Head Units

The most common head unit size, shape and form factor is the double DIN unit, offering screen sizes between 6.5 and 7-inches. Automotive Superstore offers literally dozens of models from the World’s best brands, priced from the very affordable all the way through to high-end models with advanced convenience and sound quality features.

We recommend that anyone upgrading should begin by choosing a head unit that offers Apple Carplay and/or Android Auto functionality to allow seamless and safe integration with their smartphone. It is worth noting that the use of Apple Carplay or Android Auto is not legal for P-platers in all Australian States, so check your own State’s laws in this regard.

Apple Carplay (for iPhones) and Android Auto (for Android phones) allows legal and safe access to hands-free calling, voice-controlled messaging, smartphone-based navigation (Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze), as well as access to media playback from your phone’s own media player, or App-based sources such as Spotify. Apple Carplay or Android Auto is essential for legal and safe driving.

The core functionality of the Apple Carplay or Android Auto connectivity experience is essentially the same from every head unit that offers this feature – no matter the price point. The only difference between head units as price increases are additional convenience or sound quality features such as enhanced signal processing, more powerful pre-amp stages, additional inputs and outputs, the ability to connect multiple cameras, larger screen sizes (floating screens), wireless connectivity to your smartphone, smartphone mirroring, and Hi-Res music support.

Floating screens offer the largest screen sizes for in-car use, ranging from 9-inches all the way up to 11-inch in size. These are ideal for larger vehicles, or for those who just prefer the usability of the much larger screen than is afford by a double DIN head unit. Floating screens can also be tilted, raised and lowered to work with most dashboard layouts. Installation is straight-forward, albeit slightly more involved than a double DIN. Mounting is via a single DIN sized chassis, so they work in any DIN facia kit but can also be utilised in cars that only offer a single DIN aperture. The floating screen attaches to the DIN chassis via a bracket and, in some cases, one or two plug in looms. So, while a little more involved than a traditional double DIN, this is still manageable as a DIY installation at home by anyone handy with a screwdriver set.

However, if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, or you only have room for a single DIN sized source unit, we offer a host of both mechless (no CD player) or full CD/DVD player head units as well – at prices to suit any budget. When connected via USB cable and/or Bluetooth to your smartphone, even the most basic head unit can still provide a fantastic audio experience and allow access to your media as well as use of App-based maps via the smartphone’s own screen simply by attaching it to your dashboard using a simple phone mount.

Know what fits your car

Start by putting your vehicle’s registration number and your home State into our ‘Add Your Vehicle’ search system at the top of the screen, then select your specific car from the menu. Alternatively, you can also do a specific vehicle search to find the precise car you are shopping for under our ‘Try Searching Manually’ system.

Once selected, you can navigate to the ‘Head Unit Installation Kits’ or the ‘Car Specific Head Unit Kits’ sections of our website in the menu system. Here you will find if there are any specific kits available to suit your vehicle, which in-turn will guide you as to the types of head units that will suit your car.

In many cases you will find a solution for a complete facia kit with plug’n’play wiring harnesses and adaptors that will allow a double DIN head unit of your choice to be quickly and easily installed into your car. This makes a DIY installation at home simple and easy!

In some cases, you will be given a choice of a double DIN style facia kit (these also suit floating screen head units), or one of the trapezoid style facias to suit specific 9-inch screen-sized head units we offer from various brands.

You may also be offered a facia kit to suit the trapezoid style 9-inch fixed screen head units. Either way, you have now identified the style and type of head unit that suits your car, and our website makes it simple to purchase and entire DIY installation solutions from head unit to facia, wiring and adaptors.

What does a head unit do?

A head unit is the dash-mounted centre piece of your in-car audio system, providing the interface that allows you to play back your media, communicate through your phone to make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, and to provide on-screen navigation. An aftermarket head unit also houses signal processing (commonly comprising equalisation/crossover filters/sometimes time correction) to enhance the sound quality, as well as both an internal amplifier and a pre-amplifier with auxiliary RCA outputs affording the ability to easily add external amplification for higher power.

There are many form factors of head unit depending on the interior dashboard design of your vehicle. There is single DIN in cars older than 25 years, double DIN in most post-2000 year model cars (offering up to 7-inch screens in fixed units or 9-inch to 11-inch in floating screen units), while in many modern cars built in the past decade you’ll often have a choice of double DIN or 9-inch trapezoid-style fixed screens.

Many vehicles built post-2015 feature a head unit that cannot be replaced as it is integrated into the car’s dashboard and secondary functions, though this still allows you to upgrade the sound system significantly via DSP (Digital Signal Processing), amplification, speaker upgrades, and by adding subwoofers.

What's the difference between single DIN and double DIN?

The single DIN dash aperture measures 50mm tall by 180mm wide, while the double DIN aperture is twice this height at 100mm by 180mm in size. Single DIN dashboards can be fitted with either single DIN sized head units offering mechless (no CD player) or CD player equipped chassis. In some older vehicles the depth of the space for the head unit can be an issue for fitment of full depth CD player equipped head units. In this instance you may still be able to install a shallower depth mechless head unit and use your smartphone or USB flash drives to provide a music source.

