Auto Audio

by Andrew Yoder

Overview

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Best-seller gets you the car stereo sound system you want!

Why pay high prices for a shop to install or maintain your car stereo when you can have the satisfaction of doing it better yourself?

Auto Audio: Choosing, Installing, and Maintaining Car Stereo Systems, Second Edition, by Andrew Yoder, provides all the information you need to supercharge your ride with top-quality speakers, amplifiers, head units, equalizers, signal processors, changers and antennas — not to mention filters and crossovers, wire, cabling, connectors and transmitters. And once your system is in, you’ll see how to troubleshoot spot problems and service your components so they deliver pristine highs and heart-stopping lows for years to come. This new edition also shows you how to make seamless fiberglass speaker enclosures and panels for your car...protect your audio investment with a good security system...check out custom installations...and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071346894
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	05/01/2000
Series:	Tab Electronics Technical Library
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.11(d)

About the Author

Andrew Yoder is the author or co-author of nearly a dozen popular books on the subjects of video, audio, and radio, including Home Video: Choosing, Installing, Maintaining, and Repairing Home Video Systems; Home Audio: Choosing, Installing, Maintaining, and Repairing Home Audio Systems; The Complete Shortwave Listener's Handbook (Fifth Edition); The TAB Electronics Yellow Pages; and Pirate Radio Operations. He has written for such publications as Radio!, Popular Electronics, CB Radio, and Popular Communications. Yoder earned a B.A. in Broadcasting and Writing at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	xii
	Introduction	xiv
1	Choosing a System	1
	Advice and information	1
	Following the magazines	2
	Internet Audio Surfing	5
	Evaluating your needs	10
	An Example of Choosing a System	10
	Head units	12
	Power	12
	Sound-processing equipment	14
	Security	15
	Simplified equipment selection listing	19
	Head units	20
	Full-range speakers	21
	Woofers and subwoofers	22
	Amplification	23
	High-power head units	24
	Conclusion	24
2	Equipment Buying	27
	Buying new equipment	27
	Buying from a local installer	27
	Buying from chain audio stores	29
	Buying from the discount department stores	30
	The Radio Shack Exception	32
	Mail-order and Internet companies	32
	Buying used equipment	35
	Where to buy used equipment	36
	Conclusion	45
3	Head units & More	47
	Checking the equipment	47
	Head units	48
	Receivers	48
	Radio and audio technology	50
	Cassette decks	57
	Compact disc players	63
	MiniDisc players	69
	MP3 audio	72
	Computerized and navigational head units	74
	Other computerized head units	77
	DVD head units	79
	Satellite and terrestrial digital radio	82
	Head unit installations	84
	Conclusion	92
4	Sound Processing	93
	Basics and Analog Equalizers	93
	Digital signal processors and equalizers	97
	Parametric Equalizers	98
	Installing Equalizers	100
	Installing Parametric Equalizers	102
	Conclusion	102
5	Amplifiers	103
	Principles of amplification	105
	Classes of audio amplification	109
	Feedback	114
	Various amplifier ratings and specifications	115
	Power ratings	115
	Shopping for amplifier specifications	117
	Amplifier design configurations	122
	Mono or stereo	122
	Power supplies	126
	Stereo separation	128
	Additional amplifier features	129
	Practical amplifier tips and tricks	135
	Installation locations	135
	Amplifier level tweaking	139
	Using stiffening capacitors with dedicated power amplifiers	141
	Conclusion	144
6	Speakers	147
	Some simplified sound basics	147
	The sound stage	149
