The best car radios of 2019 in the top

High-quality sound is provided not only by acoustics, but also by the car radio (head unit). The choice of such devices is very large, and manufacturers present their products in a variety of price ranges. But, as practice shows, a high price is not necessarily a sign of good sound and reliability of the car radio. In most cases, the buyer overpays a significant amount just for the brand.

Well, this rating will help you decide which car radio to choose inexpensive and good for high-quality sound in a car.

Content

Top 10 Inexpensive Car Radios of 2019

10. SWAT MEX-3007UBW

The large monochrome display shows all the necessary information, while the letters and numbers are large and easy to read.

The radio tape recorder allows you to listen to the radio in the FM band, as well as play songs from USB flash drives, microSD memory cards and connect external devices via the 3.5 mm AUX input.

One of the best budget car radios right now. For those who need a simple player without unnecessary bells and whistles, for example, in a working car — just right.

pros

• Affordable cost;
• Big screen;
• Intuitive control;
• Pleasant appearance;
• Standard set of the most necessary functions;
• Enough sound quality for a device in this price range.

Minuses

• When playing from devices via the AUX input, switching between tracks will not work;
• The USB and microSD stub is not very conveniently implemented;
• At minimum volume, a slight hiss is heard.

Main characteristics
Size	1 DIN
Equalizer	Yes (3 presets)
Amplifier	Yes
Formats	MP3, WMA
Radio bands	FM

Feedback from Oleg:

A simple, inexpensive and at the same time high-quality radio tape recorder with an acceptable sound. You can listen from a flash drive, from a phone, it normally catches the radio. I did not notice any errors or failures during operation. Installed in a working machine, so far I’m happy with everything.

9. SUPRA SFD-111U

For the money, the model is more than worthy. It reads European tags without problems and works with folders. Comes with a remote control, the operation of which has not been noticed failures. It is also worth noting the stylish design in a minimalist style. At the same time, the radio produces quite acceptable sound.

The assembly is of high quality, the parts do not creak, do not crunch. Flash drives even large volume reads without problems. Letters and numbers on the screen are readable in any light. There is a memory function, that is, even if you pull out the flash drive, after the next installation, the radio will start playing from the interrupted place.

pros

• Low price;
• Excellent radio reception
• Acceptable sound;
• Quality assembly;
• Removable panel;
• Remote control;
• Easy to install and operate.

Minuses

• There is no way to customize the equalizer to your liking;
• Not very convenient controls;

Feedback from Valentina:

For a long time I was looking for an inexpensive, simple and no-frills car radio with good sound. To read from flash drives, catch the radio and there was no CD / DVD. After a long search, the choice fell on the SUPRA SFD-111U. Of the minuses: indistinct bass, the front panel is difficult to remove, there is no manual adjustment of the equalizer. I’ll take it to the pluses: confident reception of FM radio stations, reads European ID tags, there is a control panel, you can search for tracks by folders and by number.

Main characteristics
digital tuner	VHF+FM/AM
Audio Format	MP3/ WMA
Size	1 DIN
USB input	Yes
SD card slot	Yes
Equalizer presets	3

8. Mystery MCD-665MPU

The radio tape recorder is equipped with a built-in amplifier, an equalizer, and an informative monochrome display. Supported bands: FM, VHF, MW. Reception of radio stations is confident (up to 30 stations can be stored), the search is both automatic and manual. There is also a line output for the amplifier. The front panel has USB and AUX inputs.

pros

• Stylish appearance;
• ID3 tags in European;
• Convenient management;
• Easy installation;
• Search for tracks in folders.

Minuses

• Indistinct bass.

Main characteristics
Panel	removable
Power	50W x 4 (Max)
Watch	There is
Front panel USB	There is
Audio formats	CD-Audio, MP3, WMA
carriers	CD-R, CD-RW

Feedback from Alexander:

Simple and inexpensive recorder. All standard features are there. Picks up radio well. The sound is good, there are outputs for the amplifier and subwoofer. Convenient backlit buttons. If someone needs a good radio with playing CDs, then I recommend this model

7. Sony DSX-A30E

The device has a high-quality antenna for long-range reception. Auto tuning allows you to quickly find radio stations and store them in memory. Convenient controls are supplemented with a remote control for more comfortable operation of the radio. Information is displayed on a bright monochrome display.

