13 best car stereo

Over the past 30 years, the radio had time to become an integral part of a complete set of cars, and incorporate many advanced developments and technologies. More recently, no one could think about the intricate design of keys and the display: all control took place through hard buttons, information was displayed on segmented black-and-white screens, and the design of the front panels could be called clumsy, rather than beautiful and authentic.

At the present stage of development of the industry, leading manufacturers of car stereos have identified new standards of quality and equipment, gradually integrating liquid crystal displays into musical systems, giving them additional functions (messenger, mobile communication channel, etc.), as well as giving the image futurism and elegance. Having carefully studied this market segment, the editors of expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ have selected 13 of the best car stereos, which have gained popularity among domestic users. Additional parameters for the selection of goods in the rating were the ratings from experts, as well as a comparison of personal technical indicators among themselves.

How to choose a car stereo

Reliable and time-tested selection of car stereos is based on six key parameters:

Standard size. An aspect that determines the height of the system and, accordingly, the installation slot on the front panel of the car. All of them are divided into two types: 1 DIN (or 50 millimeters), and 2 DIN (100 millimeters). Despite the fact that the vast majority of other parameters does not depend on the size of the car, there is a whole range of differences between 1 DIN and 2 DIN models. So, the second category of devices has a higher cost, has more pronounced and integrated controls, and also (in most cases) comes with a full display. True, single-tape recorders can also have a retractable screen. In general, on this basis, we recommend starting from personal preferences and the size of a regular place for installation.

Output power. Indicator characterizing the power that can give a regular amplifier radio. For most standard stereos, this figure does not exceed 4x50 watts, but today you can find models whose output power is 4x80, and even 4x100 watts. Always pay attention to the regular indicators of acoustics in the car and carefully read the recommendations on the power indicators for the selected car stereo.

Amplifier channels. This parameter shows how many speakers can be connected to a car stereo. Usually this number is the first in the maximum power index. For example, 2x40 watts, 4x50 watts, etc.

Type of display. There are two basic types of displays for car stereos:

1. segment - screens of ordinary systems, allowing you to see the necessary information about the track or radio station in the form of a running line. They have a minimal set of features, but are inexpensive in performance, due to which they reduce the cost of ready-made tape recorders;
2. LCD, TFT, LED displays - a new generation of integrable screens, whose functionality is often comparable to the capabilities of screens of smartphones and other "smart" gadgets. Some of them support touch control and voice input, but add to the cost more than others.
3. When choosing a radio with a segmental display, be sure to pay attention to studying the possibilities of the backlight: how many colors does it support and is there any control over its brightness. In the case of LCD displays (and similar ones), look at the display of menu items and the interface as a whole: if the icons, captions and icons are not small, the screen is not too dim or overexposed.

Front and back panel connectors. In matters with the number of connectors on the car radio, you can act by two fundamentally different methods:

1. choose a model equipped with the maximum number of ports, interfaces and connectors. Such a choice will provide a high versatility of the device, as well as allow the implementation of the principle of interchangeability in case of failure of one of the most used data transmission channels. This method is the easiest, but for acquiring something of high quality it will require quite serious expenses;
2. carefully consider what and how you will connect to the car radio. In the case of the rear panel, this can be the number of full-time speakers and a subwoofer, and from the front it can be USB, microSD, AUX, etc. Such systems will have high flexibility of choice and, accordingly, will represent different price segments.

Availability of Bluetooth communication channel. In modern driving conditions, this function has become very important, because the driver does not always have time to be distracted by switching the car radio or receiving an incoming call. The universality of Bluetooth lies precisely in this: this type of wireless connection allows you to implement a hands-free model - to control the playlist via a smartphone or to receive phone calls through a stereo headset.

