Car stereo screens go extra large!

ar stereos with screens the size of tablets have arrived at Crutchfield, and that’s good news for more car owners than ever. If you’ve been craving a big screen stereo for easy source selection while driving, car audio legends like Alpine, Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, and more offer some seriously sleek solutions.

Thought you couldn’t add a touchscreen? Think again!

There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to car stereos with oversized touchscreen displays. Striking resolution and responsive control make these stereos a joy to use. Plus, built-in essentials for smartphone integration and voice control like Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ look great on a big screen. But the most satisfying development here is that most of these car stereos fit dash openings that previously couldn’t accommodate touchscreen receivers. Use our vehicle fit tool to explore your options.

Is a floating touchscreen display right for you?

Because the touchscreen display of these special stereos "floats" in front of your dash, it’s important to evaluate the layout of your air vents and any other controls around where your radio lives. No dash layout is the same. So, car stereos with oversized screens, like the Sony shown below, prioritize adjustability.

When you install your stereo, you'll have angle, depth, and height adjustability so you can secure the perfect fit. It's important to note that these adjustments must be done before your stereo is affixed to any dash kit you'll be using. You won't be able to easily adjust it after the fact, so you'll want to think about the layout as you do the installation.

A wide selection of stereos with floating screens

This category of car stereos is evolving with frequent additions, but here's a quick sampling of some of the coolest options so far.

An affordable option from Jensen

Jensen's CAR110X multimedia receiver offers nice compatibility with your smartphone for the most affordable price tag in this category. You'll get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, USB inputs for phone charging, and 4-volt preamp outputs to incorporate an aftermarket amp and build a solid system — all with a 10.1" touchscreen display.

[See all Jensen floating touchscreen stereos]

Souped-up Sony stylings

I've always enjoyed Sony's approach to digital multimedia receivers. Their streamlined menus and layout make selecting sources and adjusting settings downright breezy. Their XAV-AX8100 brings that same thinking to a 8.95" screen. With 20 watts RMS of built-in power, 5-volt preamp outputs for system-building, awesome smartphone integration, and a 3-year warranty, Sony's entry into the oversized category offers a whole lot of bang for your buck.

[See all Sony floating touchscreen stereos]

Pioneer provides a tablet look and feel

In the case of their DMH-WT8600NEX, the 10.1" capacitive HD touchscreen display looks gorgeous. And as you'd expect, Pioneer builds in excellent audio controls and loads of features, including Amazon Alexa compatibility and inputs for two cameras. I previewed Pioneer's other stereos in this series and was impressed by the sturdiness and striking beauty of their displays as well.

If you're not quite ready for the 10.1" display, Pioneer offers stereos car stereos with 8" and 9" floating displays as well as models that are ideal for custom installations.

[See all Pioneer floating touchscreen stereos]

Alpine knows no bounds

Alpine has always taken great strides to bring awesome features to popular vehicles, and their Halo9 Series forged a path for all receivers to follow, offering the first oversized display of its kind and customizing it for vehicle-specific use.

And if that's not big enough, Alpine equipped their newest Halo receiver — the stunning ILX-F511 — with an 11" screen! The ILX-F511 lets you customize your display, boasts robust sound tweaking tools, and lets you play lossless FLAC audio files up to 96kHz/24-bit.

[See all Alpine floating touchscreen stereos]

Build a system with JVC

No surprise that JVC's KW-Z1000W digital multimedia receiver with a 10.1" screen is a solid entry in the category. If you're adding an aftermarket amplifier, speakers, and sub, you'll want to give this one serious consideration. 5-volt preamp outputs for a powerfully clean audio signal, a 13-band EQ, time alignment, and K2 sound-enhancement technology let you make sound-tweaking a priority.

[See all JVC floating touchscreen stereos]

Kenwood goes deluxe

Kenwood's Excelon Reference MXD1057XR digital multimedia receiver is the real deal. Upgrade to a 10.1" floating display with built-in HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, support of high-res audio, and the confidence that comes with a 2-year warranty. Kenwood gives you the tools to customize your homescreen with essential sources and tools. Plus, you get a good ol' fashioned volume knob!

[See all Kenwood floating touchscreen stereos]

Got BIG questions?

If you need help determining if a floating screen car stereo is right for you, give our Advisors a call. You can also confirm fit for any of the above stereos by using our vehicle selector.