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Novice writer/installer/operator
As Crutchfield's newest car A/V writer and consumer electronics neophyte, I was assigned the task of discovering for myself the intricate art of car stereo installation and reporting on the experience. If you're like me, you've never installed any aftermarket stereo equipment in your car. Were I to be brutally honest, I'd mention that I've never installed any professional grade audio/video equipment anywhere. So, installing a brand new sound system into my tired old car initially sent shivers of reluctance down my spine.
Top 3 roadblocks to car audio installation
Happily, you may put your worries at bay, because I have successfully overcome all of these mental impediments and have transformed my humble, just-get-me-there vehicle into a traveling sound chariot worthy of my time and attention. The process of installing one component at a time — beginning with the receiver, then front and rear speakers, and finally a set of bass blockers — allowed me to appreciate fully the difference each made to the overall sound.
Who knew that an aftermarket sound system could change your whole outlook on getting from A to B? Millions of people actually, and as the newest convert, I'll tell you why.
As Crutchfield's newest car A/V writer and consumer electronics neophyte, I was assigned the task of discovering for myself the intricate art of car stereo installation and reporting on the experience. If you're like me, you've never installed any aftermarket stereo equipment in your car. Were I to be brutally honest, I'd mention that I've never installed any professional grade audio/video equipment anywhere. So, installing a brand new sound system into my tired old car initially sent shivers of reluctance down my spine.
 Does this look like you? Don't worry! Installation is not as difficult as it may first appear. |
Top 3 roadblocks to car audio installation
- Fear. This brings me to the first reason I could think of why NOT to pursue any kind of car stereo installation — the mere thought of it frightens me. Let's just say my confidence level for performing surgery on my car and expecting it to run afterwards is low.
- Ignorance. While the technical side of me suffers from a lack of self-esteem, there's another perfectly viable reason for why I may not desire to install any new equipment: I just don't know any better! "What's wrong with my current system?" I think, a touch defensively.
- Budget. Last, but sometimes foremost in the mind, is expense of course — another concern for many people. Anything requiring disassembly of my car and the exchange of heavy, metal objects must be expensive, right?
Happily, you may put your worries at bay, because I have successfully overcome all of these mental impediments and have transformed my humble, just-get-me-there vehicle into a traveling sound chariot worthy of my time and attention. The process of installing one component at a time — beginning with the receiver, then front and rear speakers, and finally a set of bass blockers — allowed me to appreciate fully the difference each made to the overall sound.
Who knew that an aftermarket sound system could change your whole outlook on getting from A to B? Millions of people actually, and as the newest convert, I'll tell you why.
First roadblock averted: Fear
Let's address the fight-or-flight fear mechanism first. My initial reaction to do-it-yourself installations is flight, especially from something as mechanically complex as my car. I'm generally not one to fiddle and tinker with something I don't understand, particularly when I need it to work. This time, though, I had to fight my fear and plunge elbow-deep into the bewildering world of dash disassembly and colored wires.
Where to begin
First things first, I needed to decide just what, exactly, I was putting into my car. I knew I wanted to put in a receiver and speakers (as a beginner I'm going for a basic upgrade here), but which ones? Fortunately, I had this fantastic cheating device at my fingertips — it's called the Crutchfield Vehicle Selector (found under What Fits My Car? at Crutchfield.com). Punch in the year, make, and model (1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, for instance — wait, that's my car) of your car, and immediately you're presented with a lineup of audio/video equipment and accessories that are known to fit your exact car. After that, choosing is easy.
What fits my needs
As I mentioned before, I was going for a basic upgrade, which was not difficult to achieve since my factory system consisted of a broken cassette deck. I decided on a stylish and feature-rich, but not overwhelming, CD receiver: the Blaupunkt Sacramento. At a modest $99.99, it's a steal (more on budget later)! I stuck with the Blaupunkt name in choosing the speakers and settled on the PCx352 3-1/2" front speakers and PCx693 6"x9" rear speakers. Remember these sizes, they'll be important a little later on.
Time to install
Having received my cache of new equipment, it was now time (deep breath) to install. In order to gauge the sonic improvement, I added the gear in two stages, replacing my receiver about 2 weeks before I installed the speakers. For the sake of explanation, I shall describe both installations together.
Installation intricacies
I was astonished by the ease of removing the old receiver and speakers, even considering my particular vehicle required removing part of the dash. Installing the new Blaupunkt Sacramento CD player and ProComponent speakers was just as easy. In fact, I was virtually handed the installation on a silver platter. Crutchfield provided precise instructions for my vehicle — year, make, and model. I also got the exact mounting bracket I would need to fit the receiver into my dash, and the wiring harness to connect the receiver to all the right components. And that's just for the receiver. I got separate instructions for the speakers and correct wiring harnesses for them as well. The way everything was spelled out, I may as well have been plugging a VCR into a TV, only I was left with a much more fulfilling, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar sense of wellbeing.
