MP3 .vs. CD in the car

One of wonders of the modern music scene is the sudden decrease in quality of the listening experience … from tinny ear-buds to mobile phone speakers – yuck!

Dance, electronic(a), well any, music needs to be felt, doesn’t it?  Not just heard, or as musak in the background – feeling it moves it from the brain to the heart, methinks.

Do you download MP3s and burn them to CD?  That really doesn’t work either, the quality is so (very cleverly) mangled to make the file size small, but the quality very top-heavy (tinny, really tinny) – so even on a decent sound system (especially on a decent sound system) it doesn’t do the artist any favours.

And MP3s are everywhere!  Always get the CD, if I were you, and play the tracks through some good bass loudspeakers (woofers, bins) – best place is in your car!

Get Some Bass

Lash out on some a decent woofer – one would do, here are some simple-to-install under-the-seat examples with some good reviews on how people’s lives were massively enhanced! Note that I haven’t tried all of them in my Prius, as that might be a really expensive hobby.  I’ve bunged some here to give you a flavour of what is available.

Pioneer TS-WX210A 8-inch Active Underseat Subwoofer

I’ve always like Pioneer, the sound is always so clear and smooth, in my opinion.  This one has some rave reviews and seems to be easy to install too. One fellow recommends it as it wobbles his wife’s bottom. Oooh missus!

Pros : Easy to install, sounds bigger than it looks, extensive instructions, doesn’t drown the mid/top…
Cons : You’re going to have to spend a few (happy?) hours fitting it – or pay for someone else to do it.
Features : Maximum power 150 W; Frequency response 40 – 150 Hz; Sensitivity (1W/1m) 101 dB; Woofer size 20 cm (8″); IMPP composite cone woofer.
Price : About £156.
Get from : Amazon

Pioneer TS-WX120A 150 W Powerful Amplified Subwoofer System

Another one to look at, this one (um, Pioneer again) is more of a Pro woofer, with a few more complex installation instructions (could cost about fifty quid to get a hard-working, local expert to do it for you!). It’s a nice addition to the sounds in your car, not overpowering, but will add so much depth to any music.

Pros : Uplift your life!
Cons : Uplift your local ICE shop for fitting the thing!
Features : Fully Built In Amplifed Subwoofer; 150 Watts; Ultra Slim Space Saving; Wired Bass Remote Control; Aluminium Cone Woofer;
Price : About £100.

Get from : Amazon

Bass Face POWER12.2 2600W 12 inch Active Twin Subwoofer

Go Maaaad! This is a 5/5 top reviewed product – 1300 Watts, wooooo! Make sure you get on with your neighbours and they like your music, this one will knock your brain cells all about your head. The price is pretty good too, for the sheer bassness you’ll add to your existence. You’ll need to buy an 8-gauge wiring kit to install it (all details on the Amazon page). Awesome!

Pros : Massssive bass for the dosh. Two speakers.
Cons : Needs wiring kit, and enthusiasm or cash for fitting – or there are plenty of YouTube videos!
Features : 1300w RMS; Built in Class-D DB Series Amplifier; Twin SPL12.1 Low Frequency Transducers; Slot Ported Tuned Enclosure; Bass Remote Control Included.
Price : About £160.
Get from :Amazon

I hope you enjoyed looking at these bass bins, let me know in the comments box what your favourite one is – and whether you agree with me about mp3 .vs. CD (one day, we’ll be able to play vinyl in cars …)


9 Comments

Paul · November 24, 2015 at 9:43 pm

Hey Andy,
I couldn’t agree with you more about MP3 vs CD. The sound is so much better from the CD, hands down. As you mentioned the MP3s are degraded to have smaller file size. I really like the Pioneer TS-WX210A 8-inch Active Underseat Subwoofer. The idea of hiding it under the seat and feeling it too sounds pretty sweet. Keep up with the great info.
Cheers
Paul

    andy · November 24, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    Thanks Paul – yup, a bugbear of mine – just when audio technology was beginning to get seriously good in terms of HiFi (remember that word?), up comes mp3, tinny earbuds and wee ickle speakers and ruin it all!

Elma Forsberg · November 25, 2015 at 8:17 am

Hi, Andy!
I think you have an interesting subject, about bringing more bass into the music, that would be much more deep listening.
I would like some pictures of people that are listening to music in some way. Good work so far, wish you all the best.

    andy · November 25, 2015 at 9:47 am

    Hi Elma,
    Yes, some more pics are coming – not of the reviewer’s wife’s bottom though 🙂
    CheersO!
    Andy

Rhys · December 7, 2015 at 9:04 pm

Hi Andy,
Interesting site. Not my cuppa but interesting none the less. Was interesting to learn about the Doctor Who theme.
Rhys

    andy · December 8, 2015 at 8:05 pm

    Hi Rhys – sounds Welsh to me, where I am!

    Glad you like the site, not everyones cuppa, ’tis true, but maybe I can change that – big ambitions 🙂

    Cheers!

    Andy

Shuk · February 29, 2016 at 6:04 pm

Hey,

I’m really happy I come across your article because I have been looking for a subwoofer for my car and wasn’t really too sure where to start but I’m liking the under the seat situation.
I do like Pioneer too so I’m definitely thinking the 1st Pioneer one.
Really fed up of rubbish sounding music! I usually play my music through a mp3 radio transmitter and sometimes it can be awful!

    andy · February 29, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    Hello Shuk, cool, yes, they’re pretty good, thanks for your response. Let us know how it sounds!

    CheersO,
    Andy

Boss Body UK · July 8, 2016 at 10:22 pm

I have a fantastic setup in my car – all Pioneer. The bass can make breathing a little bit difficult and feels like it my shake out my back window but it is well worth it. You cannot beat a good sound system setup either in the car or in the house. Personally I am a fan of owning a CD but it is very handy to download songs and play them through bluetooth on my phone. CD’s quality is better but mp3 is so much more practical. Great post.

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