We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›
An aggressively powerful car stereo can literally blow your hair back if you feed it a tune with enough thumping bass. But cranking the volume on a cheap set of Craigslist subwoofers risks eardrum-assaulting distortion. A custom setup based on these components will shake the ground under your tires while preserving the essence of the new Post Malone (or the old Public Enemy).
1. Subwoofer
To push out bone-rattling bass, the cone on the front of the 12-inch Alpine X-W12D4 subwoofer moves as much as 2 inches back and forth, displacing enough air to blow out a candle.
2. Receiver
Audio from MP3s will never sound incredible because compression sacrifices some data to keep files small. The Kenwood DNX695S receiver supports high-res formats such as DSD.
3. Absorption
Apply some thin Dynamat Xtreme matting in key places in your ride, like under the door panels. Its aluminum-alloy skin and rubber base will reduce noises from the road and tamp down vibrations.
4. Speakers
Handmade in France, the Focal Utopia M 6.5-inch woofers and 1-inch tweeters handle the mids and highs. Weighted rings around each speaker hold edges firmly in place and fight buzzing distortion.
5. Amplifier
Subwoofers need more oomph than the receiver can produce solo, so install an amp. The Rockford Fosgate Power T2500 unit can pump thousands of watts to a pair of synchronized subs.
This article was originally published in the Spring 2019 Transportation issue of Popular Science.
