You have worked long and hard to get your pride and joy rebuilt. The paint is buttery smooth, the engine purrs like a kitten, and the interior smells of fresh carpet and leather. You stand back, enjoying her beauty. It’s time to go for a cruise. Roll down the windows, pull out on the freeway Read More…
To Get Better Sound, Do I Need to Replace My Factory Source Unit?
Not all that long ago, upgrading the performance of your car audio system required that you replace the factory source unit. The industry had dozens of premium CD receivers with state-of-the-art signal processing and high-end digital-to-analog converters. The popularity of these source units and the audio systems that could be built around them was not Read More…
Product Spotlight: Compustar DC3 Controller & ADS T-Harness Solutions
Proficient remote starter retailers are trained to not only sell products but to promote how they will integrate those solutions into their clients’ vehicles. Compustar, the world leader in remote car starter technology, has recently introduced a new system controller called the DC3 to give installers a new option for vehicle integration. Automotive Data Solutions, Read More…
How to Buy a Remote Start System For Your Vehicle
Mobile electronics require a much different purchasing process than something you are buying for home use. A piece of furniture, a new toaster or a new lawnmower may require similar levels of research before making the purchase, but once you have them, you can take them home, unpack them, and start using them right away. Read More…
Remote Starter Smartphone Control Available Just In Time For Winter
With the colder weather upon us, the mobile electronics industry is shifting its focus from audio systems to remote car starters. When it comes to buying a remote car starter, the biggest decision consumers have to make is how much range they need. If you are looking for the ultimate in convenience, a telematics system Read More…
Product Spotlight: Compustar PRO T11 Remote Control
Anyone who has researched remote starters or car alarms will have undoubtedly seen several solutions from Compustar. Compustar serves its remotes and control modules a la carte to its dealers, who can create perfect solutions for every client. The PRO T11 two-way LCD remote control is the top model in the Compustar PRO series. This Read More…
Google’s Waze offers the Best in Navigation
It’s not often that a piece of software creates a significant impact on our daily lives. Milestone social media apps like Facebook and Twitter most certainly remain in the limelight, but when it comes to actually being productive, Waze is a major step forward in navigation apps for our smartphones. In the summer of 2017, Read More…
Will Upgrading My Speakers Make My Stereo Sound Better?
When it comes to reproducing an audio signal, your speakers are the most important component in the food chain. You could have the best source unit and amplifiers known to man, but if your speakers are mediocre, then the listening experience will suffer. That said, the world of car audio has changed over the years. Read More…
Product Spotlight: Sony MEX-GS620BT
Over the past few years, Double-DIN multimedia receivers have taken the spotlight when it comes to new head units. With that said, Sony knows that single-DIN solutions are still an important part of the industry. The Sony MEX-GS620BT offers more connectivity features and source options compared to most of the multimedia receivers on the market Read More…
10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do with a Remote Car Starter
With summer coming to an end and frost in the forecast, there’s no better time to add a remote starter to your car, truck or SUV. Most of us know that our remote starter systems can also control the power locks in our vehicles, but many systems are full of additional advanced features that add Read More…
Why Does My Car Have Surround Sound?
If you have ever been to a movie theatre, you have probably experienced what is known as surround sound. There are at least five discreet audio tracks encoded into the film you are watching, and most also include a Low-Frequency Effects (LFE) channel. The purpose of these audio channels is to allow the source of Read More…
Is Replacing My Radio the Best Way to Increase Sound Quality?
Since the late ’80s, the car audio industry has experienced incredible levels of growth. New technology and features have expanded our opportunities to increase sound quality and enhance entertainment. What hasn’t changed are the core building blocks of how sound systems are designed. Every system starts with a source. We call this the head unit, Read More…
Car Audio System Setup
It may seem as if they should be similar processes, but installing a new source unit, amplifiers and speakers in a car is unlike installing most home audio systems. It is not as simple as plugging things in and hoping they work. Proper integration of your new electronics into modern vehicles and their wiring is Read More…
It’s Smart to Purchase Your Audio Gear From the Shop Installing It
In the “old days” if you wanted to buy something, you went to a store. Now, with the increasing popularity of online shopping, mobile electronics enthusiasts have a seemingly unlimited number of options where they buy the audio gear they want. In this article, we will discuss some of the benefits of purchasing your equipment Read More…
Product Spotlight: AudioControl D-4.800 Amplifier
Not long ago, we looked at the impressive new DM-810 digital signal processor from AudioControl. In keeping with their plan to provide consumers with access to the benefits of signal processing, AudioControl has recently introduced the D-4.800 amplifier. The D-4.800 is a high-power four channel amplifier with a built-in, six-channel DSP solution. You get the Read More…
Is Darker Window Tint Better?
