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!

So you got tired of the OEM car sound system did you ? This car audio review will go over the key factors to consider in selecting the car stereo system that will meet your needs. Before discussing the individual components of a car stereo system here is a word of advice … broughtto you by the CarAccessoriesMagazine !! Don’t jump on next week’s sale, don’t rush your car audio review process, take your time, talk to friends, sales people, installers and get a goodfeel for what you really want. This car audio review will hopefully give you a head start.

IN DASH RECEIVER

In any car audio review, the most common question that people considering a change of car stereo system ask : will anaftermarket radio fit into my vehicle ? And the answer is … (roll the drums) … YES, becausethere are a variety of aftermarket kits available to adapt just about any aftermarket radio toyour vehicle.

AMPLIFIERS

The location of the amplifiers in the vehicle is not critical, as long as they have enoughair flow and are mounted on a dry surface. If you install the amps yourself you will needa kit consisting of power wire, ground wire, RCA, remote turn on lead and a fuse. Crimpersand a drill are all the tools required.

CAR SPEAKERS

There are two types of CAR speakers available : the dual cone and the two way. A dual cone has a small paper cone built into a larger paper cone. A two way actually mounts a separate tweeter on the larger paper cone. This allows for more frequency response and better sound quality. You will need to check the fit of your new speakers with your vehicle. You can take off your speaker cover and measure it. Make sure you get the depth if you can. Not all cars can accommodate speakers with a larger magnet.

HEAD UNIT

You should also consider other important but often overlooked features in going through your car audio review. Many models offer detachable faceplates. This security feature will only work if you actually remove the faceplate. Some models have a plate that rotates when you turn off the vehicle, which makes it look like it’s been removed.

Another feature is an automatic volume control : the system automatically adjusts the radio volume up or down, depending on the vehicle’s speed and the varying amount of road and wind noise in the vehicle.

Look for a unit that has large buttons versus small. Large buttons are easier to find and use. The radio should cause a minimum amount of distraction so the driver can keep his eyes and attention on the road. If you want to push this idea to the limit try to find a radio with greater spacing between the buttons. This makes the radio easier and safer to use as well.

The last head unit feature to discuss in our car audio review is the radio display. Large numbers and a clear readout is another reason for an enjoyable listening experience. Also, look for a radio that shows not only the radio station call number but also the time and preset number.

4) Audio books can be a blessing for blind people, disabled people or people with impaired vision. Everyone should have the chance to experience and enjoy a book and in many cases, this is the only way for such persons to do it.

5) The most important skill a child can ever acquire is probably the ability to read, and audio books can be easily used to stimulate literacy in children. Books can be listened to by children while following the story in the paper book. Or they could listen just to gain and improve vocabulary and communication skills. If you want to instill in your child the love of reading, audio books can be a excellent start.

There are many more benefits of using audio books, but even these few reasons should be enough to convince you to enter the exciting world of the spoken books.