A previous client from Midlothian stopped by to see us recently. We had installed an Alpine 8″ Navigation to his Ford truck, and now he was looking for a new navigation system and backup camera for his wife’s 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Edition. This car is his wife’s baby, so she was definitely concerned about 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…
Chesterfield Car Audio Experts at Extreme Audio
Clients looking for the best Chesterfield car audio products and services choose Extreme Audio in Midlothian. From our state-of-the-art showroom and personalized consultations, we strive to provide our clients with the best-value and performance in their mobile electronic upgrade purchases. Read on to find out why Extreme Audio is considered the best vehicle enhancement company Read More…
Chesterfield Car Stereo Pros, Extreme Audio
Extreme Audio serves Midlothian, Mechanicsville and Chesterfield car stereo and vehicle accessory clients with the best products and service in the Richmond area. Our team of highly skilled auto sound experts is available to upgrade the sound system in your car, truck, motorcycle or boat with the best products on the market. Let’s look at 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…
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Accessory Upgrades for Midlothian Client
A client from Midlothian contacted Extreme Audio by e-mail to inquire about some 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited accessory and audio upgrades. After he looked through our online gallery, we arranged for a face-to-face meeting with the client. We showed him several of the products that Alpine has developed specifically for the Wrangler. He loved 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: 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…
Product Spotlight: Alpine iLX-107
Here at Extreme Audio, we are always on the lookout for new technologies that will meet the needs of our clients. As an example, Alpine has been a leader in car audio for decades and just introduced the new Alpine iLX-107 – the first Wireless CarPlay source unit on the market. What Exactly is Wireless 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…
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…
Product Spotlight: Alpine SPT-21GM
Here at Extreme Audio in Midlothian and Mechanicsville, we are proud to be dealers for Alpine’s Restyle Program with vehicle-specific solutions for some of the most popular vehicles on the market today. If you own a 2007–2014 GM truck or SUV, we have the Alpine SPT-21GM Restyle replacement speaker system to provide you with a Read More…
2016 Toyota Prius Radio Upgrade for Richmond Client
A client from Richmond e-mailed us, looking to upgrade the stereo in her 2016 Prius Two. The Prius had come with a radio that had the LCD screen and backup camera, but didn’t have the navigation and satellite radio that she wanted. We did a little research on the vehicle,and set up a time for 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…
Product Spotlight: Alpine PSS-21WRA
A lot of Jeep Wrangler owners come to Extreme Audio in Mechanicsville or Midlothian, Virginia, in search of audio system upgrades. We can easily provide our clients with new speakers, amplifiers and even a subwoofer. Alpine has developed a simple solution that meets the needs of most clients: the PSA-21WRA. The PSA-12WRA is a complete 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…
Midlothian Jeep Client Gets Wrangler Unlimited Audio System
A client from Midlothian, Virginia, was at Extreme Audio to have a VAIS Technology satellite radio tuner installed. While the client was here, we started discussing how the stereo system in his 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited sounds. Like almost every Jeep on the road, the factory stereo system is barely audible when the roof is Read More…
Williamsburg Jeep Owner Starts Wrangler Upgrades with Alpine Restyle
A client from Williamsburg, Virginia, contacted us here at Extreme Audio about getting some Jeep Wrangler upgrades for his 2017 model vehicle. He had done a significant amount of research regarding what he wanted and who he wanted to install the system. We were able to schedule an appointment for the client so he could 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…
High-quality Dodge Ram Audio System for Mechanicsville Client
A client from Mechanicsville, Virginia, brought his 2011 Dodge Ram to Extreme Audio to have a remote car starter and HID headlight upgrade installed. While the client was in the store, he told us about how great he thought the audio system in his BMW sounded and that he wanted the same thing in his 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…