Best Car Stereo With Bluetooth (Digital Media Receiver )

Have you ever wished you could play music from your smartphone via your car radio? Then choose a car radio with Bluetooth function from our comparison table.

Many car radios with Bluetooth can also play music from other sources – from CD, USB stick, or SD card.

Insider tip: Choose a car radio with microphone and call-through function. This allows you to automatically use the radio as a hands-free device when you receive an incoming call. This convenience function is sure to convince you in the practical test.

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TOP 10 car stereo with Bluetooth

Best car stereo with Bluetooth review

Best Cheap Car Stereo With Bluetooth

Bluetooth Car Stereo System Price:

Under 50 $:

• BOSS Audio Systems 616UAB Multimedia Car Stereo
• JENSEN MPR210 7 Character LCD Single DIN Car Stereo Receiver
• Sound Storm DDC28B Multimedia Car Stereo Double Din

Under 100 $:

• Pioneer MVH-S310BT Single Din Built-In Bluetooth
• JVC KD-X270BT Digital Media Receiver Featuring Bluetooth
• Sony DSXA415BT Digital Media Receiver with Bluetooth

Under 150 $:

• JVC KW-X840BTS Bluetooth Car Stereo Receiver with USB Port
• Alpine CDE-172BT Bluetooth Receiver
• Kenwood KMM-BT322 Car Media Player

Under 200 $:

• Kenwood KDC-BT778HD Single DIN Bluetooth
• Alpine CDE-172BT Bluetooth Receiver

Under 300 $:

• Sony DSX-GS80 GS Series High Power

Car radios with Bluetooth buying guide:

How to choose the right product from the above Car Radios with Bluetooth test or comparison.

The most important things in a nutshell

1. A Bluetooth car radio can wirelessly connect to Bluetooth devices and play files through the speakers. The radio takes the place of the built-in car radio and can be replaced by yourself or in a workshop.
2. In addition to Bluetooth playback, most car radios can also play music files from USB sticks and SD cards, read CDs, and can be connected to devices that have a headphone jack through an AUX port.
3. Equipped with a microphone, the Bluetooth car radio can be used as a hands-free system and in many cases can be operated with remote control for the steering wheel. As a protection against theft, the control element on the front can be removed, which makes the car radio unusable for thieves.

The future is wireless

The new cars are full of state-of-the-art technology. Not only has the ignition key evolved into a chip, but playing music while driving no longer has to be done awkwardly via laid cables. With a Bluetooth car radio, you can upgrade older cars and adapt your used car to the (blue) tooth of time.

Not only smartphones can be connected to the radio via Bluetooth, but also a Bluetooth headset can be connected through the car radio with Bluetooth. In our car radio with Bluetooth comparison, we explain what matters when you want to buy a Bluetooth radio.

1. How does a Bluetooth car radio work?

A Bluetooth car radio is in principle hardly different from a conventional car radio. The special feature of the Bluetooth car radio is the Bluetooth function, which allows you to connect mobile devices to the radio without a cable. Responsible for this is the Bluetooth technology, which is now part of the basic equipment of cell phones, tablets or laptops. Digital data, such as music files or streaming data, can be sent to the car radio wirelessly via Bluetooth, which would otherwise require USB, network or audio cables. The Bluetooth connection can also be used to contact headsets, headphones, speakers, hands-free devices or printers. In cars, Bluetooth is mainly used to connect the smartphone with the hands-free system and the car radio.

The advantages and disadvantages of Bluetooth car radios at a glance:

Advantages

• No tangled cables in the car
• Many connection options
• Independence from the radio program
• With microphone for handsfree

Disadvantages

• Installation cumbersome

2. buying guide for Bluetooth car radios: what should be considered?

2.1 Radio

The heart of the car radio is, of course, the radio itself. Most car radios receive radio stations via FM (ultra-short wave, or FM radio) as well as the three wave types of short, medium and long wave (which receive identical stations). Six stations can usually be stored on each wave, and a total of 18 different radio stations can usually be stored.

Only a few car radios can receive DAB+ (digital radio), which was originally intended to replace normal FM broadcasting. Listening to the radio in the car can have its advantages: Through the car radio, you can receive current traffic reports and speed camera warnings while driving. If you want, music playback from other sources, such as a CD or MP3 music from your smartphone, can be interrupted so that you don’t miss the traffic jam reports.

2.2 Connections

Most products in the car radio category are very connectivity-friendly. Thus, the best car radio with Bluetooth can be connected to USB sticks, SD cards, and various other storage media at the same time, in a more or less classic way. You can find out which connection options make sense for you in the following table so that you do not have to search for a car radio SD slot test or similar.

