The head unit is the control center for your car stereo. Often referred to as a car stereo (since most include a radio), this single component can have a huge impact on how good your system sounds, how your dashboard looks, and how easily you can do things like switch inputs while driving.

Choosing a head unit can be daunting. They’re often expensive, and selecting the wrong one can have a negative impact on how your system sounds. If this is an upgrade you’re interested in, but you’re not sure where to start, we’ll walk you through some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a new head unit.

There are four primary factors that can affect the suitability of a head unit for use in a particular car audio system. Depending on the specific situation, some of these factors will be more important than others.

Anyone working on a budget wants to find a head unit that meets or exceeds what they need in the other categories without breaking the bank. However, someone trying to build the perfect sound system piece by piece will have different priorities. With that in mind, we’re going to dive into the different qualities you should look for in a great head unit.