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Is a lot of bass in a car stereo system good or bad?

Results so far:

Good
39% 155 votes Total: 401 votes
Bad
61% 246 votes
Good

Imagine yourself, indulging in a beautiful nights rest, far from counting sheep, having the most pleasing dream you have ever had when, "BOOM"! What's that you ask, it then comes to you, it is the sound of the bass line to the new rap song you heard on the radio earlier that morning. Slightly confused, the only thing boggling your foggy mind is to why that song is driving by your house at about 50 miles an hour, then you realize.

What's annoying to some, may be astonishing to others. I believe bass to be excellent in car stereos, but in moderation. If you are trying to listen to the new 50 cent song, and all it sounds like is the very loud heartbeat of a morbidly obese man after walking a flight of stairs, then I would lay the hammer down that it's a tad too much. Bass intensifies most songs, and gives a person a supreme sensation of hearing, obviously, and it also allows the person to feel the song as well, which I think is awesome.

I will add however, to those contemplating adding a little "thump" to their audio sound-systems, to learn and to follow the unwritten rules of having speakers big enough to smash windshields on any given day. Rule one, keeping in mind these rules are nothing more then experiences I have mentally noted down, always put a state of the art sound-system in a car that barely runs. This is key for all young adults, and I totally agree, it makes absolutely no sense to put nice systems in nice cars, the system needs to be in a vehicle that leaves more oil on the ground then a tanker ship off the coast of the pacific. Here is a simple way to know if you have successfully achieved following this rule; after all is said and done, and the system upgrades are installed, look at your bill, if the bill totals more then the vehicle is worth, throw your hands up in victory.

The next rule is in relation to the first rule, and is stated in the following; subs are never to be put in a trunk that doesn't make any noise to pedestrians on the outside. If your subs are fully in pound mode, and your trunk is not rattling, you are failing rule number two. To know if you have successfully completed rule number two, simply turn on your stereo as loud as your feel necessary, step out of your car, close the door, now proceed to focus your attention to your trunk. If it sounds like two pieces of sheet metal being slapped together with incredible force, then you can now sigh in relief, congrats, you are now bugging the world.

The last rule that I will dispense to all bass getters out there is simple. The key to the perfect amount of bass is to set your levels so that you hear absolutely no lyrics whatsoever, this is ideal, and most important. You will know if you have found the proper levels if your passengers don't even know what artist they are listening to, and feel as if they are going to vomit. It is important to know that you have successfully left your passengers slightly more deaf then at departure, slightly confused as to what they just heard, and having the impression that they just stepped off of a war-field. If you accomplish this, then give yourself a pat on the back, your stereo is deadly.

There you have it, three simple rules that will helpfully aid anyone wanting to better their life with the beautiful sounds of music. I fully understand your need to "bass out" if you will, and crush ones own ribcage. I also understand that your just not cool, if on your 21st birthday you can still hear the sounds of your family singing you your well deserved happy birthday song, as lame as that song is. You know what would really spice that song up, you know what would give it that added kick its been missing for so long, some heart stopping bass.

Learn more about this author, Dave Beaudry.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Bad

The ear doctor is waiting to see you!

There is one person who is going to love these morons who jack up their car stereos, especially the bass function, more than they themselves and that is an ear, nose, and throat doctor! Specifically, the audiologist will love these mutes by the time they get old, because that is what is going to happen sooner or later. There are going to be a lot of people losing their hearing before they hit the ripe old age of fifty. Of course, I'm being facetious, but it's true. One can't crank up these mutant audio systems at the decibel level of a ramjet and think they're going to get away with it. Something has got to give, and that something are the anvils, stirrups and the other wonderful aspects of your ear.

Why? Why is it that while you're driving down the street it sounds like they are doing a remake of Godzilla vs. Andronicus right behind you? The thumping, bumping and hammering can be heard even in the most expensive soundproof cars, and one can even feel the vibrations of the vehicle with these sonic explosions going off right next to you. Maybe that's the point, to intimidate the other driver? Because it sure as hell has nothing to do with music. It has more to do with a construction project or a runaway train than listening to quality music. It's also pretty funny to see some sheetbox with one of these systems shaking and paint chips flying off and looking like it's going to fall apart any minute.

In fact, what's the point of even installing a car stereo system if all you're going to do is listen to the bass at an ungodly level? Why buy music at all? Why not just record a volcano eruption and put it on a continuos loop. Save a lot of money that way, wouldn't you?

Please don't tell me this is the latest wave in music, as this has nothing to do with music whatsoever. It has more to do with the mantle of the earth blowing a gigantic fart right through it's crust than music. What are these idiots going to do once they realise they can't hear a damn thing anymore. Sure, they will always be able to feel vibrations so it's not a total loss.

The only people getting rich off this foolish trend are the stereo manufacturers and the soon-to-be-seen audiologist. Because as sure as sound barriers are broken, so aren't the eardrums of these woofer-heads. And when they find out how expensive it's going to be to see the doctor for hearing aids, they're going to wish for the days of the transistor radio....

Learn more about this author, Anthony Megna.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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