How to install a stereo in a car?

Answer 1

Installing a stereo in a car may look like a task that is best left up to the professionals, but in reality, the task is simpler than it looks. With a number of installation kits that simplify the installation process, it’s easy to install a stereo in little to no time at all. If you choose not to use a kit, then while there will be a bit more work involved in the installation, it is not completely impossible for someone to do it on their own.

There are several components that make up car’s stereo system. These include the speakers, the receiver unit and the amplifier. The receiver controls all of the aspects of the stereo system’s operation, receiving FM and AM signals while controlling the volume and tone of the sound. The receiver itself can provide sound to the speakers, but most receivers and many factory installed units don’t have enough power to properly deliver that signal, requiring the use of an external amplifier. This is why many vehicles have an amplifier installed in addition to a receiver. The speakers, of course, deliver sound to the interior of the car. The average automobile will have anywhere from three to eight, depending on how high-end the car or even the system itself is.

Before installing a car stereo, make sure that the receiver unit fits into the space you’re installing it in. Most automakers use a standardized size for their factory stereos, including DIN, double-DIN and DIN 1.5. If you have an oversized space, then you will need an adapter plate that provides a sure fit. Wiring the system is another issue that most will run into. Most cars have a factory harness that is incompatible with the connectors on your aftermarket stereo, resulting the need for cutting and rewiring the harness. The use of pre-fabricated wiring harnesses can eliminate the need for cutting and reconnecting wires, not only making the installation much simpler, but also faster.