We improve the standard acoustics in the car: three inexpensive systems for a business sedan

To begin with, it’s worth explaining what car audio improvement is and how the process of selecting certain components occurs. As manager Ilya Smirnov notes, if the client does not have experience and knowledge in the relevant topic, he can be offered a very wide range of solutions: from standard to exclusive.

Customers often trust specialists to select the equipment that will be installed on their car, because in addition to their experience, they can guarantee the constant availability of high-quality audio components. This is a very relevant point, taking into account the fact that many, and even leading, brands in the car audio industry have rather complex distribution and sales systems in Russia.

In addition, experts know the market situation and can select components from trusted brands, directly from official importers. This is important because most often, unknowing clients are “led” by flashy advertising and big names, not realizing that sometimes a well-known global brand has long ceased to exist and now very dubious products are sold under its guise. Specialists are called upon to protect the client from such mistakes and offer him truly high-quality equipment.

Standard speaker system without casing

An important point in the selection of components is the client’s musical preferences. Before starting to develop a plan for a car, experts make sure to clarify what type of music its owner prefers, as well as at what volume he usually listens to music. Even if you take the highest quality components and set them up perfectly for listening to calm classical music, a lover of electronics or rap is unlikely to appreciate the quality of expensive components, because volume and bass are important to him, which can be completely dispensed with in the case of classical works. Such clients need to focus on completely different technology and even sacrifice the class of equipment for the sake of more power. So the approach to the development of automotive components will be individual, even if we are talking about a standard solution.

Acoustic system after processing. All improvements will be hidden under the skin

This is why standard “music” always seems so discreet and silent: it is created based on the average musical preferences of the buyer, and it is almost impossible to create universal “music” of good quality. In addition, we must not forget that car manufacturers are always limited by such parameters as the weight of the car and the volume of the trunk, so installing, for example, a subwoofer is sometimes simply impossible.

And it will still not be possible to create a truly ideal sound in a car: the location of the components in the limited space of the car will not allow it.

Option number 1. Budget

Especially for our magazine, experts from the Bloodhound studio offered several options for the most popular business sedan in Russia. Moreover, we will consider versions with 2.0 liter and 2.5 liter engines, since the top version of the Camry with a 3.5 engine is standardly equipped with a more advanced JBL audio system.

The first and, naturally, the simplest and most inexpensive option is when the basis is taken as a ready-made solution from a well-known acoustics manufacturer, which initially offers components for specific models. This practice is very common and is not something unique: almost all the leading players in the car music world offer similar ready-made solutions.

Good value for money, for example, from the French brand Focal. The kit for Camry involves replacing the standard speakers in the doors and installing a four-channel 55 W amplifier, which is enough to spare. Installing an amplifier is mandatory, since the capabilities of the standard head unit will not be enough for the new speakers and the sound may turn out to be even quieter than it was.

The cost of the set is 60,000 rubles.

Car stereo

In order for our acoustics to play properly, we need a good radio for our car. How to choose this device?

Choosing a quality radio comes down to several steps.

Brand selection

It is better to choose a well-known brand. Today, the most popular radio manufacturers are: Alpine, Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood and JVC, which are recognized as leaders in the production of electronics and speaker systems.

Car radios are:

• CD/MP3;
• DVD with and without monitor;
• digital radios;
• multimedia centers and radios with the ability to connect various devices (video players, phones and other gadgets);

Today, most often on the market you can see radios with GPS navigation, USB input, built-in FM receiver or TV tuner, Bluetooth, audio and video player, etc.

Therefore, it depends only on you which radio you buy and what functions it will perform. Many radios are also equipped with a control panel. This necessary little detail will make it possible to control the car radio while the car is moving, not only for those who are in the immediate vicinity of it, but also from the back seat.

Selecting sound quality

The more bands in the equalizer, the better the sound. If you buy a budget radio, you will also need a power amplifier, which can only be connected to it through a special linear output. The price of radios varies greatly depending on the number of “lines”.

Radio panel color

If it matches the backlighting of the keys and the console of your car, it will look very nice. Therefore, when choosing a radio, it is best to be guided by the color of the instrument panel. But since progress does not stand still, a large number of radio tape recorders with changeable backlight modes are being produced, so lately it has become increasingly easier to choose the right color tape recorder. In addition, LED car lighting will help highlight the radio.

