Editing Vehicle audio (section)

===Physical media and connectivity===
Mobile players for physical media have been provided for [[vinyl record]]s, [[8-track tape]]s, [[cassette tape]]s, [[compact disc]]s, and [[MP3]]s. The increased sophistication of the vehicle audio system to accommodate such media has made the audio unit a common target of car break-ins, so these are equipped with [[anti-theft system]]s too.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Attempts at providing mobile play from media were first made with vinyl records, beginning in the 1950s. The first such player was offered by Chrysler as an option on 1956 Chrysler, Desoto, Dodge, and Plymouth cars. The player was developed by [[CBS Labs]] and played a limited selection of specially provided {{convert|7|in|adj=on}} discs at {{frac|16|2|3}} [[RPM]]. The unit was an expensive option and was dropped after two years. Cheaper options using commonly available [[45 rpm record]]s were made by [[RCA Victor]] (available only in 1961) and [[Norelco]]. All of these players required extra pressure on the [[Gramophone needle|needle]] to avoid skipping during vehicle movement, which caused accelerated wear on the records.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/04/record-players-were-the-infotainment-systems-of-the-1950s-and-60s/index.htm |title=Record players were the infotainment systems of the 1950s and '60s |first=Sharon |last=Riley |date=April 12, 2014 |work=Consumer Reports |access-date=April 16, 2020}}</ref>

In 1962, Muntz introduced the Wayfarer 4-track cartridge tape player. Celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, had these units installed in their cars.

In 1965, [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] and Motorola jointly introduced the in-car [[8-track tape]] player as optional equipment for 1966 Ford car models. In 1968, a dashboard car radio with a built-in [[cassette tape]] player was introduced by Philips. In subsequent years, cassettes supplanted the 8-track and improved the technology, with longer play times, better tape quality, auto-reverse, and [[Dolby noise-reduction system|Dolby noise reduction]]. They were popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Cassette players were still found in vehicles as late as the 2005–06 [[Honda CR-V]] and 2008 [[Acura TL]]. There have also been vehicle audio units that accept both compact cassettes and CDs.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Pioneer introduced the CDX-1, the first car [[CD]] (compact disc) player, in 1984. It was known for its improved sound quality, instant track skipping, and the format's increased durability over cassette tapes. Car CD changers started to gain popularity in the late 1980s and continued throughout the 1990s, with the earlier devices being trunk-mounted and later ones being mounted in the head unit, some able to accommodate six to ten CDs.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://ca.complex.com/music/2015/02/the-evolution-of-playing-music-in-your-car/1980s-1990s-the-rise-of-the-cd |title=The Evolution of Playing Music in Your Car 1980s–1990s: The Rise of the CD |first=Meaghan |last=Garvey |date=February 10, 2015 |work=Complex CA |access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> Stock and aftermarket CD players began appearing in the late 1980s, competing with the cassette. The first automaker to offer a CD player in their cars from the factory was Mercedes, who offered a Becker Mexico radio with an integrated CD player as an option on most of their models starting in either 1985 or 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auto-preisliste.de/download-preislisten-aller-marken/file/31100-1986-09-preisliste-mercedes-benz-s-klasse|title=1986-09_preisliste_mercedes-benz_s-klasse|access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auto-preisliste.de/download-preislisten-aller-marken/file/30173-1986-09-preisliste-mercedes-benz-190|title=1986-09_preisliste_mercedes-benz_190|access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://autocatalogarchive.com/mercedes/|title=Das neue Programm der S-Klasse. Mercedes-Benz 260 SE, 300 SE/SEL, 420 SE/SEL, 500 SE/SEL. 560 SEL (1985)|work=Auto Catalog Archive &#124; Car Brochures |date=8 June 2016 |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> Soon after, Lincoln introduced an OEM CD player in the 1987 [[Lincoln Town Car]], built in collaboration with JBL. The last new cars in the American market to be factory-equipped with a cassette deck in the dashboard were the 2010 Lexus SC430,<ref>{{cite news|title=For Car Cassette Decks, Play Time Is Over |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/automobiles/06AUDIO.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2011-02-04|access-date=2016-01-14 |first=Stephen |last=Williams}}</ref> and the Ford Crown Victoria.<ref>{{cite news|title=The in car cassette deck lives on for one more year |url= https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/03/the-in-car-cassette-deck-lives-on-for-one-more-year.html |first=Amy |last=Tokic |date=March 26, 2011 |access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> A car cassette adapter allowed motorists to plug in a portable music player (CD player, MP3 player) into an existing installed cassette tape deck.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-car-cassette-adapter-was-an-unsung-hero-at-the-dawn-of-the-digital-age/ |title=The Car Cassette Adapter Was an Unsung Hero at the Dawn of the Digital Age |first=Ernie |last=Smith |date=November 6, 2019}}</ref>

In the early 21st century, compact digital storage media – [[Bluetooth]]-enabled devices, [[thumb drive]]s, [[memory cards]], and dedicated hard drives – came to be accommodated by vehicle audio systems. Around this time auxiliary input jacks and USB ports were added to connect [[MP3 player]]s to the vehicle's speakers. Minivans and three-row SUVs have an available rear entertainment system with a [[DVD player]] to entertain passengers.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.hondainfocenter.com/2022/Odyssey/Feature-Guide/Interior-Features/Advanced-Rear-Entertainment-System-RES/ |title=Advanced Rear Entertainment System (RES) ... – 2022 Honda Odyssey &#124; Honda Info Center }}</ref>

The automobile head unit became increasingly important as a housing for front and [[backup camera|backup]] [[dashcam]]s, [[Automotive navigation system|navis]], and operating systems with multiple functions, such as [[Android Auto]], [[CarPlay]] and [[MirrorLink]], allowing a smartphone's music library and navigation apps to be controlled via the [[In-car entertainment|vehicle's infotainment system]]. <ref>{{cite web |last=Bruzek |first=Joe |date=January 27, 2016 |title=2015 Honda Fit Apps Remind Us Why Apple CarPlay, Android Auto Rock |url= https://www.cars.com/articles/2015-honda-fit-apps-remind-us-why-apple-carplay-android-auto-rock-1420683234115/ |access-date=September 29, 2023 |website=cars.com}}</ref> Latest models are coming equipped with features like Bluetooth technology along with HDMI port for better connectivity. Screen size varies from {{convert|5|to|7|in|adj=on}} for the double Din car stereos.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://stereoauthority.com/best-double-din-stereo/ |title=Best Double Din Stereo 2019 – Top 5 Reviews|date=2019-01-01 |work=Stereo Authority |access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref>