Custom subwoofer enclosures are for when you want to put some subwoofers into your car but don't want to run stock boxes. By a stock box, I mean one that either comes with your subwoofer or simply one where you can only fit one 12" sub.

If you buy two 12" subs, or perhaps two 10" subs for instance, you'll likely either have to build your own box or get someone to build you one. It's important to remember every subwoofer has an "optimal" subwoofer box size in order to maximize clarity and sound performance. You can check the manufacturer's website of your subwoofer to see what this optimal size is.

You can also skip building the whole optimal performance box in exchange for simply something that will fit into your trunk, but it won't sound as good as if you built one to the specs on the manufacturer's website. e holes for where the subwoofers go and drill a terminal plate int Another thing to keep in mind when building your box is to keep all edges perfectly straight. Try to use vice grips to hold the pieces in place before and after gluing, and be sure to place scrues evenly across the construction.

Use a router to machine tho the back to run the subwoofers out the back.

Even if you haven't done the greatest job on your subwoofer box, the MDF wood required to build isn't that expensive. You can always try another one, or use the one you just created. The first few boxes we created here at EuroEnclosures weren't that great either, but you can always tune your deck for less bass output if your box rattles a bit on higher DB output levels.

However, should you want to build the "optimal" box for your subwoofers, be sure to check the manufacturer website of your subwoofers before building.

According to the US Census, the average American worker spends approximately 25 minutes per day commuting to work. While the number sounds reasonable in that context, multiply it out and in the course of a year, you see that you'll have spent over 100 hours inside of your vehicle. That’s a whole lot of time. When this much time is spent crammed inside a relatively small space, people are naturally antsy for some entertainment. Thus we have seen the evolution of car stereos, cell phones, and personal entertainment systems that allow us pass the time spent in traffic a little more quickly.

The car stereo system is by far the most widespread and universal of these creature comforts designed to make the trip bearable. Here's how the history breaks down: In 1929, the first car radios appeared on the American market, although they didn’t become popular until the 60’s. By 1970, people wanted to be able to dictate what music they listened to without having to rely on a DJ to hold their hand through the musical landscape. Thus, the 8-track was born. 1980 saw the advent of the cassette tape deck, which provided superior sound quality to the 8-track, and the cassette soon bowed to the CD in the 90’s.

In today’s digital world, however, the CD, while still in use, is taking a back seat to digitized audio content. With the popularity of downloadable and easily moved and formatted MP3 and WMA files, listeners now have nearly unlimited control over what they listen to. In addition, personal music devices such as the iPod play only digital content, meaning that music collections are increasingly stored on hard drives, rather than tapes or discs.

This creates a problem for the commuter with an older stereo system: how does one access this digital content on the road? Here are several options.

The first and probably easiest is to simply burn a CD with digital tracks formatted to play in a standard CD player. While this solution is fairly simple, many older CD players can’t read burned CDs.

Another option is to buy an FM transmitter. This is a great solution if you have a personal MP3 player, like an iPod or Rio. All you have to do is plug your player into the transmitter (which plugs into your vehicle's cigarette lighter), and select an FM channel to transmit on (generally restricted to lower channels between 88.1 and 88.9). The transmitter puts out a low powered FM signal which is picked up by your car stereo’s radio. Some FM transmitters also allow you to attach a USB flash drive (also called a thumbdrive or pen drive) to the transmitter. The transmitter decodes the music files on the drive and allows you to play, skip, and pause your music, all while transmitting to your car radio. This is usually an inexpensive solution, although audio quality sometimes suffers due to interference. One of the big benefits to the USB flash drive models is that you can be constantly keeping your musical selection fresh without always having to burn new media CDs. If you listen to a lot of podcasts, this is especially nice.

Speaker Info...

Speaker systems are very important because they are the units that actually reproduce the sound from electrical energy. When I buy speakers, I only want to get high end. Here is what you need to know, and what to look for:

First, let's start with the types of speakers that you'll encounter in the car audio world.

Woofer: A large speaker designed to reproduce the lower frequencies of the audio spectrum. Mid: A medium sized speaker designed to reproduce the middle frequencies of the audio spectrum. Tweeter: A small sized speaker designed to reproduce the highest frequencies of the audio spectrum.

There are other variations of these speakers available as well.

