Best Cheap Car Stereo Reviews of 2023 | Top 11 Models Compared

Car stereos can be a hassle to shop for since there are just so many options. And when you’re shopping for the cheapest ones, you want to make every penny count. That’s why we rounded up the best cheap car stereo you can buy.

We read lots of reviews and product comparisons and also dove into customer opinions about all these products. Turns out, size and fit isn’t the only thing you need to look out for. You also need one that sounds good, has cool features like music streaming and is easy to install.

Radio lovers can also rejoice, there are options for you as well. So, let’s get started. Before we go into the reviews though, here is a quick overview of the systems we have today.

What Are The Best Cheap Car Stereos?

If you’re short on time, this quick summary of the stereos will be all you need to get a general idea.

Best Cheap Car Stereo Comparison Chart

Top 11 Best Cheap Car Stereo Reviews

Let’s get on with the reviews of the car stereos then. We curated a total of 11 of the top car stereos you can find that won’t break the bank.

1. P.L.Z MP-900 Double Din Car Stereo

P.L.Z takes our top spot of the best cheap car radio with the MP-900 car stereo. It comes in a cool little package and has all the features you would want in a comprehensive car stereo system. The best part is it won’t break the bank either.

The sound quality is awesome thanks to the 320 watts of total power output, loud subwoofer and also the EQ. It has a 10-stage EQ chip with many sound effects which gives you a robust and clear sound no matter what genre of music you listen to.

This best budget head unit will easily connect to your smartphone and that opens up a world of other possibilities. Watch movies or use navigation apps on the large and colourful touchscreen. It’s all up to you.

Connectivity is good for the most part as well. It has Bluetooth, USB and AUX. All in all, the P.L.Z MP-900 is a well-rounded piece of tech that makes it the best cheap head unit you can buy right now.

2. P.L.Z MP-800 7 Inch Touchscreen Car Stereo

P.L.Z is on a roll. Taking our top two spots with their MP line of car stereos. Hey, the brand just happens to make some good stereos that are cheap but also full of features.

You get a large touchscreen display and ample connectivity with this one. We are talking USB, Bluetooth, AUX. Connectivity won’t be a problem. Do you know what else won’t be a problem? Sound quality. This double DIN stereo can pump out 240 watts of power and sounds very clear.

There are other cool features as well. Camera support is built-in, you can use Skype, Facebook and it will quickly connect to your smartphone which allows you to connect music apps and make calls! This one is the best budget double din head unit if you want a bright and colorful touchscreen as well.

3. Boss BV9364B Double Din Car Stereo

We really don’t remember a time where BOSS Audio systems have disappointed us. And this one is no different in any way. From hardware to software, everything is top-notch. First up, we love the sound. It has the same high output as our first pick and the quality is great.

Then the ample connectivity features and smart features make it a great car stereo with a ton of versatility. With 320 watts of power, this double DIN unit is plenty loud.

Cool features like the CD/DVD player, quality back up camera, and music streaming together make it a complete package of pure quality to add to our best cheap car radio list.

4. SARCCH 7 inch Double Din Car Stereo

SARCCH’s 7 inch isn’t the one but it also isn’t the worst stereo you can buy. It has some redeeming features but if you want a moderately good stereo that’s the easiest to install, this one is the one to get.

We love the included instructions and the sound quality isn’t that bad either. although there are others on this list that sound better.

It will work with smartphones and connect seamlessly thanks to Phonelink and navigation is good too. The large touchscreen makes navigating the UI quite easy as well. It supports rear cameras as well. So, that’s a plus.

5. Boss 508UAB Wireless Single Din Car Stereo

Another affordable car stereo, another BOSS product. The brand also makes it twice in this roundup with their 508UAB car stereo. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to music listening options.

There is CD support, Bluetooth and also music streaming as well. AUX inputs also let you connect your device directly as well. The sound quality won’t leave you disappointed either. With 200 watts of power, you should be quite the experience.

It’s a double DIN multimedia car stereo and is also one of the quite easy to use thanks to its simple and straightforward controls. We love it! BOSS Audio is picking up their game and it’s not the last time you will see their products on this list.

6. AboutBit 7” Digital Media Car Stereo

This one from aboutBit is a champion when it comes to file support. It supports almost all the formats you can think of. MP3 and WMA, WAV are all supported. And video formats are also supported.

