Buyer’s Guide: Car Stereos in the UK

If you’re new to the car stereo market, then we wouldn’t be too surprised to learn that you’re somewhat confused. It can appear very daunting. There are so many different components to consider, that it can feel overwhelming. Here, we’re going to look at the key features of an integrated car stereo system. We will tell you which parts are essential, and which are added extras.

•    Car stereos: people use this term to mean one of two things:
 
1.    The head unit: this is the part of the stereo system that controls everything. It’s where you adjust volumes, choose tracks, insert CDs (sometimes), etc. It’s the colourful thing that sits on the dashboard.
2.    The car stereo system: this covers every part of your in-car audio system. With car audio UK, this includes the speakers, the wires, any cameras/screens, etc.
The first thing that you need to do when buying an in car system, is to consider the head unit.

•    Car speakers: in general, there are three types of speakers:

o    The tweeters: deal with high frequency sounds, the treble.
o    The woofers: deal with medium frequency sounds.
o    The subwoofers: deal with low frequency sounds, the base.

You have a choice between separates and coaxial speakers. Separates use threedifferent units to house each of the above speakers. Coaxial speakers combine the tweeter and woofer in a single unit. Coaxial speakers are popular in cars because they take up less room, but they also produce lower sound quality. Many people choose not to install a sub-woofer in their car, because they tend to be very big and take up boot space.

You need a tweeter and woofer on both sides of the car, but the sub sits in the middle, usually the boot. Be careful that both separates and coaxial go by different names, and this can be confusing. For instance, separates are sometimes called component speakers.

•    Added extras: as well as having to choose the above, you also need to choose other options too. 
 
o    For example, do you want to use Bluetooth? This will allow you to wirelessly connect to your phone or tablet, and play files directly through your stereo. This is the android version; there are Apple and Windows versions too.
o    Do you want a satnav? Nowadays, you can choose to have the sat nav as part of your car stereo.
o    Do you want to install a DVD system? For those of you with the cash to spare, you can install a DVD system. This allows your passengers to watch DVDs as your driving them around. Luxury!

If you would like further help and advice, please visit http://www.incarmusic.co.uk

How to Improve Your In Car Stereo on a Budget

OK, so your sound system is rubbish and you want to do something about it, but you don’t have very much money. What can you do? You might be thinking “not a lot”, but actually, depending on the problem, there may be a few things you can try.

Make The Journey A Better Trip

Long car journeys pass much quicker when you can listen to good quality sounds from the best possible car stereo system.

When you listen to music at home there’s always something to distract you even if it’s the need to go to the kitchen to pick up another cold beer. But in the car on a two or three hour drive you are a completely captivated audience.

To make the most of this opportunity to listen and enjoy your favorite music you need a stereo system that does it justice.

All but the most expensive cars are fitted with a system that at best can be called adequate and yet for a surprisingly little amount of money you can transform this into a sound like a live concert.

Car stereo UK systems are increasingly better all the time and pro-rata have never been this cheap compared with years gone by. When the first car CD was introduced it cost anything between one and two thousand pounds and that was only thirty years ago.

The CD was revolutionary but today we no longer need to carry around handfuls of them in the glove compartment as most people just connect their smartphones containing unlimited numbers of recordings to listen in the car.

Look through all the audio options at In Car Music to help you get the best out of your mobile device. Beginning with the correct interface if your car hasn’t already got one, through the different amps and speakers that will sound as well as look best in your car.

You may get away with keeping the existing speakers but a couple of additional rear parcel-shelf bass or sub-woofers will add extra depth.

Amps don’t have to be monsters filling the boot but small and discreetly hidden away under a seat keeps them out of view.

Don’t forget that if you do a lot of new stuff to the car you are obliged to tell your insurance company. If the value of the car is increased so too might your premium.

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What Should You Look for When Buying a Dash Cam?

Dash cams are a fantastic addition to your car. They confer many benefits, including reducing the cost of your insurance, making it easier for you to park, and allowing you to monitor your driving habits. However, there are a few things to for when buying a dash cam. We’re going to consider these below.

