Car Speakers – For All That Jazz And Groove, On The Move
Music enthusiasts love it all! Be it rock, jazz, soul, mettle, groove, classic etc. The music aficionados make it a point to not let the music detach from their lives. Almost everyone has a flair for music but the passion can range from listening to singing. World over, people love to carry their music with themselves. It can be in the form of I-pods, USB music players or even your car audio system. When it comes to audio, the system is not complete without high quality speakers.
The speakers come in variety of shapes, sizes and performance levels. The discretion is all about your choice, money, facilities and pleasure. The performance of audio is accentuated by good car speakers. The music aficionados can find speakers online. You will come across several renowned companies. Dabbling on the internet will leave you with wide choices. The car speakers must be judged on quality parameters, which ensure enhanced music performance output. Moreover, the speakers you are going for must be genuine and tagged with warranty.
Good quality car speakers become a priced accessory for your car. They are the voice of your car audio system and must not be compromised. One can experience exhilarating music when the audio system is a combination of most advanced technology car speakers and stereo. The use of woofers and bass tube is also popular among the music buffs. Analyse your music need and the level of output you are looking for and then make a sensible choice about speakers.
According to your personal choices, your car can be accessorised with two to four car speakers. The audio is all about enjoying the drive with choicest of music soothing your ears. When the music is inseparable for you then go for good quality speakers for the pleasure of long drives across the serene pastures.
By: Garry Kelkar
About the Author:
The speakers come in variety of shapes, sizes and performance levels. The discretion is all about your choice, money, facilities and pleasure. The performance of audio is accentuated by good car speakers. The music aficionados can find speakers online. You will come across several renowned companies. Dabbling on the internet will leave you with wide choices. The car speakers must be judged on quality parameters, which ensure enhanced music performance output. Moreover, the speakers you are going for must be genuine and tagged with warranty.
Good quality car speakers become a priced accessory for your car. They are the voice of your car audio system and must not be compromised. One can experience exhilarating music when the audio system is a combination of most advanced technology car speakers and stereo. The use of woofers and bass tube is also popular among the music buffs. Analyse your music need and the level of output you are looking for and then make a sensible choice about speakers.
According to your personal choices, your car can be accessorised with two to four car speakers. The audio is all about enjoying the drive with choicest of music soothing your ears. When the music is inseparable for you then go for good quality speakers for the pleasure of long drives across the serene pastures.
By: Garry Kelkar
About the Author:
About the Author: Garry Kelkar is an expert writer having perfection in automobile industry and presently writing on car accessories topics like car horns, car fog lights, car heaters and so forth.
What Characterizes a Bad Car Audio System
In general make sure that if you are supposed to be paying for new car audio system components you see the box, the price, and installation materials before the company installs the your car audio systems. Many installation places will install used parts at new part prices. When buying used parts make sure you are getting a discount. Also, examine all parts before the are installed into your car. Once you drive the car of the installation company’s lot you will not be able to complain, get a refund, or adjust your order. Once you drive away, you are stuck with whatever they have installed. Only through being an aggressive consumer will you get exactly what you paid for.
Head Unit – good head units will have multiple RCA outputs on the back of it. Also, a modern head unit which is basically a receiver or what people call a radio should include a CD tray, and plugs to plug in put devices into like a mp3 player. If the car audio system is bad the head unit will not have RCA outputs and therefore a RCA converter will have to be installed at added cost.
Amplifier – a low end or bad car audio system will have low voltage 0.5 volts or lower amplifier. Another characteristic o a bad car audio system is just one amplifier. Most decent car audio systems will have at least two amplifiers. The volume on the head unit and the amplifier should be able to be turned all the way up with out there being distortion. If there is distortion the settings can be tweaked usually by lowering the volume on both.
Speakers – a good speaker system would include multiple set of speakers installed at the idea locations within the car to give an even quality sound. A speaker system will also include subwoofers, tweeters, and midrange drivers. A bad car audio system will not have all these parts and usually only has speakers. Subwoofers deal with the lower range of sound like a dog barking. Tweeters deal with high frequency sounds like a bird singing, and of course mid range devices deal with every sound in between. Without this items the sound quality of a car audio system is going to be pretty poor.
Especially in today’s modern society it is important to think about the future. While you may not have any need for output devices like the ability to have satellite radio, who knows what you will like to have in the future. A characteristic of a bad car audio system is that it has 2 or less plugs of in put devices. Do not pay for car audio components which can not be easily up graded as the audio technology increases with each passing year.
By: Sebastian Schneider
About the Author:
Head Unit – good head units will have multiple RCA outputs on the back of it. Also, a modern head unit which is basically a receiver or what people call a radio should include a CD tray, and plugs to plug in put devices into like a mp3 player. If the car audio system is bad the head unit will not have RCA outputs and therefore a RCA converter will have to be installed at added cost.
Amplifier – a low end or bad car audio system will have low voltage 0.5 volts or lower amplifier. Another characteristic o a bad car audio system is just one amplifier. Most decent car audio systems will have at least two amplifiers. The volume on the head unit and the amplifier should be able to be turned all the way up with out there being distortion. If there is distortion the settings can be tweaked usually by lowering the volume on both.
Speakers – a good speaker system would include multiple set of speakers installed at the idea locations within the car to give an even quality sound. A speaker system will also include subwoofers, tweeters, and midrange drivers. A bad car audio system will not have all these parts and usually only has speakers. Subwoofers deal with the lower range of sound like a dog barking. Tweeters deal with high frequency sounds like a bird singing, and of course mid range devices deal with every sound in between. Without this items the sound quality of a car audio system is going to be pretty poor.
Especially in today’s modern society it is important to think about the future. While you may not have any need for output devices like the ability to have satellite radio, who knows what you will like to have in the future. A characteristic of a bad car audio system is that it has 2 or less plugs of in put devices. Do not pay for car audio components which can not be easily up graded as the audio technology increases with each passing year.
By: Sebastian Schneider
About the Author:
Visit Car-Sound-Systems.com to learn more about just like anything dealing with car audio.
Pioneer Car Audio
Music surrounds our lives everywhere we go; at home, in our cars and in social places. While it may be relatively easy to choose the kind of stereo that we want for our homes, choosing a good audio system to install in the car is not always an easy task. On the bright side of this however, Pioneer car audio may just provide us with a solution to this problem.
Pioneer car audio deals with a wide range of products that they have classified into two sections, one dealing with normal car audio parts and the other with the Premier goods from Pioneer. These divisions are based on quality. The premier audio parts have a very high performance standard that you might just be looking for. This company has been able to come up with these products after a period of intensive research and a clear development strategy.
