Table of Contents
- View The Best Double Din Head Unit Below
- 1. Pioneer AVH-210EX 2-DIN Touchscreen DVD Receiver
- 2. Kenwood DMX7704S 2-DIN Digital Media Receiver
- 3. Yakalla Double Din Head Unit Car Stereo Audio Systems
- 4. Hieha Digital Multimedia Universal Car Stereo
- 5. Pioneer AVH-200EX Double DIN Car Stereo Receiver
- 6. Pioneer AVH-310EX Double DIN Touchscreen Display Digital Multimedia Car Stereo Receiver
- 7. ATOTO Double Din Android Car Navigation Stereo
- 8. BOSS Audio BVCP9685A Double Din Car Stereo
- 9. COREHAN Double Din Android Car Stereo
- 10. SARCCH Double Din Car Stereo
- Double Din Head Unit Buyer’s Guide
There are many out there, but which is the best double din head unit on the market right now? And which is the right one for you?
To help you decide, we have compiled a list of the ten best of these products that we could find, along with a buyer’s guide to aid in directing your thoughts about which might be the most applicable for your needs.
We hope you find this guide useful.
What is a Double Din Head Unit?
When you read the word “din,” it actually refers to the physical size of the head unit that you want to install, as you look at it from the front. The recognized size for a double din head unit is 7 x 4 inches.
Although it sounds kind of complex, “din” doesn’t refer to anything electrical. “DIN” stands for “Deutsches Institut für Normung,” which is German for “German Institute for Standardization.” It simply refers to a recognized standard. This is a standard that can be applied to absolutely anything, not just in the automotive industry.
For example, DIN 476 is the standard for international paper sizes, and DIN 31635 is the standard for the transliteration of the Arabic language. The DIN for automotive dashboard-mounted head units (the “double din” referred to in the title and throughout this article) is DIN 75490, also referred to as ISO 7736 (“ISO” stands for “International Organization for Standardization.“)
You may also hear about single din stereos and head units. So what is the difference between a single din and a double din?
It’s quite simple, really. A single din head unit will measure 7 x 2 inches (that is, 7 inches wide and 2 inches high). A double din unit is the same width, but twice the height: 7 x 4 inches.
The category of a double din head unit refers to its size: 7 x 4 inches. This is the measurement (to a close degree of accuracy) of all the products that we have listed below.
You should note that just because the unit itself might be 7 x 4 inches, it doesn’t necessarily mean the screen itself is. Often, screens do not fill the entire front of the unit; the screen could be as small as six inches, or even smaller in some cases!
View The Best Double Din Head Unit Below
1. Pioneer AVH-210EX 2-DIN Touchscreen DVD Receiver
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We have selected this product as the overall best in this range.
It features built-in Bluetooth and many other useful features such as USB and DVD input sources. Audio can be streamed and controlled by this device.
There is also the capability to wire a back-up rearview camera if you so desire.
Pioneer is a well-respected company that produces many high-quality products in the audio industry. If you have read some of our other lists, you will notice that we often feature Pioneer products due to how well-used and trusted they are around the world.
Pros:
+ Bluetooth connectivity to your phone
+ You can listen to music from a CD, USB input, or from your phone via Bluetooth
+ It is possible to wire up a rearview camera if you have one
Why We Liked It – We chose this as one of the best double din head units available due to the reliable reputation of Pioneer, as well as multiple methods for listening to your media.
2. Kenwood DMX7704S 2-DIN Digital Media Receiver
This double din head unit is one of the best quality head units available. Its sleek design gives the interior of your car a feeling of luxury. The 6.95-inch screen has many useful features. From this, you can control your phone, music, and cameras in your car.
With dedicated channels for Spotify and Pandora, this head unit is made for music. Although it doesn’t have a CD receiver, it does feature two USB ports and a direct iPhone or iPod USB connection, as well as Bluetooth wireless connectivity. In terms of practicality, you get both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with this head unit, making it compatible with an incredible 86% of American smartphone users (Apple or Android devices). Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be touched on in the buyer’s guide of this article, so be sure to check it out if these phrases are new to you.
A touch panel on the bottom controls this product, as you look at it, with 21 available languages to choose from, and a customizable background.
Pros:
+ Bluetooth and USB connectivity
+ Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
+ 21 available languages
+ Touch panel to control the device
Why We Liked It – We chose this as the best unit available for quality due to its wide array of features and high-quality display. If it’s something professional-looking you’re after, you may want to get this one.