There isn’t a CD or DVD player though and we would have liked to see GPS navigation. However, what it may lack in those departments, makes it up for being an easy to install process.

Connectivity is okay for the most part as well and the sound quality is impressive. 200 watts gives you enough oomph and Bluetooth 5.0 is a modern standard. It will easily connect with your smartphone thanks to Phone Mirror Link. Oh, and did we mention you can hook up a camera too? Because you can!

7. Alpine UTE-73BT Advanced Mech-Less Stereo Receiver

Alpine head units proved their prowess for years. It’s a no-nonsense and simple to use car stereo that’s easy to use and reliable. The only gripe we have with this one is it lacks a couple of cool features that others on this list have.

One area it doesn’t lack is phone support. Whether you have an Android or an iPhone, this one will work just fine and will do a good job of it as well. We loved the simple UI and also the cool music streaming features with Pandora.

There isn’t any touchscreen here though. That’s a bit of a bummer. Radio fans can rejoice. This one supports AM/FM and has RBDS information as well.

8. BOSS 616UAB Single Din Car Stereo

We told you that you will see more products from BOSS in this list. This one is the second last option we have from the brand and is just as good as you would expect from a brand like this.

Sound quality is one of the more important things and since it has 200 watts of power, that won’t be a problem, whatsoever. You can listen to tunes all day long. Speaking of listening to tunes, music streaming and various file formats are all supported.

Connectivity is robust as well. It has Bluetooth, AUX and USB ports. Whichever is convenient, you can use. One super cool touch we loved is the LED lights. It isn’t a major thing but is still something that adds a little bit of character.

See Also:
Top 10 Best Single DIN Head Units In the Market

9. CAMECHO 7 Inch Car Stereo with Backup Camera

CAMECHO might not be that well known in the market. But those who have tried their products absolutely love them for the good balance of features and ease of use.

The high resolution and large touchscreen display make viewing content and navigating in the UI very easy and intuitive. The UI itself is quite impressive as well. It’s a double DIN unit with 200 watts of power. So, the sound quality, as you can guess, is enough to compete with the best of the best.

Connectivity and features are also good. It will connect seamlessly with your smartphone thanks to the Phone Mirror Link features and supports rear cameras too.

10. JENSEN MPR210 Single DIN Stereo

Note: This is a suggested replacement for JENSEN MPR 319.

If double DIN doesn’t work for you, then this single DIN car stereo is a great choice for anyone. With its cool features and simple UI, it’s the best budget car stereo that comes in a single DIN size.

The high-resolution LCD screen displays crisp and clear images. Although it isn’t a touchscreen, the screen quality is pretty solid. Bluetooth connectivity is effortless as well. It will seamlessly pair up with all your devices.

With 120 watts of output power, EQ settings and music streaming app support, listening to music is a joy in every sense of the word. You love using this one, that’ for sure.

11. BOSS 850BRGB Multi Color Car Stereo Receiver

For our last product, we included one of BOSS’ flashiest and over-the-top stereo systems. This one features super cool RGB lights that can have 16 million color combos. If you’re all about the life of the party, this is a great option.

Speaking of partying, the 320 watts of power along with wide file format support means music listening is a breeze with this one as well. And since it supports popular streaming apps like Spotify and Pandora there won’t be fumbling with the cable either.

If you do want a wired connection then the connectivity options won’t let you down. There is USB support and Bluetooth as well.

Read Related Reviews:

• 12 Best Car Stereo with Backup Camera

• 7 Best 10.1 Inch Car Stereos

• 9 Best Flip Out Car Stereo Reviews

• 10 Best Car Stereos Under $100

• 10 Best Car Stereo Under $200

What To Look for Before Buying A Cheap Car Stereo

If you want to make the most out of your purchase, knowing what features to look for is very important. That way you will know that whichever one you get from this review, it will work seamlessly.

Compatibility

Fit is one of the most important things. Your brand-new car stereo needs to actually be compatible with your car. That’s why carefully checking whether you need a single DIN or a double DIN stereo is important.

Connectivity Options

The more connectivity options the better. This one is a no-brainer. Not all cheap in dash car stereo will have good connectivity options. What you need to look out for here are USB and AUX ports.

Bluetooth is also a necessity these days. It’s a very convenient way to connect your phone to the stereo. Almost all stereos will have Bluetooth, but if you want top-notch connectivity you can also look for Bluetooth 5.0.

