On the COMPUTER BILD test and comparison portal, we present the best double-din radios.
If you like to have everything under control, you’ll really enjoy a double-din radio. Thanks to a multimedia radio with a wide range of functions is something like a control center in your car. Most important aspects: safety and comfort.
The best double-din car radios in tests convince with navigation devices, rear-view cameras and hands-free systems. In addition, you can play music from different sources: including CD or smartphone. read our guide if you want to know which car radio is right for you.
Buyer’s guide to the double-din radio test or. -comparison: find your personal double-din radio test winner with our help!
- The name says it all: double-din car radios are twice as high as conventional 1-din radios and are often also advertised as touchscreen radios.
- 2-din car radios are not only larger, but also have a significantly better range of functions. Navis and DVD players are possible components of a 2-din radio.
- Another advantage of double-din radios: you can easily connect or insert external data carriers, such as cds, dvds and SD cards. You can also pair your smartphone with the car radio via USB or bluetooth.
Germany is a car-driving nation. For most car owners, the car is much more than just a means of transportation. The car is not only cared for from the outside, but also from the inside equipped with the best technology, making driving safer and more comfortable.
An important part of this technology is the car radio. The DIN-standardized devices are available in different types: as a 1-din radio and as a 2-din radio. The latter have versatile possibilities. Where once there was nothing more than a radio and a cassette deck, today there are CD and DVD players, map slots, navigation devices and much more.
We have studied a number of double din radio tests studied to present you different devices.
1. Why do double-din radios offer such a wide range of functions??
Do you remember the days when a car radio was really just a radio?? one that also allows you to play cassettes at most? In the meantime car radios have a much wider range of functions.
A double-din radio with navigation and hands-free system is now almost standard on the market. The navi reliably guides you to your destination, whereby the display of your radio is completely sufficient. the days of a separate navigation system attached to the windshield by a suction cup are coming to an end.
Especially for large vehicles, a double din radio with rear view camera useful. As soon as you put the car in reverse, you can see the image from your rear-view camera on the display, allowing you to park and maneuver with ease. A rear view camera is included in only a few double-din radios. So you usually have to buy such a camera separately.
What is DAB+?
DAB+ stands for digital radio, which, in addition to better sound, enables numerous additional services on the radio display.
Double-din radios with DAB+ are the norm in new cars. So you can enjoy digital radio on the road. You benefit from certain additional services, such as program-accompanying information or picture information on the radio display. For example, song titles and interpretations are displayed, depending on the radio even with a picture.If you prefer to listen to your favorite music instead of the radio program, a double-din radio with apple carplay ideal.
Here you can use your iphone to play music and even enjoy other functions of pair smartphone and car radio. To do this, the radio and iphone are connected with a lightning cable. Besides, you can connect android smartphones to your double-din radio to play your own playlist.
Double-din radios have advantages and disadvantages:
- Larger and very easy to read display
- Often integrated navi
- Functionality similar to a smartphone
- not every vehicle has a double-din slot
2. How to find the best double-din radio for your car with our buying guide?
You want to buy a good double-din radio for your astra or golf, but you are afraid of high purchase costs for a device of this category? There are also inexpensive double-din radios available: in the online store of lidl, for example, the devices are available for as little as 199 euros. What is important besides the price? We tell you!
2.1. For a good connection: bluetooth and other connections
Bluetooth is essential for a hands-free car radio and pairing your smartphone with the car radio. If you pair your cell phone via bluetooth, you can listen to your conversation partner via the speakers in the car and use the microphones in the car. So you don’t have to hold your phone, but keep your hands on the handlebars and your eyes on the road while driving – even if you have to make an important call.
If you want to use your radio as a multimedia car radio, you should make sure that the car radio has other connections in addition to bluetooth has. The combination of "double-din and DVD" provides entertainment when you are not driving, but want to take a break and relax. So you can, for example, the break at the rest stop with a film or music videos embellish.
We recommend that you also make sure that the double-din radio of your choice is optimally matched to your smartphone when you buy it. While some radios work better with android smartphones, others are optimized for use with an apple smartphone.
Tip: many 2-din radios in tests have a CD and DVD player as well as an SD card slot and a USB port to which you can connect USB data sticks.
2.2. For a good drive: navi with GPS
A double-din car radio is twice as big as a normal 1-din radio.
