Should I Get a New Car Stereo?
When you get a new car, you may be getting the latest in technology with your stereo and not be interested in changing it. Some cars come with only a standard stereo with no special features.
You should get a new stereo receiver and possibly new speakers if you want an upgrade in technology and functionality. A new stereo can help you do things you couldn’t do before and may impact resale value. If you love to listen to music and want phone connectivity, a new stereo will help.
I bought a new stereo for my truck several years ago, and now I can connect to my stereo via Bluetooth to stream music and make phone calls. It’s been really helpful, and I’m glad I chose to do it.
New Car Stereos for New Cars
When you have a new car, you will likely either enjoy your new car stereo or wish it was different. If you don’t like it, you might want to replace the stereo with a better one. There’s so much variety out there, and it doesn’t take much time to see what type of options are preferred over others.
Some Varieties Available
If you are getting the dealership to install an upgraded stereo, you might be able to negotiate it into the contract without paying extra for your new car.
Usually, an upgrade will cost you a bit more to a lot more than it would cost for you to do it yourself. You can also take your car to a stereo installation store and usually save money.
What’s really important is to know exactly what you want so you don’t get something that you are not disappointed with. Make sure you know exactly what the options mean if you are unclear about how they function. You might end up paying a lot more for options you’ll never use and don’t need.
Once you’ve decided, you can price out the stereotype you want, ask the dealership and stereo store about prices to install and consider if it’s viable to install yourself. Then you’ll know which path is likely the best for you.
Some people would rather just add a few dollars each month to their car payment for a stereo upgrade, while others want to save money on the car’s overall price. But remember not to get something you are not sure about yet, and be sure to try it out either in a new car or the car stereo store to really get a feel if it’s right.
New Car Stereos for Older Cars
If you’ve had your car for a while, it might be time to upgrade to a new car stereo and speakers. A new stereo can have many options to help you enjoy your drive and keep you safer as you travel. It will benefit your car’s resale value, especially if you have an old stereo with missing buttons, and there’s a problem with the dial that involves tuning and volume.
A new stereo is fairly cheap to purchase, and some are not too complicated to install, yet others will take a professional installer to match all the wiring correctly when things don’t match up the way you expected them to if you are trying to install it yourself.
Between $50 and $100, you can get a new stereo that will have almost everything you want. Many of them are of great quality and will provide a good user experience. That’s when you need to set a price range and know exactly what you want so you don’t get confused with all the options and different types of stereos out there.
If your car is over 10 years old, replacing the speakers is also a good idea. Speakers start to respond less effectively as wear and tear occur over time. New speakers with the correct stereo, and amplifier, if needed, can make a big difference in the sound quality of the music you listen to.
If your speakers sound fine to you, you might not feel the need to replace them, and it might not be necessary. Your speakers may not be as responsive as they once were, but they can continue to function well much monger, maybe for the life of the car.
If you have been turning up the volume and bass on your car stereo often, then it’s a good idea to replace them if you’ve had the car for 5 -10 years. High-quality speakers will last longer, and cheaper speakers will lose sound quality and get damaged much more quickly.
Choose the best quality speakers for the type of system you have to ensure longevity.
Reasons not to Get a New Car Stereo
When you are deciding to get a new car stereo, think about your budget, time, and needs. Some people want to upgrade because it will give them more enjoyment as they drive, while others want certain features on a car stereo to meet their needs.
Don’t get a new car stereo if… you’re unsure about what your budget is. You may end up with a half-installed stereo that doesn’t operate because you can’t afford to pay the cost to install it.
You may be stuck with a radio for a while if you only get some of the parts or try installing it yourself without a specific guide for your type of vehicle and stereo. So, don’t get a new stereo to install yourself when… you’re unsure about your ability to get it done. (See video)
Another reason to wait on buying a new car stereo is when your speakers don’t match your stereo wattage. It’s best to find out if you have after-market speakers and an amplifier. Standard factory car stereos and speakers will usually not have high wattage, so replacing the stereo with a new one should be fine in most instances.
The more you can find out about your system and use a similar wattage or a bit higher for the stereo, the better likelihood that all will go smoother with replacements.
Replacing the speakers can be easy, but don’t get speakers unless… you’ve done your research, taken out and measured your old speakers, and ensured things match the measurement and wiring requirements. In addition, check the ohms for the stereo and the speakers to see if there is a match.
Don’t buy a stereo before… Make a plan of how you will install it and know the return policy of the item. You don’t want a stereo sitting on a shelf somewhere for months or years you’re stuck with.
Don’t forget about the tools you’ll need if you are going to install them yourself. It’s a good idea to have a screwdriver, pry tool, ratchet set possibly, wire stripper, soldering iron, and electrical tape.
Try to be as certain as possible when buying wiring connectors to ensure you buy the correct kind so everything will go smoothly.
Does Your Budget Allow you to Get What you Need?
The stereo itself could cost under $100 easy, but installation costs from a dealer or car stereo store could cost into the $100 – $200 range just for the car stereo head unit installation itself.
It depends on how simple the installation is, with some costing less, while some stores may charge you more.
Think about what you want, how much you are willing to spend, and if you are willing to do the installation yourself. Then you can gauge how much to spend for everything in total.
Don’t forget tax and any extra supplies and tools needed for the job you might be doing.
If you are like me, you might buy a double din unit like this Pioneer unit. Then you could go to a car stereo shop for about $100 or more or use Amazon install service if they are cheaper.
It’s a good idea to call the installer before you buy any car stereo unit and see what price they quote you.
If you go down to their store, they may have stereos that they can install for cheaper that meet all your requirement.
Which Type of Car Stereo Should I Get?
A good car stereo will do everything your using it for now and can add more options that you usually use your phone for on a regular basis.
Each car stereo has a unique interface, so trying one out is the best way to see if you like it. Go to a Car Stereo Store and try some out or watch some videos. I like Crutchfield.com for information and video on specific stereo units.
Think about what you will expect to use your car stereo on a daily bases to get a good idea of what you’ll need. I use my car stereo daily to listen to music and podcast.
I bought a car stereo that can play DVDs, but I have never watched a video in my car. Those with children in the back seat might want to install a DVD player(s) in the headrest(s) to entertain them on longer trips.
My stereo has Bluetooth, which I use almost daily to connect to my phone, so I can stream music, answer phone calls, and listen to navigation from my phone.
My stereo has a USB connection to play music from a thumb drive, which I use once in a while. It also has a touch screen that is sometimes very helpful and other times inconvenient.
A checklist of the most important features you want will be helpful when looking. If you are using it for the family, you may want to spend more on DVD player installation. If you’re using it for personal use, you may want to install a stereo with more watts and new higher-watt speakers.
Conclusion
When deciding on a new car stereo, you can find a lot of options that will fit your needs and budget fairly well. After doing your research, you should be able to find a way to get a new car stereo that meets your needs within your price range.
Be sure to ask questions from several stores about prices and specifications that you are wondering about, and determine what you really want and need before you buy a unit.
You’ll be able to see if buying a new car stereo is right for you now or if it’s something you can wait on. I hope you can have a good experience replacing your car stereo if you choose.
To learn more about single din units, read this article – Best Single Din Head Unit.
To learn more about double din units, read this article – How is Double Din Audio System Better Than Single Din?