Car Audio Upgrade 101

Let's start by upgrading your speaker sytem. If you want to level up your sound, you will definitely want to put in new speakers for each of your doors. For starters, coaxial or full range speakers are the go to upgrades for novice enthusiast. Onlinecarstereo.com has several top sellers and we recommend the following:

Alpine SPE-6000 - The most common type of car speaker size is 6.5 inches and this Alpine unit does not disappoint. For the price range, you can never go wrong with the 60 watts RMS going up to 240 watts peak power.

Kicker 43DSC6504 - Kicker has been a home staple for audiophiles for its affordability and efficiency. This unit provides 60 watts of RMS power. It features a classic style grill fit for every vehicle.

JL Audio C1-650X - If you have the budget to burn then JL Audio speaks for itself. The classic yellow basket is recognizable every where you go and will surely give you the crisp and clear sound you always want.

Next will be to add bass on your sound which is provided by the subwoofer. The most common size are 10" and 12". It depends on how loud the bass you want and you can install 1, 2 or more. Here are the top sellers at Onlinecarstereo.com.

JL Audio 12W3V3-4 or 10W3V3-4 - These 2 subwoofers (12" and 10") are the most popular among car audio lovers.They both provide 500 watts RMS power and extend up to 1000 watts peak. JL Audio's world class engineering gives you the patented Elevated Frame Cooling design delivers cool air through slots directly above the top-plate to the voice coil of the speaker which enhances power handling and sound quality.

Kenwood Excelon  KFC-XW1000F - Kenwoods reply to JL's iteration. If your trunk has limited space, the shallow depth of this subwoofer can fit but still provide the umph factor for your bass. Peak power goes up to 1000 watts.

Massive Audio  HIPPOXL 122R - This monster bring you a whopping 3000 watts of RMS and can extend up to 6000 watts. If you want to hear competition grade bass sound, then Massive Audio has been around since the beginning. Its Kevlar Fiber Reinforced Non-Pressed Paper Cone with Industrial Textured Finish gives you the durability your need to last it a long time.

After you have selected your subs and speakers, you need an amplifier to power these and sound properly. If you are upgrading to a 4 speaker and 1 sub, you need a 5 channel amplifier. In selecting the right amp, you need to determine the RMS power for each speakers and subs and match it for each channel. Our installer's choices are:

Kicker  46CXA6605t - This Kicker amp is a bang-for-the-buck 5 channel amp but very reliable and efficient. The variable crossover will give you the control you want to achieve the sound you are looking for. The CS series amps from Kicker provides clean and powerful music for every vehicle.

Pioneer  GM-DX975 - Next in line is an amp from Pioneer. With a maximum power of up to 2000 watts, you are getting a complete package of an all-in-1-solution for your audio needs. For extra flexibility, a variable LPF makes audio frequency more adjustable according to subwoofer characteristics and personal listening preferences.

JL Audio  HD900/5 - Again, the cream of the crop belongs to JL Audio. With the price tag, you definitely get what you pay for. This amp is very compact and can fit in any vehicle. With itsw brushed aluminum design, you are assured that it will last a long time and is protected against any damage.