With so many in-dash receivers to choose from, how do you pick the right one? Answering the questions below will help you narrow down your choices to get the right stereo for you.
What do you want to listen to?
Answering this question is the next step in selecting the right CD receiver. Knowing which options are "must-haves" will help you narrow your search and focus on the features important to you. These days you have a lot of listening options to choose from. Here's a quick rundown of what to look for.
FM radio: Radios with a low FM sensitivity do a better job of pulling in radio signals. An FM sensitivity of 8 to 12 dBf is considered very good. Some stereos use digital processing to clean up the analog radio signal, so the music is clear and free of static. Be sure to look for this detail in the stereo's description if a better-than-most AM/FM radio is high on your list.
HD Radio™: The world of broadcast radio is entering the digital age. Radio stations broadcasting digital signals are becoming more and more prevalent. To gain the benefits of static-free reception and better sound quality, your stereo must have an HD Radio tuner, either built-in or as an outboard component. Both options are currently available.
Regular CDs: Today's CD players will play copies of your favorite CDs or home-made compilations on CD-Rs and CD-RWs. One differentiating specification to look for, however, is a stereo's CD signal-to-noise ratio — the higher the rating in decibels (dB), the cleaner the CD playback will sound.
MP3 or WMA discs: Most CD players play MP3 discs, and many also play WMA (Windows Media Audio) files. Other music formats are making their way into car stereos too, like AAC or ATRAC3plus. All of these compressed music formats let you put about 10 hours of music on a single disc, so you can create a couple of discs with your favorite tunes to leave in the car.
Music on an iPod®: If you want to be able to control your iPod from your stereo's faceplate, look for a model that has a compatible iPod control adapter available. An iPod adapter will charge your iPod's battery and give you the best possible sound quality. If you'd rather use the iPod's controls, you can skip the adapter and just use the stereo's auxiliary input (see below).
Other kinds of MP3 players: You need a stereo that has an auxiliary input in order to connect an external device, whether it's an iPod, an MP3 player, or some other audio source. Most CD receivers today offer either a built-in auxiliary input, or an optional adapter that converts the stereo's changer port to an audio input. Models with front-panel auxiliary inputs make connecting a portable especially convenient.
Satellite radio: If you want to add satellite radio to your new car stereo, make sure the stereo you choose is "satellite radio-ready." That means it can control an optional hideaway satellite radio. Most brands are compatible with radios from either satellite radio company (SIRIUS or XM), but some will only work with one or the other. A few CD players include built-in satellite radio tuners.
DVD playback: Being able to play standard DVDs on your car stereo is a must-have if you want to build a mobile video system. (This is not the same thing as DVD-Audio, a new high-resolution audio format currently found on a few high-end in-dash stereos.