3. Yakalla Double Din Head Unit Car Stereo Audio Systems
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This Yakalla double din head unit comes with a reversing camera included for free, making it one of the best value products you can get.
This product measures seven inches x 4 inches (being a double din) and is about 2.5 inches deep. You can connect up your phone using Bluetooth to make hands-free calls. You can also connect via a USB port, memory card, or aux cord. If the music on your phone isn’t what you feel like listening to right now, you can always use features, such as the FM radio tuner, to listen to music the traditional way.
You can use this head unit for navigation, too, by connecting up your phone. It does not contain a GPS navigation unit directly itself. It’s compatible with Android 9.0 or the iPhone 8 and below, although the company is working on developing this to make it compatible with newer models in the future.
Pros:
+ Built-in Bluetooth connectivity
+ Works with up to Android 9.0 and iPhone 8
+ Free backup camera included
+ USB port, memory card, aux cord input, FM radio
Why We Liked It – We selected this product as the best value double din head unit because it’s fully functional and will do all the base things anyone could want. If all you need is a quick replacement head unit, this could be ideal for you. It’s not just the basic thing as well; the included backup camera gives it a touch of class.
4. Hieha Digital Multimedia Universal Car Stereo
This head unit, marketed as a car stereo, also features built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling. Like many other head units, there is also the possibility to connect in a rear camera. This image pops up on the screen as soon as you shift into reverse. There are also steering wheel controls that come with the product; you can install them to make driving safer, giving you the ability to concentrate on the road better.
Also included in this package is a remote control – this means that other passengers can control the music from the passenger seat or the back of the car without leaning forwards and distracting you.
The Hieha car stereo (head unit) is compatible with Android 9.0, the iPhone 8 series and below, and also the iPhone XR.
Pros:
+ Bluetooth for hands-free calls
+ Remote control included
+ Steering wheel controls included
+ Backup camera connectivity possible
+ A good resolution of the screen
Why We Liked It – We chose to add this head unit to our list because it’s also one of the best value products available, coming very close to the Yakalla unit mentioned above. Although this features steering wheel controls and a remote control, as well as being compatible with the iPhone XR, the Yakalla comes with a rear camera, which is why we have selected it as the best value product. This Hieha unit, however, is also a fantastic value product. If you feel more inclined towards the benefits that this one offers, we advise looking into it in even more detail.
5. Pioneer AVH-200EX Double DIN Car Stereo Receiver
Here we have another Pioneer product on our list again (and not for the last time, even in this article).
The Pioneer AVH-200EX is great for hands-free calling audio streaming. You can connect up your Android phone or Apple iPhone, although direct USB connection is possible for iPhone users. Like many other products of this kind, it’s ready for a backup camera to be installed and wired up to it.
You can listen to audio and video from USB and DVD sources on the high-resolution screen. As well as this, the product is reported by customers to be relatively simple to install on most cars, with non-faulty Bluetooth connections and not much lag while in use.
Features, such as Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, are not included.
Pros:
+ Bluetooth connectivity
+ USB port and DVD input sources
+ Ready for the rearview camera (not included)
+ Touch screen
Why We Liked It – We love Pioneer units because they are some of the best aftermarket head units you can get.
6. Pioneer AVH-310EX Double DIN Touchscreen Display Digital Multimedia Car Stereo Receiver
Also from Pioneer, the AVH-310EX features a 6.8-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling and audio streaming. The colors of the display are customizable to whatever you want it to look like.
Connect to this unit using your Android phone or Apple iPhone, although it should be noted that you must have at least an iPhone 5, and the phone may not be compatible with this unit, depending on its iOS version.
When you are playing audio from this unit, you can use sources such as the DVD/CD player, USB port input, and AM/FM radio tuner. This comes with 18 presets for FM radio, and six presets for AM.
This product is also ready for a backup camera if you have one to install (it doesn’t come included in the package). To sweeten the deal, you’ll also get a free pair of Alphasonik earphones included with this product.
Pros:
+ Bluetooth connectivity for calling and audio streaming
+ USB and DVD/CD receiver inputs
+ AM/FM radio
+ Rearview camera-ready (camera not included)
+ Alphasonik earphones included
Why We Liked It – This head unit from Pioneer features a great, easy to use touch screen, so it appears aesthetic and professional and has everything you need, from a basic head unit to stream music and control the car audio that you get from your speakers.
