How To Choose The Right Head Unit

Learn How to Choose a Car Audio Head Unit. How to Choose a Car Audio Head Unit By Alan Bayer There are so many different head units available these days that making an informed decision on which one to buy is a long process. I happen to know that about 99% of people have the same goals: 1. Get a unit with all of the best features. 2. Save money on that unit. You're in luck, because that's what this guide is all about! A quick note about HYPE: There are lots of retailers and parties on the internet that would like you to believe certain things about car audio. What is boils down to is that these people really just want to sell you something, and take some of your $$$ with them. When deciding on stereo equipment, it's best to rely on the advice of neutral parties rather than retailers and marketers. Don't fall into the trap of information pollution! OK, then. When you buy a head unit, basically you are looking for a control system for your entire stereo. You should be sure that whatever unit you buy can handle all of the tasks you want your unit to handle. Some things to think about: Do I want a CD changer? Do I want to connect my iPod (or other MP3 device)? Do I want to use satellite radio? Do I want any sort of mobile video? Do I need any EQ/DSP/Time correction features? Do I want to focus on Sound Quality or SPL? Do I want to be able to play MP3 or other digital music files? Do I want to connect amplifiers? If so, how many? How much of a stereo system am I going to build around this head unit? There are probably other things that you would want to think about as well, but these are just a few ideas to get your head going. Once you have decided on all of this stuff, you can start narrowing down your head unit list. The next thing you'll want to do is look at all of the specifications, and see what unit is the best choice. If you want to examine a list of head unit specifications, check out my article called Head Unit Specifications, and How They Affect You. A quick note about specifications: Some people get really obsessed with finding a unit that somehow magically has the best specifications. What I mean is that people look for units that not only have the highest s/n ratio, but also the lowest THD, the most features, the highest bit DAC, etc. etc. NOW! I will say that most units from the top manufacturers are good enough to form the basis of a high-end stereo system. The truth is that many of these specifications are measured by a computer, and humans can't really perceive the differences between .03% and .05% THD. So, don't worry about it! If you find a unit that has all of the features you NEED, and has acceptable performance, just buy it! Like many people have said before me: "Don't sweat the small stuff". Compromising on one little specification is not going to make your music sound bad. So, you're probably pretty close to making a great decision on the best head unit for your vehicle. Now, you need to examine a few more things: Budget - How much can you spend? Build quality - How well made is the unit? Warranty - Does the unit come with a good warranty? Obviously, some of these considerations will mean more to some people than others. That's OK! This is your head unit, and ultimately, the goal is to get the best unit that suits all of your needs. Alan Bayer is an entrepreneur and car audio enthusiast. He runs an eBay store selling car stereo install supplies: stores.ebay.com/honest-aebs-autosound/ He also has a GREAT website with car audio articles (such as the one from above). Also on the website, learn about car audio equipment, how to find the best equipment, how to install it, and save big bucks in the process! http://www.honestaebs-caraudio.com/ To subscribe to Honest AEB's FREE Car Audio Magazine, go here: http://www.honestaebs-caraudio.com/magazine.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Bayer

Last Updated ( Saturday, 23 June 2007 )