Top car radio rating

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best car with 1 DIN	1	Pioneer DEX-P99RS	49 020 ₽
	2	Alpine CDE-178BT	14 690 ₽
	3	Prology MDD-720	10 800 ₽
	4	Pioneer SPH-10BT	6 400 ₽
	5	KENWOOD KDC-X5200BT	6 610 ₽
	6	Alpine IVA-D511R	55 990 ₽
The best car with 2 DIN	1	Pioneer AVH-X8800BT	36 990 ₽
	2	Pioneer SPH-DA120	23 490 ₽
	3	Alpine IVE-W585BT	35 890 ₽
	4	KENWOOD DMX7017BTS	25 110 ₽
	5	Alpine IVE-W530E	22 980 ₽
	6	Mystery MDD-6280NV	10 443 ₽
	7	Pioneer MVH-S610BT	7 220 ₽

The best car with 1 DIN

Pioneer DEX-P99RS

Rating: 4.9

Absentee winner in the nomination "The best sound" goes to super-expensive car radio Pioneer DEX-P99RS. Made by music lovers for music lovers, it has nothing superfluous and pathetic, allowing only to enjoy music in the cabin. Yes, the car stereo can connect to devices on the iOS system (and even compatible with the alac format - unique to Apple products), but there is no Bluetooth connection here at all.

A full 8-way Asahi Kasei 4396 UF processor provides amazingly clear and accurate sound, but it requires a good job of selecting and installing the appropriate level of auto acoustics. The design of the front panel is designed in a strict style, extremely concise and thoughtful (unlike competitors from Alpine). Included is a remote control, which, in general, plays the role of a rudiment, since you can also switch songs through the steering buttons. Perhaps this is all that can be said about the car receiver Pioneer DEX-P99RS. This radio tape recorder is definitely the best choice for those who love high-quality sound and do not stop to spend a lot of money on it.

Alpine CDE-178BT

Rating: 4.8

The third line of the ranking goes to a high-quality Alpine car stereo with a wide display, which serves not only to identify playing tracks and radio stations, but also to receive notifications from Facebook. This feature is implemented in the CDE-178BT using the TuneIt application, available for download to smartphones on the iOS platform. In Android systems, management through the application is not implemented, so the only way to receive calls and manage the playlist is a Bluetooth connection.

Judging by consumer reviews, the Alpine CDE-178BT car stereo is an excellent system for playing high-quality sound with a large number of settings that not everyone can understand. The extended frequency range from 5 to 20,000 Hz is nothing more than an advertising move, but the built-in crossover and equalizer are a more real and tangible plus.In conclusion, I would like to comment on the appearance of the front panel. It is quite logical and complete, but for personal taste - very stupidly assembled. The scatter of buttons and the abundance of small elements does not look like something integral and pleasant - but there is nothing to be done: this is the originality and reality of almost everything Alpine manufactures.

Prology MDD-720

Rating: 4.7

A multimedia system with an “outgoing” screen and a built-in disk drive, which has become a bestseller among others (we will not be cunning - not the best) products of a production company. Car receiver Prology MDD-720 received an exquisite design, built on a combination of sharp and strict lines with well-chosen color scheme. The gray base of the plastic case here is combined with one of the most advantageous colors (green), which contrasts and makes the detailing look more elegant.

According to the power level, the car stereo shows the standard 200 W, without trying to stand out from the competition. It does not have a large number of presets and settings, but there is a Bluetooth interface, which is obligatory under current conditions, with which you can listen to music (but not answer calls). The traveling display, in turn, received a 7-inch diagonal with a resolution of 800x480 dpi. Not enough, but for the requested price - a sin to complain. And finally, we note the presence of a remote control, which you can either put on the back row, or leave in the box for the best of times (you can control the radio with the steering wheel).

Pioneer SPH-10BT

Rating: 4.6

A very interesting representative of the line from Pioneer, making a strong impression on customers due to the original approach to the design of the front panel. Made in a futuristic style, it has a very organic arrangement of control buttons with a central light designation, an extremely elegant backlight and a small central display.

In turn, the stuffing of the Pioneer SPH-10BT car radio can be called standard: there is a 13-band equalizer with fairly precise sound settings (both high / mid frequencies and bass), an integrated radio module with a symbolic number of presets (6 in total), and Bluetooth to implement call control and wireless music playback. According to users, they do not have any problems with interference with this type of connection: at least, this model has an advantage over KENWOOD KDC-X5200BT. On the whole, it is impossible to expose the authority of the car stereo from the South Korean grand: a stylish implementation, coupled with an endurance of the proper level of quality and not the most “biting” price, is what is needed for the domestic user.

