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…
Premium Stereo Upgrade for Chesterfield GMC Sierra Pickup
A client from Chesterfield dropped into Extreme Audio to ask about upgrading the stereo system in his 2020 GMC Sierra. We took a look at his cool Black Widow Armed Forces Edition truck to make sure all the speaker, subwoofer and amplifier locations were available. Once we confirmed that information, we invited him to audition Read More…
Ford Raptor Stereo Upgrade for Manassas Audio Enthusiast
The Manassas-based owner of this 2013 Ford Raptor has been a longtime client of Extreme Audio in Mechanicsville. The client is an avid camper and bought this vehicle to tow his Airstream Flying Cloud 25FB trailer. Over the last five years or so, we’ve gradually upgraded and updated the sound system and accessories on this Read More…
Stereo System Upgrade for Prince George Ford F-250 Pickup
A client from Prince George was referred to Extreme Audio for assistance in upgrading the stereo in his 2019 Ford F-250. After looking at our online reviews and browsing our website, he was impressed by our qualifications and decided to drop by. He wanted the stereo to play louder, sound clearer and produce more bass. 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…
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…
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…
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…
Custom Audio Upgrade for Moseley Jeep Wrangler
A client from Moseley recently contacted the team at Extreme Audio to inquire about upgrading the stereo in his 2020 Jeep Wrangler. As is common with owners of the new JL-chassis Jeeps, he wasn’t impressed with the clarity or output capabilities of the factory-installed sound system. We’ve already seen a few of these new Wranglers Read More…
Radio Upgrade for Henrico Porsche 911 Carrera 2S
The Henrico-based owner of this 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera 2S recently contacted Extreme Audio to inquire about upgrading the radio in his vehicle. We had previously re-tinted the rear window of the Carrera, and he was impressed with our service. His visit to our shop got him thinking about upgrading the factory radio with a Read More…
Can I Watch Movies in My Car While Driving?
Can I watch movies while driving? It’s a common question at specialty car audio retailers all around the world. Multimedia receivers capable of displaying video have been available since the mid-’90s, and while TV tuners, VCRs, DVD players and digital media playback have progressed over the years, so too have state and provincial laws. Let’s Read More…
Product Spotlight: Sony DSX-M80 Marine Bluetooth Receiver
The introduction of the DSX-M80 Bluetooth receiver marks the newest version of Sony’s marine-grade High Power head unit in its current product line. It replaces the MEX-M100BT, which debuted Sony’s proprietary impressive High Power technology at 45-watts by four from its internal amplifier to a marine-grade radio. The fun doesn’t stop there – dual USB Read More…
Why Can’t Car Audio Amplifiers be Smaller?
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a really small car audio amplifier that would make lots of power and fit in the palm of your hand? Based on experience, we’ve come to expect that consumer electronics increase in power and capability while shrinking in size as new generations are released every year or so. For Read More…
Add-On CD Players Restore Classic Technology
Many new cars and trucks don’t come with a CD player. Music stored on our smartphones and the multitude of streaming audio services has, sadly, made compact disc technology almost obsolete. If you still have an extensive collection of discs, your local specialty mobile electronics retailer has a variety of add-on solutions to make it Read More…
What Is a Floating-Face Car Radio?
If you’ve been following the changes in the mobile enhancement industry over the past few years, then you’re familiar with the steady progression of new floating-face radios. These radios feature an oversized touchscreen that mounts in front of a standard radio chassis to provide big-screen entertainment without the need for extensive and often expensive modifications Read More…
Premium Sound System Upgrade for Colonial Heights Dodge Hellcat
A longtime client from Colonial Heights recently contacted Extreme Audio to upgrade the sound system in his 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat. We’ve worked on several of this client’s vehicles in the past few years, including a Dodge Charger, a 300M and a Lexus RX350. Each time the client gets a new vehicle, we remove the Read More…
Your New Car or Truck Might Not Have a Radio
If you visit a new car dealership these days, you’ll notice more and more cars, trucks and SUVs with small touchscreen displays that are mounted in front of or above the dash. While these infotainment systems provide you with AM/FM terrestrial radio, SiriusXM Satellite radio and playback of all your favorite digital media files, these Read More…
Beaverdam Client Upgrades Acura MDX Stereo System
After having his 2018 Acura MDX SUV upgraded with sound deadening, this Beaverdam-based client returned to Extreme Audio to inquire about upgrading the stereo system. The SoundShield sound deadening had done a great job of reducing the background noise level in the cabin, but it highlighted just how bad the factory audio system sounded. After Read More…
Has Technology Made Car Audio More Complicated?
If you are a fan of upgraded car audio systems, then you might have noticed that technology has made things a lot more complicated. Years ago, it was easy to upgrade your stereo. A new radio, some new speakers and maybe a subwoofer like a Bazooka Tube were all you needed to improve on the Read More…
Product Spotlight: SoundShield Sound Deadening
Car audio enthusiasts have been using sound deadening products to improve the comfort of their vehicles and the performance of mobile audio systems for decades. SoundShield is the newest name in the game, but the technology and team behind the products are a step above the rest. Read on to find out more about this Read More…
Product Spotlight: ARC Audio ARC Amplifiers
Based in Modesto, California, ARC Audio is one of the few mobile electronics companies that still designs its amplifiers from scratch in the United States. The ARC Series trio of amplifiers represents a high-performance mobile audio amplification solution that incorporates features that aren’t available from competing products. Let’s take a look at what makes the Read More…
What is Active Noise Cancellation?
In recent years, vehicle manufacturers have turned to active noise cancellation to make the interior of new cars and trucks quieter. Using technology similar to that found in noise-canceling headphones, the perceived level of low-frequency road and wind noise can be reduced using the audio system. When it comes time to upgrade your car or Read More…