The Best Bluetooth Car Stereos
Driving down the highway with your windows down and rocking out to your favorite playlists can be good for the soul, but if you have an older car model, this may be more difficult than you think. Many older car stereos have cassette or CD compatibility, meaning they don’t work with Bluetooth or smartphones. That’s why we made a list of the best Bluetooth car stereos on the market today, so you can give your well-loved car a more modern makeover, even if you’re on a budget.
What to Look For
When narrowing down the best Bluetooth car stereos, we considered size, product features, compatibility, and price. If you wanted a more modern-looking stereo with a large touchscreen and tons of convenient features, the Jensen J1CA9 touchscreen car stereo may be perfect for your setup. But if you’re working with a tight budget, the Boss Audio Systems 616UAB multimedia car stereo is a great minimalist option. Keep reading to see all our top picks and find the stereo that suits your needs.
Boss Audio Systems 616UAB Multimedia Car Stereo
Simple and sweet
If you want all the standard features and none of the fluff, this may be the perfect stereo for you. This car stereo fits in a single DIN unit and allows you to play music via streaming, USB, and an aux cord. Regardless of whether you want to play your favorite tracks from Spotify, MP3s, or your laptop, this stereo can do it. It also has EQ controls to shape your tone and get your speakers sounding the way you want. It may be bare-bones, but it does all the basics for a price that’s almost too good to be true.
Pros:
- You can send and receive calls hands-free with this stereo’s built-in microphone.
- It comes with a remote to make skipping tracks and setting radio stations even easier.
Cons:
- It lacks some of the more modern features users may want in a car stereo, such as touchscreen controls.
Leadfan Double Din Touchscreen Car Stereo
When two is better than one
If you have a double DIN unit in your car’s dashboard, this replacement is your best bet at getting a sleek, modern stereo at a great price. You can sync navigation on the large screen with both Android and iPhone devices, making it easy to follow real-time driving instructions. You can also play music via streaming, USB, or aux cord, and you can access all your favorite apps on the touchscreen. This affordable upgrade can make your car a part of the modern age.
Pros:
- This stereo has a built-in microphone, so you can make and receive calls via Bluetooth.
- It comes with a backup camera, and it displays the view on the screen when you select the camera function.
Cons:
- The backup camera isn’t very clear in low light, but it’s still a great bargain.
JENSEN MPR210 Single DIN Car Stereo Receiver
The budget-friendly pick
Don’t let this stereo’s simple appearance fool you. It’s chock full of premium features that punch way above its price range. This stereo allows you to do all the standard functions like stream music, play audio via USB and aux cable, and make/receive phone calls hands-free, but it also features a voice assist function that’s compatible with Siri and Google. With this function, you can speak verbal commands and even receive navigation instructions. For the price, this feature-packed stereo is hard to beat.
Pros:
- This has a two-band EQ to adjust bass and treble and even has four preset EQ settings to make larger adjustments on the fly.
- This has a power of 200W, so it can really push your car speakers hard if you want them to.
Cons:
- The mount design may be difficult to install in some vehicles as it doesn’t use factory screws.
Alpine UTE-73BT Bluetooth Stereo
Plug it in
If you have music files that you want to play over your car speakers but are worried that you can’t play music without streaming, here’s a car stereo to put your mind at ease. This Bluetooth-equipped stereo can stream music from your smartphone, but it also has aux and USB inputs to play a variety of different file types, including Flac, MP3, and WMA audio files. On top of that, Alpine’s famous audio quality will have your tunes sounding better than ever. For the old-school audiophile, this stereo is a sure winner.
Pros:
- You can select different display colors to illuminate your drive.
- It has outputs for two different speaker amps and one subwoofer amp, so it’s built to handle large car sound systems.
Cons:
- The detachable face may cause the system to shut on and off if force is applied, but it shouldn’t cause a problem with normal use.
J1CA9 Touch Screen Car Stereo
Bigger and better
If you’re looking for the ultimate update in modern car accessories, here it is. This nine-inch touchscreen stereo from Jensen comes fully equipped with Apple CarPlay to keep all your favorite apps within arms reach. You can stream music, access maps, talk to Siri, and take calls safely, all from this device’s screen. Since most modern cars come with Apple CarPlay installed, this is a surefire way to give your older car the look and feel of the latest vehicles. Better yet, the screen can slide up and down and even tilt at an angle to fit the view you want.
Pros:
- This is installed in a single DIN unit, so it’s compatible with most car stereos.
- It has an input for a backup camera if you want to have one installed in the future.
Cons:
- Even though it’s still compatible with Android phones, it’s much more intuitive with Apple products.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between single DIN and double DIN stereos?
Single DIN and double DIN are just the sizes of the head unit in your car. Most older models have a single DIN radio which is 2 x 7 inches. A double DIN is just two inches taller at 4 x 7 inches. Usually, double DIN models will have a small touchscreen and more visual components since they’re bigger.
Can I find a Bluetooth stereo that also plays CDs?
Most car stereos haven’t been made with a CD player since the early 2010s. If you want to play CDs, you may just want to keep your old radio installed in your car since most modern Bluetooth stereos are designed specifically to connect to smartphones and play music via streaming. However, there are still some models that offer CD capabilities; you just may have to do a bit of searching to find them.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.