Many new cars and trucks don’t come with a CD player. Music stored on our smartphones and the multitude of streaming audio services has, sadly, made compact disc technology almost obsolete. If you still have an extensive collection of discs, your local specialty mobile electronics retailer has a variety of add-on solutions to make it easy for you to enjoy your favorite music.

What Happened to the Compact Disc?

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, sales of compact discs peaked at just under 1 billion units in both 2000 and 2001. One of the key factors in the subsequent decrease in CD sales was the advent of peer-to-peer file sharing through programs like Napster. At the same time, the Apple iPod launched in 2001 and by 2005, iTunes song sales exceeded CD sales in Tower Records and Borders. The next hit was the advent of music streaming services like Pandora (based on the Music Genome Project) and Spotify. CD sales have now dropped to a level similar to that of 1986, and it’s reported that the sales of vinyl records have exceeded that of the compact disc.

Seeing this trend, vehicle manufacturers like Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Mazda, Subaru, Honda, Kia and Jeep have omitted a compact disc mechanism in their new vehicles. This omission not only reduces the cost of the infotainment system, but it also opens up valuable space in the center stack (the portion of the car dash that extends down to the center console) for larger displays.

Can You Add a CD Player?

Several companies have created add-on CD player solutions that connect to your factory radio using the USB port. These devices are special and uniquely distinct from a computer USB drive like an Apple SuperDrive or something from Asus or LG. The primary difference is that the software in the vehicle-specific drives is programmed to make the car radio think it’s connected to a media player. The audio tracks on your compact disc are presented to the radio in the same format as you’d find MP3 files on a USB memory stick.

Secondly, automotive compact disc mechanisms include suspensions that help reduce the chances of skipping and drop-outs as the vehicle goes over bumps.

Once the device is installed, you can slide a disc into the player and select the USB media source option on your factory radio. The tracks on the CD will show up the same way as if they were stored on a memory stick. It’s worth noting that you are unlikely to see the album, artist and song name on the screen.

Upgrade Your Car Stereo System Today

Whether you want to add a CD player or SiriusXM satellite radio, your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer will probably have a solution for your needs. Drop by and let them know what’s missing. They’ll do their best to help you out!

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

If you’ve been following the changes in the mobile enhancement industry over the past few years, then you’re familiar with the steady progression of new floating-face radios. These radios feature an oversized touchscreen that mounts in front of a standard radio chassis to provide big-screen entertainment without the need for extensive and often expensive modifications to your vehicle.

Single-DIN Multimedia Receiver Screen Sizes

Around 1986, the first single-DIN flip-out multimedia receivers hit the market with a 5-inch color display. Many of these units required that the user flip the screen up manually once it extended from the dash.

Through the ’90s and 2000s, all the top head unit manufacturers had created fully motorized flip-out-display multimedia receivers with screen sizes up to 7 inches. These receivers featured touchscreen overlays that made selecting entertainment options quick and easy. Many of these radios also included GPS-based navigation systems and, in later years, support for playback of digital video formats like MPG and WMV and, of course, dedicated video inputs for backup cameras.

If your car or truck only had room for a single-DIN chassis, these radios or extensive modifications to your vehicle were your only options for adding a video screen to your dash.

Floating-Face Radio Solutions

As our industry has slowly moved away from the need for CD and DVD mechanisms in multimedia receivers in favor of support for digital formats, manufacturers have been able to shrink the size of the radio chassis. Expanding on these reduced hardware requirements on the radio has allowed companies like Sony, Alpine and Pioneer to graft oversized displays onto the single-DIN chassis to make viewing and controlling the devices even easier.

Taking their cues from such companies as Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and Tesla, these displays range in sizes from 8 to 11 inches.

Flexible Mounting for a Perfect Fit

Each manufacturer provides a number of mounting options to ensure that these large-screen radios will fit nicely and look good in the dash of your vehicle. The Sony XAV-AX8000, for example, includes 20 degrees of tilt angle adjustment, 20 mm of fore and aft flexibility and three vertical mounting options.

One thing you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing one of these solutions is screen stability. You want something that is rock solid. You don’t want the screen vibrating while you drive, and it needs to be solid and stable when you press on the touch interface to make a menu or source selection.

Upgrade Your Mobile Entertainment System Today

If you’ve been eyeing a new multimedia receiver for your car or truck, drop by your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer today and ask about the new generation of floating-face multimedia radios. The staff there can help you choose a solution that has the features and options you want, then arrange to integrate the system into your vehicle to make your commute to or from work or school even more enjoyable.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

If you visit a new car dealership these days, you’ll notice more and more cars, trucks and SUVs with small touchscreen displays that are mounted in front of or above the dash. While these infotainment systems provide you with AM/FM terrestrial radio, SiriusXM Satellite radio and playback of all your favorite digital media files, these systems aren’t traditional car radios in the classic sense of the word. Confused? There’s no need to be; we’ll explain.

What is a Classic Car Radio?

For decades, the standard for car radios was a chassis that measured roughly 2 inches in height and 7 inches in width. This standard, known as ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 7736, was based on DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) 75490 or 180 mm by 50 mm. Although never popular in North American vehicles, ISO 10487 defined a set of standards for radio connectors and wire harness colors. The colors are used by all aftermarket radio manufacturers, but few adopted the connectors due to their large size.

Contained within these tight confines is a power supply, an AM/FM receiver and, depending on your age, possible a cassette player, a CD mechanism, along with support for digital media playback by USB or a combination of these technologies.

