If you are one in all folks that like to stay and feel the music, regularly you may have neglected something, or plenty. when you pay attention to it in the vehicle. This occurs to many of us. It isn’t new and it’s miles because there has always been that desire to gain, of the automobile, surroundings in which to revel in the revel in of paying attention to our favorite songs, with more high quality, emotion or realism. Hence, what we recognize these days as “automobile audio” seems.
Vehicle audio will be defined because of the set of strategies that are seeking to enhance the unique car speakers, with a purpose to meet our musical expectations. If we want to take the step and improve the sound pleasantness of our car, we ought to first have some basic standards clear, with a purpose to assist us to understand and plan the improvement that we can make, either by way of ourselves or with the assistance of an installer.
Audio additives in a car
The sound supply
The sound supply is the mind of the sound gadget. What we all understand is because of the Radio CD or multimedia player. It is responsible for analyzing music, digitally recorded, on any medium (CD, USB, SD playing cards, Bluetooth from cellular, iPod, radio, etc.), and converts it into an electrical sign. This electric sign can be the beginning of the audio chain within the stereo.
Relying upon the first-rate with which the supply makes this conversion (from recorded records to an electrical signal), this initial sound will have better or lower quality. Consequently, the satisfaction of this element is one of the keys to a sound system.
Some of the technical specs a good way to assist us to discern which source can help us improve the nice of the unique sound, can be:
- The S / R (noise signal) ratio: the better it’s far, the better sound is exceptional.
- The bits of virtual to analog conversion: 24 bit DAC advocated for proper sound quality.
- The pre-amplification output voltage: useful if we’re going to use an external amplifier. Endorsed from 2 to 5 V.
- The opportunities that it offers for filtering and equalization: it is encouraged that it provides, as a minimum, equalization and time alignment, so that you can regulate and later adapt the sound to the acoustics of our cabin.
We have to no longer forget that, further, each manufacturer tends to provide a hint of “shade” of its own to their sound, so it might always be really helpful to concentrate on several assets before deciding on one of the opposites when you consider that here we enter into a subtle question of pleasures. Failing this, we can usually seek the recommendation of an expert installer or a skilled hobbyist.
Amplification
The amplifier increases the electricity of the audio sign formerly generated by using the source. Most of the time, the usual sources that are available in our automobiles, as well as the Radio CDs that we can locate within the market, already consist of a small inner amplifier. For that reason, they’re related directly to the speakers within the trendy gadget.
However, as is logical, if what we want is an excessive-stage gadget, the assistance of an external amplifier will be critical to try to get towards the diploma of depth, realism, and dynamics that a stay musical revel in, such as a jazz live performance, has. A performance via a pop institution, a classical live performance, or a movie soundtrack.
The most vital parameter while choosing an amplifier is strength. We must continually be aware of the price, given as “RMS strength”, and no longer accept it as true with any evaluation that isn’t declared in this manner.
As energy without manipulate is useless (as Carl Lewis instructed us, inside the Pirelli advertisement of the 90s), no more power is usually better, and we also should verify different parameters, if you want to indicate the first-rate of sound that could offer us an amplifier:
- S / R ratio: the better it is, the higher sound is high-quality.
- Overall Harmonic Distortion, THD: influences the sound first-class, the higher the decrease its cost.
- The “elegance” of amplification: from maximum to lowest sound first-rate: magnificence A> class A / B (maximum common)> class D.
- The Damping factor: the better it’s far, the better it controls speaker movement in bass sounds. Notably, it is vital in subwoofer amplification.
- In the case of amplifier, it’s miles notably valued to believe the prestige of brands with identified experience inside the international of automobile audio, given that “honest” manufacturing pleasant, and the inner digital components they’ve selected, are a key to the time to acquire the best sound that ultimately presents us with a musical experience to match.
The audio system
The loudspeaker is the detail in charge of changing the electric sign, coming from the amplifier, into the music that our ears perceive.
To attain this, it first converts the electrical sign into a mechanical motion of the cone, and in turn, this motion of the cone in opposition to the air is translated into variations in acoustic stress, and consequently inaudible sound.
The most basic parameters to recall while deciding on a speaker are:
- Strength (continually in RMS value, let’s not neglect it).
- Sensitivity: the higher, the less electricity the speaker will want to sound as loud as a much less sensitive one. This parameter no longer affects sound satisfaction.
- The variety of routes: every day and enough is two, or even 3. Let’s run away from the coaxials that put it up for sale 4, 5, or even 6 approaches !!! Greater routes do not imply greater excellence, but frequently the alternative, in low stop products.
- The range of frequencies able to reproduce: endorsed that it’s as huge as possible. Although it will be restricted by the sort of speaker (tweeter, woofer, or subwoofer).
- The impedance: typically 4 Ohms in vehicle audio.
