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Apple CarPlay Entertainment Options Expanded

Apple CarPlay EntertainmentiPhone users are excited by the news that Tidal and SiriusXM are now part-compatible with Apple CarPlay. These subscription-based music services add to the extensive entertainment selections already available for control by using your voice. Let’s take a close look at these new Apple CarPlay entertainment options.

What is Tidal?

Apple CarPlay EntertainmentIn similar fashion to Google Play Music and Apple Music, Tidal is a music streaming service with a catalog of almost 50 million songs. Tidal has differentiated itself by claiming to pay the highest royalties to artists and rights owners. (Before you rush out to sign a record deal, keep in mind that artists get about 10% of the income paid to the owners of master copies and the publishers/record companies).

Tidal emphasizes its commitment to creating and supporting a sustainable music industry at every opportunity. Well-known performers listed as artist-owners on their website include Alicia Keys, Arcade Fire’s Win Butler and Regine Chassagne, Beyoncé, Calvin Harris, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Daft Punk, Damian Marley, deadmau5, Indochine, J. Cole, Jack White, Jason Aldean, Shawn “JAY Z” Carter, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, T.I., and Usher. You can see all of the information at HERE if you want more details.

What Does Tidal Cost?

Apple CarPlay EntertainmentTidal offers two levels of service. The Premium service costs $9.99 a month and provides users with access to Tidal’s song, music video and editorial content. The HiFi subscription chimes in at $19.99 a month and delivers audio in uncompressed, CD-quality FLAC formats as well as 50,000 tracks from Warner Music Group in Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) formats. There is some debate about the true benefit of MQA, but you can be confident that both FLAC CD-Quality and MQA formats far exceed what you are used to hearing from conventional streaming services.

With the addition of Tidal to the CarPlay family, you can now enjoy your music with dramatically improved sound quality and access your favorite music by simply asking for it.

SiriusXM Radio on Apple CarPlay

Apple CarPlay EntertainmentSiriusXM shouldn’t be new to mobile audio enthusiasts. All of the key source unit manufacturers offer SiriusXM compatibility on their premium source unit options, and most automakers include SXM receivers in their mid- and top-trim level vehicles. With more than 140 channels of genre-specific entertainment and coverage for most of North America, SiriusXM allows music enthusiasts to enjoy programming in extremely remote areas.

The addition of SiriusXM Radio to the CarPlay family is more about functionality and integration than about service. A satellite-based subscription or streaming subscription has a base price of $15.99 per month. If you have a satellite-based subscription, you can add streaming access for $4 per month.

To be clear, the addition of SiriusXM Radio to the CarPlay family does not mean you can control your hardware-based satellite radio receiver.

Why Choose SiriusXM Radio?

Just as with other applications, the benefit of being part of the CarPlay family is in the safety of the interface. If you want to listen to Howard Stern, get play-by-play from the big game or listen to your favorite music, all you have to do is ask.

Communicate and Be Entertained Safely with CarPlay

If your vehicle doesn’t already have Apple CarPlay, drop by your local mobile enhancement retailer and check out the wide variety of multimedia receivers available. Be sure to bring along your iPhone so you can see just how easy, intuitive and safe Apple CarPlay is.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY, Satellite Radio

Everything You Need To Know About SiriusXM Satellite Radio

SiriusXM Satellite RadioIt seems you can’t go anywhere these days without hearing or seeing evidence of SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Satellite radio is touted as a commercial-free entertainment solution that can be accessed almost anywhere in North America. With more than 175 channels of music, comedy, sports and talk radio available 24 hours a day, there is always something to listen to. Let’s look at the how satellite radio began, how it works and why it has been so popular.

The Early Days of Satellite Radio

XM Satellite Radio evolved from the American Mobile Satellite Corp. AMSC was a consortium of companies that wanted to use satellite technology to broadcast telephone, data and fax information around the country. In 1992, AMSC formed the American Mobile Radio Corp. to develop a satellite-based digital radio service. AMRC was spun off from AMSC in 1998 as XM Satellite Radio. XM Radio was first to broadcast, launching on Sept. 25, 2001.

In 1990, Sirius Satellite Radio set out to attract customers and vehicle manufacturing partners to its proposed music service. After years of planning, development and licensing, Sirius launched three satellites in July 2000 and started broadcasting in January 2002.

Satellite radio was the hot ticket in the early the early 2000s, and partnerships with automakers were crucially important to each company. Sirius gained the support of Ford, BMW and Chrysler, while XM had General Motors, Honda and Toyota on board.