Their web site gives you quite a bit of the information that you will require as you try to find out the specifications about their products. You also get to see the various prices for different items. This way, you can be able to choose the accessories that best suit your lifestyle. unfortunately, unlike other companies that allow you to make your order online, pioneer car audio does not give you this option. So what you will require to do once you make your selection is to visit their main showroom to buy your item. you could find out from the sales assistants the warranty and guarantees that they have to offer.
By: Peter Gitundu
About the Author:
Pioneer car audio deals with a wide range of products that they have classified into two sections, one dealing with normal car audio parts and the other with the Premier goods from Pioneer. These divisions are based on quality. The premier audio parts have a very high performance standard that you might just be looking for. This company has been able to come up with these products after a period of intensive research and a clear development strategy.
Their web site gives you quite a bit of the information that you will require as you try to find out the specifications about their products. You also get to see the various prices for different items. This way, you can be able to choose the accessories that best suit your lifestyle. unfortunately, unlike other companies that allow you to make your order online, pioneer car audio does not give you this option. So what you will require to do once you make your selection is to visit their main showroom to buy your item. you could find out from the sales assistants the warranty and guarantees that they have to offer.
By: Peter Gitundu
About the Author:
Peter Gitundu Creates Interesting And Thought Provoking Content on Car Audio. For More Information, Read More Of His Articles Here CAR AUDIO ACCESSORIES If You Enjoyed This Article, Make Sure You SUBSCRIBE TO MY RSS FEED!
Building the Best Car Stereo System
Today car sound systems are big business. People, especially the younger generation, want to build the very best in car sound systems and they usually do not care what they cost. This can become an expensive undertaking but for those who value music it is worth every penny.
Your first order of business is to decide on a proper car stereo head unit. This is the main control unit of the entire system and comes in the form of a tuner, compact disc player or cassette player or a combination of two. These days most people go with a compact disc player head unit as they are the most readily available and most people buy compact discs for their musical selection instead of cassette tapes that are somewhat hard to come by these days.
The head unit should be wired in where the existing stereo unit rests. The two may be different sizes so you will most likely need to buy a universal mounting kit. They are available from most large retailers and run under $25. Also, you should pick up a universal wiring harness to make the installation go more smoothly. If you have no knowledge of car wiring systems it is easy to short out the car or the stereo system if you do not know what you are doing. Universal wiring harnesses come with detailed instructions on matching up the wires by automotive type.
Next you will need to determine speakers for your sound system. This can be a tough decision depending on what your basic needs are. There are several speaker systems to choose from and you will need to pay close attention to the head unit you have purchased as it will tell you how many speakers it can handle on its own. Be sure to check the power rating and size of the speakers. You have so much room to work with in your car without taking away from passenger space. However, some prefer to use the trunk space to mount speakers and other accessories.
Along with speakers there is the amplifier. The amplifier is a device that will boost overall power and provide better quality high volume sound to your system. Amplifiers are available in a wide variety of sizes and prices depending on the power you wish to have for your car sound system.
Extras would include MP3 hook up adapters, bass boosters, compact disc changers, and lights. All of these are available from large retailers nationwide. You could spend a little or a lot depending on the brand and quality that you desire.
Keep in mind that the more complicated a car sound system the harder it is to install. Some companies that sell complete systems offer free installation with a purchase. This is a wise choice for someone who knows little about car stereo installation. Not only will all the equipment be installed properly to guard against malfunction but it will also look nice. Part of installing a system is running wires and capping lines that can be difficult for someone unsure of what they are doing.
By: Sebastian Schneider
About the Author:
Your first order of business is to decide on a proper car stereo head unit. This is the main control unit of the entire system and comes in the form of a tuner, compact disc player or cassette player or a combination of two. These days most people go with a compact disc player head unit as they are the most readily available and most people buy compact discs for their musical selection instead of cassette tapes that are somewhat hard to come by these days.
The head unit should be wired in where the existing stereo unit rests. The two may be different sizes so you will most likely need to buy a universal mounting kit. They are available from most large retailers and run under $25. Also, you should pick up a universal wiring harness to make the installation go more smoothly. If you have no knowledge of car wiring systems it is easy to short out the car or the stereo system if you do not know what you are doing. Universal wiring harnesses come with detailed instructions on matching up the wires by automotive type.
Next you will need to determine speakers for your sound system. This can be a tough decision depending on what your basic needs are. There are several speaker systems to choose from and you will need to pay close attention to the head unit you have purchased as it will tell you how many speakers it can handle on its own. Be sure to check the power rating and size of the speakers. You have so much room to work with in your car without taking away from passenger space. However, some prefer to use the trunk space to mount speakers and other accessories.
Along with speakers there is the amplifier. The amplifier is a device that will boost overall power and provide better quality high volume sound to your system. Amplifiers are available in a wide variety of sizes and prices depending on the power you wish to have for your car sound system.
Extras would include MP3 hook up adapters, bass boosters, compact disc changers, and lights. All of these are available from large retailers nationwide. You could spend a little or a lot depending on the brand and quality that you desire.
Keep in mind that the more complicated a car sound system the harder it is to install. Some companies that sell complete systems offer free installation with a purchase. This is a wise choice for someone who knows little about car stereo installation. Not only will all the equipment be installed properly to guard against malfunction but it will also look nice. Part of installing a system is running wires and capping lines that can be difficult for someone unsure of what they are doing.
By: Sebastian Schneider
About the Author:
Want to know more about car sound systems? Visit Car-Sound-Systems to read mroe about car sound systems and all the parts that belong to it.
All About Portable Car Stereos
Music is the food for life and if one can carry music while driving a car, the journey definitely becomes more enjoyable and melodious. This idea gave birth to car stereos which are fitted inside the car in such a way that the sound is balanced perfectly.
It mainly consists of amplifiers, speakers, CD or cassette players, and equalizers. It is the latest technology that has gifted the music lovers with portable car stereos. These days one can find quite a few portable devices that can be easily connected to car stereos.
These portable devices can only playback MP3 file format that has the characteristic of using less space in hard drive and memory stick. Unfortunately, the sound quality of this file format is quite inferior if we compare it with that of CD or WAV files. But this problem could easily be avoided if MP3s are converted at 320 kbps and the sound quality can improve on a car stereo.
An eight gigabyte memory stick is another kind of popular portable car stereo that can be loaded up with the MP3 of the car. That will enable you to listen to more than five hundred songs. These can be then plugged into portable MP3 players in the car and thus music can be carried with the car.
