Sony Xav Ax8000 car stereo with menu displayed in a carSource: SONY ELECTRONICS INC

The best
Bluetooth car stereo
immoral
2021

While the best Bluetooth car kits are a quick way to add streaming features to your car, nothing beats the convenience of baking it into your real stereo. The best Bluetooth car stereos allow you to drop cables while playing your favorite songs, and some even include support for Apple CarPlay's incredibly sleek iPhone technology. The JVC KW-V66BT is the perfect combination of features and price, with a large touch screen, CarPlay and of course Bluetooth. If you are ready to go the replacement route, these are the best Bluetooth car stereos on the market.

Best general: JVC KW-V66BT Apple CarPlay Android Auto DVD / CD Player

Jvc Kw V66bt car stereo with Apple CarPlay display

Source: JVCKENWOOD Corporation

The JVC's KV-V66BT dual car stereo has a 6.8-inch capacitive touch screen that makes navigation quick and easy. The KW-V66BT supports CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can access popular apps and services like Apple Music, Google Maps, iHeartRadio, Waze, and more, all through familiar interfaces. If your apps don't belong to you, the KW-V66bt also plays old-school DVDs and CDs - a feature that's hard to find with modern touchscreen stereos.

For audio, the KW-V66BT provides 50 watts on four channels with a 13-band equalizer to suit the songs to your liking. You can also take personalization further with a unique time-aligning feature that optimizes sound by dialing delays depending on the location of the car speakers.

Pro:

  • 6.8-inch touch screen display
  • Lots of rear ports
  • Play DVDs and CDs
  • Supports CarPlay and Android Auto

Versus:

  • Only size from from
  • No CarPlay Wireless and Android Auto

The best general

Car stereo Jvc Kw V66bt

JVC KW-V66BT Apple CarPlay Android Auto DVD / CD Player

Best for most

The JVC KW-V66BT combines all the essentials with a large touch screen and lots of extra elements like CarPlay at a great price.

Boss Audio Systems 616uab Multimedia Car Stereo installed inside a car dashboard

Source: Amazon

Boss Audio 616UAB car stereo multimedia is one of the most affordable ways to add Bluetooth audio streaming to your dashboard. Don't let the low price fool you, as the 616UAB has a lot of features, including a USB port and an AUX jack right in front of it, which makes charging your phone and connecting other devices a breeze.

Boss Audio's single-in stereo also offers plenty of power, with the ability to output a total of 200 watts maximum - 50 watts per channel. If that wasn't enough, you could even attach your favorite amplifier, thanks to the audio outputs on the back of the unit.

Pro:

  • Accessible price
  • Includes wireless remote control
  • Bluetooth, AUX and USB connectivity

Versus:

  • It has no CD player
  • Small display without touch screen
  • Does not support CarPlay or Android Auto

Best Price

Boss Audio Systems 616uab Multimedia Car Stereo

BOSS Audio Systems 616UAB Multimedia Car Stereo

Accessible audio

For about the price of a Bluetooth adapter, you can add wireless convenience directly to your dashboard with Boss Audio 616UAB.

The best wireless experience: Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX Double Din Wireless Mirroring Android Car Auto, Apple Carplay In-Dash DVD / CD Car Stereo Receiver

Pioneer Avh W4500nex car stereo with CarPlay display

Source: Pioneer Electronics

While there are plenty of CarPlay and Android Auto audio systems available nowadays, very few aftermarket solutions work with the cordless feature. This is not the case with the Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX, as it puts all your apps and media content on your screen without taking your phone out of your pocket.

The AVH-W4500NEX offers a punch for your music, producing up to 50 watts for four channels and is expandable with three audio outputs. Other essentials include the ability to connect two spare cameras - a great addition to other cars, multiple USB ports and DVD and CD playback.

Pro:

  • Large 6.94-inch touch screen
  • Play DVDs and CDs
  • Supports CarPlay wireless and Android Auto

Versus:

  • Expensive
  • It has no physical volume control
  • Requires double space from the dash

The best wireless experience

Pioneer Avh W4500nex Car Stereo

Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX Double Din Wireless Mirroring Android Car Auto, Apple Carplay In-Dash DVD / CD Car Stereo Receiver

Complete wireless freedom

If you want maximum wireless comfort, the Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX offers CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly.

