Top 5 Car Audio Problems That Kyiv Drivers Face (And How to Solve Them)
Kyiv is a city of contrasts, where luxury cars with premium acoustics share the road with older and cheaper cars. And unless you are an audiophile driving a Bentley with a Naim system, you have probably encountered some car audio problems.
Today we will look at the most common of them and give practical advice on how to solve them.
1. Poor sound insulation is enemy number one
The hum of the engine, the noise of tires on the pavement, the rumble of trams on Podol – all this creates an undesirable acoustic background that prevents you from enjoying the music. Endless potholes on the roads on the outside and an absolute lack of factory noise insulation on the other side.
Look at the photo below – this is the door and the bottom of the trunk of a premium Jaguar F-Pace, where the manufacturer did nothing to somehow reduce the noise coming from outside the car. Although, it is clear that this car was not made to drive on Kyiv roads)
What to do then? Here is the solution:
- Soundproofing of doors, floor, ceiling and trunk. Yes, it requires investment, but the result is worth it! High-quality soundproofing will significantly improve the sound of your acoustics. Our clients know this for sure.
- Vibration isolation. Kyiv roads do not spare the suspension, and vibrations are transmitted to the body and create an unpleasant hum, mostly from below. Vibration isolation of the bottom and wheel arches will help reduce this effect.
2. “Wheezing” speakers – time for replacement
Another problem that Kyiv drivers and not only face is when the speaker suddenly starts to wheeze. If wheezing, whistling or rattling sounds come from the speakers, especially at high volume, most likely they have served their purpose. Or you have overloaded them – given too much power or the wrong frequencies – for example, our customers often try to install acoustics themselves, unknowingly do not connect the crossover, as a result the tweeter gets the entire frequency band and simply burns out from overload.
Solution:
- Replacing speakers with new ones. It is not necessary to buy the most expensive ones, the main thing is to choose models from proven manufacturers that suit your musical preferences and the features of the car. We help you choose the most optimal ones for this.
- Speakers should always be replaced in pairs! We do not recommend installing different speakers with different characteristics, for example, in the front doors) – this can lead to a sound “mush” in your car.
3. Weak bass – lacking drive?
Do you like music with deep bass, but the standard acoustics can’t cope? It’s not surprising) The standard speakers are not capable of this in principle. And even if the car has a standard subwoofer – sometimes it happens that it is simply not heard, as for example in the Jaguar F-Pace, where the subwoofer is and is part of the premium car audio Meridian, but which is so stupidly mounted in the rear wing that it was simply not heard at all.
Solution:
- Installing a subwoofer. A subwoofer will add missing bass to your audio system and make the sound richer. There is more information on our website about how to choose a subwoofer for a car and learn more about installing a subwoofer.
- Correct setup. It is important not only to install the subwoofer, but also to set it up correctly so that the bass is deep and clear, not boomy and muttering. We usually do this setup using an audio processor.
Often, many car owners do not dare to install a subwoofer in their car, because they follow the stereotype that the subwoofer housing can take up a significant part of the trunk, and not many are ready to sacrifice useful trunk space even for the sake of their favorite music. But we are supporters of preserving the factory look of any car, so we have extensive experience in hidden installation of a subwoofer in the trunk, as for example in this project:
4. The “head” is not the same – it’s time to update the radio
Regular car radios often cannot reveal the potential of even good acoustics, have poor functionality, limited capabilities, a small screen, etc. The most popular service in our car audio studio Electrosila is the installation of a car radio in Kyiv.
Solution:
- Replacement with a multimedia system. Modern multimedia systems offer many functions: CarPlay, navigation, Bluetooth, smartphone connection, and most importantly – high-quality sound and wide customization options (usually this is possible with a built-in DSP processor).
Here is an example of one of our installations, where we replaced the standard Volvo XC70 radio with a modern device with a huge screen, CarPlay and a long list of new functions, including the ability to install a rear-view camera.
5. Wiring problems are a matter for professionals
Incorrect connection, oxidation of contacts, damage to wires – all this can lead to problems with sound, and in the worst case – to a short circuit. It is better not to joke with this!
Solution:
- Have your wiring diagnosed and repaired by professionals. Don’t try to solve electrical problems yourself if you don’t have the skills. Contact professionals to avoid serious consequences.
Pay attention to how the wiring is laid out in your car – it is important that the power wires of third-party installed devices are separated from the power wires of the car. It is also important to pack all wires in “snake skin”, a coating that will protect the wiring from damage. It is important to securely fasten all wires to each other and to the body or parts of the car.
And remember: high-quality car audio is not a luxury, but an affordable pleasure that will make your trips around Kyiv more comfortable and enjoyable! 😉
Want to improve the sound in your car? Contact the car audio studio “Elektrosila”! We will help you choose the best solution for your budget and musical preferences.