what to look for when buying a car stereo head unit or deck
The long-term head unit in a car stereo system used to refer to a tape deck or a CD player but nowadays, it is also likely to be an MP3 player, a mobile phone capable of playing MP3 or even a tablet computer the conventional CD player head unit often has an integrated amplifier that can drive speakers directly the average MP3 player, cell phone or tablet computer if used without classic head unit will drive an amplifier will lead the speakers Although the MP3 player, mobile phone and tablet computer can drive an amplifier directly via the headphone jack, they are often connected to the amplifier via a standard head unit with auxiliary inputs, the type of entries dedicated iPhone, USB data inputs or via a Bluetooth wireless connection.
A quick note on OEM head units If you are considering replacing an OEM head unit, you should do research forum for the type of vehicle you are usually a good place to start Some vehicles use the head unit OEM Chimes different functions, warnings, on-Star in general, most OEM features can be preserved but this adds 200 or more for installation kits, interfaces, work If you have the new unit head installed instead of doing it yourself, knowing that your car will allow you to be a little more confident that the seller is not trying to scam you.
Digital Media Receivers In the past, CDs were the media of choice, but the true art today, almost everyone opts for digital media typically via USB, iPod, flash drive the USB head units manufacturers now offer CD players without head units for many people, this is a good choice There's no point in paying for a CD that you will not use digital media receivers can be purchased for under $ 100 most of those at or near 100 integrated 4 channel amplifiers, preamp outputs 4, multiband equalizer, wireless remote controls and options for the satellite or HD radio.
Most power head units connections have two power input connections, which are connected to a source of 12 volt battery or a memory wire must be connected to a constant current source has power on it at all times - even when the ignition switch is in the off position the other of the ignition wire feed wire is connected to a power source that s controlled by the ignition switch and therefore will power over it when the ignition switch is on the oN position or access most of son on standardized codes use head units of color for most son son for special functions can not adhere to standard color codes if the son aren t labeled or unlabeled, you may have to consult the owner's manual.
The diagram below shows some of the son that are commonly found on the head units aftermarket.
speaker level outputs Most head units have speaker level outputs that are designed to drive four loudspeakers The power output of a high power head unit is usually limited by the voltage which is available usually no more than 14V DC This limits the output power RMS to about 20 watts per channel speaker 4 ohms per channel generally, manufacturers who claim that their head units can produce 30 watts or more real power 4 ohms are you misleading or outright lying There are some head units using integrated circuits can produce a little more power because the integrated circuit has the ability to increase the supply voltage, but those -ci are rare When looking at the power levels, consider that the ratings are the CEA-2006 compliant for example, the following is the owner's manual p our one-136BT Alpine CDE on the Alpine website, it indicates that the MAX power is 50x4 and if that's all they give for powers, it would be misleading if you read all the specifications, you can e the CEA-2006 compliant rating is 18x4 14 4V DC.
Note on high power units, internal audio amplifier will be instantly damaged if a speaker lead is ok to contact anything except a speaker terminal, even if the volume is set to zero damage be serious enough that the head unit must be repaired before using the repair cost is often more than 100 which makes most head units uneconomical budget repair Make sure there are not the device during any connection to the This link explains why the outputs will be damaged if they contact the ground.
When installing speakers in the doors of your vehicle, you must ensure that the terminals can not contact the door That land speaker level outputs from the head unit and unit head will be damaged during insertion of the speaker in the door, look at the point where the speaker terminals will be when the speaker is installed and bolted down, if possible, reach behind the speaker and make sure there is space around the terminals also sure that the speaker, it is the terminals and wiring is clear the window and the parts that move when the window is minimized this is important because the units head are often damaged when people do not think about all the possible scenarios.
When a head unit internal amplifier, it will sometimes cause the head unit to blow the fuses If more than the recommended fuse fuse is used, it will sometimes blow the son of the internal amplifier IC and sometimes it will cause serious damage to the head unit so that you should not try fuse more There is no reason that a fuse that its perfectly for days months years suddenly need to be less that there is a serious problem for those times when the internal amp falls down but doesn t blow the fuse to blow, it will obviously cause speaker level outputs to stop working, but in some head units Pioneer in most cases, it will turn on the remote control to stop the production output If this happens, you can connect the remote control that goes to the amplifiers to the red wire of the unit head This works fairly well, but sometimes causes a pop when the head unit is turned on or off with the power button on the head unit when the ignition is on or access to the position.
level outputs Preamp Preamp Outputs are audio outputs are used to drive an amplifier or equalizer or output level preamplifier crossover does not have enough output current to enable them to drive speakers directly They are usually included in the high-end equipment in virtually all cases, they have RCA type connectors Some units will have one set of preamp outputs would probably be a rear exit other units have multiple pairs of outputs for the front, the rear and subwoofer signals Some head units allow to pass from a passive low-pass filter in the rear outputs to convert them to a subwoofer output.
