By: Sebastian Schneider

All cars have their own unique type of car speaker installation issues although installing speakers is a relatively simple process. Most speaker installations can be finished in about an hour or less. The intricacy of the installation will vary depending on the vehicle. And again, depending on the vehicle, speakers may be installed in the dash, doors, or rear deck.

Most importantly, remember that safety should be considered when installing speakers. Damage can be caused by not installing speakers properly - this can impose added cost and even possible injury. Protection for hearing/vision should be used as necessary.

Here are fundamental steps to consider for installing speakers. Remember, some vehicles may require extra steps. Although the location of the speakers in your vehicle may vary from the mounting locations noted here, the method should be comparable.

For installation of dash and door speakers, you will need to ascertain if the vehicle has speaker grilles that are removable. If they can be removed, take the grilles off utilizing the appropriate tools, remove the screws holding the speaker in, disconnect the speaker harness that was attached to the speaker, connect the speaker to the new speaker, plug the speaker harness which is connected to the new speaker to the harness in the car, set the speaker in the opening and reinstall it using the screws for mounting, replace the grille and repeat with the other speaker. If installing speakers in the door, make certain the depth the depth of the speaker will not interfere with the window operation after installation.

If the grilles cannot be removed, the dash pads or possibly the door panel will have to be removed. Be sure to keep an eye on any screws/clips removed should this be the case. Next follow the same steps shown above except you will need to reinstall the dash pads/door panel. If removing the door panel, be aware that screws can be mounted in the armrest or inside the door latch space and may be behind the trim panels. After all the screws are removed from the panel, raise it up so you can disconnect any wiring harnesses.
If installing rear deck speakers, you must determine if the speakers are top-mounted or bottom-mounted as this will determine your steps. If top-mounted, remove the grilles, remove the screws holding the speaker in, disconnect the speaker harness, connect the harness to the new speaker, plug in the harness connected to the speaker to the vehicle side of the harness, place the new speaker in the opening and mount with the screws, replace the grille and repeat with the other speaker.

If the speakers are bottom-mounted, reach in the trunk and remove the screws mounting the speaker. Then follow the same basic steps as above.
Eventually, you'd have to turn on the radio and check the operation of the new speakers.

Should I Buy Used Car Audio?
Thanks to modern electronics, we now have, more than ever, multiple options for buying an audio system for our car. We only need to go to an electronics store like Best Buy or Circuit City and find tons of options. Or check the web. There are so many brands to choose from that it may drive you nuts.

So, today it isn't about what should you buy, but how much money do you have to invest in my car audio. It's a complex balance between what do you want and what can you really afford, especially if you are an enthusiast of these babies.

Let's say that you have five hundred dollars. That let's you buy a decent receiver, an amplifier and a nice set of 4-way speakers. But reality says that you want more. Ok, you may buy this basic kit and save some more money until you have enough dollars to go for a subwoofer or a couple of tweeters with a dedicated amp. The thing is that you may not want to wait one or two years for it.

In that case, you should consider buying an used car audio system. For some men it may be considered as a sacrilege. After all, an audio system is considered by many of us as a physical manifestation of ourselves. It is the mean to make the world know what kind of music we hear.

But relax. You don't need to be such an extremist with used car audio. First things first. Look for some prices. One of the first places to look on is Ebay. You may find a good price on a complete used car audio kit. Another option is retail stores. Some years ago I found a complete kit: receiver, speakers and amplifiers for 60% of the price. Why? Because the guy who bought it didn't like how it sounded and spent more money on a more sophisticated system. But for me it was more than enough. This guy's bad choice was my bliss.
You can also check the classified ads in the newspaper. You will find lots of local sellers looking for buyers for their used car audio. Electronics advances very quickly and consumers are so eager to use new technologies, that you will not find a shortage of them.

Finally, try your friends. Maybe they were already considering selling their system but needed a final push to do it. Ask those that have a good sounding system and check how much the same equipment would cost at a store.

At the end, it doesn't matter which source of used car audio you use, the thing is that you find yourself comfortable with the deal you have made. Not only on the bucks you have saved, but also feeling that your second hand system does sound good after all.