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…
Product Spotlight: Sony XM-S400D
One of the most popular upgrades to a car audio system is to add an amplifier to the speakers. Providing your speakers with extra power allows them to play louder without fear of damage from harmonic distortion. Over the years, Sony has offered many different amplifier solutions that sound good and offer excellent value. Recently, Read More…
Bench Battle: Headunit Features vs. Performance
Awhile ago, a client asked us what you get when you buy a “better” headunit. The usual answer is that you get more features and improved functionality. Those of us with a drive for the ultimate in sound quality and realism from our mobile electronics systems choose products in hopes of them receiving improved sound Read More…
Product Spotlight: AudioControl LC2i
Years ago, car audio specialist retailers were a destination for the latest in source unit technology. Bluetooth, MP3 and WMA playback via USB and GPS-based navigation brought clients in to upgrade their factory radios. In the past few years, these features and more have become standard in many factory infotainment systems. What are car audio Read More…
Custom Vented Enclosures-More Bang for Your Buck
We all know that the performance of different makes and models of speakers and subwoofers has a dramatic difference in how they sound. When it comes to the installation of subwoofers, the choice of enclosure plays a huge role in the sound of the subwoofer system. In this article, we look at some of the Read More…
Fuses: To Serve and Protect!
Let’s face it: Accidents happen. Minimizing the collateral damage from an accident is important. When you have a mobile electronics system that includes installing an amplifier in your vehicle, a discussion about fuses or circuit protection should take place before the installation begins. Choosing the right device to ensure your system works as intended and Read More…
Steering Wheel Audio Control Integration
When you go shopping for a new radio for your car, one of the many questions the product specialist should ask you is whether your existing radio has steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Almost every aftermarket radio has provisions to accept a signal that will give you steering wheel audio control functions like volume, source selection, Read More…
Does Preamp Voltage Matter?
For almost as long as there have been car audio enthusiasts, they have been adding amplifiers to their vehicles to increase the power available to drive their speakers. More power means we can turn the volume up higher without distortion. When it came to connecting amplifiers to speakers, the first power boosters connected to the Read More…
Rear Speakers – A Benefit or a Bad Habit?
For decades, automobile manufacturers have installed relatively large rear speakers in their vehicles. The stereotype of a set of 6×9 speakers sitting on the parcel shelf of a Monte Carlo is as “car audio” as it gets. As the industry has evolved, the importance of rear speakers has diminished. Are rear speakers necessary? Do they Read More…
What is Bluetooth?
If you have been around the mobile electronics industry for any amount of time, you will know that certain terms are often used incorrectly. One term that has been over-abused lately is Bluetooth. Product manufacturers, retailers and consumers have developed an expectation of what Bluetooth is, and what it does. Sadly, those expectations can lead Read More…