Hey get a new car stereo? A new car stereo will give you better sound and more playback options than the typical factory stereo. We'll discuss these topics and more while asking a few basic questions about how you use your stereo. And if you have any questions, you can contact one of our adviors at any time.

New sources for music and added functions

One of most common reasons to get a new stereo is to expand your listening options and other functionality, such as:

• Digital media playback, including high-res music files
• Android™ and iPhone® support, including Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay®
• Bluetooth® connectivity
• GPS navigation
• Support for Pandora®, Spotify®, and other app-related sources

Why do you want to replace your current stereo?

This is one of the first questions our advisors will ask when you call us. This question can help you focus on what exactly it is you’re missing and what you want to gain with a new stereo.

What fits your car?

It’s important to make sure you choose a new stereo that fits perfectly in your dash. That part’s easy — you can search your vehicle in our search tool. Enter your vehicle information. Plus, we’ll let you know about the installation kits, special adapters, and instructions that you’ll need — which we offer at a discount when you buy your new stereo from us.

How do you listen to your music?

Answering this question is the next step in selecting the right car receiver. Knowing which options are “must-haves” will help you narrow your search and focus on the features that are important to you, so that you can listen in your preferred ways:

• Music from your phone: Look for a stereo that will control your phone or that has Bluetooth® streaming capability.
• Thumb drives or music players: Most in-dash receivers feature USB inputs, so you can have a ready-to-go library of music in your car all of the time, loaded onto a thumb drive or other type of mass storage device. An auxiliary input lets you connect non-USB devices. Some receivers feature SD™ card slots, too.
• Pandora or Spotify: Many receivers let you control Pandora or Spotify when connected to your phone.
• FM radio: Radios with a low FM sensitivity do a better job of pulling in radio signals. An FM sensitivity of 8 to 12 dBf is considered very good. Be sure to look for this detail in the stereo’s description if a better-than-most AM/FM radio is high on your list.
• HD Radio™ broadcasts: Radio stations broadcasting digital signals are becoming more and more prevalent. To gain the benefits of static-free reception and better sound quality, your stereo must have an HD Radio tuner.

What are the non-music functions that you want?

Today’s car stereos can do much more than just play music. Consider other options like these.

• CarPlay and Android Auto: Touchscreen stereos do the best job of bringing your smartphone into the car. The CarPlay and Android Auto apps pull in your favorite car-centric phone services (navigation, calling, and music listening). Check out our guides to car stereos with Apple CarPlay and car stereos with Android Auto for more details.
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth connectivity gives you the freedom of hands-free calling and audio streaming when used with a compatible phone. Frankly, even if you think you don’t need this, you should probably make sure you new stereo has it.
• GPS Navigation: Stereos with built-in navigation help prevent you from getting lost (or help you find your way if you do). The navigation screen is much larger than your phone and most portable navigators. And you get the added luxury of touchscreen controls for your stereo.
• Speaking of touchscreen controls: Large screens, loads of built-in features, and easy viewability are just some of the advantages to building your audio system around a large-screen receiver. Read our article about the advantages of a touchscreen receiver to learn more.