Brief description:

• AUX. The AUX connector is used to connect external devices that have a headphone jack. Using a cable with a 3.5 mm jack plug on both ends, you can play music from your smartphone, tablet, or MP3 player through the radio.
• USB. A car radio with a USB port allows you to connect a USB stick, MP3 player or external hard drive. Using the controls on the car radio, you can directly access the files on the storage media. With some devices, the smartphone or tablet can be charged and the navigation device can be connected via the USB port.
• SD slot. Not all devices from our car radio Bluetooth comparison have an SD card slot. Often, the slot is located behind the control element or on the back of the car radio.
• NFC. The new NFC technology works wirelessly, similar to Bluetooth, and is supposed to provide high quality data transfer. Many smartphones and tablets do not yet support the new technology; this applies to the iPhone, for example.
• Cinch output. An RCA connector can be used to connect additional speakers, subwoofers or amplifiers if you have a high-quality music system in the car that goes beyond the built-in speakers.

2.3 Accessories

Most models from popular car radio Bluetooth reviews include an external microphone that can be used for the two-way radio. You can place the microphone on the steering wheel or dashboard to avoid holding the cell phone to your ear while driving and violating the StVO. If your smartphone is connected to the car radio with Bluetooth, you can accept and reject calls or access your contact list using the buttons and keys on the radio’s user interface.

In addition, many manufacturers include a remote control that you can use to control the car radio as well. The remote control can be attached to the steering wheel and the person in the back seat can also take control from the car radio. However, not every supplied remote control is a steering wheel remote control. Some car radios can also be operated via a dedicated app for the smartphone or tablet. You should take this into account in your personal car radio with a Bluetooth test.

2.4 Important manufacturers and brands

• JVC
• Sony
• Philips,
• Kenwood
• Alpine
• Pioneer

3. How to succeed in the car radio installation?

If you want to install the new Bluetooth car radio, it is recommended to study the instruction manual first. An Alpine car radio may be installed differently than if the car radio has Blaupunkt or Kenwood emblazoned with its logo. However, the installation of a 1 DIN car radio works similarly for all models from most car radio-with-Bluetooth tests. However, manufacturers advise that the installation be done by a skilled person or a car repair shop to avoid serious damage to your own body, the car radio or the car.

In any case, make sure that the car radio fits in your car. Some models, especially SUVs from VW or BMW, use the double-sized car radio 2 DIN standard for installation. In the intended savings then fits only a large double DIN radio. If the car radio has double DIN dimensions, it logically does not fit into the intended recess for normal car radios. However, for most products it is a 1 DIN car radio.

4. The following video shows the installation of a car radio in detail and clearly step by step:

5. Questions and answers about the topic of car radio with Bluetooth.

If you’re still unsure about how to discover the best Bluetooth car radio for you, we’ve put together a few important questions and answers here. If nothing is included, why not ask us directly at the bottom of the comments section.

5.1 Can I upgrade a normal car radio with Bluetooth?

If you want to establish Android and iPhone connections for your normal car radio, we recommend connecting via AUX cable in addition to the car radio USB port, which many older devices do not have. Through the line-in input, a cable that has a jack connector on both ends allows you to connect the smartphone, tablet or MP3 player through the headphone output of the device. If you still do not want to do without a radio with Bluetooth, you can upgrade the car with a Bluetooth radio adapter.

With this Bluetooth dongle, which is slightly larger than a matchbox, you can play music and take phone calls wirelessly. The car Bluetooth adapter connects via the AUX input and can be placed on the dashboard or moved to the glove compartment if the cables are long enough. The only drawback is that the car Bluetooth adapter has to be charged regularly, e.g. like the navigation system via a USB charger for the cigarette lighter. However, the battery usually lasts over a week even with frequent use. If you have a car radio with a USB port, you can also plug in a Bluetooth car receiver and make your radio Bluetooth-enabled.

5.2 Can I receive DAB+ with a Bluetooth car radio?

If you want to listen to digital radio with your car radio, we recommend a car radio antenna adapter to which you can connect a DAB+ antenna. Only a few models from our car radio Bluetooth comparison can receive DAB+, most use the FM frequency to receive radio stations. With your Bluetooth car radio, however, you can also stream digital stations via smartphone and thus receive radio in the car in best quality without noise. The prerequisite for this is good Internet reception.

5.3 How can I pair my device with the Bluetooth car radio?

The so-called “pairing” stands for the connection of two devices via Bluetooth. To do this, the Bluetooth mode must be switched on for both devices. Pairing usually works automatically. The user manual of your car radio will tell you what name the car radio has for visibility in Bluetooth mode. If the process does not work automatically, restart the Bluetooth mode on both devices.

5.4 Where can I buy a car radio with Bluetooth?

In addition to various online stores, you can also look for offers in electronics stores. You can also buy a car radio Bluetooth in specialized stores for car accessories and in car workshops and get advice if you are not sure whether the car radio can be installed in your car.

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