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 […]
Car Audio
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 […]
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 […]
Radio Upgrade for San Jose Ford Mustang
A client from San Jose was referred to California Car Sounds and Tint by the local Ford dealership for assistance in having a CarPlay-equipped radio installed in his son’s 2019 Ford Mustang. The client wanted to be sure that the vehicle was equipped with a safe way for his son to communicate with friends while […]
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 […]
How Does a Car Audio Amplifier Work? – The Class D Output Stage
As we continue our look at how at how car audio amplifiers work, we need to discuss what has become the most popular design on the market today: amplifiers that use a Class D output stage. In audiophile realms, Class D designs often carry an unfavorable reputation. Do their drawbacks outweigh their benefits? Let’s have […]
Is Turning Up the Bass on Your Car Stereo a Good Idea?
If there’s one thing that can add emotion and excitement to your music, it’s adding a little more bass. Bass frequencies, especially those below 80 Hz, can be felt as much as heard at a higher volume level. The tingling in your amps and vibration in your back make a night at a club, your […]