KENWOOD KDC-X5200BT

Rating: 4.5

Mighty representative car recorder size 1 din, got into the rating due to the high-quality implementation of the volume of sound settings and a pleasant appearance. According to the manufacturer’s standard, the KENWOOD KDC-X5200BT is a combination of a black case with chrome elements and multi-color button illumination and a display that fits into absolutely any environment.The maximum power output is 200 watts at a nominal 88 (22 watts for each of the four speakers). There is a regular equalizer, which significantly increases the range of settings for the most demanding to the sound of people.

In general, everything related to sound is traditionally embodied in KENWOOD KDC-X5200BT. For this special thanks to the central processor, which is installed in all models of this price segment. Among other things, the car radio has a Bluetooth module, with which the driver can not only play music from devices, but also receive calls (a hands-free system in action). There is a CD drive on the front panel of the radio, a rather rudimentary thing in the current conditions of the development of technology. In turn, with the rear are located interfaces USB, AUX and ISO connector. In general, there are no shortcomings in connection methods - as well as in quality combined with cost indicators.

Alpine IVA-D511R

Rating: 4.5

Alpine IVA-D511R is a premium system of Japanese-Chinese origin, which received a 7-inch display as an addition to the capabilities of a standard radio. As with the entire Alpine product line, this model has an extended frequency reproduction range (from 5 to 20,000 Hz), which is nothing more than a standard trick for naive buyers (for which those who know try to avoid the products of this company). Appearance, though not devoid of some elemental style, but in general it looks quite dull and incomprehensible. At this moment a moment of humiliation can be finished.

In other aspects, Alpine IVA-D511R shows very good results. In particular, the most powerful components were the sound quality and the possibility of flexible adjustment of the equalizer to the user taste. It should also be noted a large number of supported formats (both video and audio), and with them the possibility of integration with Apple devices. As an additional option, the integration of the Bluetooth module operates, which, when looking at the price, looks like a shaped mockery. Nevertheless, this radio is suitable for anyone who is a personal fan of Alpine products and appreciates quality when playing your favorite tracks.

The best car with 2 DIN

Pioneer AVH-X8800BT

Rating: 4.9

Similarly, the SPH-DA120, Pioneer AVH-X8800BT is the top model of its lineup and the unofficial flagship of the entire representative office of a South Korean company on the Russian market. It implements almost the same set of functions as in the opponent discussed below: 200 W of power distributed over four sound sources, the ability to connect and fine tune the subwoofer, custom power distribution over the speakers, as well as a crossover and 13-band graphic equalizer.

Even the management functions for Android and iOS "migrated" in full. Plus, it is possible to manage navigation straight from your smartphone, by installing the appropriate applications. The main difference lies in the performance of the interface and the appearance of the front panel. The menu is traditionally authentic, radically different from that on the SPH-DA120. In general, the cumulative design of Pioneer AVH-X8800BT can be described as classic, especially for the Asian segment. Buttons became more, and all of them “moved” to the lower part of the frame, having received a spectacular red illumination.As for the rest, there is nothing special to say: both in terms of cost and in terms of performance, this model fully corresponds to the system described below.

Pioneer SPH-DA120

Rating: 4.8

Another representative of the company Pioneer, SPH-DA120, is a full-fledged multimedia system for cars with independent operating system and the realized function of full support for smartphones. Its main advantage lies in the level of performance of the visual part - the control menu looks perfect, and the frame of the case with control buttons perfectly complements it.

According to the permissible sound power, the indicators remained at the level of 200 W, however, in the hardware, it became noticeably “fresher”: a 13-band equalizer and a crossover were added to the model’s full-scale capabilities, which made the sound more lively and surround. In addition, the Pioneer SPH-DA120 offers the ability to fine-tune the sound of the subwoofer, as well as prioritize the sound for the speakers in the car (if there are more than four or you want to emphasize the volume on one of the quartet). Do not forget to tell about the main “feature” of the technical part: the integrated function MirrorLink, which allows you to use all applications installed on your smartphone right through the system. This car radio is quite expensive, but fully justifies the price tag with a combination of positive features.

Alpine IVE-W585BT

Rating: 4.7

The Alpine IVE-W585BT multimedia system has been on the Russian market for a long time, but it enjoys stable popularity even despite its outdated design. The main component of the success of the car radio is a markedly reduced price: back in 2017, it was more than 35 thousand rubles, but now it hardly exceeds 20 thousand.

