Buyer's guide - Car radios

Taking your music for a drive

Gone are the days when the only music you could listen to was the roar of the engine! An RDS tuner is the basis of any good car radio. It automatically searches for frequencies and displays the name of radio stations. Plus, with RDS-Eon, your car radio switches to a free station where you can receive traffic information.
CD/MP3 car radios let you create your own music compilations. Journeys won’t seem as long when you have hundreds of MP3 tracks on a CD to listen to!
If you're going on an unplanned outing or heading off on a 2-hour journey, but don’t have a CD to listen to, don't panic! Some car radios come with USB ports, front auxiliary inputs and even a memory card reader, allowing you to easily play MP3 files stored on different supports, including your MP3 player.
You can manage what you listen to from your MP3 player easily and safely using your car radio – you don’t need steering wheel controls.
Following the runaway success of Apple’s iPod, many manufacturers are giving their car radios a specific port for docking stations. Docking stations are extremely practical as they can also serve to recharge your portable music player.
Some car radios include a built-in memory, which can often be extended using a memory card or a USB flash drive. This means you’ll be able to record a radio programme or even a song from a CD and play it back whenever you want!

On the road again…

Being able to listen to music in your car is great; but having an in-car GPSand Bluetooth connectivity is even better!
Many of us use our vehicle for work purposes. What with using the mobile phone, PDA, GPS and Bluetooth kit, sometimes we just don't have any hands left for driving!
A car radio with GPS-enabled features and Bluetooth compatibility is a great way of getting around safely.
GPS-enabled car radios provide unbeatable sound and graphics – no matter whether you choose a standard-format, single-DIN car radio with a motorised faceplate, or a twin-DIN car radio with a large screen that covers the whole faceplate (in general, twin-DIN car radios measure between 6 and 7 inches).
The touch screen and intuitive control panel found on GPS-enabled car radios make them easy to use. These types of car radios usually include a DVD player for accessing map software and a GPS unit.
If you’re often in a hurry to get to your meeting, opt for a GPS-enabled car radio with a TMC feature. TMC works using radio waves, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and accidents on your route. The GPS receiver will even calculate which itinerary is best for you!
If wireless communications are a priority for you, choose a car radio with Bluetooth connectivity. Just hook up your mobile phone to hear your friends and family talk through your vehicle’s speakers or listen to songs stored on your mobile.
Bluetooth hands-free kits are practical because they not only allow you to stay focused on the road ahead when you receive a call; they can also be used in cases where you can’t pick up your mobile phone.

Sensational sound

There’s no need to turn your car into one giant speaker with tuning accessories to get the best sound! Amplifiers, subwoofers and speakers no longer hinder access to your car's boot. They’re compact but don’t compromise on performances, enhancing sound quality and listening comfort. Match the power rating of the amplifier to your car radio to prevent damage. An average power output of 4 x 40 watts is enough to get the best acoustics in your car. Remember that a car radio with this power output delivers 40 watts of sound over 4 separate channels.
Stylish, compact and easy to install, speakers are central point of any sound system. Coaxial speakers and component systems are designed specifically for users who are passionate about sound – they’re the perfect choice for setting up a rocking sound system in your car!
4 x 40 watts may not be enough for some music fans. If this is your case, opt for a car radio with a built-in amplifier, or an external amplifier for punchy sound. Amplifiers can be easily stored in your glove compartment or underneath the central unit. They provide a total sound output of between 300 and 1,000 Watts, so they suit every need and budget.
Make sure the amplifier you choose is slightly more powerful than your speakers. This extra power will enhance the quality of your music even further!
When selecting a subwoofer, you'll find yourself confronted with the choice of either a passive- or active-type subwoofer. Active subwoofers are usually associated with an amplifier, but both types of subwoofer provide sensational sound – they’ll definitely keep your car thumping as you cruise the streets!

Connecting audio/video sources

Car radios have a lot to offer. Some car radios come with a front USB port, a memory card reader and an auxiliary input, so you can listen to music stored on all kinds of supports. But to help you get the most out of your car radio, you’ll need some high-tech tools…
USB flash drives and memory card readers are designed to be connected to your car radio’s USB port. They’re practical for storage, allowing you to listen to hours of music without cluttering your car with CDs.
If your car radio doesn’t have a USB port, don’t panic! You can still take advantage of the latest technological developments using a USB adapter with a cigar-lighter port, which is perfect for recharging your MP3 player.
The most common connectors found on car radios are line inputs and RCA jacks.
If you love your music and want hard-hitting sound, choose a car radio with several RCA and auxiliary connectors. Besides hooking up your amplifier, subwoofer or speakers through an RCA connection, you can use these connectors to link up loads of devices, such as a Freeview tuner, a games console, a reversing camera or a screen.
An auxiliary input on the front of your car radio will allow you to hook up your MP3 player.

Optimal audio quality

The quality of speakers, amplifiers and subwoofers is just as important as the type of car radio you have – so make sure you choose carefully!
There are two categories of speaker systems: coaxial speakers or component systems. There is also a wide variety of different formats to suit different vehicles.
All-in-one coaxial speakers are ideal for music fans on a budget who don’t have must space to spare. They’re easy to install because there's only one speaker per channel. This type of speaker is available in a range of sizes, including 10cm, 13cm, 16.5cm and 20 cm.
The size of a speaker determines the space you’ll need for installation, and also defines how much bass you’ll get. For deep, thumping bass tones that don’t upstage treble, a 16.5cm speaker is ideal. The drivers on these types of speakers are adequately sized for reproducing bass.
Providing top-quality sound, component systems are made up of a subwoofer for both bass and treble, and a tweeter and passive filter for other sound frequencies. Sound rendered by these speaker systems has incredible depth and perfectly balanced bass, while the tweeter can be adjusted to suit the preference of the listener.
This type of quality doesn’t come easily, though! Speakers should be fixed to a sturdy mount using high-quality cables.

Supported formats

Remember when we were all playing tapes in our cars? Nowadays, there's a huge range of supports to choose from. You can enjoy your favourite tracks through your car radio on a CD, CD-RW disc, an MP3 player, a USB flash drive, a memory card or even a mobile phone.
If you’d like to create your own music compilations, the most practical and most common format is MP3. This compressed music format allows you to store 10 albums instead of just one. Most car radios are now compatible with this audio file. However, there are other types of compressed file formats, such as WMA, AAC and ATRAC3. Make sure you check your car radio’s compatibility.
Bear in mind that FM transmitters and other adapters for car radio cassette players are available. They’ll allow you to play tracks from your MP3 player.
Car radio cassette adapters include a cable with a mini jack for MP3 players. Just insert the adapter into the designated slot on your car radio to begin listening to your music. These adapters are practical for those who do not want to change their car radios. Transmitters and adapters provide mediocre audio quality with a good bit of radio interference.