Satellite Radio Company Merger

SiriusXM Satellite RadioIn January 2005, the New York Post announced that Sirius and XM would merge into a single company on Feb. 19, 2007. The combined companies had about 14 million subscribers, but neither company had posted a profit. The result of the merger was SiriusXM – the brand we have now.

SiriusXM is now integrated into 75 percent of the new car market, with roughly 40 percent of those vehicle owners becoming subscribers. As of late 2017, there are about 32 million subscribers.

How Satellite Radio Works

Satellite radio is actually a very simple broadcasting system. The company has its main studios in Rockefeller Center in New York City and in Washington, D.C. Secondary facilities are in Los Angeles, Nashville and Memphis. The company plays music from its extensive catalog and has live performance spaces to host musicians and performers from all genres.

The information is broadcast to a set of satellites above the Earth that rebroadcast that information back to Earth. The broadcast covers most of North America. The satellite radio receiver in your vehicle (car, truck, boat or aircraft) uses a compact antenna to pick up the signal and extract the channel of audio you want to enjoy.

They Really Have Satellites?

SiriusXM Satellite RadioWhether it’s a live performance, your favorite music or a great discussion about religion or politics, all of the information is combined into a complex digital signal that is transmitted to a set of five active satellites that cover North America. XM-2 and XM-5 are in a geostationary position above the Earth. That is to say, they stay in the same relative position all the time. Positioned about 22,370 miles above the Earth, the satellites relay broadcast information from the studio transmitters to all of North America, excluding the left half of Alaska. XM-2 covers the west side of the country while XM-3 covers the east.

The Sirius satellites also operate in geostationary orbits. Sirius FM-6 covers the West Coast while Sirius FM-5 is located south of New Orleans to cover the East. Early Sirius satellites (Sirius 1, Sirius 2 and Sirius 3) crossed the planet in a figure 8 pattern that had two of the three over North America at any time.

As you can see, there have been many satellites over the almost 20 years of satellite radio. In total, nine have been launched, with the most recent being Sirius FM-6 on Oct. 25, 2013. Sirius FM-6 was the first to broadcast both Sirius and XM transmission frequencies.

The Benefit of Satellite Radio

SiriusXM Satellite RadioSo, what’s the big deal? Why do people gravitate toward satellite radio? The answer comes from its coverage. You can make a road trip from Miami, up to Montreal, across to Vancouver then down to San Diego without having to change the station. If you want to listen to Howard Stern for the entire 90 hours of driving, you most certainly can.

Conventional terrestrial broadcasts (AM and FM radio) are limited in their coverage areas. In fact, the FCC regulates the strength of the signal (to 70 dBu, or decibels relative to one microvolt per meter of signal strength). That way, a station frequency can be re-used again in a relatively nearby location. The actual distance varies because of atmospheric conditions but usually covers 75 to 100 miles from the transmitter. Because each station is responsible for its own content, if spaced perfectly, you’d need to change stations between 60 and 80 times. In reality, you’d need likely a few thousand attempts to find a station that was playing the type of music you wanted.

More Than Just Cars and Trucks

SiriusXM Satellite RadioSiriusXM satellite radio services have been synonymous with marine entertainment systems since they launched. Many people have cottages or camps in very remote areas that have few if any radio stations at all, so being able to enjoy their favorite genre of entertainment is fantastic. Likewise, receivers such as the SiriusXM Sound Station let you enjoy music in your home.

Things You Didn’t Know SiriusXM Could Do

Most of us are used to having satellite radio entertainment in the car, but there are several other applications for the system as well. Many aircraft, both small and large, can get weather and location information using a SiriusXM Aviation receiver. In fact, many Garmin aviation-specific products have the SXM receiver built in.

SiriusXM Satellite RadioSiriusXM Marine provides weather information including lighting strike locations and radar, fishing information and more. Many Garmin, Raymarine, Simrad, Lowrance, B&G and Furuno devices are compatible with SiriusXM Marine.

SiriusXM Music for Business offers entertainment solutions that are tailored to different business types. Serve Happy covers restaurants and bars, and Shop Happy is designed for retail stores. There are channels for waiting rooms, spa and fitness businesses, banks and even music dedicated to use when clients must be put on hold on the phone.

Currently only available on OEM source units, SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link provide traffic flow information as well as local weather, fuel prices, sports scores and even movie listings. Traffic information mimics that of terrestrial RDS-TMC services in major urban areas.

