The Best Car Stereos
What's a road trip (or even a work commute) without all your music and podcasts at your fingertips? We love jamming out to our favorite tunes, listening to audiobooks on long car rides, and binging episodes of This American Life. But with audio tech advancing so rapidly, your car's sound system may be outdated. That's why we recommend investing in a quality car stereo with full Bluetooth capability and smartphone integration, so you can enjoy awesome sound in your car. Here are the best car stereos for you to pick from.
Boss Audio System
Affordable and reliable
Sporting numerous practical features, the Boss Audio System is compatible with a wide range of devices, from smartphones to MP3 players. Handily, it offers built-in Bluetooth connectivity, so you can play music from Spotify and listen to podcasts to your heart’s content. Plus, you can answer and make phone calls without touching anything: the microphone effortlessly picks up your voice and lets you hear the person on the other end for safer, hands-free calls. This stereo also has front and rear pre-amp outputs, an updated LCD with dimmable buttons, and an added mute function. Not too shabby.
Pros:
- Dimmable illumination for buttons and LCD
- Bluetooth capability
- Compatible with smartphones and MP3 players
- Has a USB port
- Front and rear pre-amp outputs to hook up speakers
- Super-powerful audio quality
Cons:
- Definitely a no-frills design, so if you’re looking for something with more hi-tech features, this might not be it
PLZ MP-800 Car Stereo
Diverse functionality
With the PLZ MP-800 Car Stereo, you can easily stream music, make phone calls, and listen to podcasts with the simple click of a button. This multifunctional car stereo quickly connects to both Android and iOS devices, providing a wide range of compatibility for all your devices. You can use the USB connection to sync your phone to the screen and enjoy features including maps, movies, and more. Plus, this stereo even comes with an HD rear video camera so that you can avoid those parking-lot fender benders for good.
Pros:
- Multifunctional; you can enjoy music and movies, connect to your apps, or take calls at the press of a button
- The enhanced user interface features a 7-inch double-din HD touchscreen
- Widely compatible with both Android and IOS devices
- Includes an HD camera for HD rear or front views
- USB charging capabilities
Cons:
- The touchscreen is pretty sensitive and takes some getting used to
Hieha Double Din Car Stereo
Bright, practical, and easy to use
It’s never been easier to operate a touchscreen than it is with the Hieha Double Din Car Stereo, whose super-bright, colorful buttons are more responsive than most. With just a tiny tap, you can seamlessly switch through settings and apps. This stereo is decked out with user-friendly features and Bluetooth technology so that all your songs and podcast episodes are just a click away. It even comes with a wireless remote controller, so everyone can access their favorite tunes.
Pros:
- Exceptionally colorful, bright LCD touchscreen, with an 800 x 480 high-resolution display panel (plus you can even set the button colors)
- Multiple audio output features
- Built-in Bluetooth
- Has a wireless remote control
- Mounting bracket set included
Cons:
- It’s just a little trickier than most to install (though by no means difficult to do)
Kenwood Car Stereo Receiver
In today’s smartphone-driven world, the Kenwood Car Stereo Receiver is here for you. With this stereo’s dedicated Alexa button, playing music is simply a matter of a voice command or two. And, conveniently, up to five Bluetooth devices can be connected simultaneously, so everyone can take turns streaming their songs. It’s also very lightweight and easy to install, which is always a plus.
Pros:
- Built-in Alexa
- Up to five Bluetooth devices can be connected at a time
- Front USB output
- Connect your iPhone or Android device
- Brightly-colored LEDs can be adjusted as you see fit
- Lightweight, sleek size
Cons:
- On the pricey end
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the most important things to take into consideration when I’m shopping for a car stereo?
Of course, your audio sources should be your first consideration when you’re debating over various car stereos. Most people have gone full-on digital at this point, but maybe you’re old-school and still want to be able to rock your CD (or even cassette) collection. In that case, you’ll want to select a stereo that can accommodate this (not all can). Other factors to consider include budget, the size and design (for instance, whether you want something bulky or sleek), and features like Bluetooth capability (which you probably want).
Got any tips for how to maintain my stereo so that it lasts as long as possible?
Be sure to clean out dust from time to time, select higher-quality sources for your music, and don’t over-burden your speakers by cranking your music to the max all the time.
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.