Introduction to Car Audio
In car entertainment, sometimes referred to as ICE is a collection of electrical devices installed into cars & other types of transportation to provide audio & visual entertainment. A standard ICE package consists of a Stereo & at least one set (1 pair) of Speakers.
The ICE market constantly keeps up with the latest technologies & consumer demands & can even include fitting games consoles & computers into vehicles.
The ICE market constantly keeps up with the latest technologies & consumer demands & can even include fitting games consoles & computers into vehicles.
CAR STEREOS - HEADUNITSThe Head Unit is the primary control device for an In-car entertainment system & is usually installed in the centre of the dash. They can also be referred to as: Stereos, Radio, In-car Receivers, Audio unit..
The Head Unit itself is made up of multiple components which commonly include a radio receiver, a tape or CD drive & a small amplifier with usually 35 to 50 x 4 watts. Head Units are commonly available in two sizes, these are known as single DIN & double DIN. It will depend on the space in a vehicles dash as to what size can be fitted, A single DIN can usually be fitted into most vehicles & also into double DIN spaces but a double DIN cannot be fitted into a single DIN space. CAR SPEAKERSCar speakers are largely the same as any loudspeaker design, though key components may be specially designed to suit enclosed or mobile environments.One significant design difference is for multi-axial mounting, which allows a tweeter to be mounted over the top of a woofer. Another major difference can be the size & shape, some use square, oval & even triangular cones to help reduce space when mounted in a vehicle cabin.
Car speakers are commonly located in & around the dash, in the doors & around the rear parcel shelf dependent on the vehicle manufacturer, in some vehicles there are no rear speakers as standard. Tweeters are the smallest speakers designed to produce the high frequency sounds, around 2000-20,00 herts. Tweeters are about 1" (2.5cm) in size. Woofers are the basic speaker design commonly fitted in car doors. They produce low & mid range frequencies around 40 hertz (low frequency) & up to 2000 hertz (mid range). Woofers are usually around 5"-7" (13cm-17cm) in size. |
OEM CAR AUDIO (FACTORY FITTED)The majority of vehicle manufactures use an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) audio system sometimes referred to as a factory fitted system. An OEM system will have been designed by the manufacturer to blend in with the overall vehicle design & nowadays will at least feature a CD Radio unit. The features of the OEM system will generally reflect the overall specification of the car, EG: An entry level car will have an entry level OEM system, a premium model will usually have a premium audio system.
A vehicle manufacturer would normally appoint another company to produce their car audio components, Sony currently produce stereos for Ford UK, Philips & Blaupunkt are also big players in the OEM market. NON OEM AUDIO (AFTERMARKET)Non Standard Audio is the term given to a group of electrical devices sold in the after market industry, they are not usually available from a vehicle manufacturer & typically, car audio manufacturers will release the latest features & technologies in the ICE market. Those that are popular eventually find their way into OEM systems.
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