It is estimated that the average human will spend up to 4 year’s worth of time in their car. Be it traveling to relatives or commuting to work, it is very likely that you drive a lot and will continue to drive a lot for the rest of your life. If you’re going to spend so much time driving, you’ll need something to keep you entertained: music.
There is no better way to supply the music you want, the way you want it than a double din head unit. For a 4 year long drive, you deserve more than a mediocre unit; what you need is the best double din head unit.
The double DIN head unit functions similarly to the single DIN head unit, but the aptly named double DIN is twice as large. The international standard for single head units is 7 x 2 inches, but the double DIN measures 7 x 4 inches giving it more internal space for components such as built-in amplifiers.
While these extra components can be beneficial, the main advantage of a double DIN over a single DIN is that the display has a larger surface area. Most touchscreen head units are designed to work with the double DIN model because of its larger display, therefore can be used more effectively.
Make sure to read through these double din head unit reviews and buying guide to make sure you’re getting the best out of your driving experience.
Our Recommended Top 10 Double Din Head Units
| Image | Description | Size (Inches) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Pioneer AVH-X2800BS Double DIN Stereo ** Editor's Choice - Best Double Din Head Unit ** | 6.1-Inch | |
 | BOSS AUDIO BV9364B Double DIN Stereo ** Best Budget Double Din Head Unit ** | 6.2-Inch | |
 | Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Double DIN Stereo | 7-Inch | |
 | Pioneer FHX-720BT Double DIN Stereo | 7-Inch | |
 | Pioneer AVHX1600DVD Double DIN Stereo | 6.1-Inch | |
 | Kenwood DPX500BT Double DIN Stereo | 6.1-Inch | |
 | JVC KW-R910BT Double DIN Stereo | 6-Inch | |
 | Kenwood DDX271 Double DIN Stereo | 6.1-Inch | |
 | Ouku In-Dash Double-DIN Car Dvd Player | 6.2-Inch | |
 | Pioneer AVH-X4600BT Double DIN Stereo | 7-Inch |
Our Recommended Top 10 Double Din Head Unit Reviews
Pioneer AVH-X2800BS 2-DIN Multimedia DVD Receiver with 6.1 Inch WVGA Touch Screen Display
** Editor’s Choice – Best Double Din Head Unit **
If you’re looking for the best value double din head unit, this is it. This is one of the greatest buys on the market. Being one of the top rated double din car stereos, this beautiful technology is equipped with many advancements that make your drive safer and more enjoyable.
For extra safety, it is equipped with Siri eyes free, allowing you to control your audio without looking away from the road! It is also compatible with both iPhone and Android, so you’re ready to listen to the music on your phone no matter which brand you have.
It is equipped with MIXTRAX, which allows you to remix your music tracks very quickly and easy. It is also equipped with a navigation system. Double din stereo reviews and ratings agree that this stereo is top of the line and is a great choice if you are on a little tighter budget.
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BOSS AUDIO BV9364B Double-DIN 6.2 inch Touchscreen DVD Player Receiver
** Best Budget Double Din Head Unit **
If you’ve been asking, “what is the best double din head unit?”, this may just be the answer for you. This futuristic technology is ready and able to provide you with hours of music while you drive through hours of traffic, keeping you entertained for years to come(and with its 3-year platinum warranty, you’ll be covered).
The built-in subwoofer level control allows you an upgrade on most other double din units, providing you the quality of music specifically tailored to your need. The radio capabilities are switchable between European and US tuner, making this the ideal receiver for both areas.
This unit has a plethora of hookups, allowing you to listen from USB, MP3, CD, DVD, radio, and more! The Spotify and Pandora capabilities also give this piece a leg up on its counterparts, as most offer only one or neither of these options. If you’re looking for an incredible music listening experience, look no further!
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Pioneer AVH-4100NEX In-Dash Multimedia DVD Receiver with 7″ WVGA Touchscreen Display
This Pioneer is one of the top rated double din head units. Receiving high reviews all across the board, this multimedia system can provide you with quality music and ease of use. This 7” unit is capable to fit easily on your dashboard to provide you an easily accessible music experience.
The LED touchscreen is sensitive to your touch and will help you quickly find the music you want while you focus on the road. This machine is both Apple and Android compatible as well as providing DVD and CD playback.
It also provides hands-free Bluetooth calling as well as audio streaming. For safe driving and quality of use, this is the best double din stereo on the market, so it is certainly an excellent option to consider.
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Pioneer FHX-720BT 2-DIN CD Receiver with Mixtrax, Bluetooth
Wherever you are driving, the FHX-720BT can make sure you get there with the most pleasurable ride. The music output is everything you need, and the price is competitively low, making this very near the best double din head unit for the money. The built-in bluetooth makes for great calls on the go.
