Comparison Pioneer DMH-G120 vs Kenwood DMX-100

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".

Diagonal display size of car radio. The larger the screen, the larger the image on it and the better, usually, information is perceived; in addition, large size is important if the screen is touch-sensitive (see Touch screen). On the other hand, in car radios, the display size is limited by mounting dimensions and almost never exceeds seven inches.

Display size in dots (pixels) horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution, the more detailed and smoothed the image is capable of producing the screen. High resolution is especially important for large diagonal displays; on the other hand, it significantly affects the cost of the device, and for a small screen it may even turn out to be superfluous (since the image will turn out to be too small).

The number of bands in the radio equalizer.

In this case, the band means a separate part of the frequency range, the volume of which can be adjusted using the equalizer independently of the other parts. The more bands the equalizer has, the more accurately it allows you to adjust the overall sound of the car radio acoustics. However, note that multi-band equalizers are quite difficult to set up, therefore they are recommended primarily for experienced users.

The ability to adjust the high cut without affecting other frequency ranges. Thanks to this, you can improve the overall timbre of the sound by completely removing the high frequencies, if necessary (for example, for a subwoofer). Moreover, this method of adjustment is much simpler than adjusting individual equalizer bands (see above). Typically, this function is combined with bass control (see below).

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.

The type of volume control provided in the radio. Rotary knobs, sensors or mechanical buttons are most often used in this role; Here is a more detailed description of each of these options.

— Rotary regulator. The traditional regulator in the form of a round knob, which does not lose popularity nowadays — in fact, it is he who is installed in most modern car radios. Such prevalence, among other things, is due to the fact that the rotary knob is compatible with both digital and analogue volume control circuits — which means that it can be used in devices of any level, from top-end to the most simple and inexpensive. In addition, such a regulator stands out noticeably on the radio panel, so you can even find and turn it by touch, without being distracted once again from the road. The disadvantages of rotary knobs include perhaps some bulkiness compared to buttons and sensors, but this moment is extremely rarely significant.

— Mechanical buttons. Traditional mechanical buttons — more precisely, most often one double-sided rocker button, vertical or horizontal. Unlike the rotary knobs described above, they can only be used with digital volume control circuits; therefore, most radio tape recorders with buttons are advanced devices with extensive functionality and a size of at least 2DIN (or a screen of at least 5 ", for standard models). In such cases, the advant...age of buttons over rotary controls is that the rocker can be made very narrow and install even on a very thin screen frame, while the handle requires a fairly wide additional panel. And if you compare this option with sensors, then mechanical buttons are somewhat cheaper, and you can control them blindly without taking your eyes off the road to the radio panel. On the other hand, the mechanics tend to wear out with use, making it less reliable, and many users simply don't like buttons more than sensors, and for these reasons, and a few others, this option is relatively rare.

— Touch buttons. Controls in the form of sensors that are triggered not by pressing, but by touch. Like mechanical buttons (see above), this control is only compatible with digital volume control and is mainly used in advanced radios with large screens. At the same time, the sensors give the device the most advanced and “technological” appearance, attractive to many users from a purely aesthetic side. The main disadvantage of this option is that the touch buttons usually do not protrude from the panel — so it is almost impossible to find the right sensor blindly, and when controlling the radio, you inevitably have to be distracted from the road. However, with more or less decent driving skills and due care, this moment is not a serious drawback, so this type of control in high-end radio tape recorders is used much more often than traditional buttons.

A separate output for connecting a low-frequency speaker — a subwoofer. Ordinary speakers tend to have low quality bass reproduction; a subwoofer is used to “overlap” this range, as a result, the sound becomes much more powerful and rich. However, connecting to a regular audio output would require the use of frequency filters — so that only low frequencies enter the subwoofer. A separate output for the subwoofer eliminates the need for such devices — this connector is already filtered signal. However note that usually this interface is designed to connect an active subwoofer; passive will need a separate amplifier.

Standard input for analogue audio transmission. The presence of such a connector allows you to connect an external sound source (for example, an audio player) to the radio to play music through the car's acoustics. The specific connector type used in such an input may vary. The same goes for its location; AUX on the front panel is most convenient, this feature is indicated separately in our catalog (see below).