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Say goodbye to your cassette adapter and FM transmitter; car stereo makers have come up with far more sophisticated ways to let you play your iPod library on the road.

Many stereos ... Read more [+]

Say goodbye to your cassette adapter and FM transmitter; car stereo makers have come up with far more sophisticated ways to let you play your iPod library on the road.

Many stereos now feature an "intelligent" or "full-speed" iPod connection, which transfers information from the iPod to the stereo's display itself and gives the driver full search and playback control via the stereo's faceplate buttons. The challenge for these stereos is to present the driver with a user-friendly means of navigating iPod menus on the move.

Read more in the Car Stereo Buying Guide

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Sony CDX GT620IP - radio / CD / MP3 player
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
Sony CDX GT620IP - radio / CD / MP3 player Reviewed on 05/01/2008

The Bottom Line: The Sony CDX-GT620IP is a value-for-money iPod-compatible car stereo with good usability and decent sound quality.

Specs: Radio / CD / MP3 player, Radio tuner, CD / MP3 player, Audio line-out, Audio line-in

Sony MEX-BT5100
  • Editors' rating: 4 stars
      Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
Sony MEX-BT5100 Reviewed on 04/07/2008

The Bottom Line: The MEX-BT5100 is a good all-in-one option for those thinking of investing in a in a decent stereo and a hands-free speakerphone.

Specs: Radio / CD / MP3 player, Radio tuner, CD / MP3 player, Audio line-out, Subwoofer output, System components control bus, Remote control

Alpine CDA-9885
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
  • User rating: 3h stars out of 5 reviews
Alpine CDA-9885 Reviewed on 11/29/2007

The Bottom Line: The Alpine CDA-9885 combines attractive styling and an easy-to-use music search interface with a host of expandability options, including HD Radio capability. However, those upgrading to HD Radio will have to deal with a clunky module and a hefty price tag.

Specs: Radio / CD / MP3 player, Radio tuner, CD / MP3 player, Audio line-out, Subwoofer output, System components control bus

Sony CDX-GT520
  • Editors' rating: 3 stars
      Overall score: 6.3 (3.0 stars)
Sony CDX-GT520 Reviewed on 10/18/2007

The Bottom Line: The Sony CDX-GT520 is a decent option for those wanting a reasonably priced stereo to play disc-based audio. While it does support HD Radio, it requires the connection of a clunky add-on module, which is almost more trouble than it's worth.

Specs: Radio / CD / MP3 player, Radio tuner, CD / MP3 player, Audio line-in, Audio line-out, Subwoofer output, System components control bus

Sony CDX-GT420IP
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
Sony CDX-GT420IP Reviewed on 10/10/2007

The Bottom Line: Sony's CDX-GT420IP is an affordable means of taking your iPod library on the road. While its basic user interface lacks the search functionality of some other systems, this is a competitively priced and decent sounding entry-level stereo for the digital-audio age.

Specs: Radio / CD / MP3 player, Radio tuner, CD / MP3 player, Audio line-in, Audio line-out, IPod docking

Panasonic CQ-C8305U
  • Editors' rating: 3 stars
      Overall score: 6.3 (3.0 stars)
Panasonic CQ-C8305U Reviewed on 08/15/2007

The Bottom Line: The Panasonic CQ-C8305U performs the basic functions of a digital-age car stereo well with great audio-tweaking options, intuitive file and folder navigation, and a worthwhile iPod interface. The stereo's full-motion color display adds little to its usability or attractiveness and its Bluetooth is disappointing.

Specs: Radio / CD / MP3 player, Radio tuner, CD / MP3 player, Audio line-in

Jensen MP6612i
  • Editors' rating: 4 stars
      Overall score: 8.1 (4.0 stars)
Jensen MP6612i Reviewed on 08/02/2007

The Bottom Line: The Jensen MP66312i provides an impressive range of media inputs, standard Bluetooth connectivity, and a usable iPod interface. Its low-rent display lets it down, but its impressive number of features is difficult to beat for the price.

Specs: Radio / CD / MP3 player / SD/MMC digital player / USB flash player, Radio tuner, CD / MP3 player, USB, Audio line-in, Audio line-out

JVC KD-PDR30 CD Receiver
  • Editors' rating: 3 stars
      Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)
JVC KD-PDR30 CD Receiver Reviewed on 07/13/2007

The Bottom Line: The JVC KD-PDR30 looks and sounds good, and its standard iPod connectivity will endear it to those looking to take their iTunes on the road. However, its lack of a decent search mechanism for navigating large iPod lists means that it fails one of its primary usability functions.

Specs: Radio / CD / MP3 player, Radio tuner, CD / MP3 player, Audio line-in, Audio line-out

JVC KD HDR1
  • Editors' rating: 4 stars
      Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
  • User rating: 3h stars out of 18 reviews
JVC KD HDR1 Reviewed on 06/22/2007

The Bottom Line: The JVC KD HDR1 in-car stereo delivers HD Radio and most other digital-audio playback options for a very competitive price.

Specs: Radio / HD radio / CD / MP3 player, Radio / HD radio tuner, CD / MP3 player

Eclipse CD3100
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
  • User rating: 3 stars out of 4 reviews
Eclipse CD3100 Reviewed on 05/14/2007

The Bottom Line: The Eclipse CD3100 is a car stereo for drivers interested in fine-tuning their in-cabin acoustics. Its digital-audio playback and navigation features are intuitive and user-friendly. Its turn-by-turn navigation feature is not.

Specs: Radio / CD / MP3 player, Radio tuner, CD / MP3 player, Audio line-out, Subwoofer output, System components control bus

83 results
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