USB port is also gaining popularity as a portable car stereo. Having a USB port in car stereo is quite fun. The best advantage of a USB port is that people can also bring their preferred music in memory sticks along with them and can play according to their moods. Portable car stereo memory sticks are preferred because they are much cheaper than portable MP3 player. With tough competition in the market the prices of the memory sticks will come down bringing more space for music at a lower price.
Portable car stereo also provides us with a security benefit. In a traditional car stereo there is the risk of theft. But with portable car stereo the CD collections are not left behind to be stolen. While leaving the car one can easily disconnect the memory stick.
As the gifts of advanced technology the market is flooded with Blu-Ray, high definition discs and HD-DVDs as portable car stereo. These advanced discs offer audio quality that is equivalent to that we get in a home theatre. But before going for this new kind of portable car stereo it is important to know whether it supports the existing equipment or not. This is one of the basic points that one should keep in mind while going for a portable car stereo.
The other things that one should consider while going for a portable car stereo are the type and the quality of the media player system, the CD players, changers, etc.
By: Victor Epand
About the Author:
It mainly consists of amplifiers, speakers, CD or cassette players, and equalizers. It is the latest technology that has gifted the music lovers with portable car stereos. These days one can find quite a few portable devices that can be easily connected to car stereos.
These portable devices can only playback MP3 file format that has the characteristic of using less space in hard drive and memory stick. Unfortunately, the sound quality of this file format is quite inferior if we compare it with that of CD or WAV files. But this problem could easily be avoided if MP3s are converted at 320 kbps and the sound quality can improve on a car stereo.
An eight gigabyte memory stick is another kind of popular portable car stereo that can be loaded up with the MP3 of the car. That will enable you to listen to more than five hundred songs. These can be then plugged into portable MP3 players in the car and thus music can be carried with the car.
USB port is also gaining popularity as a portable car stereo. Having a USB port in car stereo is quite fun. The best advantage of a USB port is that people can also bring their preferred music in memory sticks along with them and can play according to their moods. Portable car stereo memory sticks are preferred because they are much cheaper than portable MP3 player. With tough competition in the market the prices of the memory sticks will come down bringing more space for music at a lower price.
Portable car stereo also provides us with a security benefit. In a traditional car stereo there is the risk of theft. But with portable car stereo the CD collections are not left behind to be stolen. While leaving the car one can easily disconnect the memory stick.
As the gifts of advanced technology the market is flooded with Blu-Ray, high definition discs and HD-DVDs as portable car stereo. These advanced discs offer audio quality that is equivalent to that we get in a home theatre. But before going for this new kind of portable car stereo it is important to know whether it supports the existing equipment or not. This is one of the basic points that one should keep in mind while going for a portable car stereo.
The other things that one should consider while going for a portable car stereo are the type and the quality of the media player system, the CD players, changers, etc.
By: Victor Epand
About the Author:
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used DVDs, used movies, and used car stereos. You can find the best marketplace for used DVDs, used movies, and used car stereos at these sites for used DVDs, used movies.
Main Components Of Car Stereo Equipment, Explained
A stereo system is as important in a car as suspension, seat or steering. Cars vary from model to model, and so does music equipment.
The market is highly saturated with both global and local manufacturers. This is making the job all the more difficult for the customer. It is making it difficult for them to choose the perfectly suitable one, when there are so many varieties in size, shape, system and sound available at their fingertips.
Differentiation is done primarily on the basis of cost and quality. Generally, car stereo systems consist of a head unit, main speakers, optional amplifiers and sub woofers to get superior sound output and the wiring that connects all these items.
The head unit in this case is the heart of the whole system. The cassette/fm/cd/dvd/mp3 player that is inserted in the dashboard is the only place from where the entire system is operated.
Two main speakers are put in the front portion of the car and two at the back, by removing the speaker panel of the dashboard. Each main speaker is often further divided into two built parts, one speaker for the highs and the other for the bass.
The entire speaker set is also termed as channel. Usually, a new head unit installation accompanies new speakers insertion as well.
Amplifiers are added to provide some extra strength to the speakers. The further addition of sub woofers or upgrading of cables may also assist in this purpose as well.
The most common use of an amplifier, however, is to empower the sub woofers even more. Sub woofers basically provide deep bass that the small main speakers perhaps cannot achieve.
All sub woofers are actually connected to the amplifier that in turn can easily be mounted right into the sub woofer box. The whole stereo system is then connected to the car battery to start its function.
It is always better to obtain a guide regarding removing dash, door panels and floor pattern of the car before actually installing the music system.
It is also wise to read before hand the installation instruction or guide that generally comes with any new car stereo equipment, especially the one intended for the head unit.
Additional insights can also be gained from these regarding the exact way to install the car stereo system. An antenna is usually connected with the head unit.
After the completion of the entire set up process, radio stations (provided it has FM) can be searched and set specific frequencies to separate buttons, sound can be adjusted (front-rear balance, treble, bass, etc.) and time can also be corrected.
One basic thumb rule regarding the safety precautions is that one should never work on the electrical system of the car with the ground wire attached to the battery Doing this can cause sever damage.
Sony, Kenwood, JVC, Panasonic, Pioneer, Alpine and Clarion are some of the main brands available on the market. It depends entirely upon the customer which one he/she will buy. If someone is brand conscious, can afford higher price and has aspiration for the highest quality audio experience, then Sony Xplod Series can be the best bet.
Sony symbolizes style, status and standard of the highest degree. The others are a bit more pocket friendly. You will have to prioritize your needs and wants, then examine all the details of each model carefully. Also you should consider your budget as well as the car audio space before making a final decision.
One can always consult with other buyers who are still using a product of a particular company or have used sometime or the other and be assured of things like overall performance, service or value for money.
Here are some other post installation guidelines or tips: Always switch off the system when the car is at rest. Switching off is also probably good before starting the engine to reduce the pressure on battery, minimum use of pirated cassettes/discs, keeping the head clean, etc.
Keeping all these details in mind, a customer can shop for the music equipment of his/her choice and enjoy the experience.
By: Victor Epand
About the Author:
The market is highly saturated with both global and local manufacturers. This is making the job all the more difficult for the customer. It is making it difficult for them to choose the perfectly suitable one, when there are so many varieties in size, shape, system and sound available at their fingertips.
Differentiation is done primarily on the basis of cost and quality. Generally, car stereo systems consist of a head unit, main speakers, optional amplifiers and sub woofers to get superior sound output and the wiring that connects all these items.
The head unit in this case is the heart of the whole system. The cassette/fm/cd/dvd/mp3 player that is inserted in the dashboard is the only place from where the entire system is operated.
