Essay/Term paper: Installing a car stereo system

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Literary Essays

Installing A Car Stereo System


Throughout this project, each component will be required to be
compatible with the other components chosen. The dual purpose for this is to
keep cost factor low and facilitating installation. Several adaptors can be
eliminated by having compatible components. Five major components will be used
in this system, the head unit, the front speakers, the rear speakers, the
subwoofer, and the subwoofer amplifier.

Head Unit

The head unit is the most important component and must have certain
features to make it adequate for this system. Some of the features we will not
be using immediately but will require in case expansion is later desired. There
are four major features required in the head unit, they are internal amplifier,
Pre-amp out RCA jacks, CD controller and a face-off security feature.
The head unit must have an internal amplifier that can produce at least
25 watts-per-channel so it can adequately power a decent pair of speakers.
Reproduction of higher frequency sounds (i.e. violin, flute) as well as lower
frequency sounds (bass violin, tuba) require more power to be heard at the same
level as a midrange sound (voice, trumpet). The internal amplifier in the head
unit must be able to generate enough wattage for the SPL (sound pressure level)
of the higher frequencies to be heard clear in a space the size of the AEROSTAR.


Pre-amp Out RCA Jacks

To allow for low-level amplification without using an in-line power
reducer, the head unit will require low level pre-amplification output jacks.
Head units ordinarily come with either front and rear, or just rear RCA jacks.
This situation will only require rear jacks since the head unit produces enough
wattage sufficient for the front speakers. The sub-woofer system will be
powered by an additional external amplifier by using these jacks.

CD Controller

Although cassettes are more versatile at this point in time, CD's are
readily available and deliver a more quality sound. It would be a very good
choice to assure that a CD Controller is built in. One that controls more than
just a specific multi-CD player.

Face-off Security

Full-Panel detatchable security feature will also be required. Most
head units have this as a standard feature making this feature, although
indisposable, readily available. A unit that has mechanical fast-forward,
rewind, and eject buttons will be preferred over a unit that has all these as
electronic features. The reason for this comes apparent if ever a cassette tape
is left in the unit and the tape is to be ejected without having the ignition
key to power the unit.
In the tuner section of the unit, local/distance switchting , dolby
noise reduction and at least 12 FM presets will also be advantageous features in
our head unit.
The head unit we will be using will be the Pioneer model KEH-P4200. It
has a 35 watt-per -channel amplifier built in so it is sufficient for driving
front speakers.
This unit features Multi Function Display (MDF) which allows the
operator of the system to view many different functions of the unit. The
display is an orange colored digital display with the ability to display alpha-
numeric, user programmed titles for the optional compact disc shuttle as well as
the time, date, call letters for the radio station tuned in.
Another feature included is a new F.I.E. (Front Image Enhancer) that
cuts middle and high range frequency output from the rear speakers so that only
low range frequencies are output, for an appearance of voices and higher pitched
instruments to be in front.
The unit is standard size (7"w X 2"h X 5-7/8" d) and uses the standard
auto grounding system and power consumption, allowing an installation without
cutting or drilling and appearing factory installed.
The unit utilizes the face-off anti-theft system, which allows the front
panel of the unit to be removed as a theft deterrent. Pushing a button in the
upper right corner of the panel will eject the panel from the body. To replace
the panel, push the panel into the main body.

Caution: Be very careful in handling the front panel.

Do not leave the panel in direct sunlight or high temperatures
Do not drop the panel or otherwise subject it to strong impact
Do not allow volatile agents (i.e. benzine, thinner, insecticides to
come in contact with the surface of the front of the panel.
Do not touch the contacts on the front panel or on the unit body (see
fig. #)The Pioneer model KEH-P4200 has features that meet the requirements of
this project.

Front Speakers

In this project, the selection of front speakers is dependent on the
sound preference of the driver. Since the front speakers will dominate the
passengers in the front seat, it is important that they produce a sound
acceptable to those passengers. The subwoofer system used will require the
front speakers to only cover sounds in the mid to high frequency range. The
head unit will be required to produce enough power to drive the front speakers,
therefore, direct compatibility between the head unit and the front speakers is
important. The Ford Aerostar can accomodate speakers in the front up to 6-1/2"
in diameter without cutting.
The front speakers will be the Infinity REFERENCE 502i - 5¼" Two Way
Speaker. They have a power handling capacity of 45 watts which is sufficient
for frontal imaging.
These speakers are designed to drop into the existing speaker cutouts.
The advantage of having speakers that fit into existing cutouts in the front
dashboard cannot be stressed enough. This eliminates the need for completely
removing the front dashboard for cutting . They come with matching grilles,
which will not be necessary in this situation.
The F.I.E. (Front Image Enhancer) in the head unit takes advantage of
the dual cone speaker design for a full range frequency response. They also
come with a built in crossover to increase the output efficiency of the speaker.

