Part 1: Things to Consider When Upgrading Your Car Stereo

Three Questions to Ask When Shopping for Your Car Stereo Upgrade

Customers that frequent Car Stereo City San Diego are always asking us what the best upgrade options are and how to choose their next speakers or subwoofers. When it comes to car audio, there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Every customer is unique. In this first part of our three-part blog series, we’re going to focus on car stereos and how to approach your purchase.  

Deciding to upgrade your car stereo is a major leap forward in improving the overall sound quality and functionality of your vehicle’s system. Although most car manufacturers give you a pretty decent starting point when it comes to a car stereo, they don’t usually include all the features and benefits that you really want. This is especially true if you have an older model car that was built before 2010. Car stereo systems have come a long way, and by upgrading you can finally get all the bells and whistles modern car stereos offer.

There is an overwhelming amount of choice when it comes to car stereo systems and where you can get your car stereo installation done. In order to make this process a little bit easier, here are the main three things to consider when upgrading your car stereo.

Question #1 - “What is my budget?”

Realistically, you can get a brand-new car stereo for less than $100 (including installation). That doesn’t necessarily mean that you should go with the cheapest option, but it should establish the baseline on what you’ll have to spend in order to upgrade. In our experience, most high-quality car stereo upgrades are going to run anywhere between $200 and $500 when it’s all said and done. There are more expensive “premium” options, but the $200 - $500 range is the sweet spot for most people. Try to determine your budget early on in your shopping process so that you don’t end up overextending your wallet. 

Also, don’t forget that financing options are available for those who need to break up their purchase into a few installments.  

Question #2 – “What features do I REALLY want?”

Most modern car stereos have a list of features so long they read like a novel. “Always go bigger and better” is the name of the game when it comes to releasing new tech. But just because a car stereo can do something doesn’t mean you’ll actually use it. Just think about all the various apps and features your phone has that you don’t use on a regular basis. If you’re like most people, you have a core group of features you really want that are driving your shopping process.

When narrowing down your selection of car stereos, do it based on the features that you can’t live without or that vastly improve your driving/listening experience. For instance, Bluetooth capability is a must have these days because it can seamlessly pair your smart phone with your car stereo. This means that you can get rid of any adapters that you were using along with all those CDs that were cluttering your car. You can stream your favorite playlists through Pandora, Spotify, or your Apple Music apps.

Another big advantage that modern stereos offer is an interface that allows you to navigate the menu using big touchscreen tiles instead of small buttons. This makes operating your stereo while driving easier and safer.

Finally, a great feature that can be easy to overlook is a built-in preamplifier, which will process sound signals and readies them for amplification. Hence, the name pre-amp. This ensures that you’re getting the very best sound quality. 

When shopping for new car stereos, narrow down your selection using the four or five features that you absolutely have to have. More features equal more money, so shopping this way helps keep things within your pre-established budget.

Question #3 – “What are people saying about this particular car stereo?”

The big advantage to shopping for car stereos online is that you’re going to have access to thousands of product reviews. Once you’ve narrowed down your car stereo selection based on price and features, you can really start to dig in on which car stereo model is going to be right for you. Big brands like Kenwood, Alpine, and Pioneer usually have great reviews because they’ve been cranking out excellent products year after year. If a particular car stereo is consistently getting good reviews, chances are you can feel pretty good about moving forward with an installation. On the other hand, if a car stereo’s reviews are inconsistent or lean towards the negative side, it’s probably in your best interest to keep looking.

Upgrade Today at Car Stereo City San Diego

Once you have narrowed down your selection of car stereos based on price, features, and customer reviews, the next step in the process is to see the stereo for yourself. The best way to do this is to come by our shop at Car Stereo City San Diego. We carry all the latest and greatest and car stereos for cars, trucks, SUVs, and luxury imports. Once you’re at our store, we can show you how your car stereo performs in person before you make a final decision. Features and price are important, but at the end of the day, the stereo has to sound great above all else.

Come by our shop at 8252 Clairemont Mesa Blvd in San Diego to check out all our car stereo options. Once we know your price range, wish list of features, and type of vehicle that you drive, we should be able to narrow things down to a few options that will be a great fit for you.

We can also show you some speaker, amp, and subwoofer options that will pair up nicely. More on that in future installments of this blog series.