Are cheap aftermarket head unit installations good?
Author: Bailey Wilkinson
In our opinion,
Badly is the cheapest way of having an in-car entertainment system installed ask any professional and they'll suggest the same thing, if you want a job done get someone to do it right.
Why would you want a car stereo installed badly when you pay such a premium on purchasing the actual aftermarket head unit?
Here at Iceboxauto, we recommend either installing the unit yourself if you have the know how, or find a good tutorial to watch online. If this isn't the case why take the risk on having someone botch the installation of your unit?
This could cause a plethora of problems down the line after a few months of use.
In an Ideal World,
Ideally you're looking for a good deal on an installation, but if it sounds too good to be true it most definitely is. What would bring someone to lower their prices on an installation?
Well there are a few things, Inexperience being number one, as there are so many variables when installing aftermarket head units, that an experienced auto electrician can come into problems when they're given a system that they haven't installed previously before.
Head unit installation is no easy walk in the park, especially if you're looking for some extra work done, perhaps you're wanting a Canbus box installed to utilize your steering wheel controls?
Well if you're getting extra work, expect to pay a little extra for that work.
Some other issues that crop up are mainly related to the system itself causing more issues than it's worth.
Get a better system, if there's one thing you take away from this blogpost it is that the more you spend upfront today, the less the system will depreciate over time due to general use.
Remember you're ideally looking to have this system for up to 10 years, maybe you won't even have the same car?
Just remember, a universal system can always be taken out and placed into a new car.
If you think of these systems as an investment, you're already winning when it comes to ensuring the longevity of your system.
If you're looking for a system that's going to have Android Auto or Apple Carplay installed, with some of the more interesting features available to some of these OEM style aftermarket radios. You're probably going to save yourself some hassle too.
These Android devices and Apple devices come with several pre-installed features, like voice commands, which allow for hands free operation of the system, which as many of you may have heard will be vital to ensuring you're kept safe on the road.
Current UK Department for Transport Law Changes
UK Law changes are coming into effect soon, It will soon become illegal to drive while using a hand-held phone in any way, the Department for Transport has announced. Save yourself the hassle of using a mobile GPS system and invest into a hands free system that is installed into the dashboard of the car itself.
This will let you keep some of the applications that you've been using for ages, like Spotify, Google Maps, Apple Music and more accessible when you're driving.
Via the use of steering wheel controls, or a simple press of a touch screen when the car is in a safe, neutral position you'll be able to safely change the way you're cruising at the touch of a button, or a voice command.
If you think of an Aftermarket car radio installation as something akin to a new wrap of paint for your car, or some new upholstery installed inside, you're more likely to see the benefit of choosing a dearer option when it comes to having a mobile car audio system installed.
Car manufacturers offer only stock radios, which are, lets be honest quite bland. And yet for a new stock radio, they charge far too much for the systems themselves, forcing you to get one from a third party, why get a stock radio from a third party, when you could get a better one instead?