The Quality of the Footage

This is something that many people overlook for some reason, but it is of paramount importance. When choosing an in car DVR unit, you should always aim to choose one that produces high quality footage. This will make it easier for you to watch the footage, but also for insurance purposes too.

Here are a few things to note:

1.Choose an HD in car DVR unit. There’s no point opting for a low-resolution camera. They might be cheaper, but they can be ineffective.
2.Make sure that they perform well at night, as well as in the day.
3.In the shop, ask if you can take a recording so that you can see for yourself, rather than relying on videos published by the manufacturer.

Understated

It is better to buy a camera set-up that is relatively discreet. If you don’t, then you might find that people try to remove it during incidents of road rage or following an accident. Furthermore, if it’s too large, it can obscure your view of the road. Cameras do not have to be big, so don’t be fooled by the ‘bigger = better’ argument.

Reliability

Finally, you need to choose a camera that is reliable. There’s no point in installing a dash cam if it’s going to break down all the time. You need to go for a camera that is at least mid-range in price in order to ensure that it’s of a high enough quality.

Finally, always read the reviews. Try to find out as much as you can about the unit before you part with your money.

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Why You Should Visit a Car Audio Retailer in Person, Rather Than Online

The internet is a wonderful thing as far as finding a bargain online. However, it has its drawbacks. With something technical, such as car audio, it is always better to visit a real world shop first, rather than plunging straight into an online purchase. Below, we’re going to explain why.

1.Expert advice: the most important reason for visiting a car audio shop in person is that you will receive better advice. The websites are good at providing introductory information about particular stereos, speakers, and audio equipment, but they cannot go in depth in their descriptions. You will probably have many questions that will simply take too long to ask by email – if they respond at all. By visiting a car audio shop, you will be able to find an audio solution that suits you perfectly. They can even examine your car and explain about services, such as installation, fixtures, and fittings.

2.You test and try various audio devices: when you visit a shop in person, you can actually try out the goods before you part with your money. This is much better than any description can do for you. Here, you can actually hear for yourself whether the stereo is up to scratch, or not. You can also try adjusting settings and generally fiddling about with the stereo and speakers. It simply gives you a much better understanding of the system.

3.You can negotiate on price: at face value, you can find the best prices online. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t negotiate on the price, or that you can’t find some incredibly bargains when shopping in person. Many retailers will lower their prices to match, or nearly match, internet prices. You’re actually getting more for your money, too, because you're receiving dedicated help by audio technicians.

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How Do You Know If You Need New Speakers In Your Car?

It’s usually easy to tell if you need new speakers. The sound quality will be awful. There are a few common issues with car speakers and sound production.

Improving The Sounds On The Move With Bluetooth

Wires are old hat and wireless is what we are all looking for with Bluetooth  proving to be a great help in this area of technology.

With iPods and iPhones along with other mobile devices we can listen to unlimited amounts of our favourite music through headphones when jogging or cycling and through speakers when driving along in the car.

The Mechless Bluetooth car stereo is an ideal player of iPods and iPhones as well as for any USB device in the car and is the start of your whole new sound system. With one of these you might start thinking about looking through the various powerful speakers available online at the same site.

Once there with your browsing continue on to the amplifiers and try to imagine the improved sounds that might be heard in your car.

In car manufacturing through the one and a quarter centuries since it all began there have been many new innovations. The basics remain exactly the same in that a car is usually a box on four wheels with a combustion engine running on fossil fuel.

But the in-car entertainment along with navigational and other communication devices like Satnav has changed the inside of that box dramatically.

It’s going to further change in the not too distant future when driverless cars will be operated by computers leaving the ex-driver more time to concentrate on work or alternatively enjoy the finest in-car entertainment.

By the time that point is reached car audio stores will be selling a hundred further extras for travellers to enjoy.

Car manufacturers continually look for ways to improve security as a car for many is the second biggest purchase of their lives after a home. Generally security is good but when you have expensive audio and communication systems in view it’s a good idea to look at ways that you can improve that security.

There are several options available to improve security as well as safety. Now that we have LED screens in the car it’s not a bad idea to fit a rear camera to prevent any mishap behind.