Not just another pretty face
It's easy to view the modern car receiver as a jumble of buttons and flashing lights. But they're not useless fluff; they are your navigation tools through the world of options you now have at your finger tips. The following are highlights from a long list of features that the Blaupunkt Sacramento offers me:
Feature presentation
In addition to those two basic knobs that dictate volume and tuning (I love those knobs ? so easy to use!), I now have a few buttons that can turn those knobs into a knob-lover's dream. I can change the opening credits from the mundane "Welcome, Hello" to the seductive "Bonjour, mon ami." Setting the start-up volume level so I don't blast my ears when I turn on the car is a major plus. I can also choose between radio frequency sensitivity settings — if I only want to hear those stations with the strongest signal, I switch to "local"; if I want to sift through more stations, I switch on "distance." Best of all, I have the option of adding more exciting components to my system, whether it's a CD changer, or a separate amp, or both!
Let's address the fight-or-flight fear mechanism first. My initial reaction to do-it-yourself installations is flight, especially from something as mechanically complex as my car. I'm generally not one to fiddle and tinker with something I don't understand, particularly when I need it to work. This time, though, I had to fight my fear and plunge elbow-deep into the bewildering world of dash disassembly and colored wires.
Where to begin
First things first, I needed to decide just what, exactly, I was putting into my car. I knew I wanted to put in a receiver and speakers (as a beginner I'm going for a basic upgrade here), but which ones? Fortunately, I had this fantastic cheating device at my fingertips — it's called the Crutchfield Vehicle Selector (found under What Fits My Car? at Crutchfield.com). Punch in the year, make, and model (1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, for instance — wait, that's my car) of your car, and immediately you're presented with a lineup of audio/video equipment and accessories that are known to fit your exact car. After that, choosing is easy.
 Stylish, feature-rich — the Blaupunkt Sacramento |
What fits my needs
As I mentioned before, I was going for a basic upgrade, which was not difficult to achieve since my factory system consisted of a broken cassette deck. I decided on a stylish and feature-rich, but not overwhelming, CD receiver: the Blaupunkt Sacramento. At a modest $99.99, it's a steal (more on budget later)! I stuck with the Blaupunkt name in choosing the speakers and settled on the PCx352 3-1/2" front speakers and PCx693 6"x9" rear speakers. Remember these sizes, they'll be important a little later on.
Time to install
Having received my cache of new equipment, it was now time (deep breath) to install. In order to gauge the sonic improvement, I added the gear in two stages, replacing my receiver about 2 weeks before I installed the speakers. For the sake of explanation, I shall describe both installations together.
Installation intricacies
I was astonished by the ease of removing the old receiver and speakers, even considering my particular vehicle required removing part of the dash. Installing the new Blaupunkt Sacramento CD player and ProComponent speakers was just as easy. In fact, I was virtually handed the installation on a silver platter. Crutchfield provided precise instructions for my vehicle — year, make, and model. I also got the exact mounting bracket I would need to fit the receiver into my dash, and the wiring harness to connect the receiver to all the right components. And that's just for the receiver. I got separate instructions for the speakers and correct wiring harnesses for them as well. The way everything was spelled out, I may as well have been plugging a VCR into a TV, only I was left with a much more fulfilling, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar sense of wellbeing.
Not just another pretty face
It's easy to view the modern car receiver as a jumble of buttons and flashing lights. But they're not useless fluff; they are your navigation tools through the world of options you now have at your finger tips. The following are highlights from a long list of features that the Blaupunkt Sacramento offers me:
 The Sacramento installed: program the 'turn on' message to fit your personality! |
Feature presentation
In addition to those two basic knobs that dictate volume and tuning (I love those knobs ? so easy to use!), I now have a few buttons that can turn those knobs into a knob-lover's dream. I can change the opening credits from the mundane "Welcome, Hello" to the seductive "Bonjour, mon ami." Setting the start-up volume level so I don't blast my ears when I turn on the car is a major plus. I can also choose between radio frequency sensitivity settings — if I only want to hear those stations with the strongest signal, I switch to "local"; if I want to sift through more stations, I switch on "distance." Best of all, I have the option of adding more exciting components to my system, whether it's a CD changer, or a separate amp, or both!
Second roadblock circumvented: Ignorance
Having conquered the fear of installation, we must now discuss that other mental block, ignorance. This is not entirely your fault or mine, since we just didn't know what we were missing. Ignorance is only sometimes bliss.
