How to Build A Competition Car Audio System

Installing an audio system designed for car audio competitions takes expert planning and quality components. This comprehensive guide will walk through the entire process on how to build a competition car audio system- from gear selection to professional installation. At the end, you can build a system that can impress even the most discerning judges.

Putting together a car audio system designed to compete at the highest levels requires obsessive attention to detail when selecting your components. Every piece of equipment must be scrutinized not just for power and volume, but for the clarity and musicality necessary to impress discerning judges. Let’s take a detailed look at choosing the key components:

The Head Unit – The Brain of Your System

Your head unit is mission control – the central processor that manages your entire system. Go for serious competition-grade head units from industry leaders like Pioneer, Kenwood and Alpine. Look for these key features:

• Built-in Amplifiers: Onboard power eliminates noise from external amps.
• Time Correction: Synchronizes arrival times for precise imaging.
• EQs: Flexible equalization for tuning different frequencies.
• Fine-Tuning Ability: Extensive adjustments to maximize acoustic performance.

Speakers – Full Range and Crystal Clear

Component speakers with separate tweeters and mid-bass drivers are a must. Great sounding competition speakers have:

• Stiff but lightweight cones for efficiency and transient response.
• Oversized voice coils and magnets to handle high power.
• High sensitivity – around 91db or greater.

For your front sound stage look for 5.25 inch or 6.5 inch mid-bass drivers. Add 6×9 inch rear fill speakers for an enveloping sound.

Hard Hitting Subwoofers

The subs reproduce the deep low notes and pounding bass. Top competitors choose subs that:

• Can handle over 1,000 Watts RMS of clean power.
• Have high sensitivity – 89db or better. More efficient subs play louder.
• Large 10-inch or 15-inch subs or multiple smaller subs in correctly designed enclosures.

Legendary car audio brands like JL Audio, Alpine, and Rockford Fosgate make subwoofers purpose-built for competitions.

Amps – Matching Power to Your Speakers

A properly matched amplifier is crucial for maximizing performance. Look for:

• Monoblock amps up to 1,500 Watts RMS to drive your subs.
• Multi-channel amps from leading brands to power your speakers.
• Match amp power to your speakers’ RMS rating exactly.

JL Audio, Alpine, and Audison amplifiers are designed for the demands of competition vehicles.

Sound Dampening – Keeping Things Clean

Installing sound dampening products reduces unwanted resonance and vibration for cleaner sound. Cover areas like:

• Doors – use high density foam or mats.
• Floor – layering damping mat works well.
• Trunk – prevent rattles from sub vibrations.
• Ceiling – reduce roof resonance.

Top brands include Dynamat and Hushmat. Follow installation instructions carefully.

Quality Wiring and Components

Don’t skimp on wiring and accessories:

• Use thick pure copper power/ground wires. 4 gauge at minimum.
• High end RCA cables maintain signal integrity.
• Capacitors steady power. Digital signal processors further tune sound.

Researching and selecting the right competition grade car audio components takes time and care. But it pays off with phenomenal sound that impresses crowds and judges alike.

How To Build a Competition Car Audio System – Designing Your Competition Sound System

Selecting premium gear is only the first step in building an elite car audio system. You also need to intricately design how all those components will integrate together within your vehicle’s unique acoustic environment. Some key design steps include:

1. Dialing in Speaker Placements

Strategically determine optimal speaker mounting locations for surround sound immersion and imaging accuracy. Consider:

• Custom kick panels to aim mid-bass drivers up at the listener.
• Pillar placements for tweeters at ear level.
• Rear fill speakers to complete the soundstage.
• Careful angling of all drivers towards the listening position.

2. Modeling Subwoofer Enclosures

Use acoustic simulation software like WinISD to model which type of sub box works best – sealed, ported, bandpass, etc. Consider factors like:

• Enclosure volume – bigger allows lower frequency reproduction.
• Ported vs sealed – ported increases output at tuned frequency.
• Bandpass – isolates mid-bass frequencies for very loud, punchy bass.

Fiberglass enclosures allow for custom designs that maximize performance.

3. Crafting Detailed System Diagrams

Creating diagrams of the full equipment layout prior to installation is hugely beneficial. Diagrams should include:

• Equipment mounting locations and enclosure dimensions.
• All wiring runs for power, ground, signal wires etc.
• Fuse positions and recommended ratings.
• Amplifier control settings.
• Locations for accessories like capacitors and processors.

Diagrams guide installation for optimal sound and save significant time.

4. Sound Dampening Strategies

Determine areas that will need sound damping materials like Dynamat to reduce any unwanted resonance or vibration issues. Apply dampening:

• In doors to stop panel vibrations.
• Throughout the floor and firewall.
• Generously in trunk for subwoofer rattles.
• On the roof to minimize resonance.

Following your detailed designs will take your system from concepts to incredible reality.

5. Hiring Professional Installers

Properly installing a competition-level car audio system requires substantial expertise. The intricacies of system integration and installation should be handled by experienced professionals. Key installation steps include:

• Complete interior teardown – seats, panels, carpet – to run wires and access speaker locations.
• Fabricating custom speaker pods and subwoofer enclosures from fiberglass and composite materials.
• Installing amplification racks and fuse blocks to handle high power levels.
• Securing all components and damping materials – nothing can shake loose!
• Running power, signal, and speaker wires neatly through vehicle – power wires may need welding.
• Performing final tuning – crossover settings, time alignment, equalization.

An expert installation is essential for safety, functionality, and sound quality. Don’t skimp here!

The Path to Audio Excellence

No you know how to build a competition car audio system. In summary, building a car audio system for competition requires researching quality components that can handle high power and sound great at extreme volumes. Designing the system layout for optimal sound begins with modeling and creating diagrams.

Finally, with professional installation and tuning, you’ll have an excellent foundation to refine and adjust your system to achieve the sound quality needed to compete with the very best car audio systems out there.