Double DIN sized dashboards are more flexible, being able to accommodate single DIN head units with use of a single DIN sized pocket to fill the space and provide storage, or a straight-forward double DIN head unit installation.

Both single and double DIN sized dashboards can also potentially accommodate a floating screen style head unit allowing fitment of a larger screen between nine and 11-inches. Care should be taken to consider access to HVAC controls, A/C vents, and additional vehicle controls situated around the mounting location to avoid obstruction.

In some vehicles equipped with a double DIN sized aperture it may also be possible to install a trapezoid style fixed 9-inch head unit. For this you will need to ascertain if an installation kit on offer that suits your vehicle for this style of head unit. To find out you can use our ‘Add Your Vehicle’ search then navigate to ‘Head Unit Installation Kits’ or ‘Car Specific Head Units’ sections of our website.

How do I choose the right head unit?

Ascertain the type of head unit that will fit in your vehicle by inputting your vehicle’s details into our ‘Add Your Vehicle’ search, then in our menu navigate to the ‘Head Unit Installation Kits’ or ‘Car Specific Head Units’ sections of our website. Also consider if you want Apple Carplay or Android Auto integration, and then if wireless connectivity for either is desired.

Consider the screen size that works best for your application. In many vehicles you will have the choice of double DIN head units, floating screen head units offering 9-inch through to 11-inch screen sizes, or maybe even a 9-inch trapezoid style fixed screen head unit. In some vehicles you may be able to only choose one of these styles of head unit.

Consider additional features you may find useful or desirable to enhance your driving or audio experience. All colour screen style head units will provide at least one reverse camera input, while additional camera inputs can be added to some models. The speaker array in your vehicle may require tuning via a crossover network to work at its optimum, and higher priced head units offer higher grade crossovers with more scope for adjustment. The same is true of equalisation and time alignment, and these tuning aspects can greatly enhance sound quality. You may also like smartphone mirroring (wired or wireless), Hi-Res music playback support, or a myriad of other handy features.

Use our features and specifications comparison feature to find the head unit in your price range that offers the best features for your needs. For this, click the small vertical triple bar graph icon in the top corner of each product’s page, then click the ‘comparisons list’ link that will now be shown. This takes you to a screen that will allow you a quick and easy comparison of the important features and specification of all the models you are considering.

Consider the additional installation parts you may require like plug’n’play harnesses, antenna and steering wheel control adaptors, and facia kits. These can be purchased as separate items to suit your needs. Alternatively, add your vehicle’s details to the ‘Add Your Vehicle’ search, then in our menu navigate to the ‘Head Unit Installation Kits’, ‘Car Specific Head Units’ or ‘Car Specific Head Unit Kits’ sections of our website. Here you may find a pre-packaged or bundled kit that includes all the additional parts required to complete the installation.

Can I install a head unit myself?

Absolutely! Anyone handy with a screwdriver can tackle a head unit installation, and we have a DIY guide video about how to install a basic double DIN head unit on our Automotive Superstore Youtube channel.

All of the parts and tools required to tackle an installation at home are available at Automotive Superstore. Simply add your vehicle’s details to the ‘Add Your Vehicle’ search, then in our menu navigate to the ‘Head Unit Installation Kits’, ‘Car Specific Head Units’ or ‘Car Specific Head Unit Kits’ sections of our website. Here you’ll find a pre-packaged or bundled kit that includes all the additional parts required to complete the installation.

How does a head unit affect sound quality?

A new head unit can dramatically enhance sound quality in many ways. Firstly, you’ll have access to improved media connectivity like DAB digital radio (as a built-in feature to the head unit itself or via an App in Apple Carplay or Android Auto), as well as the Bluetooth music streaming that is lacking in older vehicles built pre-2015.

High resolution audio support (with the fitment of compatible speakers etc.) is available in a host of higher-end head units, allowing playback of music files that provide far higher fidelity than MP3, steamed music (Spotify etc.) or even CD standard. Playback of downloaded Hi-Res music files is supported via USB flash drive, and in some cases by Hi-Res supported smartphones either wired or wirelessly.

Signal processing comprising crossover filtering to keep your speakers playing within their correct frequency bands, equalisation to correct frequency response peaks or dips, and time correction to properly align arrival times from each speaker – all act to greatly improve and enhance not only sound quality but power handling and overall dynamic range as well.

A head unit also provides a higher-powered internal amplifier than many OEM fitted sources, while also providing additional pre-amp RCA outputs to allow the expansion of the sound system to included outboard amplifiers and additional more advanced DSP (Digital Signal Processing).

The simple ability to add a subwoofer to the sound system (via dedicated RCA outputs) that incorporates its own level control is one of the most significant and rewarding upgrades you can add via a head unit to enhance sound quality and overall enjoyment.