You can listen to music from external devices; for this, the device provides USB and audio inputs. At the same time, they are protected by a hinged lid.

pros

• Affordable price;
• Rich functionality;
• Remembers the last played track;
• Compact size;
• Quality sound;
• Remote control;
• Removable panel;
• Stylish design, illuminated controls.

Minuses

• There is no cover for a removable panel;
• Does not read flash drives in NTFS format;
• After prolonged use, the panel may fly out on bumps.

Main characteristics
Size	1 DIN
Equalizer	There is
Audio formats	MP3, WMA, AAC
Bullet remote control	There is
Front panel inputs	Audio and USB
Radio bands	FM, VHF, MW, LW

Feedback from Anatoly:

This car radio is perfect for me. The only thing I encountered was the following problem: with prolonged use, problems with sound, wheezing and incomprehensible noises begin. As it turned out, the cooling radiator on the back wall does not cope with its main task. And since the radio tape recorder is short, I solved the problem quite simply — I added an additional radiator. Now it works as it should. And as for the departure of the panel, I remove it very rarely, so there was no such problem (this is the second same radio tape recorder, on the first panel it failed precisely because of the frequent pulling out).

6. JVC KD-X342BT

The model is equipped with a bright LCD display with a length of 13 characters. At the same time, readability is excellent in any light thanks to a matrix made using modern technology. Screen brightness is adjustable.

In addition to the main audio formats, the car radio plays FLAC files. The device implements the Bass-Boost amplification system, which allows you to amplify low frequencies and make them more realistic.

Another interesting feature is the Accent Key button, which allows you to quickly switch to a preset suitable for energetic music.

The front panel of the radio is removable and has a minimalistic appearance. The control elements are backlit, which makes using the device even more comfortable, especially in low light.

pros

• Quality sound;
• Two-line screen;
• Flac support;
• External microphone included;
• Lots of different settings.

Minuses

• Illumination only in red;
• Slow reading from USB flash drives;

Main characteristics
Size	1 DIN
iPod/iPhone support	There is
Supported audio formats	MP3, WMA, FLAC
Subwoofer output	There is
Bluetooth	There is
Radio bands	FM, VHF, MW, LW

Feedback from Timur

For little money I got a very functional radio. Very cool equalizer, there are presets to improve the sound, several filters. You can control the radio from your smartphone via Bluetooth. Great head unit. That’s just to unlock the full potential you need good acoustics.

5. KENWOOD KMM-361SD

The car radio has the function of synchronization with iPod and iPhone. The device plays MP3/WMA/WAV/FLAC audio files. The color of the backlight can be changed, so you can match the color of your car’s dashboard.

The control panel is equipped with functional, conveniently located elements. At the same time, the front part is located slightly at an angle to the driver, which makes using the radio even more comfortable.

Of the budget options, KENWOOD KMM-361SD is a very decent model with good sound and a set of all necessary functions.

pros

• Clear, high-quality sound;
• Reliable assembly;
• Stylish appearance;
• Playback from various media and almost all popular audio formats;
• Ease of use, buttons are pressed tightly, do not hang out;
• The backlight changes color.

Minuses

• Many users complain about strong heating;
• It is difficult to see the information on the display, especially in the sun.

Main characteristics
Size	1 DIN
iPod/iPhone support	There is
Audio formats	MP3/WMA/WAV/FLAC
Tuner bands	FM, SW, LW
ID3 tag support	There is

Feedback from Dmitry

In operation 2 years. Plays in the car almost every day in summer and winter. During this time there were no problems. The sound is quite pleasant. The color of the backlight changes and can be matched to the dashboard of the car. A good and inexpensive radio tape recorder that suits everyone.

4. Sony CDX-G1100UE

There are several sound presets, but you can customize the equalizer 5-channel equalizer for yourself. The radio has a built-in amplifier and a subwoofer output, so you can easily assemble a completely decent audio system in your car without an additional amplifier.

There is a rather pleasant trifle — the backlight can be adjusted to pulsate to the beat of the music. In general, the radio tape recorder has a rich functionality, nice appearance, high-quality sound and a very affordable price. So in the top budget car radios it deservedly takes 4th place.

pros

• Built-in amplifier, you can connect the subwoofer directly;
• Functional equalizer;
• Convenient controls;
• The backlight can blink to the beat of the music;
• Simple and intuitive menu;
• Excellent combination of price / quality;
• Deep bass, clear sound.

