The car audio installation team at Westminster Speed and Sound is made up of experts in the science of integrating and calibrating car audio system upgrades. Our team has invested in the tools and training to ensure our ability to upgrade your car stereo system in a way that will deliver impressively accurate sound quality and realistic imaging. Let’s look at how the digital signal processors (DSP) we offer are fundamental to this process.
Taming the Car Audio Environment
What we hear from our audio system is the combination of the source unit, amplifiers and speakers you’ve chosen and the acoustic characteristics of your vehicle. Unlike a living room or movie theater, the small confines of a car or truck have a noticeable affect on the sound created by the speakers. Acoustic reflections, resonances and cancellations change the emphasis on different sound frequencies, detracting from the accuracy of your music.
Our installation team uses a real-time audio analyzer to quantify the output of each speaker in your stereo system. We use the equalizer built into a digital signal processor to restore a smooth and natural acoustic response. The result is a car audio system that sounds as good as – or better than – a set of headphones or a home audio system.
A second benefit of using a properly calibrated digital signal processor is its ability to compensate for less-than-ideal speaker locations. In a high-end home audio system, the sweet spot is a seating position that’s equidistant to both speakers. This isn’t possible in a car or truck. We can use the signal delay function in a DSP to adjust the acoustic arrival time from each speaker in your car stereo. The result is a listening experience that spans the width of your dash and offers impressively lifelike staging. You will be able to perceive the location of each instrument or performer in this virtual stage, just as if you were sitting in the front row at a live concert.
Digital Signal Processor Upgrade Options
When you consult with our team about your audio system upgrade, they will steer you toward a DSP solution that makes the most sense for your application. Our most popular options are amplifiers that include an integrated digital signal processor. These products simplify system installation complexity while offering the configuration and calibration adjustability we need to deliver amazing sound quality. We have amplified processors with anywhere from four to 12 amplified channels with additional processed outputs for high-power subwoofer amplifiers. We also offer stand-alone processors that work with existing amplifiers in an installation we’ve performed. These processors have as many as eight inputs and 12 outputs to suit even the most complex mobile sound systems.
Working with Factory-Installed Audio Systems
As automobile manufacturers have upgraded the stereo systems that come in new cars, our team has worked diligently to stay on top of the technologies they use. From relatively simple signal equalization to complex data-controlled amplifiers, different vehicle platforms offer unique challenges. We have a vast array of integration interfaces and processors that we can use to extract an audio signal from your factory stereo, then feed it to new amplifiers and speakers to make your audio system sound realistic and amazing.
Whether you already have an upgraded audio system or you are interested in having us create something specifically for your vehicle, drop by Westminster Speed and Sound to experience how a properly calibrated digital signal processor can improve the way your music sounds.