DO YOU RELY ON YOUR PHONE FOR MUSIC AND MORE?
If you use your phone for just about everything, including music, look for a receiver that features a USB port and Bluetooth®. You can play digital music files stored on your phone, and, if you have Bluetooth, stream internet radio. You can also play tunes stored on a thumb drive or plug in an MP3 player with a USB connection.
If you own a portable music player or iPod®, look for a receiver with an aux input or two. USB inputs will charge your iPod when it's connected, and offer direct audio connection for faster signal transfer. If you get a receiver with a large monitor, you'll get the added convenience of touchscreen control and easy viewing of songs and playlists, even album art and video.
If you don't use CDs anymore, we offer a number of "mechless" digital media receivers that don't even have CD players. If you still enjoy your discs (Which is totally cool!), most new CD receivers will play just about any format that fits on a disc.
IS YOUR CAR YOUR OFFICE?
Receivers that have Bluetooth® capability are really convenient if you make a lot of phone calls in your car. In most cases, you can hear callers over your speakers simply by pressing a button on your receiver. And if you have a display screen, you can see the Caller ID and dial via touchscreen. if you're a Pandora fan, you can stream your music wirelessly through the stereo.
DO YOU TRAVEL A LOT?
If you spend a lot of time in your car, you should consider investing in a new receiver with multiple inputs and a wide list of features. USB and aux jacks are essential for iPods and other devices, and Bluetooth is a great thing to have for hands-free calling and music streaming. Many receivers are SiriusXM-ready, so all you need is a subscription to start enjoying the amazing variety of commercial-free music, live sports, and talk. Best of all, you get coast-to-coast coverage so you won't ever lose a station again.
LIKE TO TAKE THE FAMILY ON LONG ROAD TRIPS?
An in-dash video receiver can change your driving experience. Or better yet, go for back seat video. Your passengers can be quietly entertained in the back seat, so you can concentrate on getting everybody there safely. Replace your headrest with one that has a built-in screen, or purchase a model that simply slides over your existing headrest. Overhead monitors, which mount on your vehicle's ceiling and fold up when not in use, are also a convenient option. Keep in mind that some DVD players also let you connect with video game systems.
AND FOR THOSE, UM, "DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED" INDIVIDUALS AMONGST US?
End the "should we stop to ask for directions?" debate by installing a GPS navigation system in your car. Just enter your destination into the trip computer and follow the voice prompts and visual directions. You can also see points of interest and updated traffic information. Most in-dash display monitors are also compatible with easy-to-install rear view cameras, which will help the "spatially challenged" avoid backing into lampposts, garage walls, and other cars.
WHAT IF I CAN'T CHANGE MY STEREO?
We also carry a wide variety of adapters and other solutions for adding most of these options to your factory stereo. Use our "Outfit My Car" tool to see what's available for your vehicle.
Finding the right receiver is easier than you think (Crutchfield Research Photo)
WHAT KIND OF BUDGET DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?
Think about how much you want to invest in your car A/V system. The goal, of course, is to get the system that you want without paying extra for features that you don't need.
Do you want to purchase everything at once, or would you rather build your system one or two pieces at a time? A gradual approach to system building can put even high-end systems within anyone's grasp.
FIND WHAT FITS YOUR VEHICLE.
You can do that right here, right now, online. Just use our vehicle selector to see which items will work for your vehicle. It's fast and totally easy.
Once you enter your vehicle information, you can search the car audio site for in-dash receivers, car speakers, and everything else that will fit your vehicle.
You can also get an idea of how easy it will be to install the gear you're considering. Keep in mind that you can stop by AutoSounds anytime to get a quote on equipment and installation and get it all done at one place.
