Collection of musical misconceptions

Myth 1. "My radio cassette player gives out 200 W"

The misconception is based on the confusion of the concepts of nominal and maximum power. Manufacturers of audio equipment (and not only automobile ones) like to indicate peak power figures, without explaining that these values \u200b\u200bcan be obtained only when testing acoustics at special stands. The consumer will not get two hundred watts by definition. Instead, you can look for the parameters of the nominal, that is, the actually achievable power - if you find at least the inscription "4x15 W", there is already reason for joy - your radio is not the worst.

Where does such a significant difference in readings come from? Speaking of peak power, it should be borne in mind that this is a certain limit, upon reaching which the equipment ends. In the literal sense of the word, this is a test of technology for strength.

Nice peak power numbers can be achieved in many ways. One way is to cool the equipment liquid nitrogen... Overheated, on the verge of failure, the equipment will cool down a little, and here the last juices will be squeezed out of it, which will give a reason to stick then a bright sticker on the serial sample with the promise of those two or three hundred watts. Cheap Asian brands, however, are not so scrupulous. Without any testing, they declare high power, the numbers of which are taken from the ceiling. The risk is zero: the consumer is almost never able to verify these numbers.

Myth 2. "I have a good expensive car, therefore, the" music "in it is excellent"

This essay is based on the concept of "quality car audio", which means first-class components, correctly matched to each other and installed on the car by professionals. Economics will help to debunk this myth: you have to pay for everything good. Ultimately - to the consumer, but first - still to the manufacturer. It is unprofitable for him: it is not a fact that a car with a decent additional weight in price will sell well. And only professionals will appreciate the cool audio system, who still always strive to finalize something on their own. According to experts, there are only a few cars with a good standard audio system.

Myth 3. "There are 12 speakers in my car, this is a sound so sound!"

The sound quality in a car is not achieved by the number of speakers. If the equipment is mediocre, then the effect will even be the opposite: noises and wheezing will fall on you from all 10 (12, 18, etc.) speakers. Often a powerful "front", a subwoofer and a 4-channel amplifier are enough for the car to "sound" nice and strong. The number of standard speakers in a car is determined not by engineers, but by marketers. In the premium segment, a good two dozen are already counted (the Mark Levinson audio system in Lexus includes 19 speakers scattered throughout the cabin), but the main function of such systems, with rare exceptions, is image. Often, the size, shape, and location of speakers depends on the whim of the designer. You will see a beautiful column somewhere near the crop line windshield and you never know how "empty" it is.

Myth 4. "An active subwoofer will replace a whole bunch of other components for me"

An active subwoofer differs from a conventional subwoofer in that an amplifier is also located in the same case. Meanwhile, the close proximity of these components is considered controversial in terms of efficiency. The option where the subwoofer is located in the trunk and the amplifier is located in the cabin (for example, under the seat) is preferable. Of course, the active subwoofer is larger in size - a kind of hefty "barrel" rides in the trunk of those who prefer it. How, then, was the myth born? The answer lies in the field of psychology: well, how can “active” be worse than “passive”? ..

Myth 5. "More features, good and different"

The pursuit of additional functions in certain devices is a kind of mania for both manufacturers and consumers. A telephone without the Internet is not a telephone, an audio system without a TV and navigation is the third class of yesterday. Well, let it be today and the choice between two "or": either all this will work, but half-heartedly, or something will work well, but something does not matter. Firms fighting for a buyer in the lower price segment are in the habit of mixing everything in one heap. On the other hand, reputable brands tend to "separate flies from cutlets"; for example, in Pioneer head units, the radio exists completely separate from the disc player.

Myth 6. "All components must be of the same brand"

The logic of these people is easy to understand. A man opens a specialized magazine, reads comparative test head units and sees that the winner is the product of the company N. Having reached this place, the person closes the magazine and goes to buy the radio tape recorder N, speakers N, N-subwoofer and amplifier. Having collected all this N-set, he, perhaps, will even be satisfied with the result (if not the sound itself, then at least - morally, that he did everything right). Meanwhile, the firms that produce the best head units turn out to be weak in the manufacture of other acoustics, and vice versa.

They produce it solely so that the line of components is presented to the maximum. How can the paradox be explained? Disassemble the radio and speaker and see what is inside of both. Roughly speaking, in the first case microelectronics and corresponding technologies are used, in the second case - macroelectronics. A competent seller is obliged to bring the buyer up to date, and an illiterate (or lack of initiative) will sell the same N-set. In a branded N-bag.

