Car Audio

Car audio is one of my favourite hobby. That is why I like to install it by myself. I don't like the car audio shop to handle my system because I just don't like the way they do things right. I think you know what I meant, but some of them do it smart and customers appreciate it. I noticed some of them are careless, taking things for granted. Loose screws, improper fitting the items into its place and even worse when they plug in wrong cables and a wrong set up of system. I had seen this many times when watching their installation techniques. I felt upset when they bought expensive set up and installed it in their car, unfortunately the sound seemed not right due to poor box enclosures design, cheap wires for amplifiers and speakers and poor installation setting and tuning. I even asked the shop why the sound like this and that.....they informed that they need to add this and that to make it right.....meaning requesting more money from the customer. What is this? The customers are easily being cheated by them since they do not know anything about proper car audio. What a pity.

Choosing, designing and installing car audio is not easy unless you have ideas about electronics as well as good imagination and patience. Although I have no basic in electronics, but I learned things step by step from friends, books, magazine and even website until I was able to install my own car audio. I like my set up to be simple but yet nice to hear inside the car since you're the one who enjoy it. It's like a surround system. I don't need those heavy bass that you can hear miles away, ending up with noise induced hearing impairment one day.

It took almost 2 weeks to complete the installation since I did it myself. DIY is fun where you know all about your systems, you can adjust the tweeters an speakers as you like and design your own system as you like.....zero interruption. This installation was in my Mitsubishi Grandis.

10 AWG power cable was used to power the amplifier. A fuse should be attached at least 30 cm (IASCA rule) or nearer to prevent short circuit and damage the whole system

Head unit - Sony DVD in dash monitor. No digital equalizer or pre-amp since this HU has built in equalizer, so save money. Street wires RCA were used to connect to the amplifier. Hiiii......Malaysian Ambi pur

Guess....what brand is this? It's Focal 6.5" component speaker. Not enough space so the tweeter was mounted outside

MTX 6.5" coaxial speaker for the rear

Roof mounted monitor. Look.....it slides back and forth because the monitor is too big (10 inch). Distance makes it a better view

Soundstream 5 channel amplifier to power front, rear and subwoofer. A 1 Farad capacitor to maintain the power especially the bass...power hunger. I make an enclosed box and placed it at the back with the subwoofer

My favourite RF 10" woofer in a ported box. This box was calculated and cut according to its cubic feet. The correct measurement always give the correct output. The bass produced was awesome. Tweak the system one by one. The sound was just like in the cinemas.

My nExT PrOjECt

Honda Civic was equipped with JVC DVD double din. I just changed the front and rear speakers. Thinking to add in subwoofer.

DLS component speakers. I got it cheap B$150 only...hehehee

Enough for now then........

Here are some tips for you whenever you want to install car audio:

1) Look for shop that really knew about car audio. I suggest to go to known car audio retailers such as Everstrong, Car Quest, Blaupunkt and so on. Others you can try and have a glance thru it. Some retailers want to dig your pocket money, so be careful. You should know with whom you're dealing with.

2) Loan from bank is the most dangerous deal. Keep away is a good idea.

3) Go for a better brand if you can, but again look at your budget.

4) Simple set up is always the best choice.