How long do you think a car stereo lasts? It certainly is not a lifetime.
External and internal issues destroy a car’s sound system bit by bit. But you can stop it from taking over and extend the life of your car stereo. I am sure you realize that this won’t happen on its own, and you have to take some specific steps.
But what are they? How can you make sure your car stereo lasts longer? And what can you do if it’s too late? Why don’t we start with the first part? Shall we?
How Does a Car Stereo Work?
The first thing that comes into focus in a car stereo is the diaphragm. It is also known as the cone. This diaphragm moves back and forth in the soundbox. The purpose of such movement is to push the air to create an audible noise.
What moves this cone? The voice coils. The voice coils. The voice coil is the part of the car stereo that gives the diaphragm its motion. Dust cap protects this voice coil from dirt and foreign bodies. Thanks to this dust cap, your car stereo doesn’t get damaged every time something hits it.
Another prominent part of a car stereo is the suspension or the spider (why spider!). It supports the voice coil to move freely in its place.
The next part is the woofer. Everyone knows what a woofer is. It is the part of the speaker that produces low-frequency sounds. In contrast to the woofer, the tweeter produces high-frequency sound.
Apart from these, there are no other essential components in a car sound system you have to know about. So, if your car stereo is on the brink of its lifetime, you can conclude that these parts are damaged. And fixing these parts will save you from trouble.
How Long Should Car Stereos Last?
In general, car stereos last around 5 to 7 years. But this duration greatly depends on how you are handling the device. If you leave the car stereo on its own, it may not serve you for more than 3 to 4 years. Putting too much strain on the device and improper maintenance can decrease its durability.
On the other hand, proper care will keep your stereo in good condition for more than 10 years. Do you want this durability? You have to do some work.
Apart from these, the answer lies in the brand you use as well. Turns out the brand matters a lot. Cheap brands will surely not last decades, while top-end car stereos, such as Kenwood, have the potential of being the only sound system you will ever need in your car.
What Car Stereo Brand Lasts the Longest?
Sorry to disappoint you. No car stereo will last forever. In fact, they won’t survive the first 3 years if you don’t take proper care. However, if you make some smart choices here and take on a few basic maintenance, you can get the ultimate sound system for your car.
We often overlook a truth: “There is nothing in the brand. It’s just a name.” I don’t agree with it at all. For me, a brand is widely accepted only when it can provide a satisfying product.
For example, Sony stereos are unbeatable in the market. They have been in the game for ages with undivided popularity. Don’t you think there is a reason behind it? Yes, you got it right. Sony delivers what you want. Its robust build will sustain everything you put it through.
Surprisingly, Sony does this without compromising its performance.
Similarly, Kenwood USA produces fantastic devices for cars. I can trust them with my eyes closed because they are solely dedicated to manufacturing car accessories. The sound system is included in their device list. Their stereos are compact yet strong.
Tons of power are jammed in their tiny subwoofers. The build material of these speakers never fails to exceed expectations. The exceptionally sturdy structure of these stereos is sure to last decades.
Apart from these, you can go for Pioneer car stereos. But I would not recommend them because while they are marvelous when it comes to durability (with 3 years warranty! Yes, 3 years!), the price is a bit unreasonable. I just think it could’ve been a bit cheaper, like JVC car stereos.
Overall, keeping a car stereo working year after year is something that entirely depends on you. Yes, you might get some benefits if your car stereo belongs to any of these models. But you can boost the longevity of such devices with proper knowledge and adequate skills. What are they? I will show you everything bit by bit.
Reasons Why a Car Stereo Fails so often
It’s probably not your fault that your car stereo has stopped working.
The internal mechanism of cars can go through unusual situations, resulting in speaker blowout. It is almost impossible to know why your car stereo is likely to fail. However, once the sound system has already collapsed, you can identify the reason behind it in a snap.
The two most common causes of car stereo failure are overheating and damaged internal components. By overheating, I mean thermal failure. Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. But how does a speaker overheat? The sound doesn’t generate heat energy!
Well, this heat comes from what the speaker uses as its fuel, electricity. When the stereo system receives too much power (trust me, this happens more frequently than you think), it just can’t process it all.
This power is just a bunch of electrons. When these electrons can’t go through, they collide with each other at one single point. This collision, in turn, generates heat.
With time, this heat becomes an inferno in the speaker. Inferno? Am I exaggerating? No. This heat can literally melt the wiring in the voice coil. As a result, a blowout can happen.
Similarly, due to excessive heat, the stereo fuse can also blow out, causing the stereo to shut down instantly. But this overheating doesn’t happen overnight. If your vehicle’s power supply system is faulty, it will keep damaging the car stereo system day by day.
And just like overheating, your vehicle can have mechanical failures as well. What do I mean? Let me clarify. If you carelessly handle your car stereo, it will get damaged by small degrees without you even knowing it. A simple torn or stretched cone can be a significant mechanical failure.
Almost none of the components in-car stereo has elasticity. Hence, if they experience the slightest pressure, it can get heavily affected. This, too won’t happen in a day. It can be something you are doing unintentionally, or you may not know how to manage stereo the way you are supposed to.
Either way, your delicate car stereo can stop working just like this. I mean, it won’t last very long.
These issues have a lot to do with the durability of your car speaker. Overheating can destroy your car radio, generate unwanted sounds from it, and it can even eliminate bass from your speaker once and for all. But there are still rays of hope waiting for you.
If you can tackle these points properly… your car stereo will outlast its expected lifespan.
7 Tips To Make Your Car Stereo Last Longer
As you already know, car stereos last around 5 years. During this period, they work pretty great even if you don’t give them much attention. However, once this period is over, you are in for a lot of trouble. The frequent maintenance fees and purchasing new parts will tear an invisible hole in your pocket.
I am sure anyone with a sane mind won’t prefer spending hundreds of bucks on car stereos every month. Guess what? You don’t have to if you are willing to handle 8 easy (and free) maintenance.
How am I sure these methods will work? Well, I practice these tricks on my car stereo and guess what, it will be a half-adult next month. In case you want to know my secrets, here are the 7 care tips to keep a car stereo healthy.
Tips 1: Ensure Proper Installation
Did you set up your speaker in the proper way? You may not know the answer to this unless you have taken professional help to install the stereo or you are a professional yourself. If none of these two points applies to you, you need to be careful right now.
Loose-fitting of speakers can have all kinds of damage. The movements of the car, the vibration, and the displacement of parts will result in further harm.
This is why it is recommended to seek professional help. They will install your stereo, its components, and the plugs accurately. Moreover, you won’t have to worry about the wiring as well. Overall, it saves you tons of hassles.
Tips 2: Always Clean Your CDs Before Inserting
Who uses CDs these days! Well, lots of people. DVDs are actually quite common nowadays when it comes to car stereos. Unfortunately, these CDs can damage your vehicle’s sound system. Sounds weird? In reality, it isn’t.
Imagine inserting a scratched or a dirty CD into the stereo. I don’t need to tell you what is going to happen next. The dirt will jam the internal components first, and then the scratches will damage your CD reader. Just so you know, clogged CD slots can result in overheating.
So, as you can see, a dirty CD has the potential of inviting a plethora of issues. Hence, what can you do now? Simple, just wipe the CDs clean and dry before putting them in the system.
Just in case you have been using CDs without cleaning them for a long time, then don’t worry, you are not at the point of no return. Just apply this type of CD cleaner on your CD and make them squeaky clean. This way your stereo will have a long life, and your CDs will last as well.
Tips 3: Deal with The Foam
