Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
When aftermarket retailers think of a car that can be customized and personalized, the Civic is at the top of the list. It has long been the platform of basic transportation that an owner can take to the next level of personalization. It can be anything from a reliable commuter to a full-on sport compact. One common denominator that keeps the Civic selling so well is its Read more
Another CUV? Let’s face it, the market for small SUVs is on fire right now. For some shoppers, the entry-level SUVs became the same price as midsize SUVs. And full-size SUVs require a second mortgage on your house! Luckily, the entry-level CUVs are coming loaded with the latest in vehicle technology, just like their larger counterparts. The CX-30 is the latest from Mazda. Read more
Not too long ago, we took a look at how speaker-level line output converters worked. We discussed the difference between passive and active devices and explained what features to look for. If you have a vehicle with a premium factory-installed sound system, those interfaces might not be adequate to provide your amplifier with a signal that will sound good with new speakers. So Read more
It seems like everything to do with car audio installations has something to do with managing voltages. For starters, your electrical system needs to produce enough voltage to keep your radio and amplifier going. And amplifiers need to increase the voltage to drive speakers. When adding an amplifier to a factory-installed audio system, your installer will need to measure the Read more
There’s no denying that pickup trucks are some of the most popular vehicles on the road. Not only are they typically more durable than a car, but they also can haul almost anything you want in the bed or on a trailer. The popularity of these vehicles makes them prime candidates for audio system upgrades. Specialty car stereo shops from across North America have shared their Read more
In the ’80s and ’90s, the target demographic at a car stereo shop was men ages 18 to 24. Guys would work to upgrade their cars with subwoofers, pull-out CD players and lots of speakers in hopes of having the loudest audio systems in their group of friends. Not coincidentally, during that time magazines ran advertisements for products with outrageous cosmetics, promoted by Read more
When it comes to installing a car audio system in a modern car or truck, a professional installer needs access to a variety of tools. We’ve already taken a look at essential tools like an oscilloscope, RTA and multimeter and access to services like ProDemand. In this article, we’re going to kick things up a notch to look at some of the more advanced equipment used to make your Read more
When it comes to feeding a signal into a digital signal processor, most high-quality units provide your installer with a few options. While even the most basic include RCA inputs, some add the ability to accept speaker-level signals or digital signals in a variety of formats. Once an audio signal is inside the processor, the input mixer stage will let the technician combine and Read more
As we’ve mentioned before, upgrading the audio systems in new cars and trucks is becoming more and more complicated. Features like crossovers, all-pass filters, volume-dependent loudness control and equalization can make the stock system sound respectable with stock speakers, but they present a significant challenge to drivers when it’s time to upgrade. Let’s look at why Read more
Cadillac has tried in the past to come up with entry-level sized and priced vehicles to win over the public at the dealership. Unfortunately, most have not proved successful. But for the XT4, Cadillac assembled the most youthful design team in GM’s history. Rather than ask the team to come up with a traditional small car, they instead asked the team to come up with a vehicle Read more
Hybrid and all-electric vehicles are a great platform for stereo system upgrade. While your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer can’t tap into the main battery pack, the electrical system on these cars or trucks is more than adequate to power an amplifier to drive new speakers or a subwoofer. There are several options for upgrades and accessories that can transform Read more
As surprising as this is going to sound, hiring a car stereo professional to work on your car or truck isn’t always easy. OxfordDictionaries.com defines a professional as someone who performs an activity “as a main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.” The limitation of that definition is that getting paid doesn’t mean the person performing that task is properly trained. Read more