The next head unit has some features than the previous model This is a mid-range head unit Pioneer AVH-P2400BT It has dedicated outputs back in front as you can see, there are other connectors These will be covered in the next sections.
RCA cables and shield ground Do not let a 12-volt power source to come into contact with the shielding metal outer part RCA cables The shield is grounded to the case of the head unit, is the reference for the audio preamps it comes in contact with a power source, the ground connection inside the head unit is damaged it can cause many problems including blown tweeters, noise engine, lack of bass Pioneer head units are particularly sensitive to that Pioneer uses a fuse shield ground fuse helps protect the vehicle of a people condemn Pioneer fire power for this, but Pioneer has actually done a lot of them a favor by preventing an electrical fire If this happens, you can temporarily restore the connection to the ground with details of the fused jumper can be on this page.
Other inputs and outputs in the following two pictures, you can see several video taken the right, there are three two sockets for audio and one for video This is a multimedia video output source is used for the rear passenger video monitors video is disabled on the head unit when the parking brake is not unless the transmission is in reverse.
The left jack is the entrance to the rear view camera This input is activated when the vehicle is in reverse.
Even some of the leading units of low-end have multiple input options are the USB and 1 mini-RCA input 8 most common USB input can accept USB flash drives and other drives with USB connectivity Generally, records of USB devices directly to the front of the head unit like Aug. 1 RCA mini input can be on front 1 8 or the rear of the head unit the analog input will be driven by the headphone output audio device Some head units have a dedicated iPod or iPhone entry that requires a special cable Those are phased out the latest head units use the charging cable sync and the USB interface.
This is the USB front and 1 to 8 input ports on the Pioneer 2400BT When you have a USB flash drive plugged into the front panel, it is easy to damage the player or the head unit if it's accidentally hit small discs that stick just out from this kind of panel are available if you have a really large capacity drive you want to use, it can be a little less sensitive if you use a USB extension cable short he won t stick as far and is somewhat more flexible for if it is hit, it is less likely to damage the USB port of the head unit.
There are other entries on this head unit that you can not see on the lower models in the next shot, the MIC serves a dual function for normal operation, it serves the mic for phone calls to the establishment of the head unit, a special microphone is used to adjust the equalization central blue connector is the IP-BUS jack is used for HD radio tuner and Bluetooth adapter for the model below which has not integrated Bluetooth capability the black plug to the right is for a wired remote control this can be used in many ways for marine applications, there is a wired remote weather resistant which can be mounted outdoors, leaving protected head unit elements for automotive applications, you can use an interface as the SWI-PS CAP to keep using your steering wheel controls.
The yellow connector in the following image is for the navigation module Some head units have integrated navigation Others, such as this one are nav-capable and requires an external module.
There are a few years, the only types of broadcast media for car audio FM and AM broadcasts are the Now there are other options.
Radio Satellite Radio comes with satellite He needs a special receiver receivers are integrated in head units, but are generally optional and require a separate module is best known SiriusXM satellite radio provider at the time the content varies depending on the station and can be virtually anything music, sports, comedy Unlike other radio, it's uncensored if all content may not be suitable for all members of the family SiriusXM a paid service that costs 10-15 months Unlike other pay services like Pandora or Rhapsody, there are some ads on certain channels.
HD Radio HD Radio is a parallel issue with content that reflects the content of the normal transmission for HD Radio radio station is free if your head unit has a built-in tuner HD so there is no charge subscription.
HD radio and satellite can deliver CD quality sound, but the sound quality depends on the content provider in the case of HD radio, the difference in sound quality between the normal distribution of HD broadcasting can be minimal, especially if you have a good tuner and good reception in your area.
Distance or power output antenna may be one or more outputs switchable 12-volt on your head unit outputs These are generally called remote outputs They are used to control power amplifiers or power antenna If your device has only a remote output, 12 volts will be sent through it when a tuner is used audio source, CD, tape, it will warm to have 12 volts on it when the head unit is on it will have any tension when the head unit is off.
If the unit has two turn on remote son a dark blue will be for your power antenna and will have 12 volts when using the tuner There will be no tension when the head unit is switched on CD, or to is off it is so that the power antenna will drop when it is not necessary usually the second exit a dark blue with a white stripe for radios after-sales will be marked amp power amp or remotely and will have 12 volts when to switching a source is used there is a diagram of the light test page that shows the two types of outputs.
Please note that son away for equities OEM radios will be of a different color probably not blue You can refer to the following page to the color code for your vehicle.
