If you think about how much time you spend in your car; you will probably be a bit shocked. Researchers estimate that the average American spends more than 2 hours in their cars, that's quite a lot of time to spend in silence... There's no doubt about it, a good sound system in your car is worth its weight in gold. It will give you countless hours of pleasure and relaxation; and make for a far more interesting ride to work and back every day. Car sound systems: a lifelong love For many people, great car audio is a lifelong passion. They can never have enough raw sound power coming from their vehicles! Even though their cars look like science fiction creations, they continue adding subwoofers and amplifiers until every available surface is covered. Although in some states in the US these so called "boom cars" are outlawed, you are free to blast your music as loud as you want in most of the world. This has given rise to a whole subculture of people who are so passionate about pimping out their sound systems that they are willing to spend a fortune on subwoofers, amplifiers and all kinds of extra equipment. Choosing the perfect car audio for you: For the average driver and passenger, a standard sound system is more than enough to experience the music adequately. If you aren't looking to spend a fortune on car sound, there are many great entry level models that come complete with everything you need to listen to the radio, cd's, you ipod and music from a flash drive. All you need are some speakers and you are ready to go, in style! Higher end car audio systems can include computers, DVD viewing and even full gaming consoles. Go ahead, turn the sound up and enjoy the soundtrack to your life. Even if you are stuck in a traffic jam!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Car Audio You Can Be Proud
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Car Backup Camera System-monitor screen
Getting into an automobile accident can not only cause injury to those involved, but it can also increase your monthly insurance premium by a significant amount. Each year, there is new technology being developed by car manufacturers to reduce these occurrences. One of these devices is the car backup camera which has become popular in recent years so the following are tips to making the purchase. Even if your vehicle does not come with a camera to help you when reversing out of a parking space, you can still purchase them from aftermarket companies like VR3 and Audiovox. You might think that such car electronics is expensive, but you would be rather surprised as to how affordable they are. In fact, you can easily purchase a quality unit for under a hundred dollars. If you purchase a similar device from the dealership, they can exceed several hundred dollars or even higher depending on the company. When making the purchase, be sure to look for those wireless units as these will be much easier to install. These typically mount on the rear of your vehicle either on the license plate or on the bumper so it should also come with brackets to make the installation simple. VR3 offers a backup camera system that also includes a monitor screen that attaches to your dashboard so you can be able to see exactly what is behind you. Purchasing those models that have an automatic activation is a good idea when you put the car in reverse. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for so spending a little extra on a quality device is definitely worth it as they can be used for many years.
ways to use the mp3 player in the car
If you walk down the streets, the chances that you don't see anyone listening to an mp3 player is almost zero. It has become widely used as it provides hours of music listening time without the need to change any CDs or tapes. In fact, it would be perfect if car owners could listen to their mp3 player while driving. But is it really possible? The answer is yes and in this article we will look at the different ways to use the mp3 player in the car so that we do not need to carry CDs or tapes anymore. In addition, you can conveniently carry the player with you after driving since it is so small and light. Most mp3 players come with a port to plug in the headphones. However, we will need to look for a way to connect the car stereo to the mp3 player if we want to listen to it while driving. Here are a few methods that you could use to achieve this. Method 1: Using auxiliary in In fact, this is the easiest method because all you need to do is to plug in the auxiliary input into the port of your mp3 players. You will then be able to enjoy hours of great audio quality which is equivalent to that of a CD. The Sony car stereo usually has the auxiliary in and you might want to take advantage of it because not all head units come with this feature. Method 2: Using cassette tape adapter It can be commonly found in electronic stores for a very affordable price. This device will allow us to hook up an external audio device such as an mp3 player to the audio head units. In fact, it is easy to setup and all you need to do it to insert the cassette tape into the car's tape player and connect the other end to the port found on the mp3 player. But, I would not really recommend using this because most of the cars now do not come with a cassette player and the audio quality is pretty much inferior as compared to using a CD. Method 3: Using a MP3 FM transmitter This is a genius device that will transmit the audio signal of your mp3 player into a FM frequency which is then pick up by the car audio system. You will need to plug in the FM transmitter to your mp3 player and then search for the FM frequency that is not used by the nearby FM station. Tune your car stereo to the specified FM frequency you have set and you can now enjoy your favorite music. However, some of the FM transmitters come with preset frequency channels so make sure you get one that does not clash with your neighborhood FM station frequency in order to get the best audio quality. There are many other methods available but these are the 3 methods that are more commonly used. Select the one that you prefer and yet fit your budget. In fact, I would recommend getting the FM transmitter because it is pretty affordable and yet not compromising the audio quality if the right one is chosen.
