Car audio fabrication is the process of installing car speakers, amplifiers and other components in a car to increase its sound quality.
Car audio fabrication is a complicated process with many variables that can affect the end result.
To ensure your car has superior sound quality, you should hire professional car audio fabricators who have experience with this type of work.
In this post we will cover everything you need to know about car audio fabrication: what it is, how it works, why you should hire professionals for this job and more!
Table of Contents
What is Car Audio Fabrication
Car audio fabrication involves the installation of loudspeakers, microphones and other components in your car for music reproduction.
The products installed include amplifiers, equalizers, digital signal processors (DSP), crossovers and subwoofers.
This process is often referred to as car audio fabrication because the installation of sound equipment typically involves cutting holes in a vehicle’s interior panels and installing speakers in those openings.
It can also involve removing parts such as seats or other obstacles that are blocking an optimal speaker placement location.
Car audio fabricators will use test products, such as amplifiers, during their installations so they can ensure sound quality by verifying power levels and distortion rates before any modifications are made to the car body.
How does Car Audio Fabrication work
Car audio fabrication is a process that can be very different depending on the type of car.
Some cars have large openings for speakers, while others do not.
Additionally, some car models are designed with adequate space to hide amplifiers and other equipment in unused spaces inside the vehicle’s cabin or under the hood; others may require more creative approaches such as installing an amplifier into an empty fuel tank compartment.
There are many steps involved when fabricating a custom car sound system including:
- Cutting holes in panels to create speaker openings
- Removing parts blocking optimal speaker placement locations.
Testing products during installations so they know how much power levels and distortion rates before any modifications are made to the car body (e.g., removal of seats).
The car audio fabrication process also includes adding electrical wiring to connect speakers and amplifiers.
The benefits of Car Audio Fabrication
Car audio installation takes a lot of time, effort and skill.
If you don’t have the knowledge or skills to do car audio installation yourself, it’s always best to hire a professional for this job.
The benefits are that they will be able to install your system in ways that would otherwise not be possible without them; such as installing additional equipment like amplifiers, adding subwoofers and so on.
- Quality sound quality.
- Allows for a cleaner, clearer audio experience.
- Straightforward installation process that features real-time alignment with vehicle’s specifications.
As well as being skilled enough to wire all of these things up correctly which can take hours with some systems!
There is no point in buying expensive parts only for them not work because you didn’t know how to set it up properly.
When hiring someone who knows what they’re doing means everything works first time round whilst saving you time and car audio installation effort.
When you hire a professional, the cost of their service will depend on what they charge per hour, how long it takes them to complete your task, as well as any additional equipment that may be needed to do the work correctly, such as brackets for mounting gear or wiring harnesses depending on the size of your vehicle.
Why should you hire a professional to do this for you
One of the most important reasons to hire a car audio fabricator is for safety.
Car audio installs can be dangerous and if you are not confident in your skills, it’s best that you leave this job up to the professionals!
You’ll also want to go through all legal requirements before installing car sound systems into any vehicle.
You never know when something could happen (although we hope everything goes smoothly).
It would be very unfortunate if someone got in trouble with law enforcement due to an improper installation.
Plus, hiring a professional will ensure that everything is done correctly from start-to-finish including finding out what type of equipment works best for your car and needs.
For example, some vehicles may need more power than others, so the car audio specialist will need to know this.
What are the costs associated with Car Audio Fabrication
Installing car audio systems can be a very costly investments.
For example, if you’re looking to install an aftermarket system in your vehicle, it may cost $400-$1000 or more (depending on the type of sound and number of speakers).
However, there are some things that you should consider before making any decision:
- How often will I use this?
If you drive every day for work then think about how many hours per week.
It doesn’t make sense to invest thousands into something when most people don’t listen to music much at all outside of their car commute.
- What is my budget?
This question ties directly back to point one-how much do I have access too?
The less money someone has, the less likely they are to spend it.
- What sound quality do I want?
Are you looking for something that will allow you to hear all of your favorite tunes in crystal clear clarity or more bass-heavy music with heavy beats?
The answer may depend on what kind of car audio system is already installed and if someone wants a mild upgrade from factory equipment.
- How often am I willing to pay for installation costs?
If installing an aftermarket car stereo yourself seems like too much work then most people would be inclined to hire a professional installer who can get everything done quickly without any mistakes at around $200-$400 per hour.
This might seem like a lot but when some systems take hours just getting them into place, it is understandable.
- How long will it take?
Installation usually takes around two hours depending on how complicated the system’s wiring can be and if there’s vehicle-specific equipment involved in order to do certain tasks, but this may vary based on what type of aftermarket stereo/speakers/amplifiers someone wants installed.
It also depends on whether or not everything was ordered before
Car Audio Fabrication FAQs
What is the difference between a car audio amplifier and an external amp for my home stereo system?
Car audio amplifiers are designed to be installed in vehicles, so they make use of a car’s powertrain and other built-in wiring when possible.
External amps for home stereo systems need their own power supply connected by an RCA cable or some other type of auxiliary cord.
What are some of the most popular brands for car audio equipment
Some of the best brands for car audio equipment are JL Audio, Rockford Fosgate and Alpine.
How do I know if my vehicle has a factory-installed subwoofer or not
A car’s subwoofer is one of the first pieces of equipment that you’ll need to figure out before installing a new audio system.
The easiest way to find out if your vehicle has an existing factory-installed subwoofer is by checking for a large speaker enclosure in the trunk or behind the seat, and then looking at your car’s original wiring diagram.
If there are no enclosures in sight, it doesn’t mean that your car can’t have one installed later on.
Which type of speaker wire should I use, copper or aluminum
Copper is the most common type of wire used in car audio installations.
The main difference between copper and aluminum speaker wires are that they cost more, but conduct electricity better than their cheaper counterparts.
If you’re installing an amplifier for your subwoofer or speaker system, it’s recommended to use copper wiring because this will minimize distortion when driving a signal from one end of the cable to the other – which can be especially important if your vehicle has any kind of interference such as motor noise or AM radio stations.
Copper also helps prevent corrosion so make sure not to let moisture get on these cables!
Aluminum is often considered by car enthusiasts who want premium sound quality without paying for expensive copper wiring; however with its lower electrical properties, it’s also more likely to corrode and get damaged by moisture.
The thickness of the wire is another thing to keep in mind, with larger gauge wires being capable of carrying a higher voltage or current; but when it comes time for installation, thinner wire can be easier to work with because it doesn’t require as much space inside your car.
For these reasons, most car audio shops will sell you both copper and aluminum wiring – so check out our blog on choosing the right one for you!
Are there any other tips that will help me get better sound quality from my speakers when using my new installation kit?
The wiring on the speakers themselves can also have an impact.
If you’re using a car audio installation kit, these wires are often used to connect your new in-car sound system with the amplifier and other equipment that’s running off of battery power inside your vehicle.
While they will be thinner than typical speaker wire due to their smaller size – typically 18 gauge or 20 gauge for most installations – it is important that this wire meets certain standards so as not to interfere with the quality of sound that comes from your speakers.
A common misconception about car audio installation kits is that installing copper wiring into cars without paying for expensive copper wiring; however with its lower electrical properties, it’s also more likely to corrode and get damaged by moisture.
If you want to have the best car audio system possible, it’s important that your installation kit is of good quality.
This will allow for a better sound experience without costing too much money or taking up too much space in your vehicle.
