What Is the Difference Between 1-DIN and 2-DIN Car Stereos?

September 26, 2023 0 comments Car Stereo Systems

A fully functional and right car stereo unit is very important if you want to play music or use apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Maps while on the go. There is a wide range of car head units with a variety of features. The important thing is to ensure the system’s capability with your vehicle. This blog post will help you clear all the doubts about a DIN stereo and the difference between 1-DIN and 2-DIN car stereos.

Let’s begin with exploring what a DIN Stereo is.

What is a DIN Stereo?

As mentioned before, while selecting a car head unit, it is important to ensure compatibility with the car’s dashboard in terms of size and form factor. The size of the car head unit is termed DIN size. DIN stands for Deutsches Institut fur Normung. It is a standardization organization based in Germany created for car stereos.

All the car head units come in a standard size of Single DIN or Double DIN. These refer to the physical size and the size of the slot in the dashboard where the unit has to fit in.

What is the difference between 1-DIN and 2-DIN car stereos?

Now let’s dig into the difference between 1-DIN and 2-DIN car stereos based on various factors.

1.      Size

The most obvious difference the both is the size. The height of the 2-DIN head unit is twice of 1-DIN. Therefore, a 2-DIN unit offers a larger display with easy-to-access controls. A 1-DIN car head unit is two inches tall and 7 inches long. It is a more compact option and is found usually in older and entry-level cars.

A 2-DIN car head unit on the other hand is double in size with a height of four inches which provides a better display with ease of use.

2.      Features

In terms of features, several features are the same for 1-DIN and 2-DIN car head units. Both the units offer the same audio playback features. In case you are using an external amplifier, the audio quality will be the same too. Both these head units also offer basic features like radio, Bluetooth, USB, and Aux. However, a 2-DIN system offers better functionality in terms of its operating system with a larger display for you to enjoy. This allows you to easily use apps like Maps, YouTube, Spotify, etc.

3.      Usability

As stated earlier that both, 1-DIN and 2-DIN work great with amplifiers and other audio devices. But if you want to connect external cameras or your smartphone then a 2-DIN head unit is a more suitable option. In terms of installation, the 2-DIN unit requires extra effort.

Pros and cons of 1-DIN unit

Pros of choosing 1-DIN unit:

  • Easy installation
  • High compatibility with most dashboards
  • Affordable

Cons of choosing 1-DIN unit:

  • It doesn’t offer a larger display due to being smaller in size.
  • If you are not using an external amplifier, the built-in amplifier of the 1-DIN car head unit is not powerful enough due to its compact size.

Pros and cons of 2-DIN unit

Pros of choosing a 2-DIN unit:

  • The best thing about a 2-DIN head unit is that it offers a larger display with ample room for all controls which allows using controls easily when on the move.
  • Most of the larger displays being offered are touchscreen making them perfect for various operating systems such as Android etc. Also larger display means you can read the text easily.
  • Some of the 2-Din units also have built-in amplifiers that provide better audio quality eliminating the need to get a separate amplifier for your vehicle.

Cons of choosing a 2-DIN unit:

  • Older and entry-level vehicles don’t have enough space to support a double car head unit therefore they have to choose a single head unit.

Conclusion

Now you know the major differences between 1-DIN and 2-DIN car head units. Depending on the mentioned factors you can now choose one as per your needs. The audio quality of both units is the same and therefore size does not impact the audio performance. In terms of functionality and features a Double Din car head unit has to offer more; a larger display, touchscreen, and built-in amplifiers. Whereas, a 1-DIN unit head is more compact and is suitable for cars with smaller space.

If you are still confused and have questions in your mind, contact us, and our team will reach out to you and answer all your queries helping you find the perfect car stereo