Car Audio

A car audio system is a music player with speakers located inside a vehicle to provide musical entertainment to the driver and the passengers when travelling. The first car audio systems were launched in the 1930s by the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation and included only a radio player. Nowadays, these systems offer a whole array of features. The heart of the modern car audio system is the head unit, which consists of the actual CD/MP3/DVD player along with the radio receiver.

Some head units even offer Bluetooth, USB and WiFi connectivity. An LCD screen helps the user navigate through the various controls. In order to get the best sound effects in an enclosed space like a car, the location of the speakers is of paramount importance. For an aesthetic appeal the speakers are usually recessed into the car’ body and cannot be seen at first glance. Most often, they are installed within the vehicle doors or behind the dashboard. Vents in front of the speakers enabled the sound to carry outwards.

While these locations were apt for the tweeters that emitted sound in the higher frequency range, the woofers had to be placed in a place where they would provide a proper ’bass boom’ without jarring. A perfect spot for the woofers is the car boot or the space beneath the seats. Along with amplifiers, some car audio systems exhibit surround sound with a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system. Considering their vulnerability to theft, many car audio systems have security features too.