HIS GADGETS: Is it time to replace your car radio?
Gone are the days when car manufacturers would simply place a radio in car as a by-the-way component. Today, the car radio has become an integral part of the decoration of the car. Early on it was only a simple radio that served the purpose of car audio system. Car manufacturers today have recognised the fact that in-car entertainment constitutes an integral part of a modern car.
For most used cars that over 90 per cent of Ugandans drive, factory-installed radios might offer good performance, but not good enough for many who want bigger speakers, better audio and more bass, not to mention video. Buying a new car radio usually means upgrading the factory installed radio system or starting over with new one.
After you realise just how your car radio is distorting some of your favourite music, you head out into the market, but you just are not sure what radio to get or simply what to do. You could always get the brand new radio from Game or Anisuma, though some cases the cost implications relegate you to Kisekka market or Ndeeba.
First off chances are your speakers are okay. The biggest music spoiler in most cars is the head unit. This is the heart and soul of the whole system. This head unit, or, more simply, the radio, is the central processing device in the system. The guys at Kisekka and Ndeeba surely know this and this is why most of their inventory is the head unit.
All changes and controls come through it. If you could see behind the radio in your dash, you would find a dozen or so wires going off in all different directions to other systems in the car. These are like the nerves in your body, transmitting signals to and from the various body parts telling them what to do. In addition to volume, bass etc, the head unit may contain other systems within its casing. These include tuner, cassette, equaliser, CD, USB input, amplifier etc.
Choice of a head unit can be daunting with so many out there. Some of the popular brands include Sony, Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood and Panasonic. This should be your first line of defense. You have to be careful with brands such as Sony because their Xplode range of car audio has prompted a steady stream of Chinese imitations. In the used parts market, you shall find some units looking really complex with Japanese buttons. But like I said earlier, brand is your first line of defense as popular brands have much lower probabilities of failure.
Of course, the head unit of your choice should have all the features you would want in a car radio so be cautious not to get hoodwinked by gimmickry lights and buttons that are good for nothing. Bear in mind that naturally with popular brand comes higher demand and higher prices. Speakers are really secondary as most speakers in the cars round Kampala nowadays are excellent at what they do, with the head unit being the chief let down. Finally, and perhaps most important is to test the radio and ask for a guarantee.