You've certainly heard of "subwoofers" that reproduce the lowest of the audio frequencies. Essentially, these are the same thing as woofers, just bigger and with more power handling. The result? Thunderous bass! Like the gods sent it themselves...

You might also encounter "midbass" drivers. These are similar to woofers, but are usually used to bring more bass to the front soundstage. Often times, they are connected to crossover networks.

Another type of speaker you might encounter is called a "supertweeter", and reproduces the highest frequencies in the audio spectrum.

Now, to shock you...

When you buy a "speaker", you are actually buying a speaker system. AKA, more than one thing working together to produce a result. Let's take a look at the types of speaker systems available...

TYPES OF SPEAKER SYSTEMS:

Basically, there are two types of speaker "systems" that exist.

1. "Coaxial", "three way", "full-range", etc.

These speaker systems are designed to fit into the factory speaker location in your vehicle. They are often referred to as a "speaker", but have more than one speaker, and will also contain a crossover. (coaxialspeak.jpg)

2. "Components", "Seperates"

These speaker systems essentially take everything from the above speaker system, and break it up into parts. (componentspeak.jpg)

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE, AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?

To restate the obvious, one speaker system has all of its components in one package, and the other speaker system has all of its components in seperate packages. Both speakers do the exact same thing, and work in the exact same way, BUT COMPONENT SYSTEMS ARE BETTER.

In order to answer the above question, one must seek to understand the limits of the human sense of hearing. Most people realize that the human ear fails to hear sounds that many animals can detect. For example, humans do not hear the noise made by a dog whistle, but a dog pricks-up its ears whenever a human blows into such a whistle. Those sound waves have a frequency that goes beyond the limits of what the human ear can hear. Many of the sound waves that remain undetected by the human ear can be detected by a sensitive car audio equalizer.

The frequency of a sound indicates the rate at which the sound making device is moving. A fast moving device makes a high frequency sound; a slow-moving device makes a low frequency sound. The human ear cannot hear the sounds with the lowest and the highest frequencies. The car audio equalizer has the ability to pick-up the signals from those sounds.

The owner of a car audio system wants an equalizer that can sense, that can pick-up or detect the signals from the high and low frequency sounds. Within the car audio system, the electrical signals leave the preamplifier and travel to the equalizer. In the car audio equalizer the signals loop around the processing unit and the frequencies of the signals are adjusted. The adjusted signals then travel back to the preamplifier. The preamplifier sends the adjusted signals to the amplifier.

In the amplifier, the power of the adjusted signals is increased. The high-power signals then cause the speaker to vibrate. The vibrating cone of the speaker causes it to emit sound. Because the signals have been adjusted by the car audio equalizer, all of the sounds coming from the speakers will be heard by the humans riding in the car with that car audio system. (No doubt, dogs in the car would hear those same sounds.)

What you will need:

1. A Phillips screw driver
2. Panel tools
3. Pick tools
4. Drop light
5. Wire ties
6. Electrical tape
7. Wire cutters
8. Crimpers
9. Drop cloths

Note: Remove the old stereo before you begin!

More Notes:

You will need to disconnect your battery because you do not want to lose power when you are installing the speakers. It can also prevent injury in the process.

Take out all the hardware that came in the box.

You will need to disassemble your factory speakers. Instructions for dissembling your factory speakers should come in the manual that came with your car. If you do not find this manual, I would suggest calling the manufacturing.

Steps:

o To start, you will need the flat head screwdriver. With this tool you can unscrew your old screws that are holding up your old factory speakers.
o You will need to pull the wires from the cigarette lighter. It will help you install the other speakers.
o Connect the wire to the cigarette lighter.
o You will need to turn on the ignition and then select the wire that is underneath the dash.
o Stick the light tester into the ignition source. Light should turn on.
o Now you will need to look for the electrical lead that is coming from the stereo. This lead powers one of the stereos. You will then wrap the lead with a black electric tape so that it does not touch the metal surface.

In the 21st Century, few people remain unaware of the need for seeking the latest upgrade for a personal computer. Yet some people still lack an appreciation of the fact that computers are everywhere. Any car owner who has a car speaker system has a computer inside of that system.