With talking on the phone being illegal in many states, and more states banning it, this Bluetooth allows you to legally and safely stay connected with family, friends, and work during your car rides.
The LED lights are an aesthetically beautiful addition to the machine but don’t be worried that it won’t match the interior of your car, because it is equipped with the ability to change colors so that it can look its best. The integrated iOS device controls also make it far easier to control your music while you drive to be sure that you always get the right song at the right time.
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Pioneer AVHX1600DVD USB DVD Mixtrax WVGA Touchscreen 6.1-Inch Player
The Pioneer AVHX1600 is a great accessory for the music-loving drivers. It is equipped with the ability to work with little input from the driver, playing the music you want easily and safely, and it looks great while doing it. It has a wireless remote control, so anyone in the car can control the music without causing safety risks by leaning over and taking off seat belts.
It is equipped with a USB plug-in, so if you’re low on battery, you can charge your phone at the same time it is being used to play music. The multiple presets also allow you to jump between your favorite music outputs without spending time looking for it and risking safety by looking away from the road.
The MIXTRAX app illumination effects also add for a great feel while you’re driving, and an even greater look to impress anyone in the passenger seat. Check double din radio reviews and you’ll find out how great this piece really is, and how great an addition it makes to a vehicle.
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Kenwood DPX500BT Double DIN In-Dash Car Stereo Receiver
This in-dash double din unit is a great addition to any car driven by someone with a quality taste for music. The unit is equipped with MP3, USB, and CD inputs for whatever you’re listening to as well as offering AM/FM radio for the ride. Double din head unit reviews sing kindly of this unit because of its amazing technological improvements.
One of them is the ability to access Pandora radio through your smartphone, accessing worlds of music to listen to with ease. The bluetooth technology also allows you to remain connected with other people without risking your safety by holding a phone up to your ear.
The variable color illumination provides a nice look while the stereo provides the nice music, creating the ensemble your car needs. Hook your device in and listen to your music; control it from your device or the head unit, and get ready for hours of entertainment.
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JVC KW-R910BT Car Audio 2DIN CD Stereo w/ Bluetooth Ipod Iphone Android Control
Though people tirelessly debate the superiority of Apple or Android, this JVC settles the debate with a tie, giving you access to music from either smartphone. This double din car stereo is an extremely cost-effective piece of machinery, offering you your music with ease of use and safety while you drive.
The bluetooth allows you to call with safety too, in between listening to your songs. If you are looking for the best double din car stereo, this just might be it. The Pandora accessibility allows the user to access scores of his favorite music without spending a penny downloading song after song.
The sleek design also adds a high quality environment to your car, adding to the high quality music output given by the technology itself. If you’re looking for a car charger too, look no further; this majestic machine allows you to plug your phone in to charge while you listen to your music throughout the drive.
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Kenwood DDX271 In Dash 6.1″ Double DIN LCD Touchscreen DVD/MP3/CD Headunit Receiver
The Kenwood DDX271, according to most double din car stereo reviews, is a high quality device ready to provide you with high-quality music. The touchscreen, LED display makes it easy to navigate between music inputs and change between songs, as well as control the level of music output throughout the entire car.
The versatility of this technology is incredible; it offers 18 different languages to choose from, making enjoying your music easier for all sorts of different users!
It also is iPhone app mode enabled, so Apple users are offered an easier way to access your music with ease and safety. If you’re looking for a beautiful display with amazing musical capabilities, this is the double din for you; whether you’re wanting to listen to a DVD, songs from an MP3, or a CD, this is your one shop stop for quality music.
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Ouku In-Dash Double-DIN Car Dvd Player with Touch Screen Lcd Monitor, 6.2-Inch
For high-tech drivers looking to add a music player that does much more, this Ouku technology is a great place to start. As for music, this double din stereo provides the best quality music to your liking, offering multiple different inputs from which to draw your music as well as sound controls to give you the listening experience you desire.
This piece also comes with a 4 GB, KUDOS GPS navigation card with a built-in map of North America, so it is ready to provide you navigation all around the country while you listen to your music, as well as allowing easy uploads of different countries for the well-traveled listener.
The hands-free bluetooth allows you to call home and check up on the kids without sacrificing your hands. A major improvement this machine offers is the backup camera Ouku In-Dash Double-DIN Car DVD Player with Touch Screen Lcd Monitor, 6.2-Inch, allowing you to see where you’re backing up and providing a safer and easier drive.
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Pioneer AVH-X4600BT 7″ Double Din Car Stereo Receiver
This 7” double din head unit is a great addition to consider. It has the ability to make your drive safer and more enjoyable. With the touch of a few buttons, you have access to many different apps, such as iHeart Radio and Pandora, to listen to music from around the world in your favorite genres.
