Upgrading your Audio System

Upgrading Your Audio System

If you have never upgraded any of the factory audio systems in your car please read here first.

There can be many steps to achieving a good sound in a vehicle, varying from a simple speaker upgrade to a full on amplified system. Listed below is an insight into what these steps are.

Speakers

The best and simplest way to upgrade an audio system is to fit a set of front component speakers. This consists of a woofer, tweeter and a separate crossover. The crossover separates the frequencies produced by sound into high frequency and middle frequency. The tweeter produces the higher frequencies and it is best suited either high up on the door or around the dash area. The woofer should be placed lower down in the door area. These are generally fitted in factory locations so nothing is on show.

Amplifying

If you want to go even further to get the best from your component speakers then an amplifier would be the next improvement. This will increase power and also allow you to tune your speakers to your own specification. An amp will also add depth to the sound and give you more control over what you are listening to. Similar to a subwoofer, an amp can be quite small and sometimes hidden away so you can’t see it at all.

Subwoofers

If you want greater sound quality a subwoofer and amplifier will do the trick as you’re installing something that isn’t currently in the vehicle. This means that the high and mid frequencies are coming from your front speakers and the low frequencies (bass) come from behind (bass is non directional). As a general rule, the larger the subwoofer the deeper the bass it will produce. Don’t worry if you are thinking this will give you ‘boomy bass’ and people will hear you coming. Adding a subwoofer into a vehicle is like adding a subwoofer to a home cinema system, it gives definition to the sound by adding in the really low frequencies that speakers can’t play. Subwoofers can be small and fitted quite discrete so they take up little room in the boot.

Headunit (Source)

Changing the headunit in your vehicle generally means better quality audio, more power to the speakers and more settings to adjust the sound to how you prefer it. If you’re looking to add an amplifier to your audio system you should look for a stereo with a high pre-out voltage, normally around 4v. This gives the amplifier a better signal resulting in less gain needed on the amplifier, therefore giving you a lot better sound quality. Changing the headunit is highly advised but do not worry if your vehicle doesn’t have the facility to change, we can still get a good sound using your factory stereo by using specific interface modules.

Changing the headunit also gives you features such as Navigation, DAB, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and much more. 

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Testimonials

Source Sounds is the place to go if you are thinking of having any upgrades done to your vehicle!! They have a vast range of products to choose from, very friendly staff members who will go the extra mile to meet and go beyond customer expectations. The work they carry out is second to none, they have always done a really good job with my audio upgrades both with my current vehicle and my old one. I will be definitely going back in the future to get some more upgrades done. Would highly recommend them to everyone!! Big shout out and thank-you to Jordan and his team to make this possible.

— James Garton

Was there today, 18th May at 8am to have the front components on my ford focus changed to a pair of Audison Prima’s, along with some sound deadening anf wave diffusers fitted.
Got there and the staff couldnt have been more helpful or polite. Told me it would he ready by midday. After 2 and half hrs i went to have a look to see how the work was going and the technicians were almost done with it even talking to me during finishing off the install to advise me on future upgrades im thinking of and how to achieve the result im after.
Overall im very impressed, can’t reccommend them enough and im definitely going back for the rear speakers and headunit, amp subwoofer setup in a few months.
They even vaccumed the car after they had finished and went through the setip of my current stock stereo to maoe sure the new speakers were set right, advising me on how to adjust the headunit to ensure optimal burn in for the new speakers.

— D Stevenson

Just wanted to say a massive thankyou to you guys at Source, especially Chris and Paul who over the past few weeks have impressed me no end. I went to them with a typically sub-standard BMW sound system, not really knowing how it should be improved and had a really friendly informal chat with Chris about the best route to take. What has impressed me most is that never at any point are the people here pushy – they really listen to your requirements and budget and make honest suggestions and give a number of options. Chris and Paul both spoke in some detail about what the issues were and how the problems could be addressed and I felt I was in safe, honest hands throughout the upgrade process. A whole new set of 3 way speaker set up and a new amp later the car sounds crystal clear like never before. Not wanting to change the head unit, the guys had solutions as to how to keep the car looking as factory as possible, and even asked me back in so they could check how the system has bedded in. Old components are carefully removed, allowing you to have them replaced should the car ever be sold. Their installation couldn’t be faulted and their customer service is genuinely excellent – polite, highly knowledgeable and above all honest, with their customer’s best interests at heart. I have no reservations in fully recommending them and have no doubt I will be back in future. Thanks again gents !! Jason