Two main speakers are put in the front portion of the car and two at the back, by removing the speaker panel of the dashboard. Each main speaker is often further divided into two built parts, one speaker for the highs and the other for the bass.
The entire speaker set is also termed as channel. Usually, a new head unit installation accompanies new speakers insertion as well.
Amplifiers are added to provide some extra strength to the speakers. The further addition of sub woofers or upgrading of cables may also assist in this purpose as well.
The most common use of an amplifier, however, is to empower the sub woofers even more. Sub woofers basically provide deep bass that the small main speakers perhaps cannot achieve.
All sub woofers are actually connected to the amplifier that in turn can easily be mounted right into the sub woofer box. The whole stereo system is then connected to the car battery to start its function.
It is always better to obtain a guide regarding removing dash, door panels and floor pattern of the car before actually installing the music system.
It is also wise to read before hand the installation instruction or guide that generally comes with any new car stereo equipment, especially the one intended for the head unit.
Additional insights can also be gained from these regarding the exact way to install the car stereo system. An antenna is usually connected with the head unit.
After the completion of the entire set up process, radio stations (provided it has FM) can be searched and set specific frequencies to separate buttons, sound can be adjusted (front-rear balance, treble, bass, etc.) and time can also be corrected.
One basic thumb rule regarding the safety precautions is that one should never work on the electrical system of the car with the ground wire attached to the battery Doing this can cause sever damage.
Sony, Kenwood, JVC, Panasonic, Pioneer, Alpine and Clarion are some of the main brands available on the market. It depends entirely upon the customer which one he/she will buy. If someone is brand conscious, can afford higher price and has aspiration for the highest quality audio experience, then Sony Xplod Series can be the best bet.
Sony symbolizes style, status and standard of the highest degree. The others are a bit more pocket friendly. You will have to prioritize your needs and wants, then examine all the details of each model carefully. Also you should consider your budget as well as the car audio space before making a final decision.
One can always consult with other buyers who are still using a product of a particular company or have used sometime or the other and be assured of things like overall performance, service or value for money.
Here are some other post installation guidelines or tips: Always switch off the system when the car is at rest. Switching off is also probably good before starting the engine to reduce the pressure on battery, minimum use of pirated cassettes/discs, keeping the head clean, etc.
Keeping all these details in mind, a customer can shop for the music equipment of his/her choice and enjoy the experience.
By: Victor Epand
About the Author:
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used DVDs, used movies, and used car stereos. You can find the best marketplace for used DVDs, used movies, and used car stereos at these sites for used DVDs, used movies, and Subwoofer, Car stereo system, car stereo equipment, amplifier, speaker.
How to Connect an iPod or Other Digital Music Player to Your Car Stereo
I recently “sold out” and bought myself an iPod. Here’s a pro’s guide to hooking it up to your head unit!
But first…
Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past few years, you have heard of the iPod; Apple’s wonderfully designed portable music player. The iPod allows you to carry the music of hundreds or thousands of CDs in a small box that fits easily in your pocket or bag. It is capable of much more, but the focus of this article is on the music. Because of the extreme portability of the iPod, many people want to bring it with them in the car. This is a problem because most cars don’t offer iPod connectivity, with few exceptions. Fortunately, there are solutions for people who want to use their iPod in the car.
Direct connection:
Pros: Control iPod with stereo and remote controls, automatically charges iPod, perfect sound quality, easy to install, cheap
Cons: None that I know of!
This option is only available to owners of radios that support a direct connection to the iPod. Basically, all you need is a cable that connects to your iPod, then to the radio. Alpine is one brand I know that offers this feature. Some new vehicles also offer a direct connection to the iPod.
How to connect via an interface:
Pros: Control iPod with stereo and remote controls, automatically charges iPod, perfect sound quality
Cons: Expensive, more complicated to install
This option is available to owners of more up-to-date aftermarket radios and some newer factory radios.
Aftermarket radios:
You’ll need a brand specific ipod interface. For example, if you have an Alpine head unit, you’ll need to get an Alpine ipod interface. Usually, this interface is a small box that has an output to your radio, and an input that connects to to your ipod. Basically, you’ll need to find an appropriate mounting location for the box. From there, find a good place to route the ipod cable. Some good locations are inside the glove box, or if you have a pocket in your dash, route it through there.
Factory radios:
You’ll need a vehicle specific ipod interface. The one company I know of that manufactures these interfaces is Peripheral. Check out their website to see if your vehicle is supported. If yes, you’re set! Hook up the interface similar to how you would above.
How to connect via a phono to RCA cable.
Pros: Excellent sound quality, easy installation, super cheap
Cons: Can’t control ipod with stereo, ipod won’t automatically charge
You will need a head unit that has an auxillary input for this to work. If your head unit does not have an aux in, you’re probably better off looking for another alternative.
How to connect an iPod through FM modulation:
Pros: Very easy to setup and install, device is widely available, most devices charge the iPod
Cons: Not the cheapest, poorer sound quality, ipod can’t be controlled by radio
This is the easiest way to hook up an iPod to your radio. Basically, your ipod connects to a device that broadcasts the music to a radio station frequency. Tune your radio to that frequency, and your music will play through the radio. There are a variety of products available that do this.
Other digital music solutions:
Kenwood makes a “music keg”, which is basically a portable hard drive that interfaces with the Kenwood receiver. This is a great alternative to bringing an iPod with you in the car. Just load up the music keg, and your songs are good to go.
Alpine makes a digital music player. This device contains a hard drive that you can load up with your songs. It works very similarly to a CD changer in that it is controled by the head unit.
A brief word about other digital music players:
The iPod is not the only digital music player available. Creative Labs has the Zen, and Microsoft just released the Zune. There are many other devices available as well. If you have one of these other digital music players, you can still use some of these techniques to connect your player to your head unit.
Unfortunately, the iPod has been embraced much more than its competitors, so as far as I know, there are no interfacing options available for the other digital music players. You can still connect the device to your head unit through a mini phono to RCA cable. You can also find FM modulators that are not iPod specific which will allow you to connect to your head unit through the radio.
A brief word about digital music formats, compression, and sound quality:
So, back in the ice ages, like 10 years ago, a new digital format known as MP3 began to take the internet by storm. Basically, it allowed a full CD of music to take up minimum space on a person’s hard drive. Before MP3, the main format available to most people was PCM (aka WAV). PCM is basically an exact replica of the information stored on CDs. Anyway, MP3 changed that. It was now possible to compress the music to a significantly smaller file size. In general, you could fit 10x the data in the same space. Where a typical WAV file of a song might take up 50 Mb, an MP3 file of the same song might take up 5 Mb, without a severe loss of sound quality. The songs could now be transferred very easily between people. This of course resulted in a whole lot of controversy…Remember the original Napster?
