How Cars and Music go hand in hand, and why I've become a Car audio nut. (Part 1 in an adventure.)

"Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare" (jbezugs)
01/20/2014 at 15:00 • Filed to: Car Audio Adventure, stereolopnik

Authors note: This is part one of a series that will chronicle my journey into Car Audio, with no knowledge what so ever. I hope you all enjoy it, and hopefully I can help others who would like a better sound experience in their car. Because that's what it's all about, right?

For all of us, they go hand in hand, don't they? Whether its cruising down Main Street bumpin' Still D.R.E, or ripping through canyons blasting Radar Love, music seems to have an integral role in the driving experience, for a lot of people.

I feel that none of my driving journeys (besides track days [in a Camry of all things]) would be the same without music. But, why is that? Is it the countless musicians singing about cars, or all the car commercials you see wth a classic rock lick? Is it the car chases in movies and TV with orchestra epics? I can't exactly put my finger on what. But I know music and driving will forever be associated.

Now, I like listening to music in my car more than others for sure. I fancy myself to be a music nerd. I've been playing bass for 6 years, have a thing for HiFi gear and Vinyl, and my music libary is 3000 strong, consisting of absolutley everything you can think of, from Rush, Snoop Dogg and Armin van Burren, to Luciano Pavarotti, Idris Muhammed (for you Jazz & Soul guys out there), and LCD Soundsystem.

As you can tell, I really enjoy my music, but I've never really been a sit down with headphones and listen type of guy. I love feeling and experiencing my music, which my car enables me to do, while getting me from place to place. So that's why a nice sounding audio system is important to me, but in the past, stock stereo systems in cars have been far from stellar, to stay the very least. In the past 5 years however, they have advanced considerably. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! from the Jalop guys shows how much they have advance on the high end, but what about the average cars we buy? I'll point to Fender systems put in newer VW's, Alpine's in the Mopars, and Boston Acoustics' system in newer Camaros, but most stock systems in almost all cars can get the job done. So, its easier than ever to get a decent audio experience in a car.

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On the flipside, my 2004 Camry didn't have a good stock system. Flat, muddy, and if any bass even touches the speakers, the speakers and trim rattle and shake worse than a meth-addict on a 3 day bender. Which is what has turned me into a Car Audio freak. Now, you're probably thinking, what's the point? Why not put your money towards performance and screw the audio, that's the Jalop way!

Well, 3 reasons.

1. I like music.
2. It's a Camry.
3. See number 2.

Now, I am a student, so I was on a strict budget. So, for Part 2, I will get into the start my first system build, and how to choose the best head unit for you, based on features, size, and your budget.

Happy listening!

DISCUSSION (18)

Mathias Rios > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare
01/20/2014 at 15:06

Looking forward to part two and what you did. I had my own little audio system escapade haha.

Agrajag > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare
01/20/2014 at 15:08

Audio is a huge factor for me as well. I could not care less about huge bass heavy systems. I want high fidelity.

AthomSfere > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare
01/20/2014 at 15:12

If you recommend A) Sony, or B) Bose for any reason... Well lets just say all respect and interest lost as a big audio fan myself...

Sony has a very distinct sound. I got in a friends car with Sony Amp, speakers and head unit and the first thing I said was "It sounds like Sony in here" and he filled me in.

Not that it sounds bad, it just sound weird. And Bose is just waaaay over priced / over hyped when there are better AND less expensive options.

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > Agrajag
01/20/2014 at 15:12

Amen, I'm in the process of rebuilding my system for sound quality. So many people (read: people my age) just want the block shaking bass, which just isn't for me.

Paul, Man of Mustangs > Agrajag
01/20/2014 at 15:14

I like a sound system with a subwoofer, just because the sound feels empty otherwise. And in my Mustang, the exhaust drowns out all the bass from the regular speakers, so a subwoofer is pretty much necessary. But being able to blast my tunes as loud as my ears can stand while having crisp notes is very important to me.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > AthomSfere
01/20/2014 at 15:16

Yeah, my Taurus SHO has a Sony system. While it sounds good, it doesn't blow me away with awesomeness. The Sony system is the premium option for the Taurus and I think it should better than it actually does... It's also so complex that it isn't cheap to upgrade either. I'm really curious if some new door speakers would be enough to make me happier with it.

