There’s no need to sacrifice great sound quality in your car because you lack the knowledge to improve your current system. Your car’s sound quality can be as good as what’s in your headphones, actually better, and can vastly improve your road trip experience without having to consult a sound technician.
There are small improvements you can make to your car’s sound system that will provide the sound quality you’ve always wanted in your car. It’s easier than you think to do so, and you can improve your car’s sound using a few simple methods.
Car Audio Tips For Better Sound Quality
1. Make Your Car Sound Proof
Installing material that will deaden outside road noise is a fairly simple fix to avoid static sound and reduce the amount of power your amps will have to use to grow louder. This actually helps to minimize the sounds that you don’t want to interrupt your listening experience.
Many speakers are installed into the door of a vehicle which puts them at risk for these interruptions. Installing sound-deadening products like Dynatape will help to eliminate these noises and will stabilize your speakers for a smoother, clearer sound.
It will also protect your amps from having to work at such a high frequency to mask inconsistencies.
Learn more about soundproofing:
- Best quality materials to soundproof your car
- Worthy alternatives to Dynamat
- Car soundproofing using sprays
- How to effectively soundproof your car
2. Install an amplifier
Nothing will make your bass as clear or powerful sounding as an amplifier. No matter how good or complex your speakers are, an amp will always be the best way to add an extra layer of quality sound.
In fact, experts would say that the best way to improve a sound system quite easily with the most dramatic effects would be by adding an amplifier.
See our best car amplifier articles below:
3. Use High-Quality Cables For Your Amplifier
The addition of an amplifier won’t be much of an improvement if there aren’t high-quality cables attached to them. The amplifier won’t have to work so hard to exchange frequencies, making sure that the power balance from the cables to the amplifier keeps its balance and quality.
4. Install An Equalizer (or a signal processor)
Car speakers have to overcome different sound challenges than stand-alone speakers, mostly because of the ever-present road noise and the space in which the speakers function — that is — a confined space made up of glass, plastic, and cloth.
This environment allows for the sound to bounce off and be soaked up, both of which are not great for the overall sound quality. A way to fix easily this would be with an equalizer.
An equalizer can be added to a few places where it’s sure to be safe and function properly, whether it be near the amplifier, built into the receiver, or secured on the dash. These unintended or shaky sounds can be rectified with the right equalizer, which will allow you to hone in on exactly which sounds are being distorted.
Sound processors aim to do the same thing by analyzing acoustics, increasing bass, and eliminating frequency response peaks. Outboard equalizers and parametric equalizers are the best to use, and after some trial and error, you’ll be well on your way to perfecting the sound in your car.
5. Add A Subwoofer
One of the most crystal clear differences in a sound system besides the addition of an amplifier is that of a subwoofer. Often, these are the accessories responsible for an immense increase in sound and bass.
Subwoofers are responsible for amplifying the lowest octave to balance, which will provide the ability for the music to be experienced in an entirely new way. Once you have a subwoofer, you’ll never want to go back.
Types of Car Subwoofers:
- Best Subwoofer for Car
- Under seat Subwoofer
- Free Air Subwoofer
- 12 inch Subwoofer
- Shallow Mount Subwoofer
- 10 Inch Subwoofer
- 15 Inch Subwoofer
- Car Competition Subwoofer
6. Build A Box For Your Subwoofer
If you have a subwoofer or plan on installing one, you’ll want to have a secure method of protecting it from damage. First off, the subwoofer box should be sealed to make sure that air doesn’t get through and affect the sound or damage the mechanism itself.
You’ll want to build a box with the correct interior volume, as a subwoofer can be quickly destroyed if the box it’s put in is not built correctly for its particular sound quality.
If you’re hesitant about constructing your own box, there are pre-made enclosures on the market that will avoid any damage to your subwoofer.
7. Replace Your Speakers
This is perhaps the most elaborate change you can make to your car’s sound system. Replacing factory speakers, or speakers that are no longer functional can be quite easy if you have the right replacements. Don’t underestimate how much you can improve your sound with a complete overhaul.
Our coverage of car speakers:
- Best Car Speakers
- 6×9 Speakers
- 6×8 Speakers
- 4 Inch Speakers
- Component Speakers
- 6.5 Inch Speakers
- Coaxial vs Component Speakers
- 5.25 Speakers
- Marine Speakers
8. Use Higher Quality Audio Files
If you’ve taken precautions to improve the sound in your car, you might also look at the quality of sound that you are buying, streaming, or downloading. The higher quality the audio files are, the better the sound will be in your car.
If you’ve gone to the trouble to upgrade your system, you should consider upgrading your files.
9. Don’t Play Files Off Your Phone
Speaking of sound quality, the best mode of playing music is not via an auxiliary cord. This will guarantee compression issues. Though many people listen to audio via their phones nowadays, it’s actually not the most optimal medium to use for great sound quality.
In fact, neither is Bluetooth. Cars still have disc drives for CDs that can be put to good use. Otherwise, USB cables are more suitable for use in the car.
10. Make Sure All Parts Are In Harmony
Once you have your sound system loaded with all the accessories and equipment you’ll need for the ultimate listening experience, you’ll have to make sure that all of the pieces are working together as a complete system, which will take time and practice.
The hardest part of building the perfect sound system in a car is not getting frustrated or giving up. And of course, the perfect sound system is subjective and based on the listener’s preference to get the full effect.
