Shopping for car audio upgrades is as personal as shopping for a new car or new shoes. Each of us likes something different, has a different budget and different performance and style preferences. In the case of a new car, your options range from a solid and reliable daily driver in the $14,000 range to luxury and exotic vehicles costing well over $100,000. When it comes to a new radio, speakers, an amplifier or a subwoofer upgrade for your car, the price point differs just as much, as do the features and performance levels. In this article, we will provide some tips to prepare yourself to buy new car audio upgrades and ensure they are installed and configured reliably.
Shopping Online or at a Store
A discussion about online shopping opens a monumental can of worms. One of the biggest differences between buying from an online retailer and a local independent specialist will be the level of after-sales service and support. If you buy new speakers online and you have a problem with them, you can try contacting the supplier. About all they can do is offer to let you send the speakers back (at your cost) and they will send you another set. When you deal with a local retailer, someone can go to your car and listen to the problem. The issue may not be the speakers at all. It could be the source unit, an amplifier or an installation issue. Likewise, if you buy something online and it doesn’t fit your vehicle, you will have to send it back (again, at your expense). If you buy speakers from a local shop, they can make sure you get the right size and that the units they install function perfectly.
Do-It-Yourself Installations
Make no doubt, most of the installers, technicians and fabricators who work at mobile electronics retailers got their start working on their vehicles in their driveway. In some cases, this passion for working on cars and trucks grew to include their friends’ vehicles, while others sought out training from companies like Installer Institute, Kingpin University, Mobile Solutions, or in the good old days, Mobile Dynamics. Whether an installer had formal training or extensive hands-on experience, most of them have continued to hone their skills and knowledge through ongoing training to deal with data network integration, handle factory audio systems with advanced tuning and learn about new cool and unique fabrication skills.
Whether you decide to pay for the expertise of a professional or attempt to install something yourself comes down to your comfort level. If you feel you can do the work safely and reliably, then, by all means, give it a try. If you don’t know how to access and confirm the correct wire connections, make electrical connections securely and safely and mount equipment in a way that ensures maximum performance and reliability, then ask your local shop to do the work. Don’t get in over your head, though; it’s easy to break plastic trim panels or short wires and damage electronic modules.
Preparing to Go Shopping
When it’s time to head out and shop for new audio equipment for your vehicle, you’ll need to bring a few items with you and do a little planning. First, you need to decide on a budget. How much money do you want to spend on the product? Set yourself two levels for this decision: an ideal price and an absolute maximum price. What if you’ve allowed $800 for a set of speakers, but you hear a set priced at $1,000 that sounds amazing? Leave yourself some wiggle room.
Set a budget for accessories as well. Here are some common accessories required for some of the major audio system upgrades:
Source Unit
- Mounting Kit
- Wire Harness Adapter
- Antenna Adapter
- Vehicle Integration Module *
Speakers
- Mounting Adapter
- Speaker Wire
- Sound Deadening
- Acoustic Coupling Rings
Subwoofer
- Subwoofer Enclosure
- Speaker Wire
- Mounting Screw/Hardware
Amplifier
- Power Wire
- Fuse Holder
- Interconnect Cables
- Remote Turn-On Wire
- Vehicle Integration Module *
*Many new vehicles use data connections between the factory radio and amplifier. To upgrade either of these components, you may need to purchase a data interface module. These modules need to programmed for the specific make, model and trim level of your vehicle to function properly.
Choosing a New Source Unit
When it comes to source unit upgrades, the first thing you need to find out is whether or not you can replace the factory radio in the vehicle at all. Vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and many new Nissan vehicles have source units that can’t be removed.
Once you have determined that you can replace the radio, you need to determine the features you want to add. These will depend on how old your vehicle is. Many new radios include Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming, HD Radio tuners and playback of MP3, WMA, AAC, WAC and FLAC digital audio files. If you choose a multimedia radio, the system may also play MPG, AVI and MKV video files, and it may include an input for a backup camera. Navigation is a very popular feature on multimedia radios, as is smartphone integration. Features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have been the most popular reason people upgrade their radios over the last few years.
Speaker Upgrades
Perhaps the most important component in an audio system is the speakers. Speakers are the only link between your music source (radio, USB stick, streaming service or smartphone) and your ears. The quality of your speakers will determine the accuracy of your audio system. A speaker that produces a lot of distortion will color your music, detracting from the detail and realism of the listening experience.
Auditioning speakers can be difficult, especially in an environment other than a car. What you can tell is the difference between one speaker and another. Listen for clarity and detail rather than overall tonal balance. Does a brush on a cymbal sound real or like sandpaper on a piece of steel? Do the highs blend realistically with the midrange and midbass region? Is the bass taut with great impact or sloppy and resonant? The differences you hear on a display board will remain consistent once the speakers are installed in your vehicle, even if the overall tonal balance changes.
