Car Audio on a Beer Budget

So, you are loading the last load of Yaffa Blocks and computer peripherals into your ride to return to school. The thing you really need? Killer tunes for your trip. There is nothing like a high-end car audio system, and if there is any time in life you should splurge on one, it is college. College exposes you to so much more diversified music than you’ve ever experienced with your buddies in high school. Why not enjoy them on a high-end car audio system? It even makes more sense for commuter students. Unfortunately, car audio can be a low priority with leisure funds short and the cost of frat party admission skyrocketing. Well, you can have killer car audio on a beer budget! I remember doing installs for friends in my dorm armed with nothing more than a Swiss Army knife and a butter knife pilfered from the cafeteria. I can only imagine the systems I could have created with actual tools! Let’s take a look and get your ride thumpin’ without having to take out an additional Stafford loan.

The majority of college rides fall into three categories. The first is the two-door coupe class, also known as the Honda Civics. The second is the UAV (University Assault Vehicle), also known as the Jeep Wrangler. The third is the hand-me-down sedan also known as the Toyota Camry (I bet almost all of the vehicles driven by students on campus fit one of these three descriptions, even if it does not fit the exact make and model cited). Typically, the two-door coupe class vehicles are a little newer. If you have a Honda Civic built after 1999, it is actually not necessary to swap out the head unit (radio) if you do not want to. In fact, some of the newer Civics feature navigation systems where you would really want to keep the head unit. It is a big mistake to think you automatically have to throw your factory head unit into oncoming traffic. To save some money, you can use a technique called OEM Integration to retain the factory head unit and add an amplifier, subwoofer, and loudspeakers. There are numerous amplifiers on the market that have something called ‘High-Level Inputs.’ This means you can connect your factory head unit right into the amplifier without the need of a special adaptor. Can you do it yourself? Installing an amplifier is probably best left to the pros if this is your first car audio experience. The amplifier must be properly fused and wired for safety’s sake, and moreover, there can be some issues with noise interference when using ‘High-Level Inputs’ that an experienced installer can rectify quickly. Look for an installation facility that has MECP-certified installers.

How about the four-door used Toyota Camrys? Typically, the more dated versions of the vehicle have cassette players, and then swapping head units makes a lot of sense. The Toyota Camry dashboard features a double-DIN pocket so fitting any brand of car stereo to the dashboard is relatively easy. This is a job a handy shadetree novice can take on. If you want to go this route, just make sure that you purchase the proper wiring harness so you do not have to cut into the factory wiring. Some well-established Internet retailers, such as www.crutchfield.com, include the proper wiring harness for your vehicle when you purchase a head unit through them. If your folks were nice before they passed the car along to you, the speakers may be in good enough shape to not change them. Then, you can add a small subwoofer and amp and be in business.

Now let’s take a look at the Jeep Wrangler. This is a tough vehicle to get great sound out of but it is among the most popular on campuses across the country. I would start with a quality head unit and definitely swap out the 4×6” speakers that are in the dashboard. This is an easy job you can take on yourself since the Wrangler has an accessible dashboard. After that, there are numerous ways to add bass to the Wrangler but best be careful with the volume knob around campus because the easy access of the softtop makes it a prime target for thieves.



Where should you buy it?

When it comes to car audio and mobile electronics, most of us need goods AND service. Although the Internet can be alluring for great prices, there are very few shadetree hobbyists who should be attempting a massive system with an alarm/remote start as their first foray into the world of mobile electronics. You’ll need a pro at some point. Finding someone near campus is ideal, and most college towns have a car audio retailer as close as the local coffee shop. When you buy an item off the Internet, usually the worst thing is waiting for it to arrive and then finding someone to help install it. There is a reason the double-E majors are in high demand for installing stuff on campus. Although the Internet is a great resource, there is still something to be said for dropping the most amount of coin at the local specialty retailer who will be performing the work. After all, can you really trust that engineering student you found on Facebook? Mobile Electronics retailers will be thankful and you might be too when it comes to service after the sale. After all, what happens if the product does not work? Or worse––YOU install it properly and then it does not work? Removing and reinstalling product for troubleshooting and repair is a major pain in the ass––sometimes a few extra pennies toward a professional install from a specialty retailer can make all the difference in the world. Especially when you have a weekend of cruising planned and your system is out of commission.