Agrajag > Paul, Man of Mustangs
01/20/2014 at 15:23

I should have clarified better. I'm okay with a subwoofer as bass is an important aspect of sound quality. I do not like when it is the only consideration in the build.

Kinja'd!!!

Paul, Man of Mustangs > Agrajag
01/20/2014 at 15:28

I figured that was the case. Hearing that Scion's license plate frame from several blocks away just doesn't do it for me. 1000 Watts is as powerful as I really care for in a subwoofer system, and then it must be crisp, and the rest of the car needs to be built to not rattle.

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > AthomSfere
01/20/2014 at 15:31

A) Ahh, Sony Explode, the worst car audio components by a name brand ever produced.
All jokes aside, apparently their new GS series components are not too bad (they've completley gotten rid of the Xplod line) although I'd still prefer other brands.

B) No highs no lows, must be Bose. In the home audio world, they're known for getting decent sound out of shitty components, but in car? Just awful.

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
01/20/2014 at 15:35

Sometimes, all it takes is a speaker upgrade. Other times, the factory head units are to blame, with poor eqing and sound processing. Now, since most cars don't work with the DIN system anymore and have their audio systems fully integrated (your Taurus is probably one of them), an aftermarket HU is not an option. So, your best bet is an outboard DSP. Some can get very pricey, but for most, an 150 buck unit is more than enough to add good EQing options to your stock system, which should give some life to it. Also, they have RCA line outs, so you can easily add amplifiers to your system if you want to go down the path of a more serious upgrade (speakers, amps, the lot).

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > Mathias Rios
01/20/2014 at 15:36

It's time consuming, but it sure is fun.

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > Paul, Man of Mustangs
01/20/2014 at 15:38

The subwoofer fills out what your speakers can't get to, so they are an integral part of a build. However, there is a vast difference of subs and sub tuning for SPL vs. SQ.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare
01/20/2014 at 16:30

Ah, so you are saying I could run a better DSP too my existing system for some improvement?

I've asked around on message boards but never really got a satisfactory answer as to what a budget/best-bang-for-buck upgrade would be, all I've seen is money-is-no-object systems.

You are correct in assuming that an aftermarket HU is no option, capturing the sound before the stock amplifier is also not an option, because it is canbus. In a recent post I read someone connected an MS-8 to the sony system. Which is aw run for about $400.

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
01/20/2014 at 16:45

A miniDSP is an excelent option. Yes, its missing some of the options of the JBL, but at 170, its very resonably priced, and still very powerful. The only issue would be whether or not the factory HU has balanced output, and if not, getting the DSP to work with an unbalanced input. However, they do sell DSP's with unbalanced input options as well.

Axial > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare
01/20/2014 at 22:14

For me, the quality of the audio in the car has to match the atmosphere in and around the car itself. For example, if I jump into a posh, cushy 21st century automobile, I expect high fidelity, clarity, and a large range in the frequency response; the Monsoon audio system in my 2002 Jetta was fantastic. If I jump into my C4 Corvette, however, I actually want the somewhat lacklustre Delco base-level audio because it reminds me of when I was little and how all of the audio in cars was pretty much crap. It has a "90s" sound quality about it.

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > Axial
01/20/2014 at 22:29

I see where your coming from, its for the nostalgia factor.
Although when I was a wee boy, my Dad's IROC had a full sound system and so did my Mom's Windstar... so you could say I'm jaded.

Axial > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare
01/20/2014 at 22:36

I rode around in a '93 Voyager and an '87 Escort as a kid, neither was really great in the audio department. That said, I'm usually pretty particular about my audio. I just recently ditched my computer's set of Logitech speakers to resurrect an old set of JBL-46 cabinets and wired them to a 1982 Technics SA-222 receiver. It's just that when it comes to cars, I like to feel like I'm in the era I'm driving. Since my perception of what made a decade I wasn't around to remember is skewed by the quality of the media that was preserved, that's what I shoot for.

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > Axial
01/20/2014 at 22:44

That's totally fair, and nice setup, old school JBL and Technics stuff is to die for!

I resurrected my dad's old hifi system so I could bring it with me to university, NEC Authentic series speakers, and an Akai AM-U04 amplifier, with matching FM/AM reciever and cassette deck (all made in Japan, circa 1983).

Glad to see a HiFi nerd amongst us Jalops.