Evolution of car stereo's

Picking the Best Stereo for Your Car: How to Make the Right Choices

If you spend a lot of time in your car – and if you live in the UK and commute, we’re sure you do –, it makes sense to have an in-car stereo. You can listen to your favourite music, listen to your favourite podcasts, and listen to talking stories. It’s a much more enjoyable way to travel. Choosing car stereos is relative easy, but there are a few things that you need to consider. Here, we have provided you with a brief guideline to help you to make the process easier, and to help you to make the best choices.

Set Your Budget

There are thousands of car stereos on the market. This makes it difficult to make a decision. With so many options, we can get confused and this, unfortunately, can lead to making some wrong decisions. One way that you can help to reduce your choices is by setting yourself a budget. You know how much money you can afford to spend, so you set this as a limit. There are a few things that you need to remember:

1.       Remember to account for all the accessories, as well as the stereo itself.

2.       Remember to buy the highest quality equipment that your budget allows. Quality will affect the sound quality; the lower quality audio equipment will not produce as crisp a sound as the higher quality equipment.

3.       Remember that quality and price are not necessarily linked. Sometimes you pay over the odds for a low quality system because it is made by a certain brand. Other times you pay less for something that is much more valuable. Therefore, we recommend that you do some research into good quality car audio systems, rather than basing your decisions solely on the price or on the brand.

4.       When setting your budget consider that you may have to pay for an installation service, which can be expensive.

Think about the Connections

With car stereos there are now two general formats: mp3 & cd. In the past, you could buy mini-disc players and tape decks, but these are now largely obsolete. Modern stereos often have USB connectors, and we certainly advise buying such a stereo because you can then connect your phone, mp3 players, tablets, and various other accessories directly to your in-car audio systems. Both CD and mp3 stereos can have a USB connection – we recommend that you make sure your model does. USB is going to be around for a while, so the technology is unlikely to become obsolete…unlike CDs, which are well on their way out.

Another type of connection that you can get is Bluetooth. With this, you can connect compatible devices (such as your tablet & phone if they run on Bluetooth) wirelessly using the Bluetooth technology. This means doing without USB connections entirely. However, the technology is not quite up to scratch to warrant a Bluetooth device with no other type of connection, such as USB.

We hope that you enjoyed this article. If you would like to enquire about car stereos, then please visit Incarmusic.co.uk. 

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What You Can Do With Your Phone in Your Car

The title does sound a bit off to be fair, but we’re talking about everyday things that you can use your phone for in the car. These are things that you may not think your phone capable of, or that you might have overlooked as a function. Phones, as you know, are no longer used exclusively for their phone function, and there are many ways in which they can help make your driving life more interesting. Here, we’re going to look at some of the ways that your phone can help your driving experience.

Satnav

If you’ve every bought a satnav, you’ll know that they're fairly reasonably priced. A basic satnav will cost, on average, between £60 & £200. However, even though they may be fairly cheap (although, many of us would struggle to purchase even the lower end models) they're an expense that you don’t have to have. Instead, you can use your phone as a satnav. Most modern smart phones allow you to download satnav application. You can then use a docking station to mount the phone and use it as a satnav. Before you do this, though, research your phone and research potential apps, as they are not all equal: some apps are better than others are, and certain services may incur roaming charges, so do check.

MP3 Player

This is one that you all should know, but your smart phone can act as an in car mp3 player. Some people will connect their phones to their stereos using a USB connection (with modern stereos, at least), but the best way to get high functionality is to use an interface kit, such as the iPhone car interface kits. The iPhone car interface kits allow you to have much more control over the phone via a control panel. You can then play music the same way that you would through your phone.

MP4 Player

So, most people know that they can plug their phones in to their stereos and play mp3 files, but modern cars will also allow people to connect their smartphones and tablets and play mp4 formats (video & sound). Being able to play video in your car will increase your driving experience tenfold. But, you can’t watch videos and drive; so unfortunately, the benefits are to the passengers only.

Unlock Your Car

Did you know that you could use your phone to unlock your keys if you accidently leave your keys somewhere that there is another person who has access to a phone (that sounds incredibly convoluted!). For instance, say you're at work and you leave your keys on the desk, you’re colleague in the next desk down has access to your keys. You can phone your colleague, tell them to get the keys and then instruct them to press the unlock button down the phone. The signal will travel down the phone and will open the car. This sounds mad, but it has something to do with the infrared spectrum.

