A significant car audio system upgrade takes four items: a budget, great gear, expert installation and proper configuration. If you’ve read any number of the articles here on BestCarAudio.com, you’ll know we hold the importance of quality equipment, proper installation and expert calibration in the highest regard. Deciding how to distribute your budget should include Read More…
Chevrolet Camaros Get a Boost from Audio, Accessory Upgrades
Just as we’ve looked at the Mustang in the past, it’s now time to check out the car audio and convenience upgrades available for the Chevy Camaro. As one of the veteran pony cars, the Camaro went on sale in September 1966 as a 1967 model. These midsize coupes have been synonymous with performance with Read More…
Your Car Audio Amp Needs Power To Make Power
Day after day, we see clients who have purchased extraordinarily large car audio amplifiers and expect them to make their full rated power using the stock electrical system in their car or motorcycle. This article will look at amplifier efficiency, how vehicle charging systems work, and why it takes power to make power. Let’s Talk Read More…
The Evolution of Car Radio Though the Years
For decades, driving has been synonymous with listening to the radio in our cars. From the early days of AM radio, through advances in FM technology to the latest satellite and streaming services, we’ve been able to enjoy someone else’s music collection for about 100 years. Each advance in technology has improved sound quality and Read More…
Premium Audi A7 Upgrade for Beaverdam Client
A longtime client of Extreme Audio recently brought his new-to-him Audi A7 in for a custom stereo system upgrade. We’ve done audio systems in every vehicle this customer has owned for the last two decades. This time, the Bose audio system in the Audi didn’t deliver the performance he wanted in terms of clarity, detail, Read More…
Personalize and Enhance Your Jeep Wrangler with These Upgrades
Few vehicles on the road have a more recognizable profile than the Jeep Wrangler. The popularity of the Wrangler and the multitude of upgrades available for every aspect of its features and performance have created a dedicated segment in the aftermarket industry. It’s time to take a look at some of the most popular upgrades Read More…
Product Spotlight: ARC Audio MOTO CX6 Motorcycle Speakers
ARC Audio has offered class-leading amplifier and speaker upgrade solutions for Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles for more than a decade. Their experience and obsession with sound quality have led them to create a new generation of high-performance speakers that balance output capability and efficiency, bass extension and accuracy. The latest evolution of their motorcycle and powersports Read More…
HD Radio Upgrades Give AM and FM Clearer Sound
HD Radio is a broadcast technology that adds digitally encoded information to an analog AM or FM station. Where once you were limited to listening to, say, 101.1 in New York City, the broadcaster has added a news and talk channel as well as a sports channel to the same 101.1 MHz frequency. The best Read More…
Don’t Get Bogged Down by Car Speaker Specifications
Though it seems contrary to what I’ve preached, sometimes it’s better to avoid purchasing car audio speaker upgrades based on specifications alone. The information most manufacturers provide does very little to describe the actual quality of the product. A prime example of this are speaker Xmax specification numbers. Does this linear measurement tell us how Read More…
Enclosures Help Car Audio Subwoofers Sound Their Best
Most of us have heard of many types of car audio subwoofer enclosures. Many enthusiasts have debated the benefits and drawbacks of acoustic suspension (sealed), bass-reflex (vented), bandpass and infinite baffle designs in hopes of choosing the best solution for their application and expectations. In all cases, the enclosure has two specific purposes that are Read More…
Easily Enhance Your Ford Mustang with Upgrades
When it comes to upgrades and accessories for your Ford Mustang, your local mobile enhancement dealer has a nearly endless supply of options. Whether you’re shopping for a new radio with CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, or you want new speakers, subwoofers and an amplifier to bring your music to life, there are thousands of Read More…
Car Radio Controls and Other Control Interface Options
When it comes to ways to control the volume and tracking or seeking on a car radio, the three most popular options are rotary volume controls, pushbuttons and touchscreen interfaces. While many buyers focus on features like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and backup cameras when shopping, there’s more to consider. A key and often Read More…
How to Properly Audition New Car Audio Speakers
There are two reasons why we’d want to upgrade the speakers in our vehicle: the original speakers may be damaged, or we want to improve the clarity of the audio system. In either case, you’re going to need to visit a local mobile enhancement retailer and choose a speaker solution that fits your vehicle, works Read More…
DSP 101 – How Signal Delay Can Improve Car Stereo Realism
When it comes to upgrading a car audio system with a digital signal processor, you’ll typically hear about a discussion of signal delay. Maybe people refer to this as time alignment or setting the delays. No matter what term is used, understanding the benefits and drawbacks of this technology is crucial to creating a car Read More…
Product Spotlight: Compustar CS852-A Car Alarm System
A car alarm system like the Compustar CS852-A helps protect the contents of your car or truck and dramatically reduces the chances of vehicle theft. As a step-up solution from the CS697-A, this alarm system offers increased remote-control range and a high-output siren to ward off would-be criminals. Reliable Vehicle Theft Protection At the heart Read More…
DSP 101 – Proper Equalization Ensures Great Sound
As we roll forward with our look at the importance of digital signal processors in car audio systems, we’ll talk about the need for proper equalization. Even if you’ve purchased the best speakers available and invested in having them integrated into your vehicle with the utmost precision – compensating for the acoustic characteristics of the Read More…
DSP 101: The Importance of Crossover Adjustments
As we continue our deep-dive into the functions of car audio digital signal processors, we’ve reached the topic of crossovers. Many people overlook the importance of configuring crossovers properly to achieve a smooth frequency response. Let’s take a look at what a crossover does and why your technician must set them correctly to protect your Read More…
Upgrading Car Audio Systems with Data Bus Interfaces
As vehicle manufacturers work to reduce the number of wires that need to be run in a vehicle, more and more have switched to using the vehicle data bus to control amplifiers. Using data commands in concert with digital or fixed-level audio signals also helps to ensure that these audio systems deliver noise-free performance. Finally, Read More…
Sony Technology and Camera Upgrade for 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera
A new client visited us with his 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera to get a new radio installed because of our excellent online reviews. He was looking for a reliable replacement radio that was capable of working with Android Auto, and also wanted to add a backup camera to the car that would show on the Read More…
OEM Audio 101: Does It Matter if My Factory Radio Has All-Pass Filters?