At one point, there was no standardization for amp power antenna control son Some used white blue for Other power antenna used the solid blue for power antenna Now it is pretty standard for blue for the power antenna control wire 12v loses when ISN t tuner used and blue for control of the amplifier If there is only one output, it is likely to be blue.
Fuses Most remote outputs are switched via a very small or fragile transistor output of a costly IC This means they are easily damaged by excessive current flow Remote output lines must be fused to the vicinity of the head unit with a 5 amps fuse 1 amp fuse can not protect the switching transistor that to which the remote output does not attempt to use the remote output for power fans directly If you want to do something more than to turn on the amplifier, you must use a relay as a buffer.
In some head units, the fuses are not always seen in the case of some Pioneer head units, the fuse is hidden under a tab on the plug wiring harness in the other beams, fuses are in boxes black online with son in the manual harness for the unity of the owner's head will show you where the fuses are These can often be downloaded from the manufacturer website Crutchfield also usually the owner's manuals available for download the head units they sell or have sold for more models, Crutchfield Google and model of the head unit they won t usually come through the site search engine.
Be careful with the wiring harness Don t handle the wiring harness as it can be replaced easily or inexpensively The wiring harness for many head units can cost more than 50 and others are no longer available, it is important that you do not pull an individual wire too hard if you pull the plastic cap, it is likely to shear the locking tabs that make it difficult to keep in the cork This will, at least, be boring it could make the unit unusable head Don t cut too short when the son son If arrive at 6 or less, add more wire and for future installations, cut the thread that has been added This is particularly important for harness that inline fuses.
Share Units Factory OEM Head If you have a stock head unit and do not want to replace it, you will probably need to use a LOC line output converter It converts the speaker level signal to a level signal preamplifier Many times the COL is connected to the speaker son that feed the speakers in the rear shelf of the rear axle of the vehicle, particularly when the LOC will be used to drive an amplifier which will drive a subwoofer If the system will use several alternative amplifiers for front rear and subs, you will use 2 lines of credit and they will be installed behind the head unit If your head unit didnt integrated amplifier, it would amplifiers elsewhere in the vehicle, you have to connect the credit lines to son pregnant after amplifiers where you can get them for vehicles with s Special ystems such as the Bose system, you may need a special adapter CAP makes adapters and specific letters of credit in the system.
Speaker Output Clipping If you use a letter of credit, you need to set the gains on your amplifier so that the amplifier reaches full power before your volume control head unit reaches 1 2 volumes Most radio speaker outputs speakers begin to saturate 1 2 volumes especially if the bass is enhanced by the equalization head unit controls or tONE is much earlier than the point at which the preamp output signal begins to clip on most radios the only time I saw a preamp start to clip with the speaker output when the preamp output signal is derived from the output of the speaker using a voltage divider network type of an internal LOC This cheap was usually done on the bottom_of_the_line head units in the past and is rarely seen in the most recent head units.
If you blow a fuse when installing your head unit, consult your owner's manual the right size replacement fuse with the correct size I do not mean the physical size, I mean amperage If a manufacturer of e indicates a size of fuse, they do it for a good reason that they know what equipment and internal electronics can handle more than half of head units that I would not have maintenance in summer damaged if the appropriate fuse was used.
Unused Speaker son on the main unit if you do not use your speaker output son, cut so that there are no copper strands coming out of the isolation and tape or otherwise isolate the wire end, you might be able to pull the insulation so that it covers the end of the cut copper wire If the son of speakers on a high power radio are allowed to touch any one piece to the metal mass, the internal amplifier of the head unit will be instantly damaged mentioned before but bears repeating the following two images show that's simply been cut and had insulation shot after cutting, you can clearly see that there is less of a risk of one who was shot to short-circuit anything else.
Wiring harnesses aftermarket When installing a spare head unit, you should not cut the factory plug the factory wiring harness vehicle instead, you must purchase a replacement cable bundle which connect to the plant to operate such restraining devices such as those manufactured by Metra have each wire marked with is a function of ignition, constant battery, speakers.
You connect the beam to your radio with butt connectors or other connectors, then just plug the harness into the harness factory If you want to reinstall your factory head unit at a later date, you would be able to connect back to the factory harness.
Aftermarket wiring harness are not all head units can produce a preamp output level but for those that do, the adapter is often included with the harness.
