Finding a great car audio head unit
If you’re considering upgrading your car’s sound system, your first step will most likely be to replace the factory head unit with an aftermarket product. As long as you already have working speakers, this move can instantly improve the sound. There are several names for this system component, and one is “head unit,” which applies to any dash-mounted interface that controls the car’s audio.
Varieties of Principal Units
Tuner – a unit that lacks built-in power amplification. Tuners require an additional amplifier to power the speakers.
Receiver – One that contains an integrated amplifier. A receiver can be used to power an existing set of speakers without other equipment.
Controller: An interface that does not have a radio function, although it can include any combination of CD, DVD, cassette, auxiliary, and/or USB inputs.
Mechless – A receiver or tuner without CD, DVD, or cassette capabilities. “Mechless” refers to the absence of mechanical (moving) components, as these devices feature solid-state construction. These devices may also have auxiliary, USB, and Bluetooth® compatibility.
Some of these categories overlap. For example, drivers and bare heads can exist with or without built-in amplifiers. You’ll need to read the specifications of any equipment you’re interested in to make sure it meets your requirements.
What do you need?
Now that you know the basic distinctions, you need to consider the factors that may influence your decision about which car audio to install. If you just want to replace what’s in the dash first, you’ll need something with its own power to get the sound out of the factory speakers. However, if you’re planning on upgrading your speakers and adding subwoofers and tweeters for a complete overhaul of your car audio system, you’ll likely need an external amplifier to supply enough juice. In this situation, you may want to purchase a receiver with preamp outputs. These outputs will bypass the built-in power, causing less distortion so you can play louder music without sacrificing sound quality. If sound quality is your focus and volume isn’t important, you can save money by ditching the amp and subwoofers, using a unit with enough power, and buying better quality door speakers.
Now think about getting in your car and getting in the mood to listen to your favorite songs. What would you achieve? Do you have a large collection of CDs that you would like to introduce and listen to until the end? If so, you definitely need a model with a record player. Maybe you’ve gotten rid of hard copies and your music is stored digitally on your smartphone or dedicated audio player. In this case, you can choose to go completely bare metal and play your library over a USB connection for the best audio. If streaming services on your phone are your preferred method of retrieving music, a dedicated Bluetooth interface is useful, or at the very least an auxiliary jack should be present.
With what you now know about the brains of your car’s audio system, you can prioritize the features that are most important to you and find a product that offers them all within your budget.