As the next topic in our series explaining amplifier specifications, we will look at the frequency response information that manufacturers provide and explain how to interpret this information. In the simplest of statements, the frequency response spec will tell you about the low- and high-frequency limits of the amplifier based on its design. As with Read More…
Understanding Specifications – Car Audio Amplifier Input Sensitivity
The next topic in our look at car audio amplifier specifications is input sensitivity. This specification is easy to understand but is important to choose an amp that will work with the system your local car stereo shop has designed. In the simplest of terms, the sensitivity specification determines how much voltage is required on Read More…
Understanding Specifications – Car Audio Amplifier Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Welcome to our new series about understanding product specifications. Our goal in these articles is to help you understand what the amplifier power ratings mean when you start to compare solutions. We’ll not only explain which numbers are good, but we’ll include a detailed description of what each specification means, how it’s measured and how Read More…
Apple CarPlay and Audio Upgrades for Chesterfield Jeep Wrangler Client
A client from Chesterfield recently contacted Extreme Audio to inquire about upgrading the radio in his Jeep Wrangler to include Apple CarPlay. After seeing all the Jeep-specific upgrades available from Alpine, the client decided that new speakers, a subwoofer and a five-channel amp would make driving his off-roader much more enjoyable. Alpine Restyle Jeep Radio Read More…
Understanding the Specs – Amplifier Power Ratings
Welcome to our new series about understanding product specifications. Our goal in these articles is to help you understand what the amplifier power ratings mean when you start to compare solutions. We’ll not only explain which numbers are good, but we’ll include a detailed description of what each specification means, how it’s measured and how Read More…
Are High-Efficiency Speakers Better?
If you are an avid car audio enthusiast, it’s likely that you’ve seen photos of or heard systems that use high-efficiency pro audio style speakers. These drivers were designed for PA systems at concerts and can produce impressive output levels with moderate levels of power from an amp. In this article, we are going to Read More…
Vehicle-Specific Audio Upgrades
Did you know that in Europe, there aren’t nearly the number of qualified car audio installers that there are here in North America? In some countries, shops that primarily sell wheels and tires are the most popular choice for purchasing and installing audio system upgrades. Manufacturers that want to provide consumers with premium sound system Read More…
The Basics of Sound and How it Works
Understanding how to recreate music in our vehicles is a complicated science. Balancing speaker sizes and locations with the goal of recreating what the recording engineer heard in the mastering studio or, at the very least, making your system enjoyable isn’t always easy. We want to take a look at the physics behind sound and Read More…
Behind the Scenes of Speaker Power Handling
We’ve written several articles about speaker power ratings over the years, but the topic seems to be one that very few people understand fully. This article will serve as the reference guide for how premium and reputable manufacturers rate the power handling capabilities of their speakers. We’ll start by looking at the physics of speaker Read More…
Ultra-Compact Amplifiers, Big Power from a Small Package
It’s hard not to notice that almost every reputable car audio manufacturer now offers several ultra-compact amplifier solutions. These amplifiers are small enough to fit in the pocket of your jeans and help make installations easier when space is tight. While diminutive, they can deliver an impressive amount of power to upgrade the signal to Read More…
Why You Shouldn’t Use Home Audio Speakers in Your Car
If you look at some amateur car audio forums and Facebook groups, you’ll see a disturbing trend of people using speakers that are intended for home applications in their cars. While these speakers initially seem to offer impressive performance for their price, they simply aren’t designed to withstand the challenges associated with a mobile audio Read More…
Touchscreen Radio Buyers Guide
Years ago, upgrading your car stereo meant buying a new radio that would play MP3 files or that included Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming. As automobile manufacturers have increased their interest in providing advanced infotainment features, the aftermarket head unit industry has evolved away from conventional single- and double-DIN radios with segmented displays to Read More…
Charlottesville VW Client Gets Extreme GTI Audio System Upgrade
A repeat client from Charlottesville recently contacted Extreme Audio in Mechanicsville to inquire about upgrading the audio system in his new 2018 VW Golf GTI. He liked the sound system we had installed in his Nissan Frontier and wanted something equally cool in his new car. After looking at the Golf, we sketched out a Read More…
All About Apple Product Certification
Nobody will deny that the Apple iPod is single-handedly responsible for a massive shift in the portability of music. Sure, the Walkman and Discman were important components in the history of portable media players, but those technologies supported existing music formats in the form of cassettes and compact discs. The iPod embraced digital media file Read More…
Ten Steps To Better Car Audio
Let’s face it, most of us aren’t really happy with the stereo system that comes in our car. Sure, if you bought a Lexus with a top-of-the-line Mark Levinson system, you’re more than likely content. For the rest of us, the good news is that for a very reasonable investment, you can upgrade the performance Read More…
