The 4 Best Car Stereos with HDMI Input / Output in 2022
We've reviewed the options: here are the top picks
2022 mid-year update: We do regular stock checks on the products we review and notice that some of the offerings in this feature have been running into availability issues. We’d recommend checking out each option as an alternative. If everything is out of stock, we’ve typically seen each choice available again a few weeks later.
In the world of car stereos, nearly every head unit chooses to take the cheaper route of only having composite inputs/outputs available as your video solution.
This can be frustrating, as a head unit with input (or even just an output) can open up doors to screen mirroring, a second display for your HDMI device/laptop/games console, and of course, HD visuals from anything you’re sharing.
Thankfully, there are a few great options amongst the many composite head units to do just this.
So today’s feature on What in Tech will take you through the best double din car stereos with HDMI inputs (or output only for cheaper choices).
1
Overall Best Car Stereo with HDMI
Kenwood Excelon Reference DMX1057XR
Our Rating: 9.5/10
Overall Best Car Stereo with HDMI Input: Kenwood Excelon Reference DMX1057XR
Kenwood is one of the best head unit manufacturers in the business. It was not a surprise to see that they’re one of the only brands to produce an excellent double din with HDMI input.
Lead by its gorgeous, bright, and large HD touchscreen and decent sound; the DMX1057XR has all of the quality of life features you need in a car stereo system (from Bluetooth to advanced audio customization options).
The unique crowning feature of this car stereo system is, of course, its HDMI input port. With the potential to act as a secondary screen for movies, your computer, or even a games console, its great to see this capability on a head unit when this technology so often settles for just A/V composite connection.
Source: riverboatwilliams
Compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, this system can act as a great navigation device for either of the main 2 mobile platforms, with great UI attached to each of its main software pieces (from vehicle information to dashboard camera views, with up to 4 camera connections available).
The build quality is top tier as you would expect for a premium head unit It also boasts a sleek, glossy design to match, with subtle LEDs illuminating the main buttons of the unit.
What else is there to say? Kenwood has created a fantastic product in the DMX1057XR.
Yes, it is an expensive offering, but if you’re after the best HDMI head unit today, this is easily our top choice.
Runner-Up Best Car Stereo with HDMI Input: Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX
Pioneer, another classic car stereo brand, has created the cheapest car head unit with an HDMI input that we’ve seen with good availability.
Boasting many of the same features that make our top Kenwood pick great, the AVH-W4400NEX has a decent screen and audio, built-in wi-fi/Bluetooth, good compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and of course, its HDMI input. This head unit is more than capable of acting as a decent navigator for all of your typical demands from a car system.
Source: stevoisboss
The AVH-4400NEX is an excellent device and was very nearly picked as our overall top winner. If your budget for a car stereo with HDMI is closer to this than the Kenwood pick, there’s no shame in picking this device up instead. We gave the top pick to the Kenwood head unit because that offering, for its big price tag, feels like a premium unit in every way; the screen is more vibrant, the UI/quality of life features/connection capabilities are slightly better and many other elements are just a touch above the Pioneer head unit.
But perhaps the biggest difference is the smaller screen size, with the Kenwood’s 10.1″ display being notably larger than the Pioneer’s