The Cost of SiriusXM Satellite Radio

SiriusXM Satellite RadioWith the need to replace satellites roughly every 15 years, license music, pay hosts and celebrities, SiriusXM requires a subscription to access its services. In the U.S., prices start at $10.99 a month for 80 basic channels. If you want some of the artist-specific channels and MLB, NBA and NHL coverage, that rises to $15.99. To add Howard Stern, NFL and NASCAR coverage, the price is $19.99. Adding the ability to stream Sirius XM to your computer increases any of the above by $4 a month.

Enjoy the Entertainment You Want, Almost Anywhere

Whether you are in downtown New York or venturing to Supai, Arizona (the most remote community in the contiguous U.S.), enjoying your music is easy with SiriusXM satellite radio. If your vehicle doesn’t already have a satellite radio receiver, drop by your local mobile enhancement retailer and ask about your options to add SiriusXM.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY, Satellite Radio

Buying A New Car Audio Head Unit

Head UnitWhen it comes time for buying an upgraded or replacement head unit for your vehicle, there are certainly a lot of options to consider. Size, features, compatibility and accessories are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to modern source units. Let’s take a look at some basic radio-buying knowledge and a few of the latest features and innovations that vie for space in your dash.

Size And Style

Head Unit
As the name implies, a double din radio is twice as tall as a single din radio.

There are two sizes of aftermarket radios available: single-DIN and double-DIN. The former is 2 inches tall, the latter is 4 inches tall and both are 7 inches wide. One size isn’t better than the other; they are just different. Single-DIN is the most popular size for AM/FM CD receivers, and double-DIN (also known as 2-DIN) is more popular for multimedia receivers. There are some small-screen single-DIN multimedia decks and a good variety that have motorized flip-out touchscreen monitors.

Audio Features

Here is where your pre-purchase homework begins. What do you want your new radio (also known as a source unit) to do – iPod audio playback? Bluetooth hands-free cellphone and audio streaming? Backup camera display? Digital media playback? Consider how you use your existing radio and what features you’d like to have. Make yourself a list and take it with you to the store.

Head Unit
The Kenwood DDX393 head unit offers 3 sets of preamp outputs.

It will help your salesperson if you know whether you want to expand the audio system with better speakers, an amplifier or a subwoofer. If so, then you should look for a source unit with six-channel preamp outputs rated at a minimum of 4 volts RMS. The unit should have adjustable electronic crossovers and a subwoofer level control built in.

Are you going to use an external signal processor for equalization, or is the built-in unit adequate? Look for as many equalizer bands as possible if you are going to use the on-board processing. Some source units offer time alignment to delay the signals to the speakers for better imaging and staging. Imaging and staging refer to where it seems as if the music is coming from. Most audiophiles prefer for it to sound like the performance is coming from as far out in front of them as possible. Some people like to be surrounded by the sound. Let your salesperson know which you prefer.

Smartphone Integration

Most radios these days have the option of a Bluetooth transceiver. Bluetooth is a low-power data communication protocol. It can be used for hands-free phone calls, audio streaming and – beyond the car audio environment – much more. Take your phone with you to the store and pair it to the radio you are thinking of buying. Turn the power to the radio on and off a few times and make sure it reconnects every time. Have the store call your phone to make sure it rings as expected. Finally, try streaming audio from your phone to the radio.

Head Unit
Many radios now offer the safety and convenience of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

It’s critical to make sure the phone works properly before you purchase the radio. If the software on the phone is updated (something that seems to happen every few months), some features or functions may not work as intended. Some higher-end source units will allow two phones to be paired simultaneously. This could be beneficial to families who share the use of the vehicle.

There are several multimedia radios that include dedicated smartphone integration software for iPhone- and Android-based phones. Apple has developed the CarPlay system for the iPhone, and Google has Android Auto for newer Android devices. These interfaces let you talk to your radio to perform functions like reading and sending text messages, making phone calls, getting navigation instructions, and choosing what music to play.

Navigation

Head Unit
The Kenwood DNX892 offers sophisticated navigation features.

Multimedia source units have become synonymous with GPS navigation. Mapping software is built into the radio, and it knows where you are using a signal from a series of satellites that are in a stationary orbit around the world. These programs rely on complex algorithms and map data to plot an efficient course from your current location to a destination you choose. You are, however, at the mercy of the accuracy of the map data. You will want to inquire about the cost to upgrade maps, and what the procedure is. You will want to check to make sure that any state or province you want to travel to is included in the mapping on the unit.