Like the computer programs that control a personal computer, the programs inside of a car speaker system control that device. Those programs are found in the drive. Often an upgrade to the car speaker system provides the car owner with high frequency drivers. That fact represents one of the reasons why one should upgrade a car speaker system.

A full appreciation of the importance of upgrading a car speaker system comes most readily to anyone who understands the role of the transducer. The transducer, i.e. the car speaker in a car audio system, carries out the important energy conversion. The transducer converts the electrical energy in the system wires into the sound energy that the car passengers want to hear.

The conversion of electrical energy into another form of energy requires use of magnets. When a car’s transducer contains strong magnets, then that car speaker system will have a powerful car speaker. The strong magnets easily pick-up all of the electrical signals and convert them into a strong and audible sound. When a car owner upgrades the car speaker system, then the car owner can request stronger magnets in the system’s transducer.

Now review again the role of the car speaker. The transducer converts the electrical energy into sound energy. Using the speaker cone, the car speaker sends that sound energy out into the air. In other words the speaker produces the sound. In light of the importance of the car speaker system, the car owner should hesitate to question the need for a regular upgrading of that car speaker system.

By the same token no car owner should push for a fast and haphazard upgrade of the car speaker system. The speakers need to be paired with either a receiver or an amplifier. Therefore the individual performing the upgrade must make sure that any new speakers have a power rating that matches with either the receiver or the amplifier.

1. How to choose a repair shop. What you should look for when choosing a repair shop

Ask for a recommendation from friends, family, and anyone else you really trust. Look for a repair shop before you need one so you are not rushed at the last minute to find one.

Use the telephone, shop around by phone to compare prices and Warranty policies on the repair to find your best deal.

Ask to see their current licenses if local and/or state law requires shops to be licensed or registered. Also your state Attorney General office or local consumer protection agency, BBB and Chamber of Commerce may know if there are a record of complaints against a particular shop.

If you have an Extended Warranty Contract and intend to use it present it to the shop to make sure it will be honored before any work is started.

2. How To Find The Right Automotive Technician. And is one automotive technician better than another.

Look for shops that display various certifications of their technicians, like an ASE certification seal. Certification indicates that some or all of the technicians meet a basic standard of knowledge and experience in a specific technical area, if the certification states the tech is a Master certified tech that means the tech has passed tests and meets the standard for all areas of repair.

Also make sure that the certifications are all current as the mechanics have to be re tested every few years to make sure they stay up to date with changing technology, but remember just because the shop is certified does not always guarantee good or honest work. This is where investigating the shop/techs will pay off.

And make sure you ask the shop/mechanic if they have experience working on the make/model of your vehicle as some shops may not have the experience working on your import if the specialize in domestic cars and vise versa.

3. Unlocking the Mystery of Repair Charges

Before arranging to have any work done to your car, ask what the shops pricing policy is. Some shops charge a flat rate for labor on vehicle repair. The rate is based on an independent or manufacturer estimate of the time required to complete a repair. Some shops will charge actual time the tech works on the vehicle. Most shops use the flat rate system and this is usually the best for the customer as there is no wiggle room for the tech to "make time" on a repair.

If you need an expensive repair or a complicated repair or if you question the required repair, consider getting a second opinion. Just think of it as going to a doctor for major surgery and you want to make sure the doctor is right.

Find out if there is a diagnostic charge if you decide to take the vehicle some where else for the repair. Many shops will charge you for diagnosis time if you have repairs done or not, most will deduct it from repair bill if work done at their shop.

Where ever you get the repairs done, make sure you ask for a written estimate and the written estimate should include the following: It should state what is being repaired, the parts and parts cost needed and the labor cost for the repair. Make sure you get a signed copy before you leave the shop.

Also the Repair Order should state that the shop will contact you before they do any extra repair or time that exceeds the original estimate. State law requires this. In most states shops can only charge up to $25.00 over estimate on repair before contacting you. Most honest shops will contact you first before doing adding any excess charges.

Make sure you know about parts that are to be repaired or replaced, parts are classified as:

New-These parts are made to original manufacturer specification either by the vehicle manufacturer or and independent company, such as NAPA etc. Prices will vary from Original Manufacturer original equipment or an after market manufacturer and you should be informed of what is used or decided which you want replace on your vehicle.