Amplifiers and Processors
Choosing one amplifier over another can be difficult. Most people buy amplifiers based on power ratings. You don’t need a 400-watts-per-channel amp for your midrange drivers; 50 to 100 watts is usually quite adequate. For subwoofers, well, power is fun. Too much power can lead to damaging your speakers. If you never, ever want to damage a speaker, choose an amp rated for half of the continuous power rating of your speakers and subs. If you can control yourself and know when to turn down the volume if you hear distortion, you can choose an amp that offers the same power as the speaker is rated for. Use only the continuous power ratings on your speakers, not those bogus “max power” numbers.
Signal processing has become a lot more important and readily available in the last few years. As more and more shops learn how to quickly and efficiently tune an audio system using a DSP, consumers continue to reap the benefits of improved accuracy and realism from their sound system. If your budget can handle it, include a digital signal processor in your upgrade and make sure the system is designed to maximize the features offered by that unit.
What to Bring With You
When you go shopping, bring one or two pieces of music that you know well. Before you leave your house, listen to that song on as many different sources as possible: your home theatre system, a portable Bluetooth speaker, headphones with your smartphone and your existing stereo. Think about what is different between each experience so you can listen for those elements as you audition new products.
It will sound strange, but bring the vehicle you want to upgrade with you. Don’t bring your wife’s car. Many shops will want to look at your vehicle to confirm speaker sizes and the available space for equipment installation, and some salespeople will want to sit in the car with you to learn more about how you listen to your music. Seeing EQ or tone control adjustments you have made can provide a great deal of insight into future upgrades.
Choosing the Right Retailer
Not every car stereo shop is ideal for every type of project. Needing a new radio in a 1990 Honda Civic does not require the same skill as fabricating a set of speaker pods for in the A-pillars of a Tesla Model 3. Part of your shopping process is to quantify the skills and capabilities of the shop to find out whether they have the experience and tools required to do the work you want. Specialist Mobile Electronics retailers have typically invested tens of thousands of dollars in tools and training so that their staff is ready to take on any challenge.
You can also learn a lot about a shop by the kinds of questions the sales teams ask you and the type of information they provide. If the salesperson is reading features off of the box the product comes in, they may not be genuinely qualified to provide you with the exact solution you need. True experts in the industry dedicate hundreds of hours each year to learning about the products they sell to make sure they offer excellent value and reliability.
The Bonus Buying Experience
If the shop you are visiting has a demo vehicle, ask to have a listen. Even if you have a modest budget, you can learn a lot about the shop’s capabilities by listening to a demo car and looking at the work they have performed. Looking at wiring around amplifiers and the battery is a great way to understand their level of commitment to doing great work.
We could go on for another 10,000 words about how to shop for car audio equipment. This article serves as a primer for the experience and to give you a few ideas about what to look for. Visit your local mobile electronics retailer and listen carefully to their advice.
This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.
Automakers constantly strive to make new cars, trucks and SUVs as safe as possible. The design and materials used in new vehicle chassis make them stronger, more rigid and safer than ever before. Technologies like backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, active lane keep assist, multi-view camera systems, rear cross traffic alerts and autonomous braking dramatically reduce the chance of having an accident. Up until only a few years ago, you had to buy all of these technologies that are now already on your new vehicle. Thankfully, your local mobile enhancement retailer can now retrofit some of these 
The simplest of safety systems is a 
Aftermarket blind spot monitoring systems are just entering their second generation. These systems include a pair of radar sensors that are mounted behind the rear bumper cover to monitor the space on either side of your vehicle for another car or truck. The exact function of these systems varies from one brand to another. Make sure that the solution you choose can detect a vehicle that has entered your blind spot from the side or that you have passed. Many will only alert you if the vehicle enters your blind spot from the rear.
Most of the radar-based blind spot monitoring systems on the market switch to a rear cross traffic alert system when you are backing up. These systems extend the radar signal to as much as 100 feet on either side of your vehicle to watch for oncoming cars or trucks. When they detect something, the same LED indicators that warn you about a vehicle in your blind spot will flash to let you know what side the vehicle is approaching from. Many systems include an audible alarm to make sure you know something is approaching.
Though still in their infancy in the aftermarket, “surround view” camera solutions are offered by several companies. This technology uses four cameras mounted around your vehicle to create a virtual aerial view of your car or truck. The camera image is akin to looking down at your vehicle from about 30 feet above the roof. You can see parking lines, curbs and the presence of other vehicle or obstacles.
Aftermarket safety systems that will apply your brakes or move the steering wheel are not currently available. Those technologies require careful calibration that is specific to each application. One technology that is available is a forward-facing collision warning system. MobileEye is the company responsible for the original autopilot technology used on Tesla vehicles. They offer several aftermarket solutions that use a camera and an advanced image processing computer to warn the driver if someone is approaching from the side or if he or she is approaching a stopped vehicle too quickly. A small display on the dash provides visual alerts to give you extra time to slow down.
