Your car’s head unit — also known as the radio or stereo — produces an electronic audio signal that is then sent to your speakers. It’s this signal that allows you to tune in to FM and AM radio stations, CDs, and digital music.
Today’s in-dash receivers do a lot more than play music, though. They also control your smartphone, stream music via Bluetooth(r), and support thumb drives or other media devices.
The quality of your speakers will greatly impact the sound of your car audio. You will likely want to upgrade your vehicle speakers to experience a more detailed and accurate representation of the music you are listening to. You can find a wide range of speaker types and materials to choose from, so you will have plenty of options for your new car audio system.
Tweeters produce the higher frequencies of your music. They are responsible for the vocals, guitars, and horns of your songs and the sounds that add clarity and life to your music. They are also essential for creating stereo separation and soundstage so that the music feels like it is coming from all around you when you listen to it.
Tweeter speakers are usually built into a full-range speaker, such as a coaxial speaker, or they may be mounted separately from the woofer, as in component speakers or stand-alone tweeters. High-quality tweeters are often found in home hi-fi systems, studio monitors, and headphones.
There are a few different kinds of tweeters on the market, but most are designed to reproduce high frequencies with great clarity and accuracy. The most common type is a cone tweeter, which is the most cost-effective to produce. Cone tweeters are made of paper or other cheap materials, which helps them to be more affordable.
Other types of tweeters are more expensive to produce, but they can offer a more accurate and natural sound. These include the balanced-dome and semi-dome types. Balanced-dome tweeters have a small dome inside of a shallow cone. The dome and the cone are nearly the same size, which allows the voice coil to be inserted into and suspended within the magnet’s inner gap area. This creates a magnetic field that produces a sound when the amplifier sends an audio signal through the positive and negative connections to the voice coil.
The polarity of the voice coil will have a direct impact on how the tweeter performs. The opposite polarity of the voice coil will change the way in which it interacts with the magnetic field, affecting its ability to produce both direct and reflected sounds.
Amplifiers
From the tiny amplifiers in hearing aids to the huge black boxes plugged into electric guitars, amplifiers make small electrical currents much larger in order to drive loudspeakers. There are zillions of different ways to do this, and amplifiers come in all shapes and sizes (from the transistors used in hearing aids to the enormous power amps that drive the loudspeakers at rock concerts).
An amplifier is a two-port network: it takes an input signal on one port, and produces an output signal on another, which is essentially the same signal but bigger. The output signal can be any kind of audio signal, but the most common amplifiers are ones that boost voltage (which is how most sound effects are produced), rather than current. This makes them particularly good for increasing the volume of music.
Most people think that the higher the distortion level, the worse the amplifier is. This is not necessarily true; most distortion is caused by the amplifier itself, and in fact most amplifiers are designed to reduce their own distortion levels as much as possible. However, a high distortion level can still cause the output signal to be unpleasant to listen to.
The best way to get an idea of the quality of an amplifier is to look at its total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N) specification. This tells you how much of the original audio signal is being lost as heat (via the electrons whizzing around inside the amplifier) and static noise.
One common problem that amplifiers have is called feedback. If a microphone is placed too close to a speaker and the amplifier is turned up too high, it starts to pick up the sound of the loudspeaker as well as the original signal (which is also being amplified). This then gets re-amplified through the speaker and out the other end, and so on, producing the deafening whistle known as feedback, which has been made famous by many a rock star.
In practice, this can be avoided by adding additional circuitry to help stabilise the output devices, as in this simple schematic. Typically, this is done by adding a fixed emitter resistor, like the one shown here. The value of this resistor is calculated based on the output devices’ specifications and the intended use of the amplifier, to ensure that the device is not overloaded and damaged.
Subwoofers
A high-quality subwoofer is an essential component of a good car audio system. It provides deep bass that enhances sound quality and adds depth to music and movie sound tracks. When installed correctly, a subwoofer can produce an immersive experience that’s truly captivating. However, improper installation or tuning can lead to distortion or noise, resulting in diminished audio quality. By addressing common issues, such as resolving interference and improper impedance matching, individuals can optimize their car audio experience with subwoofers.
A key aspect of optimizing car audio with subwoofers is ensuring the impedance match between the amplifier and the speaker. This involves evaluating the driver’s size, sensitivity, and power handling capabilities to determine the right amplifier wattage. It also includes considering factors such as polarity and the size of the enclosure, which affect the frequency response and bass quality. Using the proper impedance matching technique, as well as addressing grounding issues and choosing the correct wire gauge, is crucial for maximizing performance.
The design of the subwoofer enclosure can make a big difference in bass quality and sound pressure. Sealed subwoofers use a sealed box to trap air, creating a spring-like effect that produces crisp, tight bass. Vented subwoofers, on the other hand, utilize a vent in the enclosure to let air move freely and create louder, deeper bass. The type of enclosure you choose depends on your vehicle’s size and space limitations.
If your subwoofers are turned up too loudly, they can cause vibrations that damage the interior of your car. The vibrations can crack tempered glass windows and damage body panels, including the dashboard. They can even vibrate and break plastic tabs that bolt the subwoofers to your car’s chassis.
Moreover, if your subwoofers consume too much power, they can drain the battery in your car. This happens because they require more power to hit the lowest frequencies. When the battery is low, you can see the lights on your instrument panel start to dim as the woofer draws more power to hit lower bass notes.
In addition to troubleshooting common problems, upgrading factory audio and employing audio tuning techniques are other effective ways of enhancing your car audio. By addressing these hindrances, you can enjoy immersive soundscapes that capture your attention and bring your favorite music to life. To learn more about optimizing your car audio, contact TAS Electronics, Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan’s leader in connected mobile technology since 1973.
Electronics
The head unit is the brain of your car audio system, and it sends the audio signal that drives the speakers. However, this signal is too weak to create sound without a power amplifier. Power amps are like the hidden maestros of the music world, boosting the signal and increasing its power to deliver high-quality sound reproduction and a full-immersion listening experience. In a typical audio setup, amplifiers are connected to the speakers via power cables. The gauge of these cables determines how much current the amplifier can handle, which is why it’s important to select the right one based on your system’s power requirements.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing audio system or build a completely new one, there are many options available when it comes to audio electronics. For example, you can choose from an assortment of amplifiers that have different rated power output and channel configurations. In addition, you can use various filters to adjust your system’s sound quality and frequency response. For instance, a high-pass filter can help you get rid of excessive bass and reclaim lost sound clarity.
Many in-dash receivers come with built-in amplifiers, but if you want more power than your head unit can provide, you can add an external amplifier to the mix. In addition to boosting the audio signal, an amplifier can also reduce noise and vibrations, which helps your speakers produce clean and crisp sounds. Additionally, if you have long ground wires that are picking up noise, it’s important to make sure they’re firmly attached to the chassis of your vehicle.
In-car audio systems are evolving to prioritize driver safety and convenience. As such, they’re incorporating features that enable drivers to control their audio settings using voice command functionality and integrate with driver-assistance technologies. Moreover, they’re integrating connectivity features to allow drivers to wirelessly stream music and hands-free phone calls. In the end, these advanced features are transforming in-car entertainment into a premium driving experience.