Yeah, yeah. Who cares?
Here’s why it matters. In order to fit a lot of data in a small space, you have to take some stuff out. In other words, you lose sound quality. MP3 files allow for higher or lower amounts of compression, and usually this is expressed by bit rate. Basically, the higher the bit rate, the higher the sound quality.
Yeah, yeah. Who cares?
When playing music in the car, especially LOUD, sound quality matters a great deal. So, you’ll want to be sure that when you play MP3s (or other digital music formats) in your vehicle, you use higher quality sound files. If you use poorly encoded music files, you’ll definitely regret it!
Poorly encoded files tend to sound “tinny”, or like they are being played through a can. Also, high frequency sounds such as cymbals and voice (especially when vocalists use words that contain the letter “S”) sound “swishy”. Bass tends to sound muddy and sloppy. When you play this stuff loud, it gets very annoying.
Anyway, if you plan to play digital music in your vehicle, be sure you are using high quality sound files. For MP3, the files should ALWAYS by 44.1 kHz. The bit rate should be at least 160, but preferably higher. I personally encode all of my files at 256.
Anyway, now you know about digital music in the vehicle!
By: Alan Bayer
About the Author:
But first…
Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past few years, you have heard of the iPod; Apple’s wonderfully designed portable music player. The iPod allows you to carry the music of hundreds or thousands of CDs in a small box that fits easily in your pocket or bag. It is capable of much more, but the focus of this article is on the music. Because of the extreme portability of the iPod, many people want to bring it with them in the car. This is a problem because most cars don’t offer iPod connectivity, with few exceptions. Fortunately, there are solutions for people who want to use their iPod in the car.
Direct connection:
Pros: Control iPod with stereo and remote controls, automatically charges iPod, perfect sound quality, easy to install, cheap
Cons: None that I know of!
This option is only available to owners of radios that support a direct connection to the iPod. Basically, all you need is a cable that connects to your iPod, then to the radio. Alpine is one brand I know that offers this feature. Some new vehicles also offer a direct connection to the iPod.
How to connect via an interface:
Pros: Control iPod with stereo and remote controls, automatically charges iPod, perfect sound quality
Cons: Expensive, more complicated to install
This option is available to owners of more up-to-date aftermarket radios and some newer factory radios.
Aftermarket radios:
You’ll need a brand specific ipod interface. For example, if you have an Alpine head unit, you’ll need to get an Alpine ipod interface. Usually, this interface is a small box that has an output to your radio, and an input that connects to to your ipod. Basically, you’ll need to find an appropriate mounting location for the box. From there, find a good place to route the ipod cable. Some good locations are inside the glove box, or if you have a pocket in your dash, route it through there.
Factory radios:
You’ll need a vehicle specific ipod interface. The one company I know of that manufactures these interfaces is Peripheral. Check out their website to see if your vehicle is supported. If yes, you’re set! Hook up the interface similar to how you would above.
How to connect via a phono to RCA cable.
Pros: Excellent sound quality, easy installation, super cheap
Cons: Can’t control ipod with stereo, ipod won’t automatically charge
You will need a head unit that has an auxillary input for this to work. If your head unit does not have an aux in, you’re probably better off looking for another alternative.
How to connect an iPod through FM modulation:
Pros: Very easy to setup and install, device is widely available, most devices charge the iPod
Cons: Not the cheapest, poorer sound quality, ipod can’t be controlled by radio
This is the easiest way to hook up an iPod to your radio. Basically, your ipod connects to a device that broadcasts the music to a radio station frequency. Tune your radio to that frequency, and your music will play through the radio. There are a variety of products available that do this.
Other digital music solutions:
Kenwood makes a “music keg”, which is basically a portable hard drive that interfaces with the Kenwood receiver. This is a great alternative to bringing an iPod with you in the car. Just load up the music keg, and your songs are good to go.
Alpine makes a digital music player. This device contains a hard drive that you can load up with your songs. It works very similarly to a CD changer in that it is controled by the head unit.
A brief word about other digital music players:
The iPod is not the only digital music player available. Creative Labs has the Zen, and Microsoft just released the Zune. There are many other devices available as well. If you have one of these other digital music players, you can still use some of these techniques to connect your player to your head unit.
Unfortunately, the iPod has been embraced much more than its competitors, so as far as I know, there are no interfacing options available for the other digital music players. You can still connect the device to your head unit through a mini phono to RCA cable. You can also find FM modulators that are not iPod specific which will allow you to connect to your head unit through the radio.
A brief word about digital music formats, compression, and sound quality:
So, back in the ice ages, like 10 years ago, a new digital format known as MP3 began to take the internet by storm. Basically, it allowed a full CD of music to take up minimum space on a person’s hard drive. Before MP3, the main format available to most people was PCM (aka WAV). PCM is basically an exact replica of the information stored on CDs. Anyway, MP3 changed that. It was now possible to compress the music to a significantly smaller file size. In general, you could fit 10x the data in the same space. Where a typical WAV file of a song might take up 50 Mb, an MP3 file of the same song might take up 5 Mb, without a severe loss of sound quality. The songs could now be transferred very easily between people. This of course resulted in a whole lot of controversy…Remember the original Napster?
Yeah, yeah. Who cares?
Here’s why it matters. In order to fit a lot of data in a small space, you have to take some stuff out. In other words, you lose sound quality. MP3 files allow for higher or lower amounts of compression, and usually this is expressed by bit rate. Basically, the higher the bit rate, the higher the sound quality.
Yeah, yeah. Who cares?
When playing music in the car, especially LOUD, sound quality matters a great deal. So, you’ll want to be sure that when you play MP3s (or other digital music formats) in your vehicle, you use higher quality sound files. If you use poorly encoded music files, you’ll definitely regret it!
Poorly encoded files tend to sound “tinny”, or like they are being played through a can. Also, high frequency sounds such as cymbals and voice (especially when vocalists use words that contain the letter “S”) sound “swishy”. Bass tends to sound muddy and sloppy. When you play this stuff loud, it gets very annoying.
Anyway, if you plan to play digital music in your vehicle, be sure you are using high quality sound files. For MP3, the files should ALWAYS by 44.1 kHz. The bit rate should be at least 160, but preferably higher. I personally encode all of my files at 256.
Anyway, now you know about digital music in the vehicle!
