Help getting a beautiful car audio experience.

[Virgo_guy]

I listened to my regular music on headphones instead of in my car.
I was surprised that everything sounded "clearer" and "more detailed".

I was able to hear instruments and sounds that I didn't notice before.

what causes speakers to lose this kind of "detail?"

Moreover, what equipment do I need to get this kind of robust clarity
and richness of each sound? I want to have an "experience" in my car.

The cassette/stereo is stock in a 2000 Honda Accord, the stereo is
loud enough, it just doesn't have good enough sound separation, maybe
it is distorted. Great base, so so tweat, and mid-range. I would
have to say maybe the mid-range or voice is the worst, its a toss up.
The tweat isn't very much better, don't know - some hiss.

I think I might need a ampliphier, or a cross-over, or an equalizer,
or maybe even something else..

I don't think I need 6 new speakers so you'd have to convince me that
they are one of the main culprits, I would like to buy new speakers
last, unless you are sure.

Had a EQ in the past, but I have never owned a amp, or cross-over and
don't even know what they do, could someone explain?

Someone help me out please, I just can't get completely swept
away in the car.

I need a little audio-101.

Thank you so much.

[james w]

Your speakers aren't losing the detail, your system is. Ambient noise is a big culprit. Less than optimal amplification is another. Poor source equipment/material is another. There is no quick fix, though there are steps you can take that yield more improvement than others. You didn't mention what you had your headphones attached to; that can make a huge difference - the quality of the source. With headphones you drastically improve the signal to noise ratio that your ears "see." This alone will make the music sound better.

Welcome you have entered the audiophile zone. The quest for sonic nirvana is never ending. Its budget is limited by what you have to spend and how much improvement you are looking to gain.


> what causes speakers to lose this kind of "detail?"
>

[Tony Fernandes]

Learn as much as you can. Read all the posts, ask questions, listen to other people's systems, etc.

You want "headphone" quality music? Plan on spending a TON of money to buy the right equipment and have the right people install it (or do it yourself once you know what you're doing).

The first time I had "headphone" quality music was in my 1997 Explorer with a Nakamichi CD-700 head unit, Dynaudio 360 speakers (tri-amped), 2 Phoenix Gold ZXti amps, Phoenix Gold 30-band EQ, JL Audio Stealthbox, and LOTS of sound deadening material in the font doors. Total system cost? Around $6,000. And that's doing all the install work myself. Add another few thousand for labor if you have it professionally done.

On top of all that I spent countless hours tweaking everything from the driver's seat.

And this was after I had been "into" car stereos for about 12 years, and my 6th car. It wasn't easy.

Tony



What's more likely? That an all-powerful mysterious god created the universe and then decided not to give any proof of his existence? Or, that he simply doesn't exist at all? And that we created him so that we wouldn't have to feel so small and alone. -Eleanor Arroway, Contact