iPod Nano car accessories
The iPod Nano is a flash based digital portable music player with a video camera, designed and introduced by Apple in 2005. Like larger iPod models, the Nano too has a color screen. The thinnest and most colourful model is the 4G model which was introduced in 2008 and came in nine attractive colors. It had an additional feature of an accelerometer, which automatically switches the screen from portrait to landscape mode. The introduction of the iPod Nano saw a number of companies, bringing up of a plethora of car accessories which added value and made the Nano user friendly and also gave the driver a host of additional gadgets, which help them to enjoy their music while driving. The Belkin s Tune FM is a great FM transmitter which is compact and blends perfectly, when connected to the bottom of the iPod Nano. A cigarette lighter adapter which is removable ensures that the player remains connected during the lengthiest and most tedious journeys and its four preset buttons make station shuttling very easy. The car charger for the iPod Nano is another very handy car accessory which helps in charging the iPod while traveling. It fits into the car cigarette lighter socket and is the easy and convenient to use. Another accessory is the iPod holder cum charger which functions both as an iPod holder as well as a charger. It is convenient to use, as it rests on the holder and also functions as a power charger through the cigarette lighter adaptor. The built in adjustable holder with dock connector that connects iPod to the car stereo will allow enjoying digital music with full stereo sound. The iPod Nano car accessories have made driving a pleasurable experience with its user friendly nature. With every passing day innovative accessories are being added on to satisfy the user s never ending quest for more and more gadgets.
iPod Accessories to Enhance Your Driving Experience
Nowadays, iPods can be widely seen on the streets and this shows how successful Apple is in marketing its products. Whenever people want to MP3, the elegant white gadget from Apple would definitely be within their list. With the wide used of iPods, you can now find many different car accessories for iPods in the market. In fact, I do recommend you to get one to enhance your driving experience especially if you need to drive a long distance often. As I mentioned earlier, there are a wide variety of iPod accessories and it is generally being categorized into 3 different groups. The first group of accessories will allow you to connect your iPod directly to your car audio. The second group of accessories is to hold your iPod in place while you drive and the last group is the charger. In order to play your iPod music through the car audio system, you will need to use either the auxiliary in feature or a FM transmitter. By playing music through the MP3 player, you are essentially reducing the hassle of burning and carrying CDs. It would be good if your car audio system has the auxiliary feature or you can consider getting a FM transmitter which is much cheaper than replacing the entire car stereo. You can listen to music from your iPod by using the FM transmitter. All you need to do is to plug in the transmitter into your car's cigarette lighter adapter and the other end to your iPod. Next, you will need to search for an unused FM frequency and tune you car stereo to the exact station that you have set. Now, you will be able to enjoy the music from your iPod and keep you entertain throughout the journey. In order to keep the iPod in place, you will need to get a car mount. However, you will need to make sure that the mount is situated closer to the radio so that it will not affect the quality of the music. Make sure you purchase the correct size of car mount so that it could keep your iPod firmly in place while allowing you to reach for it with ease. Alternatively, you can choose to use a cup holder mount if it fits nicely to prevent any scratches. Lastly, you will need a charger that could be use in your car. If you are unsure, do ask the shop assistant to make sure that the charger could be plug into the cigarette light adapter. However, you could avoid this hassle if you purchase a FM transmitter than could charge your iPod at the same time. In fact, most people prefer the latter since it is much more convenient.