The customization also allows you to rate the music you’re listening to, providing you with music more tailored to your liking. The bluetooth capability and Siri eyes-free equipment are just two improvements to the average double din car stereo that make it easier to access your favorite music with ease.
The multi-colored display will dance along to your music, providing you with a better-looking dash, while still playing your favorite songs, charging your phone, providing you with GPS directions across the world, and offering you a myriad of other options that increase your quality of life.
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Top Double Din Head Unit Brands
Pioneer double din head units
Pioneer is known for its innovations in the double din head unit market. It has the quality improvements that you want in a car stereo as well as extra, luxurious improvements. They have a slew of different models, fit for different price ranges and providing various qualities to tailor your purchase to your specific need.
The [easyazon_link identifier=”B00SKJPKGW” locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Pioneer AVH-4100NEX[/easyazon_link] is a great buy, receiving great reviews on Amazon; it is one of the more expensive brands, but it provides everything you could ask for. The [easyazon_link identifier=”B00MRYHOQU” locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Pioneer FHX-720BT[/easyazon_link] is a cheaper choice, providing the quality you want at a lower price. Lastly, the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00GN5K5WO” locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Pioneer AVH-X2600BT[/easyazon_link] is a good mid-range choice, offering the qualities you need and a few of the luxuries you want.
Alpine double din head units
Alpine is one of the more expensive brands, but not without the quality improvements to back up the cost. Alpine has some of the best technology in the market, providing animated street view GPS in some of their higher-tech models. The music output from Alpine has also been very highly rated, giving you a great music experience every time you drive.
If you’re looking for a high-end unit, the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00L2IK284″ locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Alpine X008U[/easyazon_link] navigation receiver is an incredible addition to any car, providing every last technology you need to have a great ride. On the cheaper end of the spectrum, the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00TMT36LK” locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Alpine CDE-W265BT[/easyazon_link] is a good buy for listening to music from many different acceptable sources.
JVC double din head units
JVC is a dependable producer of car stereos and receivers, trusted among many different consumers to provide high-quality music. The different choices of JVC units allow you to choose a device that will fit in well with your car as well as perform all the tasks that you need from a receiver. JVC offers some of the highest valued technology in the market.
The [easyazon_link identifier=”B0079LGKYS” locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]JVC KW-HDR81BT[/easyazon_link] provides a great quality of listening, providing many different additions to the average double din unit while still maintaining a very low price. The [easyazon_link identifier=”B00HX53FCA” locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]JVC Arsenal KW-V100[/easyazon_link] offers a great, sleek look with many different qualities that will make your drive smoother and more enjoyable for many years.
Kenwood double din head units
Kenwood is known for its music quality. The second you begin to listen to a Kenwood stereo, you’ll know why the company has earned the reputation they now enjoy. With many of its devices having great sound quality and quality control, you can make sure your listening experience is the best it can be, giving you the most enjoyable ride.
The [easyazon_link identifier=”B00I0FV6UU” locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Kenwood DDX271[/easyazon_link] has an incredible display with many different capabilities, such as a wide range of accepted music inputs. The [easyazon_link identifier=”B00B7IR426″ locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Kenwood DPX500BT[/easyazon_link] also rivals the DDX271 in music quality, but is a cheaper choice and doesn’t offer a touch screen experience.
Lastly, the [easyazon_link identifier=”B007BG0DU8″ locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Kenwood DNX6190Hd[/easyazon_link] is a great unit for listening and directing you with GPS, providing you with quality technology for both jobs.
Sony double din head units
With the quality of all Sony products, you can be sure you are in good hands when you by a Sony stereo. With its long history of technology, Sony head units provide the durability and quality that is expected out of a top-of-the-line head unit. Sony units also provide a top of the line quality of sound, giving you a great purchase all around.
The [easyazon_link identifier=”B00B74Z67K” locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Sony WXGT90BT[/easyazon_link] is one of the top-rated car stereo systems, providing the bluetooth and app remote you need to make your drive more enjoyable. The [easyazon_link identifier=”B00JY7ZP6O” locale=”US” tag=”rds51-20″]Sony XSPN1BT[/easyazon_link] is a cheaper option, offering a large range of music listening possibilities as well that are sure to increase the entertainment value of your drive.
What is a Double Din Head Unit?
A double din head unit is the bigger of the two form factors that almost every head unit conforms to. DIN stands for Deutsches Institute for Normung, which is the standards organization in Germany which created the common standard that used by today’s cars.. The standard DIN 75490 specifies that the dimensions should be 180 mm long and 50 mm tall.
