Switches

Today’s cars have become so demanding and so does the driver. What used to be just a transportation machine has evolved into an entertainment vehicle. Car stereos, in particular have definitely changed the driving experience and driver behavior. It put the entertainment side of the car in focus while putting driving behind.

Car audio entertainment has particularly given more focus in car manufacturing. Manufacturers have turned cars into space-age cockpits with car stereo switches that resemble that of space ship consoles. These days, driving is no longer a pain especially during heavy traffic.

Car stereo switches are a topic of most car stereo enthusiasts and car audio entertainment buffs alike. Interests of this group of people range from car stereo switch plates to hacking iPod car stereo integration.

Getting a sleek car stereo for most people is just like getting the latest Sony entertainment system. It has already become a staple in cars. In fact, interest in equipping cars with the most cutting edge car audio system has led to a pack of car stereo decorative switch plates collectors.

Several companies have taken advantage on this growing market of car stereo switch plates cover lovers. One company called Art Plates offer various decorative switch plate covers that are a collector’s item. Another company called Switchplate Gallery has an array of switch plate covers with classic Coca-cola artworks.

Other car stereo enthusiasts are going gaga over getting the sleekest car stereo console. Whenever there is a new car stereo design that is out, they will surely have one. Contemporary car audio systems have buttons and switches that create a space shuttle feel to the driver. Some with suave and curvy designs, LCD screen that displays dynamic bars that coincide with the beat of the music, or touch screen equalizers. Some can even customize the screen with wallpaper.

The BMW cars are a good example of this. Their car audio cockpit has toggle switches that make it look like a racecar console.

When a car stereo buff is not caught glamming up his car with the car audio system, he is found hacking it. With the proliferation of iPod and other similar mobile audio devices, concerns and complaints are raised on hooking up these devices on their existing car stereo and getting good sound quality.

While manufacturers are still figuring out a way to iPod integration, other individuals have already found ways to hack into their audio system. Actually, car stereo can accommodate auxiliary source of audio by using a cassette adapter. This method however is found to produce poor and noisy sound quality. Hacking a car audio system can be a little tricky and sometimes dangerous, but the concept behind this is simple.

In order for the car stereo to give clearer sound out from an iPod, one needs to install a sort of switch or toggle that can divert the source of audio between, say for example, the CD player and the auxiliary sound device such as iPod. This toggle switch will also provide a terminal or socket in which to plug the iPod. Sounds a little complicated but it somehow worked with a car stereo buff named Matt Gilbert.

Despite all this car stereo craze going on, car experts and critics have stressed the potential danger of putting more spotlight on getting entertained inside the car rather than on controlling the car safely. They say that buttons and switches in modern car stereo have become relatively smaller giving the driver a hard time looking for the right switch. The system has become more complex, like digital equalizers, wallpapers and metadata programming (text that says the artist, song title, or album scrolling in a screen that is mostly found on car satellite radio receivers) that can distract the attention of the driver on the road.

This is indeed a serious risk. Manufacturers are now starting to look at addressing this problem. And while research on safety changes is still underway, it is best to keep discipline and sheer focus on the road. There is nothing wrong with car stereo, it must however stay in the background.