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This ATOTO head unit uses the Android Marshmallow operating system (Android 6.0 OS), and the firmware is constantly updated. Although it doesn’t have a CD /DVD player, you can still listen to all your favorite music using the FM/AM radio, aux input, and Bluetooth connectivity.
This double din head unit comes with steering wheel controls included for the safest, most hands-free experience possible while you are driving. With a built-in WiFi module, you can connect to the internet using the WiFi at home or hotspot from your phone to keep the unit up to date. It also features a built-in microphone for clear audio when you get or make a phone call.
In terms of navigation, Google Maps is pre-installed, and data from the maps can be downloaded so the maps can be used while offline. This is always recommended in case of a long countryside journey.
Like all the other products on this list, this unit is rearview camera compatible.
Pros:
+ Android operating system
+ Connect via Bluetooth, USB, aux, and SD card
+ FM/AM radio
+ Google Maps pre-installed
+ Rearview camera compatible
Why We Liked It – We chose to add this ATOTO head unit to our list because it has many impressive features. For one, the operating system (Android 6.0 “Marshmallow”) is tried and tested, and the firmware is being consistently updated. The steering wheel controls and trusted Google Maps application are also being pluses in our book.
8. BOSS Audio BVCP9685A Double Din Car Stereo
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This double din stereo produced by BOSS features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (as previously mentioned, more on those in the buyer’s guide). You can use Siri or Google Assistant to make sure that you concentrate on your driving and leave all the unnecessary distractions to your virtual assistant.
You can get your favorite map applications synced with this unit, such as Apple Maps or Google Maps. iTunes and Apple Music can be played, as well as popular applications such as Spotify and Pandora. All this can also be controlled with Bluetooth, which, of course, is also included.
The touch screen measures 6.75 inches long and is very responsive, not often lagging out. You can get connected to this unit using the AV input or USB port. Although a CD receiver is not included as part of this product, an external CD/DVD player can be connected up using the AV input if you have discs you want to play.
When you are reversing, the BVCP9685A reduces the audio output from the speakers in your car, meaning you can concentrate better on what you are doing.
Pros:
+ Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
+ Map applications (connect to phone)
+ Spotify, Pandora, Whatsapp, and many other apps available
+ 6.75-inch responsive touch screen
Why We Liked It – We liked this unit for how professional it is, with good response times from the screen itself and a wide range of digital media features.
9. COREHAN Double Din Android Car Stereo
This COREHAN double din car stereo runs off the Android 7.0 operating system, with 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of memory (ROM). It features built-in modules for WiFi, Bluetooth, and navigation, meaning you don’t have to connect a phone to use it as a satellite navigation system. The 7-inch screen also supports connection to headrest screens in the rear of the car. If you have any or are wanting to install any, this is perfect for that.
Connect to this unit using a USB flash drive, micro SD card, or, of course, Bluetooth, through which you can play any audio and video you want to. You can also connect to this unit using the mirror link feature from your phone.
Detailed instructions for installation are included to make it as simple as possible for you to install this in your car by yourself.
Pros:
+ Connect via Bluetooth, USB, micro SD card, or mirror link
+ 7-inch screen
+ Built-in navigation module, so you do not need to be as reliant on your phone
+ Detailed installation instructions included
Why We Liked It – We like this product because of its simple reliability. It does everything you might want from a head unit and runs off the ever-reliable Android 7.0 operating system. The built-in navigation system is also a big selling point of this product, as it means you will not have to be as dependent on your phone’s map applications, should the situation arise.
10. SARCCH Double Din Car Stereo
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Finally, we come to this product from SARCCH. This double din features a free rear camera that you can install and connect up to the head unit for extra visibility while reversing.
Connect your Android or Apple phone (Android 9.0 or below, iPhone 8+ or below) to stream music or make hands-free calls, for which a microphone also comes included. You can connect your phone to this unit using Bluetooth or USB. Other input sources include the TF memory card, aux-in, and FM radio, with presets.
You can also get a remote control and steering wheel controls with this unit.
The output voltage of the amplifiers is 60 Watts, an amount that is more than decent for one of the best value head units on the market.
Pros:
+ Rearview camera included
+ Connect with Bluetooth, USB, memory card, and other input sources
+ Hands-free calling
Why We Liked It – With many different options for audio input and decent output power from the amplifiers, the main selling point of this unit is the free rearview camera that comes included in the package.