Car Opening Size Most OEM head units and openings in the dashboard of most vehicles are compliant with DIN DIN standard specifies a single DIN radio opening is 180 mm x 50 mm x 7 2 larger openings are either DIN DIN 1 of 5 and a half or double DIN 180mm x 100mm While it is sometimes possible to mount a drive larger head in place of the OEM head unit, it is not always easy unless a pocket above or below the head unit when there are ventilation controls or above display units or below the head unit, the installation of a larger head unit requires the removal of these components that can be very difficult and time consuming for those who want great about 7 display on the head unit, but only a single DIN slot, motorized screens are available these slip out the only head unit D IN and raise to see for anyone buying one of them, I would HIGHLY suggest buying an extended warranty and purchase a a t hat manufacturers sell spare parts Pioneer, Alpine, Sony, Kenwood The other option is to buy one that is so cheap that you simply replace when it breaks and they break quite often.
Increasing the useful life of your unit head There are a few things you can do to help prolong the life of your head unit One of the most common failures of head units is worn tact switches switches click when you press the buttons to extend the life of these, there are two things you can do first, don t unnecessarily, repeatedly press the buttons many people make to the volume or go through the radio station presets If you wear on one of the buttons and glue it in the down position, it can cause the rest of the buttons do not work the microcontroller can accept only one command at a time and if a switch is blocked in the lower position, it locks the rest of the rotary encoders buttons used for volume controls on head units which have volume controls that rotate over 360 are switches and also may wear more use makes them wear out faster Many people consider a remote control for a car audio head unit to be useless or only fo r those who are too lazy to reach for the head unit, but in using the remote control saves the switches and appearance of the head unit can replace most remotes for less than 50 which is much less than repairing switches in front of a head unit.
If you have a head unit that has a motorized fold or face also applies to some head units that have a face that folds down to allow access to the CD loading slot, it almost certainly uses ribbon cables to connect the main board face These If you wear constantly open and close the face or the face opens and closes or moves in any way whenever you turn on the head unit, wait for the tape the face of displacement failure less often increase the life of tape when the tape is running, functions of some buttons or other aspect of the face become intermittent operation and the head unit will eventually become inoperative You can usually buy flat cables for about 20 to the most common ribbon cable If you have to replace it with a repair shop, expect to pay about 100 .
SECURING unit head There are several ways to mount the head units aftermarket The most universal way to mount a head unit with the sleeve that's included with most head units sleeves have several 10- tabs 20 which are folded behind the dashboard after the sleeve is inserted into the panel most sleeves are made to specific units of the head or at least for the specific lines of head units and not adapt to these head units properly when using this type of installation, it is often necessary to use a backstrap for additional support to the back of the head unit when using a backstrap, you will need to screw on the back Don the head unit does use a screw that is too long, you should engage son 4-5 in most long screws may damage the DVD mechanism CD or printed circuit boards which could make the serviceable head unit.
Most races were locking tabs so that the head unit can not be removed or fall out of the sleeve To remove the keys supplied with the head unit is needed to unlock the head unit A key is inserted on each side of the trim ring head unit removed and then removed in some cases, after the insertion of the key, the head unit must be removed to release the key.
The best way is to get a head unit is to use the ISO supports the original head unit used or can be purchased from one of the installation kit manufacturers like Metra These go up on the sides of the radio in holes which are arranged in the same pattern as those of the OEM head unit When using these mounting holes, it is very important that you do not use screws longer than those that were used in the original head unit, those included in the head unit after sales or supplied with the kit screws and long may easily be led by a card printed or CD in the DVD mechanism circuit that could make the head unit with a clipboard without warranty cover this type of damage on the side of the next head unit, you can see that the holes are labeled M, T, N These marks indicate the OEM Mitsubishi, Toyota, Ni FNSS and OEM support for your vehicle should be aligned with the corresponding holes when mounting this way, the head unit will almost certainly be positioned correctly in the opening in the dashboard bezel The head unit of trim ring should cover the gaps around the head unit.
Reset Button On most head units, there is a reset button Sometimes when the power is off to the yellow wire constant power to the head unit on most head units, the microcontroller can get confused and the head unit won t power up If this happens, push the reset button can sometimes reset the processor and allow the head unit works properly Keep in mind that this will erase all memory of the head unit you lose any radio station presets, EQ settings, crossover settings so it shouldn t be done without some troubleshooting Check that the head unit is both constant and switching voltage on the yellow and red son also make sure he has a good ground the reset button is usually barely visible and sometimes behind the folding face e the head unit not some brands All you see is a small 1 button 16 which is flush with the panel or sometimes slightly behind.
Another way to reset the head unit is to remove the power of this This happens almost immediately for most head units, but sometimes it takes a little more hardly any head unit will take more a minute to be reset, it is important that you understand this will reset all settings because some people will start crossovers, EQ setting, the clock before completely installed head unit If they are disconnected from power to carry the son the way they should be, all settings will be lost.
unit head, head unit, main unit.
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