If you visit a new car dealership these days, you’ll notice more and more cars, trucks and SUVs with small touchscreen displays that are mounted in front of or above the dash. While these infotainment systems provide you with AM/FM terrestrial radio, SiriusXM Satellite radio and playback of all your favorite digital media files, these systems aren’t traditional car radios in the classic sense of the word. Confused? There’s no need to be; we’ll explain.

What is a Classic Car Radio?

For decades, the standard for car radios was a chassis that measured roughly 2 inches in height and 7 inches in width. This standard, known as ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 7736, was based on DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) 75490 or 180 mm by 50 mm. Although never popular in North American vehicles, ISO 10487 defined a set of standards for radio connectors and wire harness colors. The colors are used by all aftermarket radio manufacturers, but few adopted the connectors due to their large size.

Contained within these tight confines is a power supply, an AM/FM receiver and, depending on your age, possible a cassette player, a CD mechanism, along with support for digital media playback by USB or a combination of these technologies.

Where is the Radio in My New Car?

If you were to look for the “radio” in a new car, you might find a metal box with two or three multi-pin connectors on it. There isn’t likely to be a display affixed to the box, nor any controls. Referred to by Japanese head unit manufacturers as a “silver box” design, these radio modules interface with the controls and displays already built into the dash, center console and steering wheel of your vehicle. Depending on the design of your vehicle, these silver boxes may be mounted in the dash, under a seat or in the cargo area of the vehicle.

How Can I Upgrade My Car Stereo?

If you happen to have purchased a vehicle that is designed around a silver box radio, you can still upgrade your car stereo system. You won’t be starting with a new radio. Your upgrade will come in the form of better speakers, more-powerful amplifiers, a subwoofer or a digital signal processor. In the hands of a properly trained mobile enhancement retailer, every aspect of the listening experience in your car can be improved: clarity, detail, tonal balance, low-frequency extension and — of course — overall volume level. You just have to explain your goals and let their expertise guide you to the end goal.

What If I Want to Upgrade the Technology in My Vehicle?

Say, for example, that your vehicle didn’t come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Companies like NAV-TV offer upgrades for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Lexus and Range Rover vehicles to add these smartphone interface technologies. More applications are always in the works.

Likewise, companies like VAIS Technology offer Satellite Radio interfaces that work with Toyota, Scion, Honda, Hyundai, Ford, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat, Nissan, Mazda, Porsche, Chevrolet, GMC, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo and Subaru factory radios. They also have Bluetooth add-on modules for many Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

Finally, if your new vehicle didn’t come with a CD player, companies like Automotive Integration Solutions (AIS) have add-on solutions that work with your USB port.

Upgrade Your Car Stereo Today!

If the entertainment system that came with your vehicle doesn’t offer the features or performance you want, drop by your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer today to find out how it can be improved. They’d be happy to make your commute to work or school a little more enjoyable through new infotainment options.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

If you are a fan of upgraded car audio systems, then you might have noticed that technology has made things a lot more complicated. Years ago, it was easy to upgrade your stereo. A new radio, some new speakers and maybe a subwoofer like a Bazooka Tube were all you needed to improve on the factory sound system. Since 2010 (depending on the vehicle), even mid-level OEM audio systems have been able to rival or exceed what would have been deemed an upgrade years ago. While still a long way from what creates a true audiophile-grade listening experience, the technology used to achieve impressive performance levels has made upgrading things challenging.

Why are OEM Audio Systems So Complicated?

Vehicle manufacturers are in a constant battle with the laws of physics to provide their clients with the most performance, comfort, features and fuel economy for their dollar. Smaller turbocharged engines with fuel injection have more than doubled fuel economy as compared to the big carbureted V8s from the ’60s. Blind-spot monitoring and anti-lock braking systems help us prevent accidents. When it comes to audio systems, compact Class-D amplifiers with integrated digital signal processing allow OEM audio suppliers like Harman, Bose and Panasonic to deliver impressive audio performance from a compact, lightweight package.

The technology in these audio systems not only sounds OK at low and moderate volume levels, depending on the vehicle, but can also provide realistic imaging and staging from both front seats. Until a few years ago, the car audio aftermarket couldn’t deliver the same two-seat performance without a complex and potentially costly installation.

