Media types
Media types supported by the car radio.
— CDs. Support for optical discs usually assumes at least
compatibility with CD, the ability to work
with DVD is somewhat less common . For more information about these types, see "Disk Types". Here we note that nowadays, disks are gradually being replaced by more compact and functional media — in particular, memory cards and USB devices; so many modern radio tape recorders, including high-end ones, do
not have optical drives at all.
—
Memory cards. Ability to work with removable memory cards, usually SD or microSD; the module for reading them is called a card reader. This feature is convenient primarily because such cards are supported by many other devices — in particular, laptops and photo / video cameras. The card reader facilitates the exchange of data between these devices: for example, a selection of music from a laptop can be written to a memory card. Note that the specific type of supported cards needs to be specified separately — the (micro)SD format includes several varieties that are not quite compatible with each other.
—
USB drive (front). The ability of the radio to work with external USB-drives — "
flash drives ",
hard drives,
MP3 players, etc. — to pla
...y content directly from them. In this case, it means connecting such media to the USB connector located on the front panel of the radio — it is convenient because the connector is in close proximity, right at hand.
— USB drive (rear). Connecting USB drives (see above) through the rear panel. However, the external device is connected not directly to the rear panel, but to an external USB connector, which, in turn, is connected to the rear panel with a cable. Such a connector does not take up space on the front panel, but you can place it on a shelf under the dashboard — and the connected drive will not stick out of the radio, but lie neatly on the shelf. But in standard radios (see above), the “rear” connection can be carried out a little differently — there the cable from the rear panel can be connected to the standard USB socket on the instrument panel using a special connector.
— Connecting an iPod/iPhone. The ability to connect portable devices from Apple to the radio — primarily iPods and iPhone smartphones — through a special docking connector. Even the simplest options for such a connection, in addition to playing music, provide a number of additional features — in particular, control of the player's functions (for example, switching a track) from the control panel or remote control of the radio itself. And the most advanced models have a proprietary CarPlay system; for more information about it, see "Control functions".
— Android connection. The ability to connect smartphones and other devices based on the Android operating system to the radio. Connection methods may vary: for example, some radio models support only a wired connection, others can use Bluetooth (see "Multimedia"). The same applies to the set of functions available in each case, this point should be clarified according to the manufacturer's official data. Specific features include direct playback of music from the phone (with control through the radio), working with the contents of its drive, watching videos, using the radio as a car kit for receiving calls, etc. And in high-end models, there is support for Android Auto smartphone integration technology; for more information about it, see "Control functions".Number of fixed settings
The number of fixed settings (presets) provided in the car radio equalizer.
The presence of such settings can greatly simplify the adjustment: choosing the right preset is easier than manually adjusting each EQ band. At the same time, presets are often selected by the manufacturer for certain genres of music and have the appropriate names — "Rock", "Pop", "Jazz", etc.; this simplifies the task even more. And the more fixed settings in the device, the wider the choice of the user. In some radio tape recorders, in addition to pre-flashed ones, user presets are also provided — they can be programmed in advance and turned on in the same way as the preset ones.
Bass Boost function
A function that enhances the bass sound. In some way similar to the equalizer, however, unlike it, when using BassBoost, the bass boost is turned on and off with literally one touch of a button — this is more convenient and safer than fiddling with the equalizer settings.
Video output (composite)
The number of
composite video outputs provided in the design of the radio.
"Full size" composite interface includes 3 RCA ("tulip") sockets - one for video signal and one each for left and right stereo channels. However, other outputs are used in radios for transmitting an audio signal, so in this case we are talking only about a video output - usually it has a characteristic yellow color. The video signal via the composite interface is transmitted in analog format, its quality is average, resistance to interference is relatively low. At the same time, for connecting most car screens - for example, monitors built into the backs of the front seats - this is more than enough. And several composite outputs allow you to simultaneously connect the appropriate number of screens without the use of additional equipment (splitters).
Fast charge
The function of accelerated charging of external devices - for example, smartphones - from the USB port of the radio. The general principle of this procedure is that increased power is supplied to the gadget; but its specific features may be different. For example, some models provide a separate USB port intended only for fast charging, while others use the same connector to which flash drives are connected. In addition, the radio may support special
fast charging technologies; they speed up the process even more, but only work with compatible devices; for other gadgets, accelerated charging may not be available at all. It doesn’t hurt to clarify all these nuances before purchasing.
