Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
There are two schools of thought when designing a custom car audio installation: The solutions can be designed to stand out and highlight the upgrades, or they can be designed to blend with the rest of the vehicle. While I appreciate both styles, installations that blend with the cosmetic cues already in the vehicle are my preference. It’s challenging to make something Read more
A few weeks ago, I was at Motron Automotive Electronics in London, Ontario, to return some vintage remote car starters I’d borrowed for an article. I was talking with Lee Campbell about the work the shop does. Aside from remote car starter installations and audio system upgrades, Motron specializes in finding solutions for vehicles where the factory-installed infotainment 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
Though best known for its class-leading remote car starters, Compustar is rolling out a new line of vehicle security systems that includes the affordable CS697-A to protect your car or truck. While many vehicle owners believe the security system that comes with their vehicle is adequate, the reality is that those solutions are limited in their capabilities. An aftermarket alarm Read more
If you’ve asked your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer about upgrading your car stereo in recent years, they may have told you that they will need to add load resistors. While seemingly new in concept, the purpose of these resistors is simple. They’re often needed to ensure that the factory-installed amplifier in your car, truck or SUV continues to function the way it Read more
If you’ve been listening to the radio lately, you’ve likely heard advertisements suggesting that you need to buy a new Ford or Nissan with the latest blind-spot monitoring systems. While we agree that driving a vehicle that offers this collision-avoidance technology can prevent accidents, we don’t agree that you need to buy a new car or truck to obtain that technology. Your Read more
If you’ve browsed any of the online car audio forums or Facebook groups, you’ve inevitably run across someone asking if you have to upgrade the speaker wire in a vehicle to support a new car audio system. Unlike a sure-fire upgrade like new speakers or adding an amplifier, the answers to the benefits and drawbacks of speaker wire upgrades are far more complicated. Please don’t Read more
In the ’70s, owning a van was cool. In the ’80s, Chrysler moved those buyers into its new car-based platform, the minivan, with the Caravan. This compact cargo- and people-friendly vehicle kicked off a trend that’s only recently lost momentum. When it’s time to move a large group of people, or you need the most cargo room possible, companies like Mercedes-Benz, Ford, GMC and Read more
It’s hard to believe how far pickup trucks have come. The RAM Rebel is a mid-level vehicle, and yet on the inside it comes with keyless ignition, a 7-inch touchscreen, a dampened tailgate, an eight-way power driver’s seat and a rear power-sliding window. The interior looks great, with “Rebel” cues everywhere, including the seats. The seat fabric tastefully mimics the tire tread Read more
Sony introduced their new XS-GS1631C 3-way component speaker system at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The system includes a pair of 6.5-inch woofers, a set of 3.5-inch midrange drivers, a pair of 1-inch soft-dome tweeters and a set of passive crossover networks. This system is designed as a premium upgrade for vehicles with door and dash speaker locations. The Read more
When the Sprinter hit the shores of the United States about 15 years ago, American laborers fell in love with the van with Euro flair. Driving a van with a high roof height proved invaluable to a cadre of plumbers, electricians and flower delivery people. But what if something could be made for urban areas, something a bit smaller and easier to park but that still kept the Read more
Proficient remote starter retailers are trained to not only sell products but to promote how they will integrate those solutions into their clients’ vehicles. Compustar, the world leader in remote car starter technology, has recently introduced a new system controller called the DC3 to give installers a new option for vehicle integration. Automotive Data Solutions, known to Read more
