Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
The original Buick Encore, Buick’s entry-level CUV that shares its underpinnings with the Chevy Trax, has proven very successful. They are two popular CUV choices, but Buick wanted something a little bigger to compete with lower-priced CUV imports such as the Mazda CX-5. So they invented the Encore GX, which is a totally different vehicle than the original Encore. It rides on Read more
Playing tricks on our friends can be a lot of fun. When a TV crew gets involved, things can get a little crazy. Nate Parks decided that his friend Joe McDonald of Las Vegas deserved to have his 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor restyled. Nate submitted an application to the TV show “Overhaulin’ ” in hopes of having Chip Foose and his A-team of fabricators transform Joe’s pride and joy Read more
When it comes to upgrading a car audio system with a digital signal processor, you’ll typically hear about a discussion of signal delay. Maybe people refer to this as time alignment or setting the delays. No matter what term is used, understanding the benefits and drawbacks of this technology is crucial to creating a car audio system that sounds amazing. Let’s Talk About Read more
As we roll forward with our look at the importance of digital signal processors in car audio systems, we’ll talk about the need for proper equalization. Even if you’ve purchased the best speakers available and invested in having them integrated into your vehicle with the utmost precision – compensating for the acoustic characteristics of the vehicle is necessary to achieve Read more
As we continue our deep-dive into the functions of car audio digital signal processors, we’ve reached the topic of crossovers. Many people overlook the importance of configuring crossovers properly to achieve a smooth frequency response. Let’s take a look at what a crossover does and why your technician must set them correctly to protect your speakers. What Is a Read more
One very nice perk of reviewing vehicles is getting to drive a multitude of cars. Usually my wife is indifferent to what’s in the driveway – her vice is shoes. But every once in a while a vehicle comes along that gets her to go “Dammmmn!” Her exact words were, “What is this – a spaceship or the Batmobile?”The 2021 Mercedes AMG GLE 53 Coupe is a little of both. Although it Read more
As vehicle manufacturers work to reduce the number of wires that need to be run in a vehicle, more and more have switched to using the vehicle data bus to control amplifiers. Using data commands in concert with digital or fixed-level audio signals also helps to ensure that these audio systems deliver noise-free performance. Finally, with the volume control and signal processing Read more
Sony’s new XAV-AX5500 media receiver not only covers all the ground, but it also raises the bar in terms of smartphone connectivity. Equipped with WebLink 2.0, you can see and control your compatible smartphone right from the 6.95-inch touchscreen on the radio. Of course, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, high-quality Bluetooth audio streaming and all the digital media support you’d Read more
If you’re planning on having someone upgrade the stereo system in a late-model car or truck, you need to know about all-pass filters. Sometimes called phase EQ or phase rotator filters, this type of signal processing is used in multichannel audio systems to help deliver improved frequency response at the listening position. The concept can be complicated for those who aren’t Read more
