In a recent online discussion, someone stated that a car audio amplifier couldn’t be power-hungry. After the eye-twitching passed and our heart rates settled, we knew this was a perfect topic for our series on car audio myths. Let’s look at how amplifiers, specifically subwoofer amplifiers, make use of the power from your vehicle’s electrical Read More…
Can I Swap the Factory Subwoofer in My Car for Better Performance?
Every so often, someone asks if it’s a good idea to upgrade their factory-installed stereo system by swapping out the original subwoofer with a new one. We aren’t talking about building a new enclosure and adding a dedicated amplifier. They want to put a different 6-, 8- or 10-inch in the factory location and connect Read More…
What Are Speaker Power Compression and Subwoofer Box Rise?
In the car audio world, terms like subwoofer box rise and power compression are relatively familiar to those who push their sound systems to the limit. So, after extensive research (three minutes) and a detailed planning session (another two minutes), we decided that it would be worth doing an experiment to explain and quantify these Read More…
Do You Need to Break Car Audio Speakers In Slowly?
We were cruising the internet a few weeks ago and noticed a comment from a self-proclaimed car audio expert that new speakers and subwoofers need to be broken in at low power levels. He made it particularly clear that the voice coil needed to be broken in gently. If you’ve ever considered how a speaker Read More…
Car Audio Myths: Tweeters Need To Be Installed Near Midrange Speakers
Decades ago, car audio professionals were adamant about the statement that tweeters needed to be installed right beside the midrange speakers in your car audio system. Is this accurate? The answer is that it depends on a few variables. Keeping them close can’t hurt, but it might come at the expense of improving the soundstage Read More…
Midlothian Client Adds Premium Stereo and Lighting to New GMC Sierra Pickup
A longtime client of Extreme Audio dropped by to talk about the stereo system and safety lighting he wanted us to install in his new 2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD pickup truck. We’ve done similar upgrades for this client over the years, and with each iteration, we’ve fine-tuned the recipe to meet his listening preferences. Read More…
A Look at How Car Audio Amplifier Designs Have Changed
Car audio amplifier designs have changed a great deal over the last few decades. Modern amplifiers have more features along with improved efficiency, and they offer consumers better value than their predecessors. This article will examine the key components in the construction of mobile audio amplifiers, their evolution and their benefits. Amplifier Design Balances Power Read More…
Waterproof Stereo Upgrade for Midlothian Jeep Wrangler
A client from Midlothian recently contacted the team here at Extreme Audio about upgrading the stereo system in his new-to-him Jeep Wrangler. He has upgraded sound systems in all of his vehicles and wanted his new off-roader to have great sound. The upgrade needed to withstand being exposed to water and mud since he plans Read More…
Car Audio Myths: You Can’t Mix and Match Different Brands
There’s a strange car audio myth that claims you can’t mix different brands of source units, speakers, amplifiers, subwoofers and signal processors in the same audio system. While it might be fun for a distributor, sales representative or employee at a car audio retailer to do a one-brand build, chances are you’ll want to pick Read More…
Stereo System and Accessories for Hopewell Jeep Gladiator
This cool 2020 Jeep Gladiator is owned by the brother of one of our longtime clients. As with most Jeep owners, the client wanted the stereo system to sound better, so he dropped by Extreme Audio to see what we had to offer. After listening to his list of requests, we put together an upgrade Read More…
Sound Deadening Upgrade for Midlothian Chevy Suburban SUV
A client from Midlothian contacted our team here at Extreme Audio to ask about adding some sound deadening to his 2011 Chevrolet Suburban SUV. The client had been shopping for a replacement vehicle, but after seeing the prices of equivalent models, decided he’d invest in what he had. The Suburban came with a lower-level trim Read More…
Do Car Audio Subwoofers Require Equalization for Smooth Response?
Not long ago, we saw a post where someone asked whether they needed to dedicate a channel of their digital signal processor to equalize the subwoofer in their car audio system. As usual, several amateurs chimed in with their opinions, but nobody presented any facts supporting a yes or no answer. As professionals, when we’re Read More…
Let’s Talk About Car Audio Speaker Wire Size Requirements
Not too long ago, we stumbled across a discussion about the need for large-gauge car audio speaker wire to be connected to a high-power amplifier. The comments on the post were prime examples of how little some audio enthusiasts understand about the signals going to the speakers in their car audio system. So, to help Read More…
Premium Stereo Upgrade for Midlothian Jeep Wrangler
A client from here in Midlothian brought his 2020 Jeep Wrangler to Extreme Audio in hopes of upgrading the sound system. He loved the vehicle but was disappointed in how the stereo system sounded. After talking with the client about how he enjoys listening to his music, we put together a simple system with great Read More…
The BestCarAudio.com Sound Deadening Buyers Guide
Car audio sound deadening has been a popular upgrade to improve the comfort of your vehicle and enhance audio system performance since the early ’90s. The original concept of sound deadening was to make cars and trucks quieter and more comfortable by limiting the ability for noise outside the vehicle to get into the cabin. Read More…
Let’s Look at Car Audio Subwoofer Passive Radiator Designs
When it comes to producing deep bass from a small enclosure, adding a passive radiator offers some significant performance benefits. If you aren’t familiar with this type of subwoofer enclosure, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll look at how this design works, the benefits it offers and analyze potential drawbacks. Ready? Let’s dive Read More…
Setting Car Amplifier Gains Correctly Is Harder Than You’d Think
When it comes to car audio systems, more is better, right? Enthusiasts want more bass, more output and more impact. When your favorite song comes on, turning the volume knob all the way up seems like the right thing to do. For car audio professionals, we need to balance keeping our clients happy with great-sounding Read More…
Product Spotlight: Alpine Halo Truck Subwoofer Enclosures
If you own a pickup truck or Jeep and are looking for an easy way to add great bass, drop by Extreme Audio near Richmond and ask about the new Alpine Halo truck subwoofer enclosures. Designed to offer great bass across a variety of applications, these enclosures are a reliable, high-performance solution to improve the Read More…
Does the Power Your Car Audio Amplifier Produces Really Matter?
Did you know that a difference of 20 watts of power between one car audio amplifier and another might be completely inaudible? That same 20-watt difference might mean having to keep your windows rolled up on the highway to hear your music. Let’s look at the physics of reproducing sound with moving-coil loudspeakers and why Read More…
Your Installer Can’t Tune Out Distortion with a DSP
No matter how hard he or she tries, the installer who’s calibrating your car audio system can’t use a digital signal processor to tune distortion out of your system. We aren’t talking about the harmonic distortion that happens when a signal overloads the processor or an amplifier’s input stage. Preventing clipping is a simple process Read More…
Car Audio Amplifier Remote Level and Bass Boost Controls
Look at any of the top car audio subwoofer amplifier models available from specialty retailers. You’ll find that most include an option for a remote level control or bass boost function. Being able to fine-tune the output of your subwoofer system is great for those times when you want to rock out to an amazing Read More…
Upgrades for Your Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe and GMC Yukon
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…
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…