Golf Cart Buying Guide: Stereo Systems
What to look for. What to look out for.
There are a lot of ways to upgrade a golf cart and customize it to your needs. After all, the main reason to have one for your personal use is simply to have a comfortable and convenient way to get around your neighborhood. You might as well enjoy some of your favorite tunes when you’re behind the wheel.
There are plenty of ways to upgrade your golf cart, depending on your preferences and the type of golf cart you own. That said, when shopping for a stereo system, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, golf carts are sometimes exposed to the elements, especially rain and humidity. So, it’s important to choose a system that can withstand a little moisture, similar to the equipment you might install on a boat. Second, if you have an electric golf cart, you should pay attention to the amount of electricity the stereo draws from the battery and what the limits of your battery are. You would hate to install a new system and find out that it drastically cuts your battery life. If your golf cart is gas powered, however, you obviously don’t have to worry about this.
“If you’re not experienced with doing these types of installations, it’s a good idea to see a professional,” said VP of Parts & Service Tom Bledsoe, who has been with National Carts since 1991. “Every now and then, I see someone who tried to do it themselves and ended up not being happy with the results, both in how the system sounded and how it looked.”
Here are a few important things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a system:
Amplifier – This is the main component of your stereo system and its performance will largely determine how good the system sounds, so look for quality. You’ll also want to think about some of the options that are available. For example, if the amplifier is Bluetooth compatible, you won’t need to plug wire from your MP3 player or smartphone into it. Also, you’ll see quite a few options in the control panel, so consider the driving conditions. A simple, intuitive layout is always better than one with too many buttons. Finally, as with any stereo system, the more wattage the amplifier has, the better it sounds. But more watts also means more of a draw on your battery, so you’ll need to find the right balance, or consider upgrading your battery, too.
Speakers – Quality speakers deliver quality sound, so this is not a good area to skimp. For a golf cart, it’s a good idea that your speakers are also durable and can withstand the elements. Look for a speaker that uses rustproof hardware and sealed components. It’s also important that the speaker has some flexibility in how it’s mounted so that you can have them installed in the best location that works with your model of golf cart. And if you want to show off a little flair, some speakers come with multi-color LED lighting and a highly stylized design!
Power Source – In addition to the amount of electricity your stereo requires, it’s also important to make sure that the electricity used by the stereo (and any other electrical accessories) is evenly drawn from your batteries. If it’s drawing off of just one or two batteries, it will run those down quickly, forcing the rest of your batteries to work harder, potentially leading to battery failure. Installing a voltage reducer or DC converter is a good idea if you plan to install a stereo system on your golf cart.
To answer your questions and help you identify the best stereo for your golf cart, come see one of our Parts and Service professionals today, or give us a call at (800) 940-8068.