Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
If you were into car audio in the ’80s or ’90s, you undoubtedly heard about people spending countless hours hunting down engine noise or alternator whine issues with amplified systems. Thankfully, modern high-quality car audio amplifiers include circuitry on the RCA input jacks that nearly eliminates the chance of ground loops and prevents the audio system from producing Read more
Given the proliferation of fraud, accidents and sheer craziness on the roads today, having a dashcam in your vehicle is, at the very least, a wise investment. These compact camera systems capture video of everything that happens while you drive, in the event you need to share information with the authorities or on social media. Many dashcam systems have a parking mode feature Read more
Once again, we approach a discussion of the laws of physics and how they affect the electrical systems in our cars and trucks. The enemy of all power transmission systems, be it the battery and alternator to the amplifier in your vehicle or the nuclear power station or hydroelectric dam across the state to your home, is resistance. I saw a power wire sizing chart earlier this Read more
In the fall of 1982, Billy Joel’s 52nd Street was among the first 50 albums released as consumer-available compact discs. It had been only about four years since digital recording equipment was introduced to studios. This marked a revolutionary change in how consumers would buy their music. It was the dawn of an all-digital era, where performers could have their music captured Read more
When it comes to getting great sound on your Gold Wing, Harley-Davidson or BMW, the key is to pick the best motorcycle speakers you can afford. The speakers in any audio system are the only link between what you hear and the electronics that play your music. Even the best radio and amplifier in the world would sound mediocre with low-quality speakers. So let’s look at a few Read more
The other day I saw an interesting question on social media where someone asked if they should match their car audio amplifier to their speakers. I know they were asking about power ratings, but I think that’s the wrong way to go about the process. I realized again that many enthusiasts don’t fully understand how to quantify audio component quality. So let’s dive into the Read more
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has been a hit since it debuted when I was a senior in high school. I remember the first one I saw in the parking lot with bright red paint and gold-trimmed wheels. That was a lucky student (with well-to-do parents) who obtained one of the first. I remember taking a ride and thinking what a great package it was compared to the OG Cherokee. Grand Cherokee Read more
If you’ve ever considered upgrading a factory-installed audio system with an amplifier, then there will have to be a discussion about a suitable amplifier turn-on solution. Aftermarket radios have a wire in their harness with 12 volts when the unit is on. This wire connects to the remote turn-on input on an aftermarket amplifier. The voltage on this wire tells the aftermarket Read more
Several years ago, iDatalink, the company known for its class-leading remote car starter interfaces, launched an amplifier integration solution called the Maestro AR. The AR (which is short for amplifier replacement) was designed to interpret the CAN bus commands intended for a factory amplifier into something a third-party digital signal processor can understand. While Read more
