It is hard to imagine an automobile without an audio system. Car audio systems are important to all car owners and a mind boggling range is available to choose from. A car audio system is a combination of components such as head units, amplifiers, speakers, and auxiliary input devices. All of these work to complement each other and have no meaning on a stand-alone basis.

The head unit of a system is like the brain and central processing unit. Control and tuning of the volume, bass, equalizer, etc., is done through this unit. There are different kinds of head units. Some allow you to play only tapes, CDs or the radio, while others allow all of these choices. Advanced devices can also hold many CDs at a time and allow shuttling between them. Speakers are obviously important if we want to hear anything. However, different kinds are available, like cone or ribbon type. All have their own advantages. The placement of speakers also makes a difference. Then there are amplifiers, which amplify or increase signals to make them audible. They too are available in different configurations, like mono, stereo or multi-channel.

Car audio systems can range from basic to very high end and funky models. A basic system costs less and can have good sound quality if components are of a standard make. Some decisions also depend on intended use. If you feel that you do not require a tape player but a CD player, then invest in a good-quality CD player rather than a cheap combination. For a basic system, you can go for only front speakers and avoid rear ones. Advanced models are available in compact sizes, with or without remote control and all other features one can imagine.

Depending on your budget and personal preferences, you can self-assemble a unit or buy an all-in-one system. Branded ones may be costlier but come with a guarantee and are easy to service. For some things like speakers, it is advisable to buy from standard, reliable and tested manufactures. If sound quality is low or harsh, then money saved is also wasted.