BOOM-BOOM. BOOM-BOOM. This is the sound that you may hear the next time that you are stopped at a red light. As you turn your head toward the sound, perhaps you’ll see a brand new Lexus - or maybe a rust-covered 1994 Mitsubushi.
While new speakers are a very common upgrade in new cars and old cars alike, they are becoming louder and more powerful every day. Many car enthusiasts rip apart their dashboards and trunks to replace the factory speakers, even before the new car smell is taken over by gym bags or smoke.
As a result, many auto manufacturers are now upgrading the factory speakers to please their customers. Several new cars currently on the market have incredible sound and power. They can range from $25,000 to $300,000, and come in all shapes and sizes with mulitple features and speakers.
A Few of the Top Factory Sound Systems
Chrysler 300C - This is a newer model car with an unbelievable sound system for a reasonable price. The 300C comes with the option of 7-speaker surround sound by Boston Acoustics. With a price range of about $25,000 to $35,000, this is one of the cheaper new-model cars that offers an upgraded system.
Mitsubishi Lancer - With a 650-watt, Rockford Fosgate sound system including a 10-inch subwoofer in the trunk and speed-sensitive sound control, the Lancer is a hot car. The price range for a Lancer is $17,000 to $30,000 and it also gets 33 miles per gallon, an added incentive.
Audi A8 - This car was given top honors at Ward's Auto World "Interior of the Year" Awards. What makes this cars audio so great? Bang and Olufsen's Advanced Sound System, which includes 14 speakers and a 12-inch subwoofer. All of the speakers have their own amplifiers. This system produces almost 1,100 watts and not only does it sound good, but this is a great looking car as well. Starting out at around $80,000 it’s not a cheap-ticket item, but well worth it if you can afford it.
Installing A Sound System In Your Car
Now, if you are not in the market for a new car, you can always upgrade the system in your current vehicle. To replace all the speakers, add an amplifier and a subwoofer and get a new headunit is probably the single easiest upgrade that anyone can do to their car.
To begin, you will need to purchase the headunit. The headunit is the power source and controls your soundsystem. Next, if you have tweeters (speakers for high pitch) you will want to replace them. Most cars have two to six speakers in them, usually only mids. Mids measure six by nine inches, and all you have to do is remove the grill cover of the speakers and then take the speakers out. Disconnect the wiring, connect the new speakers, install them where the old speakers were, and then replace the grill covers.
You can also choose to purchase a subwoofer. Some of the better brands include Rockford Fosgate and Kicker. For the mids and the headunits, the best brands include Kenwood, Sony and Pioneer. Once you have chosen your speakers, you will need to purchase an amplifier that will power them. Buy one that matches the capability ofyour speakers for maximum output. You will also need cables for the amplifier. Monster Cables are generally considered the top pick, with gold plated connections for the best connectivity.
Now that you have some bump in your trunk, everyone will be looking for you at the red lights.