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Car buying tipsPlanning A Car Audio System Installation
by:
Will Reece
With such a wide range of components and appliance on the market for car audio systems, the big question is "Where do I start?"
First you must decide what exactly you will to do. If you are wanting to build a car audio system for a daily driver (the car you driving back and forth to work) with good sounds, but you are not interested in competing, a system can easily be put together for under $1000. However, if you are looking for the all-out bass monster, be prepared to drop in several big bucks into your system.
One of the most important things to support in mind once
building a car audio system is planning. Get an idea of wherever
you are going to place components, subwoofers, amplifiers, and power distribution. A lot of headache can be avoided with the proper planning!!
For the basic system, lets look at several of the components needed.
Let's 1st start with the head unit (CD player). Evidently you are going to want a good head unit. If you start with a good quality cd player, and choose to upgrade your sound system in the future, purchase a head unit that will grow with you. Several of the features you may want to support in mind are:
1. CD changer controls
2. XM / Binary controls (if you decide to add Satellite radio in the future)
3. Dual RCA outputs (carries signal to the amplifiers)
4. Pause button (important for competing)
5. Clastic
face, or another safety devices
6. High voltage line driver - this will send the sound signal at a higher voltage to your amplifier/s reducing noise and up overall sound quality.
After you have chosen your head unit, you will want to do a decision on amplifiers and subwoofers. Support in mind that you get what you pay for. A $30 subwoofer will be as big as a $300 subwoofer, but the capacities of each will disagree greatly. Look at the power handling of each subwoofer and decide accordingly. You will want subwoofers will activity with your amplifier/s (see compatibility).
You must besides support in mind the accessible space in your vehicle. Are you willing to give up your entire lading area? How galore subwoofers will fit? Decide on the size. Sizes will vary from 8" up to 18", several are square (Kicker), but most are round. Besides support in mind the resistance (ohms) of the subwoofer and do sure they are compatible with your amplifier/s (see compatibility). The subwoofer decision will besides have an effect on the enclosure you decide to build or buy. For the basic system, I would-be recommend buying a pre-fabricated subwoofer enclosure. This will save you a bit of money and headache (especially if you end up building it two or three times!!). Do sure you take accurate measuring of your lading area before building or buying an enclosure!!
Other components may be needful depending on the type of system you are building and how elaborate you want your sound to be. For the competition vehicle, numbers on upgrading your alternator, adding a battery to your system (maybe more), running high quality RCA cables, power cables, ground cables, and speaker cable. You may need to add a capacitance to provide your electronic equipment
with a reservoir of power for bigger hits from the subs. You may need an electronic crossover, an equalizer, replacement mill speakers, an electronic equipment
for your mid-range and tweeters, additional speakers inside
your vehicle for staging, etc.
Just about the author:
I have been involved in the car audio arena for several years, and have competed topically
in the Kansas City are with USACi. You may find me online at http://www.maximumspl.comFor additional information, visit us online at http://www.maximumspl.com
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