Sound Quality

Obviously, you can’t overlook sound quality in a car stereo system. Having a bad quality speaker or a weak audio quality will ruin your music listening experience. We suggest going for at least 50 watts of output.

Some units here can go as high as 320 watts with 4 channels. That will be more than enough for a super fun music listening experience. Besides the loudness, the crispness of the audio matters as well.

Radio

Let’s be honest, even though it’s 2021, some of us still enjoy a good show on the radio. And discovering new music can be a cool thing on the radio as well. If a radio is important to you, look out for stereos that have AM/FM radio. RBDS is a bonus.

Smart Features

Convenient and smart features will make the overall experience of using the stereo every day much enjoyable. The smarter features there are, the better. We feel like seamless smartphone compatibility, music streaming support and app support are a must.

When buying a stereo system for your car, make sure you have all these. You won’t regret it.

Ease Of Installation

Ease of installation will save you some time and headache if you choose to install the stereo yourself. Having one that’s easy to install and comes with a good manual is recommended.

Brand

Finally, we have the brand. Choosing a brand from this list shouldn’t be a problem, really. All the ones we rounded up are top-notch and have some of the best reputations in the market. You simply cannot go wrong with names like P.L.C, BOSS and Alpine.

How Do Car Stereos Work?

Ever wonder, how does a car stereo even work? Well, the basics behind it are pretty straightforward. There are three main components to the whole thing.

1. Head Unit:

You can call this the heart and brain of your whole car stereo system. Signals will come from here and tell the rest of the components what to do. This part will front and center in the dashboard and is basically your portal to interact with your stereo.

2. AMP:

Then we have the amp. AMPS will take the signal that comes from the head unit and essentially amplify it. That’s their primary function. With a good AMP, you can improve the sound quality of your car’s stereo.

Normal or basic stereo systems can have the amp built-in. High-end ones will often have standalone AMPs for the best music quality.

3. Speakers:

The sound needs to come out from somewhere, right? That’s where the speakers come in. The speaker’s job is to make the vibrations into sounds you can actually hear.

Car stereos can have different speaker configurations but 4 speakers are most common. It will receive the signals from the AMP and then the signal is converted. It becomes mechanical energy which moves it backward and forward and creates the sound. This component can also have subwoofers and woofers for better bass.

How To Set Up a Car Stereo

Setting up a car stereo is actually pretty simple. Most models will come with an instruction manual and you can get it done pretty quickly just by following those instructions.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1 : First up you need to disassemble the panel. One thing to note here is to use the right tools for the job.

Step 2 : Then prepare for installation. You will need to connect the wiring harness of the stereo and install a new dash kit.

Step 3 : Now it’s time for the actual installation process. Connect the adapter to the harness for the antenna and mount the new kit on the dashboard.

Step 4 : The final step is to reassemble the dash. Reassemble it and put it all back together and voila! You’re done.

FAQs

Q1: Are cheap car stereos worth it?

Ans: Of course, they are. Not everyone can afford to pay hundreds of dollars for their stereo. Thankfully, there are many good choices in the market and we just happen to round up the best 11.

Q2: How to check what size stereo I need?

Ans: To check which size is right for you, using an online car stereo database is a good idea. You can also measure the head unit dimensions on your own.

Q3: How long does a car stereo system last?

Ans: This will depend on how well it’s maintained and the quality of the stereo itself. Typically, you can expect it to last you for around 5 years.

Q4: Can I install it myself?

Ans: If you’re a handy person then you can install a stereo pretty easily yourself. There are instructions given. But if you aren’t confident, letting a professional do it is safer.

Q5: What are the best brands?

Ans: All the ones in this review are top brands. Names like P.L.Z, Alpine and BOSS have been making quality products for a while.

Wrapping Up

There you have it. Now you should have a pretty good idea about which is the best cheap car stereo but more importantly which one is right for you. The P.L.Z MP-900 is our top pick but if you need something else you can easily pick anyone from the list and call it a day.

Helpful Guides:

• How Many Watts Is Good for A Car Stereo?

• Ways of Connecting MP3 To Car Stereo without AUX

• Wireless Vs Wired Backup Camera – What To Choose?

• Android Auto Vs Apple Carplay – Which One To Use?

• Steps To Fix A Touch Screen Car Stereo At Home