Planning to upgrade a stock car music system? Want something to replace that cheap AM/FM radio crammed in the dash, with those tinny little speakers in the dash and door panels? Installing a new sound system doesn't have to be the electrical equivalent of brain surgery.
The process can actually be pretty simple, if you follow a few basic steps.
In order, these are Input, Amperage, Output, and Wiring.
If you get I.
A.
O.
W firmly in mind, sound system success will be yours.
Input: This is where the sound comes from.
Input can be a radio, a CD player, or, if you're feeling retro, an old school tape player.
Amperage: Amperage is power-the power to make big speakers go.
Amplifiers are designed to take input and boost its power so that it can really be heard.
Output: Output means speakers; in most cases, big subwoofers speakers that deliver max bass response that shakes the sidewalk.
We'll get back to this all important area in few sentences, but right now, let's hit the last part of the I.
A.
O.
W.
equation-wiring.
Wiring: Wiring is the glue that holds the sound system together.
You need wires to get the input to the amp.
You need wires to get the amplified input out to the speakers.
Back to Output: Settling for cheap speakers crammed in the door panels of your car? Time to rethink the program, friend! The speakers that usually reside in the stock stereo system are what are called midrange speakers.
They're good for handling everyday music, but they aren't really designed to reproduce solid deep tones or the bright tones of the higher frequencies.
For those, you need subwoofers speakers to give the best bass notes, or tiny "tweeters" that are designed to eke out the upper frequencies that even dolphins and bats like.
Let's talk tweeters: Tweeters are typically smaller than midrange speakers.
They are constructed of lighter materials that carry shorter wavelength vibrations faster and with a greater fidelity.
Tweeters made of soft materials, like polypropylene, textiles, or silk produce highs that are refined and somewhat mellowed, while tweeters that use hard materials (like metal, ceramics, or graphite) produce bright and snappy highs.
Softer materials work best when your music needs a natural sound-strings, jazz and classical music for example.
But if you're after rock or metal-or especially techno-aim your sights towards harder materials to get that sharp edge.
Besides materials, there are many types of tweeter designs.
Dome tweeters are the most similar to the midrange designs found in stock automotive systems.
They look and work like typical speakers, but their smaller and lighter construction allows them to hit the highs better.
Cone tweeters use a small cone shaped emitter to shape the highs-these are powerful and best where highs are important.
Horn tweeters add a compression driver around the throat of a cone like horn, boosting the output to a stronger level.
Ribbon tweeters use a combination of thin pieces of metal between the positive and negative poles of a magnet.
High current transformers vibrate the ribbon to create the sound.
Again, each type of tweeter produces a different quality of sound, which means that you should keep the type of music you plan to play in mind when selecting a set.
Most good car audio specialists will be able to point you in the right direction on this-so don't be afraid to ask questions-they want to help.
Remember: as long as you keep I.
A.
O.
W in mind, improving your sound system with new "tweeters" can be as easy as putting in new seat covers.
Enjoy!