Decades ago, car audio professionals were adamant about the statement that tweeters needed to be installed right beside the midrange speakers in your car audio system. Is this accurate? The answer is that it depends on a few variables. Keeping them close can’t hurt, but it might come at the expense of improving the soundstage […]
ARTICLES
Product Spotlight: Sony XS-W124ES and XS-W122ES Mobile ES Subwoofers
It’s been over a year since Sony launched their first Mobile ES subwoofer – the XS-W104ES. The big brothers to this amazing driver are now available in the form of the 12-inch XS-W124ES and XS-W122ES drivers. Rated to handle 500 watts of power and designed to sound great in either sealed or vented enclosures, these […]
Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX6000 Automotive AV Receiver
Hundreds of audio-video receiver options are available to upgrade your car’s or truck’s entertainment system. Selecting one that’s easy to use, reliable and sounds great is no easy task. The car audio team at Sony has combined the most sought-after features with state-of-the-art technologies to create the XAV-AX6000 digital media receiver. This radio includes wireless […]
A Look at How Car Audio Amplifier Designs Have Changed
Car audio amplifier designs have changed a great deal over the last few decades. Modern amplifiers have more features along with improved efficiency, and they offer consumers better value than their predecessors. This article will examine the key components in the construction of mobile audio amplifiers, their evolution and their benefits. Amplifier Design Balances Power […]
Car Audio Myths: You Can’t Mix and Match Different Brands
There’s a strange car audio myth that claims you can’t mix different brands of source units, speakers, amplifiers, subwoofers and signal processors in the same audio system. While it might be fun for a distributor, sales representative or employee at a car audio retailer to do a one-brand build, chances are you’ll want to pick […]
Do Car Audio Subwoofers Require Equalization for Smooth Response?
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 […]
Let’s Talk About Car Audio Speaker Wire Size Requirements
Not too long ago, we stumbled across a discussion about the need for large-gauge car audio speaker wire to be connected to a high-power amplifier. The comments on the post were prime examples of how little some audio enthusiasts understand about the signals going to the speakers in their car audio system. So, to help […]
The BestCarAudio.com Sound Deadening Buyers Guide
Car audio sound deadening has been a popular upgrade to improve the comfort of your vehicle and enhance audio system performance since the early ’90s. The original concept of sound deadening was to make cars and trucks quieter and more comfortable by limiting the ability for noise outside the vehicle to get into the cabin. […]
Let’s Look at Car Audio Subwoofer Passive Radiator Designs
When it comes to producing deep bass from a small enclosure, adding a passive radiator offers some significant performance benefits. If you aren’t familiar with this type of subwoofer enclosure, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll look at how this design works, the benefits it offers and analyze potential drawbacks. Ready? Let’s dive […]
Setting Car Amplifier Gains Correctly Is Harder Than You’d Think
When it comes to car audio systems, more is better, right? Enthusiasts want more bass, more output and more impact. When your favorite song comes on, turning the volume knob all the way up seems like the right thing to do. For car audio professionals, we need to balance keeping our clients happy with great-sounding […]