Minuses

• Not found … (You can specify in the comments)

Main characteristics
Equalizer	Yes (5 lanes)
Amplifier	There is
Size	1 DIN
Audio formats	CD-Audio, MP3, WMA
Tuner bands	FM, SW

Feedback from Olga

I got this radio a couple of weeks ago. At first, I figured out the buttons for a long time, but still I figured it out, it turns out to be nothing complicated. The sound is very pleasant, clean and clear, adjustable functional equalizer. There are no complaints about the sound quality at all. I used different flash drives, including a 64 GB one — it loses without problems, it easily searches for tracks in folders. Of the shortcomings — a small screen, but not critical, I think.

3. Pioneer DEH-150MP

The device does not have a USB input, but is equipped with an Aux jack, which allows you to play music from your phone or MP3 player, as well as a drive for playing CD-RW and CD / CD-R discs.

The car radio with a stylish design will become a real decoration of your car, and amazing sound will make you get new, unforgettable sensations from your favorite tracks.

pros

• High quality sound;
• The sound of an incoming call on the phone is muted;
• Preamp output;
• Reliable and high-quality assembly;
• Stylish appearance;
• Good tuner.

Minuses

• Lack of USB (not critical for many).

Main characteristics
Size	1 DIN
Audio formats	CD-Audio, MP3, WMA
Tuner bands	FM, SW
Equalizer	Yes (5 lanes)
Menu in European	There is
aux input	There is

Feedback from Andrey

Great radio, great sound. The main disadvantage is the lack of USB, but for me it’s not scary, because I mainly use an mp3 player. You can play CD-R/RW discs, which, I think, the sound quality becomes even higher. An excellent combination of price and quality, ideal for those who are not critical to the presence of USB, but important rich and soft sound.

2 Alpine CDE-173BT

The radio is equipped with USB and AUX inputs, as well as a CD receiver, so you can play your favorite songs from a variety of media in MP3, WMA or AAC formats, including iPod and iPhone. In addition, the device is equipped with a Bluetooth function, so you can talk on the phone through the microphone (supplied) or play music wirelessly.

It is also worth noting the high-quality radio reception, the correct reading of European tags, the high speed of reading from external media, as well as a rather convenient function — auto-off, for example, during parking.

pros

• Clear, voluminous, rich sound;
• Bluetooth speakerphone;
• Confident radio reception;
• Informative display;
• Convenient controls.

Minuses

• Sometimes the connection with the phone via Bluetooth is lost (very rarely).

Main characteristics
Size	1 DIN
CD player	There is
Amplifier	There is
Equalizer	Yes (3 bands, 10 presets)
Tuner bands	FM, SW, LW
Removable panel	There is
Inputs	USB, AUX
Bluetooth	There is

Feedback from Konstantin

Very pleased with this recorder. Definitely worth your money. When I went to the service for installation, the specialists said that this is the best sounding car radio. The speakers had to be updated, as the old ones did not produce normal sound. In general, as a result, I got an excellent sound, for which an amplifier and a subwoofer were not needed.

1. Pioneer MVH-S100UB

The radio tape recorder plays audio in the most popular MP3, WAV, WMA formats, as well as high quality files — FLAC. The device has a built-in 5-band equalizer, so that the sound can be adjusted to your liking.

Pioneer MVH-S100UB is the best DIN 1 form factor radio to date, which has a bunch of settings and all the necessary functions. If you want to get high-quality sound in your car for little money, then we recommend this particular model.

pros

• Stylish design;
• Compatible with Android;
• FLAC support;
• Control via app on Android device;
• Spacious, clear sound;
• Easy to install;
• Comfortable use;

Minuses

• Not found… (You can add in the comments)

Main characteristics
Size	1 DIN
Audio formats	MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC
Tuner bands	FM, SW
Equalizer	Yes (5 lanes)
Technology	Advanced Remote Control, Media App Control, MOS-FET, Subwoofer Control
Inputs	AUX, USB

Feedback from Mikhail

Before that, I used three radio tape recorders from different manufacturers, and so this particular model produces such a sound that I have not heard before. Moreover, the tracks that I listened to several times sound somehow new. The sound is rich, the high frequencies are crystal clear, the bass is deep and voluminous. Plays all formats, including Flak. There is support for Android. Radio reception is solid. In short, an ideal radio for such money.