By: Alan Bayer
About the Author:
Alan Bayer is an entrepreneur and car audio enthusiast. He runs an eBay store selling car stereo install supplies:
http://stores.ebay.com/honest-aebs-autosound/
He also has a GREAT website with car audio articles (such as the one from above). Also on the website, learn about car audio equipment, how to find the best equipment, how to install it, and save big bucks in the process!
How Do I Go About Using My Mp3 Player In My Car
The mp3 player has now become a stable part of many people’s lives. Not only are they small and versatile, but also they provide the user with hours of music listening time without having to keep changing CD’s or tapes. But just how can I use my mp3 player in my car?
In this article we will look at some different ways that you can now use your mp3 player in your car and so no longer will you need to worry about carrying all your favorite CD’s in the car in the future. Plus you have the added benefit of knowing that you can remove your mp3 player from your car and take it with you.
Nearly all mp3 players will have a port in which you connect your headphones. But in order for your to play your mp3 player in your car you will need to find a way of connecting this to the head unit using the headphone port. Below is one method that you may want to try.
Auxiliary In
This method will provide you with the best audio quality possible, in fact it is just about as good as the audio produced by a CD. Numerous head units (radios) in cars today have a front auxiliary input (known as the Aux-In) that allows you to plug directly from your mp3 player into the head unit. You will find that most Sony head units have this feature on all their entry-level units.
However there are other methods that you may want to try if you do not happen to have a head unit that has an auxiliary in feature with it. Below we look at some other ways in which you should be able to play your mp3 player in your car in the future.
Cassette Tape Adapter
This device is available for around $10 and can be found in most electronic stores. It provides you with an easy and straightforward method of hooking up an external device such as an mp3 player to your car stereo system. All you have to do is place the cassette tape in to the car’s tape player and then attach the other end to the headphone or line out jack situated on your mp3 player.
However, there are a number of drawbacks to this method. Firstly you need to have cassette player in your car (which unfortunately is becoming much less common in more modern cars) and secondly you will often the sound quality is reduced.
FM Transmitter
This system will transmit an audio signal of the your mp3 player to a specified FM frequency when it is plugged into the FM transmitter. What happens is your FM stereo in your car is then able to pick up the sounds as if it was actually receiving a regular FM broadcast from a radio station.
So as you can see there are plenty of ways to answer the question how can I use my mp3 player in my car. All you need to decide is which one you feel best suits your particular needs.
By: Douglas Taylor
About the Author:
In this article we will look at some different ways that you can now use your mp3 player in your car and so no longer will you need to worry about carrying all your favorite CD’s in the car in the future. Plus you have the added benefit of knowing that you can remove your mp3 player from your car and take it with you.
Nearly all mp3 players will have a port in which you connect your headphones. But in order for your to play your mp3 player in your car you will need to find a way of connecting this to the head unit using the headphone port. Below is one method that you may want to try.
Auxiliary In
This method will provide you with the best audio quality possible, in fact it is just about as good as the audio produced by a CD. Numerous head units (radios) in cars today have a front auxiliary input (known as the Aux-In) that allows you to plug directly from your mp3 player into the head unit. You will find that most Sony head units have this feature on all their entry-level units.
However there are other methods that you may want to try if you do not happen to have a head unit that has an auxiliary in feature with it. Below we look at some other ways in which you should be able to play your mp3 player in your car in the future.
Cassette Tape Adapter
This device is available for around $10 and can be found in most electronic stores. It provides you with an easy and straightforward method of hooking up an external device such as an mp3 player to your car stereo system. All you have to do is place the cassette tape in to the car’s tape player and then attach the other end to the headphone or line out jack situated on your mp3 player.
However, there are a number of drawbacks to this method. Firstly you need to have cassette player in your car (which unfortunately is becoming much less common in more modern cars) and secondly you will often the sound quality is reduced.
FM Transmitter
This system will transmit an audio signal of the your mp3 player to a specified FM frequency when it is plugged into the FM transmitter. What happens is your FM stereo in your car is then able to pick up the sounds as if it was actually receiving a regular FM broadcast from a radio station.
So as you can see there are plenty of ways to answer the question how can I use my mp3 player in my car. All you need to decide is which one you feel best suits your particular needs.
By: Douglas Taylor
About the Author:
For more information on ipod stereo accessories try visiting http://www.streamingaudio101.com where you will find tips, advice and resources about topics such as the best ipod case.
Origin, Development And History Of The Car Stereo System
Ever since car was used, various enthusiasts had adapted domestic equipments to use in their cars. The commercial introduction of the fitted car stereo system came in the form of radio the year 1930s from the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation.
The Galvin Manufacturing was owned and operated by Paul V. Galvin and his brother Joseph E. Galvin. The Galvin brothers purchased a battery eliminator business in 1928 and the first corporation product was a battery eliminator that allowed battery-powered radios to run on standard household electric current.
It was then in the 1930, the Galvin Corporation introduced the first commercial car radio, the Motorola model 5T71, which was sold for dollar 110 to dollar 130 and could be installed in almost all popular automobiles.
The name Motorola was coined when the founders Paul Galvin and Joe Galvin and his company started manufacturing car radios. The Motorola prefix motor was chosen because the initial focus was in automotive electronics.
Evolution of the car stereo system was subsequently taking place in various parts of the world . In the year 1932, Germany Blaupunkt fitted their first radio to a Studebaker and in the United Kingdom Crossley offered a factory fitted wireless in their 10 hp models from 1933. Thus began the evolution for the car stereo system.
The early car stereo systems were radio receivers that used the battery voltage 6.3 volts at the time to run the filaments, and generated the required high voltage using a ******** to drive a step up transformer. The receivers required more stages than the typical home receiver in order to ensure that enough gain was available to allow the AGC to mask signal fading when the car was driven around. Soon after that when the cars switched to 12 volt batteries, the same arrangement was used where instead of tubes 12 volt heaters were used.
However, it was German Blaupunkt in the year 1952 which became the first in the market to introduce the FM receivers, it was a step of advancement in the car stereo system market. With the introduction of FM receiver, the seek function stepped in.
The seek function would allow the user to tune from one station to the next at the push of a button. After this followed the introduction of semiconductors. Semiconductors allowed the output stage to change to a transistor, which soon lead to the elimination of the vibrator, and the use of space charge tubes that only required 12 volts on their plates.Thus, there was another advancement in technology.
With the advancements of electronics with time, it allowed new additions to the basic radio and Motorola. It followed tape players using reel to reel equipments. With Phillips joining in with the introduction of compact cassette, tape players also began to be used in cars.