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How You Can Improve In-Car Entertainment System

For some of you your car is something that you don’t think about very often. You probably prefer to use public transport, and leave the car for longer trips. But, for others of you, you will spend a lot of time in your car: the commute, picking the kids up from school, driving in to town to do your shopping, taking drives, etc.

For the latter group, you’ll understand the importance of in-car entertainment. It can become very boring sat in a car for too long, especially if you happen to live in one of the largest cities where gridlock is commonplace. For you, your in-car entertainment will be paramount to your journeys. A good system will help to stave off any boredom you may feel.

However, many cars are ill equipped in terms of their entertainment systems. They may have poor car audio, there may be no mp3 player, etc., and there is a reason for this. Many manufacturers know that people buy cars based on their performance, rather than on their on-board entertainment. They spend a lot of time developing various aspects, such as drivability, manoeuvrability, handling, breaking systems, and so on. This means that they tend to neglect the entertainment aspect. This is secondary to most people’s concerns when buying a car, and so they do little to accommodate it. If you want a decent in-car entertainment system, then you have to do it yourself.

Here are a few ideas about how you can improve your driving experience, besides matters best left to the engineers.

MP3 Compatible Head Units

There are four types of head unit:

1.       Tape decks

2.       Mini-disk players

3.       CD players

4.       MP3 players

You can find players that combine two or more options, but these are the basic configurations. The first two in the list have largely become obsolete, and the third is on its way out. In terms of technology, number 4 is by far the best. If you don’t have an mp3 compatible car audio system, then it’s definitely worth upgrading. MP3 have many benefits:

·         You can skip between tracks without needing to fast-forward

·         You can have a much larger playlist. Even the most basic players have storage for thousands of audio files

·         You can create playlists

Bluetooth and Wireless Technologies

You can choose between USB connections and Bluetooth or wireless connections. Bluetooth and other types of wireless connections are superior to USB connection. There are no wires, for a start, which means that anyone in the car can control the music from a distance. There is less interference because no wires means no erosion, and erosion leads to bad sounds.

DVD Players

You can buy DVD players to install in your car. Unfortunately, this is not available for the driver…well, actually, we mean fortunately, because it’s would be dangerous to watch DVDs and drive. Your back seat passengers can benefit, and that’s great if you have kids.

Games Consoles

As well as being able to install DVD players, you can also install games consoles. Several models of car come with PlayStation 4! Again, you can’t play if you’re the driver, but if your wife makes you stay in the car when you're shopping, they're ideal! Also, great for kids.

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Understanding Car Speakers

Speakers are a relatively easy thing to understand. However, people often think of them as much more complicated than they are. In simple terms, a speaker moves air around using frequency to make the noise. The air moves at different speeds and this creates different values of air pressure. These movements are picked up by the ears as noise. It is the same as how our voice works. We use our voice boxes to manipulate the air coming out of our lungs to make noises. Of course, there is a lot more to it than that, but in basic terms, that is all there is to it. Below, we are going to take a more in-depth consideration of speakers. If you want to learn more, then read on.

Different Stereo Set-Ups

There are two different types of speaker sets ups, and we will consider each in turn.

First, we need to consider three different types of speaker: there are different types of speaker that produce sounds on different parts of the sound spectrum. The sub-woofer and woofers produce low frequency sounds, the tweeters produce high frequency sounds, and the mid range speakers cover the rest. Low frequency sound is bass, you can feel it with your body and it makes a wub, wub, wub sound. High frequency sound is the high-pitched sounds, as birds make.

1.       Coaxial Speakers: these speakers have various components contained within a single unit. These components are the sub-woofer, the mid-range speaker, and the tweeters. The advantage of coaxial car speaker  is that they are cheaper and they take up less space. It means that they are also easier to install. The disadvantage is that they do not have the flexibility of sound production that the component speakers have. It can produce some odd sounding noises – for instance, the bass and the high might mismatch. You will only be able to notice it if you have a good ear for detail, so for most people it is all right.

2.       Component speakers: component speakers, or separates as the cool kids say, separate each of the component parts into standalone units. So you will have a different box for the woofers, the tweeters and the mid-range sounds. The advantage is that they create a much better, higher quality, crisper sound. They can take the bass right down low, and the tweeters up high, producing a fantastic range of sounds. The disadvantage, though, is that they take up a lot of room, and they are more expensive. Unless you really love your music and spend a lot of time in your car, it is probably better for you to buy coaxial speakers. Component speakers are best left to the boy racers, who love their in car sound systems.

