The original car stereo was merely a radio with erratic reception. The next generation included a tape deck, but changing them was problematic and could be downright dangerous while you were driving. Todays car audio and video equipment deliver exceptional sound and picture quality, making your journey even more enjoyable.

One of the top names in audio equipment for many years is Pioneer, and there move into the car audio sector has been incredibly successful. Their DEH 2200 UB model is an outstanding example of a car audio unit. With an excellent retail price of around $80, this item really delivers on looks and sound quality. Apart from the radio you have a CD facility and also MP3. The detachable faceplate is great for security as would be thieves cannot see what kind of unit you have. There is also a USB port so you can plug in your ipod and listen to all your favorite tunes without having to change the CD's over and over again, invaluable on a long journey. Overall a very nice piece of equipment for a relatively small price.

The Pioneer DEH 1300MP retails at around $70 and is another high quality audio device. It has all the features of it's compatriot but doesn't have the ipod facility. It has the Cd player and the MP3 receiver which sounds fabulous blasting through the 4 x 50 watt output. The white LCD display is very striking against the black background and makes navigation even simpler. The detachable faceplate also comes as standard. A great little unit for any car.

Although they produce great units, Pioneer aren't the only company to have a large chunk of the car audio market. For around $60 you can get yourself the Clarion CZ300. There is no compromise of quality by paying such a small price. Radio, CD, MP3, ipod compatible and blue tooth are just some of the features that the Clarion have packed into this device. The addition of the blue tooth makes for safe, hands free conversations through your compatible cell phone. It will also play the music you have stored on the MP3 within your cell phone, This may be a budget priced machine, but the features are anything but.

So you have a great audio system, and are looking to increase the sound quality. If this is the position you find yourself in, the Pyle PL634BL 3 way speaker system might be just what you are looking for. These speakers measure 6.5 inches across and can easily handle a mighty 360 watts of power. The woofer has a poly injection cone and a surround of rubber butyl. Coming ready to install with all cables, grills and mounting hardware, and retailing at a mere $20, these speakers are what your audio system have been waiting for.

If you are one of the many of thousands of motorist who know have DVD in your car to amuse the kids on loud journeys, you may have come across this problem. The kids are happy in the back but you can't hear your music over the sound of the DVD. XO vision took this on board and produced the IR620 universal wireless folding headphones. These headphones are incredibly comfortable to wear with extra cushioning in the ear cups. The generous adjustability makes them suitable for everyone from tots to adults. The control buttons are located on the side of the headphones for convenience and ease of use. For less than $20, every parent should have some of these!