Under $250 the compromises are predictable: either the money went into a larger screen and the pre-out stage is basic, or it went into the audio section and you get a smaller display. Knowing which you are buying is most of the decision.
What to prioritise
If you are adding an amplifier now or later, prioritise pre-out voltage and the number of pre-out pairs. A deck with genuine 4 volt outputs and three pairs will still be useful when the rest of the system grows.
If the head unit will drive the speakers directly and always will, prioritise built-in power quality and a usable equaliser instead. The pre-outs will never be used.
What we look for at this price
- Loaded pre-out voltage, measured rather than claimed
- A physical volume knob
- Independent subwoofer level control
- High-pass and low-pass crossovers with more than one frequency option
- Wired CarPlay or Android Auto, which is common at this price where wireless is not
Wired projection is not a downgrade
Wired CarPlay connects faster, charges the phone while it works, and does not drain the battery. At this budget it is often the sensible choice, and the projected interface is identical to the wireless version.
Think about the upgrade path
The most common regret at this price is buying for the screen and discovering a year later that the 2 volt pre-outs are limiting the amplifier you have just added. Our pre-out voltage guide explains why, and the full roundup covers the tier above.