By 1978 amplifiers were introduced in the markets and then it was no looking back. Today, car stereo systems have revolutionized with the introduction of CDs and DVDs. Now the modern cars have radio, cassette players, CDs and DVDs players, and also MP3 or MP4 players. Even the video system has been attached with it.
By: Victor Epand
About the Author:
The Galvin Manufacturing was owned and operated by Paul V. Galvin and his brother Joseph E. Galvin. The Galvin brothers purchased a battery eliminator business in 1928 and the first corporation product was a battery eliminator that allowed battery-powered radios to run on standard household electric current.
It was then in the 1930, the Galvin Corporation introduced the first commercial car radio, the Motorola model 5T71, which was sold for dollar 110 to dollar 130 and could be installed in almost all popular automobiles.
The name Motorola was coined when the founders Paul Galvin and Joe Galvin and his company started manufacturing car radios. The Motorola prefix motor was chosen because the initial focus was in automotive electronics.
Evolution of the car stereo system was subsequently taking place in various parts of the world . In the year 1932, Germany Blaupunkt fitted their first radio to a Studebaker and in the United Kingdom Crossley offered a factory fitted wireless in their 10 hp models from 1933. Thus began the evolution for the car stereo system.
The early car stereo systems were radio receivers that used the battery voltage 6.3 volts at the time to run the filaments, and generated the required high voltage using a ******** to drive a step up transformer. The receivers required more stages than the typical home receiver in order to ensure that enough gain was available to allow the AGC to mask signal fading when the car was driven around. Soon after that when the cars switched to 12 volt batteries, the same arrangement was used where instead of tubes 12 volt heaters were used.
However, it was German Blaupunkt in the year 1952 which became the first in the market to introduce the FM receivers, it was a step of advancement in the car stereo system market. With the introduction of FM receiver, the seek function stepped in.
The seek function would allow the user to tune from one station to the next at the push of a button. After this followed the introduction of semiconductors. Semiconductors allowed the output stage to change to a transistor, which soon lead to the elimination of the vibrator, and the use of space charge tubes that only required 12 volts on their plates.Thus, there was another advancement in technology.
With the advancements of electronics with time, it allowed new additions to the basic radio and Motorola. It followed tape players using reel to reel equipments. With Phillips joining in with the introduction of compact cassette, tape players also began to be used in cars.
By 1978 amplifiers were introduced in the markets and then it was no looking back. Today, car stereo systems have revolutionized with the introduction of CDs and DVDs. Now the modern cars have radio, cassette players, CDs and DVDs players, and also MP3 or MP4 players. Even the video system has been attached with it.
By: Victor Epand
About the Author:
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used DVDs, used movies, and used car stereos. You can find the best marketplace for used DVDs, used movies, and used car stereos at these sites for used DVDs, used movies, and Car stereo system, car music system, car music player, car radio.
Stereo Nation Mp3
Do you ever desire to listen to some cool music as you drive or relax in your house but you can’t find the right albums? Well, here comes an answer to your problem. Stereo Nation Mp3 is a new band that has released some quite interesting albums like Hit the Deck which has stayed on position one on the UK Asian pop charts for the last 36 weeks. Impressive, isn’t it?
Stereo Nation was founded by Taz, an Asian born in Britain. With time he did other genres of music like RNB, Soul, Dance and Bollywood. Some of the tracks that made stereo Nation soar high were ‘I’ve been waiting, the Box and Jambo’. they have been rated among the top ten videos in the UK.
The band did not stop there. They traveled all over the world showing their talent and throughout 1998, they toured Europe, India, far east, UAE, Africa, USA, south east Asia and Canada. By this time they were well established and they decided not to go solo any more. they therefore signed up with Time Music India and this is how the album Jambo was born. and spread all over Asia.
Stereo Nation’s music went beyond being recorded on mere tapes to being recorded in the Mp3 format which makes use of an algorithm, well compressed. These records are selling so widely. In December 2000, about 120000 units had been sold and will continue selling all over. With improved technology, you do not have to worry about where to buy them because you can easily download the Mp3 from the Internet.
By: Peter Gitundu
About the Author:
Stereo Nation was founded by Taz, an Asian born in Britain. With time he did other genres of music like RNB, Soul, Dance and Bollywood. Some of the tracks that made stereo Nation soar high were ‘I’ve been waiting, the Box and Jambo’. they have been rated among the top ten videos in the UK.
The band did not stop there. They traveled all over the world showing their talent and throughout 1998, they toured Europe, India, far east, UAE, Africa, USA, south east Asia and Canada. By this time they were well established and they decided not to go solo any more. they therefore signed up with Time Music India and this is how the album Jambo was born. and spread all over Asia.
Stereo Nation’s music went beyond being recorded on mere tapes to being recorded in the Mp3 format which makes use of an algorithm, well compressed. These records are selling so widely. In December 2000, about 120000 units had been sold and will continue selling all over. With improved technology, you do not have to worry about where to buy them because you can easily download the Mp3 from the Internet.
By: Peter Gitundu
About the Author:
Peter Gitundu Creates Interesting And Thought Provoking Content on Car Stereo. For More Information, Read More Of His Articles Here CAR STEREO If You Enjoyed This Article, Make Sure You SUBSCRIBE TO MY RSS FEED!
Car Audio
Remember the days before bass was invented? Ah, people back then didn’t know what they were missing. Audio systems in vehicles have become an important selling point for those looking to purchase a new car. For those people who travel long distances or who can’t stand silence in their vehicles, or who simply love music, audio systems are a key, if not essential, element in making their driving experience more enjoyable.
When you go to a dealership nowadays, you can usually get an upgraded sound system put into your vehicle prior to its purchase. Some of the most popular “upgraded audio packages” include sound systems by popular brands such as Audiovox, Pioneer and Bose sound systems. There are also neat radio deals (which will cost you extra outside of the sound system) such as Sirius radio, which is a radio featuring all sorts of different channels of music without the commercials. If you decide to purchase a vehicle with an upgraded “audio package,” some cool features you can expect to have include, but are certainly not limited to the following: channel controls mounted on the steering wheel, extra speakers mounted throughout the car (for more of a “surround sound” feel), as well as special audio features in SUVs which allow you to play music outside of your vehicle if you’re at the beach or tailgating.