Car Audio System Gear-audio system
The trend nowadays is changing so fast and music has made its way with it. In line with this, gadgets that are capable of handling music now became an essential mania. People prefer to be with it anywhere, it even reached its installation in cars. This car sound or most commonly known by many people as audio system is also a famous choice amongst car owners. However, it must be made clear to all of us that a car audio system is far different with those systems that we have at home. But, as like that we have at own, car audio also need amplifiers and speakers. But, there are some things that must be put in consideration when purchasing one to own. It must be a type that is capable of giving a high quality tune. To do so, you can begin searching through the web for options regarding the purchase of car adios and compare not just the quantity of the product but the quality as well. Determine also your purpose for it and consider the type of music that you are fond of listening, for this is very important also for your purchase. Select the type of components that will be used for your audio system and consider the type of installation of the system. Safety must not be put at risk, so as possible, it is recommended that you have to choose those that can be easily installed, and which parts can be easily replaced, and prefer those amplifiers that are light but of quality. If you aim for a better output, the best thing to do is to accompany your amplifier with tuners and speakers. But, make it sure that the speakers you have must suit your amplifier. Moreover, choose from a reliable and trustworthy store to ensure of the products' warranty.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Installing Infinity Car Speakers-Tips
So you want to enhance the sound quality of your in car stereo system? One of the best ways to do this is to rip out the factory speakers and install one of the many different types of Infinity car speakers instead. Infinity car audio speakers are designed to produce a reasonable sound volume. You can improve this by adding an amplifier and a subwoofer to your automobile. These two pieces of kit will help to give you a total surround sound effect. You can overdo it though so if the music from your newly installed system sounds rather fuzzy, you should reduce the volume level of the amplifier. I would definitely leave the amplifier and sub to the experts to install. In fact to be honest, I would let them do the whole lot. But I know some of you will want to replace the speakers yourself. Unless you are mechanically minded, installing speakers may not be as simple as it looks. Although instructions come in the pack, they cannot cover every make and model of car available so may not be as comprehensive as you need them to be. Don't forget to disconnect the negative battery lead before you start work. We don't want any nasty surprises. You should keep the new speakers in their packaging until you are ready for them. They should glide very easily into their new home so never force them or you will end up causing damage. If you have to cut anything to make room, please be careful with the fuel, hydraulic, electrical and vacuum lines. More than one would be engineer has drilled through these rather important parts of the engine! If in doubt, don't try to save a couple of dollars installing your new Infinity Car Speakers yourself but instead ask your local friendly authorized retailer to do it for you.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
car audio-Tokyo Auto Salon
AN EAR FOR ELECTRONICS
George Ogura, president of a car audio company, sits on a seat surrounded by his company's sound system, which won the Grand Prix in a car audio contest at the Tokyo Auto Salon, an annual custom car show at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan,.
