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You are here: Home / ARTICLES / Custom Installations – Past and Present

July 7, 2019 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

Custom Installations – Past and Present

Custom InstallationsCustom car audio installations have changed a great deal over the years. More often than not, custom installations from years ago often looked like ‘bolted-on’ additions to a vehicle. Modern systems blend seamlessly with your interior. Advances in construction techniques allow your installer to create complex multi-dimensional shapes that look like they came from the vehicle assembly line. Read on as we contrast the materials and designs of the past with what is currently available.

Source Units

If you look at a custom installation more than about five years old, the trademark was an aftermarket source unit in the dash. Working backward chronologically, we saw Double-DIN navigation systems, flip-up multimedia receivers, detachable face CD receivers and pull-out cassette decks with CD changers. The quality and features of factory radios just could not match what the aftermarket had to offer.

Custom InstallationsAs companies like Ford spearheaded the move towards integrated infotainment solutions like Ford Sync, vehicle manufacturers increased their emphasis on providing clients with more features and better performance. Navigation, USB support for MP3 and WMA files, iPhone control and backup camera systems are now common in even the most basic of vehicles.

Modern source units have become a central control system for vehicle functions such as heating and cooling adjustments. They also have become vehicle information displays for things like tire pressure monitoring. In the past, the radio was a single component that performed a single task. Now, they are an integral part of the car, and no longer an option that can be replaced easily. Many modern vehicles use distributed multimedia systems that cannot be replaced at all.

How do we upgrade the sound system? Your mobile electronics specialist retailer is armed with several integration solutions that work with your factory source unit. These products allow for the installation of high-power amplifiers, signal processors and speaker upgrades to dramatically improve the performance of the system. Vehicle manufacturers rarely invest in high-quality speakers, so there is ample opportunity to improve even premium-branded OEM sound systems.

Cosmetic Integration

Another telltale sign of an old-school, high-end sound system were custom door panels. A set of aftermarket components mounted to an adapter plate or panel on top of the factory door skin was common. A premium installation may have a custom cloth-covered grill over the speaker instead of the mesh grill provided by the manufacturer.

Custom Installations
This speaker installation by Adrenaline Autosound is representative of best-practice work.

Modern sound system upgrades are often nearly invisible. With the increase in available speaker mounting depth afforded by complex contoured door panel designs, high-end component speakers can be installed behind factory grills on custom adapter plates. Once the door is back together, there is no sign of the upgrade. Add in some sound deadening and speaker coupling rings, and the performance of your new sound system will increase by another order of magnitude.

Depending on the design of the vehicle, the tweeters from the new component set may fit into the factory location with little to no modification. In cases where the factory tweeter is in a location that doesn’t provide optimum placement, your installer can fabricate a compact tweeter pod for the sail panel or mount them in the A-pillar. Either way, the result is cosmetically inconspicuous while offering excellent performance.

Subwoofer Enclosures

It used to be that having a subwoofer in your vehicle meant sacrificing a significant amount of storage area in the hatch or trunk of your vehicle. A pair of ten- or twelve-inch subwoofers in a large vented enclosure took up take up a large amount of space. While the underlying philosophy of how speakers work has not changed in decades, modern subwoofer designs produce excellent low-frequency output from extremely compact enclosures. Enclosures concealed in spare tire wells or into the corner of a hatch take up little to no cargo space while providing excellent low-frequency performance.

Custom Installations
This JL Audio Stealthbox takes advantage of the slim design of the TW1 woofers.

Pickup trucks are a popular platform for upgrades. There are now dozens of subwoofers on the market that feature basket and motor designs that allow for under-seat enclosures. A pair of ten-inch subwoofers under the rear seat of a Sierra, Silverado, F-150 or Ram is a daily occurrence.

Materials and Cosmetics

If you look back through car audio magazines from the 90’s, you would be assaulted with amplifier and processor racks finished in tweed and trunk liner carpet. For a custom show-car installation, high-gloss painted fiberglass was popular. Looking back, these installations rarely matched the styling cues and materials that came from the factory. Instead, they seemed to contrast them deliberately. There are always exceptions, but from a stereotypical perspective, divergence appeared to be the name of the game.

Custom Installations
This controller mount was upholstered in matching Alcantara for a seamless look.

Modern installations use vinyl that matches the factory materials for color and often for grain. Acrylic plastic inserts replicate factory styling accents. Where new grills need to be created, installers are now including multi-dimensional contours to give the panel more depth and elegance. Many installations feature painted dash or center console inserts for DSPs and radar detector control panels that match other styling cues correctly. Trunk installations are trimmed nicely so the subwoofer enclosure looks integrated rather than something dropped in back of a vehicle. Chrome inserts, accent lines and the use of several complementary materials can turn what was an all-black carpeted trunk into a creative and highlighted part of the system. But it will still look like it is a cosmetically-integrated part of the vehicle.

The highest praise for most installers is to hear that the audio system they installed sounds exceptional, and that it looks like it was a factory-installed option!

