Double DIN choice
Looking for an aftermarket radio that fits into that big factory radio slot? Well we will give you some insight on what to look for so you can make the right choice when buying one. A few years ago a large radio was only for a few vehicles. Nowadays there are so many vehicles that utilize a larger radio size, when buying a radio you'll probably need a double DIN if it fits the opening. You probably remember the radio with a cassette in the bottom and the tuner on the top, mostly Japanese cars had them. Technology has come a long way and now you can get every feature known to man in these radio head units.
One thing you will find is that they range in price from $399 to about $2599. There are many differences between the high priced and the lowest priced versions. Basically you get what you pay for. The first thing is to decide is what size radio you want such as 6.5” or 7". It often depends on how many buttons you want. The 6.5” has all the buttons on the sides versus the 7” which has all the buttons on the bottom. Many radios have a touch screen overlay that allows you to touch the screen to control the radio. Some of the cheaper radios don’t have that feature. So if you don’t want too many fingerprints on the screen then get the 6.5” screen. Always make sure you bring a DVD of your favorite movie to check out the video quality of the screen.
The GUI controls in the screen are important as some companies go to great lengths to make sure there are cool graphics of the buttons, icons and numbers. Many have a satellite radio option, but some even show the logo for the particular station that XM radio or Sirius uses. iPod control is a big deal since it is becoming a must have item. Pioneer Electronics has a very cool graphics display for satellite radio and iPod. You want the one that has high speed control for iPod because scrolling thru the menus can be irritating if you have many songs loaded in your iPod. iPod video control is a hot feature this year, so if you are going to watch your favorite shows or movies in your iPod then you want one that can control it.
Satellite radio is very cool since you can listen to your favorite genre all the time whether it may be talk radio, church, hip hop, funk, Latin, jazz, comedy, country, folk, and many others. Choosing between Sirius and XM radio is really up to you. They both have pros and cons. Many of the cheaper radios do not have Sirius as an option for satellite radio. So make sure the adaptor is available!
Rear seat entertainment is an option to keep in mind if you have kids. You want a radio that allows the built-in DVD player to be displayed via a rear audio and video output to a rear screen and be able to listen or watch something else in the radios screen. Kenwood offers a true dual zone feature that you can play it thru the rear speakers while the front speakers are playing what you are watching. Back up camera input is nice to have since we drive large vehicles. It works seamless because when you put your vehicle in reverse it switches the screen to see the camera.
Navigation is a must have since we are always on the go. There are three types of navigation systems in built-in radios. One has a dedicated hard drive for navigation. This allows the unit to have a very fast response time and huge database capability. More points of interest and addresses. The other one has a DVD that contains the navigation info and needs to be in the slot most of the time. In some radios if you want to listen to a CD or watch a DVD you need to eject the DVD navigation disc. The third type is based on a memory card that is inserted in the radio; the only downfall is that the database is dependant on how big the memory card is. Most hard drive units are at least 10gig in size.
Bluetooth option is good to have so you can receive calls via the radio and have the caller id show up on the radio. Some even allow you to download the address book from the mobile phone. 5.1 surround capabilities are popular for those who want to maximize the sound system. Many offer a built-in processor that has an output for front, rear, center and subwoofer outputs with custom settings. I hope this helps to give you idea when looking for your next double DIN radio. Here are some websites to check out: WWW.KENWOODUSA.COM; WWW.ALPINE.COM; WWW.PIONEERELECTRONICS.COM; WWW.CLARION.COM.
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