You have chosen your new car stereo and now it is
time to install.
The final result will depend on the quality
of the installation. It won’t matter how expensive your
car stereos system is if you do not install it correctly.
Your speaker sound will depend on the amplifier and the
type of enclosure. Your amplifier will depend on the
current, and the current will depend on the alternator and the
wiring.
Mistakes will leave you with disappointing results.
Here are a few tips that will make the installation of
your car stereos system a success:
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.
Read the next article on: 5 Top Competition Car Audio Sites