Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
In this second Phase Shift article, we thought we’d take a moment to talk about driving. While upgrading our stereo systems is fun and typically the focus of our discussions here, we often overlook the importance of driving safely. Even at 35 miles per hour, a minor collision can cause a lot of damage and, in severe cases, injuries. We want all our readers to be happy, healthy Read more
As we’ve mentioned recently, car and truck thefts are rising nationwide. Among the vehicles most frequently stolen are full-size pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ford F-150. Let’s look at how to prevent thieves from stealing these popular vehicles. Why Are Pickup Truck Thefts So Common? What is it about these full-size trucks that makes them such a popular Read more
The BestCarAudio.com team received a great question about subwoofer polarity and how a crossover affected the phase at the crossover point. Specifically, the question focused on whether the subwoofer polarity needed to be reversed if the sub amp used a -12 dB/octave filter. The short answer is yes. As always happens with audio systems, the full answer isn’t as simple once we Read more
Most car audio enthusiasts know that the typical car radio can produce 18 to 20 watts of power per channel from its internal amplifier. If you send a full-range signal to the front and rear speakers, this is usually enough power to enjoy your music at modest listening levels. That said, it’s not enough power to make the music really fun. Let’s look at what happens when we add a Read more
(This article was updated in November 2023.) With the rise in popularity of digital media files over the last decade, car audio enthusiasts are more likely to carry a USB drive than a stack of compact discs. When it comes to organizing all those MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC files, most manufacturers suggest that you don’t put all the songs in one folder. Read on to find out Read more
There isn’t a category in the mobile enhancement industry not plagued by myths and misunderstandings. There’s nonsense about subwoofer cone materials improving sound quality, claims that Class D can’t sound better than Class AB, or that remote car starters are bad for your vehicle. This article will be the first in a series that addresses and explains the most common myths Read more
Speaker power ratings are among the most confusing and misleading specifications in the car audio industry. Once you understand the process used to test speaker power handling, you’ll quickly realize that the information doesn’t always translate to information that’s helpful in choosing an amplifier. Let’s dive into the science behind choosing the best amplifier for your car Read more
Understanding how DC voltages combine is quite simple. They add linearly when we wire sources (like batteries) in series. But understanding how AC waveforms combine is complicated. AC waveforms don’t always sum intuitively unless the peaks and valleys align perfectly. We see many examples where people interchange the terms phase and polarity. In reality, those words refer to Read more
There will always be debates about whether a Class D amplifier can sound as good as a Class AB. We’ve proven that it all depends on who designs the amplifier. We also see mumblings about single-ended amps versus full-bridge designs. STMicroelectronics created a different and unexpected way to deliver efficient power. These amplifiers are categorized Class SB and Class SBI. Read more
