Receivers:
This is the head unit, or "brains" of your system. Usually mounted in the dash within arms reach,
this unit will control volume and functions of your entire system. Receivers are usually the AM/FM tuner,
CD Player, Cassette Deck, MP3 Player, Satellite Radio Tuner, or any combination.
Things to look for:
- Useability - can you easily use the buttons, dials and/or knobs to control the system?
- Appearance - will it look right in your car's interior and/or match the other system components?
- Power - while most units are combined with
amplifiers,
this may not be a consideration, but until you get an amp, you may need this unit to power your speaker system.
- Functions - can it control CD's, FM, AM, MP3's, satellite radio? Or can it work in combination with
such external components as a
CD changer?
- Pre-Amp Outputs - if adding an amplifier, these allow you to run an amp directly into the unit without having to do any conversion for the cleanest output.
- Theft Protection - does it have a detachable face or one that flips around to disguise the entire unit?
- Special Features - these can range from special illuminated faceplates to remote controls to enhanced CD skip protection. Car Toys' in-store experts can help you select which features would be most beneficial to you!
Speakers:
There are hundreds of speaker types available - ranging from
full range speakers (that handle it all) to
tweeters (delivering crisp high frequencies) and
woofers (delivering booming low frequencies). And they all have the final say on just how good your entire system will sound. So it's best to put the bulk of your expense into a high-end, quality set of speakers.
No amplifier,
equalizer or
crossover can compensate for poor - or poorly installed -
speakers, so choose wisely... or better yet, let us and our expert installers do the work for you.
Things to look for:
- Power Handling - even though not as important for tweeters, woofers should have a rough power-handling match as the
amplifier that drives them.
- Sensitivity - this gives you an idea of how loud a speaker will play given a certain input power. The more insensitive a speaker is, the more power it will require to achieve your desired volume level.
- Physical Size - will they fit into your previous speaker housing or do you want Car Toys installers to create custom housings for them?
Subwoofers:
Speakers that deliver the booming bass and accurate low-range frequencies that really let you "feel" your music. Subwoofers need to be specially installed in an individual enclosure, or "box," or else the back wave of air the speakers generate will cancel out the sound from the front of the woofer. Our expert Car Toys installers can counsel you on how best to have your subwoofers installed for optimum sound
quality for your car.
And of course, subwoofers demand more power to deliver sound without distortion, so you'll need to invest in a quality amplifier.
Amplifiers:
Take the signal from your head unit, boosts its power, and delivers it to your speakers -
giving you louder, cleaner, more consistent dynamic sound that you crave. An amp is a must if you plan
on adding subwoofers to your system, but don"t worry, our expert installers can tuck it discreetly in an out-of-the-way area so you don"t even notice it... but boy will you hear it.
Note: if you add an extremely high-wattage amp, or multiple amps, you may need to upgrade your car"s electrical system to properly power them.
And the extras:
There's virtually no end to the goodies you can add on to your existing car audio system. These can include such components as
equalizers and crossovers to satellite radio receivers, CD changers, MP3 players and more.
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