Automotive Sound: How to Improve What You Have in Your Car

To have a nice sound you don't have to stack a lot of WOOFERS, SUB-WOOFERS, TWEETERS ... and other bad words in the trunk.

According to experts, power is not synonymous with quality . There are some important points in a good installation and the first is the quality of the best speakers for car.

 But how to choose?

 Understanding the frequencies

Let's start by understanding the frequencies of sound. Walter Ullmann of the dBW school explains that: 

- Bass frequencies start at 30 Hz and go up to 300 Hz: In this range we hear the bass and bass.

- average frequencies are between 300 and 3,000 Hz: there are the human voice and most of the instruments, such as pianos, organs, guitars, guitars, etc.

- Frequency acute start from 3,000 Hz to 20,000 Hz , and will, like the sound of violins, piccolos and birdsong.

Now that you know the top 3 frequency ranges, you can understand why there are these 3 basic types of speakers:

- the high frequencies are tweeters ; normally two of these are installed, one in each column, next to the windshield;

- Then we have the mid-range or mid-range , which is usually installed on each front door.

- and finally the low frequency speaker, known as woofers or sub-woofers . This “speaker” is either fitted to the rear seat back cover or packed into a speaker inside the trunk.

What to change

Augusto Pedrone, amplifier designer, says the result of his installation will be directly linked to the quality of the speakers, with special attention to the midrange (300 to 3,000 Hz).

According to him, original devices such as radios, CDs and DVDs have good quality, but most original speakers do not respond properly. So if you don't want to spend a lot, the tip is to replace only the original speakers with the best ones on the market.

Remember that the ideal sound is one in which the car driver listens to all the instruments in a song. Technically speaking, it is the sound that covers as many frequencies as possible and with good definition.

Most so-called tri-axial speakers (single piece containing tweeters, midrange and woofer) do not respond well at some frequencies. Are there any good axials? Yes, but experts suggest the 3 separate speakers.

To 'turbine'

Now if you're one of those who likes top-notch sound and a powerful credit card, there is a lot of technology available. Up to $ 8,000 speakers, computer-programmed frequency dividers, laser tweeter placement, acoustic linings, and so on.

First and foremost, look for an installer who understands the basics of electronics , as he will have to do some math to balance the equipment, especially in terms of power distribution between bass and treble. I explain: The bass and treble channels need more power to be heard than the midrange sounds .

In addition to all the technical knowledge, look for an installer who has proven experience in other vehicles and sound competitions.

Oh, and set aside some good money: heavy power modules, besides expensive ones, usually require replacing your car battery for a higher ampere / hour.

Also, be prepared to see a “crooked nose” if you need warranty service from a dealership. In some cases, they will ask you to uninstall the sound so they can find an anomaly in the electrical part of the car.