Build your ideal car audio system

December 10, 2007 · Print This Article

Factory fitted Car audio system

Most of the cars sold in India do not come with company fitted stereo systems. Cars in the high end segment usually come with factory fitted car stereo, speakers and sometimes amplifiers. In few cases, you are optionally offered with a car stereo at extra cost. If you haven’t got a car with factory fitted audio system, you might want to get ready for choosing a car audio system.

Many people are so happy with the factory fitted car stereo, that they don’t give it second thought. But, you have listened to the same A. R. Rehman’s composition in your friend’s car and also discovered few new notes, beats and existence of few other instruments in the same music track. Or maybe the CD that sounded great in your home CD player, sounded no-life like in your car. Your ears are telling you something – It can sound better!

Judging the quality of your existing audio system requires no genius. Try out listening to your car stereo at healthy volume levels, while parked, while going to office, or on a highway. Are you able to listen to it for a long period? Or is the sound little irritating you? Do you struggle with the Bass and Treble controls to make the sound clear? Are you not getting into a mood that the same track takes you when you listen to it on your iPod?

If your answer is yes, then it’s time for you to seek aftermarket audio installation, with components made by companies whose primary focus is sound quality. Well, if you are new to car audio, you have a long way to go for better sound. It is rather a difficult task choosing right components from so many players competing in In-Car entertainment, simply because you want to upgrade to a best car audio setup. Here are few things, you might want to know:

Replacing your factory fitted stereo

Generally, your vehicle’s audio system is made of a stereo receiver and four speakers. In most cases, just replacing these with aftermarket receiver and matching speakers, your music starts sounding better. How do I replace the factory stereo?

Again, in many cars sold in India, it is an easy job to remove the stereo from the dash, and replace it with aftermarket stereo; the receiver pops out with the use of simple tools. In rare cases, it can involve unscrewing a section of the dash board.

Many cars in India will have two inch height stereo (called as “single DIN” size), some vehicles such as Hyundai Verna, Elantra have 4” (i.e. 2 DIN).