BEST CAR AUDIO SHOWS
The reason underlying the popularity of car audio shows, throughout the world, is that they provide opportunities to share one’s love and interest in cars, compete with other car audio fans, and to win a prize and recognition. Car audio shows are cherished in many developed countries but especially in USA and Canada. Today, the US has a number of organizations that arrange car audio shows for both American and foreign citizens. These organizations host car audio competitions in various categories that are open to members of the respective organizations from various countries. IASCA, USACi, and dB Drag Racing are a few of the most famous organizations that arrange car audio shows in USA. Car audio shows are one of the dearest kinds of events for fans of cars audio systems. These shows allow car fans from various social and ethnic backgrounds to come together and share their interests and experiences of car audio systems. Car audio shows are arranged by various organizations working in different geographical locations. These organizations update their members on upcoming car audio shows, competitions and prizes offered at the event, and availability of new car audio products. The three most famous US organizations that arrange domestic as well as international car audio shows are IASCA, USACi, and dB Drag Racing. Other car audio organizations are gradually making a firmer footing in the car audio business. IASCA is a car audio organization based in the US state of Florida. It is open for membership to people from 26 different countries across the globe. Regarded as the oldest and the largest car audio competition organization, IASCA has hosted sound-quality-based competitions for quite some time. Lately, it has started arranging for competitions in the categories of SPL and idBL. To facilitate the preparation of its members for car audio shows, IASCA has its own online store that stocks accessory items like T shirts, attaché cases, and car audio software. USACi stands for United States Autosound Competition International. It is based in Arkansas and has already become notable for its popularity among car audio enthusiasts. USACi hosts car audio competitions in two main formats: Sound Quality (SQ) format and Sound pressure Level (SPL) format. Competitions in the SQ format are in turn divided into basic and advanced categories. A broader margin for potential competitors is provided by making divisions in each category and format on the basis of the auto’s power class. Besides the several power classes in the SPL format, the categories of the SQ format have two power classes: one up to 600 and the other over 600. The Texas-based car audio organization dB Drag Racing was initiated by Wayne Harris in 1996. Wayne himself is regarded as a renowned car audio competitor and sound off legend. His dB Drag Racing show offers the exciting title of the loudest vehicle to the competitors of the car audio show. The participants are categorized on the basis of the number of woofers in their system and the degree of modification of their car audio system. An exciting feature of dB Drag Racing competitions is the display of measurements on a large drag racing type that appears to the viewers like a tree of electronic display. Besides these famous car audio organizations, car audio shows with competitions are hosted by other car audio organizations like ‘MECA’ and ‘Sound Looks And its Performance’ (SLAP). Car audio shows arranged by these and other organizations are regularly announced in various print and online car audio magazines.
Best Ways To Save Money On Car Audio Gear
Car audio system may be one the most expensive hobbies one can have. But what are you going to do when an amazing car audio gear is available with great features. Well the first option that comes to mind is to bargain on that particular gadget which is not a bad idea. However make sure you bargain wisely while presenting a price that is between the wholesale and the retail price as the seller will definitely not agree on a wholesale price for the reason that most of these dealers earn their commission through the profit they get in what they sell. The craze of jazzing up your car from inside and outside with the available stuff these days has taken over the entire globe. The thing that people love to do is to have electronic gadgets installed in their cars to feel at home yet keep it fresh. Drive while watching a movie, have an iPod with FM transmission, watching a movie, have DJ equipment installed in the trunk of your car or analog and digital mixers. You can completely change the look of your car’s interior with audio and video gears within good range of price if bargained wisely. Dealers get a pretty good deal from the wholesalers but the reason for increasing the retail price is dealer’s personal commission. Bargaining is also an art that has to be learned to save your money. When it comes to saving money on car audio gears, you need to be smart about it. Some of the tips that might help you in saving some cash on expensive car audio gear are given below. Starting from the first step before going to a shop for an audio and video gear narrow down the things you want to add in your car. If you are uncertain about your needs the seller might lose interest and assume you are just there to browse. Dealers prefer attending people, who know what they really want without beating about the bush. That gives them the sense of achievement convincing you to buy something from them is not a complete waste of time. When going to a shop aim for a particular brand and its model number that shows that you are interested in purchasing and well aware of the market. For instance you want to purchase a car CD player, what you can ask a dealer is what kind of the deals provided by you on Alpine IDA-X 001 car CD players. By specifying the exact model and brand name the dealer knows what you want and if the price is affordable you