Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
Over the past few years, I’ve written several articles about harmonic distortion. While ideally they’re pretty clear in their message, I might have jumped over the need to define the term harmonic itself. So, let’s look at what harmonics are in terms of audio signals. What Are Harmonics? In reference to music, the Oxford English Dictionary defines the word harmonic as “an Read more
Shopping for car audio upgrades can be difficult. There are often several if not dozens of retailers in your area, with each one typically offering different solutions. Wading through the options can be difficult. This article will explain a straightforward tip for getting the best value and performance for your investment. It’s as simple as “Why?” Buying a New Car Read more
A few weeks ago, I was at Motron Automotive Electronics in London, Ontario, to return some vintage remote car starters I’d borrowed for an article. I was talking with Lee Campbell about the work the shop does. Aside from remote car starter installations and audio system upgrades, Motron specializes in finding solutions for vehicles where the factory-installed infotainment Read more
If you’re talking with car audio enthusiasts, mention of the word decibel instantly fires up a conversation of how loudly an audio system will play. But that’s just one of the ways we use decibels to compare levels in audio systems. This article will dive deep into the options to express values using decibel scaling. What Is a Decibel? Forget everything you think you know Read more
In the fall of 2021, we took some detailed measurements to quantify the frequency response characteristics of several different RCA cables. These varied from solutions as simple as a pair of 18-AWG wires that were twisted together, to premium coaxial conductors and twisted-pair cables with extensive shielding. The results, as presented, showed negligible variations in response Read more
The confusion around setting amplifier gains baffles a significant number of car audio enthusiasts. I can’t even count the number of systems I’ve heard that are plagued with tons of background noise or hiss when music isn’t playing. Unfortunately, those same people also seem to be pretty hard on their gear and have replaced many subwoofers, speakers and tweeters. So let’s have Read more
When it comes to car audio subwoofer enclosures, the two most popular options are sealed or vented. As far as which design is best for your vehicle, let’s see if we can clear up some misconceptions and stereotypes. As often happens, some trade-offs accompany each decision. Consider this article the master reference for choosing the right subwoofer enclosure solution for your Read more
It’s time we start putting together the information from a selection of the articles I’ve created to help sound quality enthusiasts get the most from their car audio systems. In this article, we will discuss why it might be best to choose a low-power, high-quality Class AB amplifier to power your tweeters. We’ll look at this from both a noise and distortion perspective, as well Read more
No doubt about it, the small CUV, or compact utility vehicle, has replaced the compact car on American roads as the entry-level vehicle of choice. VW has the Tiguan model, but they wanted to engineer something that came in smaller at a slightly better price point. The 2022 VW Taos does not disappoint. You’d be hard-pressed to see the exterior differences, but you can get a cute Read more
