How a Car Radio Works

Here's a brief overview of how a car's stereo system works.
A car's audio system entertains the occupants inside with music, sound or noise. This audio source can come from various media, such as radio-waves, compact disc, cassette, auxiliary, bluetooth, FM modulator, WiFi, NFC or satellite radio.
In this video, a AM/FM CD stereo head unit is taken apart and its components are examined inside. Each major component is explained as part of the overall function of the head unit, including: the antenna input, tuner, demodulator, micro-controller, communication BUS, equalizer, amplifier, power distribution, LCD and human interface, CD-ROM laser, CD tray, CD circuit control and speaker.
Presented here is a very simplified explanation of how a car's radio works - today's radios are much more complex and feature multiple circuit boards and higher powered computer chips that can process more and give the user more features.
The stereo in this video was a single DIN, AM/FM/CD head-unit from a 2001 Toyota Corolla.
Here's how to hack an aux line on a stereo that didn't come with one:
• Aux Input CD Stereo Hack
Full write-up with photos and discussion here:
www.toyotanatio...
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[@samsonn25]

The most comprehensive and quick 10 minute explanation I have ever seen on car audio.

[@speedkar99]

+Sam Sonn thanks Short and sweet is my style!

[@grandinosour]

Damn.... You can describe accurately describe how a power steering works and then show in detail how a radio works.... Most mechanics cannot do this...good work

[@speedkar99]

+grandinosour Your right, I am quite universal

[@StopDropandLOL]

Him being an Engineer does help ;)

[@rickt2419]

Your videos are much much much more meaningful than those who are just introducing products. Thank you and all your bro's personal items! ;)

[@speedkar99]

+Rick T thanks for the kind feedback, I'm glad you find my videos helpful.

[@awaara24]

One cannot simply absorb all this video has to offer from watching it only once. Thanks for posting yet another one man

[@Raffmeowmeow]

Favorite car youtuber

[@speedkar99]

+Ainsley Harriott I'm honored

[@dominicfong6341]

Your automotive autopsy is very enjoyable to watch. Thank you very much sir!

[@speedkar99]

+Dominic Fong Your welcome, I'm glad you liked it!

[@esatd34]

Alright, no one else on this earth will explain it like this

[@speedkar99]

+Esat'ın Maceraları your right, I haven't found any radio teardown videos out there.

[@abdulazeez.98]

The toothbrush has been shapened 😂. Great video as always!

[@speedkar99]

+Abdulaziz Salam it sure has!

[@sourabhharit2442]

Your channel have the most helpful videos on automotive technical knowledge. Good informative videos that even a mechanic failed to describe. Love from India Subscribed!

[@speedkar99]

+Sourabh Harit thanks I'm glad you appreciate them! This isn't a mechanics work, there's alot more that goes on behind a car!

[@ShroomJGV]

Great vid, it wasn't the information I was looking for. I still learned a few things! But it was a great breakdown of the entire system.

[@AquilesGonzalezBaez]

Top tier explanation

[@jerbearj6969]

Thank you for your info, I could not find anyone who could explain how a car stereo processes an AM signal when home stereos have a ferrite coil antenna, all your info was interesting, Jerry

[@theencube5379]

i guess your asking how a radio uses one antenna for am and fm this is because they are connected in series and since electricity goes the path of least ressistance allowing it to switch between antennas for the best swr

[@rajdivecha]

Wow! this guys is a real engineer. He understands the technical details and knows how to explain it at an abstract level that others can understand. Its like Einstein skipping the math behind the theory of relativity and using a weight on a rubber diaphragm to explain how space-time is a thing and how its curvature manifests as the feeling of gravity! There are very few people like him, clone him before it is too late!

[@irok1]

I was curious so I searched, and I found exactly what I wanted and more. Thank you for the great content!

[@paulhomiuc9542]

Very good explanations sir.

[@Error-xd7cb]

Keep up the good work. Interesting to understand all these parts.

[@speedkar99]

+Error Your right, although there isn't much to see actually working since it's all electronic.

[@cherietheexplorer8699]

Great explanation

[@sawajiri100]

actually the Lens also move up down and left right to help focus on CD track

[@hasanksa362]

Thank you so much

[@speedkar99]

+HASAN KSA your welcome

[@mdushaka6403]

U are best u r my mentor best u tuber ever seen keep the best work

[@nikolailukov4321]

Woah! This channel is a goldmine! I see you have some advanced knowledge and explain things very thoroughly. Do you know how to bypass the integrated stock amplifier in regular stock stereo system in order to feed the unamplified signal to a aftermarket amplifier without using a line output converter(LOC)? Is that even possible?

[@speedkar99]

I'm glad you found my information useful. I am not sure how to create a line out, you'll have to read up on the main chip datasheet on the radio board.

[@akshayawork]

Hands down this is amazing but why isnt anybody talking about the fact that my dude is using broken toothbrush as a pointer lmaooo

[@jeffreyrivers1983]

GREAT SCOTT, MORTY! #Thanks1coolvideo#

[@vasanthraj6895]

Fantastic👏👏👏👏

[@speedkar99]

Awesome

[@chickendolo4437]

Please do a video on how an ecu works

[@speedkar99]

That's a great idea... If I can figure it out for my self

[@chickendolo4437]

Omg u actually replied thank u thank u thank u soooooo much bro. I love how you explain things and I love your videos. I think you should make more. I especially like the reverse engineering. What email can I talk to u on? Like gmail or something.

[@grandinosour]

The soft mounted lazer transmitter is intended to be moved electronically with magnets to compensate for slightly warped disks and slightly off center holes.... Error correction also uses this ability

[@speedkar99]

+grandinosour That's great information to know, thanks !

