How to buy a new car stereo system
Selecting a new stereo system for your car can be a more complicated process than you would expect, so unless you’re very knowledgeable about car stereo systems choosing to buy your system where trained sales associates can assist you could make the difference between finding the right system and ending up with regrets.
Researching the reputations and reviews of brands can help narrow down the possible choices.
Price range is, of course, a factor. Only you can determine your price range, but you may want to consider how long you are likely to keep the car before setting your price range. If you’re a sound aficianado you would probably be willing to spend more than the person who only looking for a system that “just sounds good” but doesn’t necessarily have to be top-of-the-line. Your preferences in music genre will also impact your choices.
After deciding where to buy/browse, researching brands, genre preference, and setting your price range shopping for your new system should begin with your finding our which systems will fit in your car. Stereo dealers can assist with this information. There are also online resources. All cars are far from equal when it comes to which systems fit in which cars. American cars, Japanese cars, and German are all different. There may be some overlap in which systems fit which cars, and sometimes a system will fit a car if, and only if, an installation kit (”fit kit”) is available. Learning which systems will fit your car is the most difficult step in the buying process.
If your music preference leans toward classical or pop music your new speaker system will need to be able to evenly reproduce the entire audio spectrum. Rock and rap music require powerful amplifiers and good subwoofers for the heavy bass sounds.
Check the specs for each receiver you’re considering. FM sensitivity indicates the unit’s ability to pick up weaker signals and is measured in decibel femtowats (dBf). The lower the number, the better the unit is at picking up weaker signals. RMS output shows how much volume the unit is capable of producing. A higher number means more volume. Signal-to-noise ratio is an indicator of how well the unit gets rid of background noise, and a higher number indicates better filtering. Peak output is related to the power during short, sudden, bursts of sound. If you listen to a lot of classical music this is particularly important. Rock music, of course, benefits from this as well.
A vast array of speakers are available, of course, and, depending on your music preferences, you will most likely be interested in the volume the speakers are capable of producing, and the sensitivity rating will show how efficiently the speaker converts power into sound. A higher sensitivity rating indicates the capability of producing more sound. While RMS power range can show how one speaker stacks up against another, peak power handling and RMS power handling show how much power the speaker can handle continuously and during brief bursts, respectively. Again, this is particularly significant for the classical music listener and the fan of certain types of rock of music.
The emphasis on bass in rock and rap music means that adding subwoofers to your system will help you get the most from your music. The wide array of subwoofers available, and the requirements associated with each type, go well beyond the scope of this article. There are, however, a few things to keep in mind when purchasing subwoofers: As with other components, the RMS power range, RMS power handling, and peak power handling ratings are important. Particularly important for subwoofers is the frequency response, which should be as low as possible. Impedance is the resistance to the flow of power, so a high impedance rating is best.
The design and type of subwoofer you choose will also depend on your music preferences/requirements, and so will the type of enclosure you choose. Knowing whether you’re looking for forceful bass or deep, precise, bass before starting to shop for subwoofers will give you some direction when you are deciding on the type of enclosure to get.
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