Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
The car audio industry has changed a lot since I first got into it while in high school. A mere (cough) 30 years ago, CD players were just becoming popular, most aftermarket car radios were pull-out designs and the public didn’t have access to the Internet. OK, that’s a small list of the differences between now and then, but for those of us who have been in the industry for Read more
If you look at some amateur car audio forums and Facebook groups, you’ll see a disturbing trend of people using speakers that are intended for home applications in their cars. While these speakers initially seem to offer impressive performance for their price, they simply aren’t designed to withstand the challenges associated with a mobile audio system. In this article, we’ll Read more
Service providers and technicians in many industries have certifications to acknowledge they have obtained continuing education or verified expertise in one or more areas. The Mobile Electronics Certified Professionals (MECP) program is the only certification program that certifies professional technicians on the installation, integration and diagnosis of aftermarket vehicle Read more
As the Head Writer at 1sixty8 media and the Editor-in-Chief here at BestCarAudio.com, I manage to write between 20,000 and 25,000 words a week on various aspects of the mobile electronics industry and aftermarket accessories. You’d think that given that level of immersion in the industry, it would be hard for me to think about anything other than aftermarket accessories and Read more
Many decades ago, my father and I were avid readers of car magazines like Motor Trend, Road & Track, Car and Driver and occasionally Automobile. We’d read the car reviews and I’d commit to memory the 0-60 times for amazing new vehicles like the C4 Corvette and Dodge Viper. Decades later, I found myself as the Technical Editor of a car and mobile audio magazine based out of Read more
Years ago, upgrading your car stereo meant buying a new radio that would play MP3 files or that included Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming. As automobile manufacturers have increased their interest in providing advanced infotainment features, the aftermarket head unit industry has evolved away from conventional single- and double-DIN radios with segmented Read more
It has been a while since the Corolla lineup has had a hatchback. But now that Scion is out of the picture, it fills the place in the lineup last held by the Scion/Toyota iM. The Corolla Hatch just isn’t a Corolla with a larger rear window grafted onto the back. Instead, it is a thoroughly engineered, practical vehicle that can be used both for fun and utility. Toyota reports Read more
When you go shopping for an item, how do you know if the product is worth the price listed? Have you ever heard the term “price marketing”? It’s a term that I started using a few years back, and the concept isn’t new. Here’s what price marketing means: Two companies have similar products and intend to sell them through the same retailers. Even with similar manufacturing and Read more
If you have been around the mobile electronics industry as long as I have, then you have seen thousands of installations executed in dozens of ways. There’s no doubt that an installation that looks amazing deserves attention and recognition. The question remains, how does a consumer go about balancing his budget to yield a level of performance that ensures the high-end gear Read more