Before
 My old cassette receiver. Need I say more? |
Allow me to paint you a picture:
Driving down the road, beautiful day, you've got the windows open. You also have the radio on, except you can barely hear it above the waffling of the wind, the roaring engine, the whirring of the tires against the road, and those pesky motorists. What you hear is the vague rendering of a song you might just recognize. At best, you can keep hold of the melody and most of the lyrics. You rely on your imagination and memory for the "filler." You would turn up the volume more, only you know it would result in that horrid crunching or warbling sound (which I now know is caused by clipping — the radio's internal amp distorting the audio signal due to a lack of power). You find yourself rolling up the window a bit (what a shame) to hear the "music" better. You've just always done this. Isn't this phenomenon simply a reality when trying to listen to music in a moving metal box full of holes?
Sure, about 30 years ago. Car receivers have not just accumulated more buttons and flashing lights over the years, they have radically changed the way you appreciate music, especially within a mobile metal swiss cheese.
After
Allow me to paint you another picture:
Driving down the road, beautiful day, you've got the windows open. You also have Dido, a bass-laden artist, cranked on your newly installed receiver. This time you casually scroll to the song you want and realize that the opening to "Thank You" is not merely rhythmic, but truly tonal in a deep and punchy way, and it maintains this quality throughout the whole piece. At points, her breathy voice seems to be whispering into your ear, more than just spouting words.
Switching to Radiohead, you realize you can actually understand what Thom Yorke's saying (well, mostly). Holy cow! This sounds better than my system at home! If it weren't for the hair obscuring my vision, I wouldn't even know the window was down. The sound is full and rich, not tinny and weak; the auditory equivalent of suddenly being cured of color-blindness. Now that I have understood the paucity of my previous sound system, all I really want to do is absorb the decadent (but true to life) sounds that my new receiver can deliver. Then I'll have to reassess my home stereo?.
Say no more
That was my reaction after a few miles with my new CD receiver. Needless to say, the two-hour journey I was undertaking after initial installation proceeded with amazing swiftness. Finding parking was no longer a test of my patience. Rather, it was a testament to my patience.
Let's be honest
Ok, so the scenario described on the previous page is not entirely accurate. The old speakers admittedly struggled to reproduce Dido's bass at volume, and were downright puny against Radiohead. Remember the speaker sizes I said would be important later on? This is why. Without performing some major surgery (like cutting a hole in the door), I was limited to 3-1/2" front speakers in my dash, barely larger in diameter than a tennis ball, which simply couldn't handle the bass pressure. The 6"x9" rear speakers, more than twice the size, yearned for more of a challenge. But I had no way of passing all of the troublesome bass to the back speakers and reserving the midrange and upper frequencies for the front. Yet.
 600 Hz bass blockers, and the Blaupunkt PCx352 and PCx693 front and rear speakers |
How I could tell the difference
In a series of progressive installations and tests, I was able to compare and contrast the old speakers with the new. I also decided to install a set of 600 Hz bass blockers: filters that restrict speakers from producing sound below the given frequency. That allows the larger, more capable rear speakers to shoulder the heavy bass by themselves. I used Radiohead's "Let Down" and "Karma Police" as the controls for my experiments.
 The front 3-1/2" speaker with attached bass blocker. |
Fine-tuned front speakers
First, fading all sound to the front, I installed one new Blaupunkt 3-1/2" speaker and discovered just how "muddy" my old speakers were. Good speakers can be made so much better with informed input — a coworker suggested I try the bass blockers.* So, I installed the other front speaker, this time with a bass blocker. I immediately became aware of how an unstrained speaker should sound: warm, open, clear; not garbled like my old speakers used to sound. Even before I installed the rear speakers, I could tell that the front 3-1/2" speakers with bass blockers were happier when allowed to work in their comfort zone, gratefully emitting clearer and fuller sound (minus the bass, of course).
 The rear 6"x9" speaker, as it's being installed under the rear deck. |
Rockin' rear speakers
Then came installation of the rear speakers. There was no contest between Blaupunkt's PCx693s and the old set. Some joker (my brother) had previously installed 5"x7"s instead of 6"x9"s. The PCx693s are also three-way speakers, housing separate woofer, mid-range, and tweeter drivers. While three-way speakers are generally no better than two-way speakers, the extra frequency differentiation from the rear speakers complemented the now well-equipped front speakers, while adding a noticeable whirr upon application of deep bass. Consequently, Thom Yorke wailed with wondrous clarity while Colin Greenwood's bass rattled my entire being through the floor boards.
* Important lesson: Crutchfield has many expert advisors on hand if you ever have ANY questions. Among your many advice options are the toll-free number (1-888-955-6000), the online one-on-one chats with trained experts, Crutchfield's Vehicle Selector, and the many articles on CrutchfieldAdvisor.com, such as How to Build the Ideal Car Stereo System. These services include general advice on what you're looking for, or what you should be looking for, as well as advice for specific queries. This resource is invaluable whether you're are a novice looking for help or an old hand looking for advice on improving your system.