Double Din Head Unit Buyer’s Guide
What’s the Best Head Unit for Sound Quality?
A head unit will not necessarily improve sound quality, as explained in the next section of this buyer’s guide, entitled “Will a Head Unit Improve Sound Quality?” In fact, they may even slightly worsen sound quality if you aren’t careful!
As we go on to explain in the section following this, the main thing you want to look at if you’re buying a new head unit with audio quality in mind as a priority is the rating of the amplifiers included in the head unit. Head unit amplifiers are rarely very powerful though and you are more likely to need to install an external amplifier and new speakers to see any kind of dramatic increase in sound quality.
If it is important to you, though, to give yourself the best starting point for working with your car’s sound system, find a head unit with the highest rated amplifiers that you can. This will give you a good building block from which to build up the sound quality by replacing and adding to other parts of the audio system.
Will a Head Unit Improve Sound Quality?
It’s certainly possible for a new head unit to improve sound quality, but the main changes for adding to sound quality come from installing external amplifiers and higher quality speakers.
It’s best to start at the speaker and work backward. If you think about it, the sound actually comes from the speakers, and so these should be your priority when looking for improved audio quality. Find a speaker that you want to install to improve audio quality. In general, the bigger – physically – and the higher Wattage, the clearer the sound is likely to be, especially in the bass ranges that smaller speakers often struggle with. It’s not the easiest thing in the world, but we have compiled a list of the best top ten best car speakers on our website, too, if that is something you would like to check out.
Once you know what Wattage you need, for aftermarket speakers, you are almost certain to need also to install an external amplifier, as the amplifiers in the head unit often do not support high enough voltages for the speakers. More information can be found in the “Top 10 best Speakers Article.”
So, overall, installing a new head unit may improve audio quality to some extent. Still, if this is all you change in the car audio system, it’s unlikely to make a dramatic difference. The reason that there may be a slight improvement is if the amplifiers contained in the new head unit have a higher rating than the amplifiers in the old one. This will allow slightly more power to get to the speakers, and therefore there is a possibility of a slight improvement in sound quality.
Of course, if you aren’t careful, then the amplifiers in the new head unit might have a lower rating than those in the old, in which case less power will be going to your speakers, and therefore the audio quality might get worse! If the reason you are changing your head unit is primarily for an upgrade to the car audio system, you should prioritize the ratings of the amplifiers.
Who Makes the Best Head Unit?
As you can see, the best double din head units that we have chosen are made by Pioneer (for the best overall), Kenwood (for the best quality), and Yakalla (for the best value). It is definitely also worth mentioning BOSS Audio. BOSS Audio produces some very high-quality products, and the head units they come up with are no exception.
If you are looking for a high-quality, top of the range, impressive model, we would primarily recommend Kenwood and BOSS.
As with everything, “best” is a subjective word. The best double din head units for you may be different from the best one for somebody else. We will explore that the best head unit for you might be later in this buyer’s guide, under the title “How Do I Decide What the Best Double Din Head Unit For Me Is?”
What is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are systems that have been set up by Apple and Android. You will almost certainly be familiar with these technology companies, or at least have heard of them before. These are sort of operating systems for use when you are in the car.
Certain head units have them, and some don’t. On some, you can install either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto using a dongle.
These features are particularly important while driving to many people who might be tempted to be distracted by their smartphone. 86% of the American population uses either an Apple phone (45%) or an Android phone (41%). Apple CarPlay and Android Auto respectively help to simplify the information coming through on your phone as it appears on the screen of the head unit.
Voice commands can then be used to control and respond to this information, such as skipping audio tracks, making phone calls, or replying to texts, so that you don’t get distracted (or at least as minimally as possible) from your driving and focusing on the road.
How Do I Decide What the Best Double Din Head Unit For Me Is?
What do I need it to do? – This question (as always) should help you narrow down your selection the most. Some people might simply be after a cheap replacement for their old, broken system. Some might be looking to upgrade the factory model and install something completely new and different. If you need your new head unit to look professional and process information as quickly as possible, without lags, then you will want to be spending a bit more money than if you are after a cheaper one.
Are you looking to impress others? Or maybe you simply want to get something that can play your music out of the car speakers easily and want to avoid as much hassle as possible. You should take all of this into account when you are considering which double din head unit to purchase.