Something that needs to be considered while selecting a loudspeaker is the material from which its cone is made, given that depending on it, the sound will also have its own non-public “color”.
Substances which include paper and polypropylene will offer us a comfy and natural sound, even though with some distortion at excessive volumes. On the other hand, more difficult materials, which include Kevlar, fiberglass, carbon, or aluminum, will provide us with a sound with less distortion at excessive volumes of their frequency variety of use, but would require a greater exhaustive sound treatment, within the filter, using the manufacturer; for the reason, that distortion outdoor its beneficial frequency range is commonly plenty higher.
Multi way speakers
A single speaker could no longer be capable of reproducing all of the frequencies that tune carries, with at least high quality and realism. So the proper is to have numerous “vias”, that is, numerous varieties of audio systems specialized in each frequency range so that all does its role.
- Tweeter: small speaker, designed to breed excessive-pitched sounds.
- Woofer: loudspeaker with a larger diameter, meant to reproduce medium and bass sounds.
Whilst we purchase speakers we can usually locate ourselves, in the shop, with the opportunity of choosing among the subsequent sorts of speaker sets :
The coaxial audio system is speakers of or more tracks, placed concentrically on the identical bodily speaker. Usually a woofer and tweeter within the case of a coaxial. The separate methods, where the tweeter and woofer are physically separate speakers. They are aimed at a higher sound best, on account that they allow us to install the tweeter closest to the height of the ears, to improve the belief of high pitched sounds and the exercise of the scene and sound intensity. In addition, normally, the separate ways include a filter, which facilitates to separate and enhance the specialization of every one of the 2 audio systems, thus working extra precisely and solely in its frequency range.
The subwoofer
Who hasn’t heard of it, or maybe had their subwoofer? Well known for now not missing, for example, in any tuning set up worth its salt, the subwoofer is normally the speaker of desire for beginner enthusiasts, like the first, and now and then handiest, improvement in an audio system, because of the high quality sensations it produces. The impact of the subwoofer sounds on us.
However, we ought to not forget that if what we are seeking out is satisfactory reproduction, best enhancing the standard equipment with the aid of including a subwoofer (with its corresponding amplifier) will deliver us an unbalanced sound, without improving the overall excellent or the energy of the music. That reproduces the rest of the audio system of our car.
The subwoofer is a large diameter speaker that’s specialized in reproducing bass and subwoofer sounds. And inevitably, it wishes for a car amplifier. It cannot be related directly to the output of a Radio CD.
Whilst selecting a subwoofer, we can check the subsequent components:
- RMS energy helps.
- Sensitivity
- Impedance, commonly 4 or 2 Ohms.
- Enclosure or field endorsed via the manufacturer.
The latter is a very essential feature for a subwoofer. And it’s far that, depending on the sort of enclosure or container in which we install it, we can have different advantages and downsides. The most famous enclosures are:
Loose air: consists of putting the subwoofer inside the rear tray of the passenger compartment, without the container itself. The benefit is that it does not cast off the area with our box. The disadvantage is that, at high volumes, the movement of the cone gets out of control, giving a diffuse sound, and may even wreck if we are not careful. For high-quality installations, it is usually the least endorsed alternative.
Sealed field: This includes installing the speaker in a hermetically sealed box, with the quantity encouraged using the manufacturer. The gain is that the sound is more hello-fi, excessively pleasant, unique, and controlled. The downside is that its sound tends to be shallower than the other options until we go to sincerely massive bins.
Bass Reflex box: that is a box, with a particularly calculated vent, to enhance the response of the lower quit. The benefit is that the sound is deeper, and you need less power to sound loud. The disadvantage is that its sound isn’t as correct as a sealed container.
Other elements, expert level
Apart from what has been discussed up to now, there are extra aspects to realize and don’t forget if what we’re looking for in an in depth installation, and of the highest satisfaction.
Asphalt cloth soundproofing software in vehicle audio (dynamic excessive)
- Soundproofing of the automobile. It affords sudden results whilst looking for amazing reproduction of bass and center sounds, doing away with a part of the resonances in the cabin. It is also executed via making use of sheets of asphalt cloth, in particular within the doors, and they are sold especially as a product for car audio.
- Battery. While we speak to me about systems with already positive electricity, the battery is a detail to don’t forget. Not handiest due to the fact, if it’s far from first rate, it is going to be subjected to greater wear by using the audio equipment, but because, if we improve it, it will avoid temporary micro voltage drops that may grow to be affecting the constancy of the duplicate.
- Wiring. In this sense, there is a lot of delusion and legend, which some manufacturers do not omit to sell their products as a differentiating element of the setup. However, a long way from the fact, a build of great speaker and RCA cabling, and double or triple shielded inside the case of RCAs, will suffice for a first rate installation.
