Head units are considered to be the most important part of your car audio system because they control your sound system. Because sound comes from the head unit, it’s very important to make sure that the sound it produces is clean for maximum performance. Since factory car stereo doesn’t provide high quality and the flexibility aftermarket units have, many enthusiasts end up upgrading their stock units.

Although head units come in two standard sizes (single and double din), many car manufacturers have used a non-standard DIN size to discourage car owners from installing an aftermarket unit. With this move, car manufacturers hope that they will be able to gain more profits by selling their top notch sound systems. Non-standard sizes include ½ , 1-1/2 DIN and even oval shaped units. The change in the unit’s size didn’t stop some car audio manufacturers from introducing units that will adapt to the custom IN size. Some of these manufacturers are Metra, Scosche and Pioneer.

Why Upgrade?
Factory head units are not powerful enough to produce clean and accurate sound even though most of them have a built-in amplifier. If you are planning to add a subwoofer, most probably you need an external amplifier that can power-up your subs and provide a distortion free sound. If you are thinking to get an amp, don’t try to hook it up with your factory unit because it doesn’t have a line level pre-amp outputs that can provide clean signal to run your amp. As a result, you will end up with a low quality sound performance.

Now that you know why you need to replace your head unit, it’s time to choose the head unit that fits your needs. The main factors that decide which unit to choose are design, features (pre-amp outputs and power) and security.

Design:
Since head units are the most used car audio system, it’s important to pick the one that looks and feels good. Make sure that interface is user friendly to easily access the most used functions such as volume. Most of the head unit operation will be used while driving, so making sure that everything can easily be accessible and handy should be your top priority. If you are looking for a head unit that matches your car interior, you might need to look for units that have adjustable button colors or menu backgrounds.

Features:
Aftermarket head units are loaded with many features to give the user greater control and premium sound. However, there are some features that you need to have if you are serious about upgrading your car’s sound system. The first “must have” feature is the Pre-amp outputs. They provide the cleanest signal, so don’t make sure your unit has them for superior sound. The amount of outputs you need depends on your system setup. Make sure to get enough of them especially if you are looking for expand your audio system in the future. The RMS power is something you need to look for when buying a new stereo. Don’t give a lot of attention to the peak power because it doesn’t give a true indication of your unit’s power.

Security:
Most head units are designed with detachable faces. This adds a level of security to your system and prevents theft. Once the face has been removed, your head unit is considered to be useless and will be less targeted by intruders. Recent studies have shown that car theft is increasing, so having a unit with some security measures can be handy.

A head unit is sometimes referred to as a radio or stereo and is vital for sound production. Without it, you won’t have a functional audio system. With the increased car audio maturity, head units are getting more advanced and complicated to provide the maximum comfort and sound performance. Many car audio companies have contributed to the overall success and importance of the units such as Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood, Dual and many more.