Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
Last week I offered three people advice on how the physics and science behind car audio concepts work. In all three cases, these people refused to accept my scientific explanations as fact and chose to argue with me. Baffling. Science Is Simple Seemingly unbeknownst to many car audio enthusiasts and amateur installers, the laws of physics are pretty set in stone when it comes Read more
Since I first reviewed an ARC Audio amplifier back in 2004, I knew there was something different about this company. It only took a few reviews to recognize the pattern, and frankly, I’ve been spoiled by every opportunity to audition one of their amps ever since. Call it clarity, transparency or neutrality; all of ARC Audio’s amps have offered as invisible a sonic signature as Read more
I spend a massively disproportionate amount of time reading posts on Facebook and Reddit about car audio topics. One thing I see again and again are comments from novice consumers talking about “buying 300-watt speakers” or something similar. Unfortunately, quantifying a speaker’s quality or performance capability based on how much power it can handle is like choosing a car Read more
If you’ve been around the car audio or vehicle accessory industry for any amount of time, you’ve likely run across a 12-volt relay. A relay is a simple device designed to switch a typically high-current load with a low-current signal. Relays are used in everything from headlight and auxiliary lighting upgrades to power trunk and door lock solenoid installations. Relays can also Read more
When it to comes to value, five-channel car audio amplifiers are a great solution for upgrading the stereo system in your vehicle. Aside from reducing the time it takes to install, five-channel amplifiers minimize installation complexity and the cost associated with signal, power and ground connections compared to running multiple amplifiers. Sony’s Mobile ES Series XM-5ES Read more
Unless you’ve never visited the BestCarAudio.com magazine site, you’re probably familiar with the need for a high-quality digital signal processor in any modern car audio system. Proper level setting, bandwidth limitations, arrival time adjustment and equalization are paramount to creating an audio system that sounds realistic in a car, truck or SUV. It’s also essential for Read more
The BMW 4 Series has set itself apart from the more commonplace 3 Series with its swoopy hatchback-like styling. As a gasoline vehicle, it is good and performs similarly to the 3 Series. But what if you take the car and electrify it? Out goes the gasoline engine, and it is replaced with an electric motor and battery pack. Will it still work? Or do you get something that is even Read more
Almost every car audio amplifier on the market has at least one thing in common: a remote turn-on connection. The purpose of this connection is to tell the amplifier to turn on when you turn the radio on. For decades, there have been statements that your installer needs to add a relay to the output of a radio to turn on multiple amplifiers. Let’s look at what the amp remote Read more
You may want to know these 10 car audio terms if you’re headed to a store to shop for audio equipment. You’ll likely get what you want using everyday slang and accepted terminology. So invest a few minutes in educating yourself to sound as though you know what you’re talking about. No? OK, then, at least have a laugh with us! 1. Subwoofer Enclosure Unless you’re having an Read more
