Car audio system - What else you need to put in mind

It’s safe to say that every driver or car owner enjoys good-quality music in his or her car every once in a while. Mediocre sound is something that most practical car owners can usually go for. But there is also that fraction of the population who are head over heels for good-to-first-class sound quality. While buying a vehicle with a high-class stereo is usually not on our list, there are a few ways that one can enjoy quality audio in the car.

With basic knowledge of the topic, you will be safe from being too dependent on a sales representative whose primary goal, of course, is to sell your merchandise. Being equipped with the right knowledge saves you from unnecessary purchases. It will also save you time if you already know what you want to have in your in-car stereo in the first place. Continue reading this article from Philkotse.com to find out more!

1. Newbies and car audio

If you are a complete stranger to the world of in-car audio systems, then you need to know one vital information: That it’s not hard to calculate your speaker’s power levels at all. Aside from that, it’s not even that hard to find the cheapest components for your audio system.

It’s not hard to calculate your speaker’s power levels

>>> Check out: What you need to know about car audio and amplifiers

2. A beginner’s guide

Most car manufacturers who focus on producing utility vehicles usually don’t indulge their clients with high-quality audio. It’s usually high-end brands and manufacturers that focus on giving commendable infotainment quality. You can pretty much expect this if you’re paying so much money for a car.

Most non-audiophiles with non-luxury cars don’t know what they’re missing out on audio quality. Most car manufacturing companies just provide their clients with “okay” sound quality that, with time, we’ve learned to love anyway.

It’s usually high-end brands and manufacturers that focus on giving commendable infotainment quality

If you have an expensive car, you may be thinking that the statement above is ridiculous. But how can you tell if your stock in-car audio is less than you deserve? Here are a few steps you can follow just to check:

• Sit comfortably in your car with the doors closed and windows up.
• Put your favorite music on or play the CD you want for the test. Turn up the music volume up to your eardrum’s tolerance. Make sure you don’t play it too loud or you may damage your hearing.
• After that, listen to your chosen track very carefully. Then, play a few more songs.

While listening to the songs, try to notice if you have the urge to control the treble or bass. If you do, this is a clear sign that your sound system needs an upgrade. In fact, there can be obvious parts of the track that may be unpleasant for you.

These parts can be so obvious that you don’t even need to be an audiophile to be able to detect them. An example is if some parts of the track seem “hollow,” distorted, or empty to you.

While listening to songs, try to notice if you have the urge to control the treble or bass

>>> Make sure you know: 5 ways you might not know when upgrading car audio system

If your in-car sound quality has one or more of the mentioned qualities, you will definitely need new gear. But what do you have to do first? What do you keep in mind? How will you start your quest for better in-car sound quality?

Truth is there are actually tons of ways for a newbie to turn a stock sound system to a premium one. But before that, here are a few questions that you first need to ask yourself so you have a guide.

• How badly do you want to stick to your budget? Can you allot a big amount of money for your in-car audio replacements?
• Would you prefer to have better sound quality without sacrificing your stock stereo?
• Do you want to throw out the old stereo and build the audio system from the ground up instead?
• How much do you like bass?
• Do you often like to turn up the music in your car?

It may seem simple to answer. But these questions can actually set you on the right path you didn’t know you needed.

Listen intently to music in your car and figure out if you need an upgrade

>>> Relevant article: Customizing the car audio system: 7 tips for Filipino drivers

3. Budget-friendly car stereo upgrades

One good thing about upgrading your car stereo is that there’s no wrong way of doing it. It all boils down to your preferences. On top of that, any stock audio component replaced with a better unit will give you marginal but still obvious improvement.

Even if you’re on a tight budget, there are still some upgrades you can afford. A good tip is to replace the components, little by little. This way, you’ll only be spending little by little as well. Once you get all the components you want, you’ll have a custom in-car sound system.

One good thing about upgrading your car stereo is that there’s no wrong way of doing it

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• Must-know tips to choose the best aftermarket car head units
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If you are dead serious about your budget, you should plan ahead. This will help you stay on your budget path, so you can avoid unnecessary spending. To do this, you should already have a picture of your completed sound system in your mind. Make sure that you go for the items that are priced within your budget scheme.

A good start in upgrading your car stereo is by buying new speakers. You can make use of budget-friendly speakers in the market to upgrade the sound quality of your ride. Factory speakers don’t usually provide satisfactory quality.

A good start in upgrading your car stereo is by buying new speakers

If what you’re concerned about is the bass, just add a subwoofer. You can do this in two ways. The first option is to add both an amplifier and a subwoofer. Your second option is to add a powered subwoofer instead.