	Speaker action and components	152
	Magnets	152
	Voice coils	153
	Dual voice coils	154
	Speaker cones	155
	Suspensions	159
	Speaker basket	160
	Speaker classifications (by frequency)	161
	Tweeter	162
	Midrange	163
	Midbass	164
	Woofer	164
	Subwoofer	165
	Multiple-driver speakers	166
	Buying speakers	168
	Full-range speakers, multiple speakers, enclosed speakers, or multiple-driver speakers?	172
	Other speaker specifications	174
	Input sensitivity	174
	Response	175
	Nominal power handling	175
	Peak power handling	175
	Speaker polarity	176
	Impedance and interconnecting speakers	176
	Connecting speakers in parallel	177
	Connecting speakers in series	179
	Connecting speakers together in series and parallel	181
	Connecting dual voice coil speakers	182
	Installing Speakers	184
	Conclusion	187
7	Speaker Enclosures	189
	Enclosure materials	190
	Alternative enclosure materials	191
	Speaker enclosure shapes	193
	Speaker enclosure damping	196
	Speaker enclosure designs and techniques	197
	The closed-box enclosure	198
	Aperiodic enclosures	202
	Ported-box enclosures	203
	Transmission-line enclosures	209
	Speaker enclosure conclusion	210
	Conclusion	210
8	Filters & Crossovers	213
	Crossover uses	213
	Building and buying crossovers	215
	Basic crossover theory	218
	Active versus passive crossovers	218
	Basic crossover components	218
	Orders of crossovers	218
	Determining the crossover values	224
	Determining the speaker crossover points	224
	Crossovers for three-way speaker systems	231
	Mixing and matching different crossover orders	232
	Resistance and L pads	232
	Conclusion	235
9	Fiberglass & More	237
	Working with Plywood	237
	Working with MDF	238
	Fiberglass	240
	Working with Fiberglass Resin	241
	Working with Fiberglass Compound	245
	Building Speaker Enclosures	245
	Making Speaker Baffles and Odd-Shaped Enclosures	253
	Coatings	255
	Grille Cloth and Metal Grilles	256
	Lexan (Polycarbonate) and Plexiglass (Acrylic) Sheets	258
	Panels	259
	Subwoofer boxes	260
	Veneer	261
	Vinyl and Carpeting	262
	Other Finish Materials	263
	Conclusion	265
10	Auto Video	267
	Video sources	268
	Monitors and TVs	270
	Combination VCR/Monitors	271
	TV boxes	272
	A Portable Computer Solution	273
	Installation	274
	Conclusion	275
11	Wire & Cabling	277
	Should I purchase high-end audio cables?	277
	Wire	278
	Wire shapes and styles	279
	FM transmitters for compact disc players	283
	Making connections	284
	Soldering problems and dangers	287
	Making Twisted Pair Audio Cables	288
	Planning and assembling the system	290
	Power cables and fuses	292
	Grounds	297
	Tracing Ground Problems	300
	Intermittent noise	300
	Conclusion	301
12	Installation	305
	1981 VW Rabbit	306
	Speaker system	307
	The actual installation work	309
	Car noise reduction	312
	The future of this system	312
	1988 Plymouth Grand Voyager	314
	Head unit	315
	Speakers	316
	Future	318
	1998 VW Golf	319
	1998 Honda Acura	324
	1987 Honda Accord	330
	Conclusion	336
13	Repairs & More	337
	Tracking down the problem	339
	No sound	340
	Weak, tinny audio	342
	Music suddenly quiets	342
	Hot amplifiers	342
	Tracking conclusion	343
	Organizing your work	343
	Safety procedures	343
	Electrocution and electrical shocks	344
	Safety with electrostatics	346
	Repairing speakers	348
	Punctures, tears, and holes	349
	Deteriorating surrounds	352
	Equalizers	353
	Head units	354
	Cassette decks	354
	Compact disc players	360
	Dedicated amplifiers	363
	Conclusion	365
	Sources	367
	Index	385

Editorial Reviews

Written for amateur enthusiasts, this guide explains car audio from buying cheap components to do-it-yourself install jobs. Chapters discuss sound processing, amplifiers, speakers, speaker enclosures, filters and crossovers, auto video, and cabling. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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