Basically, a car audio equalizer is an audio regulator that allows the sound quality from various frequency bands to sound smooth and clean whenever you switch the tuning or move from radio to CD player.  An equalizer essentially allows the car owner to experience different sound frequencies digitally with the aim of identifying which frequencies need more enhancement or better tuning.

The main idea behind a car equalizer is that you won’t have to change the frequency each time you switch to a new radio station because it helps to achieve that right sound balance.

For all you car stereo enthusiasts looking for top of the line car equalizers, here are some of the more popular brands, as well as a few that are more affordably priced:

• Clarion EQS746 1/2 DIN Graphic Equalizer with Built-in Crossover – Clarion is a well known brand and this particular equalizer costs roughly $149.99
• Kenwood KDC-MP145 In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with Aux Input – for $99.99, you can get a high quality Kenwood equalizer system for your car
• Metra AT-350E 7 Band Equalizer / 100W Car Stereo Amplifier – for the people who want a quality equalizer for less, this Metra brand will run you about $13.94
• Power Acoustik PWM-16 Pre-Amp Equalizer – this equalizer is in the middle of the price range at $84.99, but has proven to be a high quality brand
• Clarion MCD360 2/3 Way Crossover – here’s another Clarion system that will run you about $199.99
• BOSS AVA1404 7 Band Amplified Equalizer with Subwoofer Output – this brand is quality without the hefty price tag.  A good BOSS equalizer costs about $55.88
• Pioneer Car DEQ7600 DIN Digital Signal Processor and 15-Band Digital Graphic Equalizer – Pioneer always provides something special for the price and this $330.00 digital graphic equalizer is no exception
• SuperSonic SC-6666M In-Dash CD MP3 Player AM FM Car Stereo Receiver – SuperSonic equalizers might not cost a lot (on average $48.99), but you can expect good quality audio from this particular model

Once you choose from any of these listed, you should be able to get great sound from your radio stations and CD player.

Article Tags: car stereo equalizer



By definition, a subwoofer is a complete loud speaker for either a car audio system or a home system that is used to reproduce low pitched audio frequencies, also known as the “bass”.  A novice would probably be more familiar with the term “bass box” than the term “subwoofer”.  The typical subwoofer is between 8” and 21” in diameter, so your choice of component would basically tie in to the amount of space you have to store it.

Now, as a novice to audio systems, you should probably figure out how to tell a cheap subwoofer from a high end one, just to make sure you get value for your money.  Although you may not necessarily intend to install it yourself, you definitely need to know which type to get.  Here are some tips for telling the difference between a high end subwoofer and al cheap one:

• The typical frequency range for a high end subwoofer is between 20-200 Hz.  This is the standard for consumer products like car audio systems and home audio systems.  If the frequency range is lower than that, you probably won’t get good quality sound.
• When connected to an audio system, a good subwoofer will have enough power to spit out the kind of power behind the low end audio you’re looking for.  Cheap car subwoofers will definitely lack the power to give you the “bass” you need.
• Another factor to consider with a subwoofer is the quality and precision of the sound.  A cheap subwoofer will not be able to go deep enough to give you a worthwhile bass level, and the cheap ones that do will not offer the kind of precision to give clean, clear depth.
• The wattage of a good subwoofer will be 100 watts or more.  Anything lower than that is not worth your money.

Using the tips outlined above, you should be able to easily identify a quality subwoofer that will give you the quality low end audio you are looking for in your car or home audio system.

Article tags: cheap subwoofer

Here are the top five car audio systems money can buy; all you need to do now is determine how far your dollar will stretch!

1. The Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System is an impressive car sound system that consists of 14 speakers – including a 12-inch subwoofer – each of which has its own amplifier.  This system can produce about 1100 watts of power and the appealing acoustic lens speakers made for the dashboard are an added feature.
2. The Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound Audio System is a 19-speaker car sound system that doesn’t allow you to miss a beat.  Its total harmonic distortion is less than 0.1%, which means the quality of the sound is almost perfectly maintained, regardless of the level you play the music at.  The system has a range of 20 to 20,000 Hz.
3. The Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system is a 440-wat system with 13 speakers and a quality subwoofer.  The Bowers & Wilkins speakers are the favorite choice of car audio enthusiasts and even top end recording studios.
4. The ever popular Harman/Kardon brand has produced the LOGIC7 Digital Surround Sound System. This system delivers precise sound quality with 600 watts of power.  It comes with 14 speakers and produces an extremely wide range of sound you will ever experience in a car.
5. You can’t go wrong with a car sound system if you choose the Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound System.  It comes with 10 speakers, which is less than other systems, but don’t believe for a second that the quality is any less.  This system produces accurate, clean sound that you can associate with other top name brands.