Third roadblock dodged: Budget
There's yet another mental hurdle lurking in the back of my mind. How much is all this going to cost? To my dismay, Crutchfield doesn't give away its merchandise, even for the best articles. I'm listening on borrowed steel and borrowed time. I only have a slight advantage over other consumers in that I get to test-drive the system before I buy, but I still have to buy. Will I buy, you ask?
The definition of "must buy"
Are you kidding? The real question is, could I afford to revert back to my old system? In truth, I feel I couldn't go back if they paid me. The entire system — receiver, four speakers, and bass blockers — at catalog prices would leave my wallet less than $200 lighter. Considering I didn't even know I was straining my ears (and my poor, old receiver) before, buying the new system is like paying bargain prices for a new set of ears. Rather than a tricky and potentially scarring operation, I perform a simple switcheroo, and presto! Perfectly functioning ears! And I can take those ears with me into just about any new vehicle, providing, of course, that I don't upgrade to a newer, better model. The concept of further upgrade, previously foreign to me, now has significant merit in my eyes.
What I learned and what you should look for
If you take nothing else away from this article, you should leave knowing that it is worth every bit of your time to at least investigate your aftermarket stereo options. Before now, I thought endeavors such as installing my own vehicular sound system were way out of my league. Not so! Don't believe the voices in your head that say such ludicrous things! It is not frightening (it's fun!), you won't believe the difference it makes, and it's likely that you can afford it.
Speaking of affordability, and if you're willing to take another page from my book, you don't need the most expensive, flashiest, feature-laden unit on the market in order to hear a positive difference. Modestly priced receivers with a little less flash or fancy attributes can still sound enormously better than what you may be listening to now.
Ok, one more lesson. You don't get to choose what size speakers come with your car. Don't let a small speaker get you down! You have options! For decades, car manufacturers have placed speakers where they could fit them — often as a design afterthought and often in non-ideal locations. Granted, they are currently improving. But over the years car stereo manufacturers have been working hard to find solutions to the many variables that can impede good quality sound in your car, even those which car manufacturers can't fix. Chances are good you'll find a relatively easy way to increase the sound quality emanating from your speakers.
Where I go from here
Now that I'm sold on the idea of improving upon my factory system, the logical next step is upgrading to the newest technologies. CD changer, DVD player, satellite radio, here I come! I am, what you might call, hooked on sonics.
There's yet another mental hurdle lurking in the back of my mind. How much is all this going to cost? To my dismay, Crutchfield doesn't give away its merchandise, even for the best articles. I'm listening on borrowed steel and borrowed time. I only have a slight advantage over other consumers in that I get to test-drive the system before I buy, but I still have to buy. Will I buy, you ask?
The definition of "must buy"
Are you kidding? The real question is, could I afford to revert back to my old system? In truth, I feel I couldn't go back if they paid me. The entire system — receiver, four speakers, and bass blockers — at catalog prices would leave my wallet less than $200 lighter. Considering I didn't even know I was straining my ears (and my poor, old receiver) before, buying the new system is like paying bargain prices for a new set of ears. Rather than a tricky and potentially scarring operation, I perform a simple switcheroo, and presto! Perfectly functioning ears! And I can take those ears with me into just about any new vehicle, providing, of course, that I don't upgrade to a newer, better model. The concept of further upgrade, previously foreign to me, now has significant merit in my eyes.
What I learned and what you should look for
If you take nothing else away from this article, you should leave knowing that it is worth every bit of your time to at least investigate your aftermarket stereo options. Before now, I thought endeavors such as installing my own vehicular sound system were way out of my league. Not so! Don't believe the voices in your head that say such ludicrous things! It is not frightening (it's fun!), you won't believe the difference it makes, and it's likely that you can afford it.
Speaking of affordability, and if you're willing to take another page from my book, you don't need the most expensive, flashiest, feature-laden unit on the market in order to hear a positive difference. Modestly priced receivers with a little less flash or fancy attributes can still sound enormously better than what you may be listening to now.
Ok, one more lesson. You don't get to choose what size speakers come with your car. Don't let a small speaker get you down! You have options! For decades, car manufacturers have placed speakers where they could fit them — often as a design afterthought and often in non-ideal locations. Granted, they are currently improving. But over the years car stereo manufacturers have been working hard to find solutions to the many variables that can impede good quality sound in your car, even those which car manufacturers can't fix. Chances are good you'll find a relatively easy way to increase the sound quality emanating from your speakers.
Where I go from here
Now that I'm sold on the idea of improving upon my factory system, the logical next step is upgrading to the newest technologies. CD changer, DVD player, satellite radio, here I come! I am, what you might call, hooked on sonics.