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Not all car audio enthusiasts are, or want to be, sound competitors; and not all sound competitors want the sort of customized cars this magazine has increasingly specialized in over the last decade or so. Moreover, there's a segment of our readership, more online than in print, that's interested only in one particular aspect of in-car entertainment and electronics, such as Bluetooth or iPod connectivity. But whatever the level of interest people have in car audio, we all share the common goal of modifying or transforming our vehicles to suit our needs and express our individuality. Some will go SQ all the way, like Jon Whitledge, whose series on his Sprinter provides an extraordinary anatomy of a top-flight audiophile system in a moving vehicle. This month he talks about component selection and quotes Robert Harley regarding the affect of a subwoofer or subwoofer system on the overall fidelity of sound. This aspect of audio integration is often overlooked, especially (and naturally so) among bass fans, but for SQ guys, getting the lower frequency output from the subwoofer into the balance of frequencies to blend properly, making for accurate music playback, is one of the more difficult parts of achieving a great-sounding system.
There are a lot of cars that can bump but not that many that have great bass without sacrificing accuracy. When I listened to the Sprinter last year it was still in the prep stage but already sounded pretty good; you can only imagine what it's like now-unless we can get this thing to SEMA or another show for people to hear for themselves. But, as a sound judge friend told me (and he very much admired Whitledge's accomplishment), he couldn't see himself driving around a Sprinter. I don't know many people who would, but then that's why we call it "The Car Audio System Nobody Would Build." Most of us are, quite reasonably, willing to compromise on the ideal vehicle for a mobile audio system, in favor of a coupe, sedan or SUV that we really love. Probably we would rather drive something like the Bimmer in this issue by the guys over at Car Concepts in Utah. This is one of the better installs we've seen; and judging from the setup and quality of product, it's likely a very good-sounding car, albeit no Sprinter.
Ultimately, whether you have a higher-end Euro with a luxury level audio system, a very specialized vehicle with a second to none audio setup, or an average daily driver with gear you bought on a budget and installed with the help of the instructions in our many how-tos, the main thing is that there are always ways in which you can improve your audio quality, as well as the cosmetic appeal of your customized car. That's what we love, the unending pursuit of excellence. Enthusiasts write in saying they don't want to send in pics of their cars because they're not over-the-top like a lot of cars in the mag. First of all, a good percentage of the cars aren't that over the top; and secondly, we love "regular" rides with moderate systems. We even dedicate a special space for them in Choices.
The options in car audio are practically limitless that's because given the many different kinds of vehicle interiors and install options, there are countless ways in which various aspects of car audio can be incredibly problematic. As a consequence there are even more solutions or approaches to those problems. That's why enthusiasts stay in car audio. It's a huge challenge and the satisfaction enthusiasts derive from customizing their cars is a reward in itself. The responses we've had to the how-to stories have been fantastic. So look for more content to cover every aspect of car audio DIY.
This month we continue with how-to tips from Jason Syner (and his Trifecta top three Civic); another installment in Steve Brown's RV project; a unique portable nav/center channel solution story; and a continuation of the Digital Designs SEMA vehicle.