Where is the Radio in My New Car?

If you were to look for the “radio” in a new car, you might find a metal box with two or three multi-pin connectors on it. There isn’t likely to be a display affixed to the box, nor any controls. Referred to by Japanese head unit manufacturers as a “silver box” design, these radio modules interface with the controls and displays already built into the dash, center console and steering wheel of your vehicle. Depending on the design of your vehicle, these silver boxes may be mounted in the dash, under a seat or in the cargo area of the vehicle.

How Can I Upgrade My Car Stereo?

If you happen to have purchased a vehicle that is designed around a silver box radio, you can still upgrade your car stereo system. You won’t be starting with a new radio. Your upgrade will come in the form of better speakers, more-powerful amplifiers, a subwoofer or a digital signal processor. In the hands of a properly trained mobile enhancement retailer, every aspect of the listening experience in your car can be improved: clarity, detail, tonal balance, low-frequency extension and — of course — overall volume level. You just have to explain your goals and let their expertise guide you to the end goal.

What If I Want to Upgrade the Technology in My Vehicle?

Say, for example, that your vehicle didn’t come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Companies like NAV-TV offer upgrades for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Lexus and Range Rover vehicles to add these smartphone interface technologies. More applications are always in the works.

Likewise, companies like VAIS Technology offer Satellite Radio interfaces that work with Toyota, Scion, Honda, Hyundai, Ford, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat, Nissan, Mazda, Porsche, Chevrolet, GMC, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo and Subaru factory radios. They also have Bluetooth add-on modules for many Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

Finally, if your new vehicle didn’t come with a CD player, companies like Automotive Integration Solutions (AIS) have add-on solutions that work with your USB port.

Upgrade Your Car Stereo Today!

If the entertainment system that came with your vehicle doesn’t offer the features or performance you want, drop by your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer today to find out how it can be improved. They’d be happy to make your commute to work or school a little more enjoyable through new infotainment options.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

If you are a fan of upgraded car audio systems, then you might have noticed that technology has made things a lot more complicated. Years ago, it was easy to upgrade your stereo. A new radio, some new speakers and maybe a subwoofer like a Bazooka Tube were all you needed to improve on the factory sound system. Since 2010 (depending on the vehicle), even mid-level OEM audio systems have been able to rival or exceed what would have been deemed an upgrade years ago. While still a long way from what creates a true audiophile-grade listening experience, the technology used to achieve impressive performance levels has made upgrading things challenging.

Why are OEM Audio Systems So Complicated?

Vehicle manufacturers are in a constant battle with the laws of physics to provide their clients with the most performance, comfort, features and fuel economy for their dollar. Smaller turbocharged engines with fuel injection have more than doubled fuel economy as compared to the big carbureted V8s from the ’60s. Blind-spot monitoring and anti-lock braking systems help us prevent accidents. When it comes to audio systems, compact Class-D amplifiers with integrated digital signal processing allow OEM audio suppliers like Harman, Bose and Panasonic to deliver impressive audio performance from a compact, lightweight package.

The technology in these audio systems not only sounds OK at low and moderate volume levels, depending on the vehicle, but can also provide realistic imaging and staging from both front seats. Until a few years ago, the car audio aftermarket couldn’t deliver the same two-seat performance without a complex and potentially costly installation.

Upgrade Your Factory Stereo with a Subwoofer

If you have a complex sound system that includes a center channel or any sort of 3D processing features, your local car stereo shop can still upgrade the system for better sound. The first step would be to add a subwoofer. Very few (if any) systems can’t benefit from better bass performance with extended low-frequency performance that a subwoofer can provide. If you are imagining a large enclosure in the trunk of your car, don’t fret. Today, most upgrades can be concealed in the spare tirewell, behind or under the rear seat in a truck, or in a trim panel in the cargo area of an SUV.

Crank the Volume with a High-Power Amplifier

If you want the system to play louder, then adding a multi-channel amplifier with an integrated digital signal processor is a good starting point. A new six-channel with DSP amp can deliver as much as 150 watts of power to the front speakers to ensure you never run out of juice when you crank up the volume. Most of these amplifiers have provisions for a subwoofer amplifier with a processed signal so your installer can tune the subwoofer once it’s added to the system.

If you’d added an amplifier and some tuning capability, then upgrading the system with new speakers is the icing on the cake in terms of getting great sound. Truly high-quality speakers include features like copper or aluminum shorting rings, copper T-yoke caps, and flat-wound voice coils to reduce distortion and improve clarity. When paired with a quality amplifier and tuned to compensate for the acoustics of your vehicle, new speakers will transform the listening experience into something truly amazing.

Factory Amplifier Replacement Interfaces

Companies like NAV-TV, Metra, PAC and mObridge offer interfaces that allow your installer to replace a factory amplifier and open up complete flexibility in terms of designing a new audio system. If you want to eliminate the signal processing that came with the factory stereo and pick your amplifiers and processors, then one of these interfaces is a perfect starting point. The interfaces work with many factory-installed audio systems that use MOST, A2B and CAN communication protocols and will typically eliminate Active Noise Control (ANC) and systems that inject engine sounds into the audio system.

Embrace Modern Car Audio Technology

Even though modern automotive infotainment systems have become exceedingly complex, your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer can take the best of what the vehicle manufacturer provided and spice it up with a subwoofer, new amplifier and better speakers. If the stereo in your car or truck doesn’t put a smile on your face, drop by a local shop and see what they can do to help!

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.