The Patio Expert Pages

Cars have a long and colorful history when it comes to "do-it-yourself" modifications, and car-audio is no different. Inclined hobbyists have constructed systems of varying complexity, from four car audio component speakers all the way up to entire vans full of them!

The choices in selecting a car stereo car audio system are many. The one that fits your desires best is dependent upon what type of audiophile are you. Some systems feature a high power output to provide the capability to blast your eardrums. Others focus on a wider frequency range to make sound clearer and crsiper, which is more in line with someone whose tastes run towards the classical, but you are rock fan, then, by all means, go for the system that will rock your car as well !

Majority of the car stereos available today in the market come with four component speaker outputs, which tend to increase with the increase in price. The output is measured by parameters called impedance and power rating, measured in ohms and watts respectively. It is not necessary to go into the basics of these parameters to make a good choice. One has to simply take care that the impedance on the car audio component speakers that one selects matches with that of the stereo output channel exactly and that the wattage of the speaker should be either equal to or greater than that of the stereo. The speakers can be damaged if the ouput wattage of the stereo exceeds that of the speaker.

A large number of consumers are satisfied with driving the speakers from the internal amplifier of the car stereo. However in case you desire a louder, higher-fidelity system, you should purchase a separate amplifier. This amplifier will be connected between your stereo, and amplifies the signal. This signal is then output to your speakers. By following this method, one should use the output specifications of the amplifier, instead of his stereo.

After you have outlined the specifications of the system you want, you must examine the layout of your car. Car audio component speakers come in many standard sizes - six inch diameter, for example - and unless you're looking to do some serious modifications, you obviously need to order speakers of the proper dimensions! Amplifiers can be placed anywhere convenient, but keep in mind you will have to run wires to all the speakers, as well as the stereo.

After you have decide on this you would be ready to install your system. The installation varies greatly from car to car but one common thing is to ensure that the car is off and the battery is disconnected at the time of installation. The car and the stereo both have manuals outlining the procedure of installation, and it is finally upto ones determination to install the system. Last but not the least amplifier wires should not be visible inside the car as some people are put off at the sight of it.