If you own a 2013 or newer Harley-Davison touring bike, then there are a few things you need to know before you decide to upgrade your stereo system. We know that the Boom! Box radio has a reasonable set of features with navigation, an AM/FM tuner, a USB port for digital audio files, and support Read More…
What Are the Advantages of a Three-Way Front Stage?
When it comes to upgrading your car audio system to deliver amazingly realistic performance, many people choose what’s known as a three-way front stage. In the simplest of terms, this refers to there being three speakers on each side of the vehicle. As we explained in our article about the need for different speaker sizes, Read More…
Do I Have to Use Both Coils on My Car Audio Subwoofer?
A while back, we took a look at the difference between single and dual-voice-coil subwoofers. In a nutshell, there is no benefit or drawback to either choice. The options exist so you can present the amplifier you have chosen with a load impedance that allows it to make power reliably. There have been many instances Read More…
Modern Marine Radio Options for Your Boat or UTV
Marine radio designs and features have come a long way. Years ago, when Clarion introduced the first marine radios to the world, they were enhanced versions of Clarion’s car stereo solutions. Soon after, water-resistant faces were added to allow the radios to stay outside in the cockpit all year long. Over the next few decades, Read More…
What Size Subwoofer Should I Buy for My Car Stereo?
When it comes to subwoofer sizes for car audio systems, many people think that bigger is better. While we won’t argue with the fact that a speaker with more cone area can be more efficient, the output capabilities of a subwoofer depend significantly on the enclosure it’s installed in. In this article, we are going Read More…
Should I Upgrade my Car Audio RCA Interconnect Cables?
For decades, companies have touted the benefits of high-end car audio RCA interconnect cables. When it comes to noise rejection, environmental stability and cosmetics, better cables are a great investment. In terms of improving sound quality, accuracy and detail, do more expensive cables sound better? Let’s take a look at the physics behind cable differences. Read More…
Product Spotlight: ARC Audio X2 6.2 Component Speakers
When it’s time to upgrade the stereo system in your car or truck, drop by your local ARC Audio authorized retailer and check out the X2 6.2 component speakers. This 6.5-inch two-way speaker set offers class-leading sound quality and detail at a price point that won’t hurt your wallet. With ARC Audio’s focused design goal Read More…
Is Adding Sound Deadening First the Best Car Audio Upgrade?
We’ve suggested many times that adding a subwoofer to a factory-installed car stereo is one of the best upgrades you can make to improve the sound. After some careful consideration, we have another first-upgrade suggestion that might provide an equally impressive improvement to your audio system – sound deadening. Most car audio enthusiasts associate sound Read More…
Drone Telematics is Ideal for Families with Young Drivers
If there’s a young driver in your family, upgrading your vehicle with a telematics system like Drone is a great way to know where they are and how they’re driving. Drone combines high-speed cellular LTE connectivity with an onboard GPS receiver to relay the exact location of the vehicle to your smartphone or the Drone Read More…
Car Audio Amplifier Power Ratings Don’t Determine Quality
If you’re on social media, then you’ve likely seen numerous discussions or links to videos about amplifier power ratings. If your goal is an audio system that only plays loudly, then the wattage measurements matter. It seems that many consumers are confused about the correlation between power ratings and quality. Let’s look at why car Read More…
Audio and Convenience Upgrades for Ford Super Duty Trucks
If you own or are considering purchasing or leasing a Ford F-250, F-350 and F-450 Super Duty truck, your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer has a seemingly unlimited list of audio, convenience and accessory upgrades available. Whether you want to add a subwoofer for better bass response, upgraded lighting for better visibility, or running boards Read More…
Why Do Marine Audio Installations Take Longer?
Upgrading the stereo system on your boat with new speakers, high-power amplifiers and subwoofers is a great way to make a day on the water a lot more fun. Just be aware that the behind-the-scenes work involved in these installations can take more time and is a lot more complicated than the equivalent work on Read More…
Control Your Vehicle with Google Assistant or Apple Siri
Drone from Firstech has made communicating with your vehicle more accessible than ever, thanks to integration with digital assistants like Google Assistant and Apple Siri. Remember when Michael Knight used to talk to KITT using a communicator on his watch? KITT could start the engine and be ready to go in a split-second once Michael Read More…
Let’s Talk About Car Audio Wire Size
Specialty mobile enhancement installation technicians couldn’t upgrade the audio systems in our cars and trucks if they didn’t have access to high-quality, correctly sized wiring. Whether they are connecting a pair of speakers to a radio or running large power and ground wires from a battery to an amplifier, wiring and its size is crucial. Read More…
A Close Look at the Four Drone Subscription Packages
Drone is a state-of-the-art vehicle control, monitoring and tracking solution from Firstech. Using lightning-fast LTE connectivity, the system will let you unlock the doors, pop the trunk, remote start and ensure that nobody is tampering with your vehicle — from almost anywhere on the planet. The Drone system requires a service package to let your Read More…
What Are Car Audio Preamp Interfaces?
