InFocus | Autoplus
Driving to a different tune
After-market car audio systems offer some of the best playback options.
- By Helga Jensen-Forde, Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:23 November 4, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied photo
- After-market car audio systems offer some of the best playback options.
Whether you are driving out to the desert for a spot of dune bashing or simply popping down to the shops, there is nothing like listening to your favourite tunes on the car stereo.
It is therefore not surprising that while many motorists upgrade their cars regularly, they upgrade their car audio systems too.
"There are so many reasons why people go for after-market car audio systems," says car audio expert Joe Ucho, from motoring superstore Yellow Hat.
"The stock audio systems in cars more often than not are very basic, with no consideration for the listening preferences of the car owners.Most of the car manufacturers' units only play cassettes or CDs, whereas car owners want to be able to play their USBs, iPods, MP3s, DIVX, WMAs, etc.
Changing to an after-market unit solves this problem by increasing the playback options available. Also, some after-market units have Bluetooth capabilities for hands-free telephone conversations while driving."
While these are all advantageous for motorists, sound quality is another reason to cast aside the car manufacturer's standard audio system.
"After-market audio systems sound better because they have higher power ratings, due to the higher quality of materials with which they are manufactured, compared to stock units," adds Ucho.
"The bottom line is that after-market manufacturers are professionals who specialise in doing one thing best — producing sound systems for the overall satisfaction of their customers."
As the car audio market is highly competitive, there is a barrage of products to choose from.
So what should you look for when you choose an audio system?
Ucho says, "Car stereos vary hugely in the features they have to offer and so do their prices. They can range from as low as Dh288 to as high as Dh5,900. Motorists should go for systems with the highest Root Mean Square (RMS) ratings and highest Signal/Noise ratio. RMS is the only scientific way to assess the power of car audio/visual systems, especially speakers. The best car audio systems available are those that don't compromise on their RMS ratings."
Jimmy Patel, General Manager of Jacky's Electronics, suggests motorists look for a leading brand such as Pioneer, Sony, JVC, Alpine, Kenwood, Clarion and Fusion. But whichever brand you choose, be prepared for the fact that you may have to purchase the speakers separately.
"Not all car audio systems come with speakers. The packages with speakers normally come in the low-end category models only," says Patel.
Buying speakers could be another potential minefield, but he says, "The best recommended speakers for good-quality sound should be the 5.1 CH Digital Surround with Dolby Pro Logic II. But make sure the complete system is compatible."
Ultimately though, no matter how well-built the speakers and the car audio systems are, unless it is fitted correctly you will not get the optimum sound quality.
Ucho says, "It is important to have professionals install these systems because the expertise of the installer can make or mar the pleasure you can derive from investing in after-market audio systems, which, in most cases, do not come cheap."
"Also, apart from voiding the warranties of your car, unprofessional installers can actually ruin both the products and the car due to poor installation techniques. In fact, giving one's car to someone unprofessional for installation is being 'penny-wise, pound-foolish'."
