There are many components of a Car audio system. These together determine the quality of the sound and music produced by the Car Audio.
But first there is the issue of Installation. There are two types of installation done by people. General Audio installation consists of usually a head unit, one or two amplifiers, splits, and either a pair of 6 x 9 speakers or a sub woofer to take care of bass. The other installation is for competition Sound-offs. These are also named as Decibels (DB).The purpose of competition is to get the highest DB through a sensitive microphone installed at an exact point in all cars.
Then come the components of the audio system.
First is the Head Unit-It is the primary control system for the car audio unit and is installed in the dash panel between the driver and the passenger. It contains various media devices such as radio receiver/ tuner, a tape player, a CD player or an MP3 player
Next come the speakers. They are similar to other loud speakers but adapted to mobile usage. They are multi axially mounted and come in non circular cone shapes for ergonomic design. In modern design speakers are placed at the dash or front deck, the rear deck, the kick panel or the doors.
Amplifier: A dedicated amplifier separated from other parts of the music systems in car audio. Most head units have an amplifier. They convert low power signals received by car speakers to high power signals thus improving their quality of sound and loudness. Most amplifiers work with a Pre-amp which delivers initial boost to low power signals before sending them to the amplifier.
Sub woofers: Play an important role in car audio. Reproduce sound in the lowest frequencies that are audible and that which produces a deep bass that makes the car vibrate. It makes sound come alive better than a standard speaker. It is usually installed at the centre of the trunk of the car to evenly distribute sound.
Capacitors: They are used to store energy which is drawn up by the amplifier. They cater to the short burst of electrical demands of a car audio system that have exceeded the electrical capabilities of the vehicle.
All these components together make for a fully functional Car Audio System