In the nearly 80 years since the introduction of the first mass-produced car radio, an entire culture of automotive audiophiles has emerged. Technological advancements have impacted virtually every aspect of car audio and every driver as well, from the casual listener to the decibel fanatic. So even if you’re not out to shake the neighborhood (or break the bank), there are plenty of car audio options to consider in the search for your most satisfying listening experience.

Gear for Your Ears
It’s possible to upgrade most of the equipment in your factory-installed (or “stock”) audio system, starting with the most visible and interactive part—the head unit. A head unit typically contains a radio display, CD/Tape inputs, and numerous other features. Although splurging for a new head unit full of dancing lights may be tempting, it’s crucial to do your homework beforehand. There is much variability between stock head units in size and shape, and choosing a drastically different unit may require major surgery. Also, many stock head units contain important non-audio features (e.g., climate control), so you’ll want to make sure these features can remain intact.

If you crave better sound quality, or just more volume, new speakers can impact your system like nothing else. True audiophiles will often opt for component speaker sets. In contrast with many stock systems that have one full-range speaker type (or “driver”) do all the work, component sets include several drivers that each specialize in a different frequency range. For example, tweeters are small and best project high frequencies; sub woofers are larger and work with low frequencies. The impact of the sub woofer is felt more than heard, making it particularly significant for bass-heavy tunes.

As with head units, purchasing the right set of speakers requires a great deal of homework. Stock speakers come in all shapes and sizes, and knowing what you currently have will help to determine your options. A major increase in speaker power may also require upgrades elsewhere, so be prepared. Your musical preferences will also go a long way toward discovering what will work best for you, and remember that if your goal is a high-end system, you may not have to upgrade everything at once.

Going Digital?
Whether or not you’re satisfied with how your current system sounds, you may still be interested in catching up with the newest trends in digital music. An entire sonic library can now fit within a pocket-sized device, but the finding the best way to take advantage of that in the car can be tricky. This section will focus on MP3s, though similar technologies (WMA or AAC files, for example) are also gaining popularity.

If you’ve built up a collection of MP3s but don’t want to tote along your treasured MP3 player every time you hop in the car, your best option is burning your MP3s onto CDs. This can be time consuming, and CDs are still easily scuffed, but the payoff can be great. A regular blank CD can hold around 200 pop songs (or 10 symphonies), so at least your CD book will get thinner. However, remember that not all car CD players recognize every file type, so find out for sure before you get to burning.

If you’re interested in hooking up your MP3 player to your car stereo, there are three basic ways to make it happen, though the ideal solution may still be on the horizon.

The first solution is a cassette adapter, which looks like a normal cassette tape with a cord attached to a headphone jack coming out of the side. Simply plug in to your MP3 player, pop in the tape, and you’re ready to go. Unfortunately, two drawbacks exist: sound quality suffers with cassette adapters, and, of course, fewer and fewer head units are equipped with tape decks as time goes by. Luckily, there are other options to consider.

A similarly easy method is the purchase of an FM transmitter. Once you find a clear station, most FM transmitters are as simple as plug-and-play, and some MP3 players come with transmitters already built-in. Here too, however, are drawbacks. Sound quality can suffer even more than with tape adapters, especially if you live in a densely populated area with a crowded radio band. And even if you don’t spend any time in the big city, FM transmitters will not produce the quality of sound you may be used to.

For optimal sound quality, your best option is making use of an auxiliary input on your head unit, but this may require some extra work. Auxiliary inputs on the front of the head unit are becoming more and more common in new car stereos, but if yours is an older model, the stereo may have to be removed to access the input. The cost of that would be greater than either of the first two quick-fix methods, but the improvement in sound quality will be worth it to serious listeners.

Satellite Radio
If you aren’t willing to spend the time and money necessary to craft your dream collection of digital music, satellite radio is a great option. The two competing providers each charge a monthly fee, but free radio barely scratches the surface of the entertainment and variety that satellite radio affords. At least 120 channels (depending on the service you choose) are broadcast digitally to every corner of the continental US, so it’s static-free, and every music station is commercial-free. Either satellite radio provider can outfit you with everything you need to either plug-and-play, or get a unit fixed in to your dash. This decision depends on whether you want to use your radio at home as well.

