In-car entertainment has definitely come a long way since vehicles started featuring basic AM/FM radio. Technological innovations have made it possible for companies to produce compressed digital format music such as those from MP3s. In addition, portable media players such as the iPod and digital-audio storage devices such as USB flash drives and SD cards have made it possible for car owners to bring literally hundreds of music with them as they go. Advancements in satellite radio technology and the introduction of HD radio and DVD players have made in-car entertainment for audiophiles and even regular listeners alike enjoyable and exciting altogether.
If you’re still stuck with your very old and outdated car audio system, you may want to seriously consider buying a brand new, aftermarket car audio system instead. If this is your first-time shopping for a car stereo system, here are a list of shopping tips that you ought to remember:
Identify your personal needs and goals
Before even going online to shop for aftermarket stereos or heading to the nearest bricks and mortar shop, you must familiarize yourself with the dimensions of car audio that will perfectly fit your vehicle. Of course, it will be relatively hard to find something that matches the ones for your vehicle, but try to purchase a car stereo, speakers, and a subwoofer system that your car can accommodate with only minor modifications. This will surely reduce the cost of replacing your OEM with aftermarket parts.
How much space can your sacrifice for a great audio system
A lot of the speaker systems and subwoofer products available today are known to take up a lot of interior space. Are you willing to give up that much trunk space or rear seat space just so you can get thumping bass sounds from a subwoofer system? If you answered, No, then you may want to look harder for speakers and subwoofers than can only take up a small portion of space inside your car. You may also need to consult with an expert on where to strategically place the components for maximum performance and space saving benefits.
Consider your budget
A lot of car owners who investigate changing their OEM car audio should prepare for the fact that such an undertaking will require them to spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars for a quality aftermarket car audio system. Identify your budget and check if you can buy the car stereo and its components all at the same time. If you are working on a limited budget, it may be ideal for you to buy the components one by one.
Aside from money set aside for the products, you will also need to consider the fact that you will need to pay professional feels for installation and labor too. Never settle for second best. If you still do not have enough money to get that dream car audio system in place, it is but wise to wait a little longer than settling for substandard car audio systems that you are most likely to regret after a few drives.
When Buying the Receiver:
It is standard that OEM car stereos feature AM/FM radio and CD player. Not all OEMs boast MP3 player capability, and this is one of the reasons why a lot of car owners opt to purchase a brand new car stereo for their vehicles. Brand new after-market car stereos also have satellite radio capabilities, thus increasing their value among those who want to be constantly informed while on the road.
When Buying Speakers:
The need to replace car speakers arise from substandard sound output quality, in order to solve this problem, you may want to opt for two-way or three-way speakers from premium aftermarket brands. Depending on the type of music you like, a two-way speaker may be enough if you are only to use them for radio listening, but for those who want a more powerful sound, three-way speakers is the way to go.
When Buying Subwoofers:
Subwoofers function to deliver deeper or lower bass sounds which makes the sound output more powerful. Since subwoofers are expensive in nature, it is always best to do your research on brands that consistently receive positive feedback from consumers. Shoppers should also bear in mind that shopping for an amplifier is a must when you are well decided on buying a subwoofer system. This is for the reason that car stereos cannot handle the power of subwoofers, thus it will need a separate power source for it to work properly. You can delay the purchase of subwoofers if the cost of installing one is too much for you now. There are also subwoofer systems plus amplifier packages that are affordable, but please do be careful when buying from private individuals as these systems may already have defects or have already been used up prior to purchase.
Now, if you are looking for professional installation of car audio systems, you can always rely on HP Automotive to deliver impeccable work from start to finish. We can also provide recommendations on the best aftermarket audio systems that match your needs and your car’s overall look and interiors. Should you ever need servicing and repair for your aftermarket audio systems or a checkup on the other vital components of your vehicle, you may reach us to schedule an appointment. Please do not hesitate to call our direct line on +61 2 9979 8372 today.