It is recommended to entrust the installation of the purchased radio to a specialist from the installation center, or to independently study the wiring and connection diagram in detail. Everyone should know from school the dangers of incorrectly connecting electrical appliances to the network. In the case of connecting a tape recorder, the principle remains the same.

Option No. 3. Optimal

This implies more serious work on creating an acoustic space. Six speakers are installed in the front of the car instead of the standard two, and the total number of speakers reaches eight. A separate set of works is performed for the subwoofer, which is built into the podium in the right niche of the trunk, occupying a minimum of usable space. Of course, the components are needed at a different level. The speakers and subwoofer require separate amplifiers, with the former coming with an integrated processor.

The cost of the set is 180,000 rubles.

The proposed solutions are a kind of basis from which you can build a music system in a mid-price car.

The first is a refinement of the standard system, which will solve the problem of lack of volume, various audio distortions and noise, and add purity to the sound. The second is filling the cabin with interesting and high-quality bass for fans of electronic music. The third is a fairly advanced system with a processor, a multi-channel amplifier and a compact subwoofer for music lovers.

Of course, if you wish, you can always install more serious components (an amplifier can cost 100,000 rubles). But if we consider the balance of “sound quality per ruble spent,” then Bloodhound specialists would take these three options as a basis.

Installation procedure

First of all, you need to lay the power cables from the battery into the interior. Once you have selected and purchased your conductors, run the negative and positive wires. For this purpose, many cars have a special hole in the shield that separates the engine from the passenger compartment.

When laying wires through a metal hole, you need to protect them from chafing with a piece of rubber or plastic tube. Otherwise, a short circuit may occur.

The positive conductor must be connected through a fuse, the current strength of which must be the same as that on the amplifier's fuse. This fuse link should be located close to the battery (about 30 cm).

Installing tweeters

High-frequency tweeter speakers are installed on the windshield pillars

Before installing “tweeters” in the car (as they are popularly called), remove the lining of the windshield pillars. High-frequency speakers are the basis of sound. They need to be positioned at eye level of the passenger and driver, facing the middle of the windshield. In this position, they will emit sound onto the glass, from which it will be reflected into the cabin.

The left beeper will reflect the sound to the right passenger, and the right one will reflect the sound to the driver.

Laying and connecting wires

The next step is to carefully lay out the rest of the wiring, which includes the wires between the blocks, power wires and acoustic wires. It is not recommended to lay different types of wiring next to each other, or together with the car’s wires.

The intersection of wires of different groups is allowed only at 90 degrees.

Before connecting the speakers in the car, strip the ends of the wires from insulation. Next, connect the wires to the subwoofer and power amplifier. If the sub is purchased in a body, then for a sedan body it is recommended to turn it towards the back of the rear seats. For station wagons and hatchbacks - towards the trunk door. You can make the subwoofer housing yourself, but this will be discussed in a separate article.

What's the result?

The presented options are suitable for customers who are not ready to plunge into the wilds of car audio or participate in car audio festivals. These are some ready-made solutions that meet the needs of slightly more demanding clients who have a rough idea of ​​what they want to get from the sound. Representative Ilya Smirnov compares the creation of a car music system with tailoring a jacket: the client must always determine what is closer to him. That is why, after finishing the work, the studio specialists suggest traveling for a couple of weeks, getting used to the music, listening to your favorite tracks, and then, if necessary, returning to refine and fine-tune the system.

To make the car “play”

If you don’t take into account premium brands like Lexus, BMW, Range Rover, Mercedes, then the standard music from the factory is nonsense, good only for listening to the radio or lullabies for children.

Standard acoustics in public sector and middle-class cars have a narrow frequency range, a large sound stage, and are generally made according to the principle of “this is it and that’s okay.” Nobody bothers with creating a stage, surround sound, vibration and noise insulation of doors, or selection of components. As a rule, with a normal head unit, the music already at two-thirds of the volume begins to distort and wheeze. Some tools are completely lost, resulting in a mess.

Preparatory work: how to remove the trim

Before carrying out work, turn off the ignition and disconnect the negative cable from the battery. Then do this:

1. Often there is no speaker panel, and the speakers are hidden behind a non-removable mesh (grid) of the door trim. In this case, remove the door handles that interfere with dismantling. If there are fastenings with self-tapping screws, remove the protective plugs and unscrew the screws. Then remove the trim.