Do Your Homework
Constant technological innovations and the ongoing rise of digital music have already resulted in many exciting aural automotive experiences, and the best is yet to come. Several car manufacturers are already including docks for digital music players in their new vehicles, and others are sure to follow suit. Also, the growing popularity of other in-car multimedia experiences is sure to affect the audio realm as well, in the form of such technologies as DVD-Audio and Surround Sound.

For the time being, a wide variety of listening options exists to satisfy every listener and every budget. Remember, however, that what you have can determine your options just as much as what you want. Doing the proper research is the only way to prevent buying something you won’t need, or can’t use. If you’re looking to replace your head unit or speakers, keep in mind that creating room for bigger equipment can be a costly operation. If you’re looking into satellite radio or want to take your collection of digital music on the go, study all your options to find your ideal configuration. Everyone has their own individual listening habits, and your car audio setup can be as personal as your musical taste.

Happy listening!

How many times have you tried setting up your home stereo system, only to become entangled in endless wires? While one may think that this is how it has to be, there are many wireless stereo systems that you can choose from. But this is just the problem, how do you know you are purchasing
 
 
a wireless stereo system that is worth your time and money? There are several features that you need to ensure of before you purchase a wireless stereo system. The most important of these is to ensure that the wireless signal is broad enough to fit the room your planning on putting your speakers in. The RCA Main/Stereo 900 MHz Wireless Speaker System, Model: WSP150 will provide you with the necessary features and technology to fill your entire home with high-quality sound, no matter where you place the speakers.

Main Product Features:

The main feature of this wireless speaker system from RCA is the versatility this product will provide you. With the ability to place these speakers either inside or outside, you will be able to entertain your guests with high-quality music inside on cold, winter days and during the summer you can move the party outside, complete with a soundtrack.

How this wireless stereo system works is you connect your main base to your stereo, or your television. After you have done this, you are able to place the speakers throughout the room or outside within a transmitting distance of 125-feet. The signal is able to travel through walls and floors, so you are literally able to place the speakers anywhere in your home as long as you are within the transmit area.

With a control system that allows you to easily alter the base, tone and overall volume, you will be able to adjust the sound to fit your particular needs. The design of the speakers and base station is quite impressive. The speakers are curved, giving you an ultra-chic décor, that will enhance any room it is placed in. They are sized appropriately, so you are able to place these speakers either on a bookshelf, or in the corner of your room.

The speakers are powered by four D-batteries per speaker. The life span of the batteries will give you many hours of audio enjoyment.

If you have an older car that doesn’t contain a CD player or want to update your stock CD player to include MP3 capabilities, personally installing a head unit in your car is quick, easy and fairly inexpensive if you have the proper know-how.

First off, you’ll need to buy a head unit, a wire harness and a dash kit (only if the head unit you bought isn’t a “direct fit,” meaning you’ll need the dash kit to help your head unit fit snuggly into the dash), all of which you can find at Wal-Mart, Best Buy,
 
 
Circuit City or Tweeter. Popular brands of head units are Clarion, Pioneer, Kenwood and Aiwa.

Tool-wise, you’ll need a butt connector, crimpers, a stripper, an adjustable wrench, a flattened Phillips screwdriver and possibly a socket set, depending on what kind of car you have. Most cars manufactured by General Motors or Mopar and most foreign will require the use of a socket set to pull the dash cover off if it is connected with bolts.

Once you’ve bought all the necessary materials, you’re ready to get started.

1. Start by disconnecting the battery in your car by taking the adjustable wrench and loosening the nut on the positive side and pulling the positive terminal (or wire) off.

2. Remove the dash cover. Though many dash covers are attached with clips or screws, some are attached with bolts. Depending on how your dash is attached, you’ll either need the use of a flattened Phillips screwdriver (screws) or a socket set (bolts).

