Things to Know About Car Stereo Installation
Consider These 5 Things Before Upgrading Your Car Stereo in Houston, TX
In our service center at Archer Volkswagen, we enjoy our tunes whether it's in the shop or in our rides. After a long day at work, it's nice to crank up the volume a little. For many, that means a little more power behind the speakers with an amp and perhaps even a subwoofer. However, before you go asking your handy neighbor for some help putting in a new stereo or looking for the cheapest car audio installation in Houston, consider these five things. They could save you money and hassle.
5. Your New Car Audio System Should Fit
This may seem obvious, but it's not uncommon for aftermarket car audio systems to have fitment issues. You may have heard that the size of car audio head units is measured by the term DIN. On many vehicles, a standard single or double DIN head unit will fit just fine. However, modern cars are coming from the factory with a wide range of head unit sizes, which can make finding an aftermarket unit difficult. This is why it's best to stick with factory accessories from an authorized dealer.
4. Know that the Wiring is Done Right
As you may imagine, there are a lot of wires behind the scenes of car stereo systems. Perhaps most importantly are the wires for the power supply and other things like steering wheel controls. Getting even one wire wrong can lead to blown fuses or even damage to the stereo. If you do have an aftermarket stereo system installed in your vehicle, make sure it's done by someone who is an expert on the subject. We don't typically install aftermarket car audio systems in our service department because we know how important it is for any electrical system and wiring to be approved by the factory.
3. Aftermarket Car Stereo System Quality
The car audio aftermarket is a huge industry, and there are some quality products out there. However, it's difficult to know which systems, speakers, and amps are worth the money. Simply going by brand or the recommendation of a stranger at the car stereo shop comes with real risk. In our experience, the best way to ensure that you're getting the absolute best quality car audio equipment is to stick with factory-approved components.
2. Installation
In #4, we mentioned how important it is to have any car stereo upgrades properly wired, and that is one of the most important parts about the installation. However, it's not uncommon for aftermarket car audio systems to require modifications to the vehicle. For instance, a new subwoofer needs somewhere to go, and that could mean modifying or even replacing factory components. Fortunately, Volkswagen offers a subwoofer upgrade designed to fit exactly in the spare tire area without modifying anything. Best of all, this VW audio accessory is factory-approved and won't affect the factory warranty when installed in an authorized service center like ours.
1. Factory Upgrades are Available for Volkswagen Audio Systems
Fortunately, you can avoid wasting the time and money that often comes with aftermarket car audio installation by sticking with genuine VW audio accessories. Our parts department can set you up with things like the subwoofer we mentioned in #2 along with connectors and other important components. You can even upgrade the head unit with a better factory system. Contact our authorized service center at Archer Volkswagen in Houston, TX to learn more.