Finally, ask about how many Points of Interest are included. If you love to get your coffee from Starbucks, then the more POI information there is, the faster you can get your java fix.

Digital Media Support

Most people now source their music from the Internet. Historically, MP3 and WMA files were popular. These files were very small, and you could put hundreds of them on a single CD and thousands on a DVD or USB stick. Their problem? The file size was reduced by throwing away some of the most subtle information in the music. The audio wasn’t completely ruined, but these didn’t sound as good as a CD.

Head Unit
The Sony RSX-GS9 is a high resolution player capable of playing FLAC files

The industry has seen a welcome focus on high-resolution audio files in the past few years with the rise in popularity of FLAC and ALAC file formats. FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Code and ALAC for Apple Lossless Audio Codec. These file formats are lossless – no audio information is removed. They are compressed in a similar way that “zipping” a computer file makes the file smaller for more efficient transmission by e-mail. These file formats also support higher resolution – audio frequencies up to almost 100 kHz and more detail in the form of 24-bit depth. If sound quality is your thing, then support for lossless audio might be worth investigating.

On multimedia source units, manufacturers have recently added support for the H.264 codec to the list of video file formats that can be decoded. H.264 is most often seen in video files with the MKV extension (known as Matroska). These files offer great image quality in relatively compact file sizes. Many newer multimedia units also feature an HDMI input so you can feed video into the unit from your phone, a video camera or even a game system. The better units have an associated feature called MHL. On Android phones, you can use the MHL connection to send touchscreen commands back to your phone. You can change source and play movies or music videos from your phone without touching it at all.

Accessories

We have grown accustomed to satellite radio being an option on many radios – in its current format, SiriusXM is now the only option. Be wary of older source units. They used tuner modules that are extremely rare these days. You may want to check for the inclusion of an HD radio tuner if there are stations in your area that use that as part of their FM broadcasting. Pandora and other cellphone-based streaming sources are also popular source unit options.

Head Unit
The Alpine HCE-C125 is a high-quality backup camera that offers great image clarity.

With a multimedia radio, you will want to look at adding a backup camera. Backup cameras dramatically reduce the chance of having an accident while backing up your vehicle. The camera image appears on the screen of your radio as soon as you put the vehicle transmission in reverse. Some multimedia radios have the provision for a secondary camera – a forward-facing camera is a great idea for lowered vehicles or sports cars that could bump into a parking curb.

Specifications

If you have read many of our articles, then you know by now that some companies like to play games with specifications. The worst offenders are the guys that rate head unit amplifier power. They put 45, 50 or 53 watt labels on the radio when, in fact, most produce no more than 18 to 22 watts of undistorted power. Look through the owner’s manual for the CEA-2006A compliant power specification for your vehicle. If you want to compare power, that’s the only specification you should consider.

Another important specification is preamp voltage. Nobody plays games with this specification any more, but you do want to look for a good, strong pre-amp if you plan on adding amplifiers. Look for a rating of 4 volts or more.

Why is this important? While it doesn’t make your amplifier play any louder, it does let your installer turn down the sensitivity adjustment on your amps, so you get all the power with potentially less background noise.

Integration

Head Unit
The Maestro Interface allows control of vehicle settings via the head unit.

Factory-installed source units often include different forms of vehicle integration features. The simplest are steering wheel audio controls. Thankfully, almost all quality source units can be made to work with factory controls via an external interface. If your factory radio also serves as the control screen for your heater and air conditioning, or for vehicle settings like headlight reminders, then fear not: The iDataLink Maestro system can talk to your vehicle and let you see what’s going on via the touchscreen of your multimedia radio. Axxess, a division of Metra Electronics, will be launching a similar interface very shortly.

Interface

Head Unit
How you interface with the radio is one of the most important aspects of head unit selection.

Above all else, the first thing you want to do after you have narrowed down your source unit options is to try them out. Is there a rotary or push-button volume control? If it’s push-button, does it respond fast enough if you want to turn the volume down quickly? Can you easily pair a new phone to the radio? Can you adjust the bass and treble? Set radio station presets? Make a phone call? You will want to spend a few minutes in the store playing with the radio to make sure it’s easy and safe to use while driving – not all of them are.

