The basic parts of car audio system

The basic parts of car audio system

Head Unit

The head unit is the tuner, cassette deck, or CD player that sends the signal to the rest of your car audio system. Some head units have amplifiers built in (in which case you must make sure your speakers are efficient enough to play loudly with the relatively small amount of power in most head units - See the Power Up! section.). On a budget? Buy speakers first. Better speakers can make your stock head unit sound really good. You can upgrade it later. And you will want to. One thing to keep in mind: make sure the head unit has pre-amp outputs when you buy it. You'll need them when you're ready to add amplifiers later.

Speakers

Ultimately, the head unit source sends its signal to the speakers. Your speakers determine how your whole system will sound. No equalizer, amplifier, or processor can compensate for poor (or poorly installed) speakers. Even if you're on a budget, you should plan on spending the bulk of your allotted expenses on your speakers. (And if you're really on a budget, plan on a head unit and a set of speakers now, and worry about amps and processors later.)

Subwoofers

Subwoofers are the speakers that deliver the lower frequencies of the audio spectrum. They need to be specially installed, usually in a box designed specifically for them. They demand more power to play at acceptable levels without distortion, which brings us to...

Amplifiers

An amplifier boosts your signal power, resulting in a cleaner sound and more volume. And because more power is a good thing, an amplifier might be the next thing on your list. Be careful, though, because if you are planning on adding several high power amplifiers you may need to upgrade your car's electrical system with upgraded capacitors, battery, and-lastly-alternator.

More about amplifiers

Amplifiers can really turn your system on. With more power you'll achieve a cleaner, more dynamic sound at higher volumes. But installing an amp yourself can be tricky. Be sure to plan your install carefully.
Never mount amps or other components directly to the metal of your car. (That's just asking for noise problems.) Instead, use screws with rubber isolators when you have to mount to metal, or mount the component to a non-conductive board and then mount the board to your car's body. And before you drill holes to mount anything, hook the component up and give it a test run in your chosen location. How smug will you feel after finding that noise problem can be fixed simply by moving your amp to a new location… before you've drilled?

Amps are sensitive to electrical and motor noise, and they can interfere with your radio reception. They should be mounted at least 3 feet away from your head unit. You can mount an amp under a front seat. This is close to your head unit, so you'll be able to use shorter cables to both the head unit and the speakers, but larger amps won't work here.

Mount an amp on the passenger side firewall; you won't have to remove the seat, but again only a very small amp will fit.

Better yet, mount your amp in your trunk, where it will have plenty of room to breathe, which is important because…
Amps produce a lot of heat. You'll see cooling fins on an amp. They radiate that heat into the surrounding air to help cool the amp. For these fins to operate properly, they need a few inches of air space around them at all times. Also, try to keep them vertical. Amps should not be mounted with the fins facing downward (because heat will radiate back up into the amp).

A tip:
Just because something is metal doesn't mean it's a good ground. Ground your amp directly to areas of heavy chassis metal only, not to a piece of metal that's merely attached to the chassis. Use ground wire run-lengths of 18"-24" maximum.

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Article written by Adger Chase. car entertainment - car audio - car dvdplayer

Future of Hybrid Cars

Future of Hybrid Cars

There are many design concepts being considered for maximum public exposure and benefits on the drawing board of car designers today that look to the future hybrid car needs and considerations that will serve the public well in the course of the next century. Many of these hybrid car designers are taking past and proven sales performers and have begun reworking their designs from the ground up.

Instead of a front wheel drive platform, there are automobile designers that are building on a rear platform design for one of the nation's best selling and widely recognized car frames in America and worldwide. The hybrid car designs of the future are including sports car models that have been all-time favorites with the world in the past and are now being revived with the brand new hybrid engine in mind.

There is an aggressive training program in place at one of Americas largest car manufacturing companies that is preparing their technicians to repair the growing styles and variations of hybrid cars that are emerging onto the automobile market.

With the extreme difference in battery features and dramatic variance in voltage levels, there is a void that needs to be filled by someone who is equipped with the necessary battery cabling devices that can handle 270 volts instead of the normal 12 volt battery systems. Regular car technicians are typically capable of handling battery recharging requirements, but with the futuristic applications that are applied in hybrid battery design, the best service these car technicians can provide at present is that they can still provide oil changes and tire rotations should the need arise.
With a mindset of grasping and expanding the propulsion features that are somewhat limited in today's hybrid car designs, there are retro styling efforts that are focusing on providing hybrid cars with optional V8 engine capacities.

