Unlike the subwoofers found in concert or theaters, car subwoofers are more subtle in their design. Ideal for being hidden because of space limitations, car subwoofers are often found in the doors or the trunk of an automobile. They are designed to be compact so that the automobile operator can still enjoy the same dramatic sound of their favorite song, but without the bulky nature of other subwoofers. Realistically, the same model that is used in a theater or concert could never fit inside of an automobile. This is why car subwoofers are small and subtle, in that the manufacturer does not want to take away from the interior appearance of the car by allowing a bulky audio product to be visible.

Unfortunately for many, some music enthusiasts are determined to create intense sounds with their car subwoofers, which can result in hearing loss for those inside the automobile. The most common way to do this is by turning up the bass sound and ‘jamming’ to the beats of a song. If exposed to extremely loud sound coming from the car subwoofers for a prolonged period, hearing loss is often severe. Therefore, these products should be used responsibly just as any other device inside of an automobile.

Car subwoofers can, however, enhance the car audio experience greatly. In addition, they can also be used to greatly enhance the unique look of a car. In this case, car subwoofers are designed to be seen as much as heard. They are designed in various sizes, including round, square, triangular, etc. Most auto enthusiasts prefer to install their own car subwoofers, while others opt for having them professionally installed.

When shopping for car subwoofers, there is no shortage on options. Specialty stores, including retail, auto and online shops carry a wide variety of audio products and feature a broad range of price tags to go with them. Car subwoofers, depending on the model and features, can be very expensive. However, this is the case with almost every automobile upgrade or product. The majority of car subwoofers carry some type of warranty, which should be clearly outlined on the packaging or by the retailer. It is a good idea to save any warranty information, which will be the only way to redeem the manufacturer’s services at no cost in the event of a problem. Warranties will vary depending on the manufacturer, but often are limited to defects that are a direct result of workmanship or materials. Misuse of a product is not normally covered under a manufacturer’s warranty.

[source:Articlerich]

All cars have their own unique type of car speaker installation issues although installing speakers is a relatively simple process. Most speaker installations can be finished in about an hour or less. The intricacy of the installation will vary depending on the vehicle. And again, depending on the vehicle, speakers may be installed in the dash, doors, or rear deck.

Most importantly, remember that safety should be considered when installing speakers. Damage can be caused by not installing speakers properly – this can impose added cost and even possible injury. Protection for hearing/vision should be used as necessary.

Here are fundamental steps to consider for installing speakers. Remember, some vehicles may require extra steps. Although the location of the speakers in your vehicle may vary from the mounting locations noted here, the method should be comparable.

For installation of dash and door speakers, you will need to ascertain if the vehicle has speaker grilles that are removable. If they can be removed, take the grilles off utilizing the appropriate tools, remove the screws holding the speaker in, disconnect the speaker harness that was attached to the speaker, connect the speaker harness to the new speaker, plug the speaker harness which is connected to the new speaker to the harness in the car, set the speaker in the opening and reinstall it using the screws for mounting, replace the grille and repeat with the other speaker. If installing speakers in the door, make certain the depth of the speaker will not interfere with the window operation after installation.

If the grilles cannot be removed, the dash pads or possibly the door panel will have to be removed. Be sure to keep an eye on any screws/clips removed should this be the case. Next follow the same steps shown above except you will need to reinstall the dash pads/door panel. If removing the door panel, be aware that screws can be mounted in the armrest or inside the door latch space and may be behind the trim panels. After all the screws are removed from the panel, raise it up so you can disconnect any wiring harnesses.

If installing rear deck speakers, you must determine if the speakers are top-mounted or bottom-mounted as this will determine your steps. If top-mounted, remove the grilles, remove the screws holding the speaker in, disconnect the speaker harness, connect the harness to the new speaker, plug in the harness connected to the speaker to the vehicle side of the harness, place the new speaker in the opening and mount with the screws, replace the grille and repeat with the other speaker.

If the speakers are bottom-mounted, reach in the trunk and remove the screws mounting the speaker. Then follow the same basic steps as above.

Eventually, you’d have to turn on the radio and check the operation of the new speakers.

[source:Articlerich]

Choosing a new car audio system can be tricky business. Most people make many mistakes when choosing their car audio system. Below are the most frequent mistakes made my car owners in choosing a new system.

Many people just spend too much and in some cases go into debt. What can make this particular situation worse is that people go into debt for a system they realize they do not even like. First, figure out how much money there is available to spend. Then decide how much of the car audio system needs to be replaced. At this point plan a budget – how much can you afford to spend? Therefore you can locate system components in your price range. Deciding what is most important in the car audio system and plan to spend more on the important items. Going over budget is the first and most common mistake car audio system buyers make.

Another thing to consider is how much of the car is going to need to be modified for your potential choices. For example some speaker installation will require many modifications to be made to the car. Modifications will need to be made by a professional and therefore you will have to budget into the total cost of the car audio system parts as well as labor. Another car audio systems mistake is that the owner of the car does not think about the future. How long are you going to keep the car for? Will you sell the car with the new audio system or will you remove it before sale? Remember audio systems never increase the value of a car enough to balance what was spent on the audio system in the first place. Also, if you plan on remove the system before you sell the car that could be problematic. Having a radio and an audio system are high priorities when people are searching for a new car to buy.

When and for what do you use the car for? If the car sees a lot of use as well as wear and tear then buying higher quality components like speakers is a great idea. Understandably if you are spending more time in your car then at home you want to make sure it is as comfortable and entertaining as possible. However, if the car is only used for weekly shopping, low end parts are more appropriate.

Another car audio system mistake people make is choosing a system which is not appropriate for the type of music they listen too. This is probably the most important factor which should influence the choice of the right car audio system. If the music that you enjoy is strong bass beats then a high end power amplifier is needed. Also, subwoofers would also be a good choice. However, if your music choice is at the opposite end of the music range then you will need a different audio system setup. For example, if you listen to classical music or trendy pop music, you will need to get a car audio that has a strong speaker system that offer even play of the sound spectrum.

[source:Articlerich]

When choosing a pioneer car audio MP3 it’s important to address a few key questions.

How much do you want to spend? What features are most important to you?

An MP3 is a way to encode audio that compresses data so it can store a lot more of it while keeping a high standard of quality. Pioneer has a long-standing reputation for quality and also for being one of the easiest car audio systems to install and use. They make a range of car audio that can play MP3’s, including the lower end DEH-P3700MP for a little over $100 to the AVICD1 navigation system for about $1,600. If you are looking for a basic system to play CD’s and MP3’s, a simpler system will be fine. But, if you want more features like navigation or a DVD player you will pay a lot more for a higher end system.

One of the most important things to look for is how you are going to navigate through all of your MP3 files, especially while driving.

If you have a large library of music, you will need to find an MP3 player that makes browsing through the discs as easy as possible. Many discs can hold up to about 250 songs, and it’s crucial that you can find exactly what you’re looking for as quickly as possible. One of the most reasonably priced MP3 player’s Pioneer makes is the DEH-P5500M, which costs around $270 and allows you to organize files by artist, track, folder name, file name, and album. It also has satellite radio and CD changer controls. It’s also imperative that you check that the discs you use on your computer for music are compatible with the ones for the MP3 player, otherwise you might end up with a library of music that won’t play in your car. ID tags to identify songs must be a certain version compatible with the car’s system, or you’ll end up with a lot of unusable music. If you figure out what you’re looking for, you can make an educated decision about which system will best suit your budget and your listening needs.

[source:Articlerich]