Car Audio Installation & Shops: 5 Tips From Capitol Subaru In Salem

August 13, 2019

From HD and satellite radio to Bluetooth®, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, there are so many exciting technologies available for car stereo systems these days. They're so appealing and make your drive so much better, they might have you looking to upgrade to a brand-new ride! But if your car is on the newer side and still going strong, just missing a few infotainment features, why not upgrade the stereo with an aftermarket unit? We can help at the Capitol Subaru service center.

We can typically install OEM touchscreen infotainment systems complete with all the latest tech in your car. We can also upgrade the audio components themselves, like the factory amplifier and speakers. We can even install a big subwoofer for gut-punching bass response.

Check out the five tips below! They'll help you learn what you need to know before installing aftermarket stereo upgrades on your car.

5. Head Unit Sizing & Fit

The head unit, also called the receiver, is the part of your car audio system that sits in the dashboard where all the buttons and inputs are. When adding new features to your car's audio system, this is the part you may want to replace.

Most aftermarket head units are built to a set size, called DINs. A single DIN head unit is 7" wide by 2" tall; a double DIN unit is twice as tall. On some vehicles, the factory head unit is built to DIN size, so that it can easily be replaced with a new unit. However, other vehicles may have the stereo directly integrated with the dashboard. That means you'll also need a dashboard adapter kit so that the new unit works with the rest of your car's dashboard.

4. Adding An Aftermarket Amplifier

Most factory audio systems feature a head unit with a low-power, built-in amplifier. These are okay for listening to the radio or a CD at a reasonable volume -- but, when you want to push your speakers more and enjoy superior clarity when listening to HD audio sources, installing a discrete amplifier is a great idea! The more powerful your amplifier is, the better the signal to the speakers.

3. Upgrading Old Speakers

Of course, if you have old, crumby speakers, it won't matter how great the audio signal is if the speakers can't reproduce the sound accurately. When you're looking to get an upgraded audio system, you may want to consider replacing the speakers themselves.  Nicer speakers can more accurately reproduce a wider range of frequencies so your music sounds fuller and bigger than ever before.

And since most factory car audio systems don't feature a real subwoofer, bass response is limited. If you want to get thunderous low-end, you'll want to have a real subwoofer installed in your ride. This can cut into cargo volume, but who cares about being practical when your music sounds this good?

2. Adding New Features Without Losing Old Ones

Remember: When you start replacing the factory components of your audio system, it's important that everything you have installed works with the rest of your car. For example, if you replace a factory infotainment screen, is the new head unit compatible with your car's backup camera? Is the new stereo compatible with the volume and input buttons on your steering wheel? If you don't know the answers to these questions, you had better turn to some folks who do! That's why it's always smart to trust the Subaru experts at the Capitol Subaru service department when it's time to install a new audio system in your Subaru vehicle.

1. Consider OEM Integration

For the most feature-complete audio upgrade that looks as good as a brand-new, factory-installed unit, you may want to explore vehicle-specific stereos. They're not limited in size to the single- and double-DIN form factors. Instead, they're built with your specific vehicle in mind. They'll replace the factory car stereo head unit and dashboard face with a brand new one designed just for your vehicle. It'll also integrate with all your vehicle's existing features like the backup camera, steering wheel controls, USB ports and other features.

The world of aftermarket audio equipment for your car is vast. Let the pros help you navigate! To find out what's possible on your vehicle, talk with the team at Capitol Subaru about your car stereo needs.