In 1966, 3M developed the first window tinting solution to reflect the heat energy of the sun away and help keep the interior of your vehicle cool. Dozens of companies now manufacture window tint films and each has several different series of films with varied performance offerings. In the last few years, many companies have Read More…
Product Spotlight: Sony GS Series Speakers and Subwoofers
The Sony GS series of source units, amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers offers excellent performance at accessible price points. In this spotlight, we take a close look at the features and benefits of the GS-Series speakers and subwoofers. GS Component and Coaxial Speakers The GS series includes the XS-GS1621 6.5-inch coaxial, the XS-GS1621C 6.5-inch component and Read More…
Custom Installations – Past and Present
Custom car audio installations have changed a great deal over the years. More often than not, custom installations from years ago often looked like ‘bolted-on’ additions to a vehicle. Modern systems blend seamlessly with your interior. Advances in construction techniques allow your installer to create complex multi-dimensional shapes that look like they came from the Read More…
OEM Sound System Measurements for Audio System Upgrades
Upgrading a factory audio system is not as easy as it used to be. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, connecting an amplifier and a new set of speakers to a factory source unit would yield impressive, if not amazing, results. As automobile manufacturers put more focus on the performance of factory-installed sound systems, Read More…
Product Spotlight: Momento M5 Dash Camera System
Having a dash camera installed in your vehicle is an excellent way to protect yourself from the challenges that driving presents. A video recording of dangerous driving, fraudulent behavior or accidents provides indisputable evidence when something goes wrong. A while back, we took a look at the innovative M4 dash camera system from Momento. This Read More…
Off-Road Electrical Accessories
An afternoon of plowing through knee-high mud or bouncing off rocks in your favorite four-wheeler is a lot of fun! But proper preparation before embarking on your adventure will help to ensure that your day goes without issue. When it comes to preparation, a reliable electrical system and properly-installed accessories are as important as the Read More…
Product Spotlight: AudioControl Epicenter
If you have been around the car audio industry for any amount of time, then you have undoubtedly heard of the AudioControl Epicenter processor. Unlike most processors, the Epicenter is not a conventional device like an equalizer or crossover. The Epicenter can recreate low-frequency information by analyzing the harmonic content of your music and produce Read More…
Definitions: Speaker Parameters
The adage that someone could write a book about a subject certainly holds true when it comes to a discussion of loudspeakers and their parameters. In fact, there are dozens of great books already available about the subject. This article provides an overview of some of the most commonly discussed speaker parameters. What are Speaker Read More…
What To Look for When Shopping for Motorcycle Audio Speakers
Now that the weather is great all across the country, motorcycle enthusiasts have a chance to get their bikes out and go for a ride – but many riders complain that the factory audio systems on their bikes don’t sound as good as they’d like. There are several reasons why, and a few relatively easy Read More…
Hot Rod, RestoMod, and Restoration Source Unit Options
The stereotypical image of a “Woody” station wagon with a surfboard on the roof is missing one critically important element to make it part of the perfect day on the beach: an audio system. In the 1960s, the aftermarket car audio scene was weak. Compared to now, there weren’t any options for source units, speakers Read More…
Product Spotlight: Sony WX-GS920BH
Sony has just introduced the Double-DIN WX-GS920BH CD receiver, offering a beautiful, high-end solution with multiple ways to get your digital music into your dashboard while still providing the ability to play your classic CD tracks. With the popularity of smartphones and streaming audio solutions, CD sales have taken a back seat to digital entertainment Read More…
Automotive Battery Science: How Batteries Work
Your automotive battery is one of the most important, and most often overlooked, electrical components in your vehicle. If your battery is not in good condition, you can be stranded, and other components in your vehicle may be damaged. This article discusses how batteries work and how to take care of them. What is Inside Read More…
Product Spotlight: Momento M4
Firstech, the well-known manufacturer of the Compustar brand of remote vehicle starters and security systems, recently introduced the new Momento series of dash cameras. Having a dash cam in your vehicle is an inexpensive way to protect yourself against fraud because it can assist in settling disputes in the event of an accident. Read on Read More…
RCA Y-Cables, Friend or Foe?
If you spend any time reading car audio discussions on Facebook or in forums, then you will have undoubtedly come across comments involving the supposed drawbacks of using RCA Y-cables. There seems to be a lot of misconception or misunderstanding about how preamp signals works, and this misinformation leads to comments that aren’t always accurate. Read More…
Differential Inputs are Your Friend
In the 80s and 90s, it seemed like car audio installers were often having to resolve noise issues after installing a system that included an amplifier or signal processor. In many cases, the problem was called a ground loop. However, in some cases, the noise was present because one of the signal cables passed by Read More…