Car Stereos: Troubleshooting Faulty Stereos

If you have a little understanding of electrics then you can use this basic troubleshooting guideline to help you to fix problems with your stereo system. You should incorporate these steps when you encounter a variety of problems including a loss of sound, crackling sound and power drainage. These issues can often arise directly following installation, although they can also happen as a matter of routine.

There are a number of different reasons why car stereos go wrong, ranging from faulty wires to broken speakers. We have created this guideline as a way of helping you to fix such routine problems. However, occasionally, the problem may be something much more complicated than that which we have addressed here, and as such, there will be times when you need to consult an audio specialist.

Finding the Source of the Problem

Clearly, you cannot fix a problem until you know what that problem is. This is the hardest part of the process and you need to adopt a technique of trial and error and try to isolate different parts of the system so that you can establish in what area the problem has arisen.

The first thing you should do is check to make sure that all the wires are properly connected. Sometimes the problem is as simple as a wire not being connected properly, or working itself free. If this fixes the problem then great, if not:

Disconnect the wire that links the amplifier and the stereo, but keep all other wires plugged in. Does the problem continue, or has it stopped? If it is stopped then you know that it is probably a problem with the amplifier – although it could be a problem with the stereo.

Next, reconnect the amp and stereo, using car stereo fitting kits if you have one, and disconnect the speakers from the stereo. Is the problems gone? Or is it still there? If it has gone, and you had the problem with the amp, then you now know that it is the amp with the problem. If it’s there, but there was no problem with the amp, then you know it’s the speakers. If the problem persists then it is probably a problem with the stereo itself.

If you have found a problem, then first thing that you should do is replace the connecting cables. If this has solved the problem then good, but if not, then you may need to check the fuses. Change the fuse in the area that you found the fault. E.g., change the fuse in the amp. If this works, great, if not, then you may need to replace the amp/speaker/stereo, depending on where you found the problem.

If the system is a new system you installed using car stereo fitting kits, and you found that the problem was with the speakers or amps, then it may be a power-supply issue. If the car battery cannot produce enough energy to drive the speakers or amps, then they won’t work. Use an auxiliary power supply to check if this is the problem. If it is, you need to buy a better battery, or buy a less powerful amp/speaker combination.

We hope that you have found this article useful, but if you would like further information, including information about car stereo fitting kits, then please visit our website.

What to Think About When Buying a New car Audio

With the rapid growth of technology and techniques in the car industry have introduces a wide range of car audio systems and became  a part of our daily life.An amplifier is a piece of equipment that amplifies the sound of your car stereo system. The more powerful the amplifier, the louder the music. Car amplifiers are important because cars are noisy places. When you think about it, there is a lot of ambient noise. There is the noise of the engine, the noise of other traffic, and the noise of the car as it travels over the road. Most car stereos have amplifiers built into the head unit or speakers, but these often aren’t up to the job, and so buying separate car amplifiers is often recommended, especially if you spend a lot of time in your car listening to music. Below, we are going to talk you through some of the things that you should consider when buying amplifiers.

How Much Power You Have to Spare

Anything that draws power from your battery will affect other parts of the car. Have you ever noticed that your lights dim when you turn the windscreen wiper on? That’s caused by the wipers drawing power from the battery. You need to make sure that your battery can handle the extra power of the amplifiers. To do this, check the power usage of the amplifier that you’re thinking of buying, then check against your car battery to make sure it can cope with the extra drainage on power. If it can’t then you need to choose a lower powered amplifier, or you need to upgrade your battery. Don’t worry if you can’t work out power usage, because the majority of car stereo retailers will be able to give you this information and tell you which amps fall within the relevant power range for your car. 

Matching Power to the Speakers

As well as making sure that your amplifier won’t draining the battery too much, you need to also make sure that it is compatible with the rest of the sound system. If power settings conflict it can cause problems with the rest of the system, for instance, it can blow the speakers. Again, if you don’t know how to check or read power compatibility, talk to your retailer.

How Many Channels Do You Need?

The channels are the number of connections the amplifier can host. Different car stereo systems will vary in the number of components that they have. All will have a head unit that controls the system, and they will all have speakers. However, some will have multiple speakers separated into different components, such as the sub-woofer, tweeters and mid-range speakers. You need to make sure that you buy an amp that’s compatible with your set up.