System Design and Equipment

The proliferation of reasonably priced digital signal processors has changed the way car audio systems are designed. In days gone by, a mid-level sound system upgrade may have included a four-channel amplifier, a subwoofer amplifier, a set of component speakers for the front doors, a set of coaxial speakers for the rear doors and a subwoofer. Now, rear speaker upgrades are often forsaken in favor of a DSP processor and active filtering on the front stage speakers.

Custom Installations
This Audison amplifier features lots of power and plenty of processing.

The benefits of a fully active system are dramatic. Your installer has full control over the crossover frequencies and output levels for each speaker. He can equalize and adjust the signal delay to the left and right speakers to create a focused and stable soundstage across the dash of the vehicle. Your music will sound more natural and realistic. Many new system amplifiers include built-in digital signal processors to allow for a fully active three-way system installation using a single chassis. Some of these amplifiers are small enough to fit under a seat to save space.

Upgrade your Sound System for Better Performance

A lot has changed regarding car audio system design, equipment choices and vehicle integration. You can enjoy recording studio or concert-like performance from a system upgrade that is nearly invisible. If you were a fan of car audio systems years ago, then it is worth visiting your local mobile electronics specialist retailer today. You will be able to experience the latest products and installation techniques in person.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

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Car Audio and so much more! Handcrafted Car Audio is the Valley's premier destination for mobile electronics.  We sell and install everything you … » Read More

Testimonials

I have been to many stereo shops over the years, this place is different from the rest. Now if you don’t care who works on your car and do your shopping based on price alone this place is not for you. If you care about your car and want it worked on by a true professional who has real talent and passion about what he does. Check this place out! » Read More
Joe H.
Refreshing change As pretty much everyone before me has said, the unparalleled professionalism of Jon and his shop are above and beyond what can be said in a simple online review. From the moment I first walked into the shop, I knew that this was the only place I would feel completely at ease with leaving my baby (2012 Evo X) in their hands. Jon took the time to listen... » Read More
Scott
These guys did an excellent job replacing the factory stereo in my BMW. I initially met with Jon to share my concerns and explain what I was looking for. We quickly arrived at a package that addressed my needs. Jon didn't try to push any products that I didn't need. He simply answered my questions and explained my options. The installation was clean, and afterward they showed me how to... » Read More
pete
I'm not a pro. I haven't kept up with car audio in so long I still call it car stereo. So it was my wife's birthday and the head end in her 2004 Avalon ate a CD and wouldn't let go. I understand that happens. So time for a new system. And, I thought, why not beef up the sound a bit while we're at it. Not sure quite how... » Read More
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2004 Porsche C4S I knew where I wanted to go with my system, but didn’t completely know how to get there. What I needed was this: a stealth install that upgraded the speakers and amplifiers, retained the oem head unit, possibly added a sub, and minimized any weight increase. After some internet research, I came across Handcrafted Car Audio in Chandler, AZ. I appreciated their stated approach to mobile audio... » Read More
Rodger N. Rogers
Jon has done 2 installs for me in the past. Each time, I have walked away very satisfied. His work exceeded my expectations on both occasions. I recently had a head unit installed, and the kit was designed to eliminate my stock lcd screen which displayed the A/C controlls. Instead of eliminating the lcd screen, he studied the components and figured out a way to keep the screen there. I... » Read More
Josh
First Class I found Handcrafted after being disappointed with another store in the Mesa area. I did some other searches online and found Handcrafted. I set up an appointment to meet with Jon. When I met Jon, I knew that I had found the shop for which I had been looking. He really cares about getting the best sound for you and listens to your opinion on what you want.... » Read More
Jason
THIS IS THE PLACE Hey, if you're looking for a "TOP NOTCH" audio adviser/installer in the Phoenix Valley, stop. This is it. Handcrafted Car Audio has the best shop in town and perhaps the South West. You Vegas guys, pay attention too. I have been in this industry.. we call it "12volts" - for most of my life. That's 30+ years, you don't need to know more detail than that.... » Read More
PARVIN
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Glen
This guy is the best car audio installer in the valley. Did a very complex audio/video installation in my BMW 745. Now I have my ipod connected in a jack in my ashtray with video in my navigation unit. If u have audio work that needs to be done this is the guy to have it done. » Read More
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Very pleased with the service! I went in to check on a remote started but didn't think I would be able to get it done because I was leaving the state the following week, but Jon got me in the next day and it was done in just a few hours. He made sure I knew how everything worked and told me to call him if I had any problems.... » Read More
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I first became acquainted with Jon Kowanetz and Handcrafted Car Audio in July 2009. I was in the process of developing a high-end audio system in one of my vehicles and had sought out the services of a quality-oriented professional installer.From our first meeting, I realized Jon was different from most other car audio pros I had previously dealt with. He listened to my desires, asked appropriate questions, and made... » Read More
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THE MAN in phoenix I am a custom car audio installer in San Jose, CA 🙂 www.simplicityinsound.com...and I have to say, having met Jon and seen his work, if I lived in the greater PHX area, i would rather pay him to work my own car than do it myself...and i think thats the highest compliment someone in my field can pay to a peer. Don't hesitate to go here,... » Read More
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