If you’ve ever driven past a speed trap or, worse, received a speeding ticket from a law enforcement officer using a laser gun, you may be curious about how these systems work. Also called a lidar gun, these speed measuring devices are not only very accurate, but they work quickly and reliably to let an […]
ARTICLES
Can You Upgrade The Stereo in a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle?
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 […]
Product Spotlight: BLAM Multix Speakers
A truly mesmerizing musical experience in your vehicle requires great audio components, installation and system calibration. The Multix Series of car audio speakers from BLAM represents the pinnacle of the company’s dedication to listening enjoyment. Designed and manufactured in France, these speakers can recreate your favorite music with passion and emotion. Let’s explore the features […]
Is it Possible to Underpower a Speaker?
One common misconception about speakers is that underpowering them can cause damage. This fallacy is supported by minimum power ratings from several manufacturers, which adds to the confusion. Never fear, we’re here to explain why you simply can’t damage a speaker by providing it with only a little bit of power, and we’ll clarify how […]
Product Spotlight: Focal Harley-Davidson Speakers
If you live near San Jose and are shopping for speaker upgrades for your Harley-Davidson motorcycle, drop by California Car Sounds & Tint and check out the new kits from Focal. Designed using Power- or Access-Series components, these kits are available for 1998 through 2013 and 2014 and newer Electra Glide, Street Glide, Ultra Classic […]
Smartphone Versus Built-in Navigation – Which Is Best?
There’s no denying the convenience of having a navigation system in your vehicle, whether it’s smartphone-based or built into your radio. With the nearly instant popularity of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, smartphone-connected radios are quickly replacing built-in navigation solutions as the upgrade of choice. The question is, which is the better navigation solution? Let’s […]
Product Spotlight BLAM 165 RS Component Speaker Set
Great sound from a car audio system doesn’t need to cost thousands of dollars. The 165 RS is a 6.5-inch, two-way component speaker system developed by the team at BLAM in France. The set is part of the Relax Series of products and includes a pair of woofers, a set of soft-dome tweeters and passive […]
Tools of the Trade – The Digital Multimeter
Our continuing look at the tools a mobile enhancement technician should have at his or her disposal brings us to the ever-important digital multimeter. In the same way that an RTA or oscilloscope is needed to measure and quantify alternating-current signals, a high-quality multimeter is the only way to accurately quantify a DC or fixed-frequency […]
How Does a Car Audio Amplifier Work – The Class AB Output Stage
As we continue our look at how car audio amplifiers work, let’s discuss how the classic Class AB amplifier output stage works and explain why it’s still the benchmark for high-end audio systems. How Does a Class AB Output Stage Work? We recently looked at the power supply, the input stage and how Class D […]
Tools of the Trade – The RTA
Our series on the tools that are important to test and configure car audio system upgrades moves to the topic of the real-time audio analyzer, also known as an RTA or spectrum analyzer. This important tool helps installers measure the acoustic response of your mobile audio system, and it can be a fundamental component in […]