Car Audio & Electronics

In-Dash Car Stereos

Car stereos (also called a head unit, car radio or an in-dash receiver) are the brains of the car audio operation. All speakers, amplifiers, crossover units and all accessories are ultimately hooked up to the stereo. The stereo allows the user to control and adjust the sound output as they see fit. 

Updating the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) gives more flexibility for the user interface. Aftermarket car stereos provide more options and features than factory head units. Newer head units offer large touchscreen displays with customizable backgrounds and color schemes. Sound output will be truer to production quality than in units off the assembly line.

Find Car Stereos that Fit My Car

Want to know what single or double DIN aftermarket car stereos fit your vehicle? Use our Stereo Fit Tool to find out what stereos will fit. The factory mounting depth needs to be figured into the installation. Also take note of the outer mounting area of the dash opening versus the unit.

Key Features

There are hundreds of aftermarket stereo options. Most offer Bluetooth, Auxiliary and USB inputs. More advanced units will offer smartphone compatibility, built-in navigation and satellite radio.

Be mindful of what functions you want to keep or upgrade into a new unit. 

Mechless Receivers VS. DVD/CD Stereo Receivers

A mechless receiver does not come with a CD/DVD slot, but can come with any number of built-in functions. Units range from standard AM/FM radio to touchscreen functions with full navigation, communications and smart media technology.

Or you can have both of both worlds in your head unit with a CD/DVD player for high fidelity audio straight to your stereo. These units can be either Single or Double Din and with or without a touchscreen. 

Today’s stereos can be customized to be as simple or modern as you’d like.

GPS Navigation

For those who would prefer to have their navigation built-in to their aftermarket head unit rather than relying on their phone, there are a number of options with integrated GPS. Many of these options do not require any sort of external antenna and it is all incorporated within the receiver.

SiriusXM Ready

For some customers, a SiriusXM ready receiver is a must. This means you simply have to install an XM tuner and you are ready to start listening to some of your favorite satellite radio stations (SiriusXM Subscription required).

Smartphone Integration

One of the best ways to integrate your smartphone with your aftermarket car stereo is to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This incredibly useful feature allows you to connect your iPhone or Android Device to the stereo and gain access to all of your favorite music and podcast apps like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and more. It also gives you navigation Apple Maps, Google Maps or even Waze.

This software was built to minimize distractions and to keep you focused on the road ahead. Most functions can be accessed via voice command from a button on your steering wheel or on your touchscreen.

If you decide to purchase a stereo without these features, you will still have access to the most up to date versions of Bluetooth that will still make it easy to stream your music or make and accept phone calls.

More Information

For more info, make sure to take a look at our car stereo buying guide.

For any questions, give us a call at 1-502-200-8010. Our staff will help you in selecting the perfect setup so that you can start building your first class car audio system today!

A quality car stereo is the epicenter of your entire car audio system. We carry a wide range of in dash receivers that have an endless number of features. These features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DVD/CD playback, built-in Bluetooth, SiriusXM compatibility, touchscreens, and GPS navigation. At Sonic Electronix, our car radios range from compact Single-DIN receivers to larger Double-DIN models. We even carry stereos with massive 9” touchscreens. Use our fitment guide to see which stereo will fit your vehicle.