The subject of car audio can seem pretty complicated at first, but there are just three basic components that every system has to include. The head unit provides an audio signal, the amplifier boosts it, and the speakers actually produce the sound. Then there is wiring which connects all these components. Constructing your car audio system might not be an easy (or cheap) endeavor. First, you’ll need to understand the basics of car audio system, each element of the audio system and know why it’s important.
Car Stereo
The first component in the music chain is the “head unit” or “deck”, often referred to simply as the radio, though the head unit does much more than just tune stations.
To make finding your new car stereo system as easy as possible, you narrow down what features you would like your new stereo system to perform, whether it be iPod/iPhone compatible to full Bluetooth handsfree calling to a full 7 inch touchscreen system with built in navigation or just like a true audiophile, nothing short of pure audio performance.
Car Speakers
Car speakers is a very wide market comprising of, to my concepts a Coaxial design speaker to a 2- or 3-way component systems.
Coaxial speakers are 2- or 3-way loudspeakers in which the tweeter, or the tweeter and a mid-range driver are mounted in front of the woofer. The crossover is typically only a simple capacitor in-line with the tweeter though higher grade coaxials will have outboard crossovers.
The advantage of this design is the ability to use a smaller area.
A 2-way component speaker is a speaker matched for optimal sound quality. Usually a pair of tweeters and mid-bass drivers are physically separated and matched with a crossover to separate the audio signals and delivers them to the proper driver.
The optimal position of a tweeter is usually on the dash facing the listener while the larger mid-bass driver is often placed in the lower front of the car doors where there is ample room.
A 3-way component consists of one additional driver called the mid-range driver for a more precise audio response.
Subwoofers
Subwoofers are solely dedicated to reproduce low frequencies or in a layman’s language, Bass. No matter what kind of music you like, or how softly or loudly you like to listen, a quality sub can really improve your overall listening experience.
A subwoofer differs from other low-pitch speakers by focusing exclusively on a small audio range, from 20 to 200 Hz. Car Subwoofers come is all shapes and size and power ratings. Most common sizes range for 8 inch to 15 inch and can go all the way to 22 inch.
Subwoofers perform using either a sealed or ported enclosure, the enclosure will effect the performance, in other words the frequency range that a subwoofer can produce.
Amplifiers
An amplifier is a major component that every car audio system needs. While the purpose of a head unit is to provide an audio signal, the purpose of an amplifier is to increase the power of that signal
2 Channel Amplifier
A 2 channel amplifier is an amplifier that can operate two channels (A channel is the signal/power combination intended for one specific speaker), that is one channel for each speaker or two channel for a single speaker connected in bridge mode.
This unit is usually intended for operating a left speaker and a right speaker. The design of a bridged 2 channel amplifier allows the two channels to operate inline providing the effect of a more powerful one-channel amplifier. More advanced audio systems may have separate channels for different types of speakers.
4 Channel Amplifier
A 4 Channel operation amplifier is identical to a 2 Channel amplifier , the difference being the addition of two extra channels in a single unit.
4 Channel amplifier can run in a number of ways, most common wiring configuration is to run 4 speakers in a stereo mode ( 1 speaker running from 1 channel) the other common configuration is to run 2 speakers on 2 channels in stereo mode then bridging 3 and 4 channels to run a subwoofer.
Mono Amplifier
A mono amp is an amplifier that puts out only one channel of sound, as opposed to a stereo amp that puts out two channels of sound. A mono amp is generally used for extremely low frequencies (ie bass) channeled into a single or multiple subwoofers.
Wires
The function of this wire is obviously to make a successful electrical connection between stereo, loudspeakers and its amplifiers. Today, you will find that most speaker wires consists of two or more electrical conductors, each insulated by plastic (normally PVC, PE or Teflon) or, sometimes rubber. The two electrically identical wires, are usually marked to indicate the correct audio signal polarity. Copper is the most widely used material for speaker cable due to its low cost and low resistance.
Many different levels of purity are available for cables, and whether or not this brings a significant benefit to the audio is down to personal preference and for you to decide for yourself.
Now that you have some kind of idea of what parts you’ll need, you’re one step closer to being ready to upgrade and thankfully, there are several highly respected brands you can look to for reliable, quality and to suit all your audio system requirements.
The most important criteria to look for when shopping for audio units is the company’s reputation for building quality product and even more importantly the sound quality that it can produce.
Car stereo system as easy as possible, you narrow down what features you would like your new stereo system to perform, whether it be iPod/iPhone compatible to full Bluetooth handsfree calling to a full 7 inch touchscreen system with built in navigation or just like a true audiophile, nothing short of pure audio performance.