From the 1960s through the 1980s, car radios used mechanical potentiometers to adjust volume. As time progressed, volume controls moved to the digital domain, and radios employed rotary encoders that sent commands to a dedicated volume IC to adjust the output level. As we advanced further, radios required volume controls for different functions. This complexity […]
You May Need Two Keys to Make Your Remote Car Starter Work
Many of the car stereo shops in the Northern US and Canada shift focus to installing remote car starters in the late fall. If you are shopping for a remote starter, you may be asked by the Product Specialist if you have two keys to the vehicle. Further, in a few applications, you may need […]
Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate P1-1X12
Picking a subwoofer system for your car or SUV should be easy, right? If you’re looking at products from Rockford Fosgate, the answer is yes. With three series of amplifiers, subwoofers and enclosures to choose from, they have a solution for every budget and performance level. In this spotlight, we check out the Punch Series […]
A Look at What’s Misleading About Hi-Res Audio Licensing
Talking about the performance of audio equipment without objective measurements is like describing the taste of food without eating it. Maybe that’s a bit over the top, but the concept is accurate. You’ll hear many folks into high-end audio describe listening experiences that are sweet or emotional. However, those adjectives do very little to describe […]
Android Auto Sound Quality: Is Wired Better Than Wireless?
A while back, we examined the difference in sound quality between wired and wireless Apple CarPlay. Now that many Android-based smartphones have access to additional audio streaming codecs like LDAC and aptX, it’s time to check out how they perform in terms of signal accuracy and frequency response. We’ll use the Sony XAV-9000ES digital media […]
Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate R165X3
Whether you enjoy background music while commuting to work or are serious about your car audio system offering studio-quality or concert-level performance, Rockford Fosgate has speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofer solutions for every application. The Prime series products are the most affordable offerings and include trickle-down tech from their industry-leading Punch and Power series. In this […]
What To Look for in a Professional Dash Cam Installation
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we’ve seen dozens of posts asking about dash cameras that are easy to install and don’t cost much. We’ve all but beaten the topic of dash camera quality to death and have reviewed and analyzed several solutions from Momento and Thinkware. Based on the results of our […]
The Nitty Gritty on Professional vs. DIY Car Audio Upgrades
Many professionals in the car audio industry started their careers as novices installing equipment for themselves or friends in their driveways and garages. That hands-on experience typically led to a job at a local shop and allowed them to learn more about electrical theory, acoustics, physics, and fabrication. Those who have invested time in understanding […]
Car Audio Bass: Are Two Good Subs Better Than One Great One?
While participating in some brand-specific online discussion groups, we often encounter the question: “Is it better to use two good subs or one great one?” Are two 12-inch KICKER L7S subs better than a SoloX? Should you opt for two Hertz Cento CS 250 S4s instead of a Mille ML 2500.3 Legend? What about choosing […]
Shining a Light on Headlight Beam Patterns: What You Need to Know
Every fall, car stereo and automotive accessory shops install thousands of lighting upgrades. These days, the most common upgrade is a set of LED headlight bulbs that fit into the stock light locations. While seemingly simple, the resulting beam pattern can be negatively affected if the chosen bulbs are not designed specifically for the lens […]