Alpine IVE-W585BT is a system for real music lovers, which allows you to take into account absolutely all the nuances and requests for sound. The model has a whole set of settings, including a graphic equalizer with 9 bands. Navigating through the menu is intuitive: all labels and sections are marked with large icons with captions, so that even a person who is far from such a technique can understand the functionality, what is called, a spear method. But for more advanced, the function of managing calls and music playback via Bluetooth is implemented - a hands-free system helps drivers out of the way. There is a pre-installed FM module and features for connecting parking cameras, as well as a rudimentary disk receiver. In general, the radio was released at the junction of transitional technologies, which is why it absorbed almost all the best that the segment could offer at that time.

KENWOOD DMX7017BTS

Rating: 4.6

An expensive and bright high-performance autoplayer with the ability to work with devices on iOS and Android platforms, as well as integrate with devices via Bluetooth. Actually, it would be strange to have any other parameters with such design and technical capabilities: strict compliance with the highest segment provokes strict requirements for functionality.The standard four-channel amplifier KENWOOD DMX7017BTS is capable of supporting up to 200 W of power - this indicator is no different from the competitors.

But a full-fledged multimedia system is equipped with a GPS module, through which it can perform (when loading maps) the function of the navigator. Also worth noting is the implementation of the interface: the menu and other “chips” of the car radio are arranged in such a way that even a person far from the equipment can figure out how to navigate through them. The diagonal of the touchscreen display in the KENWOOD DMX7017BTS is 6.95 inches, which eliminates the possibility to miss the button even in the direction of travel. Summing up, we note - this is a great device for freelance car kitting, the biggest drawback of which is expressed in the purchase price.

Alpine IVE-W530E

Rating: 4.5

High-tech car with a large 6.1-inch high-resolution display (800x480 pixels), still able to reproduce information from disk media. Alpine IVE-W530E does not have any pre-installed modules, and therefore can not help with navigation, work via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Instead, manufacturers decided to thoroughly work with the quality of sound reproduction, allowing the device to interface with subwoofers, as well as quietly operate at a power of 200 W distributed over four channels of sound.

In addition to reading information from the media Alpine IVE-W530E provides the ability to connect a rear-view camera to facilitate parking and review the situation on the road behind the car, and also supports control through the buttons on the steering wheel. An important advantage, appearing in the user reviews, is the touch control and quite easy to understand the menu. In the end, even if the view of the car radio refers us to the visual features of the technology from a decade ago, the sound is brought to a good modern level.

Mystery MDD-6280NV

Rating: 4.5

A fairly inexpensive radio with built-in TV tuner, the main stream of problems in which is associated with a long reading of information from microSD-drives. Mystery MDD-6280NV is a case of successful use of the main competitive advantage for sustainable implementation: a very well-known brand and a low, relative to its main competitors, price. For this, consumers get a good quality of performance and reproduction, as well as moderately mediocre design of the front panel.

According to the standards laid down in the Mystery MDD-6280NV, a four-channel amplifier with a peak total power of 200 W (50 W per each channel) is implemented. There is a built-in equalizer (purely nominally - the settings in it do not reach to any acceptable level), as well as a GPS module that allows you to use the car radio as a navigator. Navitel assembly, actual for 2018, is loaded from the maps into it. Implemented the ability to control music and video from the steering buttons, and FM-radio with 30 presets. From the rest of the little things we can distinguish the presence of a remote control and the ability to connect a rear-view camera with a parking tag system.

Pioneer MVH-S610BT

Rating: 4.4

Model 2024 release, ranked due to the good sound quality and configuration of the technical part. In fact, Pioneer MVH-S610BT is the ideological embodiment of the visual developments of past years - in appearance is clearly traced the style of the South Korean company. The clear lines of the case and control buttons together with the volume control wheel form an extremely successful combination and evoke extremely pleasant feelings among consumers.

The rated output power of this car radio is 22 watts for each of the four speakers. But the maximum possible value of short-term power output without mechanical damage can be as much as 200 W (which is achieved by including a regular MOSFET amplifier in the network). In accordance with the trends of recent years, Pioneer MVH-S610BT has the ability to control from the steering wheel through the appropriate buttons, and it is sufficiently competent. It is possible to pair the device with smartphones via Bluetooth, as well as play music from USB flash drives and using the AUX interface.

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.