How to Make a Loud Car Audio System

A few upgrades will make your car sound like a rolling rock concert.

People often enjoy listening to music while driving to work or just driving around town. Most factory car audio systems are designed to provide music at moderate listening levels without distortion. Audio enthusiasts who want a more realistic listening experience can perform a few simple upgrades to make a system much louder, and provide near-concert level sound.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement front speakers
• Power screwdriver with drill and driver attachments
• Wire connector crimping tool
• Soldering iron with solder
• Amplified sub woofer with speaker-level inputs
• Amplifier wiring kit
• Speaker wire

Instructions

Replace Front Door Speakers

1. Remove the front door panels. This is generally done by removing the door handle and popping the panel off the door. The panel may lift up and pop off, or it may pull straight out.

2. Unscrew the old speakers and remove them from the door. Look for a printed + on each door speaker, which indicates positive polarity. Cut the wires as close to the old speaker as possible.

3. Solder the door speaker wires to each replacement speaker, noting the correct polarity. Screw the replacement speakers into the factory openings and replace the door panels.

4. Turn on the car and listen. Noticeably clearer sound should be coming from each door speaker. Any rattling sound coming from either door should be dealt with at this time. This can be caused by a loose panel or loose speaker screw.

Install an Amplified Subwoofer

1. Disconnect the negative terminal of your car battery by loosening the terminal connector and pulling up until it disconnects.

2. Locate a suitable location for your amplified sub. The low frequency sounds produced by this component are omnidirectional. Most people place them behind the rear seats or in a trunk.

3. Crimp or solder a terminal ring to one end of the power cable included in the amp installation kit. Remove the in-line fuse from the power cable fuse holder, which is within one foot of the terminal, and connect the cable to the positive side of the car battery.

4. Connect the remote turn-on wire included in your amp installation kit to a switched 12-volt source in your accessory fuse box.

5. Route the power cable and remote turn-on wire through the vehicle firewall. The firewall is what separates the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. Look for a pre-drilled hole that is plugged with a rubber grommet to use as your access point. Punch a small hole in the grommet and thread the wires through.

6. Connect the power cable and remote turn-on wire to the amplified sub. There are two terminal screws on the unit for these connections.

7. Cut a suitable length of ground cable from the installation kit, which will allow a connection from the amplified sub to a ground point. Crimp or solder a terminal ring to one end of the ground cable, and attach the cable to the car chassis. Any screw or bolt that screws directly into the car chassis will work.

8. Attach the other end of the ground cable to the ground terminal on the amplified sub.

Route the Audio Signal to the Subwoofer

1. Locate the left rear speaker in the car and remove it from its opening. Do not cut the connecting wires. Deck rear speakers work best for this step; however, a rear door speaker will work as well.

2. Solder one length of speaker wire to the terminals on the back of the removed speaker. Make note of the polarity as was done with the front speaker replacement.

3. Route the wire through the vehicle so it can reach the amplified sub. This may require running through interior trim panels or under vehicle carpet. Connect the speaker wire to the bridged speaker level input on the amplified sub.

Hook Up the Power and Test

1. Re-connect the negative battery terminal and tighten it as much as possible.

2. Install the fuse into the in-line fuse holder on the battery cable by unscrewing the terminal holder and inserting the fuse.

3. Switch on your vehicle and test for power and sound output from the sub.

Tips & Warnings

• The audio source for your amplified sub is coming from the left rear speaker in the vehicle. You should not notice a significant decrease in volume from this speaker, but use your stereo's balance control to correct if needed.

• Fading audio all the way forward will eliminate sound from the rear speakers and the amplified sub as well.

• You may need to adjust the gain control on the amplified sub to match your taste in music.

References

• AA1Car.com: Battery Safety and Jump-Starting

Resources

• The12volt.com: Vehicle Wiring Guides