The Lowdown on High End Car Audio

Any fan of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” won’t forget anytime soon how Jonathan’s unfantastic ‘91 Honda CRX was transformed into a Silver Surfer-themed car in Episode 510. Silver Surfer is a silver-skinned cartoon character in the comic book action film The Fantastic Four. The black Honda was stunning with its upgrades, namely: chrome paint, 18 inch D’vinci wheels, MA audio speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers, an Xbox 360 game console, Exonic passenger entertainment monitors, Extreme Dimensions-brand 12 piece body kit, customized seats with Fantastic Four design, and hidden comic book compartment. That MTV episode was a classic example of high end car restoration and customization.

The latest in in-car entertainment is playing media such as CD, DVD, TV, USB and an optional surround system, not to mention video game consoles into the vehicle, which was popularized by international airlines. In-car entertainment is very popular right now and very available because of reduced costs of electronic parts like screen and monitors, and the more and more inexpensive converging media playable technologies. Thus you can have single hardware units that are able to play CDs, MP3, WMA, and DVD. Through infrared (or cordless) headphones families can now take some of the stress off long journeys with games and/or DVD-watching for front and backseat passengers.

Meanwhile in car audio, cutting edge concepts have grown around the immortal radio/tape player/CD player/DVD Player, (the Head unit). Revolutions in head unit technology include the addition of MP3-, Ogg-, WMA-, AAC-capable CD players with USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support.

High end in car systems include DVD players and LCD screens. Head units have varying ergonomics, so its LCD screen is integrated such that it may slide out and fold up, or is fused into the instrument console in the dashboard. An alternative model is where the DVD head unit transmits video output into separate displays that either fold down from the ceiling, or is mounted into the back of the front seat-headrest for viewing by rear seat passengers.

The video screen may display integrated navigation systems and aside from that, receive feedback from installed back up cameras that can be automatically activated when the car is put into reverse.

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Where do the speakers figure in? High-end or competition stereo systems have speakers fixed in "kick panel" enclosures, resulting to improved driver placement. Prior to stereo radio’s entry, the most common speaker location was on the dashboard.

A must among high-end audio systems are component speakers comprised by tweeters, midrange and woofers. An optional audio crossover funnels the frequency range that each component speaker must generate. This lets each cone take charge of its optimal frequency for better sound quality. Subwoofers take charge of the bass and sub bass, and the resulting vibration from such boom boxes makes the sound felt rather than heard.

Always accompanying the speakers are of course the amplifiers. These generate needed music power which are measured in watts. High Power amplifiers need a large gauge cable to feed it sufficient current. The amplifier is a crucial part of a loud speaker system. Ensure that the peak power handling capability of the speakers attached to the amplifier or head unit is much more than or at least is equivalent to the amplifier’s power or head unit.

To create the clean sound that dampens sound waves, sound deadening is attached in the door cavities and boot/trunk area. This also minimizes the rattling of the metal in the car. It is a rubber or asphalt-like substance that can be sprayed on or glued on in sheets.

Alternators may be improved from the stock unit to hike the current capacity of the vehicle's electrical system, which is often asked of high-power audio systems. An extra Deep Cycle Battery (often charged via a Split charge relay) limits voltage drop and allows the components to be used for long stretches even if the engine is off.

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Other components

Check out these high-end car audio components:

Multiple-CD Changer

amplifiers

audio processors

cables

crossovers

equalizers

mobile video (VCRs, television, DVD and navigation)

stiffening capacitors

Controls, including on steering wheel

Car computer, fully functional computers (i.e. Internet, Music, games) that is operable from the interface.

Game Consoles - passenger entertainment.

Common modifications in high-end car audio installations:

speaker pods

subwoofer enclosures