Aftermarket Stereos vs. Factory: What's the Difference?
Hint: Car Stereo City Is Your Home for Aftermarket Car Stereo Installation in San Diego
If you’ve spent any time in a car with an aftermarket stereo blasting music that sounds like a side of heaven, then climbed back into your sad ride and suddenly Nickelback was playing on the FM radio - then yes, you know you deserve better.
When it comes to comparing factory stereo equipment with aftermarket components from the best car audio store in San Diego, there’s really no match. Keep reading to learn why.
Ditch the Factory Stereo ASAP
You should do more than get an aftermarket stereo for your car. Replace your factory stereo, stock speakers, tweeters, and wiring with quality aftermarket stereos such as Alpine, Jensen, Infinity, and Kenwood. Your quality of life is suffering and you might not realize it.
When you crank the volume up on factory speakers, the audio gets distorted. The speaker wires and RCA cables in many cars can pick up interference from engine and alternator noise or wiring and lower the sound quality - even in certain luxury cars. The sound is lacking, and your music gets drowned out every time a semi passes you in traffic, even when you turn up the volume.
If music is life, then it’s time to get better-sounding music. The secret is a new car stereo.
Could I Simply Replace the Head Unit with an Aftermarket Stereo Unit?
Some cars just have the most basic factory head units. With these, all your music-shaping options are boiled down to a single little button that you tap to choose “treble,” “bass,” and “fade.”
Yes, upgrading this to an aftermarket head unit will make a noticeable improvement in sound quality. It gives you more power for the speakers, and you can shape the sound with an equalizer that gives you actual options.
Aftermarket stereos will also have interface, processing, and input options that the factory systems don’t have, especially if you’re upgrading an older luxury vehicle. You’ll be able to improve Bluetooth capabilities, get additional auxiliary inputs, and even add backup cameras!
But even the best head unit can’t fix muddy-sounding factory speakers. If you want true clarity, volume, and performance, you have to upgrade the whole system and install an aftermarket stereo.
Could I Install Aftermarket Speakers Without Updating the Head Unit?
It depends. A factory head unit is designed to work specifically for the factory speakers. This head unit might be able to make new speakers sound halfway decent, but it’s not as likely.
Your car’s factory-set EQ settings applied to your brand-new aftermarket speakers might sound okay - but if the settings are completely out of whack, it doesn’t matter how good your speakers are. If your existing head unit won’t bring out the best in your aftermarket speakers, it’s best to update the stereo, too.
Couldn’t I Install These Aftermarket Stereos Myself?
Once upon a time, you could DIY most anything in a vehicle. Just replace the head unit out of the dash, add an amp, put in new aftermarket speakers, wire them up, and boom, you’re done.
Not any more. DIYers are frustrated because there isn’t a “standard size” head unit in cars and trucks that allows you to easily swap out the original unit for an upgraded aftermarket. The factory stereo head unit is built to be cleanly integrated into the dash. There’s no universal “one size fits all” approach that allows you to swap one out for another, to give you that clean install you want in your personal music machine.
These days, you also have to understand how the electrical components in your vehicle are set up in order to do a good job at aftermarket car stereo installation. You have to look at the wiring diagram to see how everything taps into the fuses before adding in all the new components. Not only that, but the factory radio ties into the car’s Controller Area Network - the CANbus system. This is the car’s communication system that allows microcontrollers and other devices to communicate with each other. So now you have to figure out how to navigate that process as well.
Is there some way to fix this? Well, actually, yes. Let the experts at Car Stereo City handle installation for you, so you can also enjoy warranties on parts and labor. DIY installations often void warranties altogether; check with your stereo’s manufacturer for details.
We Provide Premiere Aftermarket Car Stereo Installation in San Diego
The best music deserves the best speakers. Installation shouldn’t be a headache - so take your ride to Car Stereo City for the best aftermarket stereo installation in San Diego. We offer expert installation from trained professionals who have decades of experience. We will set up your system the way you want and answer all your questions.
Car Stereo City is proud to supply and install the most popular brands in the industry: Kicker, Pioneer, Kenwood, Infinity, Orion, JL Audio, and many other car stereo systems and reputable speaker brands. We can also help you out with any accessories you may need, such as security systems, backup cameras, and car navigation. If you purchase a car stereo system from Car Stereo City, we are excited to offer you lifetime warranty on installation!
We offer the best brands at affordable prices with expert installation. Car Stereo City is located at 8252 Clairemont Mesa Blvd in San Diego. Give us a call at (858) 277-1823, or email us directly using the contact form on our website.