Beat-Sonic Shark-Fin Antenna Upgrade
Modifications to current day car audio systems may not be as extensive or crazy as it might’ve been 20-some years ago but that doesn’t mean you can’t still improve upon them, even if it is minimally. Beat-Sonic has seen the rise and change in car audio technology, growing from a small Japan-based parts manufacturer to becoming a worldwide aftermarket parts supplier, with a catalog that carries products such as stereo installation kits, rear backup cameras and these cool shark-fin antennas, just to name a few.
The FDA9 Series shark-fin antenna is a design you may not have immediately noticed but take a good look around and you will. Newer cars already come equipped with them but for vehicles only a few years old, you can upgrade your Fuba-style antenna affordably without affecting stereo reception, like this 2013 Toyota Prius C.
For only $124.95, the FDA9T direct-replacement antenna installs in less than 15 minutes and doesn’t require any specialty tools. It also comes pre-painted and color matched to your vehicle using OEM paint, so unless your factory paint’s in bad shape, you don’t need to worry about it being mismatched. Here's a quick installation guide:
Unscrew the factory antenna and put it away for safe keeping, in case you decide to revert back to this.
The underside reveals the 3M double-sided adhesive tape you’ll need to peel back to secure the shark-fin antenna over the original antenna base.
Before you attempt to install the antenna, get a car wash if needed to free the surface of any major dirt. Use the supplied alcohol swipe to double ensure the surface is clean for positioning/mounting.
Beat-Sonic supplies a template for you to use to help you center the antenna before committing to the final position. Having a friend around to help you gauge its straightness should also help.
Here comes the hard part: attach the helical coil antenna to the factory antenna base by securing it with the supplied M screw and a Phillips screwdriver.
It may take a few minutes to center it perfectly, but once it is, press down to ensure a good stick between the shark-fin antenna and roof of the car.
Beat-Sonic’s shark-fin antenna isn’t meant to improve reception but it is a visual enhancement to say the least and is compatible with all AM/FM radio, HD radio and satellite radio signals from the OEM head unit. It’s also safe to run through any car wash machines.
For more info on the Beat-Sonic shark-fin antenna and to find an application for your vehicle, visit: Beat-Sonic's website here.