   Slowly rocking, remove the panel, releasing one fastener after another.

2. If the standard speakers are covered with a separate decorative panel, carefully pick it up in the least visible place and pull it, roughly identifying the attachment points. Slowly rocking, remove the panel, releasing one fastener after another.

   Remove door handles and other body parts that interfere with dismantling

3. If fastening with plastic clips, hook the trim in a less visible place, being careful not to leave scratches on the surface. Remove it, releasing the latches sequentially around the perimeter of the door.

Do you need a capacitor for car audio?

Many people add a capacitor to the system. When choosing, you need to take into account that for 500 W of the rated power of the system, a capacitor with a capacity of 0.5 F is sufficient. It is better to focus on models with automation to avoid problems when connecting.

The capacitor is installed to avoid bass “dip” during peak loads, when the energy from the battery and generator becomes insufficient. I had 2 amps and a powerful sub, which made the windows shake. Without capacitor. It's just a pretty toy and most car enthusiasts don't need it. It is used only by professionals who know what it is needed for.

When an amplifier with a subwoofer is installed in the car and they play at 90-100% power, the voltage on the battery can drop significantly, because they consume a lot of power. The drawdown when the engine is running can reach 12.5-13.0 V. But the point is not in the capacitor, but in the power wires and the way they are connected. If Chinese wires are installed, the voltage drop can be significant. If we install good thick wires and ensure reliable contact, the drawdown will be minimal.

The capacitor does not protect, but only accumulates energy inside, in order to then release the accumulated power to operate the amplifiers. If you have a high-quality battery and reliable wires, then no capacitor is needed.

If there was a drawdown at the peak, the Conder instantly released the charge, and then? It will help with instant peaks, and if there is a lot of bass, it will be something to charge with. In most cases, the capacitor will turn into a beautiful barrel with a voltmeter, because It will be of no use. The cable must be of high quality and nothing more.

How to connect speakers to the front or back door

It happens that the new column, coinciding with the old one in diameter, does not “sit” on the standard podium (ring or protrusion) or turns out to be thicker and begins to stick out too much. Sometimes the stand is completely missing. In this case, proceed as follows:

1. Install a new podium: it is necessary in order to raise the speaker if the latter rests on the door mechanisms. It also plays the role of a rigid and elastic support for the diffuser, improves the radiation pattern, preventing sound from “escaping” under the casing. You can buy the podium in the same place as the speakers, or make it yourself.
2. Use suitable plastic housings from faulty speakers as a base, or use a jigsaw to make a podium out of plywood. If necessary, cut out several rings and glue them together.

   It is advisable to impregnate a wooden podium with a protective compound and cover it with a sealant

3. Before installation, it is advisable to impregnate a wooden podium with a protective compound and cover it with a sealant. The column is attached to the base through a thin rubber gasket.
4. If the diameter of the new column is larger than the old one, first widen the mounting hole using a jigsaw, drill and file.
5. Connect the connector, secure the column with screws or bolts and nuts on the podium. Reassemble the door in the reverse order of disassembling it.

Video: how to install acoustics on a car

How to connect speakers in two-piece systems

Approximately 80% of car enthusiasts who install component sound systems are limited to installing additional tweeters. For some, this is not enough, since achieving the highest sound quality is impossible without “drawing” the lower frequencies of the sound spectrum to the point of the limits of human hearing.

Obstacles to the propagation of vibrations of the lowest frequencies degrade the quality slightly. Therefore, huge subwoofers operating in the lower sound band are placed in the trunk or on the rear parcel shelf.

A component car audio system can contain from 2 (including tweeter) speakers per channel to 4, 6 or more

Thus, a component car audio system can contain from 2 (including tweeter) speakers per channel to 4, 6 or more. Practical implementation depends on the aesthetic requirements of the car owner, his desire to spend money and time to achieve them.

The best car audio

Here is a small TOP of the best car audio at an affordable price:

Of course, there is no limit to either the size or volume of car acoustics. There are craftsmen who, with the help of a couple of additional batteries, a powerful amplifier and huge speakers, can easily organize a rock concert in their Lada, which can cause the windows to fly out. In this review, we looked at recommendations for those who like beautiful, but not prohibitively loud sound.

Here is a short video comparison of coaxial and component acoustics for cars:

COMPONENT or COAXIAL? Which acoustics to choose!