|
Tips On Choosing A Car Audio System
Car audio has moved a long way from
the old standard AM/FM Radio/Tape Deck combo. Today, in-vehicle multimedia
systems include DVD video, television and navigation systems with local hotspot
news. Common to all systems is the sound quality.
The quality of sound in a car audio
system depends upon a number of factors - the type and quality of the media
player system, the type of speakers used, the acoustics of the vehicle and
interference from other devices.
Type and Quality of Media Player
System
Before we look at the different types
of in-vehicle media players it pays to have a basic understanding of audio
quality. When deciding what type of audio system to install, and also when
comparing one make and model to another, there are two key specifications to
consider:
Signal-to-noise ratio [SNR] - a measure of signal strength
compared to background noise in the signal or equipment. Measured in decibels.
The higher the dB, the better. A car CD player has an SNR of 90 or 100 dB.
Frequency response [FR] - a measure of how much of the audio
spectrum, from bass to treble, gets reproduced. It's measured as a range in
Hertz, and the wider the range, the better. Look for a CD player with a range
of at least 10-20k Hz.
An FM radio, cassette player, and CD
player all have different measurements for these specs. To help understand
these two specifications, let's compare a car tape cassette player and a car CD
player.
Cassette player has an SNR of 50-70
dB. This is much lower than a CD player, so the sound quality degrades at each
end of the spectrum. The FR is around 30-18k Hz for a cassette player, so does
not contribute as much to sound quality as the SNR.
That's why overall, a car CD player
gives a much better sound than a cassette tape player.
Media players in vehicles today are
either radio tuner, CD player/changer, or Digital Audio player.
CD Players & Changers
There are a number of options when it
comes to playing CD's in a vehicle:
- An in-dash CD Player - often combined with radio tuner, WMA/MP3
player
- An in-dash CD Receiver - with a multiple CD cassette / changer located
elsewhere in the vehicle
- Connect a portable CD player to an existing in-dash audio unit using either a
cable and adapter or a bluetooth wireless connection.
When choosing a car CD player the
first two things to consider are:
- Will it physically fit into the vehicle?
- Will it integrate cosmetically with the dash and
other electronics?
Most decks have standardized form
factors; so fit most cars, but there are exceptions, so make sure that the deck
is suited for your car. You are usually pretty safe is the car stereo is made
for the same market as the source of your car:
Cosmetic integration is a little more
complex, but in many cases easily resolved through customisation features. For
instance, many decks allow you to change the faceplates and color of the
display.
Digital Audio Car Systems
With most home audio systems and
portable players giving crisp quality sound using digital audio, we are no
longer satisfied with the flat, bland analog sound from older car audio
systems.
If you normally store your digital
music files on CD, a compatible stereo or changer is a good option. Up to 10
hours of music [250 songs] can be stored on a single disc and allows use of
random shuffling and repeat options. This disadvantage is ease of use, having
to load and unload from cassettes located in the boot or under seats, and the
limited file formats that your stereo can play back.
So now you have the media player
selected, what about the speaker system.
Car Speaker System
The speaker system can be thought of
in two parts: the channel amplifier and the physical speaker units.
Car amplifiers power the speakers in
your car stereo system to provide crisp sound quality at high volumes. Each speaker
requires one channel of amplification. This means a 4-channel amplifier, will
support four speakers.
And choice of speakers is not limited
either. With a range of options for your basic stereo speakers [2-channel], you
can supplement the high note quality using a tweeter and the low bass notes
with a sub-woofer. This gives you a standard 4-channel sound system that will
rival your home audio system.
Adding to a basic car stereo option
typically involves adding subwoofers, amplifiers and crossovers to tailor the
output sound to personal tastes.
This does not mean the result is the
boorish, obnoxious bass boom boxing that invades the entire neighbourhood. A
subwoofer adds quality and purity to music.
For details of specifications on each
part of your system, see Go-Reviews.com - Car Electronics Section
The main factors in selecting car
speakers are:
- Design or Speaker Type
- Technical Specifications
- Fitting & Mounting
Speaker design is about the
combination of sound drivers for midrange, subwoofer and tweeter. Depending
upon the combination, the set is known as a two-way, three-way or four-way
speaker system.
Car speaker specifications are
similar to home audio speakers; the main difference in technical specification
to compensate for the lower power outputs of car stereo receivers.
The speaker technical specifications
include sensitivity, frequency response, signal to noise ratio, power handling
and impedance. We will look at these specification in more detail in subsequent
articles.
The fittings and mountings are
selected depending upon where you choose to position the speakers. Car audio
speakers are either: top mounted or bottom mounted. Clearance depth is most
important when installing new speakers in a non-factory speaker location. So
check all of your components carefully before purchase.
With such a range of combinations
available the Internet provides a valuable resource in car electronics reviews.
Sites like Go-Reviews.com seek out reviews and consolidate the recommendations
to give you a quick reference buying guide.
Nicola is the product reviewer for Go-Reviews.com. For reviews on consumer and
business technology, the latest technology news, product releases and
recalls and useful hints on getting the best from your technology. With such a
range of combinations available the Internet provides a valuable resource in car
electronics reviews
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicola_Carr
|