As you can see, you are guaranteed to get quality sound from any of the top five car sound systems listed.  Just prepare your pocket for some serious damage!

Article tags: car dvd system

• Hands down, the best way to get a custom car stereo made at a reasonable price is to get it done yourself.  While you may not have all the necessary know-how to complete a thorough custom job, there is so much help available on the internet that it would be almost impossible for you not to be able to make at least a decent first attempt.  With video help from YouTube and blog posts from professionals, there’s more than enough viral assistance out there!
• If you can find yourself a good custom car stereo creator or designer, then it may suit you to source raw materials and ask that person to do the dirty work for you.  There are many skilled people out there who float under the radar, but who are just as capable as some of the top notch custom stereo makers.  And of course, the labor will be performed at a fraction of the cost!  Do some research into the raw materials needed to get a custom stereo designed, and leave the rest to an affordable professional!
• As a follow up to the tip previously mentioned, you can also look out for used electrical components that still function and will cut the design time in half.  The stereo designer you choose will not have to build each component from scratch if you are able to find some finished parts that are actually in good condition.

Essentially, labor expenses can drive you up the wall in your quest to have a custom designed car stereo.  Therefore, if you are able to find some affordable laborers to do a good job, you will end up saving yourself a lot of money and getting the perfect custom car audio system at a reasonable price.  Forget about the brand name ready-made equipment.  Save a buck where you can and still end up with a stereo to suit your every need!

Here are a few pointers that will help you identify a high end car stereo system so you can get the quality audio you’re looking for and avoid cheap car audio systems:

• A high end car stereo will come with enough components to fit in car doors, on parcel shelves and in other inconspicuous areas of the car. The components can consist of matching tweeters that are quite small and produces high end frequency; mid range speakers that are medium sized and produce medium frequency; and a woofer that is usually large and produces low end frequency, otherwise known as “bass”. A top end car stereo will have these components as the basic parts.
• Although some cheap car stereos may have these components as well, they will not be accessible in two-speaker and three-speaker combinations. High end car stereo systems have these combinations as an option, which limits the frequency range that each speaker is required to manage. Thus, the work is more evenly distributed and each component is allowed to produce favorable frequency for the best quality sound.
• A high end car stereo system may also come with subwoofers that provide ultra low frequency, otherwise known as bass or sub bass. This ultra low frequency is often felt rather than heard. You can tell when a car has ultra low frequency capabilities if you feel the ground vibrating under your feet! With a cheap system, you would probably have to buy subwoofers as add-ons to enhance the quality of the sound.
• And of course, you can almost always use the brand of a car stereo to determine if it is of high quality. Top quality manufacturers in car audio systems include Kenwood, Bose, Alpine, Boston Acoustics, Sony and Pioneer.

Hopefully, you will be able to use these guidelines outlined to identify the car stereo that is just right for you.

Article tags: cheap car audio equipment

The cost of a double din car stereo depends mainly on the manufacturer and the specs. Some of the most popular manufacturers include: Kenwood, Clarion, Pioneer, and JVC. You may be partial to one of these brands for one reason or the next. If you have no clue on which one is better, it would be in your best interest to read a few reviews before making a decision.

To get a better idea of what a double din car stereo offers, let’s take a look at one of the most popular models: Kenwood DPX302. Although this is not a high end model, its low entry price and feature list make it a good value for most consumers.

With basic digital audio support and the ability to customize some features, most consumers will find this system to be adequate. Specs include: Radio, CD, MP3 player, audio line out, audio line in, and radio tuner.

Just like any double din car stereo, the Kenwood DPX302 has both pros and cons. For instance, it plays a variety of audio formats which is sure to keep you happy. That being said, this system does not feel as solid as some others. In the end, a price of roughly $200 is more than fair.

If you are looking for more from your double din car stereo you will need to spend a bit more. It is not uncommon for top of the line models to cost in excess of $400. These units have more features, better specs, and a more advanced user interface.

With many online reviews available, buying a double din car stereo is easier than ever before. Once you set a budget you can begin your search for the model that offers the features that you are most interested in.

Do your research before buying a double din car stereo. You don’t want to make the wrong choice and end up disappointed.

The most popular manufacturers of car CD changers include: Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, JVC, and Clarion. Of course, there are other companies involved in this industry – they just aren’t as popular as those aforementioned.