Rear Speakers

The Ford Aerostar comes with accomodations for two sets of rear speakers.
One pair of 5-1/4" speakers can fit into cutouts in the rear door. There are
also cutouts in the rear on the sides for speakers 6"x 9". Once again, due to
the subwoofer system being used, these two sets of speakers will only be
required to reproduce sounds in the mid-range and higher.
The 5-1/4" speakers in the rear door will only reproduce sounds in the
upper-midrange to high range. The head unit will produce enough wattage to
effectively cover this range in a set of speakers this size.
The 6"x 9" 's in the rear sides will reproduce the full range of sound
excluding the low range reproduced by the subwoofer. To effectively do this
without loss of sound quality, a set of 2-way 6"x 9" speakers will be used.
The speakers will start reproducing sound in the range of 1200hz-1500hz. The
subwoofer system can adequately supply all the tones generated below the 1500hz
point, and compensate for the lows lost by the absence of amplification in the
6x9's.
The rear door speakers will be the Kenwood KFC-1054. They are 5" in
diameter and have a mounting depth of only 1" which makes this also ideal for
installation into factory cut speaker openings.
These speakers have a power handling capacity of 35 watts over a
frequency range of 60HZ to 20kHZ. In this system, there will be a capacitor
installed to cut lower frequencies off at 2kHZ. Allowing only lower to midrange
sound reproduction.
The rear center speakers will be the JBL GTC9610. The are the standard
6"x 9" two-way models which makes this also ideal for installation into factory
cut speaker openings. They are designed for full sound reproduction to be used
in a multi-set speaker environment, or, since they cover a wide enough spectrum
of sounds, they can be used in a very small system involving only one set of
speakers.
These speakers are designed wiwth a titanium tweeter and a polypropylene
cone for the main driver. These materials are generally used in systems that
will be played at loud volumes for long periods of time (ie. studio monitors,
concert speakers).
The JBL GTC9610 cover a frequency range of 45HZ to 19kHZ being driven at
4(up to 100watts into each speaker driver. They also come with matching grille
covers and mounting hardware.

Subwoofer System

The subwoofer system used will be made up of the subwoofer speakers and
the amplifier used to power those speakers.

Speakers

The speaker component of this sub system will be self contained speakers
in the 8" to 12" range. The maximum dimensions of the speaker system are 10"h x
30"w x 20"d. These dimensions will allow the speaker component to fit under the
rear seat. The speaker can consist of either a single mono woofer, or a pair of
seperately contained stereo woofers.

Subwoofer Speakers

The subwoofer speakers will be the SAS-BAZOOKA T-102 10" bass tubes.
They have dimensions of 18"x 8¾ x 10" and a power handling capacity of 200
watts. They also have an upper frequency cut-off of 1.5kHZ. They are paper
cone drivers enclosed in a ported box.
The tubes are designed to enhance low frequency program material. The
T-102 is designed to be installed in hatchback cars, pickup trucks and minivans.
Once again due to the design of the enclosure, no modifications will need to be
made for installation. The tubes come with a tie down package for an easy and
secure installation. The tie down package includes cam style buckets to easily
remove or install the system with minimal effort.

Amplifier

The amplifier used to power the subwoofer speakers will only have three
major requirements. They are size, signal input connector and output power
rating.
The size must be adequate to fit either along the side of the sub-
speaker system or in the space along the side of the rear seat anchor. In this
space we have a maximum of 10"h x 8"w x 18"d.
The signal input connector must be RCA type connectors and have a low-
level input switch. The preference here is a set of male jacks on a cord
protruding from the unit at least 6" long.
The output power rating must be suitable to produce at least the minimum
power rating for the speakers used. In this system, the speakers will reproduce
sounds in the range below 1500hz at a minimum of 50watts per channel.
The amplifier used in the subwoofer system will be the Kenwood KAC-ps-
150. This amplifier is a two channel model with an output rating of 75watts per
channel. It has an internal crossover which enables it to be used directly with
any type of speaker.
The dimensions of this unit are 11"x 2½"x 9". which makes it ideal for
placement in the space on the side of the Bazooka bass tubes.

Findings and Conclusions

The selection process of a stereo system for the 1987 Ford Aerostar can
ultimately be justified by the importance of sound quality to the owner of the
vehicle. It has been shown that a quality stereo can be purchased from local
vendors for a price of around $1100.00.
The cost of instalation by a professional installer could range from
$200.00 to well over 400.00. There are also various details and accessories
that are also necessary to complete this project. These accessories will cost
around 100.00.
In this project, all components can be installed by the owner. This
substantially decreases the overall cost of the stereo system as well as gives
the owner an added feeling of accomplishment and pride. There are several
manuals available to show how to install stereo systems, and due to the age of
the vehicle, they are highly reccomended.