It is certainly difficult to imagine a car without an audio system in it. Certainly a car audio system is as important to any owner and the range available to choose from is just gigantic. Many car audio systems are comprised of many parts for example head units, amplifiers, speakers and an auxiliary input device and they all work together to complement each other and will not work on a stand alone basis.

The head unit is like the brain or central processing unit of a computer and through this unit it controls such things as tuning, volume, bass and equalizer etc. There are various types of head units out there, some which only allow you to play tapes, CDs or the radio, whilst others will provide you with a choice. There are some devices which can hold numerous CDs (a CD changer (usually held in the boot area of the vehicle)) and gives you the option to move between the CDs without having to take the CD out.

As for the speakers, which certainly a very important part of any car audio system as you do want to hear what is playing. Yet again there are many styles out there from say the cone version through the ribbon version, and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages (this is something you will need to look at more closely). At a later stage I will write an article relating to this area of the car audio system. Also where you place the speakers within your vehicle can make all the difference as well.

Next we come onto the amplifier, which allows the system to amplify or increase the signals from the unit to make them audible. You will find that there are various models of these also available from the mono, to the stereo right through to the multi-channel version.

When looking at purchasing a car audio system the ranges available start from the more basic style through to the very high end quality systems or if you want something a little more funky you can get that also. Although a basic system will not normally be too expensive and the sound quality is usually quite good, the components it is made of are only of a standard quality. Also when looking at a car audio system you need to decide on what it will be used for, say for example you decide you do not require a tape player but are after a CD player then it is better to spend your money investing in a good quality CD player rather than a cheap combination model (tape & CD player).

If you decide to purchase a basic system then only allow for front speakers and avoid getting rear ones.

The more advanced models that are now on the market are not only more compact in size, but may come with or without a remote control and various other features that you can not begin to comprehend.

However, you purchase at the end of the day will all depend on your budget and personal choice and whether you which to build your own unit or buy an system already for installation. You may find that many of the brandied name versions are more expensive, although they do come with a guarantee and are usually much easier to service. For such things as speakers it is always advisable to purchase speakers a reliable and tested manufacturer (don't forget if the sound quality is bad, you've wasted money which can have easily been put forward to purchase a better set of speakers).

Written by-Allison Thompson