Jaw-dropping Audio Upgrade for Colonial Heights Dodge Durango Client
A client from Colonial Heights recently returned to Extreme Audio in Midlothian to discuss moving the audio system we had installed in his Lexus RX350 into a brand-new Dodge Durango. The client wanted similar performance in terms of system output capabilities and bass. We scheduled an appointment to remove the audio equipment from the Lexus, and Read More…
Upgrading Your Car Stereo System
In the ’80s, ’90s and early part of the 2000s, upgrading the car stereo system in your vehicle was a relatively simple process. You’d start by picking out a new radio that offered the features you wanted and add a set of speakers to improve the sound of the system. Pretty much anyone with a Read More…
Safely Using Your Smartphone in Your Car
In 1982, Michael Knight was able to talk to his 1982 Pontiac Firebird and ask it for navigation directions. Of course, watching “Knight Rider” meant that we understood that KITT was make-believe. Fast-forward 35 years, and talking to our vehicles is now a reality, thanks to our smartphone. The modern smartphone, be it an iPhone Read More…
Be Wary of Top 10 Lists
Not too long ago, we saw a discussion about an article called “The 12 Best Tweeters (Reviews & Ultimate Buying Guide 2018).” Being curious, we decided to check the article out to see what criteria they used to choose the products and how they tested them. Much to our dismay, there were no criteria, nor Read More…
Car Audio Electrical Theory – Capacitance and Inductance
As we move toward the end of our discussion of car audio electrical theory, we need to talk about capacitance and inductance and how the characteristics of those phenomena interact with AC and DC signals. There’s no doubt that these are advanced concepts, but even a basic understanding of how capacitors and inductors work is Read More…
A Glen Allen Client Chooses Extreme Audio for Jeep Wrangler Upgrades
The owner of this Jeep Wrangler lives in Glen Allen and recently visited Extreme Audio to discuss an audio system upgrade. We listened to his performance goals and had a look at the vehicle to determine the best approach to meeting his expectations. After letting him listen to a few speaker options in our store, Read More…
Car Audio Electrical Theory – Magnetic Fields
Furthering our discussion about car audio electrical theory brings us to a discussion of how the flow of electricity through a conductor creates magnetic fields around the conductor. Understanding the relationship between current flow and magnetism is crucial to understanding how a speaker works. History of Electromagnetism The first documented correlation between electricity and magnetism Read More…
New Apple CarPlay Navigation Options
On Sept. 17, 2018, Apple launched iOS12 – its latest update to the operating system behind its venerable iPhone and iPad devices. Aside from security updates, performance enhancements and battery life improvements, Apple has added support for third-party applications to CarPlay. Users of factory-installed and aftermarket multimedia receivers that support CarPlay will now be able Read More…
Audio System Upgrade for Richmond Client’s De Tomaso Pantera
A client from Richmond stopped by our Mechanicsville location with a vehicle you don’t see every day: a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera! He wanted a new audio system, as well as a bit of restoration to his factory dash. Someone had previously cut a radio into the dashboard on the passenger side that he was Read More…
Car Audio Electrical Theory – Amplitude and Frequency in AC Signals
In our ongoing discussion of car audio electrical theory, we need to discuss some of the characteristics of alternating current signals. These points of discussion include the concept of amplitude and frequency. Understanding the concept of frequency is crucial to developing an understanding of how the components in our audio systems work. The Concept of Read More…
Car Audio Electrical Theory – An Introduction to Alternating Current
In our ongoing series of articles about car audio electrical theory, we are going to introduce the concept of alternating current power sources and signals. Understanding the basics of AC is crucial to understanding how a mobile audio system works. This article uses a lot of references to the electricity delivery systems used in our Read More…
Colonial Heights Client Upgrades Chrysler 300 Audio System
A client from Colonial Heights dropped into Extreme Audio to talk about a 2013 Chrysler 300 audio system upgrade. We recently upgraded his Lexus, and he loved the way the JL Audio W7 subwoofers and Audiofrog speakers we installed sounded in that car, so he brought us this 300. It already had a system in Read More…
Car Audio Electrical Theory — Wiring Loads in Series and Parallel
We’ll continue our introduction to the basics of car audio electrical theory by talking about wiring loads in series and parallel. Understanding the characteristics of each wiring option and how it relates to power delivery and current consumption is crucial in choosing the right speakers for your sound system. All reputable mobile enhancement retailers know Read More…
Toyota Tacoma Stealthbox and Source Unit Upgrade for Chesterfield Client
A client from Chesterfield recently contacted Extreme Audio to inquire about a 2018 Toyota Tacoma Stealthbox and source unit upgrade. We talked to the client about the way the system sounds and what he wanted to improve. The idea of adding a subwoofer and upgrading the radio made perfect sense. With the upgrade plan in Read More…
Car Audio Electrical Theory — Calculating Work and Power in DC Circuits
In our ongoing series of articles about car audio electrical theory, we are going to introduce the concept of alternating current power sources and signals. Understanding the basics of AC is crucial to understanding how a mobile audio system works. This article uses a lot of references to the electricity delivery systems used in our Read More…