In Need of "Car Audio 101" Education

[Cecil]

Can you guys help me better understand some of the basics of car audio?

1 - What does the "Channel" mean and what does it imply (1, 2, 4, etc.).

2 - How does the "ohms" come into play?

3 - What does RMS mean and how does this tie into the Amp (is there a rule of thumb for amperage)?

4 - Ported boxes vs. sealed.... pros & cons?

5 - What are the basic "do's" and "dont's"?

Thanks all!

[Cecil]

I found a few sites..... still would like to hear what you have learned in the real world. :-)

Car Stereo (http://www.carstereos101.com/)

Car Audio - The Basics (http://www.al-eds.com/learnmore.php4)

Car Audio Basics 101 (http://www.pcabusers.net/caraudio.html)

[P057]

Can you guys help me better understand some of the basics of car audio?

1 - What does the "Channel" mean and what does it imply (1, 2, 4, etc.).

2 - How does the "ohms" come into play?

3 - What does RMS mean and how does this tie into the Amp (is there a rule of thumb for amperage)?

4 - Ported boxes vs. sealed.... pros & cons?

5 - What are the basic "do's" and "dont's"?

thanks all!

1. Channels go like this
1 channel: mono (monoblock)
2 channels: stereo sound, left and right
4 channels: stereo sound still, but better wiring for 4 speakers. (allows fading)
There are other types but these are the basic

2. Ohms just means impedence, the lower the Ohms, the less resistance, the stronger the power. If an amp is stable to X ohms, thats the lowest it can go before you run into problems like the amplifier going into protect mode. if you don't need too much power, try and keep the amp in a higher ohm load, 4 ohms sounds much cleaner than .5 or 1.

3. RMS just basically means the continuous power output. This is the main number you always want to look at when buying anything for car stereo, this applies to amps, speakers, and subwoofers alike.
As far as amperage, all electrical components are relative, watts, amps, volts, ohms. Google up how electricity works and for the equations to relate them all.

4.Ported = louder bass at the cost of a more linear output slope.
sealed = not as loud but much more accurate and flatter output.
Bandpass = focuses on a frequency range
Some people really don't notice the difference and some people prefer one over the other and swear there are other differences. To me, ported just sounds a little warmer, I prefer it as long as it's made right. Bandpass to me sounds terrible, its really only good for a very narrow (in comparative terms) in the output sound spectrum and doesn't sound too great. But when its used for a specific music type (rap) it sounds great and will produce a lot of sound.

5. Ehhh, too many to list. and it really depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

One major Do: upgrade wiring (google: big three (in car stereo)) whenever adding a stereo.

One major don't: If you're into SQ do not buy eminence;)


You'll have others that will give you better answers, but i'm quicker :D.

[P057]

good site: the12volt.com

[d.a_user]

ok lol here we go the channel is how many subs can be hooked up to it(but u can hook up 4 speakers to a 2 channle amp)and the ohms law is very very very important becuz the lower the ohm the more power u can get BUT the lower the ohm setting the more stress u put on ur woofers rms is the recomended setting witch means what the power seting that is safest to use( i run my subs 100w over the rms)the rms is most of the time half of the max ok now a ported box will be louder better for spl and move more air(witch means more bass)ok and a sealed box would be better for ur sound quality meaning a set of 10in woofers in a sealed box would be a awsome setup for a rocker lol ok the dos and donts lol dont let ur power wire touch anything at all and make sure ur ground is NICE and CLEAN and TIGHT cuz the ground is one of the most important things ok now always make sure none of ur wires a crimped(or shut in a door) ALWAYS duble check ur wire and ALWAYS make sure nuthing is going to hit ur woofers and be sure there n the box good and thats about all i can say without writing a book lol

[the727kid]

1. Channels go like this
1 channel: mono (monoblock)
2 channels: stereo sound, left and right
4 channels: stereo sound still, but better wiring for 4 speakers. (allows fading)
There are other types but these are the basic

2. Ohms just means impedence, the lower the Ohms, the less resistance, the stronger the power. If an amp is stable to X ohms, thats the lowest it can go before you run into problems like the amplifier going into protect mode. if you don't need too much power, try and keep the amp in a higher ohm load, 4 ohms sounds much cleaner than .5 or 1.

3. RMS just basically means the continuous power output. This is the main number you always want to look at when buying anything for car stereo, this applies to amps, speakers, and subwoofers alike.
As far as amperage, all electrical components are relative, watts, amps, volts, ohms. Google up how electricity works and for the equations to relate them all.

4.Ported = louder bass at the cost of a more linear output slope.
sealed = not as loud but much more accurate and flatter output.
Bandpass = focuses on a frequency range
Some people really don't notice the difference and some people prefer one over the other and swear there are other differences. To me, ported just sounds a little warmer, I prefer it as long as it's made right. Bandpass to me sounds terrible, its really only good for a very narrow (in comparative terms) in the output sound spectrum and doesn't sound too great. But when its used for a specific music type (rap) it sounds great and will produce a lot of sound.

5. Ehhh, too many to list. and it really depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

One major Do: upgrade wiring (google: big three (in car stereo)) whenever adding a stereo.

One major don't: If you're into SQ do not buy eminence;)


You'll have others that will give you better answers, but i'm quicker :D.

I know of a perfect SQ & RTA car using 3 eminence mids in each door lol.

[P057]

I know of a perfect SQ & RTA car using 3 eminence mids in each door lol.

It was mainly a joke because anytime notladstyle or I make any reference to eminence we get jumped on by scrapin honda or some other guys around here.


Poor application is the product's downfall.


and that'd amount to 95% of its userbase.

[ShakinIt]

5 - What are the basic "do's" and "dont's"?


don't make your box or any part of your system out of old beat up furniture and post the pics on here......:roll:

[P057]

don't make your box or any part of your system out of old beat up furniture and post the pics on here......:roll:

heh, and expect to not get laughed at and ridiculed for a long time afterwards.

[Cecil]

I learned a long time ago, that being cheap, is expensive.
I do not mind spending the money required to do things correctly.
Not that I have funds to spare, but I prefer to do things "right". ;-)
.... thus, no old furniture boxes ...