might end up buying it as well. The surety of this makes the dealer talk to you, give you his complete attention recommending you for better audio gears and gives you an affordable rate. A trick that will always work in bargaining is letting the salesman know you are going to be back to buy more of the car accessories and will encourage your friends to come to him as well. Ask for the dealer’s business card before you make the purchase so that requesting for a little concession does not seem rude. Another important tip on saving money on expensive audio gears is to purchase from a local shop rather than big brands. The reason to that is simple, big brands already has money so they won’t compromise anything to give you a concession. Local shops tend to be flexible in prices and are more ambitious to do business as they need to get a good reputation in the market and probably will further take care of their regular customers.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
A car DVD player will add hours of entertainment, not only for your kids and passengers, but also for the many people that are following behind you! A mobile video system can also add resale value to your vehicle, so there are many benefits of owning a car DVD player. Of course, the absolute number one benefit has to be the calm quiet atmosphere that surrounds your car once the movie starts and the kids sit with their mouths closed. Silence is wonderful. Mobile DVD players are ideal for long trips across the nation or short ones just a few towns over. These players provide something to do for those people traveling along with you. There are many different variety mobile DVD players available on the market today. Brands such as Coby, Boss, Sony, and Toshiba are some of the best players on the market. These players come with many options such as overhead dome lights, AV inputs, and wireless capability for wireless headphones. If your main reason for purchasing an overhead car DVD player is for the children, then you will definitely want to get them wireless headphones. In no time, at all you will be so tired of hearing the same movie playing repeatedly, so the headphones will keep you from pulling out your hair. Car DVD players have high quality screens that range in size from 9 inches to over 11 inches. Many players will also play CD's as well as DVD's, so listening to your favorite music is possible. In addition to the DVD player, a car surround system would be a great compliment to your entire mobile video system. A car audio system as well as a car video system will bring you the best of both media worlds. A system like this could be great when taking a break on long trips. You can just pull into the rest area, lay your seat back, turn on a movie, and feel like you are in a movie theater while you are resting. Many overhead car DVD players come with accessories such as a small remote and an IPOD docking system. It is recommended that you hire a professional to install your car DVD player. You can also try to install it yourself if you have the skill and know how. An interesting point to make is that an overhead DVD player is not the only kind of player available for your vehicle. There are some that do not need to be installed, in fact, they fit over the front seats and face the rear passengers. Batteries operate this type of car DVD player and some even come with an adapter plug to be used in your cigarette lighter. As you would expect, this type is the cheaper of the two options. You can readily buy one for under $100. Prices for the overhead car DVD types will cost you more and will vary depending on the name brand you purchase. These prices range from $150 to over $500.
How to Install a Car Stereo Amplifier
If you want to maximize the sound system of your car, we suggest that you install a car stereo amplifier in order to power up your speakers. If you wish to use the subwoofers, you also need to get an additional one for these. Here is how you can install your car stereo amplifier yourself so that you can save money. First and foremost, you must choose where to put your new car stereo amplifier. If you are putting subwoofers, it is best that you put these in the trunk next to where you put your enclosure. If you are going to power your main speakers with your car stereo amplifier, then the best place is under the passenger's seat. You must have the following wiring available - a thick power cable (check the total wattage of your amp so you know which one to get. It is best if you consult with a sales rep or turn to the manual of the amplifier) that will reach from the battery of the car stereo amplifier, 3 feet of ground cable that is as thick as the power cable, an RCA signal cable that carry the right and left signals from the head unit to the car stereo amplifier. If you want to power your main speakers up, you need a 16-gauge wire that would reach each speaker of the amp. When installing, have the following tools with you: screwdrivers, wire strippers, wire cutters, sandpaper, a utility knife, masking tape with a pen for labeling, and a crimp on o-ring. You also need a 2-crimp on spade connector if you are hooking the car stereo amplifier for every speaker. Disconnect the ground cable from the battery. Never work on the electrical system of your car when this is still connected. This is for your own safety as well. Run the power cable through the firewall of your car. There is an opening on the driver's side. This will reach to the amplifier. If the am is in the back, then it is best that you run the wire under the plastic molding that is found along the bottom edge of your car. The wire and the power cable should never twirl and tie up. Finally, connect everything to the car stereo amplifier. Strip as much as you can at the end of every wire in order to make the connection really solid and stable. Do not have any wire exposing itself. If there are, then attach the amp with the 12-gauge speaker wire.
