Upgrading The Factory Audio System In Your Vehicle

There was a time when car audio systems consisted of a radio and a few speakers in the doors and back of the vehicle. The sound systems have come a long way since that time, but there are still a lot of features that the factory system is lacking and many improvements you can make in your car or truck.

Head Units

The head unit, or in-dash portion of the sound system, controls the entire audio system in most modern cars and trucks. Factory car audio systems may have a head unit that already offers options like a CD changer, satellite radio, and amplifier connections and have the ability to be expanded further. 

The quality of the car audio systems has come a long way, so for many drivers, adding better speakers or connecting an amp to drive a larger bass subwoofer is possible without replacing the head unit in the vehicle. The expandability of the factory system means you can keep the car looking original while easily adding power and sound quality to the system.

Upgrading The System

If you decide to change the head unit in your car, there are plenty of car audio system solutions available that will fit in the factory location. Often these replacements fit so well that you can hardly tell the difference between the factory system and the replacement. Replacing this part of the system is sometimes necessary to add core features you didn't have in your car model, like GPS, or Bluetooth connectivity. 

Upgrading from a base model system to one from a higher trim package can make the process more manageable. Finding the new unit you want to use in a salvage yard means you can source things like the factory trim that goes around the car audio systems head unit. You can also take the required wiring and connections that may be slightly different under the dash or elsewhere in the vehicle. 

Taking the upgrade a step further, you can find some aftermarket car audio systems that are engineered and manufactured to replace some of the factory audio systems and look original. The advantage to these units is that you can choose the options you want to add and buy a system with those specific features. 

Audio System Installation

When you are ready to upgrade the factory audio system in your car or truck, it might be a good idea to find a technician who works with car audio systems daily and can make the changes you are looking for. The wiring used in these systems can be complex, and if you are not sure what you are working with, it is easy to make a mistake that could affect more than just the sound system.  

For more information about car audio systems, contact a local company.