I remember the frustration of being stuck with an outdated car stereo. The static on the radio, the inability to easily play music from my phone, and the total lack of modern conveniences like hands-free calling made every drive feel like stepping back in time. Finding a reliable and affordable solution, like the Planet Audio P9640B, felt necessary not just for entertainment, but for safer driving by keeping my hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Without an upgrade, I was constantly fumbling with my phone, a dangerous habit I knew I needed to break.
Before diving into a specific product, it’s worth thinking about why you’re looking for a new car stereo in the first place. Are you tired of CD-only playback? Do you need Bluetooth for streaming music and hands-free calls? Do you want a touchscreen interface for easier control and potentially a backup camera input? These systems solve the problem of outdated in-car entertainment and connectivity, making your commute or road trips more enjoyable and safer. An ideal customer for a modern double-din head unit is someone who wants to upgrade their vehicle’s capabilities without buying a new car, especially if their current setup is basic or non-functional. Someone who shouldn’t necessarily buy one? Perhaps someone with a very new car that already has all these features built-in, or someone who only ever listens to the radio and doesn’t use smartphones or other digital media. Before purchasing any double din car stereo, consider the physical size and fit in your dash, whether you need extra installation accessories like wiring harnesses or dash kits for your specific vehicle model, the features you absolutely require (like Bluetooth, USB, AUX, camera inputs), and your budget. Knowing these things upfront will help you find the right fit.
Introducing the Planet Audio P9640B
The Planet Audio P9640B Car Audio Stereo System presents itself as a feature-rich, affordable upgrade for vehicles with a double-DIN dash opening. It promises modern connectivity and media playback options well beyond a basic factory radio. When you purchase it, you typically get the head unit itself, a power harness, mounting hardware, an external microphone for hands-free calls, and a user’s manual. Compared to older factory units, it offers a large touchscreen interface, Bluetooth, and varied media inputs. While it might not have the brand recognition or cutting-edge features of top-tier market leaders, it aims to provide core modern functionality at a much more accessible price point. This specific unit is designed for drivers who want a significant upgrade in features – particularly Bluetooth, DVD/CD playback, and touchscreen control – without breaking the bank. It’s less suited for audiophiles demanding pristine sound quality out of the box or those who need advanced smartphone integration like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Pros:
* Affordable price point for a double-DIN touchscreen unit.
* Comprehensive media playback options (CD, DVD, USB, SD, AUX, Bluetooth).
* Functional Bluetooth for calls and audio streaming with included external mic.
* Responsive touchscreen for the price.
* Includes inputs for front and rear cameras and steering wheel controls (adapter sold separately).
Cons:
* Screen brightness can be inadequate in direct sunlight.
* Boot-up time can cause a delay, particularly for the backup camera feed.
* File navigation on USB/SD cards can be clunky, sometimes showing only short filenames.
* Specific firmware quirks (e.g., volume jump with backup camera, non-adjustable EQ presets initially).
* DVD region locking requires changing radio settings.
Delving into the Features and Their Advantages
Let’s break down the core features of the Planet Audio P9640B and discuss how they perform and the benefits they bring to your driving experience.
**Bluetooth Connectivity: Staying Connected and Hands-Free**
One of the standout features, and a primary reason many people upgrade, is Bluetooth. The P9640B allows you to easily pair your smartphone for both audio streaming and hands-free calling. Pairing is straightforward, and once connected, the unit remembers your device, making subsequent connections quick. The benefit here is immense: safety. With the included external microphone, you can make and receive calls without ever having to pick up your phone. User feedback indicates that call quality is generally good, with the microphone effectively picking up voices even over road noise, allowing for clear conversations for both parties. Streaming music wirelessly from apps like Spotify or Pandora is also seamless, giving you access to your entire digital music library or streaming service playlists directly through your car’s speakers. The touchscreen interface allows you to control playback (play, pause, skip) directly from the dashboard, adding another layer of convenience and safety compared to fumbling with a phone mount.
**Media Playback Versatility: Entertainment on Demand**
This car audio system doesn’t just stop at Bluetooth. It’s a multimedia powerhouse, offering numerous ways to enjoy your content. It includes a DVD/CD player, which is increasingly rare in modern head units but a great feature if you still have a collection of discs. You can watch DVDs on the 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen (when parked, or if you bypass the parking brake safety feature for passenger viewing) or listen to CDs. Beyond physical media, the unit features USB and SD card inputs. This allows you to load up memory sticks or cards with MP3 files and access a vast library of music or audiobooks. An auxiliary input is also present, providing a simple wired connection for any device with a standard headphone jack. The benefit is clear: no matter where your media is stored – on discs, digital files, or streaming from your phone – this system can play it, ensuring you’re never without entertainment on the road. While some users noted quirks with file naming on USB/SD (sometimes displaying only short “8.3” filenames) and specific video file formats (primarily AVI for USB video playback, despite MP4 being mentioned), the sheer number of input options provides flexibility.