Though not a collision avoidance technology, a video recording system in your vehicle can protect you from fraud or faulty accusations. These camera systems record everything that happens in front of the vehicle from the moment you start the engine to the second you arrive at your destination. If someone backs into you and says you hit them, you can show the police video of the event. If you happen to witness an accident, sharing the video with the authorities can help the reconstruct the events that led up to the incident. Though not officially endorsed by insurance companies, we know of several cases where 
It’s the middle of the summer, and 
We can’t even fathom the number of audio system upgrades we see installed at big meets and rallies like Daytona, Sturgis, Laconia and Myrtle Beach. While leaving your pride and joy with the guys in a booth or trailer to upgrade your stereo while you grab lunch or dinner sounds incredibly convenient, occasionally long-term issues dramatically reduce the value of this purchasing option.
When you pull up to a shop to have your motorcycle audio system upgraded, you can be assured that the bike will be treated like royalty when it’s in their possession. A quality shop will have a storage rack covered in carpet or a blanket for your fairing, saddlebags, windshield or any other delicate parts that need to be removed to upgrade the bike. Many shops apply protective films over painted surfaces like fuel tanks and bumpers. We’ve heard stories where a scratch on a CVO Harley gas tank cost more than $1,000 to repair. Working outdoors doesn’t always provide the space to protect your bike from damage.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration systems are extremely popular features found in aftermarket source units from all the key brands. The technology behind CarPlay and Android Auto continue to evolve, and in the summer of 2017, the aftermarket industry saw the introduction of wireless CarPlay connectivity. Android followed suit in 2018 with a comparable solution that didn’t require cables. Let’s take a look at how wireless smartphone integration works and why it might be the perfect solution for the busy road warrior.
These infotainment solutions require two components to provide you with Internet-connected voice recognition access to your music, navigation and communication functions. First and foremost, the source unit in the vehicle needs to have the software built in. Including 
Up until recently, the connection between your phone and the radio for CarPlay and Android Auto has used a USB cable. With the introduction of wireless connectivity, things have changed. A Wi-Fi connection between your source unit and your smartphone replaces the wired connection for reliable, high-speed communication. Initially, a little more setup is required to get your smartphone and radio talking, but once configured, everything operates intuitively.
In November 2017, Google announced the ability for devices running Android to run Android Auto as a stand-alone app without the need for an aftermarket source unit. At CES 2018, several aftermarket manufacturers announced they would include wireless Android Auto connectivity on their new source units.
There are have been many discussions about the benefits and drawbacks of wireless connectivity. The biggest point of debate is around phone charging. In most cases, drivers take advantage of the ability to charge their phones when they get in their vehicles as they travel. For most people, this requires that the USB cable is connected to their phone. With that said, the Apple iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X include wireless charging. On the Android side, recent devices from Samsung, LG, Google, Microsoft and Blackberry include wireless charging.
Flipping back to the cons side of the debate, you need a wireless charging base in your vehicle to take advantage of the wireless charging feature. Vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo include Qi compatible charging solutions. Qi is the standard for wireless charging for Apple devices.
Back over accidents are responsible for more than 200 deaths and 12,000 injuries each year. The US Congress passed a law in 2008 that would enact measures to use technology to prevent accidents like these. After years of delays, the US Department of Transportation finally announced that new cars must come with a backup camera.
In the simplest of terms, a backup camera system includes a video screen within view of the driver that displays an image of the area behind the vehicle when the transmission is in reverse. The camera on the back of the vehicle will be mounted in a location that lets the driver detect objects or people that are normally blocked by the trunk or hatch. In essence, a backup camera system is like having a spotter behind your vehicle telling you if there is anything in your way.
Most factory-installed cameras are mounted above the license plate on a car or in the handle or tailgate emblem of a truck. Aftermarket camera solutions are available to mimic these installation locations. Many vehicles like the Mercedes Sprinter, Ford F-150 and GMC Silverado and Chevy Sierra have aftermarket solutions that look identical to factory offerings. The cameras are water resistant and carry an IP66 (or higher) dust and water intrusion rating. This IP rating means that the cameras can withstand going through the car wash or exposure to the everyday challenges Mother Nature throws their way. Universal cameras are available in surface and flush mount applications. Your mobile enhancement retailer can help you choose the right style for your application.
If your car or truck came with a color display for the factory radio or infotainment system, there are many companies that offer premium integration modules that allow the image from the backup camera to be displayed on this screen. Using a factory screen is the most integrated of solutions and truly mimics a factory-installed system.
If your vehicle doesn’t have a color screen, another popular option to display a camera image is a replacement rearview mirror that features an integrated color display. When the camera is not in use, the mirror looks normal and will show you what is happening behind your vehicle. When you put the transmission in reverse, a compact LCD screen shines through the mirrored surface to display the camera image. While typically small in size (around 4 inches diagonally), they work very well and are quite popular.
A popular upgrade for older vehicles is to replace the 
If none of the above options suit your application or you require a larger screen, then consider having a stand-alone monitor installed in your vehicle. Commercial applications such as tow trucks, snow plows, garbage trucks, recycling trucks and delivery vehicles often choose a stand-alone monitor. The image is large, and the unit can be placed in a convenient location.
Many luxury vehicles combine a