Implementing a plan…

To recap, taking on installing loudspeakers or a head unit with a proper wiring harness may be within your capabilities or the capabilities’ of a friend. Amplifier installation can be tricky, but proper amplification is the most important staple of high-end sound. Unfortunately, the power touted to be coming out of the head unit cannot be compared to the watts coming out of a properly-cooled amplifier in the trunk. Our recommendation––start off with a good four-channel amplifier. A four-channel amplifier can provide you with the power necessary for a great-sounding system and its flexibility can be used for future systems or upgrades. The typical great-sounding starter system will consist of either your factory or aftermarket head unit, a four-channel amplifier, a good set of front speakers, and a subwoofer. There is no need to get crazy with the rear speakers just yet. High quality sound in the car should emanate in front of you. After all, when you attend a concert, do you sit with your back to the stage? ‘Rear fill,’ as it is called in the audiophile circuit, can be a later addition. Let’s take a look at a sample system with the latest components available… Remember, you might be able to leave out a head unit or speakers at the very beginning and save money depending on the shape of your stereo!



HEAD UNIT:

Alpine CDE-9870 (MSRP $150.00)

Ever want the famous Alpine nameplate but thought it was out of your budget. The Alpine CDE-9870 features MP3 playback and Alpine’s Full Speed Connection for iPod. It has a removable slot face and a set of pre-amp outputs (so you can connect an aftermarket amplifier easily). With a retail price of $150, how can you do better?



SPEAKERS:

Dual DMC653 (MSRP $69.99)

Now that you have the power installed, you need some good speakers. These Dual Audio 6” coaxial speakers feature brushed metalized silver polypropylene cones which means they will withstand the heat, cold, and occasional spill in the rough car environment. The speakers come with their own grilles, but are flexible enough to easily slip behind stock grilles when replacing factory speakers. One neat extra bonus- if you like, you can run 12-volt wires to the speakers and illuminate the cones with up to 17 different color combinations! It looks really killer but you decide whether you want to go flashy or stealth…



SUBWOOFER: How low can you go?

JL Audio 10W1v2 Subwoofer (MSRP $119.95)

JL Audio has been known for top-quality subwoofers, and the 10W1v2 10” subwoofer provides affordable bass without taking up a lot of space. The company got techy with their latest offering and computer-modeled the sub to deliver dynamic stability and low-distortion operation within its power envelope. Your best bet would be to have an enclosure made by a JL Audio dealer to make sure it fits your car and bass desires properly. You make an enclosure yourself with the help of a few trips to Home Depot, but definitely read the tutorial on the JL Audio Web site to make sure the box you construct will sound good in your vehicle.



AMPLIFIER:

Infinity Reference 475 (MSRP $229.95)

With four channels rated at 75 watts a piece, the workhorse Infinity Reference 475 gives more power than the model it replaces but leaves a smaller footprint so it is easier to tuck away and leave room for transporting kegs. The amplifier features a built-in electronic crossover- a good feature to look for. This means the amplifier can divide the high-frequencies to your front speakers while sending the low frequencies to a subwoofer system. You can always grow your system with a flexible amplifier like this. But for 99 percent of the people, this will be enough power and flexibility for a lifetime of listening!



The Bottom Line

So, for $570, plus installation, you can have an AMAZING car audio system for your ride. A good installation by an MECP-certified installer will not be cheap (figure $400 including wiring, installation accessories, and an enclosure). However, for under $1000 you can have a rockin’ system with components that will last a long time and keep them for your next car or even add to the value of your current vehicle. Upgrading the system is also a breeze- if you really want to rock, adding an additional amplifier, subwoofer, and rear speakers is only limited by your budget. I can’t imagine money more well spent than entertainment you can share with your friends on a road trip. You may have to skimp on beer for a few weeks, but it sure beats refilling your meal card.