Car Audio Review

Some people just accept their factory-installed stereo as the best option available. They go about their day-to-day driving, not knowing the audio options and sound quality they're missing out on. Getting a new car audio head unit can bring new life to your daily commute or cross-country road trip. A well-built in-dash receiver provides a variety of listening options at the touch of a button.

In the matrix above you'll find a side-by-side comparison of the top 10 products we found in our search to compare the best car audio stereos on the market. You'll also be able to read a detailed review about each car stereo head unit. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

Car Stereo Rating Criteria

If you're going to buy a new car stereo system, it's important that the head unit you get is an upgrade from the one you currently have. The following are the criteria we used to rate each in-dash receiver:

Design
A car audio head unit needs to offer a variety of playback options in order to fit the needs of different users. For example, most people don't need a cassette tape deck anymore, but a lot of people still use CDs along with their MP3 player. A front-panel auxiliary audio input is nice, but it's better if the car audio receiver has a USB port so you can charge your iPod while you're playing it. In addition, a Bluetooth-ready receiver enables you to connect to a variety of devices, including a cell phone. This kind of versatility is important for any in-dash receiver.

Tuner
Despite all the new ways of listening to music, a radio is still an important feature of any car audio head unit. A car radio needs to be able to hit a wide range of frequencies on both the AM and FM bands. In addition to this, satellite radio and HD radio are quickly becoming more and more prevalent, so a modern in-dash receiver needs to be ready for this option, as well.

Installation Specifications
When buying a new car audio head unit, the most important aspect is that it fits in your car. This section lists the dimensions of the audio receiver. It also lists the number of pre-outs on each unit, which directly affects the sound quality of the stereo. This rating section also takes into account if the car sound system can be hooked up so you can control the music from your steering wheel.

Help & Support
Hooking up car audio head units can be a daunting task to some. If you have any questions or problems, we wanted to make sure each manufacturer offers a variety of support options. Some consumers prefer to contact immediately by phone, while others may not need an immediate response and a simple email will do. This section also takes into account the warranty that covers the car audio receiver.

Using the above criteria, we found the JVC KD-A615, the Pioneer DEH-P4200UB and the Kenwood KDC-HD545U to be the best car stereos available. Each one of these offers a variety of different ways to listen to your iPod, CD or radio. You can also find articles relating to car audio head units in this review. We're confident that this review will help you make an informed decision as to what in-dash receiver is right for you.