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In-Dash Car Receivers Buying Guide


In-dash car receivers (also called in-dash units) let you play CDs, MP3s, cassette tapes, and satellite radio in your car, truck, or SUV. To get the sweetest mobile sound, find an in-dash car receiver that fits your vehicle and plays back your favourite audio formats.

Select the Right Type of In-Dash Car Receiver


Select the Right Type of In-Dash Car Receiver

You'll find a large selection of popular in-dash car receiver brands on eBay, including Aiwa, Alpine, Audiovox, Blaupunkt, Clarion, Eclipse, Jen sen, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic, Pioneer, Rockford Fosgate, Sanyo, and Sony. Some sellers even offer factory/OEM receivers.

To choose the proper in-dash car receiver consider what media you want to play.

  • Car cassette receivers: Get a car cassette receiver to play cassette tapes and tune into the radio. This type of receiver will not accommodate CDs or any other discs.

  • Car CD receivers: Buy a car CD receiver (particularly models that are CD-only receivers) if all the music you’re going to play is on CD. Choose a changer-controlling receiver to add a car CD changer to access multiple discs from your receiver.

  • Car CD/cassette combos: Select the car CD/cassette combo for cassette and CD functionality. Many receivers with CD capabilities will play CD-Rs, CD-RWs, or MP3s burned on computers, but you should verify that an in-dash car receiver has this functionality by reading item listing descriptions.

  • Car CD/MP3 receivers: Car CD/MP3 receivers allow you to play discs with MP3 files. The in-dash car receiver may also offer WAV playback, WMA (Windows Media Audio), as well as other file formats. If you wish to listen to your iPod while driving, look for a unit that is iPod-ready or offers different features for use with your iPod.

  • Satellite radio receivers: Listen to satellite radio on in-dash car receivers that have Sirius satellite or XM satellite capabilities.

In-dash car receivers often offer auxiliary inputs that accommodate additional entertainment sources such as portable CD players, MP3 players, MiniDisc players, plug-and-play satellite radio tuners, mobile DVD players, videocassette players, or TV tuners.

Some in-dash car receivers require an installation kit, which you can also find on eBay.


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Explore In-Dash Car Receiver Features


Explore In-Dash Car Receiver Features

Find an in-dash car receiver that fits all of your requirements by knowing which features you value most.

  • Sound quality: Compare signal-to-noise ratios and aim for high ratios to get cleaner sound. Also, look for a wider frequency response to get richer sound. FM sensitivity: Check the FM sensitivity specification and look for a low number for superior reception.

  • Power: In-dash car receivers come with four-way high power. Check the "RMS" wattage to evaluate the unit’s power. To increase power (and clarity) you will need a unit with preamp outputs, and then you’ll have to install a car amplifier, and possibly a car subwoofer.

  • Tone controls: Though all in-dash car receivers have some form of bass and treble tone controls, you can shop for units that offer a loudness control for fuller sound at lower volumes; bass boost to punch up low-end sounds; equalization (EQ) for precise tone control; or Dolby noise reduction to eliminate tape hiss.

  • Security: Some units deter thieves with a detachable faceplate or a face that disguises the pricey receiver.

Get an in-dash car receiver with additional features, such as a remote control or illuminated face, for added convenience. Look for in-dash car receiver units with buffer skip protection to minimize the potential of discs skipping on bumpy roads.


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Find In-Dash Car Receivers on eBay


Find In-Dash Car Receivers on eBay

Once you know what type of in-dash receiver you want, go to the Consumer Electronics portal, click Car Audio In-Dash Units under “Car Electronics,” and start searching for item listings on eBay.

  • Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Car Cassette Receivers, Car CD/Cassette Combos, Car CD/MP3 Receivers, Car CD Receivers, and more. As you dig deeper into the site you'll also be able to narrow down your choice by brand.

  • Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find an in-dash CD receiver for you car with the capability to play Sirius satellite radio type "Car CD Sirius" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, shop eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.


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Buy In-Dash Car Receivers with Confidence


Buy In-Dash Car Receivers with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

  • Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

  • If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

  • Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

  • Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

  • What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

  • What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

  • Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

  • Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to C$1,250.

  • eBay Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.


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