Many new cars and trucks come with a feature called stop-start technology. This system senses when the car is stopped at a red light or stop sign and shuts down the engine to save fuel. As soon as you release the brake pedal, the engine starts up again, and you’re on your way. The question […]
Car Audio
Product Spotlight: ARC Audio ARC Amplifiers
Based in Modesto, California, ARC Audio is one of the few mobile electronics companies that still designs its amplifiers from scratch in the United States. The ARC Series trio of amplifiers represents a high-performance mobile audio amplification solution that incorporates features that aren’t available from competing products. Let’s take a look at what makes the […]
Don’t Put All Your Songs in One Folder on Your USB Drive
With the rise in popularity of digital media files over the last decade, car audio enthusiasts find themselves being more likely to carry a USB memory stick than a stack of compact disks. When it comes to organizing all those MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC files, most manufacturers suggest that you don’t put all the […]
How Does a Police Radar Gun Work?
Police officers in North America have been using radar guns to catch speeders since 1949. This relatively simple technology evolved from military applications before World War II, where long-range installations were the size of a medium-size apartment building. Modern radar guns aren’t quite pocket-sized, but they are easily transportable and can be hand-held or installed […]
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 […]
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 […]