There are hundreds of different source units on the market, and your local car audio specialist can help you navigate all the options. There are still many more features and options that your salesperson can discuss with you, so work with your local car audio specialist retailer to make sure you get the radio that meets your needs.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Backup Safety, Bluetooth, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY, Satellite Radio

10 Things to Consider When Buying Car Audio

Buying-Car-Audio-FI-1
Photo courtesy of Prestige Car Audio and Marine in Metairie, LA

Brought to you by our friends at BestCarAudio.com

When it comes to buying or upgrading a car audio system, there are hundreds of products to choose from and dozens of questions for you to ask the sales staff at your local car audio retailer. This article provides some basic guidelines to help make the process easier for you, and ensure you get the equipment and service that fulfills your goals.

1. What is your point?

Have you ever been driving while listening to music and thought to yourself, “That doesn’t sound right” or “This system doesn’t get loud enough”? Even worse, maybe you have headphones on – something that is illegal in many states and provinces. If there has even been a thought other than “I love my car stereo,” then you should make a visit to your local car audio retailer. Before you go, make sure you know why you are going. Is part of your system broken? Do you want a radio with a new feature? Do you want better sound quality? more overall volume? a little more bass? a lot more bass? Knowing what to ask for will help you arrive at the perfect audio solution quickly and efficiently.

Buying Car AudioIf you have friends with aftermarket car audio systems, ask them if you can have a listen. Write down what you like about their systems and what you would do differently. If you enjoy your music loud, take some notes on a system that you think plays loudly enough – the make and model of speakers, amplifiers and subwoofers. If there was something you liked, like a pair of speakers or radio, write down the model numbers. Do the same for your existing system. If you provide clear goals, your retailer can narrow down upgrade suggestions accurately and efficiently.

A request from your retailer: Be honest about your goals and expectations. If you tell your dealer that you just want a small sub, but you like the sound of a pair of 12s in the back of your friend’s truck, you will end up being disappointed, and will likely push the system beyond its limits or to the point of failure. Ask for what you really want, and you will get something you will enjoy.

2. The Latest Thing

Buying Car AudioOver the past five years, the number of people who have chosen to add some form of Bluetooth hands-free solution to their vehicles has been considerable. If the solution has been a new head unit, then they also get USB for music playback from their phones or memory sticks. If there is something new that you want, let your retailer know. Some popular upgrades include a new source unit with CarPlay or Android Auto interfaces, cellphone voice dialing, SiriusXM satellite radio, a backup camera or parking sensor system, or a source unit with a Pandora Radio interface or support for high-resolution audio files like FLAC. Your local dealer would be happy to show you some of the features and products available to the mobile electronics industry.

3. Check it out

Once you have narrowed down your reason for visiting a retailer, you should have a plan to audition the product you have chosen. If it’s a radio, using it on a display board can often tell you almost everything you want to know. Make sure the user interface is easy to use and to understand. If it has Bluetooth, make sure your phone will pair with it and reconnect automatically every time you turn on the radio. If you are looking at a multimedia source unit, make sure you know how long it takes to start up when you start your car. This is important if you are adding a backup camera to the vehicle. Waiting for the radio to start so you can use the camera to back up is somewhat frustrating.

If you are after speakers or a subwoofer system, then auditioning those in a vehicle is a great idea. Once you have established how the products sound, you can listen to different speakers or subs on a display board in the store, and reference the difference from the product you listened to in the car.

4. What Flavor?

Do you need an audio system with everything from a single manufacturer? Absolutely not. While there is nothing wrong with having amps and speakers from the same company that makes your radio, different companies have different areas of expertise. The store you are dealing with carries certain brands for several reasons. Typically, a retailer chooses brands for their performance, reliability, and how easily the store owners can work with the manufacturer or supplier. When a store has a good relationship with a supplier, that often translates into better pricing and service on the products for the store, and subsequently for you.

Some consumers are skeptical about why a brand is suggested to them. That is not unreasonable, since many big box retailers are prone to pushing products that are profitable for them. Do your research and audition the products for yourself. If you like something different, then go with that. Just make sure your comparisons are “apples to apples” as best you can, and are based on fact, not reputation.

5. Trained Professionals

Buying Car AudioWhen it comes to handing over the keys to your car or truck, you want to know that the person working on the vehicle knows exactly what they are doing. There are programs like MECP (Mobile Electronics Certified Professional) and various local and regional government-run qualification standards that can help to quantify the skillset and knowledge of the person who will be working on your vehicle.