Re-manufactured, rebuilt or reconditioned.-All three of these terms generally mean the same thing. It means the respective part has been restored to original working condition. Most of these parts will have standard warranty on them from 30 days to a lifetime depending or the part and reman. company. Usealy this includes just the part and not labor to replace it.

Salvage-These are used parts taken from another vehicle without any alteration from vehicles in a salvage yard. These parts carry a 30 day guarantee depending on the part and salvage yard. Most electrical parts from a salvage yard is bought as is.

All cars have their own unique type of car speaker installation issues although installing speakers is a relatively simple process. Most speaker installations can be finished in about an hour or less. The intricacy of the installation will vary depending on the vehicle. And again, depending on the vehicle, speakers may be installed in the dash, doors, or rear deck.

Most importantly, remember that safety should be considered when installing speakers. Damage can be caused by not installing speakers properly – this can impose added cost and even possible injury. Protection for hearing/vision should be used as necessary.

Here are fundamental steps to consider for installing speakers. Remember, some vehicles may require extra steps. Although the location of the speakers in your vehicle may vary from the mounting locations noted here, the method should be comparable.

For installation of dash and door speakers, you will need to ascertain if the vehicle has speaker grilles that are removable. If they can be removed, take the grilles off utilizing the appropriate tools, remove the screws holding the speaker in, disconnect the speaker harness that was attached to the speaker, connect the speaker harness to the new speaker, plug the speaker harness which is connected to the new speaker to the harness in the car, set the speaker in the opening and reinstall it using the screws for mounting, replace the grille and repeat with the other speaker. If installing speakers in the door, make certain the depth of the speaker will not interfere with the window operation after installation.

If the grilles cannot be removed, the dash pads or possibly the door panel will have to be removed. Be sure to keep an eye on any screws/clips removed should this be the case. Next follow the same steps shown above except you will need to reinstall the dash pads/door panel. If removing the door panel, be aware that screws can be mounted in the armrest or inside the door latch space and may be behind the trim panels. After all the screws are removed from the panel, raise it up so you can disconnect any wiring harnesses.

If installing rear deck speakers, you must determine if the speakers are top-mounted or bottom-mounted as this will determine your steps. If top-mounted, remove the grilles, remove the screws holding the speaker in, disconnect the speaker harness, connect the harness to the new speaker, plug in the harness connected to the speaker to the vehicle side of the harness, place the new speaker in the opening and mount with the screws, replace the grille and repeat with the other speaker.

If the speakers are bottom-mounted, reach in the trunk and remove the screws mounting the speaker. Then follow the same basic steps as above.

Could a car owner have custom car audio added to a vehicle with “lambo doors”? That question has popped into the head of a freelance writer in California. The writer has previously witnessed all of the operations involved in the process of adding custom car audio to a Jeep Cherokee. Now she has learned that car owners are being encouraged to get Lamborghini-like doors.

That freelance writer hesitates to imagine what she may next find in her driveway. In November of 2005 the writer found two young adult males using her driveway as the site for the addition of custom car audio. One of those two lads had taken a course on auto mechanics with the former instructor at Culver City High School, a school close to Sony studios. He had agreed to share his knowledge with the writer’s son. Hence, the two of them had commenced the long process required to complete a custom car audio job.

At one point the writer’s son called to his mother and invited her to come outside and to see for herself what her son and his friend were doing. What that writer saw was two car doors with the “stuffing” pulled out of them. The quest for a custom car audio system had led those two young men to place speakers in the doors of the Jeep Cherokee.

The two “stereo specialists” did not show the writer how they had wired the speakers to the power source and to the amplifier. Their failure to grant the writer a look at their wiring operations has caused that writer to now ponder on a particular question: Could a vehicle with car speakers in the doors also have “lambo doors”? In other words, could a car owner who enjoyed the sound delivered by custom car audio logically expect to add “lambo doors” to that same car?

The writer has seen pictures that show how the “lambo doors” swing upward, instead of swinging out. Wiring speakers into such doors would seem to present a real challenge. Could one have custom car audio in a car with such doors? One writer in California wants to know.

Thanks to modern electronics, we now have, more than ever, multiple options for buying an audio system for our car. We only need to go to an electronics store like Best Buy or Circuit City and find tons of options. Or check the web. There are so many brands to choose from that it may drive you nuts.