Upgrade Your Factory Stereo with a Subwoofer

If you have a complex sound system that includes a center channel or any sort of 3D processing features, your local car stereo shop can still upgrade the system for better sound. The first step would be to add a subwoofer. Very few (if any) systems can’t benefit from better bass performance with extended low-frequency performance that a subwoofer can provide. If you are imagining a large enclosure in the trunk of your car, don’t fret. Today, most upgrades can be concealed in the spare tirewell, behind or under the rear seat in a truck, or in a trim panel in the cargo area of an SUV.

Crank the Volume with a High-Power Amplifier

If you want the system to play louder, then adding a multi-channel amplifier with an integrated digital signal processor is a good starting point. A new six-channel with DSP amp can deliver as much as 150 watts of power to the front speakers to ensure you never run out of juice when you crank up the volume. Most of these amplifiers have provisions for a subwoofer amplifier with a processed signal so your installer can tune the subwoofer once it’s added to the system.

If you’d added an amplifier and some tuning capability, then upgrading the system with new speakers is the icing on the cake in terms of getting great sound. Truly high-quality speakers include features like copper or aluminum shorting rings, copper T-yoke caps, and flat-wound voice coils to reduce distortion and improve clarity. When paired with a quality amplifier and tuned to compensate for the acoustics of your vehicle, new speakers will transform the listening experience into something truly amazing.

Factory Amplifier Replacement Interfaces

Companies like NAV-TV, Metra, PAC and mObridge offer interfaces that allow your installer to replace a factory amplifier and open up complete flexibility in terms of designing a new audio system. If you want to eliminate the signal processing that came with the factory stereo and pick your amplifiers and processors, then one of these interfaces is a perfect starting point. The interfaces work with many factory-installed audio systems that use MOST, A2B and CAN communication protocols and will typically eliminate Active Noise Control (ANC) and systems that inject engine sounds into the audio system.

Embrace Modern Car Audio Technology

Even though modern automotive infotainment systems have become exceedingly complex, your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer can take the best of what the vehicle manufacturer provided and spice it up with a subwoofer, new amplifier and better speakers. If the stereo in your car or truck doesn’t put a smile on your face, drop by a local shop and see what they can do to help!

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

In recent years, vehicle manufacturers have turned to active noise cancellation to make the interior of new cars and trucks quieter. Using technology similar to that found in noise-canceling headphones, the perceived level of low-frequency road and wind noise can be reduced using the audio system. When it comes time to upgrade your car or truck with a subwoofer, this noise-canceling technology can wreak havoc with your upgrade if not addressed properly.

What is Active Noise Cancellation?

Active noise cancellation (ANC), also known as active noise control, reduces the perceived level of road and wind noise by creating sounds through the factory stereo that, when combined with the noise, cancel each other out. The system works using signals from a series of microphones placed around the vehicle. These signals are inverted and after appropriate processing and delays, sent to the larger speakers in the car. The audio signals produced by the speakers mix with the noise information and cancel each other out. The result is a much quieter cabin and minimal added weight compared to passive noise solutions like sound deadening. One of the first commercially available vehicles to use ANC was the 1992 Nissan Bluebird. The benefit was minimal because of the limited signal processing power available at the time.

Many modern vehicles, including the Honda Accord, Nissan Maxima, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevy Silverado and Infiniti Q60 and Q70 feature modern implementations of this technology.

This noise-canceling technology is similar to what Sony and Bose use in their noise-canceling headphones.

How Does ANC Affect a Car Audio Upgrade?

Vehicle manufacturers invest a lot of time in designing and calibrating these noise-canceling systems. If you’ve decided to upgrade your car stereo system with an amplifier, new speakers, a subwoofer or sound deadening, your installer will need to check for the presence of an ANC system. If upgrades are installed without disabling ANC, large amounts of unwanted low-frequency will be added to the system.

If you are wondering if your vehicle will be noisier with the ANC disabled, you might be right. Don’t fret. This can be fixed with the addition of carefully implemented passive sound absorption solutions. Adding sound deadening to the firewall, the fenders, the doors and the roof will dramatically reduce the amount of noise that enters the vehicle and allow your new stereo equipment to sound amazing. Adding sound deadening may produce better overall results than an ANC system as active systems are limited to only low-frequency information. The small amount of added weight is a small price to pay for the dramatic improvement in the sound of your mobile audio system.

Upgrade Your Car Stereo System Today

If you are tired of lifeless, boring sound from your car stereo, drop by a local specialty mobile enhancement retailer today and find out what they can offer in terms of an upgrade. If your vehicle has active noise cancellation, they will let you know what’s required to keep things quiet and comfortable as you drive. Don’t let a little technology stand in the way of enjoying your music with the detail, impact and clarity you want.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.