A reader requested that we compare the sound quality performance of wired and wireless Apple CarPlay. This is a great idea, as very little information is provided about the communication standards used to send audio signals wirelessly to a source unit. So, let’s look at distortion characteristics and frequency response to see if there is […]
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Five Essential Car Audio Maintenance Tips
Unlike home audio systems, car stereo upgrades have to withstand harsh conditions. Your car, truck or SUV subjects your system to vibration, bumps and massive temperature changes. At home, as long as there isn’t a flood, everything should work fine for decades with regular dusting. Your car stereo system might not be quite as foolproof. […]
Powering Car Audio Systems at Home: The Ultimate Power Supply Guide
One of the most common questions we receive is whether you can use car audio products, like radios and amplifiers, in the home or shop. The answer is a resounding yes! However, the real challenge lies in finding a suitable power supply, especially for high-power amplifiers. We’ve recently dedicated a significant amount of time to […]
Car Audio Subwoofer and Speaker Inductance – Less Is More!
Even though most car audio speakers are chosen without regard for genuine performance, our goal of educating consumers remains steadfast: If you’re searching for a high-quality car audio system, understanding how speakers work and what differentiates the great from the mediocre is essential. In this article, we’ll explore the topic of speaker inductance, what affects […]
Car Audio Battery Fuse Size and Purpose
If you’ve looked at an amplifier installation kit, you’ll see it comes with about 17 feet of power wire, a shorter length of ground wire and a fuse holder. The intent of this fuse holder is for it to be installed as close as possible to the positive battery terminal. As for the fuse size, […]
A Look at Bluetooth Sound Quality in Car Audio Systems
If you’re looking for the best performance from your car audio system, the limitations of Bluetooth sound quality might be holding you back. Even if you’re streaming lossless or high-res files from Tidal or audio files stored directly on your phone, wireless connections to a car audio source unit are often optimized for bandwidth, not […]
The Four Stages of High-End Car Audio – Part 4: Product Quality
The final article in our series on understanding high-end car audio systems moves away from the need for accurate system design, integration, configuration and calibration to discuss audio product quality. If you’ve been a long-time reader of the articles at BestCarAudio.com, you know that we put a significant emphasis on identifying car audio products that […]
The Difference Between Lumens, Lux and Candela
When it comes to upgrading your vehicle’s lighting, a clear understanding of lumens, lux and candela is not just beneficial, it’s crucial. Just like some less scrupulous car audio amplifier, speaker and subwoofer manufacturers, automotive lighting manufacturers often manipulate specifications. This is evident when you browse through platforms like Amazon, AliExpress or Temu, where you’ll […]
The Four Stages of High-End Car Audio – Part 3: Imaging
The third article in our series on understanding high-end car audio systems delves into the fascinating world of imaging. In essence, imaging is the ability of an audio system to recreate the precise location of a performer or instrument on a soundstage. While not all recordings excel in this aspect, some are genuinely awe-inspiring. Let’s […]
Speaker Sensitivity – Specifications and Explanation
Every speaker, be it a tweeter, midrange driver, woofer or subwoofer, will have a sensitivity rating. Sensitivity ratings attempt to describe how much sound a speaker will produce for a given amount of power from an amplifier. There’s a common misconception that more efficiency is better. Longtime readers of BestCarAudio.com won’t be surprised to learn […]