Your Guide to Car Stereo Shopping

How to Build a Better Car Stereo System

An out-of-the-box entertainment system is already a starting point for some serious performance, but enthusiasts who want more quality and quantity never settle for this. With ever impressive advances in audio, video, navigation and wi-fi connectivity, upgrading a system or starting from scratch can deliver an exctiting rush!

As in any serious project, the first step is to identify what you need. The list below contains most of what you may be targetting.

High end, add-on features:

Bluetooth wireless for hands-free cell phone use
Remote Controls
Dual Zone operation
Navigation systems
Radio broadcasting Real-time traffic information
USB Port
HD/Satellite Radio

Performance features:

Speakers
Subwoofers
Crossovers
Amplifiers
DVD or CD Receiver
Video screen

Safety features:

Rear view safety camera
Garage door and security gate operation

Determine whether to Upgrade or Replace the Existing System

After considering the features you want, determine whether the system should be upgraded or replaced. Why upgrade? In a lot of upgradeable car systems, its a cinch simply adding almost any feature or component. Either way, an installing dealer can help in deciding if a car stereo system is best upgraded or replaced.

Fix your Budget

When you're settled with the features, fix your budget (a very realistic one!) inclusive of cost of installation and make a list of components for the project.

Choose your car stereo speakers

The following are your points for consideration when choosing stereo speakers: speaker type, size and shape, mounting location and power requirements. First, find out how many speakers do you need, and which which of them will fit in your car. If you are aiming for a complete system, you may need front, center and rear speakers.

Then ensure that your speakers can handle the power that will come from the amplifiers or head unit. Factor in crossovers for midrange speakers and tweeters.

Car Stereo Subwoofers

Subwoofers are more power-hungry than the other speakers when installed in a car. Get a custom enclosure or buy one. There are many styles of subwoofer enclosures to choose from based on the size of the woofer and the type of vehicle. The most common sizes for a mobile subwoofer are 8", 10" or 12".

You may also have seen countless times how amplified subwoofers come with enclosures, installed in the trunk or behind the seats in a pick-up truck.

Car Stereo Amplifiers

Most head units come with amplifiers already, but using external amps with more power is more recommended since you can fix the bass, midrange and high frequencies individually for a balanced system. A subwoofer will need more energy than a midrange or tweeter. Or Why not try getting a separate amp for the subwoofer and use the amps built into the head unit? Separate amps also mean getting crossovers between the amps and speakers to distribute the amp's signal to the correct speakers. Some amps come with crossovers.

Car Stereo Head Units and Receivers

When building a system, you can make do with the in-dash head unit (or receiver) that you have or get a new component altogether. The downside to the first is that most out-of-the-box head units don't have pre-amp outputs so you cannot rely on external amps. This may be solved with speaker level to line level converters, but sound quality gets compromised. On the other hand, if you opt to get a new in-dash head unit, get the chassis size first. Remember that there are standard and oversized head units. A standard size is known as single DIN, oversized units are known as 1.5 DIN or double DIN. You might also want to decide if you need a cassette player, CD or DVD player, with or without a video screen.

Choose an Installer

This part is the busiest: get your friends' comments, get car stereo installation contact information in your area, visit nearby three installation companies and get written quotes for parts and labor. Settle also with your manufacturer if the work on your system will affect your vehicle warranty.