Newbie's Guide to Car Audio The Newbie's Guide to Car Audio If you're a total
newbie to the world of car audio, then there's one key fact that you should be
aware of. It's not some byzantine formula that's used to calculate speaker power
levels or optimal speaker placements. It's not even a hot tip on where to get
the cheapest prices on audio gear. The most important thing to remember is that
your car stereo probably doesn't sound as good as you might think it does. And
that's not a dig or a slight or anything. The fact is that the sound system is
one of the places that OEMs almost universally neglect in the name of higher
profits. If a car stereo sounds"okay", then that's all the OEMs are usually
looking for. Even factory-installed"premium sound systems"typically aren't up to
snuff. So how can you tell if your factory audio needs a little tender loving
care? Here's a test that just about anyone can do: Go sit in your car, close the
doors, and crank up the windows. Put on your favorite CD and turn up the volume
(we're talking high, but not"blow out your eardrums"high). Listen to the music.
You're listening for a couple different things, and you don't have to be an
expert audiophile to pick up on them. If you find yourself turning up the treble
due to a lack of clarity, that's something that an upgrade can fix. You can even replace components one at a time, as your budget permits,
and eventually have a completely custom car sound system. If you are going the
piecemeal, budget-conscious route, then it's a good idea to plan out a roadmap
for what you want your finished system to look like. If you do that, then you'll
end up with components that all work really well together. One good place for
budget-conscious newbies to start is the speakers. That
might sound like a lot of nonsense, but it basically means that the amplifier
will be able to sit between your factory head unit and your new speakers and
allow you to turn your music up without any distortion. When you add one or more
amplifiers, you also have the option of adding a subwoofer. That will provide
you with richer bass, but you can also add a digital sound processor to improve
the sound from all of your speakers ds708
update. Starting Fresh If you don't like your factory stereo, then you
probably want to start off with a clean slate. That's great, but the sheer
number of choices out there can be paralyzing. With that in mind, you'll have to
upgrade your speakers if you really want to crank up the volume all the way.
Doing the Job Right If you're worried about the resale value of your car, or
even if you're leasing the vehicle, there are a few steps you can take to make
sure that nothing gets messed up. The most important thing to look for is a
wiring harness that's specifically designed for your vehicle Autel
MaxiDiag MD703. This harness will plug into the factory wiring, so you won't
have to cut into any of the wires in your car stereo system. Some of these
wiring harnesses are even designed to plug straight into your new head unit,
which means there's no wiring involved at all.
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