Myth 7. "Ford acoustics are best suited to my" Ford "

Such a conclusion does not stand up to all criticism, but the delusion itself is forgivable. For the car, you really need to select only native parts - candles, light bulbs, brake pads. However, "music" is not included in this list. However, it is complete, is it someone of the automakers makes the acoustics of the same name? They do, although few do. There are, for example, Daewoo and Hyundai head units. But much more often car companies simply order "music" on the side, and then put their logo. In this case, the opinion that constitutes the seventh myth can be understood as follows: "the standard audio system of my car is the best option for it." We have already said that cool audio systems are not installed regularly.

For those who consider themselves a sophisticated audiophile, it is better to ditch the basic audio system when buying a car if possible. In addition to the net benefit, you make life easier for installers by saving them unnecessary work. Here we will touch upon another myth, which is close in meaning: they say, my standard equipment may not be very good, but I'll buy a subwoofer at a higher price and this will fix things. It will not succeed - good technique works only with good technique, but with mediocre technique it itself does a mess.

Myth 8. "Acoustics N is the winner of the car audio competition, so I choose it."

Competition competition strife. We hear about SPL (Sound Pressure Level) competitions much more often than about competitions that determine the highest quality audio system. With sound pressure, everything is clear: the car is stuffed with all kinds of "booze" to the limit, the windows are reinforced so that they do not fly out, and in order not to go deaf, all this stuff is launched at the competitions from the remote control, being in the distance.

The quality is not determined by loudness at all. Here the general composition of the musical background and the influence of its components (tones and semitones, instrumental parts separately from vocal ones, etc.) on each other are investigated. For this, recordings of various musical styles are specially selected. High-quality sound, in a simple way, allows you to hear all the musical "chips" both together and separately. And which aspect is closer to you?

Myth 9. " Best body for the installation of audio equipment - sedan "

An ancient opinion, which, however, is now almost not mistaken. The judgment was fair ten years ago, when the audio system meant only a radio with speakers, and few had heard of subwoofers. The argument was put forward as follows: only in the sedan, the shelf behind the rear seats is rigidly fixed, in hatchbacks and station wagons it is mobile. Consequently, in the latter two bodies, the rear speakers will experience jolting, which will affect the sound quality.

Nowadays, no one has a ### t on the rear speakers: it is much more efficient to install a subwoofer and a powerful "front" (see also myth 3). And the priorities have now changed exactly the opposite: it is the single-volume bodies that are considered the most suitable for installing a high-quality system. After all, the subwoofer installed in the trunk of a sedan is in a stronger "isolation" than in the body of a station wagon. The sound, of course, will pass through the hard back wall, but the much-appreciated compression effect, when the sound is not only heard, but also felt, will, of course, be much weaker.

Myth 10. "I'll buy myself a capacitor and listen to music for hours without worrying about the battery."

The role of a capacitor in an acoustic system is to store energy, to be an energy buffer, ready to release this energy when needed. But the point of a capacitor is not to replace the battery. The capacitor is powered by a battery anyway; it is simply included in the electrical circuit as an additional link. Again, the performance of a capacitor is not judged by how long the music is listened to when the motor is not running. The capacitor has a very narrow specialization: if the battery charge may simply not be enough (for example, other energy consumers are turned on), give part of its energy to ensure normal sound. Not every audio system needs a capacitor, but only the most powerful of them (producing several hundred watts of actual power).

Myth 11. "Actually, I know about electrics. I'll install my audio system myself."

Heavy legacy of the previous decades, when the car owner had to be his own painter, minder, turner and electrician. The need to be a general repairman has disappeared, we drive modern cars, but the echoes of the era sometimes still arise. Most often - in the name of economy, of course.

No one will argue what to punch in dashboard the radio tape recorder is not difficult. But this is a philistine level, and today we are talking about professional car audio. Dozens of components, selected from hundreds of combinations, are connected by meters of wiring, which takes more than one day (connecting the components is half the battle, you still have to painstakingly "listen" to the "scene", achieving perfection). To enjoy music in the car, you need to remember that in addition to assembling the components into one whole, the system also has to be set up. After all, as mentioned above, good sound differs from usual in nuances.

And here, not only garage craftsmen show weak training, but also - take note - the installer of dealerships. There is no standard unit "car audio master", there is - "additional equipment master". Today it is a subwoofer and an amplifier, tomorrow - a plastic body kit and xenon, the day after tomorrow - engine crankcase protection. It is clear that low-quality work will not fully reveal the potential of even expensive equipment.

Myth 12. "All this is nonsense. Cool" music "can be bought for five thousand - you need to know the places"

For five thousand - definitely not. It is impossible for ten, or - you are still looking for some middle option. The miser pays twice anyway - keep this in mind when chasing sound. Having decided on your desires, show your car to specialists. There is a standard conversion algorithm for any machine; you can follow it, you can work out an individual path together. The main thing is that car audio specialists should be engaged in car audio. As the English saying goes, The shoemaker makes good shoes because he makes shoes and nothing more - "a shoemaker makes good shoes because he makes shoes and nothing else."