Car audio has long been used as an outlet to express oneself through self-expression and creativity. From bass booming to Decibel Drag racing, car audio has always been more than simply listening to music.
Motorola revolutionised driving experience through their innovative eight-track tape players in the 1960s and pioneered factory installed car stereo systems in this same decade.
The 1960s
Listening to music while driving is a fairly recent phenomenon; until recently, drivers were limited to listening to AM radio or cassette tapes while behind the wheel.
In 1956, Chrysler unveiled the world’s first in-car phonograph in collaboration with Columbia Records. This groundbreaking device allowed music to be played via a turntable that could slide out from beneath the dashboard; unfortunately, 7-inch vinyl records often skipped during motion.
Roger Holdaway of SpeakerWorks made a name for themselves during Reed’s Rolling Thunder competition with his 1986 Buick Grand National and started to become known for pushing installation and sound quality further than ever. At that time, magazines showcased elaborate builds to inspire more creativity in vehicle audio systems.
The 1970s
In the 1970s, eight-track tape players enjoyed incredible popularity due to their convenient size and wide variety of music offerings. Consumers found them attractive.
Car audio industry innovators such as Roger Holdaway of SpeakerWorks began using concepts from both pro and home audio to improve their systems and make their audio more pleasing to listeners.
In-dash processing was also becoming more widespread, thanks to 1/2-DIN equalizers installed above or below your radio and featuring 11 bands of equalization and cross-over settings to customize system performance compared with rotary knobs found on most standard AM/FM head units.
The 1980s
During the 1980s, car audio technology experienced rapid advancement. High-end systems were produced that rivaled sound quality found at home.
8-track tape players soon became popular, giving drivers access to their own playlists instead of traditional AM radio. These advances made long trips more pleasurable.
Installers were quickly adept at understanding and installing bass-boosting woofers, midrange drivers and tweeters to reproduce an extensive range of musical frequencies ranging from low bass through midrange and high treble frequencies. Furthermore, these speakers improved head unit shock resilience which marked the dawn of a golden age in the industry.
The 1990s
In the 1990s, car audio experienced an unparalleled boom. A revolutionary player called a Compact Disc (CD) quickly gained widespread appeal due to its crystal clear sound quality, resistance against wear and tear caused by tapes and its effortless track skipping capability – all traits which consumers found irresistible.
Car manufacturers also began offering higher-quality speakers that drivers could install themselves, as well as pull-out cassette receivers, to allow for personalized playlists and sonic environments for their commutes.
Audio processing devices like 1/2-DIN equalizers and crossovers also became increasingly popular, giving installers an ability to precisely fine-tune their systems.
The 2000s
In the 2000s, two enormous technological breakthroughs helped take car audio systems forward significantly.
GPS technology revolutionized car audio systems by providing navigation systems that rivalled those found in home stereos.
Bluetooth technology was another breakthrough that allowed drivers to easily link their phone with car audio systems and stream music without using up all their data plan.
MP3 systems quickly became the go-to choice for music lovers, offering up to 10 times more storage capacity than CDs could. As a result, music could play at higher volumes without distortion – making long drives much more pleasurable!
The 2010s
The 2010s saw many changes in car audio systems. Portable digital music players such as iPods quickly replaced cassette tapes and CDs as preferred ways of listening while driving.
GPS technology led to larger screens for infotainment systems. Later came MP3 players and Bluetooth connections that made connecting digital music players with car stereos easier.
Streaming services have also drawn people away from radio stations; today many drivers prefer using their smartphones for music and podcasts instead.