Some car stereos are controlled not only from the panel, but also through the remote control. Of course, when the driver is in place, this is not necessary, because the buttons are easy to get.
Remote control is useful when resting in the back seat, so as not to reach out to switch the track or search for another wave station. It is also practical at the exit to nature, to listen to music from the set open machine.
When operating only while driving in the console there is no need.
Display type
Car radios can be equipped with one of several types of displays:
1. Textual - has luminous dots that display the numbers of the radio station and some characters of tags. This is enough to set up a wave or see which composition is playing now. Suitable for truck drivers or every day in the city.
2. Liquid crystal - can be color and monochrome. Allows you to read the name of the songs, browse the catalog of folders and have a visual decorative accompaniment of the compositions (running bars, flashing dots). Some are capable of displaying movies. This is enough for use in the car when driving to work every day and back.
3. Graphic screens are often touchscreens, which gives a wide range of settings, because the number of buttons is not limited to the physical space on the case. On this screen, you can watch movies and clips that will appreciate the passengers of the minibus, children and those who often stand in traffic jams. It is convenient to use the map on this screen and these models are actively installed by taxi drivers and travelers.
Supported Formats
On a trip between cities, the radio often gets lost and needs its own stock of music on the drive. In this case, it is worth making sure that the car stereo is able to read the existing files.
1. For those who use a music device once a week and have enough time to download new songs, MP3 format is enough.
2. With the daily procedure, you can not keep track of and save songs in other formats that are invisible to the head unit, so you need a device with support for WMA and WAV.
3. To look at the equipment clips and videos, it is worth checking the possibility of reading MP4, Xvid, MPEG1-2 and AVI.
Camera connection
On the screen of some devices you can display the image from the rear view camera. Location in front of the driver is convenient for a good view of the gate when driving backwards. This is practical for beginners or for frequent parking in narrow places.
What car radio to choose
1. For everyday trips around the city to work and back, a fairly simple DIN1 model with a monochrome display, 40 W, with a USB connector on the front panel, MP3 support and tag display. The bonus will be the clock on the display.
2. In the car used as a taxi, a DIN1 car radio is suitable, but with a large touch screen 6-7 inches, which is located on top. USB connector should look on the back and bring it under the steering wheel or in the glove compartment. The GPS and Bluetooth functions will be practical. Output power 200 watts. Useful support for rear view camera.
3. For a family car and long trips, you need a large DIN2 radio with a touch or LCD LCD screen, 13-band EQ, support for all audio formats (WMA, MP3 and WAV) and video. The device must interact with CD cards and DVDs, as well as the phone. Output power 50 watts. Remote d / y will not be redundant.
4. Truckers will need a DIN1 device with support for MP3, WMA, WAV, which reads CDs and flash drives. The screen is enough graphic color or black and white. Output power 55 watts. The USB connector is convenient on the front side.
How much is the car radio
1. Car radio for commuting will cost 1000-1500 rubles.
2. Multifunctional model for a taxi is estimated at 11000-27000 rubles.
3. Equipment for family cars and long journeys costs 6000-10000 rubles.
4. For a lorry car radio buy for 5000-7000 rubles.
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