AUTOMOTIVE MOTORCYCLE

Perhaps the only thing more important than quality components, is the install. By install, I mean actually correctly wiring the system, and speaker placement. An automobile is a hostile environment for accurate sound reproduction to begin with. Due to this, selecting the correct size of speakers, the ideal placement locations and angling is all the more necessary. For most, the factory speaker locations are all we are willing to work with. Others, however, are willing to cut and fabricate, etc., to create the best audio system possible.

More is not better; many enthusiasts will randomly outfit their cars with as many speakers as they can cram into each corner. What they end up with is a crisscross of conflicting frequencies, creating audio bumps and dips, and an ambiguous sound stage. Ideally, stereo sound should come from two points, and two points only. Unfortunately, no speakers exist that can be practically mounted in the front door grills or kick panels that will reproduce quality audio from 20 hz to 20 kHz. This is, of course, why we have subwoofers, mid range woofers, and tweeters. In a car, we are usually restricted to installing each speaker where it’s most practical.

A typical clean and simple install will have the mid range speakers and tweeters installed in the front doors, or kick panels (to better equalize the path lengths). Any rear speakers should just for a subtle “hall echo” effect, and the high frequency range should be cut off (ie. Tweeters), to avoid pulling the sound stage rearward. The subwoofer will go in the trunk, because that’s the only place it will fit with its enclosure. The subwoofer frequencies are difficult to tell from which direction they are coming from, so trunk placement is usually no problem.

Many premium factory audio systems brag of 8, 9, 10, 12, or whatever number of speakers. I know I said more is not better, but it can be, when professionally installed with analyzing equipment such as a “real time analyzer.” in order to achieve a flat audio curve in a hostile environment such as a car, certain frequencies may have to be boosted to create the best possible sound.

If you have only basic knowledge on car audio systems, then it can be quite easy to make a mistake. With so many options out there for car audio systems and bad advice, you can easily end up purchasing a product that actually contracts from sound quality, rather than improves it. Follow a few tips and you should be able to avoid the big ‘no, no’s’ of the car audio world.

Don’t Buy Cheap Equipment

You’ve spent most of your budget on the car audio system of your dreams, now you need the wiring kit to go with it. But don’t go ‘cheapo’ on the wiring kit or any other accessories as these are still important component s and must be of a good standard. If you have amp, you have to make sure that you have the right-sized power wire, which can handle the correct load. This is particularly important with lower loads, such as 1 or 2 ohms, as they require more power.

Capacitors May Not Improve Sound

Many a car audio user has fitted a capacitor in their system to power their amplifier, which is simply too power hungry for their car to handle. A power hungry amplifier usually quickly depletes the batteries energy, which in turn means there is less energy left for the rest of the car. It is often the reason for dimmed headlights. With this problem in mind, the capacitor has been used to store energy and keep the flow more balanced. However, this does not mean it will improve the quality of sound from your car audio system – but it will stop your lights from dimming.

Avoid Using Settings on More than One Piece of Audio Equipment

Although, it may be tempting to set the boosters and crossovers on all your stereo and amplifier, this will actually cause more problems. Setting the crossovers on both will only cause the frequency to be misaligned, rather than aligned. Thus it’s best to set it one component. If you want to boost your bass, you must also only do this on one component only, otherwise you will increase the distortion from your subs or even end up damaging them!

Avoid the big ‘no no’s’ of the car audio world and you should be able to improve your system properly. Of course, to fully improve your stereo’s sound quality you will need to invest in a quality system and accessories