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The sound systems fitted in automobiles can be described by the term of car-audio. Little difference there is in the stock car audio system which refers to one that was specified by the manufacturer when the car is built. On the other side custom car audio installations can involve everything from the upgrade of the radio to a full customization of a car based around its audio equipments like car stereos and CD changers.

Most commonly used audio equipment is the radio/tape player/CD player/DVD Player which is generically described as a Head unit. Recent developments in head unit technology have been the addition of CD players with MP3, WMA, AAC, and USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support.

Most modern cars include at least a CD player/ CD recorder, and some have the option for car stereo CD changers, which hold multiple disks either in the head unit itself or in a separate unit usually located in a trunk or console. The main types of CD changers are External Cartridge, Internal Cartridge and Carousel CD changers.

The stereophonic sound, commonly called stereo, is the independent reproduction of the sound using two or more channels audio in way to create a natural impression of the heard sound from several directions, similar to that one in the natural hearing. In popular use, stereo audio of the car means generally the recording of 2 sounds on 2 channels and the reproduction of the sound using the data for more than a loudspeaker simultaneously.

When car audio systems had only one speaker, it was placed in the middle of the dashbaord, with perforation through the front of the dashboard allowing the music to be heard. Now that stereo systems are standard, car audio speakers are placed in less standardized positions, such as in the doors and under the rear shelves. A higher end system should place speakers in kick panel enclosures, to allow the driver more comfort with better sound.

Amplifiers are there to provide the power for the speakers, and they are rated in watts of power that they provide. Any good system of good car audio speakers requires high-quality amplifiers, and also needs speakers able to handle all of the power that the amplifiers are putting out, or else the amplifiers are largely being wasted.