Another advantage of the larger display on the double-din: navi and other functions that rely on a display are shown optimally. Many devices in 2-din car radio tests have a navigation system with gps. For most users, the navigation function is one of the main reasons for choosing the radio purchasing a double-din radio.
If you want a car radio with integrated navi if you want to buy a double-din radio, make sure it has up-to-date maps. Important here is also the question whether you want to regularly renew map material free of charge or whether updates will eventually be subject to a charge.
if the navigation function is of secondary importance to you, you can also use the navigation function of your smartphone when it is connected to your car radio.
2.3. For a good overview: display size
The display is an important part of the radio. the devices in double-din radio tests have displays in different sizes. At this point, we would like to introduce you to the different display sizes and their features.
- operation via touchscreen
- Additional controls and buttons
- Intuitive operation of the radio
- screen fills entire usable area
- No space for additional buttons
- operation via touchscreen and soft buttons
- split screen possible: navigation and music display in parallel
- Special installation bezel necessary
2.4. For easy handling: ease of use and accessories
So that you can operate your double-din radio in the simplest way possible, the devices are usually equipped with a steering wheel remote control. So you can use the change station or switch to CD, without having to take your hand off the steering wheel.
In addition, some double-din radios come with an extra infrared remote control, which you can use to control the radio. this is especially convenient when you are watching movies during longer breaks in the journey and you can sit back comfortably to do so.
2.5. Rear view camera for all around view
A double-din car radio can also include a navi and a dvd player.
Although most radios do not come with a rear view camera, almost all double-din radios have a connection for this practical device. If you are unsure about reversing or parking, you may want to consider a rear view camera a useful aid its. because it transmits images of the space behind your vehicle directly to the large display of your double-din radio.
3. Can the best double din radios score with versatility?
A double-din radio that wants to be called a test winner must stand out from other devices. This is best achieved in tests 2-din radios, which have a particularly versatile range of functions have. These radios usually have a navigation device and the option of connecting smartphones or playing cds and dvds.
4. Do double din radios in tests have handsfree for safe phone calls?
If you frequently need to make important phone calls while driving, you should make sure you have a car radio with hands-free system choose. Here you can easily pair your smartphone and make phone calls via the radio’s microphone and speakers.
5. Why you should not use double din radios for watching tv?
You can watch TV with your double-din radio – via DVD or DVB-T, for example – but you should definitely refrain from doing so while driving. Fortunately double din radios have a link to the handbrake. This prevents the unit from showing moving pictures while driving.
If you bypass this pairing, you may be subject to a fine. In addition, this can result in a point in flensburg. Because the devices can track operation, in the event of an accident, it can be quickly determined whether a movie was playing at the time. then your insurance coverage would be at stake.
6. Frequently asked questions about double-din radios
6.1. What is a double din radio?
Due to their larger dimensions, 2-din car radios have a larger display than the smaller 1-din radios. Double-din radios have a wider range of functions: they can be true multimedia centers. Depending on the model, double-din radios are equipped with a navigation device, CD or DVD player and an SD slot.
car stereos with bluetooth allow you to play music from your smartphone or tablet through the car stereo.
6.2. What are the dimensions of a double-din radio??
Double-din radios are characterized, among other things, by their large display.
As the name suggests, a 2-din car radio is twice the height of a 1-din radio. While a 1-din radio measures 180 mm x 50 mm, the dimensions of a double-din radio are double din radios 180 mm x 100 mm. While older vehicles usually have a slot for a 1-din radio, slots for 2-din radios are more common in newer vehicles.
6.3. Which manufacturers offer double-din radios??
well-known brands in the field of car radios and multimedia car radios are pioneer, alpine and JVC. The devices of these manufacturers are very popular with customers and are also represented in many double-din radio tests. VW double din radios, pioneer double din radios and kenwood double din radios are among the most popular devices. The most important names in the field double-din radio with navi we have summarized for you:
- Alpine
- Blaupunkt
- JVC
- Pioneer
- Reako
- Sony
- Tristan
- Xomax
6.4. Which double-din radio is the stiftung warentest test winner??
Unfortunately, you won’t find a double-din radio test in the stiftung warentest archive. So far, the experts there have only put 1-din radios to the test. To make sure you still find a 2-din car radio that meets your needs, we have done extensive research and found the right radio for you recommend for your car the products of our double din radio comparison 2022 – first of all our comparison winner and our price-performance winner.