The Patio Expert Pages

The term "car audio" is an umbrella term describing the sound system fitted to an automobile. Somewhat different but quite similar is the "stock car audio system," which refers to a system specified by the manufacturer when the car rolled off the assembly lines. At its extremes, the installation of custom car audio can involve anything from the upgrade of a radio to the radical full-blown customization of a vehicle around its audio equipment to include features such as car stereo CD changers.

A head unit usually consists of a combination of a radio, tape player, or CD/DVD player. Newer head units are now emphasizing on digital music support (MP3, WMA, and AAC formats) and USB, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Today most of the cars come with at least a CD player / CD recorder, and some come with option for a car stereo CD changers able to hold multiple disks in the head unit itself or in a separate unit located in a trunk or console. Today main type of CD changers can be categorised into External Cartridge, Internal Cartridge and Carousel CD changers.

The stereophonic sound, commonly called stereo, is the independent reproduction of the sound using two or more channels audio in way to create a natural impression of the heard sound from several directions, similar to that one in the natural hearing. In popular use, stereo audio of the car means generally the recording of 2 sounds on 2 channels and the reproduction of the sound using the data for more than a loudspeaker simultaneously.

Before stereo radio, speakers were often located in the middle of the dashboard through perforations pointed at the front windshield. When stereo systems became available, car audio speakers came to be located in doors and in the rear of the vehicle in parcel shelves. In modern cars, kick panel enclosures are used for high-end and competition stereo systems and allow for larger drivers and better driver placement.

Amplifiers are used for driving the speakers. They provide the necessary music power that is measured out in watts. An amplifier is a really important part of a good car audio system. You should always be sure that the power handling capacity of the speakers that are connected to the amplifier / head unit is larger than the power of the amplifier or head unit itself.