So, today it isn’t about what should you buy, but how much money do you have to invest in my car audio. It’s a complex balance between what do you want and what can you really afford, especially if you are an enthusiast of these babies.

Let’s say that you have five hundred dollars. That let’s you buy a decent receiver, an amplifier and a nice set of 4-way speakers. But reality says that you want more. Ok, you may buy this basic kit and save some more money until you have enough dollars to go for a subwoofer or a couple of tweeters with a dedicated amp. The thing is that you may not want to wait one or two years for it.

In that case, you should consider buying an used car audio system. For some men it may be considered as a sacrilege. After all, an audio system is considered by many of us as a physical manifestation of ourselves. It is the mean to make the world know what kind of music we hear.

But relax. You don’t need to be such an extremist with used car audio. First things first. Look for some prices. One of the first places to look on is Ebay. You may find a good price on a complete used car audio kit. Another option is retail stores. Some years ago I found a complete kit: receiver, speakers and amplifiers for 60% of the price. Why? Because the guy who bought it didn’t like how it sounded and spent more money on a more sophisticated system. But for me it was more than enough. This guy’s bad choice was my bliss.

You can also check the classified ads in the newspaper. You will find lot’s of local sellers looking for buyers for their used car audio. Electronics advances very quickly and consumers are so eager to use new technologies, that you will not find a shortage of them.

Finally, try your friends. Maybe they were already considering selling their system but needed a final push to do it. Ask those that have a good sounding system and check how much the same equipment would cost at a store.

At the end, it doesn’t matter which source of used car audio you use, the thing is that you find yourself comfortable with the deal you have made. Not only on the bucks you have saved, but also feeling that your second hand system does sound good after all.

You can customize your car stereo system by adding more features to what was originally installed by the manufacturer.

The main part of the car stereo is called the head unit, which may be a CD player, a radio or a tape player. In the olden days, there were tapedecks that were used as the head unit.

Advancements in acoustic technology have led to more improvements in the head unit, such as MP3, AAC and WMA, to support to the CD players. Most cars are designed with a CD changer, wherein multiple disks are held in the head unit.

There is a growing demand for high-end car stereo systems with component speakers, which are available in a combination of 2 or 3 speakers.

You need to be sure that you select the correct system, and for this it is always rewarding if you consult an expert. Selecting a good stereo system will go a long way in attaining your goal–listening to good music at all times, whether on the move or in the parking slot. The head unit or the CD player should have sound adjustments. The amplifier can be fixed under the seat with connections to the player.

Good quality cabling, wiring, and gold-plated terminals are a must in maintaining good-quality sound. Talking of crossovers, it is enough if you have passive ones. They help in listening to music so smoothly and correctly that you can hear even small sounds like a hiss.

Of late, there is a growing demand for quality in-car entertainment systems. The focal point of technologies in the automobile industry has been the car stereo systems. Before installing an audio system, check your vehicle’s electrical capability to handle the audio system.

In general, car stereo systems are much different from home audio systems. The limited space available in cars forces one to select a much smaller Head Unit size, say 1 DIN or 2 DIN. DIN represents the size of 50 mm * 178 mm. Within this space, automakers squeeze in as many features as possible, like DVD, navigation systems and CD or cassette players. This makes the designing of a Car Stereo system a complex task. However, you have a wide range of options in having audio in compressed format, such as MP3 and WMA.

Choosing a car stereo can be a complicated and difficult task, especially for individuals with little knowledge on the subject. This process requires extensive research in order to determine you are receiving the best deal possible. Before going to a car stereo dealer, you may want to review and understand all the components of a car stereo. This way, you can personally choose which components you would like for your car. The following is a list of the basic components of a car stereo:

1. Decks - Car stereos cannot function without a deck. A deck constitutes any piece of equipment ranging from cassette decks and CD players to MP3s and mini discs. The deck is considered the glue that holds the car stereo together. The deck controls the overall output of the sound and allows you to control the music being played. All car stereo decks have a minimum 4-channel output for your speakers. If you want more power than what your speakers alone can hold, you may want to consider purchasing an amplifier.

2. Amplifiers – Amplifiers provide the power needed to blast the music in your car. The more powerful your amplifier is, the louder the sound system is going to be. An amplifier can have anywhere from 1 to 7 channels. The number of channels in your amplifier is the number of speakers you can hookup in a series circuit.

