What happened to car audio

[Nesset]

I have always been into car audio since I got my car. But not for whose system is the loudest, or who can break their windshield with sound waves. I've enjoyed the aspect of getting things to sound just right. That being said equipment seems to have gone down hill in the last fifteen, even twenty years. It seems to me that equipment is marketed to a different group of individuals these days. 16 year olds who just got their license and want their hand-me-down E36 or Honda Civic to rattle more than the fart can hanging off the back. Call me crazy but that’s just how I see the “new” car audio game. Now granted there is good stuff out there, and a lot of it may I add. I just don’t understand why the market has changed oh so much recently. A long time ago, when our E30’s were being produced on the production line in Bavaria it was an enthusiasts game. What made this all change? I don’t quite get it.. Mind the rant but I’m just curious as to this..

[dubdub]

It is down to two reasons. One, many radios in newer vehicles are now tied into other vehicle functions, and may not have the classic DIN opening to slide something else in. Two, stock systems are getting way, way better. I was in a friend's Q5 the other day with a B&O upgraded system from the factory. It sounded better than every vehicle I have ever owned, and had more bass than any vehicle I have ever owned... and that includes some serious builds.

So with a smaller marketing opportunity, it leaves them to market to the older cars and lower end cars that still have DIN openings. But that is at a much lower price-point, so they sell crap.

[AndrewBird]

Car audio has gotten CHEAP, so now everyone can afford it, not just enthusiasts.

[Som]

I always wonder if these perceived "trends" are real, or just a product of my getting older and not being around people interested in that kind of stuff any more.

Like tuning cars. Seemed like in the 90s (when I was a teen going into my 20s) was full of lowered cars and loud exhausts -- basically what led to the Fast and Furious franchise. Now I rarely see any of that stuff any more.

Hard to tell if it's because "manufacturers are putting out a more satisfying product", if the "fad" has died down, or if I'm just living in different neighborhoods where people don't really tune their cars.

Same thing goes for hearing the thump and license plate buzz of the car 20 feet behind you in traffic.

Som

[Nesset]

It’s a crying shame car audio ended like it did. (I say this in loose terms) To many of us old school audio enthusiasts it’s almost sad to see where it’s gone and how it got here. Seems like audio systems from the factory are almost trying to prevent aftermarket equipment with all the weird head unit sizes. None of them seem to be a DIN format anymore.

[LJ851]

Get off my Lawn!

[DER E30]

Seems like audio systems from the factory are almost trying to prevent aftermarket equipment with all the weird head unit sizes. None of them seem to be a DIN format anymore.

They absolutely are trying to block out people modding!

[Navarone]

What happened to car audio

I think it fell apart about the time "the new style came, the bass got deeper
Ya gave up the mic and bought you a beeper"

[reelizmpro]

The manufacturers are cashing in on the game. Stock systems back then really sucked. There was a need for big sound. Today stock systems are much better, unfortunately manufacturers have integrated control modules and on board computers into them too. I also noticed the use of ribbon cables vs traditional speaker wires in the newer cars. There's also the anti theft aspect of moving away from DIN.

[rcsoundn1]

It is a bit depressing the turn the industry has gone. Even when I was big into car audio, I mostly bought older equipment. It was better back then.......hahaha