Although ISO 7736 is the predominant guideline used today, there are some variations to the size of the DIN head units, one of the most important variations are the double din head car stereo because it is essentially like two single DIN head units stacked up on top of each ot0her. The double DIN head unit is 150 mm long, but it is 100 mm tall twice the amount of the previously typical 50 mm.
The double DIN head unit is a crucial part of the car’s sound system, and it is typically located in the center of the dashboard, inside of the car. A good double DIN head unit is densely integrated with the electronic packages that are housed in the detachable faceplates of the car’s dashboard. Essentially, a good double din head unit is the central hub controlling all of the car’s audio systems.
With the rise of modern technology that is integrated into cars nowadays, high-end head units are common targets for theft, which is why most car manufacturers typically integrate the alarm system to the double DIN stereo.
In as much as head units are a central part of a car’s décor, they vary as widely in aesthetics as they do in functionality, meaning that these systems are often very attractive looking additions to a vehicle.
There are many aftermarket car radio brands that offer double DIN head units and standard connectors including Pioneer, Alpine, Sony, Kenwood, Eclipse, JVC, Dual, Visteon, Advent, and Boyo. The two main radio sizes are a “single DIN” and a “double DIN.” They are easy to distinguish between the single and the double just by the measurement of the front faceplate in your car. If your car has a single DIN head unit, then the front plate should be about 7 x 2 in. If your car does, in fact, have a single DIN head unit, then the front plant is usually half as tall as the height of the double DIN head unit. The double DIN head unit or double DIN radio roughly measures out to be 7 x 4 in. if it conforms to that standard.
Factors & Features to Consider When Buying
AM/FM Radio
One of the most common factors to consider when buying a brand new double DIN car stereo is whether or not it has the capabilities of AM/FM radio. This is preferred by nearly every single person who wants to purchase a double din head unit.
Satellite Radio
Satellite radio is the second most used capabilities of car radios with the modern technology because the user can listen to any genre of music, from any radio station they choose, from wherever they are or to the location they are traveling to with ease.
MP3 Functionality
The MP3 player function is important to the user if they have a set play list that does not usually air on radio stations, but they would like to listen to select music that has been either purchased or downloaded to their iPhone, iPod or MP3 player.
GPS Navigation
GPS navigation is growing in popularity in cars as of late because they replace maps, and they are displayed conveniently on the screen. Some navigation systems are touch screen which incorporates the options of entering in a location, and the system will give you directions to follow to get there based on which way is the fastest, shortest, or even the route with the least amount of traffic. A great example of a touch screen with GPS navigation is the Pioneer double DIN car stereo.
Bluetooth
The up and coming Bluetooth feature is actually becoming a very hot commodity with stereos. Most all of the best touch screen car stereos are equipped with this feature, which allows the user to play music, look up directions to a location, make phone calls, etc. all hands free. The user will be much more focus on driving, and has more control over the car with both hands on the steering wheel, as opposed to having one hand trying play a certain song off of your phone.
Controls and Features
One of the last features of the best double DIN radios are that they can control detailed audio functionalities such as frequency, volume, band, bass, treble, EQ, speaker fade, and speaker balance. With these controls at your fingertips, you can customize your music listening style to the style you like the most.
CD and DVD Players
CDs and DVDs are playable with the double DIN touchscreen. CDs are shown on the screen and are easily accessible with just a touch on the screen to find which song you want to listen to. Some double DIN radios with a touchscreen displays the names of the songs, artists, genre, and the CD name. DVDs can be watched on the touchscreen as well, due to the height and width of the screen, there is always a clear picture. Plus, with it being played through the radio system, the user can increase or decrease the volume of the movie at any time without much of a hassle.
Where to buy a car double DIN head unit?
There are many retailers that sell double DIN head units in-stores. Such retailers are Walmart, Best Buy, RadioShack, and Audio Express. These are all great places to buy double DIN and single DIN head units for your car or even your boat.
They offer low prices, and sometimes there are people working for in-store customer service. Most of the time when people go in-stores to buy a product, they usually want to ask questions about the product, such as: Are there any warranties for this product?
Why should I buy this product? What would you prefer between these two radios? Which is the best double DIN head unit with navigation? Which one should I buy to get the most for my money? Which is the best double DIN head unit for sale?
Fortunately, all of these questions can also be answered online as well, thanks to the wealth of information that retailers such as Amazon provide on their products. Online retailers and manufacturer’s websites are also known for deeply discounting the double din head units they have for sale, making shopping online the preferred choice for most buyers today.
Decision Time
If you have read this far about double DIN head units, then you probably have more information about it than the average shopper.
All that is left to do is to decide which double DIN head unit you want to buy that is best for you. Make sure you take all of the specifications, various factors, and the research that you have done into consideration.
Buy the product that fits your personality the best, so that you will continually enjoy and use the product every day.