The cost of a car CD changer is based on many factors. First off, some companies charge more than others. Kenwood and Pioneer are among the leaders in the industry, and for this reason they charge a bit more than the competition. Despite high prices on other electronic items, Sony is slated below many others.

Another detail that determines price is how many discs the unit can hold. Generally speaking, six, eight, ten and twelve disc changers are most common. The more discs that a unit can hold the more expensive it will be. What you choose depends not only on your budget, but your personal preference as well.

When buying a car CD changer it is important to consider the installation process, as well as the interface. Will you be able to install the system on your own? Or will hiring a professional be in your best interest? Most models are easy to install, but without the right knowledge you may still find it difficult.

The interface includes how you load discs, the display, frequency response, signal to noise ratio, and much more.

If you are on a budget you can opt for a low end car CD changer such as the Kenwood KDC-C471. For approximately $100, this six disc unit is a great value. Those who are looking for more features, and are willing to spend additional money, should slide up the pricing scale to those that are closer to $200. This includes the Kenwood KDC-C521 10 disc changer and the Pioneer CDXP686. At the top of the industry you will find car CD changers that max out at around $300 – $500.

What you buy is up to you. Make sure you consider all models, their features, price, and of course, the type of car you drive. With so many car CD changers on the market, finding one that suits your budget and personal wants and needs should be a simple process.

Your simplest and cheapest choice is using an FM transmitter. There are two types of FM transmitters: wired and wireless. Basically, a wired one connects to your car, while a wireless uses radio frequency to play through the car stereo. The basic function of these devices is that you run plug from your iPod and pick up a signal from your car’s radio stations. The frequency allotted is very low and will only work for stations between 88.1 FM – 107.9FM. Any other station will not pick up the sound coming through the FM transmitter.

It is possible to increase the stations available, but the FCC rules and regulations for radio will not allow it. The FCC will not allow FM transmitters to broadcast over 18.75 nanowatts, ensuring that they will not work well. Essentially, you are creating your own low-wattage radio station. Unfortunately you are competing with major radio stations that are pushing out 6,000 + watts of music. This can cause the MP3 player and radio station to mix together into a distorted mess. One of the most popular types of FM Transmitters is the Belkin TuneCast II.

It is strong, versatile, and can pick up many radio frequencies clearly. FM Transmitters, although providing clean, listenable sound, may not approach that standard hailed by music purists. As such, it may not be the ideal solution for audiophiles. FM radio stations will never sound the same as a CD or your MP3 player does. Luckily, these go for around $30 a piece making this a popular choice.

When shopping for your FM transmitter you want to look to see if it is battery operated or plugs into your car’s cigarette adapter. Both work well, but plugging it into your car’s cigarette adapter allows for your iPod charging while playing music. Cigarette lighter adapters will sometimes come with a cradle. A cradle is a nice way to hold your MP3 player and charge it simultaneously. Accessory Genie makes a Flex Pod FM transmitter that has a cradle with a flexible neck allowing for more customization.

Newer transmitters have PSL technology; positive station delivers quality sound and reduces drift as you travel from city to city. Most, if not all the newer versions have LCD screens showing what station you should tune into. Others like the Road Master Corp include a remote control for the ultimate ease and control.

Another option is to purchase an audio cassette adapter for your iPod. Basically, there is a cord that plugs into your MP3 players headphone jack and leads to a cassette. You insert the cassette into your car’s cassette player (if it has one) and off you go. The downside is not many cars have cassette players anymore. The sound quality is much better than that of a wired FM transmitter because there is no interference from the other radio stations. Sony cassette adapters are very cheap as well, costing as little as $10 from Philips or another major brand.

A wired FM modulator eliminates passing through the cluttered radio airwaves when playing your iPod’s music. They intercept the radio waves from your antenna and radio. It only requires minimal installation, replacing a wire in back of your car stereo’s antenna. Then you can run the wire into your MP3 player’s headphone jack. It is much simpler than it sounds and takes about 5 minutes to install.

The modulator is versatile, running on any FM frequency. It is better to choose a station near the beginning or end of the FM station frequency range. Crutchfield has a large selection of wired FM modulators. There is much less noise and zero interference from the radio stations using the FM modulator. They are inexpensive, typically costing around $15 for a decent model from Crutchfield or some other electronics stores.

The simplest and easiest to install would be the car stereo with an inline port included. Most of the newer model cars have this feature. It is a small jack that is on your car radio. Simply insert the wire into the iPods headphone jack and the other end of the wire goes into the stereo’s line-in jack. Set your stereo to Auxiliary and you are ready to hear some quality MP3 sound. If your car does not have the line-in port you can purchase a new stereo with this jack for $100. Buying a new radio simply for the line-in jack is wasteful and not the optimal solution for people on a budget.

