Photo: Step-by-step instructions for upgrading your audio system (bmwblog.com) Author: Konstantin Shirokun
The latest generation of cars are good in every way, but the sound quality of the audio system is often so-so. Those motorists who understand this do not always decide to make changes – but in fact, it turns out to be quite an affordable matter.
Read about how to make your standard audio system sound at a new level in the RBC-Ukraine article.
It should be recognized that among all serial cars, today you can hear really high-quality music only in the interior of high-class cars. Which is not surprising, because car manufacturers have other priorities when creating mass models. Nevertheless, with a thoughtful approach, you can build an acceptable sound stage yourself – although with certain costs.
Why is the sound in the car bad?
From the point of view of true audiophiles, it is impossible to create ideal sound of so-called “home” quality in a car. However, to be honest, there is no need for such “music” in a car. But it is quite possible to organize simply good, adequate sound in any car.
Depending on the desire and availability of resources, we can talk about two or three levels of sound quality of a car audio system.
Level one: not perfect, but right
If you don't go all out when organizing a cool audio system, you can only talk about replacing its second and third links – speakers, amplifiers, wires, etc. Since most current models have an integrated audio system head unit (what was once called a radio) in the dashboard and in the general electronic network, it is better not to touch it at the first level.
The weakest link of the standard audio system is the speakers: the car manufacturer makes them reliable, but mediocre in terms of sound quality. Therefore, you can always choose speakers for your car with a more natural and clear sound than those installed at the factory. There will be two difficulties along the way:
- The standard speaker locations in the car panels often have non-standard sizes, although the correct speakers are available in several standard sizes;
- To realize the full potential of branded loudspeakers, they require acoustic design. Each speaker needs a solid (preferably wooden) podium and a certain physical volume at the back.
You need to buy speakers where you can be told about the sound features of each model. Or look for a place where you can listen to them in a proper design. Consider the style of music you listen to most often. The fact is that speaker sets from reputable brands often have a special sound character – with a bias in one direction or another: more high or low frequencies, clear detailing or high naturalness of reproduction.
It's easier with ultra-low frequencies: when choosing a subwoofer, the main thing is to find a place for its body and, of course, a separate output for it at the “head” or amplifier.
Level two: almost perfect
The important thing is that you can move to the second level over time, but it is important to take care of a possible upgrade at the first stage. The most difficult thing here is the question of the main device that will play music from a specific carrier. There are several options:
- Rebuild the dashboard and install a different head unit that will provide better music playback. You will also have to reprogram the corresponding control buttons on the steering wheel;
- Interfere with the circuitry of the standard “head” in order to remove the linear signal from it and pass it through a separate, higher-quality amplifier (several amplifiers);
- Build an independent (or semi-independent) audio system from the standard multimedia system: with a separate head unit, amplifiers, crossovers for speakers, etc. – that is, with a different level of playback quality.
Whichever option you choose, having a quality signal from a non-standard “head” will allow you to use a power amplifier. Which is important for the full realization of the speaker capabilities. Also, an amplifier is used not for greater volume, but for higher-quality sound reproduction at low levels. Also, expensive amplifier models allow you to fine-tune the signal, taking into account the features of the speakers and the owner's preferences. However, for an audio system that will be really close to ideal, installers will need other components and other approaches – but we will talk about this in a separate article.
Short
Music sound quality is a very subjective concept in any case. And first of all, you should understand what exactly you are not satisfied with in the existing audio system: detail, frequency range, naturalness of the sound of instruments, clarity of vocal reproduction, and so on. Therefore, before you start upgrading the audio system, it will be very useful to find a car with high-quality sound in the cabin and listen to several compositions of different genres in it. At the same time, you can find out from the owner the brand and parameters of the audio components used and the nuances of their installation. This information will help you understand your needs and determine the strategy for the future upgrade. Because one willingness to buy and install “all the best” will not be enough.
In preparing this article, materials from Car Audio and ” Sound and Tuning ” were used.
Let us recall that RBC-Ukraine recently reported on the types of all-wheel drive available on pickups and SUVs.