It is also worthwhile to ask to look at some of the work the shop has done. You want to ensure that everything is always neat and tidy when it comes to wire routing, and that products are mounted safely and securely. A neat and tidy installation area can be a good sign. You can often quantify the reliability of a shop by its clientele – if there are high-end cars around, then it probably has a good reputation.

6. Do It Yourself?

Buying Car AudioOver the years, do-it-yourself car audio installations have allowed people to learn a great deal about how their systems work. With the quality of factory systems improving day by day, the challenge of installing something “better” is becoming more and more difficult. Understanding polarity, phase, summing, equalization and time alignment is paramount to a successful installation. From a physical installation standpoint, working with aluminum chassis vehicles or ones with adhesive panel bonding and data communication buses poses unique challenges. Finally, even choosing a location to mount equipment has become more difficult. There are multiple computers scattered around modern vehicles, and any one of them could be a potential source of audio interference.

All of these are reasons not to do it yourself, but to turn to an established, reliable, knowledgeable shop.

7. Hook Me Up!

Modern vehicles offer many challenges when it comes to installing audio equipment. In many new vehicles, it is impossible to remove the factory radio because other vehicle functions are incorporated into it. In the case of these vehicles, you will want to make sure the shop you are working with has the tools and knowledge to test the factory audio equipment properly for signal connection points and deal with any integration challenges that come up. There are many products on the market designed to integrate with factory audio systems; ask your retailer which they use and why.

8. Stepping Higher

Buying Car AudioIf you are looking for real performance from your audio system, your retailer may suggest several accessories that can improve that performance. Adding sound-deadening to your vehicle should be at the top of your list. Properly installed sound-deadening not only makes the vehicle quieter but can improve the performance of your speakers by preventing the sound coming from the rear of the speaker from canceling with the sound coming from the front. Bluetooth systems work better when the vehicle is quieter, and most sound-deadening materials also block heat, so your vehicle will be more comfortable. A moderately priced set of speakers installed with proper sound-deadening can sound better than an expensive set without deadening.

If the shop needs to create adapter rings for your speakers, what materials are they using? Ideally, you want something that will not be harmed by water – ABS plastic, HDPE plastic, or Lexan and plexiglass materials are great choices.

A higher-end installation may start to involve some cosmetic fabrication. Many shops are adept at creating trim and accent panels that can add unique style to your system and you vehicle. Materials like leather, vinyl, suede, transparent plastics and mesh are very commonly integrated into custom door, dash and trim panels. Shops should have some samples of their work on display so you can see what they offer.

9. Play Me a Tune

Buying Car AudioOne of the most critical aspects of installing any car audio system is ensuring that each speaker is working in harmony with all the others in the vehicle. From the simplest check of balance and fader controls to ensuring that the acoustic polarity of your subwoofer is correct, each system deserves a good listen by your installer before it leaves the install bay.

As you delve deeper into the quest for realism and sonic perfection from your audio system, you will no doubt encounter Digital Signal Processing (DSP). There are several source units and amplifiers on the market with great DSP features, and the standalone processors are amazing. The key to the success of any of these systems starts with the design of the system and finishes with proper tuning. You will never get a great soundstage in front of you if your speakers are beside you. Auditioning a shop’s skills in tuning DSP systems can usually only be done in a vehicle, although a few shops have some dramatic displays in their showrooms. Have a listen to the demo vehicle.

10. After the Fact

Once your system is installed and tuned, the shop should give you a thorough walk-through of how it works, what adjustments you can make and what you should not touch. If you find that you don’t like some aspect of the system’s performance, then go back to the shop. Do not start turning dials and pushing buttons on your own – if the system was tuned properly and you start messing with it, you are more than likely to start to damage your equipment. This is a nice way of asking you not to turn up the gains on your amps.

Many shops offer lifetime installation warranties on products they install. Don’t get hung up if they don’t – it’s the philosophy of more and more shops to invest in making the installations they do so good that there is almost no chance of failure. Talk to your salesperson and understand their logic. In this case, the right answer is the one that works best for you.

Also, be sure to ask about the warranty on the products you are purchasing. Many car audio products have longer warranties when they are installed by an authorized dealer. Ask the shop what happens if something breaks. A few shops offer a direct exchange program; some send the product away for repair. Just make sure you understand how your shop of choice handles things before you make the purchase.

Buying Car Audio

The bottom line: Work with a competent retailer and you will end up with an audio system that sounds amazing and lasts for years and years. Great-sounding music can make a drive much more enjoyable.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Backup Safety, Bluetooth, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY, Satellite Radio

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