If you’re planning on having someone upgrade the stereo system in a late-model car or truck, you need to know about all-pass filters. Sometimes called phase EQ or phase rotator filters, this type of signal processing is used in multichannel audio systems to help deliver improved frequency response at the listening position. The concept can Read More…
DSP 101: Input Connections and Signal Mixing
When it comes to feeding a signal into a digital signal processor, most high-quality units provide your installer with a few options. While even the most basic include RCA inputs, some add the ability to accept speaker-level signals or digital signals in a variety of formats. Once an audio signal is inside the processor, the Read More…
Not All Car Audio Sound Deadening Is the Same
When it comes to choosing sound deadening, not every option on the market is the same quality. Different materials, varying thicknesses of butyl and aluminum, and options for foam or lead mean that some research is required before you settle on a solution. In this article, we’ll explain what to look for and what to Read More…
DSP 101: Part 1 — What Is a Digital Signal Processor?
Having a digital signal processor in your car audio system is a necessity if you expect your music to sound accurate. We’ve told you many times that speakers are essential to getting great sound. While 100% true, so is the need to calibrate the output of those speakers to work with the acoustics of the Read More…
Does It Matter if My Factory Stereo Has Crossovers?
As we’ve mentioned before, upgrading the audio systems in new cars and trucks is becoming more and more complicated. Features like crossovers, all-pass filters, volume-dependent loudness control and equalization can make the stock system sound respectable with stock speakers, but they present a significant challenge to drivers when it’s time to upgrade. Let’s look at Read More…
Car Audio Installation is a Combination of Science and Art
Over the years, we’ve highlighted car audio installations that look amazing and we’ve explained some of the science that goes into making those systems sound great. A professional car audio installation technician needs to possess a unique set of skills that includes a certain amount of creativity, as well as a detailed understanding of how Read More…
Speaker Q and How it Affects Sound Quality
When it comes to correlating how the parameters of a speaker translate into music reproduction, well, the details are often somewhat sparse. One speaker characteristic that’s often overlooked when searching for new subwoofers or woofers is Q. This unitless number is a key component in describing how the suspension and motor work to control and Read More…
Moseley Client Adds CarPlay to 2014 Audi RS7 Sedan
A client from Moseley, who found us on Google, called Extreme Audio to ask about adding Apple CarPlay to his 2014 Audi RS7 sedan. He wanted a way to use the Waze navigation application and voice commands to make phone calls and check text messages. After confirming compatibility with the year, make, model and trim Read More…
Apple CarPlay Integration Adds New Technology to 2014 Lexus GS350
One of our regular clients brought his 2014 Lexus GS350 in to get his phone to work with Apple CarPlay on his factory radio. He had seen how advanced features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto let you connect your phone and use phone apps on the radio in other vehicles, and wanted to know Read More…
CarPlay and Parking Camera Upgrade for Mechanicsville BMW 320i
A client from Mechanicsville recently dropped into Extreme Audio to ask about upgrading her vehicle with CarPlay. She’d seen how the system worked in her husband’s truck and loved the idea of being able to send text messages and make phone calls without touching her phone. After a quick vehicle inspection, we showed her the Read More…
Sound Deadening Adds Luxury to Your Car, Truck or SUV
One trait that has come to be universally expected among luxury vehicles is the quietness of their interior. Once exclusive to such premium vehicles as Mercedes, Audi, BMW and Rolls-Royce, companies like Hyundai and Kia are delivering startlingly quiet interiors. In addition to minimizing road and wind noise, the drone of an exhaust system and Read More…