New car stereos, primarily those with a CD player, have an RCA port in the back of them. You can run a wire through the MP3 player’s headphone jack straight into the RCA port. You can purchase an RCA-to-headphone jack cord for a few bucks at any electronics store. These cables come in different sizes and lengths, depending on your car’s stereo and how far it is located from you.

Ask your local electronics store what size and length is right for your car’s stereo. To install this you must remove your radio and locate the red and white inputs on the backside. Plug the wires into the RCA port and your car will play perfect sounding music though your iPod or MP3 player. All you need to do now is tune your radio to “CD” or “Auxiliary” and away you go.

Remember there are many options for your iPod or MP3 player and knowing what your budget is and what features your car stereo has can help you make an informed decision. You also must make sure that your MP3 player is compatible with your product the new iPhone 3G are not compatible with older model FM transmitters. There may be more than one optimal choice, which is why it is up to you to go to your electronics shop and make sure you are getting what you need.

Accessory Genie is the leader in electronic product accessories. They have been in business for over twenty years and continue their excellent customer service and relations. To learn more about Accessory Genie Replacement Laptop Batteries visit http://www.AccessoryGenie.com

Like I said, some of us did use home units in our cars as a first stereo for our cars. Even though they didn’t sound all that great at least it beat not having anything at all. The problem is that they aren’t constructed to deal with the high temperature extremes and the bumps and jolts that a car stereo is built to deal with in an automotive environment. Of course true car stereo lovers were very dissatisfied with the quality of the sound in the earlier systems and when CD players came out the need for even higher quality speakers and other components was increased.

For those who own a vehicle that was made from 1990 to the present day you will already have some kind of factory stereo in your vehicle. This is because in the vast majority of vehicles made from that time period include stereos as standard equipment unless it is some kind of base model work vehicle. Some of the higher end automakers produce their own signature stereo systems. BMW now makes their own while Volkswagen and Mercedes all use systems from the German audio company, Blaupunkt which is a favorite of mine.

These days a good quality stereo system now will include a cassette player, a CD player either in dash or with an optional changer that will service more CDs which is usually trunk mounted. My Nissan Titan actually has an 8 disc CD changer mounted right in the dash. The newer models also are capable of playing MP3s usually though an audio plug in like the one my Titan has.

Stereo systems today consist of head units that are connected to numerous speakers, not like the old mono speakers that were only in the center of the dash. Now you have speakers in the doors, both sides of the dashboard, and in the rear of the car. Some larger cars and SUVs today have as many as 10 or 12 speakers in them which gives you an almost concert quality sound.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about car stereos as well as car care products at http://www.5starshine.com

The first thing you should do is determine the location of the speakers. Speaker location is the key to quality sound. The distance between the left and right speakers and the distance between the left and right ears is not always the same. Try to make the difference between the left and right speakers as little as possible. You may have better luck if you place the speakers on the floor, but you do run the risk of the sound seemingly coming from below. The location of your speakers is imperative to the sound quality you get from your car stereo. When installing your car stereos system, place the speakers temporarily in various locations to find the perfect sound before you install them permanently.

After you have determined the perfect location for your speakers, you must use Dynamat or other similar materials to stop vibration. This is to prevent the metal panels from becoming part of your sound system. How you connect your cables and the location of the cables is essential to achieving a top quality sound from your car stereos system. Some install huge amplifiers in an attempt to get the best sound from their speaker. The fact is you do not need to over do it on the amplifier; you simply need good quality cables to connect it.

Now you can begin the installation of the amplifiers and head unit. You can choose to use the factory wires or you may want to give the head unit a separate circuit. If your car stereo has excellent quality factory audio you should have no need for an additional circuit. Use good quality cables and do not cut costs on clamps and distribution blocks. This is the time to install filters as well.

Building a speaker enclosure is the next step. There is no set rule on which type of enclosure will work best with your car stereos system. You should determine which type of enclosure will give you the sound you desire. Different sizes and shapes of enclosures will produce different sounds. The best type of enclosure is an individual choice. You should experiment with various shapes and sizes until you find the sound quality you are looking for.

After your speakers are installed to your satisfaction, be sure to upholster your door panels with colors that match your car interior. Installing your car stereos system is a highly personal experience. Experiment with various locations and connections until you find the sound quality you are looking for.

George Steiner
www.1-caraudio.com