(ThyBlackMan.com) Most car stereo systems are just dreadful. They don’t have proper balance, the bass is either too heavy or non-existent. And, they rely too heavily on sound gimmicks and mids to do the work that should be done by a properly-balanced system.
Here’s what you need to know to find the perfect car stereo system for your vehicle.
The Audio Sources
The most important things you should be looking for are the audio sources that you use most often. For example, do you listen to CDs (unlikely) or do you listen to your iPod or MP3 player? Most modern car stereo systems can accommodate CDs, but not all of them handle MP3 players very well. What about videos? Do you want others to be able to watch them while you drive?
Depending on your preferred media, you’ll have to decide whether to go with a traditional CD receiver or a larger A/V system.
Even if you still have a stock of old CDs in your glove box, odds are that your passenger will still want a way to plug in his or her media player. Make sure your new receiver can do that. It should at least contain an audio jack and a USB port.
Note: According to The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic, distracted driving is a major cause of accidents on the road, so you should think carefully about any multimedia you put in your vehicle — even if your passengers are the only ones using it.
Apps Apps Apps
Many people love apps. Make sure that your new system supports them, or at least supports your phone’s native ability to handle apps. In other words, if you’re using a media or video screen, those apps should “play nicely” with the stereo system. Everything should be accessible on-screen, and the stereo’s controls should control vital features of the app. You can definitely find one of the best choices for double din head units at GreatestSpeakers.com. You will find options that run with the latest apps such as Spotify, Pandora, Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, etc. In addition, you can even include more apps from the Playstore.
There’s nothing more lame than having to control your audio with your phone instead of the stereo’s native controls.
Look for badges like “Made with iPhone” which will ensure that the USB port supports full speed access to your media.
Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry users don’t have badges they need to worry about. Pick a receiver that uses A2DP stereo Bluetooth audio streaming for wireless media playback or use an auxiliary input for direct wired connection.
If you use Pandora, or iHeart Radio, make sure the stereo has receivers for the controls for those apps.
Finally, for a more integrated experience, look for app mirroring devices like Pioneer’s AppRadio series. You can also look into MirrorLink and MHL receivers from Sony, Alpine, and JVC.
GPS and Navigation
Your device should, at least, be compatible with your device’s native GPS. Car audio receivers can do more than just play music. They can also help you get to where you’re going. This is probably the most useful aspect of stereo and mobile device integration.
Look for things like flash-based maps that can be used offline or upgraded via a removable SD or microSD card. Traffic reporting is also very useful.
Power
In addition to audio sources, the point of in-dash receiver is to output the audio to your vehicle’s speakers via the amplifier. The power of the amp is stated in two ways: peak power and RMS. The peak power is measured in watts. It’s the max amount of power the amp is capable of producing.
Unless you always listen to your music at the max volume, this peak power number is relatively useless. Look for RMS, which is what the amp will consistently produce with regular use.
Staff Writer; Greg Adams
