What configuration do you think is the most representative of car quality?
In terms of displacement, the price difference between the Malibu XL and the BMW 7 series is four times, but both offer a 2.0T version; in terms of wheelbase, mainstream family cars are getting longer, with almost no qualitative difference from high-end sedans; regarding configuration, the technological features of new energy vehicles are significantly better than traditional automakers.
However, there is one configuration that, due to cost limitations, can only truly be found in high-end cars, which is the car audio system. Today, car audio has become one of the standards for measuring a car’s quality, and the technical points involved are always of concern to consumers and enthusiasts.
The Composition and Development of Car Audio
Car audio is designed to alleviate the boredom of drivers and passengers on long journeys, featuring sound playback devices. The earliest was the car AM radio, followed by FM radios, cassette players, and eventually evolving into CD players and digital audio systems compatible with DCC and DAT.
Car audio consists of software and media, audio sources, preamplifiers, amplifiers, speakers, and wiring.
Nowadays, MP5 players have replaced standard car CD audio systems, with massive hard drive capacities taking over traditional discs. Car MP5 systems have become mainstream today. Given that audio sources are guaranteed, the quality of speakers and wiring greatly affects the audio quality. In particular, the speaker system, as the only device that converts electrical energy into sound energy, plays a decisive role in the tonal quality of the entire audio system.
The core technologies of car audio mainly involve five aspects. First is installation technology. In some models, the car audio is installed in the vehicle’s main console, which has very limited internal space, so the installation technology has extremely high requirements, far exceeding that of traditional home audio systems. Currently, it is mainly based on the DIN German industrial standard dimensions, which are 178mm/50mm/153mm in length/width/height.
Second is shock-proof technology, as the vibration frequency of the vehicle increases significantly on bumpy roads, making it very easy to resonate with the car audio, so shock-proof technology is critical. The last three technologies are sound quality processing technology, anti-interference technology, and active noise reduction technology.
Overall, car audio technology is much higher than that of comparable home audio systems, which is the charm of top-tier car audio systems, pursued by countless music enthusiasts.
Outstanding Car Audio Brands
Which brands are there?
There are countless audio brands worldwide, and top audio brands are often also well-known in car audio. According to incomplete statistics, the top ten recognized car audio brands in the market include Bang & Olufsen, Naim, Bowers & Wilkins, Mark Levinson, Bose, Danish, Harman Kardon, Dynaudio, and Focal.
Let me give a few examples of car audio brands I particularly like. Bang & Olufsen is a brand everyone is familiar with; it is the exclusive audio brand for Mercedes-Benz, with a very high-end status. With the support of latest magnetic coil technology, when you use Bang & Olufsen products, you feel like the artist is performing in the room.
Bowers & Wilkins, as the first brand to propose the concept of active speakers, is favored by supercar brands like Jaguar, Land Rover, Ferrari, and McLaren. Bowers & Wilkins is a pioneer in high-definition audio, producing transparent and charming sound quality, especially excelling in classical music.
Harman Kardon, a well-known audio manufacturer, often appears in German luxury car brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Land Rover, and even Rolls-Royce. It owns many sub-brands like JBL, AKG, Infinity, and Lexicon, and provides good playback effects for pop and modern music. I particularly enjoy using Harman Kardon for playing bass-heavy electronic music, which feels fantastic.
How to Upgrade Your Audio System?
If you are not satisfied with your car’s audio system, besides changing cars, there is another option: upgrading the car audio system, also known as car audio modification.
When modifying car audio, special attention should be paid to determine the brand choice based on your own music style and ensure the price fits your budget. Choose a professional modification shop for the upgrade, and the technician must be skilled and experienced in disassembly and assembly, to avoid altering the original wiring layout. During modification, it is essential to implement sound insulation measures, as sound insulation is crucial for improving sound quality.
(Images from previous AEA Car Audio World Championship events)
It is worth mentioning that car audio enthusiasts should not miss an upcoming grand event on car audio, which is the 9th AEA Car Audio World Championship and car audio listening session to be held from April 15-17 at the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center.
(Images from previous AEA Car Audio World Championship events)
The AEA Car Audio World Championship is a top-tier automotive audio cultural brand event jointly created by Kyushu International, AEA Car Modification Alliance, and over 50 well-known brands both domestically and internationally, encompassing top car audio competitions, audio appreciation, and cultural exchange activities.
In 2022, to increase participation and influence, the event organizing committee will specially set up the AEA Car Audio Listening Session segment, allowing more audio modification enthusiasts to experience the extraordinary charm of participating vehicles. It is expected to attract over 3000 car enthusiasts to observe. Additionally, many car audio aftermarket businesses will exhibit at the event, where interested individuals can find the most suitable audio upgrade solutions for their beloved cars.
That concludes this issue of Car Modification Class, see you next time.
AEA 9th China (International) Car Modification Competition
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