As some of the largest people-movers on the road, the GMC Yukon and the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe can benefit from the countless upgrades that are available for them. Whether you want a subtle improvement in audio system performance with a custom-fit subwoofer solution or you want to shake the paint off the walls with Read More…
Saying ‘Gains Set Halfway’ Is Concerning to Car Audio Professionals
If you’ve browsed amateur car audio groups on Facebook, you’ve likely seen someone post that they have “set the gains halfway” on their amplifier. Their misguided theory is that this setting will limit the maximum amount of power the amplifier will produce. Saying this in the presence of a professional installer is the best way Read More…
Why Would Your Car Audio Amplifier or DSP Need a Bandpass Crossover?
When designing and integrating high-performance speakers into your car or truck, your local specialty car audio retailer might suggest choosing an amplifier or signal processor that includes a bandpass crossover. If you aren’t used to designing speaker systems, a task that most consumers don’t concern themselves with, then the term bandpass might be confusing. Please Read More…
Why Mid-Woofers Won’t Work Well in Small Speaker Enclosures
Dash pods, kick-panel enclosures and sealed enclosures in doors might look cool, but they aren’t always an ideal solution for a speaker that will attempt to produce bass. In this context, when we talk about bass, we are discussing audio frequencies below about 300 Hz. In this range, most drivers with a cone diameter of Read More…
Amazing Audio and Accessory Upgrades for Your Chevrolet Corvette
Since 1953, the Chevrolet Corvette has been an icon in the North American automotive industry. These two-seaters represent value and performance with styling that always lets them stand out from the crowd. Try as General Motors might, there’s still room for improvement, even on a flagship vehicle like this. Let’s look at some of the Read More…
Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX8100 Media Receiver
When it comes to floating-face or T-style radios, there are more options than ever. The Sony XAV-AX8100 combines all the most sought-after features with an 8.95-inch screen that will look perfect in your dash. Whether it’s staying connected with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration or having support for all your favorite digital media Read More…
Should Your Car Audio Speakers Be Mounted in Pods?
Speaker pods and build-outs on A-pillars are becoming increasingly common in custom car audio installations. While some of these solutions look cool, the laws of physics can work against these cosmetic efforts to degrade the performance of your car stereo system. The subject of speaker installation could (and should) fill a book. In this article, Read More…
Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate M5-1500X Marine/Powersports Amp
Whether you have a Jeep that gets muddy, a side-by-side that thinks it’s a part-time submarine, or a boat that’s always getting swamped, Rockford Fosgate’s M5-1500X5 powersports amplifier can be the heart of an impressive audio system upgrade. This five-channel amplifier can deliver the power your speakers need to reproduce audio with amazing clarity while Read More…
Your Car Audio Amplifier Wants More Battery Voltage
If you’ve looked carefully at the specifications of car audio amplifiers for any amount of time, then you’ll know that some designs make more power when they are connected to a higher-voltage electrical system. This type of amplifier is called an unregulated design. In the simplest of terms, it multiplies the provided battery voltage by Read More…
Keys to Proper Car Audio Speaker Installation
Over the years, car audio speakers have been installed in seemingly endless combinations of panels, pods and baffles. Some look great, some sound great and some offer both. Sadly, not everyone understands the physics involved in choosing the ideal installation locations for speakers. This article will cover a few of the vital installation criteria that Read More…
Why Do Some Car Stereo Upgrades Need Load Resistors?
If you’ve asked your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer about upgrading your car stereo in recent years, they may have told you that they will need to add load resistors. While seemingly new in concept, the purpose of these resistors is simple. They’re often needed to ensure that the factory-installed amplifier in your car, truck Read More…
Off-road, Recreational, and Commercial Vehicle Camera Systems Enhance Driving Safety
When we consider modern safety camera systems on cars and trucks, most of us think about being able to see behind the vehicle when we’re parking or backing up. While those are two of the most common uses for video-based collision-avoidance systems, cameras can also make a difference in other situations where it’s important to Read More…
Upgrades for Nissan Skyline, the GT-R and the Z-Cars
Whether you have a classic 240Z, a 370Z right off the showroom floor or are lucky enough to roll in a Skyline or GT-R, your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer offers a variety of audio, convenience, styling and safety system upgrades. From a technology upgrade like a new radio with CarPlay and Android Auto, a Read More…
Dual Bluetooth Phone Support Makes Communicating Easier
In recent years, car radio manufacturers have added simultaneous dual Bluetooth phone support. At a quick glance, the ability to connect two phones to a single radio seems like a great solution for a family where the parents will be travelling in the vehicle at the same time. With that said, depending on the brand Read More…
Proper Size Is Key for Subwoofer Enclosures
When it comes to subwoofers or speakers, they need to be installed in a correctly sized enclosure to deliver accurate performance and useful bass extension. Speakers are complex devices that rely on their suspension components and the enclosure they are installed in to determine how they perform at lower frequencies. When the product specialist you’re Read More…
Radar-Based Blind-Spot Monitoring Systems Help Prevent Accidents
If you’ve been listening to the radio lately, you’ve likely heard advertisements suggesting that you need to buy a new Ford or Nissan with the latest blind-spot monitoring systems. While we agree that driving a vehicle that offers this collision-avoidance technology can prevent accidents, we don’t agree that you need to buy a new car Read More…
Bench Brawl: Car Audio Subwoofer Amplifiers — High Quality or High Power? – Precision Audio
Have you ever purchased something, then regretted your decision a few days later? We recently ran into a situation regarding car audio subwoofer amplifiers where the answer to “Which is better?” became a complicated discussion. We’re going to look at two amplifiers – one is a consumer-grade product that’s extremely popular, the other seems to Read More…
Options Abound To Update or Transform Dodge Challengers and Chargers
Reintroduced as 2006 models, the Dodge Charger sedan and Challenger coupe are some of the most popular vehicles to upgrade. Whether your car has a V-6, the popular 5.7-liter V-8 or the tire-smoking supercharged 707 horsepower Hellcat, these cars all look amazing and offer a style not available from anything else on the market. Of Read More…
Do I Need To Upgrade My Car Audio Speaker Wire?
