Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
Car audio source unit manufacturers are constantly developing new products to fill the gaps between entry-level and flagship models. Sony recently released a new 2-DIN digital multimedia receiver called the XAV-AX3700, which slides into the mix just below the XAV-AX4000. This new radio features a 6.95-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay connectivity and iDatalink Maestro Read more
It’s May 1, and car audio enthusiasts are shopping for system upgrades. Car audio amplifiers are one item consumers find difficult to quantify regarding performance, quality and value. We often see people buying noisy, low-efficiency, unreliable amplifiers, and it hurts our hearts. As such, we’ve put together this mega-article for the Question of the Month to help consumers Read more
Located just northeast of Phoenix in Scottsdale, Arizona, is Audio Edge. In February 2021, the visionary mother-son duo of Lori and Colin Buckeye embarked on a mission to redefine the car audio industry through their shared passion for exceptional sound and cutting-edge technology. Whether it’s a daily-driven SUV, the weekend toy, a work truck, the family boat or a powersports Read more
As we’ve mentioned many times, adding a subwoofer is one of the best upgrades you can make to a car audio system. We know that having a shop construct a custom enclosure isn’t always in the budget. Likewise, while impressive, high-end subwoofers aren’t in everyone’s price range. With all this said, there is one item that you should spend a few dollars extra on: a ported Read more
We spend significant time pondering helpful content that will educate consumers about the options available to upgrade their car audio system. We’ve written dozens of articles explaining how various features and designs can improve a subwoofer’s performance, and we realized that this would be a perfect time to summarize all that education in a single document. Welcome to the Read more
Car audio Amp power ratings are often the least important aspect in differentiating amplifier options. Sure, it matters whether you buy a 500- or 1,500-watt amplifier. Neither number tells you anything about either amplifier’s quality, performance or reliability. Surprisingly, many companies are still slapping inaccurate and often impossible power ratings on their products. We Read more
Although talking about a trunk full of high-performance subwoofers powered by big amplifiers is fun, Sony knows that many people want a more cost-effective bass upgrade for their cars and trucks. On the heels of their entirely new Mobile ES amplifiers, source units, speakers and subwoofers, Sony has launched the latest iteration of the GS series speakers and subwoofers. This Read more
So far, we’ve demonstrated five easily measurable criteria that separate the performance of one amplifier from another. Some of these, like frequency response, can be compensated for using an equalizer. Others, like harmonic and intermodulation distortion, are permanently baked into the amplifier’s sonic signature. Does the amp sound clean and transparent, or does it color the Read more
Sometimes, it’s fun to poke at certain stereotypes in the audio community. Those who consider themselves audiophiles are often the easiest to harass as they frequently fall prey to crazy marketing stories sprinkled with just enough technical words to make them sound plausible. Do your speaker cables need acrylic spacers to keep them off the floor? Should you paint the edge of Read more
Some of the most common car audio questions on social media are about finding a good ground location for an amplifier. Thinking about the topic, using the term ground to describe the negative power connection to the amplifier might imply it’s not as important as the positive battery connection. Both connections must be equally capable of passing all the current the amplifier Read more
Social media conversations are often a great source of content ideas here at BestCarAudio.com. We were recently talking to someone about why loading down an amplifier isn’t an ideal solution. As we’ve demonstrated in our Test Drive Reviews, lower impedances result in more distortion in most cases. In all cases, lower impedance loads reduce amplifier efficiency. Let’s discuss Read more
As we continue to explain what makes one amplifier different from another, we’ll look at distortion in the context of power level and frequency. Unbeknown to most enthusiasts, how an amplifier behaves varies based on the frequency you ask it to play and how much power it produces. The latter is a crucial piece of information if you’re looking for an amplifier that will sound Read more
