Buying and installing a car/truck stereo system...

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  First and foremost, know EXACTLY what you will need before buying. Check with your vehicle manufacturer and see what size speakers are needed to replace the factory speakers...also making sure to know the mounting depth, nothing worse than buying a speaker for your door only to find out it won't mount because it is too long.

• Second, know WHERE you are going to mount your amplifier(s), subwoofer(s), and/or any tweeters you may want to add. After you figure out where you want to mount everything, measure all the locations, then measure then again, then one last time just to make sure you know exactly what size box and amplifiers will fit. Do some research, because you will also want to know where and how to mount them to get the best sound from what you are installing. This is a good search in eBay to help out - Car Stereo Installation Guide

• After you know where and how you are going to mount everything, now check to see where you will run your wires so they are hidden, but not placed near sharp objects, as a short could damage your system. Measure the length of cable you will need for each part...power cable to battery, "remote" on to your stereo, ground, RCA cords to your stereo, and speaker wires from your amp to subs/tweeters.

• Now your ready to start purchasing what you need.






• One of the most important things you can buy is an installation mounting kit made for your SPECIFIC car/truck. This will simplify the wiring by not having to splice and figure out what wire goes to what factory speaker...you just plug in to your factory wiring harness and wire the other end to the stereo (both will be labeled for easy connecting)...this will also make sure you put the correct face around your stereo to take up any gaps between it and the dash. Another good eBay search is Stereo mounting kit



• Another important purchase is a good, quality amplifier hardware kit...make sure you get the correct kit with the correct gage wiring for your wattage stereo, amplifier, and speakers...using an incorrect kit can cause you to loose the true potential of your system. Search for Amplifier installation kit on eBay.



• Now you can start purchasing your equipment...some things to consider when purchasing the various pieces...






• Size of your car or truck...don't no need to go overboard and spend more money than you need.



• Will you be wanting a pure bass sound? Or more of an "all around" sound?



• Finances...as important as your stereo may be to you, loosing your equipment or car because you can't pay for it won't do you alot of good :D



• OK, so now that we know what we need, where do we get it and what brand? I don't think you will get 2 people to agree on either of those, but as a general rule, I go with the "you get what you pay for" philosophy. If you do a search on eBay for Car amplifier, and you see 25 1000 watt amps with equal descriptions for $400 and 2 for $75, chances are you should go with one of the higher...I've heard people say, "an amp is an amp", but this couldn't be farther from the truth, from experience, a $25 1200 watt amp probably won't be what you need.






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  Stereo - You can get a very good stereo with good wattage out to your 4 factory mounted speakers, so consider that when you think about whether to get one with extra RCA cables for added amp(s) to factory speakers. With the rise in MP3 players and CD's, I would recommend getting one with atleast MP3 support on CD's, and if in your budget, one with a plug for an external MP3. Another thing to consider is either a detachable face plate or "flip up" face...they are pretty common in most high end stereos, but some still make those and option...and I would recommend getting one with either of those features. Looks are also important to many people...if you have a blue interior with blue dash lights, a stereo with red display may not be the ideal look you are trying to achieve. Also, consider getting one with built-in controls for a multi-disk changer.



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  Amplifier - Don't let the options you see while looking for an amp throw you for a loop...the basics of what you need are relatively simple. How many speakers are you running on this amp? If only 2 subs, then a 2 channel with bass boost and/or frequency adjustment. If 2 subs and 2 tweeters, then a 4 channel. What wattage are your speakers rated at? This is very important as there's nothing worse than blowing a cone out of a subwoofer. Make sure your amp has atleast 1, preferably multiple fuses built in to it as well as 1 or more "in line" fuses.



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  Subwoofers - There are so many variables to consider when purchasing a subwoofer, whether it be a bandpass, free air, enclosed, ect...know ahead of time what you want and then get that sub based on your box configuration.



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  Tweeters - Whether these are needed is debatable, but a pair in the front of your vehicle with low-to-mid wattage will help the sound of most vehicles and their systems.



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  Factory replacement speakers - I HIGHLY recommend getting 4 way replacement speakers for your factory locations...this will give you a good all around sound, especially towards the front of your vehicle.

This is by no means a direct guide that will let a beginner install a high quality system...but these are some good guidlines to consider even if you are taking your vehicle to have your system installed to a professional, knowing what you need may very well help save you some money.

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