Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
A few weeks ago, we were browsing a few car audio related Facebook groups and Reddit subreddits. We saw the same question come up time after time: “I have two dual 2-ohm voice coil subs; how do I show the amp a 1-ohm load to make max power?” It wasn’t just once or twice that this question was asked – we saw it and versions of it at least a dozen times in less than an hour of Read more
In a recent online discussion, someone stated that a car audio amplifier couldn’t be power-hungry. After the eye-twitching passed and our heart rates settled, we knew this was a perfect topic for our series on car audio myths. Let’s look at how amplifiers, specifically subwoofer amplifiers, make use of the power from your vehicle’s electrical system. What Is Amplifier Read more
If you’ve looked at any top-quality car audio amplifiers or signal processors, you may have seen an adjustment labeled as a subsonic filter. If you have subwoofers or speakers that may not play the lowest of audio frequencies at high levels, your installer can adjust this control to provide protection. First, let’s look at how it all works. Proper Filter Terminology First and Read more
We’ve lost track of how often we’ve said that not all car stereo shops are true professionals. It seems like some local retailers that work on exotic cars just don’t have a basic understanding of the physics behind car audio system design, integration and calibration. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few of the sure signs that you’re dealing with someone who cares about Read more
For car audio enthusiasts who’ve invested time studying the Thiele/Small parameters of speakers and subwoofers, you’ll know there is a specification called Xmax. This variable, typically expressed in millimeters or inches, is intended to describe the one-way excursion capability of the driver. Put another way, it’s the distance the cone can move forward or rearward from its Read more
When it comes to car audio upgrades, price and value in a purchase are often unrelated. For example, if the lease is up on your BMW and you decide you want to save some money, leasing a Mitsubishi Mirage isn’t a direct replacement, even if it costs a lot less per month. In addition, associating value with a purchase is difficult to quantify, especially when it comes to car Read more
For car audio enthusiasts, especially those interested in competing in SPL competitions, amplifier efficiency should be one of their primary concerns. In this first of three articles on efficiency, we take a close look at the Rockford Fosgate M5-1000X1 Class-D subwoofer amp and analyze how well it makes use of power at different output levels. What Is Car Audio Subwoofer Amp Read more
If you’ve been around the car audio scene for a few decades, then you’ll recall a time when almost all amplifiers doubled their output power when the load impedance was halved. For example, an amplifier might have been rated to produce 75 watts per channel into a 4-ohm load and 150 watts into a 2-ohm load. It wasn’t unheard of to see low-power amplifiers like the infamous Orion Read more
It’s time to dispel another unsubstantiated car audio myth! This time, we’re talking about claiming that you can’t ground an amplifier directly to the battery in a vehicle. Perhaps it would add to the clarity of the statement to say that many inexperienced installers think the ground wire for the amp has to go to the chassis of the vehicle. Many of these statements also add, Read more
