Copy of How to & FAQ

How to Find the Right Head Unit and Double Din Head Unit Installation 

Modern technology has transformed the car’s entertainment system. Years ago, you only had a few options in terms of stereos. You chose from an endless assortment of single head units and were wowed by features like an auxiliary port or CD player.

Times have changed, and dual din head units are here to elevate your car’s infotainment experience! You can do so much beyond simply listening to music too. You can use your new dual din head unit for navigation, to view your backup camera, and more!

But what is a dual din head unit, what are the different types, and most importantly, can you install it yourself? Here’s everything you need to know.

To start out, what is a 2 din head unit? “DIN” stands for the German term, Deutsches Institut für Normung, and is the measurement standard still used today. In most cases, car stereo head units come in either single din or double din configurations. Double din units are essentially two single din units stacked on top of each other. If your vehicle already has a double din unit, replacing it should be fairly straight forward. However, if you’re upgrading from a single din unit, more intensive modifications are required.

Most people upgrade to a dual din head unit for the same reason anyone upgrades their stereo—they want newer, better features. Maybe you’d like to modernize your car and purchase a head unit with reverse camera. You might also want access to navigation while you drive so you can ditch the windshield-mounted phone holder. Another big reason to upgrade to the latest dual din head units is so you can have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in your car. There’s no right or wrong reason to upgrade your head unit, and it’s always a good idea if you have an older car with an ancient head unit.

Speaking of Apple CarPlay, what is it? Essentially, it’s like extending your iPhone to your car. You can enjoy the same iOS experience while using your favorite music streaming, messaging, and navigation apps. Siri is integrated within the system too, which means you can dictate text messages or ask for directions hands-free. If your car didn’t come standard with Apple CarPlay, buying a CarPlay head unit is a good move.

On that same note, if you have an Android phone, you can enjoy a similar experience with an Android Auto head unit. Many of the newest cars come standard with these features, but if your car is a few years old, it may not have. You don’t need to buy a new car to have these modern features! Simply buy the right head unit, install it, and you’re on your way!

This answer will vary wildly depending on who you buy the unit from, the brand, the features, and a few other factors. Some of the cheaper units might not function as well and loading apps like navigation might bog them down.

But you don’t need to spend a fortune either. You can find a wide selection of quality dual din head units between $400 to $1,000.

While everyone has their opinion on what is the best car head unit, it comes down to your budget, your desired features, and your expectations. Do you need something to play music and show navigation? Maybe you need the full Apple CarPlay experience and you want it to run smoothly. There are also additional factors like adding a backup camera to consider. Do your research, compare a few different models, and read reviews, and you should be able to find the right one for you.

If your car has existing audio controls on the steering wheel, you’re probably more than familiar with them. Unfortunately, those controls and their functionality can be lost when installing a new head unit without the vehicle specifc kit. The good news is that with the right adapter, you can likely keep them just the same and have them work with your new stereo!
 

If you’re handy with car electronics, buy the right kit for your vehicle, and read the instructions, you can likely install a new head unit (of course be sure the power to your battery is disconnected beforehand!). However, there’s no harm in hitting the search engine and searching “head unit installation near me” and getting a quote. Depending on your location and the shop, you could pay anywhere from $150 to $300. This all depends on the features of your head unit, the difficulty of the install, and if you’re adding things like a backup camera or GPS.

There’s never been a better time to purchase an aftermarket head unit! We carry a wide selection of units available with vehicle specific kits for all of the major car brands. Our kits are reliable, easy to install, and can take your infotainment experience to the next level!

A. All of our kits come with an OEM fitted fascia to ensure the original fascia remains in tact as well as a OEM harness to adapt your vehicle directly to the stereo solder and wiring free, enabling you to remove or replace the kit at any time without damaging your interior.

A. Only select models come with Car Play, check the product title & description to confirm.

A. No, all of our products are hand picked to ensure our customers are provided with the system and equipment to improve their driving experience.

A. Yes, we post Installation tutorials on our YouTube, however, if you are not sure, an auto-electrician is recommended.

A. In most cases there would be no damage done to the harness behind the stereo however if your stereo is broken due to water damage or anything else involving the harness behind the stereo there may be lasting impact on future stereos.

A. Yes, we provide a Can Bus adaptor in every pack which will allow you to integrate the system giving you complete functionality.

A. Yes, using the RCA cable available in each pack, you can directly plug or wire your woofers/amps and stereo kits directly to the stereo

 

A. Perform factory reset on the stereo.

 

A. Yes, many of our customers have informed us that the reverse camera is great for towing and parking, particularly with larger vehicles.

 

A. Ensure the camera is wired at the rear of the vehicle into a 12v power supply, and at the front wired into the accessory line on your new harness. Once done, if picture is still not visible, change the video channel while the reverse camera is active or in the settings.

 

Yes, our reverse camera come with built in LED lights which active when the camera is turned on, allowing you to see anything that might be in the dark!