If you’ve browsed any of the online car audio forums or Facebook groups, you’ve inevitably run across someone asking if you have to upgrade the speaker wire in a vehicle to support a new car audio system. Unlike a sure-fire upgrade like new speakers or adding an amplifier, the answers to the benefits and drawbacks Read More…
Upgrades Abound for Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter and Ram ProMaster Vans
In the ’70s, owning a van was cool. In the ’80s, Chrysler moved those buyers into its new car-based platform, the minivan, with the Caravan. This compact cargo- and people-friendly vehicle kicked off a trend that’s only recently lost momentum. When it’s time to move a large group of people, or you need the most Read More…
How To Buy Your First Car Audio Subwoofer System
Adding a subwoofer to your car audio system is a great way to improve the quality and accuracy of the music you hear. As we’ve explained many times, sending bass information to a dedicated amplifier and a larger speaker alleviates the need for the small speakers in your vehicle to work hard trying to reproduce Read More…
Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX5600 Multimedia Receiver
When it comes to bang-for-your-buck car audio receiver upgrades, the Sony XAV-AX5600 offers amazing value and performance. This double-DIN multimedia unit is based around a 6.95-inch capacitive touch display. In addition, it includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and support for playback of most of your digital media files. Best of all, the Read More…
Here’s How Car Audio Amplifier Classes Maximize Efficiency
In the past, we’ve looked at Class AB and Class D amplifier classes, the two most popular configurations in the mobile electronics industry. With that said, a few other classes deserve some explanation, as they can deliver improvements in amplifier efficiency without altering the sound quality. This article will review Class AB and Class D Read More…
Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate HD14-SBSUB Motorcycle Subwoofers
The team at Rockford Fosgate continues to lead the industry in Harley-Davidson motorcycle audio system upgrades. Their latest offering is the HD14-SBSUB dual 10-inch saddlebag subwoofer kit. That’s right! The kit adds a pair of 10-inch subwoofers to the saddlebags of most 2014 or newer Road Glide, Street Glide or Electra Glide bikes. With 800 Read More…
Control Your Vehicle Remotely with Your Smartphone
Using a smartphone app to control your remote start or car alarm system is nothing new. Technologies like Drone from Firstech have been around for several years. As with any technology, manufacturers are always working on new features that improve existing platforms’ usefulness or are developing alternative solutions. In this article, the BestCarAudio.com team will Read More…
Proper Headlight Aiming Makes Driving Safer at Night
As fall approaches, we find the sun setting hours earlier than it did in the summer. With this increase in darkness, we need to rely on the forward lighting systems in our cars and trucks to keep us safe. In this article, we are going to look at the importance of making sure your headlights Read More…
Sound Deadening Strategies Help Create a Quiet Ride
We all know that having sound deadening installed in your car or truck is a great way to improve its comfort while allowing your stereo upgrades to sound better. In this article, we’ll look at some of the strategies for adding sound deadening. We’ll talk about different areas of the vehicle and the benefits associated Read More…
What Exactly Does Marine-Grade Audio Mean?
If you’re shopping for audio upgrades for your boat, motorcycle or side-by-side, you’ll often hear the term “marine-grade” thrown around. While the definition depends on the product category and the manufacturer, in most cases that product was designed with enhanced features that will allow it to last longer when used outdoors. In this article, Read More…
Your Car Audio Budget Deserves a Solid Plan
A significant car audio system upgrade takes four items: a budget, great gear, expert installation and proper configuration. If you’ve read any number of the articles here on BestCarAudio.com, you’ll know we hold the importance of quality equipment, proper installation and expert calibration in the highest regard. Deciding how to distribute your budget should include Read More…
Chevrolet Camaros Get a Boost from Audio, Accessory Upgrades
Just as we’ve looked at the Mustang in the past, it’s now time to check out the car audio and convenience upgrades available for the Chevy Camaro. As one of the veteran pony cars, the Camaro went on sale in September 1966 as a 1967 model. These midsize coupes have been synonymous with performance with Read More…