Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
Many years ago, I read an article that said the difference between a tube amp and a solid-state one was primarily in their distortion characteristics. Even though I thought about the statement repeatedly, I was mistakenly correlating the presence of distortion with what happens when we try to over-drive the output of a source unit or amplifier. As with any complex topic, it Read more
Having the windows of your car or truck tinted is a great way to enhance the look of your vehicle, add protection and keep the interior cool on a hot summer day. However, picking a shop to install tint on your car windows is more involved than most people think. The automotive enhancement experts here at BestCarAudio.com have put together this guide to help you choose Read more
In March 2022, we published an article that demonstrated how high-quality amplifiers often increase the noise they output at high gain settings. I’m somewhere between shocked, confused and impressed at the feedback we got on the article. So, as a bit of a follow-up, let’s crush a few of the myths I read in the Facebook comments. Myth 1: Gains Should Be Set Based on Speaker Read more
Car audio enthusiasts share one thing: All of us have a vehicle of some sort. It’s no surprise to anyone that fuel prices have skyrocketed to record-setting levels in 2022. Since many of us must commute to work, our expenses have increased dramatically. So whether you’re shopping for new equipment for your vehicle or planning sound system upgrades, here are a few tips that can Read more
The Volvo XC60 may not be on the tip of an SUV-shopper’s tongue. However, with its 2022 model year updates, it jumps to the front of the line for the tech lover. Volvo has sold over 1 million XC60s globally – something I wouldn’t have guessed – and the XC60 remains its most popular model. As such, the engineers wanted to blend the latest technology with high-end 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
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
Quite a while back, I took a scientific look at the difference between a recording stored in a WAV format and what is thrown away with a lossy format like MP3. During some recent research in preparation for an upcoming Test Drive Review, I got to thinking about a different way to show how other audio formats compare. Let’s look at WAV, FLAC and MP3 file formats, then throw in a Read more
If you’ve been around the car audio industry for as long as I have, you know Rockford Fosgate started in 1973 with the introduction of its first car audio amplifier. Through the ’80s and ’90s, the brand grew at an exponential rate, adding subwoofers, speakers and more amplifiers that deliver fantastic performance to car audio fanatics who want their music clear and loud. The Read more
So, as a longtime car audio guy, I have peers and friends who cover every conceivable genre of car audio enthusiasm. I have friends who are installers, own and run stores, work at distributors and at manufacturers. I have tweaky friends that think high-end interconnects and low-efficiency wideband drivers are the way to go for sound quality. I also have a ton of friends who are Read more
Ah, the oh-so-complex world of amplifier sensitivity control configuration. One would think that there would be a scientific process that would ensure that an amplifier could be set perfectly every time. But in reality, many criteria affect where a sensitivity control is adjusted. The topic of gain overlap pertains equally to source units as amplifiers. What is it? Why do we Read more
