In 1984, the International Organization of Standardization published ISO 7736:1984, “Road vehicles -- Car radio for front installation -- Installation space including connections.” This publication provided vehicle manufacturers two standard sizes for front-installation car stereos, and used the moniker DIN, an acronym for Deutsches Institut für Normung.
The single-DIN car stereo standard is 180-by-50 mm unit -- approximately 7 inches wide by 2 inches tall. This size will usually accommodate a single media type, such as a compact disc player or a cassette player. It may also have features such as a retractable screen or motorized faceplate.
A double-DIN car stereo, as the name implies, is twice as tall as the single-DIN standard. It measures 180-by 100 mm, or approximately 7 inches wide by 4 inches tall. This size is capable of multiple media types, or may feature a larger, fixed front display.
The 2004 Ford Focus was equipped with a standard, single-DIN stereo. However, the face mated to the front of the single-DIN stereo is taller than the standard. This tall face makes the stereo resemble a double-DIN stereo when installed in the console.
