 |
|
|
| Home > Products > Head Units > Choosing a Head Unit |
|
So unless you have an unlimited budget and can buy the latest and greatest stereo system for your car here's some tips which can help you decide which head unit will fit you and your vehicle. Firstly decide what features are important to you. Despite the huge number of ways in which music and radio are transmitted, most people listen to music or radio in just a few preferred ways. So what's the point in paying more for features you'll hardly ever use, you're better off getting a product which will do what you need, and want it to do, better. So if you have a ton of CD's then a head unit with a CD player is a vital. Do you use USB sticks to hold your songs? If so then a USB socket which is located in the faceplate is extremely handy. If radio is your thing then perhaps a head unit which is digital radio compatible would be a good idea. If you regularly make and receive phone calls in your car a head unit which can be connected with a bluetooth capable phone to provide hands free calling is a handy feature. If you want to watch films in-car then a DVD player will be on your 'must-have' list. Secondly how much of an audiophile are you? If you just want a stereo system which puts out halfway decent sound, and can handle a few different media sources, then most middle-of-the-range head units from reputable manufacturers will suffice. But if you're a dedicated stereo junkie; first of all you'll know what sort of head unit you need so why are you reading this? And secondly it will be important to check out all the audio output specifications concerning maximum power, impedance, number of preouts, and equalizer options etc. It will also be important to check out how the head unit will work with the rest of the audio system if you are planning on hooking up additional amplifiers and other equipment. Thirdly is style. Which is subjective. So depending on who you are, and what vehicle it's going in, different head units are going to suit different people. However there are a few details which may be helpful in choosing a head unit which will fit well with a vehicle's overall interior design. The button and display illumination color, if closely matched to the vehicles standard instrument panel colors can help a stereo blend in nicely - especially at night. The vast majority of aftermarket headunits are black or silver and will fit quite nicely with modern vehicle interiors so really it's up to to you to decide which looks, and feels right for you. Another important consideration when making your selection is to consider how up-to-date you want or need the head unit to be. There's new types of media emerging all the time so depending on how you store your music, whether its on CD's, USB sticks or on an iPod there's always something new around the corner. It's up to you to decide whether to jump on the bandwagon early and pay the premium for being an early adopter, or wait a couple years before the prices start to come down - but then again your budget may decide this for you! If possible always go and test out different head units in a store before you buy - even if you plan on buying on the internet, go and check it out first somewhere else. Try to navigate around and through some of the different functions to figure out how easy to use it is. If it takes you 10 minutes to change the radio station it's probably not the best unit for you! Listed here is a range of different head units from a variety of manufacturers with images, specifications and reviews - Head units index. |
Home page |
about us |
site map |
|