3. Once the dash cover is removed, you can connect the wire harness to the head unit. Follow the directions that came with the wire harness. Simply, you’ll need to match the wire colors on the wire harness to the wires on the head unit.

4. Then, you’ll need to crimp both sets of wires together with a butt connector and a crimper. Before placing the wires in the butt connector, though, you’ll need to strip the wires first. Stripping the wires consists of taking the stripper about an eighth of an inch from the end of the wire and squeezing the stripper, pulling the coating off.

5. Put the head unit in the dash kit. Again, you can skip this step if you bought a “direct fit” head unit.

So you want to upgrade your car stereo? This is something that many people decide to do after buying their car. At this point, you would want to look for the best stereo you can purchase. 

A car sound system is an easy thing to replace if you know what you are doing. Better options for your stereo components are available and can be easily installed. As you start to look for these options, you will notice that the number that are available is numerous if you search online for the right stereo to upgrade the car’s audio system. 

Sometimes when you buy a vehicle, the sound system is not up to your exhausting standards. Since you will want to upgrade the system, the accessories will need to be bought separately since they were not installed on the assembly line and available at the time of purchase. This is the same for many parts of the car, but especially true for the audio system. 

To upgrade the basic audio system in your vehicle, you will either need to do it yourself or have professionals do it for you. If you have decided to install it yourself, you will need to go find the parts yourself. The parts can be found at your local car stereo shop. You can buy these components there or you could go online and purchase them there. Shopping online for these parts means that you can find them quickly and purchase them easily.

Online shopping is a big advantage for you as it allows you to compare prices, find the best deals and get fast shipping to your house. The clearance deals are found online and allow you to get rock bottom prices for components that are top of the line. Many times, you can get overnight shipping so you not only get the best deal, but the part is on your doorstep the next day.

One thing you can also count on is this. By going to manufacturer’s websites you will be able to find many models that are just being rolled out into the marketplace and are not in the brick and mortar stores yet.

A quick way to improve your car’s stereo is to add subwoofers and high range tweeters. Most standard speakers cover the mid range decently well. Adding a subwoofer will make sure your low range (or bass) is solid. Adding a high range ( or treble) tweeter is also a good idea as well. This wil lensure that you have the low, mid and high ranges covered.

If you search online to get a good deal and make sure the installation is done correctly, you will be satisified with your decision to transform your drab audio system into a powerhouse

Car subwoofers are large speakers that are used to create frequencies that ordinary loudspeakers are unable to produce effectively. These frequencies are usually in the range at or below 100Hz. These subwoofers are typically 8 inches or larger, and have to be placed in an enclosure to function properly.

Types

1. There are several types of car subwoofers: tube-type subwoofers and vehicle-specific subwoofers. The tube-type car subwoofer contains the subwoofer on one end and is sealed on the other. Vehicle-specific subwoofers are built primarily from wood and fiberglass. They are designed to fit into “factory-created” pocket. These tend to be more specific than the tube-type due to the fact that they are specific to one vehicle.

Considerations

2. Car subwoofers tend to take up quite a bit of space because of their size. Anyone considering the purchase of a subwoofer must take the space factor into consideration before buying one. The smaller the space within which to place a subwoofer, the more the power of the subwoofer will have to be increased.

Features

1. Features of car subwoofers include enclosure type, power handling and sensitivity. The enclosure is basically the kind of box the actual subwoofer will be mounted in. The power handling is the amount of power the speaker can withstand before failure becomes imminent. Sensitivity is a measure of a specific amount of the subwoofer’s power at a certain distance. The standard car subwoofer sensitivity is 1 watt of power to 1 meter of distance.

Misconceptions

2. Generally speaking, one 12-inch car subwoofer will be more powerful than two 10-inch subwoofers. There are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration when making this choice, but for the most part, one larger subwoofer will have more clarity and more punch than two smaller ones.

Function

3. Car subwoofer cones are made of treated paper or composites. Paper is too lightweight to withstand the power of the subwoofer for extended periods of time, but it also tends to be more responsive. To achieve a “big bass” sound, increase the number of car subwoofers. The greater the cone surface area, the greater the sound.