Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
Not long ago, we saw a post where someone asked whether they needed to dedicate a channel of their digital signal processor to equalize the subwoofer in their car audio system. As usual, several amateurs chimed in with their opinions, but nobody presented any facts supporting a yes or no answer. As professionals, when we’re challenged with a question to which many variables can Read more
The owner of this 2020 Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder contacted The Car Audio Shop in St. Louis to inquire about upgrading the audio system. As much as he loves the sound of the 5.2-liter, 631 horsepower V-10 engine, the factory-installed audio system doesn’t have enough power or adequate speakers to drown out the exhaust and drivetrain noise. Brandon Green and Dan Castro met Read more
No matter how hard he or she tries, the installer who’s calibrating your car audio system can’t use a digital signal processor to tune distortion out of your system. We aren’t talking about the harmonic distortion that happens when a signal overloads the processor or an amplifier’s input stage. Preventing clipping is a simple process and one that’s fundamental to completing an Read more
Look at any of the top car audio subwoofer amplifier models available from specialty retailers. You’ll find that most include an option for a remote level control or bass boost function. Being able to fine-tune the output of your subwoofer system is great for those times when you want to rock out to an amazing song or calm things down so you can talk to a passenger easily. This Read more
Every now and then, a car audio company creates a product that shakes the industry and redefines the benchmark for features and performance. We prefer to avoid terms like ground-breaking and revolutionary – but sometimes they can’t be avoided. On the Of Sound Mind test bench this week we have the new ARC Audio ID10T-32 PRO car audio digital signal processor. It has to be said, Read more
Looking at the specifications and features of an amplifier rarely tells the entire story. ARC Audio sent me one of their ARC 1000.4 amplifiers that’s equipped with an IPS8.8 Pro-Series eight-channel digital signal processor. Based on a 1,000-watt platform, this four-channel amp is rated to produce 250 watts per channel into 2- and 4-ohm loads. There’s a lot of ground to cover Read more
We all know the CUVs are here to stay. When thinking of the class, a lot of buyers gravitate to the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV-4. But Mazda also wants to make a case for itself with a well-engineered CUV that should remain reliable but with a dose of sportiness injected into it.Enter the CX-5 Signature edition. The CX-5 starts at $26K and goes all the way to $37K all-in … a Read more
When it comes to high-end car audio systems, you may hear your system designer or installation technician talk about phase. A discussion of phase is a pretty high-level concept and not something that most consumers concern themselves with. However, it’s an important topic and getting it right requires proper system design and calibration to ensure that your music sounds its Read more
Some folks need the practicality of a four-door car but don’t want to give up the sexiness of a sports car. The sexy four-door vehicles that fit the bill are few and far between … such as the discontinued Aston Martin Rapide. One problem with the Rapide was its astronomical pricing, starting north of $200K. Another downfall is that, because Aston is a bespoke manufacturer, it Read more