When you purchase an upgraded sound system for your vehicle, expect to pay anywhere from $500 and upwards for the added features. Even though you may LOVE music, you need to keep other people in mind when you purchase it. Sure, the car is going to be yours and you may feel that whenever you are alone in your vehicle, you can blast the music as loud as you want. However, consider the area that you are driving in. Do you usually drive through a lot of quiet, residential areas? How much time do you end up sitting in rush hour traffic moving at like 2mph? Can you usually be found driving on country roads for hours on end, with no one else around? These are things to keep in mind when you purchase a sound system. For instance, it is against the law to have your music blasting past a certain level of loudness to the point where other people can hear your music even though your windows might be closed as well as theirs. Be aware of the noise ordinances that are in effect for the areas that you drive through. For example, if you live in Raleigh, if your music is audible past 50ft, you can be cited for it.
By: Brenda Williams
About the Author:
When you go to a dealership nowadays, you can usually get an upgraded sound system put into your vehicle prior to its purchase. Some of the most popular “upgraded audio packages” include sound systems by popular brands such as Audiovox, Pioneer and Bose sound systems. There are also neat radio deals (which will cost you extra outside of the sound system) such as Sirius radio, which is a radio featuring all sorts of different channels of music without the commercials. If you decide to purchase a vehicle with an upgraded “audio package,” some cool features you can expect to have include, but are certainly not limited to the following: channel controls mounted on the steering wheel, extra speakers mounted throughout the car (for more of a “surround sound” feel), as well as special audio features in SUVs which allow you to play music outside of your vehicle if you’re at the beach or tailgating.
When you purchase an upgraded sound system for your vehicle, expect to pay anywhere from $500 and upwards for the added features. Even though you may LOVE music, you need to keep other people in mind when you purchase it. Sure, the car is going to be yours and you may feel that whenever you are alone in your vehicle, you can blast the music as loud as you want. However, consider the area that you are driving in. Do you usually drive through a lot of quiet, residential areas? How much time do you end up sitting in rush hour traffic moving at like 2mph? Can you usually be found driving on country roads for hours on end, with no one else around? These are things to keep in mind when you purchase a sound system. For instance, it is against the law to have your music blasting past a certain level of loudness to the point where other people can hear your music even though your windows might be closed as well as theirs. Be aware of the noise ordinances that are in effect for the areas that you drive through. For example, if you live in Raleigh, if your music is audible past 50ft, you can be cited for it.
By: Brenda Williams
About the Author:
Car Stereos Leave CDs in the Dust
The saga of audio playback media reads like Roman history. The record was toppled by the eight-track tape, which was overthrown by the cassette, only to be later slain by the compact disc (CD). And, despite fending off attempted coups by the likes of the MiniDisc, it appears as though the CD’s reign may finally be coming to an end – usurped by new digital music technologies. While plummeting CD sales and increased iTunes downloads have provided an indication of the transference of power, a new trend in car stereos is making it official.
More than any other place, the car is where people listen to music. Cruising around with the latest summer jams blaring is a tradition that spans nearly the entire life of the automobile. This is why getting phased out of car stereos is the kiss of death for any audio media (just look at cassettes and eight-track tapes). Now, that kiss of death is being planted on the CD. In the past year, major car-stereo producers – including Clarion and Alpine – have introduced decks with ports for connecting digital media players in place of traditional CD players. While previous stereos featured both media ports and CD players, newer models have done away with the CD component altogether.
People want the convenience of having a single source for all their music needs, and, as a result, nearly every device, from alarm clocks to running shoes, has become “iPod compatible”. Several car-stereo makers have responded to the demand by dropping the CD player to provide enhanced portable media data transmission and sound quality. Clarion rolled out a $199 stereo in 2007 that plays music from MP3 players or SD cards instead of CD players. The company used the CD-free stereo as a test to gauge market interest and they’ve said it hit expectations. Meanwhile, Alpine released four new CD-free receivers in the beginning of the year (priced between $200 and $450) designed specifically for use with iPods.
However, despite these models (and a few others by stereo makers like Blaupunkt), the overwhelming majority of decks on the market still have CD players. And most makers believe it’s too early to drop the CD player altogether. For one thing, a lot of people – particularly older drivers – are still more likely to get the majority of their music from CDs. Another major factor is that CD sound quality is better than the quality of compressed audio files – though only music aficionados can really tell the difference (and most of them say that sound quality on CDs is a drop from vinyl anyway). Of course, the major advantage these new players offer is that they eliminate all the bulky CD cases and books littering vehicle interiors everywhere. That, and the fact that downloads won’t skip even if a driver rides for twenty miles on rumble strips.
Still, for now, the CD retains its place atop the audio media hierarchy. But it’s on borrowed time, awaiting the inevitable overthrow already in the works. And, if history is any indication, CD-free car stereos suggest the end is drawing near.
By: Shad Connelly
About the Author:
More than any other place, the car is where people listen to music. Cruising around with the latest summer jams blaring is a tradition that spans nearly the entire life of the automobile. This is why getting phased out of car stereos is the kiss of death for any audio media (just look at cassettes and eight-track tapes). Now, that kiss of death is being planted on the CD. In the past year, major car-stereo producers – including Clarion and Alpine – have introduced decks with ports for connecting digital media players in place of traditional CD players. While previous stereos featured both media ports and CD players, newer models have done away with the CD component altogether.
People want the convenience of having a single source for all their music needs, and, as a result, nearly every device, from alarm clocks to running shoes, has become “iPod compatible”. Several car-stereo makers have responded to the demand by dropping the CD player to provide enhanced portable media data transmission and sound quality. Clarion rolled out a $199 stereo in 2007 that plays music from MP3 players or SD cards instead of CD players. The company used the CD-free stereo as a test to gauge market interest and they’ve said it hit expectations. Meanwhile, Alpine released four new CD-free receivers in the beginning of the year (priced between $200 and $450) designed specifically for use with iPods.
However, despite these models (and a few others by stereo makers like Blaupunkt), the overwhelming majority of decks on the market still have CD players. And most makers believe it’s too early to drop the CD player altogether. For one thing, a lot of people – particularly older drivers – are still more likely to get the majority of their music from CDs. Another major factor is that CD sound quality is better than the quality of compressed audio files – though only music aficionados can really tell the difference (and most of them say that sound quality on CDs is a drop from vinyl anyway). Of course, the major advantage these new players offer is that they eliminate all the bulky CD cases and books littering vehicle interiors everywhere. That, and the fact that downloads won’t skip even if a driver rides for twenty miles on rumble strips.
Still, for now, the CD retains its place atop the audio media hierarchy. But it’s on borrowed time, awaiting the inevitable overthrow already in the works. And, if history is any indication, CD-free car stereos suggest the end is drawing near.
By: Shad Connelly
About the Author:
Shad Connelly,
Executive Editor -
Invention & Technology News (http://news.inventhelp.com)