There are considerations in place to use solar cells in the framework of hybrid automobiles. The electrical power will be produced through the boot lids and bonnet placement of these solar cell modules. Through the use of solar cells it will then be possible to utilize the battery charging capabilities when the car is not turned on or in motion to replenish batteries that have been depleted through the use of air conditioning or through continuous operation when the hybrid automobile is delayed in traffic jams at different times of the day. This lightweight body structure design would benefit the energy savings to the consumer and make the car more manageable on the highway.

There is an effort in hybrid car design that is turning the out of the ordinary hybrid vehicle into a replica of what is parked in the driveway every day of our life. This blending in effect is meant to bring the hybrid full circle into the acceptable graces of the American public.

The future hybrid car will need to focus more on greenhouse gases that negatively effect the environment as well as a hybrid car that will be even more fuel efficient. Without these changes, the production and sales of any type of vehicle will not be possible due to the degradation of our atmosphere.

There are many views about hybrid cars in the futures that will change its fuel source from the heavy duty batteries in use today, to hydrogen-power fuel cell. This will take away the need for hybrid cars to have to use gasoline completely in order to transverse down the major highways.

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More resources about Hybrid Cars can be found in http://hybridcars.simpleusermanual.com
p.s. Albert left his 9 to 5 job after working in MNC for over 10 years, and jumped into INTERNET era. He has invested many resources and time in My Success Roadmap

Nissan Skyline GT-R: The Prince

Nissan Skyline GT-R: The Prince!

The Nissan Skyline GT-R was originally called the Prince. GT-R stands for Grand Turismo Racer. The decision was made to separate the R to make it known this is a racing vehicle. Another version the GT-B was also introduced, the B standing for Berlinetta.



The Nissan Skyline GTR originally came out in the 1970's but it didn't do well. In 1973 production was halted until 1989. It came out in full force, with a reputation as being a powerful racing car to be reckoned with. This car has an edge in the racing sector because it offers hydraulic on demand four wheel drive and four wheel steering. The Nissan Skyline GT-R underwent many design changes in 1989 to be a top contender in the areas of speed and control. Production of this vehicle was halted again in 2002.



Owners of the Nissan Skyline GT-R take pride in owning such a vehicle. There are numerous clubs for owners of these vehicles. They have even made modifications to the cars to make them even faster. They have websites that advertise racing, vehicles for sale, repair information, and general discussions. Most of these cars have a high resell value because of the limited number of them manufactured in any given year.



These Nissan Skyline GTR enthusiasts take pride in the variations of their car from year to year because the production specifications kept changing. An evolution of the engine was done in 1990 and only 550 cars were produced. The engine was vamped again in 1991 with only 228 cars manufactured. A V-spec was added to the brake system for 1993. The 1994 Nissan Skyline GT-R had a change to the width of the tires.



For 1995, the Nissan Skyline GT-R got a sportier look to the exterior. The suspension was also improved upon to give the car more ground clearance. The special edition was released in 1997 with an upgraded engine, suspension, and exhaust. This car handled unbelievably well at speeds of over 200 miles per hour! For 2000, the car got a face lift with the interior being changed from grey to black. The console area was also widened. The car remained the same except it was shortened some through 2002.



Part of the reason production was stopped for this vehicle is because it has never met the requirements of the US until now. Motorex has announced a street legal Nissan Skyline GT-R is ready for release. It is expected to roll out internationally later in 2007 with a 2008 model. This car comes with some body changes but it is still easy to maneuver and very fast.



Are you looking for a car that is incredibly fast and has an awesome design? The Nissan Skyline GT-R in the past has only been seen in the racing world, especially the underground street racing circuit. It became well known for speed and being easy to handle because of having rear wheel drive options.



This 2008 model will feature a V-6 twin turbo engine, to keep the overall weight of the vehicle low. This will help it maintain speed. It will have 450 horsepower and still meet all the emission regulations. The pistons and connecting rods are made of forged steel. You will also see an improved turbocharger layout and output. Models of the 2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R will be available at various car shows during 2007. You can also start ordering them through dealerships around August of 2007. It is going to be a huge competitor to the Ford Mustang and the new Chevy Camaro that will be out in 2009.

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Talk about the Nissan Skyline GT-R at http://www.skylineforums.com