[@sudhi5499]

It is there to adjust the lens focus so that laser beam is targeted to right layer, isn't it?

[@RockabillyRambler]

So much science!

[@speedkar99]

+Rockabilly Rambler it sure is!

[@BeReady726]

Could you break it down for someone who wants to learn how to install an after market stereo? Just the basics of the common car wiring and whatnot.

[@StopDropandLOL]

Great video dude. I wonder what language they use to program the chips in those radios? I’m assuming some sort of assembly language. I guess what kind would depend on the kind of chip

[@speedkar99]

+StopDropandLOL I would think assembly language would be too basic. If you watched my Honda aux video, I noted that the radio uses the M-bus to communicate, so I'm sure the language must be closer to what's used in a Canbus type system.

[@rajdivecha]

There is a particular component on the board that I want to know about. It is connected to the antenna leads before they feed into the demodulator. It looks like a glass resistor, it also has color bands and it seems to have a cylinder inside. What is it exactly and what is its purpose? It is visible at 2:05 marker in the video, between the antenna socket and the demodulator.

[@ABSENTAS]

congratz! very nice video.

[@speedkar99]

Thanks

[@kikinstunts]

I love your videos very much can you do a video how to fix the navigation screen power for lexus is350 or is250 if possible thanks

[@speedkar99]

+kikinstunts thanks I'll keep that in mind

[@carsclingtv]

Nice explanation vid speed,. Godbless,.

[@speedkar99]

+Sherlito Pantas Your welcome

[@rajdivecha]

What should be the typical resistance across the antenna socket leads?

[@chickendolo4437]

Where do you get all of this information from because I have a circuit board of an OBD II scanner and I really want to know how it works and where the power goes just like you explained in the video

[@speedkar99]

I did some research online with all the chip numbers on the board and figured it out

[@chickendolo4437]

speedkar99 what do you mean and how did you do that

[@chickendolo4437]

speedkar99 if you are able to please do a video on how to find out how circuit boards work and what they do and please include as much information of how to did that as posible so I could be able to do it as well

[@theencube5379]

@@chickendolo4437 No offence but this is a car channel not an electronics basics channel. Do some research and be more specific circuits vary widely although i have a little tip just google what ever chip is in question to figure out what it does.

[@chickendolo4437]

theen cube thanks

[@jjvigilante]

My question is: if music is transferred from iPhone to plain regular factory car audio system which connection will output better quality audio a lightning cable to radio usb or 3.5mm aux input with apple dongle? Or both will be same?

[@speedkar99]

Lightening cable should be better

[@geekysoumyamohan2004]

Is the radio works with the help of car battery

[@speedkar99]

Yes

[@alexoverstreet4313]

Hey I drive a 2013 370z, I'm trying to fix my radio. Whenever I turn up the volume past 10 or 11 it will start to cut out, and will cut out more and more the higher I turn the volume. Could you tell me if this might be a speaker, radio, or ground cable issue etc.? thanks!

[@hondadily8303]

I do have us radio which works only with odd frequencies like 92,1-92,3 and so on. Is it possible to change some internal part to be able to tune all frequencies like EU radios does?

[@user-nx1hh5cq2t]

Please can you place a Photo of all parts car with description way to work and you thank

[@speedkar99]

+اليمني التعزي I added the link in the description thanks

[@baskorotejo92]

the toothbrush is tired, okay...

[@speedkar99]

+baskoro tejo okay I'll phase it out...slowly

[@abdulazeez.98]

speedkar99 Noo, anything except that toothbrush :'(.

[@MrDragonfly]

Communication 🚌🚌🚍😁😁

[@speedkar99]

+intergratypezero yep it's a bus...or highway

[@melchrisrian7957]

👍

[@epicscreenname989]

Here for clever dirty toothbrush comments

[@speedkar99]

+Epic Screen name the toothbrush has been sharpened

[@NN-gy7xl]

I'd laugh if we found out during the day you work at Burger King

[@speedkar99]

+N N haha, no I work as an engineer in an automotive related field.

[@user-nx1hh5cq2t]

Number one like

[@speedkar99]

+اليمني التعزي thanks

[@mohamedsanoob.k1116]

❤❤🌹

[@nalinsinglaca]

Shout to the 6IX ..yeah

[@speedkar99]

+thisisnalin ah you noticed!

[@entertainment-v6x]

One of the best video instead of toothbrush pencil or pen would have been better

[@speedkar99]

The teach-brush is trying to be unique

[@danekeeper1]

Could you please stop doing these great videos....you are making me look bad.........Seriously, don't ever stop man.....My grand kids are 4 years old and you are going to be required youtube'in......

[@speedkar99]

+danekeeper1 Haha thanks for the feedback! I mean at some point I'll have described all the parts there is in a car and there wouldn't be much left...

[@danekeeper1]

R U any good with theory and operation in modern computer controlled cars? I guess I'm am suggesting " this is a sensor and it tells the ecu over the K-can to the pump to speed up and......" anyway , I'm not trying to plan YOUR future content...you will be good at all you do, you have that certain something that is great to digest.....thanks for doin it .

[@issoloko2412]

Show us how you destroyed your brother's toothbrush!!!!

[@speedkar99]

+issoloko2412 I actually did shoot that clip but chose not to add it....it's very graphic. Toothbrush murder.

[@Loglakeliving]

You are a UTube God. I am not worthy.

[@speedkar99]

Glad you appreciate my work 😃

[@yodoboros3784]

Second Like