Many of our clients ask if they need to upgrade the radio in their car or truck to improve the audio system’s performance. The short answer is no. The long answer, as you are about to learn, takes into account many more variables. Don’t worry; we’ll explain it all.
Audio Upgrades in Vehicles Where Radios Can’t Be Removed
On many new cars and trucks, the radio isn’t a stand-alone component. The display may be part of the dash and include vehicle configuration or climate control options. The tuner portion of these well-integrated radios is often part of the amplifier in the trunk. There’s no reasonable way for us to add a Sony or Pioneer receiver to the vehicle in cases like this.
Does not upgrading the radio mean you can’t get better sound from your car or truck? Not at all. We have solutions such as the iDatalink Maestro AR that replaces the factory amplifier in many vehicles and can connect a Hertz or Audison amp or signal processor directly to the factory radio.
We carry amplifiers such as the Audison AP F8.9bit that include signal processing features that we can use with the factory-installed audio system to undo equalization or filtering designed for the factory speakers. The amp and its sister, the bit One processors, give us the tools to make new amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers sound amazing.
We also have line-level converters from AudioControl that allow us to reliably connect an amplifier to a basic car radio. The interfaces, also known as line-output converters, take the speaker signal and convert it to something we can connect directly to a new amplifier for your speakers or a subwoofer.
Better Sound in Vehicles with Premium Infotainment Systems
Many new cars and trucks come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto or a built-in navigation solution. There are also backup and blind-spot camera systems. In terms of audio system performance and accuracy, you may be better off using one of our interfaces with a factory radio and investing the budget that would have gone into a new radio on better speakers, sound deadening or a digital signal processor.
Upgrade an Existing Radio for More Features
Not everyone wants an audio system upgrade, but they may want to add connectivity and information features to their vehicle. While a new radio is a popular choice, we also have options to add CarPlay and Android Auto to a factory-installed radio. Backup and blind-spot monitoring camera systems are another very popular upgrade for factory-installed radios, as are SiriusXM satellite radio receivers. We even have CD players that we can add to the factory radios in newer Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, RAM, Mazda, Honda and Toyota cars and trucks.
Visit the Audio and Automotive Technology Upgrade Experts at Mobile Edge
The aftermarket audio industry is always working on new ways to add technology and improve audio system performance in new cars and trucks. Please don’t assume that because there’s a fancy radio in the dash of your vehicle or that it came with a premium sound system that you can’t dramatically improve the performance of the audio system. Drop by Mobile Edge in Lehighton to learn what’s available to make driving your vehicle more enjoyable. If you can’t visit our store in Lehighton, give us a call or send our team an e-mail using the red button below.