**The 6.2-Inch LCD Touchscreen: Your Control Center**
The centerpiece of the Planet Audio P9640B is its 6.2-inch touchscreen display. This moves the system lightyears ahead of traditional knob-and-button car radios in terms of user interface. The touchscreen allows for intuitive navigation through menus, settings, and media libraries. User reviews generally praise the responsiveness of the screen, noting that it reacts well to touch input, sometimes even through a protective film. The benefit is ease of use; accessing features like changing radio stations, selecting songs from a USB drive, or adjusting audio settings becomes much simpler and more visually guided. While some users mentioned that screen brightness can be an issue in direct sunlight, making daytime viewing of DVDs challenging, it seems adequate in most other conditions and includes brightness adjustments. For night driving, the screen can be turned off, with soft blue button illumination remaining, minimizing distractions.
**Inputs and Outputs: Expanding Your System**
The connectivity extends beyond just media playback. The Planet Audio P9640B car stereo offers several inputs and outputs that allow for system expansion. It includes inputs for front and rear cameras. The rear camera input is particularly beneficial, automatically displaying the view when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. This greatly enhances safety when backing up, helping you avoid obstacles. Some users noted a delay in the backup camera activating due to the unit’s boot-up time, which is a minor drawback but still provides the view eventually. There are also pre-amp outputs (front, rear, and subwoofer), which are essential if you plan to connect external amplifiers to power aftermarket speakers or a subwoofer, allowing for a more powerful and higher-fidelity audio system than the head unit’s built-in amplifier alone can provide. A video output is also included, letting you connect external monitors, perhaps for passengers in the back seats to watch DVDs. The presence of USB charging capability is another small but useful feature.
**Audio Performance and Customization: Tuning Your Sound**
While not marketed as a high-end audiophile unit, the P9640B provides decent audio performance and some basic customization options. Its built-in amplifier provides 80 watts x 4 max power, which is typically enough to drive most factory or equivalent aftermarket speakers to satisfying volume levels. Users often found the sound quality to be comparable to or better than their factory radios, with plenty of volume headrooms. Control over the sound includes Bass, Treble, Balance, and Fader adjustments. There are also built-in Preset EQ curves for different music styles. Initially, some users found they couldn’t adjust Bass and Treble manually with the EQ presets active, but later discovered that turning the preset EQ off allows for manual adjustment. The “Loud” function provides a boost, though some felt it negatively impacted sound quality. The benefit is being able to tailor the sound slightly to your preference or the acoustics of your vehicle. The AM/FM radio receiver includes RDS (Radio Data System) functionality, which displays station, song, or artist information when broadcast by the station, a small but helpful feature that adds a modern touch to radio listening. The rotary volume knob is also appreciated by users who prefer tactile control over touchscreen sliders for adjusting volume quickly.
Echoes from Other Users
Searching around online, I found quite a bit of feedback from other drivers who’ve installed the Planet Audio P9640B. Many expressed satisfaction, particularly considering the modest price tag. Common positive comments included the ease of Bluetooth pairing and the clarity of hands-free calls, the range of media options available, and the overall upgrade in features compared to older factory units. Some users mentioned the touchscreen being surprisingly responsive. While installation often required vehicle-specific dash kits and wiring harnesses, many found the process manageable, even for those new to car stereo installation.
Summing It Up
The problem of being stuck with an outdated, non-connected car stereo is a real drag, impacting both your enjoyment of driving and potentially your safety due to distractions. Upgrading to a modern multimedia receiver solves this, bringing essential features like Bluetooth and varied media playback into your vehicle. The Planet Audio P9640B is a great fit to solve this problem for several reasons: it offers a wide array of modern features at a highly competitive price point, its touchscreen interface makes it easy to use, and it provides connectivity options like Bluetooth and camera inputs that are crucial for contemporary driving needs. If you’re looking for a significant upgrade from a basic factory radio without investing a large sum, this unit is definitely worth considering. To learn more and see if it’s the right choice for your vehicle, Click here to check the product out.