You don’t have to be a musical junkie or know-it-all in order to appreciate what great components can do for your music.

If you’ve ever been in an electronics store, or the next time you’re in one, try out the nicest pair of headphones you can find. You can instantly notice the difference, right? It’s hard to believe that music could sound so rich or deep. You may never be able to wear airplane headphones again.

The same is with your car’s audio system. There’s nothing wrong with the stock issued speakers, but once you hear your music with top quality speakers you won’t want to go back. They’ll even make sitting in traffic bearable.

When you’re looking for speakers, there is a lot to consider. With so many different brands, just making the choice could be overwhelming. 

Whatever you end up choosing, however, there are certain mistakes that everyone should avoid. We’re going to talk about some of the most crucial mistakes and why they should be avoided. After that, we’ll let you get back to your tunes.

Not Checking The Power

With an upgraded system, your vehicle may or may not be able to handle the new speakers. That all comes down to the amount of power. If you’re, say, mounting a single sub in your car, then you probably won’t have to think twice about it.

If you’re upgrading the entire system, you should definitely check out getting an external amp. Not only do you need more power to make your system function, but speakers that have more power and going to be louder and generally produce clearer sound.

If you’re someone who needs a lot of bass, plenty of power is a must. 

Overlooking The Size

Although speakers typically come in standard sizes that should fit in your vehicle, that’s not always a guarantee.

For example, many shallow mount subwoofers have the following sizes: 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch, and 15-inch. That’s just the diameter. Their mounting depth could be as little as two inches or as great as 4.5 inches.

Plus, there are also weird sizes that come out every now and then, like a 13.5-inch subwoofer. How did they decide that?

When you’re looking for speakers, you need to make sure they’ll actually fit in your vehicle. Some tweeters may be too big and cover components or basic functions in your car. The under-seat subwoofer may not fit under your seat. 

Make sure you’re double-checking your measurements before you go out and buy the perfect set of speakers.

Using Mediocre Cables And Wires

Everything has to be connected, right?

If you end up using run-of-the-mill cables and wires, chances are you’re going to start to notice degrading sound quality after constant use. 

Those cables and wires may short out or not be able to handle the load, especially if you’re someone who likes to listen to music on a regular basis. If your speakers don’t come with cables, make sure you’re making the extra purchase to go for top quality. 

Using A Standard Head Unit

Your head unit also called your dash or automotive head unit, is going to help put the final cherry on top of your sound system sundae.

The majority of stock issued head units come with only the most basic of audio controls. You can tweak the bass, the treble, and little else. 

For you to unleash the full power of your new speakers, it’s time to upgrade your head unit. There are countless different units out there and you’ll need to check in order to make sure that it comes with advanced audio tuning options.

Plus, head units come with a whole host of other features including CD/DVD playback, phone mirroring, GPS navigation, and much more. 

Consider An Enclosure

So this one isn’t quite a mistake, but it’s something you’ll definitely want to consider if you want to get the most out of your subwoofer.

If you’re mounting a free air subwoofer, you’re not going to get the same kind of quality and punch that you’re going to get from an enclosed one. That’s just a fact.

Therefore, if you think something may be lacking from your overall sound quality then you should make sure and invest in an enclosure. Enclosures can either be built or bought. Some subs even come with them.

Just make sure you’re covering all your bases before calling it a day.