Quality over Price

The quality of the amp is essential. This is because there can be distortion as sound is amplified. The better quality amps are better at maintaining quality sounds as the sound is amplified. There’s little point in buying a massive amp if it distorts the sound too much.

Choosing the Right Speakers for Your Car

Many people choose to change their car speakers. There are various reasons for this. Sometimes it’s to replace factory-installed speakers, which tend to produce low quality sounds. Other times, it’s to replace self-installed speakers that have reached the end of their life. Either way, there are a few things that you need to consider before you make your choice.

The Capacity of Your Car

Before you even start looking for new speakers, you first need to look at your car. You need to think about a few things here:

1.       How much power can your car discharge? Different cars have different battery capacities. Some batteries are excellent, while others are less good. You need to be sure that the power of the speakers does not interfere with the power source to other areas of the car, such as the lights. If the speakers draw too much power it can lead to dimmer lights and various other problems. There are several options here. You could have a separate back up for your speakers, so it draws minimal power from the engine, or you could upgrade your battery if it has a low power output.

2.       How much space do you have in your car? Many people prefer to separate their speakers into their various components – the woofers, the tweeters and the mid-range car speakers. This takes up more space, but creates a better sound system. Make sure that you work out how much space you are willing to dedicate to the speakers, before you make your purchase. You may decide to get speakers that fit in the existing speaker compartments, or you may wish to lose some of your boot space in order to accommodate new speakers.

3.       How big the pre-existing speaker compartments are. Different makes and model of car have different fixtures and fittings. You need to make sure that the equipment you buy is compatible with your car. Most retailers will be able to advise you on this issue.

Does the Head Unit Have the Relevant Connections?

Different head units are made to cater to different types of system. You can find coaxial head units and component head units. The component units have a greater number of connections because more equipment is used. A component system basically separates the woofers, tweeter, and amplifiers so that each stands alone. A coaxial system has fewer connections because they usually have fewer speakers. This is because the coaxial system combines the woofer, tweeters and amplifiers as a single unit.

How Much Money Can You Afford

Different types of systems come in different price ranges. Because there are few parts, the coaxial systems are cheaper than the component systems. However, the component systems produce better quality sounds. It is a tossup between what you can afford and how good you want the quality of the sound. Most people can’t tell the difference between each system, so if you don’t have too much of a musical ear, the cheaper ones will be just as good as the more expensive ones.

Things to Think about when Buying a New Car Stereo System

Many people choose to replace the factory-installed car stereo system in their car. This is because the factory-installed products are often of a low quality, both in terms of technology and in terms of sound quality. There are several things to consider when changing a car’s stereo system, and below we are going to look at some of the things that you should be considering.

The Head Unit

The head unit is basically the control panel. On most cars, you will find it on the dash in the centre console. The head unit is the piece of equipment that brings all the other components of the system together: the CD player (If you have one and if it’s separate), tape deck, speakers, woofers, etc. It is the panel that you use to control volume, track listing, radio channels, and so on.

There are many different types of head unit on the market, each offering a variety of features. You will find that they come in different shapes and sizes, although there is some standardisation within the industry (unlike with speakers, but we’ll come to that in a minute).

When choosing your head unit you need to make sure that you know what type of mountings it has, its size, and the features it offers. You then have to make sure that they are compatible with your car. If you have trouble understanding these issues, then you should speak to your car stereos retailer because they will have plenty of helpful information for you.

Amplifiers

The amplifiers increase the volume of car stereos. They are essential in cars because the music/radio talk needs to be heard over the noise of the engine, the ambient noise of the traffic, and the noise of the car as it travels over the tarmac.

The problem with amplifying sounds is that the louder it gets the more distorted it becomes. Modern amplifiers are very good at amplification without distortion. You do need to research good makes and models, though, to make sure you buy something of quality.

Amplifiers are often better at creating crisp sounds if they come as a standalone unit. Some amplifiers come as part of the speaker units, while others come as their own unit. The latter are better, but they take up more space. Unless you have a fantastic musical ear, you probably won’t notice the difference between each type of amplifier, especially with modern technologies. 

The Speakers

There are three types of speaker: woofers, mid-range, and tweeters. Each deals with a different section of the sound spectrum. The woofer deals with the lower frequency, the mid-range with the medium frequencies, and the tweeters with the higher frequencies.

Speakers can come as standalone units: the woofer, tweeter, etc. come separately. This is known as a component system. In a coaxial system, though, the woofer, tweeter, etc., is combined in a single unit.