Double Din car stereos offer consumers a whole range of different options. In fact, these units offer such a large array of options that it can become quite confusing for someone who is looking for the best unit for their personal needs. The average consumer needs not be overwhelmed by the possibilities, however. There are a few standard features that should be considered before purchasing one of these units and that is what we will be covering today.
Whether a car stereo is a single Din or double Din unit, its primary purpose is to provide exceptional sound. If you listen to FM radio on a regular basis, then you need to find a unit that has an FM sensitivity of around 12 DBF. If digital quality FM sound is your primary concern, then you should find a unit that has digital processing built into it. Digital processing clears up analog FM signals and removes the static that is common in these broadcasts.
Another thing to consider when purchasing a double Din car stereo is whether you want to list to high definition radio. HD radio has become extremely popular over the past few years and allows consumers to listen to broadcast that are of true digital quality. It also opens up the consumer to a wide array of different stations that are only broadcast in HD. In order to receive these HD stations your unit has to have a HD radio tuner built into it or sold as an add-on. The quality on both units are comparable and is up to the personal preference of the consumer.
If you have a CD collection, then you are probably going to want to buy a double Din system that is capable of CD or DVD playback. These are standard on most car stereo units that are sold today, but there are differences that must be accounted for by the consumer. Always check the signal to noise ratio on the units you are considering buying and look for units that have a higher decibel rating. This will give the best possible playback of your CDs. If you burn your music, then you also might want to check to make sure that the unit is capable of playing CD-R and CD-RW disks.
Another thing to consider when purchasing a double Din stereo system is whether the unit has auxiliary inputs that allow you to play music from your MP3 player. This is pretty much standard among car stereos nowadays but the specifications of the unit should be checked to make sure that it is compatible with your device.
The last thing to consider before purchasing your double Din car stereo is the navigation system on the unit. Consider the brightness of the LED and whether the navigational system is easy to navigate and intuitive. This is mainly personal preference but can have a dramatic impact on your enjoyment of the system. Many units also have additional features that should be considered as well. These include flip-out video monitors and voice recognition systems. These too are up to the personal preferences of the consumer.