Cost – Unless you just have money to throw away, you want to spend as little as possible, but without compromising on quality (unless a compromise on quality is something you are willing to make, of course). If you are finding it difficult to choose between two double din head units, then perhaps going for the lower-cost model might help you to decide.
Aesthetics – While for most car parts, aesthetics are not usually the most prioritized of things (although they may be for some), a head unit is the blatantly obvious, back-lit piece of kit, centered in the middle of your dashboard for all to see. Sometimes, having an ugly piece of equipment can affect people’s views of your car and even of you. It might even affect you in some way to have a not-very-nice looking unit just sat there every time that you get into your car.
Also included in the category of aesthetics would be the idea of how easy it is to install. If you’re going to have to cut away bits of the dash, or do other things that might leave ugly marks behind, it could affect the overall appearance of the unit in your dashboard in other ways too. You should also think about how the screen displays information, how professional it looks, how quickly it processes information, and the depth and quality of the different colors available on the screen, if any of that matters to you.
Installation – Does it fit? This is the primary question for all car parts. Not every part fits every car. You will have to check the size of your old unit and the space it fitted into. This is as well as all the technical specifications. Some of these products will come with a mounting kit and wiring loom. Some won’t, however, and you will have to make or source your own.
Head units are usually not too difficult to install (especially in comparison to other parts of the audio systems of cars such as fitting external amplifiers) for a novice. But if you are unsure, you may want to seek professional help from an auto electrician to install it. Although you will have to pay out more money for this, the work will be insured by their own warranties in case of any electrical mistakes that cause any serious damage.
How easy it is to use? – Quite simple, really. But if you buy something that takes 20 different steps to power every time, you aren’t going to enjoy it, whether you’re after something of high quality or not. If it’s impossibly difficult to find how to play your music for every journey, or voice commands often don’t work, then you don’t want to waste your time with anything like this. We would recommend reading previous customer reviews (see below) to check whether or not this is something that might happen with the product you are looking at. You want your new car centerpiece to be easy to use, for sure.
Previous customer reviews – Previous customer reviews are incredibly useful. Although sometimes they can be skewed opinions, reading these reviews might give some possibilities of what might happen when you come to buy and install these units yourself.
Other perks and added features – Some of the products that we listed in our top ten come with some free added bonuses that may pique your interest. Some examples of these include a free reversing camera, free steering wheel controls, free remote control, or even free earphones. They are, of course, added incentives for you to purchase the product, and this is great.
We would always advise, however, that you get what you pay for with everything, and if a product seems ridiculously cheap, there is probably a reason for that. You may also want to look at what input features a head unit has, such as USB ports, aux-in jacks, micro SD cards, mirror link, Bluetooth connectivity, and more. All these might be more or less worth considering for you, depending on the devices you already have your media saved onto.
Safety While Driving
No amount of electronic safety aids make driving your car any less dangerous. If you are driving without due care and attention to the road ahead of you (as well as to the side and behind), you risk causing a crash. This leads to a potentially serious injury. Although many head units help to relieve the amounts of distraction by stopping you from looking at your phone, they do not completely remove all distractions. You’re still not paying 100% attention to the road and other road users if you are playing with your head stereo, even if it isn’t on your phone.
To be safe while driving, you should always only use your head unit when it’s safe to do so, or by using voice controls or steering wheel controls. If you have a passenger with you, it’s best to tell them what you want them to be doing for you, so that you can focus on operating the car.
Voice controls are where features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come into their own, as well as Bluetooth connectivity in general.
You should make sure you always avoid looking at the display screen while you are driving, in case you get distracted. Even taking your eyes off the road for half a second can cause a fatal accident.
Setting the music you want and the GPS before you set off in the car on your journey is the safest way to drive, meaning you have as much control of the vehicle at all times as possible. If you have to edit something or do anything complicated by using the head unit screen, we would recommend pulling over so that you don’t risk your safety or that of anyone else.
Conclusion
Double din head units (head units that measure 7 inches x 4 inches) often have very useful features. In particular, modern reversing cameras often feature on newer versions of these units, as they have seen a rise in popularity in recent years. By no means should this be a priority, but it is interesting to note.
Other features that you may want to look out for in terms of usefulness in the modern era include USB ports, aux cord inputs, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, to name just a few.
Whichever you choose to get for use in your car, we hope that this guide has helped you see what will be the best for you and your needs and that it has been useful for you in some way.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article.
