CA noozpaper article

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

So yeah, my ex is the feature editor for our college's newspaper, and she wanted me to write a story about car audio for her. Yes, I know it is overly simplistic and vague, but there's potential to write future articles about the components of a system, install, competition, etc.

Music is an aural treat, a euphonious set of vibrations designed to please the ear, and to please the mind. Music can be encountered in two ways, it can be heard, and it can be felt. Sure, hearing it can be just fine, but it’s just not the same unless it is heard and felt. Imagine listening to your favorite song on a clock radio. You hear the beat, you hear the lyrics, the melody, and the solos, but it’s lackluster; dull and flat. Now imagine seeing that band live in concert, standing at the front of the crowd. You feel the kickdrums pounding against you; the guitar riffs send cold chills up your spine. The bass guitar reverberates in your chest, and the vocals resonate in your ears. Experiencing the band live in concert is an experience that can’t be duplicated, not even on the most expensive stereo. However, while a normal stock stereo in a car is far from this experience, an upgraded aftermarket stereo can certainly bring that concert experience closer to home.
A complete aftermarket stereo consists of several parts, and can be as simple or complex as is desired. A good car sound system consists of a source unit, amplifiers, sound processers, speakers, subwoofers, a good electrical system, and most of all, a good install. With all these components in place, music is not simply heard, but felt.

A source unit, usually referred to as a CD player, deck, radio, or head unit, is what feeds the rest of the sound system its signal. Like the rest of the sound system, it can be very simple, or very complex. Most radios do the basics: play CD’s, tune into the radio, and maybe have an auxiliary input for an MP3 player. Some source units are very complex, though, and have features that can extensively shape the sound to give the user a more concert-like sound. Furthermore, additional processors, like equalizers or crossovers, can be installed to further shape the sound.

Of course, to really feel the music, stock speakers won’t do; they are made of cheap materials, and lack the punch of upgraded speakers and an added subwoofer. Good aftermarket speakers sound better because they aren’t designed to be as cheap as possible, like stock speakers are. They are made from durable materials; they have higher power handling, greater mechanical limits and have separate woofers and tweeters, which allow for more accurate reproduction. A subwoofer is necessary to add that low-end rumble and punch that is the driving force behind that “live” feeling. However, without the proper enclosure, an expensive subwoofer can sound bad, while with the right enclosure, a cheap subwoofer can sound like a million bucks.

To provide the juice for all the speakers and subwoofers, amplifiers are needed. Sure, speakers can sound good without an external amplifier, but that extra power will really bring them to life. A head unit’s internal amplifier is good for about 15 watts of clean power per channel. Most external speaker amplifiers pack at least 50 watts or so, and go up to several hundred watts per channel. Subwoofer amplifiers tend to produce more power than speaker amplifiers, and range in power anywhere from a couple hundred watts, to several thousand watts. To provide power for the amplifiers, though, a good electrical system is needed. To support the extra current draw, a car may need something as simple as a bigger battery, or it may need a new alternator, several extra batteries, and some extra wiring installed underneath the hood.

Most importantly, though, is the installation of the equipment. This includes proper placement, aiming, sound deadening, and tuning. Like was mentioned earlier, a person can have several thousand dollars invested in a sound system, but if the speakers are haphazardly thrown in the doors, and the subwoofers are in small, poorly tuned enclosures, it will sound like a cheap system. But properly installed, an inexpensive sound system can sound like it’s worth much more.

A good car sound system can take normal, bland music and bring it to life. A good combination of a source unit, processors, speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers really allow the user to feel the music. Why only hear it when it can be experienced? After hearing music reproduced in a manner that is truly an experience, only hearing the music doesn’t cut it anymore.

lmk what you think

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[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

Hearing is feeling.

Other than that and way too many commas, it looks great.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

I love commas. back off.

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

wait...is this the same ex that googled jmanpc? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

wait...is this the same ex that googled jmanpc? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif no, this is the one that left me after 2.5 years for some other dude who shes now engaged to.

Girlfriends: 2

Jordan: 0

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif no, this is the one that left me after 2.5 years for some other dude who shes now engaged to.
Girlfriends: 2

Jordan: 0

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

oh, i just thought ur gf googled it and now she's ur ex //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

and oh yea...pwned

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Forgot to include that bass may create orgasms.

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

Forgot to include that bass may create orgasms.

or abort babies

 

[phantom240 5,000+ posts]

Meh. I found it bland, but well written.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Meh. I found it bland, but well written.

yeah it's bland because I didn't have enough room to make it juicier. i was already over the limit with what I wrote.

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

my guess is it's too technical for most readers out there

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

my guess is it's too technical for most readers out there

I tried to dumb it down as much as possible. I didn't go into equalizer curves, corssover slopes, or impedance rise lol

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

I tried to dumb it down as much as possible. I didn't go into equalizer curves, corssover slopes, or impedance rise lol

lol, i saw watts and i just know ppl are gonna start givin up on it. U should just appeal to the average readers. Basically how to make ur shiz pounds and how u can hear shiz outside the car and crap like that //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif