Car audio and multimedia: how to choose and buy well
What do you want to hear and see in the cabin
Car audio is built from the source to the speakers. The head unit sets the features, the amplifier the power and clarity, and the speakers with a subwoofer the character of the sound. If you buy a top head unit but keep the old stock speakers, the difference will be tiny. So decide where to put the emphasis: clear sound, powerful bass or just a handy screen with navigation.
Start with a simple question: do you keep the stock head unit or replace it? That affects the frames, the connectors and even the steering-wheel buttons.
Parts of the system and what to state
- Head unit. Car stereos: size (1 DIN or 2 DIN), Android Auto and CarPlay, Bluetooth, screen, camera support and steering-wheel controls. Give the make and year of the car for the fitting frame.
- Speakers. Speakers and subwoofers: fitting diameter (13, 16 cm and so on), power, sensitivity, subwoofer type (active, passive, enclosure).
- Power. Amplifiers: number of channels, RMS power, compatibility with the speakers.
- Help on the road. Car monitors, reversing cameras and parking sensors: viewing angle, number of sensors, type of connection.
- Reception and wiring. Antennas, FM transmitters, cables, adapters and fuses.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You write a request: the car, what you want to change, a budget if you like, the city and whether you need fitting. You can add one photo, for example of the dashboard. The request is checked, and you get hints on what sellers still need.
Sellers reply in the chat: specific models, price, set, warranty, fitting. BlaBlaPrice shows the best-fitting offer first, with reviews next to it. Sellers see their place among the others and compete on terms. Your phone is hidden. More on the “How it works” page.
How to compare offers
Compare by substance, not by name. The speaker power on the box is often peak, while the real one matches the RMS value. Check that the amplifier and speakers are matched in impedance (usually 4 ohms). For head units see whether there is an adapter for your car, whether a frame is needed and whether the stock buttons work.
Ask about fitting separately: connection, door sound-proofing, running the wires, setup. It is often a big part of the budget, so compare offers together with the work.
Common mistakes
Buying a powerful subwoofer without wire of the right thickness and a fuse. Fitting speakers in the doors without sound-proofing. Ignoring the load on the battery and alternator. Buying a head unit without an adapter, then reworking the wiring.
Preparing the car and a sensible budget
Before buying, check the sizes of the speaker spots in the doors and on the parcel shelf, the mounting depth and the distance to the window regulator. Many people forget sound-proofing: without it even costly speakers sound worse, because the doors rattle. For a subwoofer, plan the place in the boot and the weight of the enclosure.
Add to the request information about the electrics: the state of the battery and alternator. A powerful system needs extra power, and sometimes a separate cable from the battery.
A small budget is better spent on good speakers and sound-proofing than on a loud head unit with badly matched speakers. In the request, just write how much you are ready to spend, and sellers will suggest set-ups for different levels of sound. The request lasts 7 days, so there is time to compare several offers.
