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Published on August 22, 2007

The manual explains the functions of each and every part of an audio device. It tells you how to operate the system and offers important maintenance tips to ensure that it has a long and useful life. In particular, it gives in-depth instructions on how to set up the system, how to tune fader and balance, and how to use both equalisers and surround-sound systems for car-theatre viewing.

The manual will also point out what is likely to cause wear and tear. Heat and humidity, for instance, are one of the major causes of ruined loudspeaker drivers.

The manual explains all the functions of the buttons on the head unit and how to operate them in sequential order. Even if these things seem more appropriate for home audio systems than that in the car, they are still important if you want your system to last. As well as all of this, the manual will act as an assistant and help you to fix problems, should they occur.

The LCD TV monitors used in car theatres are probably the most fragile devices in sound and entertainment systems. This is because they are made up of liquid-crystal elements, and can be damaged by bouncing along a rough road or broken by falling to the car floor. Heat build-up inside the car when it is parked outdoors can easily harm LCD TV screens, and abrupt switching on and off can cause what is known as "dead pixels". This is when one or more tiny picture elements (pixels) are permanently destroyed, leaving holes or dots on the screen that cannot be wiped off.

For care and maintenance of a head unit, you should firstly follow the advice given by the operation manual. You may also need to regularly clean certain parts, such as the front panel and buttons.

When doing so, use a soft brush to remove dirt and dust. Use contact cleaning fluid (quick-drying aerosol) to remove oxides from the volume control by spraying into the control device. You may first need to detach the volume button, in which case it may be better to get the job done by a trained technician.

Do not use a CD lens cleaner to clean the laser lens. Many people wrongly believe that regular use of a CD lens cleaner will prevent tracking errors and distortion caused by a dirty laser lens.

In fact, small particles of dirt and dust cause no harm to the CD lens mechanism, whereas a cleaning-brush system such as those used in CD lens cleaners can cause major damage to the sensitive lens.

Hopefully, by now you will understand the importance of that operation manual. Don't throw it aside. It shows you not only how to use the system properly, but also how to make it last for a long time.

By Wijit Boonchoo

Ultimate in Luxury

The Luxury LS 460 is a wonderfully comfaortable car fitted with all mod cons, althoough not necessarily the most fun vehicle to drive.