What is a Head Unit?

The primary component of any car stereo system is the head unit.  The head unit is the actual stereo unit.  The term head unit comes from the fact that a real stereo system has an actual stereo inserted into the dashboard instead of just built into it like many new cars provide.  Head unit can also refer to the front casing of the stereo which pops off on many units and can be stashed somewhere to prevent the system from being a target for thieves.

Head units can do many different things nowadays. They come prepackaged with the ability to play music, play MP3s, play music directly from an iPod or even display video in more advanced units. Some come with basic displays, others will more advanced, full screen color displays. They come in different colors, shapes and sizes. You can find a head unit that will match your car's dashboard, color scheme and more.

A head unit serves as the primary source of control for the car stereo system. Without a decent head unit, you might as well not invest in any other aspect of your car's system. They can control the music, the video, GPS function and much, much more. They can tinker with the individual aspect of the speakers, the subwoofer and even the amplifier in more advanced car stereo systems.

Head units can even begin to control aspects of the car itself now.  In newer car models, with pre-installed head units, you can get GPS, Bluetooth and more.  However, if the head unit already in your car is not what you want, you can always take the opportunity to change it.  Check our head units online or in store and see what might sound better for you.  The head unit is the first step to taking control of your car stereo system.