UnderstandingMusic System

Bored of driving long stretches or waiting at traffic jams? Install a music system. Listening to your favourite music while driving will alleviate the boredom of those long drives.

Before you buy one check out the important factors to look for in a system. Blaupunkt Sony Kenwood Philips and Pioneer have been the five major brands. While Blaupunkt Sony Philips and Kenwood are available in India Pioneer is still imported. The next best choice is an Aiwa or JVC.

Start Off With a Good Head Unit

A good head unit is the most important part of the system. A head unit with high voltage RCA outputs is useful for fitting amplifiers. High voltage outputs allow better noise immunity but if the speakers are run from the built in amplifiers in the head unit there is no need to worry about RCA output. Head units and amplifiers need to have impeccable sound quality and no noise (background noise or alternator noise) whatsoever. Paying slightly more and getting a CD Changer controls will enable you to simply plug in a changer in the future even if you are getting a cassette or MD head unit for the present.

Enter The Speakers

Installed in the front in the dash and the rear they are definitely the most important aspect that determines how the whole system sounds. No equalizer or processor can compensate for poorly installed speakers.

Amplifiers

Amplifiers not only make a system sound louder they also make it sound better. Look for reputed brands. The size and the weight of the amplifier are important. The different types of amplifiers are A B C D of which the class B amplifiers are the most common.

Equalizers

Used to fine-tune a system. They are valuable instruments to flatten a system s frequency response (making the levels the same at all frequencies). There are two types of equalizers the mono and the stereo. The main difference between mono and stereo EQs is that a mono EQ has only one input and one output and a stereo has two inputs and two outputs. Many people use mono EQs for the greater control they give over the system.

Subwoofer

They are generally designed to handle the entire treble plus the bass down to around 100-200 Hz. Subwoofers add lower frequencies to the system. With the exception of the free air subwoofers a lot depends on how well they are mounted and enclosed in a box. They need more power than the speakers because they are bigger and have to move more air. Go in for a Sony Pioneer or a Kenwood amplifier for the front speakers and a better high current amplifier for the sub woofers.

Power Considerations

It is better to have more power than what you need to get clearer sound. A high power amplifier allows the volume in the system to be higher. More power means cleaner sound. A minimum of 30 to 50 watts is what is required for the speakers. Contrary to popular belief too much power will not damage the speakers. Speakers are damaged because of distortion. Therefore a bigger amplifier enables higher volumes without distortion.

Upgrading

Powerful amplifiers are expensive so it is better to get a 2channel amplifier to drive the sub woofers at acceptable levels. It can be upgraded later with an identical amplifier and each of the subwoofers powered with an amplifier in the bridged mode for more bass.

Quality Counts

It is always better to buy quality components which will definitely increase performance of the system.

How secure is your system?

There are many security options for head units nowadays. Among them the detachable stereos are the most common option. The front part of the radio comes off rendering the rest of the unit useless. Yet another security protection pioneered by Kenwood is a flat panel that covers the radio when the ignition key is turned off. Some radios such as Blaupunkt are using a smart card that when removed renders the unit useless.

Now you are all set to drive off into the horizon not a care in the world with petrol in the tank headphones in place and the music in your heart...what more could one ask for?