5 Myths About Aftermarket Audio Equipment
Confused About the Best Car Audio Equipment? Read On to Clear Your Mind
Misinformation abounds on the internet, especially in light of all these posts written by clickbait artists that merely repeat information that other clickbait artists have repeated elsewhere. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing information that you’ve repeatedly read or heard elsewhere.
A little research is helpful in dispelling common misconceptions, especially where it relates to car audio equipment. Here are five common myths about aftermarket audio, with the correct information.
Myth #1: Adding More Speakers Will Make My Car Sound Better.
Cramming in as many speakers as possible to show off or for status won’t make your favorite music sound better.
More is not always better when it comes to speakers. Adding more speakers will make your car louder, sure, but it turns the music into a muddy mess.
If you choose a single pair of high-quality speakers and good aftermarket audio equipment to back it, you can center the music and create a custom soundstage in your car. With a single pair of speakers, you can get even more power than you can with multiple sets of speakers, and it sounds so much crisper and detailed.
Look at winners of car audio competitions. All they use are a few high-quality speakers installed by master technicians. You don’t need a lot of speakers if you use the very best car audio equipment.
Myth #2: Using These Expensive Speaker Wires With My Aftermarket Car Audio Installation Will Improve Sound Quality
You might have heard some audiophiles - or, more likely, some companies trying to sell you high-priced cables - say that expensive speaker wires improve sound quality.
There’s a grain of truth to this, but only a grain. Aftermarket car audio installation experts have pointed out that using low-resistance wire allows more power to travel easily to the speaker coil. A shorter wire offers less resistance. A wider-gauge wire also offers less resistance, up to a point. Wires to both speakers should be of equal lengths.
However, even these changes will only make a subtle change in sound quality - not enough to hear, and not enough to justify buying $600 speaker cables.
A speaker wire, however, will definitely affect sound quality if it’s not plugged in, or if your system is wired incorrectly.
Myth #3: “I Don’t Need a Subwoofer.”
The subwoofer fills in the deep bass that the other speakers in the aftermarket audio equipment can’t. But this isn’t just some crude tool to make the walls shake when you’re watching an action movie.
Even classical music needs a subwoofer. After all, they have double basses, tuba, timpani, and organs with pedal notes that go down to 16 Hz. Regular speakers can’t even reach that kind of bass.
Electronic music has notes that even the best car audio equipment struggles with. A subwoofer rolls these bass notes out effortlessly, and adds so much richness and color to the music.
But get an EQ that covers the subwoofers as well. The bass should be adjusted so all the music blends and sounds gorgeous.
Myth #4: I Don’t Need an Amp for My Aftermarket Audio Equipment!
“Amplifiers are only used to make the music louder, anyway, right?” Sure! But they have a bigger part to play in your car’s sound than this.
A good amplifier gives you volume without distortion when you crank it up. It powers your subwoofer. It gives you an equalizer so you can adjust your sound to your specifications. It gives your audio equipment more headroom, allowing it to play louder without breaking a sweat. It also brings out the beauty and details of high-fidelity music files that factory speakers can’t manage.
An amp isn’t just used for volume. It gives you a huge array of possibilities and lets you hear the music the way it’s meant to be heard, with all the clean, sparkling detail that will make you fall in love with it again.
Myth #5: My Car Doesn’t Have Room For A Subwoofer
Even if you don’t think there’s room in your car or truck for a subwoofer, think again. A professional aftermarket car audio installation expert has ways to fit a subwoofer into your vehicle so it looks great and sounds better.
Some use free-air subwoofers in their car’s rear deck, using their trunk as an enclosure. Compact subwoofers fit into small spaces. Other subwoofers are custom-designed for your vehicle so it matches your car’s interior design while rocking your car with great bass.
A subwoofer can even be installed in the spare wheel well, which hides it from potential thieves and gives you plenty of car space.
Are You Ready to Customize Your Car With the Best Car Audio Equipment?
There are a number of myths about car audio that can be dispelled with a little research and reading. Whether you want to listen to Shostakovich, Post Malone, Nicki Minaj, or Blackpink, you want the best sound from your car audio. Pay a visit to your local car stereo experts to choose the best car audio equipment for your ride.