3. Speakers – Speakers are where the sound from the stereo is emitted. Different types of speakers are designed to produce different frequencies. Higher frequencies provide the capacity for more sound and produce a higher level sound as well. The efficiency of the speakers is what will determine how far the sound will travel. If you want the sound to travel far, you will need speakers with a higher frequency.

4. Subwoofers – Every high-tech car stereo system should have a subwoofer. Subwoofers complete the sound by providing high efficiency of low frequencies, through the bass. In other words, the subwoofer is the piece of equipment which makes the car vibrate. A subwoofer needs to be enclosed in either a box or possibly the trunk of your vehicle. Keep this is mind when budgeting the cost of your stereo system.

Now that you know the basics of how everything operates, you can ask informed questions as to which components you should have in your car.

One Canadian gentleman living in Ottawa and one California-based manufacturer of stereo equipment have together demonstrated how the world has become smaller. After analyzing the information available on the World Wide Web, the Ottawa resident decided to purchase the R Alpine subwoofers, components made by the Alpine Company of Torrance, California. The Canadian wanted to enhance his car audio bass.

Why did a Canadian order a component from a company in California? Details on the R Alpine subwoofer provide part of the answer. The R Alpine subwoofer is made from specially-selected materials. In addition it contains top-quality electrical parts. Most importantly, the R Alpine subwoofer has a Thermal Management feature. The R Alpine subwoofer provides a car owner with an excellent addition to his or her car audio bass system.

Why should any car owner choose to purchase subwoofers with a Thermal Management feature? Knowing the answer to that question requires an understanding of the wiring basics for a car audio system. Let’s review those basics now.

If the subwoofers were wired to the amplifier using a parallel wiring pattern, then the resistance in those subwoofers would be reduced. Of course the reduction in the resistance would lead to an increase in the current passing through each subwoofer. Increased current could cause unwanted heating. A Thermal Management feature limits the chances that such heating could take place. That should explain the benefit of adding R Alpine subwoofers to a car audio bass system.

Now a car audio bass system needs more than subwoofers. It also needs an amplifier. The Canadian who purchased the R Alpine subwoofers also bought an Alpine amplifier. What features in the Alpine amplifier must have caught the attention of the Canadian car owner?

The Alpine amplifier can be adjusted from the head unit. That feature gives the operator of any vehicle equipped with the Alpine amplifier access to custom control and tuning. The Alpine amplifier can offer that feature because it comes with a small interface unit, a unit called KCE-510M. That unit connects the head unit and the amplifier. That unit gives the car owner greater control over the sound quality coming from the car audio bass system.

Subwoofer enclosures are an essential part of any music lover’s car sound system, because they are affordable and easy-to-install accessories that instantly add bass to your system. But choosing a set is trickier than you think – in fact, there are literally hundreds of ‘low-frequency reinforcement’ subwoofer enclosures to choose from.

Subwoofer enclosures protect your subwoofers and greatly affect sound quality. Generally speaking, you should purchase subwoofers that come subwoofer enclosures, because manufacturers specifically designed the enclosure to compliment your sub. But if you already have subs in place, and just need enclosures, you can find them. All you need to know is how to choose from four different types: tube, ported, sealed or bandpass.

Experts say that each type of enclosure produces a unique sound. Sealed enclosures are found to deliver highly accurate, ‘hard-hitting’ bass sounds. If you do not like a ‘boom’ sound quality, then this type of subwoofer enclosure is perfect for you. It produces a crisp and clean sound for any type of music.

Bandpass subwoofer enclosures, on the other hand, deliver ‘thick’ bass, perfect if you want to listen to loud music. It works really well with certain types of beat such as hip-hop and reggae. But, if you tend to listen to different music genres, then perhaps something a bit more generic is best like the ported subwoofer enclosure. Experts agree that this type is the most versatile. Any kind if music sounds good with it. Ported subwoofer covers also amplify sound, so it’s perfect if you have limited power but want to play loud music.

Finally, there’s the tube subwoofer cover. These types are the ‘basic’ choice – the one you should get if you can’t decide from among the three previously mentioned. Tube subwoofer covers are very compact and complement any type of music beautifully.