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Digital broadcast
Not long ago, in-car radio was limited to the choice between AM and FM stations. Today, thanks to digital technology, satellite and HD radio offer subscription-based and free-to-air options respectively. However, you'll need the right kind of stereo if you're planning to listen to either of these two newer formats.
Satellite radio
The XM Mini-Tuner can be used with car stereos.
With the advent of XM and Sirius satellite radio (possibly soon to be the same company), drivers have a source of commercial-free, on-demand radio with a far superior sound quality to that of AM and FM radio. While a minority of stereo head units, such as Alpine's CDA-9820XM, come with a built-in satellite radio tuner, most stereos now come "satellite radio-ready", which means that they can be used to play satellite radio with the use of an add-on XM or Sirius receiver plus a satellite radio subscription. Some car stereos can be hooked up to generic satellite radio tuners, such as the XM Mini-Tuner, eliminating the need to buy a dedicated module and separate subscription for the car.
HD radio
The JVC KD HDR1 has a built-in HD radio tuner.
The other recent advance in in-car radio has been the gradual proliferation of HD radio (sometimes referred to as high definition or hybrid digital radio). HD is a digital broadcasting technology that makes use of the existing FM spectrum to send a digital signal along with the traditional analog signal. Radios with built-in HD receivers sort through the multiple signals and reproduce the original broadcast without the multipath distortion associated with standard analog FM and AM reception. (Multipath distortion happens when a radio signal is picked up by the receiver numerous times, and is particularly problematic around high buildings, which reflect signals and make them bounce around.)
To date, there are only a handful of car stereos on sale that come with built-in HD radio tuners. Examples include JVC's KD HR1 and the Alpine DVA-9956.
More common are stereos that come with the capability of picking up HD radio via add-on receivers. These include single-DIN stereo receivers such as the Eclipse CD3100, the Alpine CDA-9857, and double-DIN systems such as the Kenwood DPX 302. For those who want HD Radio programming without switching out their car stereos, JVC's KT-HDP1 is a universal device that connects to any FM-capable stereo to play HD Radio.
