Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
I am continuously baffled by the number of car audio enthusiasts and so-called professionals who think car audio amp power ratings have anything to do with quantifying their quality. I see people flocking to YouTube videos of amp dyno tests and rushing out to buy products that make lots of jam. If there’s a single factor that’s irrelevant in defining amplifier quality, power Read more
If you’ve been paying attention to the car audio industry over the last two years, you know Sony has been steadily rolling out its new flagship-level Mobile ES equipment. I’ve already been blessed with the outstanding performance from the XAV-9500ES digital media receiver and the impressive XS-W104ES 10-inch subwoofer. Now it’s time to check out one of their new Mobile ES Read more
We get lots of great questions from our readers each month. Among the most popular is “How can I find a car audio installer near me?” As professionals in the mobile enhancement industry, we know this is one of the biggest challenges that consumers face. It’s easy to search for stores on the internet, but the results don’t tell you anything about the quality of the services Read more
If there’s a statement that makes experts in the car audio industry wince, it’s someone saying, “Every vehicle is different and needs a unique design.” Sure, you need to pick speakers that fit into the available locations, and some cars or trucks need more wire than others because of their size. Some clients may want a single 8-inch powered sub to add some warmth and impact, Read more
If it seems as though you’re seeing several Sony Mobile ES products crossing the BestCarAudio.com Test Drive Review bench, you aren’t mistaken. The Sony team is justifiably proud of what they have created, and we’re honored to get the chance to check out the fruits of their labor. We’ve reviewed their flagship source unit, subwoofers and monoblock amp, and now it’s time for a Read more
Picking an efficient speaker system that sounds good and can handle lots of power is no easy feat. The mobile audio experts at ARC Audio in Modesto, California, created the new CX69 6x9-inch speaker to fill this void. Whether you want great sound from the saddlebags of your Harley-Davidson, a door speaker that can keep up with a crazy subwoofer system or a solution for your Read more
There’s no getting around the fact that things change over time. When it comes to car audio retailers, many have maintained their focus on stereo systems, remote starters, radar detectors and convenience upgrades for decades. Every now and then, a set of unique skills or an opportunity leads a shop in a slightly different direction for a project or, occasionally, an evolution Read more
One of the best upgrades you can make to your truck’s stereo system is adding something like an under seat subwoofer. While most of us think of the traditional long, thin enclosure that fits under the rear seat of an F-150, Sierra, Silverado or Tundra, there are some other options that we should talk about. Let’s dive into how adding bass to your audio system can make a world Read more
Five-channel car audio amplifiers like the Sony XM-5ES are a great way to upgrade your car stereo system to deliver great sound. Sony has created an amp that produces up to 165 watts of power per channel to the front and rear speakers and 750 watts to the system’s subwoofers. They’ve also crammed this beauty with premium processing technology and integration features to ensure Read more
If you spend time on social media, you’ve likely seen examples of incorrect devices being used in home and car audio fuse holders. Photos of a .22 round in a fuse holder, pieces of bubble gum wrappers wrapped around a blown AGC fuse and, my personal favorite, the Red Bull can tab intended for use as a replacement for an ATC fuse all send shivers up my spine. There are even Read more
For the last decade or so, the CX-5 has been the Mazda medium-sized crossover. Now the company has updated that design and made it bigger, naming it the CX-50. For the 2023 model year, Mazda will sell both vehicles side by side at the dealership. So the question will be, do you want the new model, or to save some money with the eventually phased-out CX-5? Size Matters? Or Read more
Since its first model was produced in 2008, no automaker has come close to Tesla’s capabilities when it comes to performance. Legacy automakers get the panel gaps right, but their electric offerings usually don’t measure up. We’ve been waiting for the day when a company would release an electric vehicle with the quality of a luxury brand while still offering outstanding Read more
