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
I bought my youngest son a small gardening trowel from the dollar store to use when he and I go metal detecting. The rod that connects the blade to the handle started to bend after being used six times. No, not six outings. Six attempts to dig small objects out of soft, damp dirt. As the lads on the Cleetus McFarland YouTube Channel say, "I’m an idiot!”Indeed, a stick would Read more
These days, it’s effectively impossible to replace the radio in many new cars and trucks. With display screens integrated into the dash and controls in the center console, there’s nowhere to mount a nice double-DIN multimedia receiver. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to upgrade the audio system. A line output converter is the starting point, whether you’re adding a Read more
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
Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s, having an amplifier or a radio with a built-in high- or low-pass crossover was rare. To filter the audio signals going to our speakers, installers and technicians would use inductors and capacitors on the speaker wires. We recently took a look at how capacitors work, so let’s dive into inductors to understand their function and application Read more
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have one of the most amazing jobs in the car audio industry. One aspect of being the editor in chief of BestCarAudio.com that I am particularly fond of is researching and performing experiments to create the content we publish. Unlike most of the hard-working folks who develop products, drive all over the countryside visiting retailers Read more
Buying a new car radio has been challenging for most of 2021 and so far in 2022. The scarcity of computer chips has made picking up a name-brand radio from Sony, Kenwood, JVC, Alpine or Pioneer difficult or impossible. If you have to have a new radio in your vehicle, you’ve had two choices: wait patiently or buy a less popular option. I’ve heard good things about the short-term Read more
While browsing car audio groups on Facebook or Reddit, I see the comment that “distortion damages speakers” at least once, if not 10 times, a day. There can’t be many statements that equal this one to demonstrate an incomplete understanding of how speakers, amplifiers and distortion work.If you’ve been told this by professionals, don’t fret. Most of them don’t understand Read more
It’s April 1st once again, and that means it’s time for another look at car audio installations that have gone awry. The images you’ll see are prime examples of why only a genuine professional should be the only person to upgrade your car or truck. Whether it’s an amplifier installation, a remote car starter integration or a simple lighting upgrade, ensuring that the results Read more
