Technology and Gadgets Blog

For someone that’s really into music, choosing a head unit can be more difficult than choosing a car. If you haven’t been shopping for a new unit recently, it can be compared to going to a new restaurant for the first time and looking over a large menu of dishes you’ve never tasted. But if you’re a regular at the joint, you probably knew what you wanted before you entered the door. Likewise, if you’re a technophile, you already know what you want in a head unit and there’s little that I can say that will change your opinions or tastes. That’s what it really comes down to — since the advent of modern CD players, the differences are rarely performance related but rather functional and styling differences.

So what’s the scoop on choosing a CD player for a modern car audio system? There are about a dozen things that enter into the process. To each buyer, different things weigh differently in importance, even if we ignore right from the start the wild price spread that you’re likely to find. If you’re a first time buyer, you might want to take this list to the store with you and refer to it just to avoid overlooking something important in the “heat of the moment”.

First let’s consider how well the deck integrates into your car. Nowadays, most decks will fit most cars due to somewhat standardized form factors; however, there’s always the exception, so make sure that the deck is suited for your car and isn’t going to require major surgery to “make it fit.” You might want to consider the cosmetic integration, like does the lighting match the rest of your dash. Some decks have the ability to change color of their displays and some don’t. Does the deck look like it belongs or does it stick out like a “sore thumb?” Remember, theft is more likely if the deck screams, “Look at me.” On the other hand, perhaps you want to make a statement — either way, make sure to consider all aspects of physical and cosmetic integration. Also consider remote operation. If your car already has remote capability, will the new deck integrate with those steering wheel functions or will a custom approach be needed?

Consider the fact that the display is the only way the deck can communicate with you. What about the display? Can you read it in bright daylight? Just because it’s easy to read in the store doesn’t means a thing in direct sunlight, and many decks have displays that wash out in bright surroundings making them almost useless. On the other hand, if it’s a bright display, are you able to dim the display with the rest of your dash? Driving at night with a super bright head unit in the middle of the dash can actually create a driving hazard.

What about operator input to the deck? Does it have a jillion microscopic buttons, or can you actually operate it safely while driving? Do you have to press multiple buttons while holding your mouth in a certain position in order to scroll through useless menus in order to perform basic tasks? Does it come with a owner’s manual that is thick as a dictionary? If so, you might want to consider something a little more user friendly. I often like to relate the story of the time I was attending a trade show and one of the large manufacturers was showing one of their new decks for the first time. It was quite impressive and loaded with buttons, displays, and gadgets, and boasted the ability to do just about everything but make coffee. After the salesman had demonstrated the deck, I took a closer look at it and noticed that there didn’t seem to be an “off” switch. I asked the salesman how to turn it off and he couldn’t find the off button either. It seems that they had made it so complicated that they overlooked the off button and he had to “get out the book” to find the hidden menu that enabled the power down sequence. Believe it or not!

Another thing to consider is additional formats. Many folks want to be able to play MP3 discs which is understandable given the average driver’s needs. There are, of course, other considerations such as multichannel audio [surround] that might matter. Other format-related features to consider are compatibility with XM or Sirius Satellite Radio and the complexity of adding those features. These new radio options are becoming very popular and you might not want to be left out.

Features that allow system expansion are sometimes important as well. A sub output is a serious consideration. Nothing improves the sound of a car audio system like the addition of a subwoofer, and having a separate output to drive one is a really nice addition. This all-important feature adds little cost to the deck and should be considered in all but the most basic installs. The same can be said for a changer input — if you don’t have the long play capability of MP3, a changer is a good option. Be sure to consider this capability as well as if it’s the same port that might have to be used for satellite radio.

If you’re a radio fan, be sure to consider that cost and FM performance are seldom related and oftentimes some of the more expensive decks don’t seem to be great performers in this area. Personally, I believe in the “try before buy” method of testing a radio. Consider that a deck installed in a store demo board and hooked to a cable or giant antennae on the building roof might not represent installation in your car. If you’re an AM talk radio fan, you might want to take even more deliberate steps to choose your unit. Sometimes, in the quest to build “super” disc players, the AM radio section gets a back seat and is grossly neglected. A listen here is good advice and also consider that the switching power supplies in many large aftermarket amplifiers wreak havoc with AM reception — so let the buyer beware.

Now we get to the really juicy part. What about the “sound” of the deck? Technophiles fancy themselves in arguing about things such as the type of DACs and number of bits and a hundred other features. If that trips your trigger, then I say join in on the fun and confuse yourself with the rest of them. But if what you are really after is good sound, you can have it with virtually any kind of DAC or whatever kind of widget you’re likely to encounter in any modern deck. Speed related errors, frequency response errors, and excessive noise are non issues in modern digital formats, so sound quality is pretty much a non-issue as well. Sure, in many decks there are lots of “functions” that allow you to manipulate the sonic attributes as well, and if this suits your style then choose the features that appeal to you.

Even issues such as output voltage capability are not as big a deal as some think. Even the worst decks output more than 1 or 2 volts and virtually any power amp can be driven to full output with a volt or less. While it’s true that higher voltage outputs can help to minimize noise problems, good installation and proper wiring will go a lot farther.

And, finally, we get to the bottom line. What kind of reputation does the deck have? What about the warranty and support? Unless you’re filthy rich, or a bench tech, you might want to consider that even the best deck can have a problem. No amount of expensive parts and quality control will totally eliminate the occasional failure. How long is the warranty and what does it cover? Does it apply if you install it yourself?

I feel confident that if you consider the things I covered in this article that you will, with a high certainty, be able to choose a deck that you can be happy with.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 at 6:48 pm and is filed under Electronics Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.