Best small screen: Built-in JVC KD-X260BT Bluetooth

Jvc Kd X260bt Machine connected to a telephone

Source: JVCKENWOOD Corporation

Since our phones are the biggest difficulty when it comes to media playback, adhering to classic single-din stereo styles makes a lot of sense. The JVC KD-X260BT has a universal set of physical controls - including such a satisfactory volume knob and smaller display that won't distract you or your passengers.

Despite its classic look, the JVC stereo still allows you to stream songs from your phone via Bluetooth and you can use it to charge your device via USB. The KD-X260BT also delivers great sound, offering 22 watts of RMS and a peak of up to 50 watts with a built-in amplifier.

Pro:

  • Low price
  • Lots of physical checks
  • Includes external microphone

Versus:

  • Display without touch screen
  • USB port is not compatible with iPhone
  • Does not support CarPlay or Android Auto

The best small screen

Jvc Kd X260bt car stereo

Built-in JVC KD-X260BT Bluetooth

Be physical

If you prefer physical controls, but want the comfort of Bluetooth streaming and great sound, the JVC KD-X260BT is worth a look.

Best design: Sony XAV-AX8000 1DIN chassis 8.95-inch floating LCD screen

Sony Xav Ax8000 car stereo with Apple CarPlay display

Source: SONY ELECTRONICS INC

If you dream of having a large screen touch screen in your car, but you are stuck with a small dashboard, the ultra-slick XAV-AX8000 from Sony is stereo for you. The Sony stereo has an adjustable, floating 8.95-inch screen that protrudes from the stereo base, allowing it to fit into the tight slot with one of the older cars.

The modern XAV-AX8000 display supports modern features such as CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth streaming and rear camera support. The full screen display comes at a cost, as it does not support CD or DVD playback, and CarPlay and Android Auto require the phone to be connected to access simple commands.

Pro:

  • Single-din floating design
  • Extended display with 8.95-inch touch screen
  • Supports CarPlay and Android Auto

Versus:

  • Expensive
  • No CD or DVD player
  • Cable CarPlay and Android Auto only

The best design

Sony Xav Ax8000 car stereo

Sony XAV-AX8000 1DIN chassis 8.95-inch floating LCD screen

Large screen for small dashboards

Sony's XAV-AX8000 brings Bluetooth, CarPlay and more to the single-panel dashboards with a massive 8.95-inch touchscreen.

Atoto Sa102 Ys102sl Car Stereo used in the car

Source: Amazon

Although the 616UAB from Boss Audio is the best choice for our global value, the ATOTO SA102 comes in a very close second. ATOTO's Bluetooth-enabled car stereo has a seven-inch capacitive touchscreen and support for CarPlay and Android Auto at a fraction of the price of more prominent brands.

The SA102 also has a USB port, an SD card slot and AUX right in front, and an external microphone also comes in the box. The low cost has some disadvantages, however, because it does not have a CD slot, CarPlay and Android Auto require a cable and reach a maximum of 45 watts per channel, which is slightly lower than the others in this guide.

Pro:

  • CarPlay at cheap prices
  • Front USB ports, SD card and AUX
  • Includes external microphone

Versus:

  • Does not play CDs or DVDs
  • No CarPlay Wireless and Android Auto

The best value with touch screen

Atoto Sa102 Ys102sl Car Stereo

ATOTO in-Dash 2 From Digital Media Car Stereo

More for less

ATOTO's Bluetooth-compatible SA102 with a seven-inch screen is a cheap way to add CarPlay and Android Auto to your trip.

Bottom line

Whichever option you choose, the best Bluetooth car stereos allow you to travel on your next road trip without worrying about dongles or adapters. Bluetooth car stereos are not incredibly convenient; promotes safer habits, helping you keep your eyes on the road, as you can serve the pieces using your phone's voice assistant.

The JVC KW-V66BT is the best choice for its massive touch screen, Bluetooth wireless capabilities, CarPlay support and affordable price. With the full-screen design, the JVC KW-V66BT looks straight from the factory, instantly giving your car a modern upgrade, and with CarPlay, song control is fast and familiar thanks to Apple's minimalist interface.

Credits - The team that worked on this guide

Author:

Christopher Close he spends most of his time writing and dreaming about all things HomeKit for iMore. If you want to join him in his quest to automate everything, you can follow him on Twitter at @itschrisclose.

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