If you’ve purchased a car or truck in the last five to 10 years, there’s a good chance that the stereo system is integrated with the climate control and vehicle configuration system. Without an interface to extract a high-quality pre-amp audio signal, upgrading these vehicles with new speakers, amplifiers or a subwoofer can be difficult Read More…
Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX5500 Bluetooth Media Receiver
Sony’s new XAV-AX5500 media receiver not only covers all the ground, but it also raises the bar in terms of smartphone connectivity. Equipped with WebLink 2.0, you can see and control your compatible smartphone right from the 6.95-inch touchscreen on the radio. Of course, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, high-quality Bluetooth audio streaming and all the Read More…
Can Cheap Car Audio Speakers Sound Good?
When it comes to good car audio speakers, it’s universally accepted that we’re talking about smooth frequency response and a lack of distortion. Buying a set of good car audio speakers can be a daunting task, with options that vary from well under $50 to over $5,000. Can a cheap speaker sound good? Let’s look Read More…
Why Upgrading Your Car Audio System with DSP Is a Good Idea
For well more than a decade, respectable mobile enhancement retailers around the world have understood the need for a digital signal processor to be included in any car audio system upgrade. Even if you’ve chosen the lowest-distortion speakers on the planet and your installer has agonized over placement and integration, they still need a way Read More…
Product Spotlight: ARC Audio X2 600.4
When it comes to balancing fantastic sound quality with impressive power production, the X2 600.4 four-channel amplifier from ARC Audio checks all the boxes. This compact amplifier is rated to produce 150 watts per channel, and it includes all the signal routing and integration features your installer would need to complete your installation. ARC Audio Read More…
Buying Your First Car Audio Amplifier
One of the biggest upgrades you can make to a basic car audio system is to add a high-power amplifier. The most significant benefit of adding an amplifier is the ability for you to play your music at higher levels without running into distortion. Choosing the right amp for your car or truck is a Read More…
Why Drone Is the Perfect Choice for Fleet Management
Whether you are a small auto parts store with two delivery vehicles or run a local courier or moving company with dozens of trucks, Drone is the perfect fleet management tool. Drone uses high-performance telematics technology to monitor the location and behavior of the vehicle it’s installed in. DroneMobile – the powerful web and smartphone Read More…
When it Comes to Car Audio, It Can’t All Be The Best
When it comes to car audio, what does being the best mean? Is the best amplifier one that makes the most power, adds the least noise, has the most features or is housed in a compact chassis that fits into your center console? Do the so-called best speakers produce a lot of bass or feature Read More…
Enhancements and Upgrades for Hybrid Vehicles
If you own a Prius, Bolt, Volt, Clarity or Fusion hybrid vehicle, your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer has a wide selection of upgrades available to personalize the car and improve your commute. Hybrid vehicles, as complicated as their drivetrain manufacturers would lead you to believe, are as simple as a Civic or Focus when Read More…
Product Spotlight: ARC Audio MOTO720
ARC Audio is known across the aftermarket motorcycle industry for having introduced some of the first audio upgrade packages specifically for Harley-Davidsons. The MOTO720 is the company’s second generation of extreme-power, motorcycle-specific amplifiers. With four channels of amplification and all the system configuration tools your installer will ever need, this amp should be at the Read More…
How Does the Drone Vehicle Smartphone Control System Work?
Drone is the world-class vehicle telematics system from Firstech – the manufacturer of Compustar security and remote start systems. Drone will let you remote start your vehicle, control the door locks and trunk release, pinpoint the GPS location, monitor driving behavior and much more using the DroneMobile app on your smartphone or their website. How Read More…
Upgraded Headlight Output and Beam Patterns
Upgrading the headlight bulbs or assemblies on your car or truck is a great way to improve your ability to see long distances while driving. Though many buyers focus on the amount of light produced by the bulb, ensuring that the new solution provides a proper beam pattern is crucial to your safety and that Read More…
The Look at DIY Installations from a Car Audio Professional’s Perspective
The core content creation team here at BestCarAudio.com has about 150 years’ worth of experience in the car audio industry. In that time, we’ve seen the best and the worst do-it-yourself installations to ever see the light of day. In many instances, examples of amazing craftsmanship have turned into employment opportunities in the industry. While Read More…
Are Remote Car Starters Safe and Secure?
Many consumers ask if a remote car starter affects the safety and security of their vehicle. A while back, we talked about warm-up thefts and how thieves prey on people who start their vehicles with the key to let them warm up in the morning. Leaving your key in your vehicle is, of course, begging Read More…
Stop Taking Car Audio Advice from the Internet
For more than 20 years, car audio enthusiasts have been asking their peers for advice on the internet. These discussions and debates started on forums like Carsound.com and Termpro.com then moved to social media platforms like Facebook and Reddit. As more and more people joined in these discussions, the clarity, focus and information accuracy has Read More…
