CAR STEREOS

Car Stereos FAQs

Is it worth buying a car stereo?

Of all the main car audio components, the head unit will make the least impact on your high fidelity. But that doesn't mean it's not worth upgrading your receiver and getting something better, because it will still improve your audio. Whether it's the audio outputs or multimedia features, factory head units are limited, so whether you're just getting a head unit to improve the music, or a double DIN multimedia head unit with all the bells and whistles, an aftermarket head unit will make a difference to your soundscape.

How hard is it to install a car stereo?

It's not that difficult. Although it depends on the type of car stereo you're putting in and in place of. If it's a single DIN for single DIN or if you're replacing an old double DIN for a new one, it's easier than if you're changing DIN sizes. That said, they all come with the right mounting dock, and as long as it can defineitly fit in your model car, you shouldn't have any problems. Check out this How To Install A Car Stereo guide, or watch some YouTube videos, and you will be able to do it.

Why does my car stereo keep resetting?

When a car stereo keeps resetting it's usually something to do with the wiring. If the display shuts off at the same time the music cuts out, then the head unit is losing power. Check the back of your head unit first, as it's probably from there. If not, check the ground wire and power wire, and it's probably going to be one of the wire connections. The problem could also be a bad amplifier or bad wiring to the amplifier.

What is the difference with single DIN and double DIN head units?

The main difference is the size. DIN size refers to the size of the stereo's chassis, and car stereos are either single DIN, which are two inches x 7 inches. Double DIN car stereos are four inches x seven inches. Most double DIN car stereos are multimedia players with the large LCD display, that are extensions of your smartphones. Whereas most single DIN car stereos are the classic music composers, although some are multimedia units, too.

What is the best sound setting for a car stereo?

The Treble, Bass and Mid settings will vary depending on the type of music you listen to and your personal preference. Many car stereos have preset selections for certain genres, such as Pop, Rock, Jazz, and Classical. These have been selected the best settings for these genres, but if you prefer to change them, you can adjust the settings slightly. You can adjust it manually too: set the equalizer controls to neutral or 0 before adjusting to your preference. For brighter treble, reduce mid-range and low-end frequencies. For more bass, tone down treble and mid-range frequencies.

What does DIN mean for car stereos?

DIN is a German standards organization and stands for Duetch Industri Normen. One of DIN's many standards (ISO 7736) is the standard size (2" x 7") for dashboard mounted car stereos. It basically refers to the size of the stereo's chassis, and the DIN sizing standard took off around the world. Since then, DIN has become the standard size used by car audio manufacturers. The standard size for the regular head unit is Single DIN, whereas the bigger touchscreen displays are generally Double DIN (4" x 7").

What does bass, midrange and treble mean?

They're the three sound band frequencies from lows to highs. Bass is any sound that falls between 20 and 250 Hz frequency range. Midrange is the frequency from 250 to 4,000 Hz,  and any treble sound falls between 4,000 and 20,000 Hz.

Which is the best brand for car stereos?

Legacy names that we all know such as Kenwood, Sony, JVC, Alpine and Pioneer do some fantastic car stereos. But it depends what you're after, because 2 DIN displays there are brands you'll likely never heard of making some fantastic units, but as with everything, do some research before you buy anything.

Should I get a Single DIN or Double DIN?

It's really up to you. Ask yourself why you want to upgrade first: Is it just for better quality audio? Get a single DIN. Do you want the best touchscreen display so you can enjoy the best of multimedia? Get a double DIN. That said, another big factor should be what you already have in place, because if you change DIN size, the installation will be trickier.

How do I know the DIN size of my factory car stereo?

You might think you can tell by the front and many people can but some large displays are single DIN. As you know single DIN chassis is 2" x 7" whereas double DIN is 4" x 7".o the only way to really find out is to pull it out and see how thick your head unit's chassis is.