Best Car Audio System
The basic components of a high-quality car stereo system are an AM/FM tuner, a CD player, an amplifier (optional but recommended) and great speakers. Rule: No auto audio can equal the performance of fine home equipment. The car compartment is small, besieged with engine and traffic noises, and surrounded with competing electrical signals. And all of this in a moving environment. A welter of technical and personal choices dictate the final package. General guidelines: Shop around. Car audio components are often discounted. Check mail-order houses and the Internet for the best buys. Essential: Deal with reputable businesses and buy name brands. Make sure you can exchange or return components in case they prove incompatible or do not fit into the car. Remember each unit must be installed and may require custom mounting accessories. Keep personal tastes in mind. Rock and country music fans usually prefer stronger bass ranges. Classical music requires good mid and treble. How to allocate your spending: 40% to 50% for tuner/tape player, 25% to 30% for amplifier, 25% to 30% for speakers (unlike home gear, for which half the recommended expenditure may go for speakers alone). General recommendations: Components are a better deal than manufacturer-installed original sound equipment. Good manufacturer-installed gear can cost $1,000, a price that will usually bring you far better sound if spent on components. Try to find a dealer that has set up a sound room to hear and compare different systems. New-car buyer strategy: Buyers planning to purchase components should insist on a delete-option clause, eliminating the installed radio cost. In-dash versus under-dash components. Under-dash components are easily installed. Overriding disadvantage: A thief can slip out the under-dash gear as easily as an ashtray. Choose in-dash tuner/CD players unless you want to stow the components in the trunk each time you leave the car. (If you still prefer an under-dash system, Sony components are top-notch ones.) Amplifiers: Most auto-sound packages benefit from amplifiers that strengthen bass and high-treble tones. Problems: Amplifiers are bulky and often must be installed under a seat or in the trunk. Unless your tuner has a bypass circuit permitting you to plug into the preamplifier, your costly amplifier will only boost the distorted output of the built-in amplifier. Smart buying: Look for amplifiers measuring power in watts (w) per channel in terms of distortion (THD). Goal: About five watts per channel at 1 % distortion or less. To get this, the amplifier may require 50 watts per channel because few operate at better than 10% efficiency in a car. Bi-amplifiers: They offer separate power boosts for bass and treble ranges. Bi-amplification may be called for when separate bass and treble speakers are installed. Speakers: Speakers must be compatible with amplifiers. Their power capacity should be slightly higher than amplifier. Example: Get 60w speakers for a 50w /ch amplifier. One way to be sure of speaker/amplifier compatibility is to purchase them as a package. Stereo sound requires at least two speakers. Many enthusiasts choose four. Non-directional bass speakers are best placed in the factory cutouts in the rear window shelf. Next best placement: In rear doors. Treble speakers can be mounted in front door panels or under dash. Installation: Unless you are highly skilled electronics hobbyist, have the auto-sound system professionally installed. Allow $150 to $200 for installation, and get a satisfaction guaranteed agreement. Tim is a web developer, artist, musician, insurance consultant and loves to learn and try new things. He loves spending time with his wife and family.
Choosing a Mobile Video System
Take it from me. I've been on long family road trips. We do some stretches up 20 hours at a time. Yes, I know, 20 hours cramped in a mini-van does not sound like fun. But we get through it without problems. You might ask, how??? One easy solution! We have a DVD mobile system in our mini-van. It provides the kids with hours of enjoyment. We keep many DVDs in the vehicle to accommodate everyone's request. Okay, why would I get a mobile system, or what do I need? To haveFUN (or to at least let the kids have fun)! Having a car DVD player will be less stressful and more pleasurable when the kids are relaxed and watching a DVD. It doesn't necessarily have to be for long roads, it can be used when running around town or doing errands. We have headphones for each kid to prevent disturbing the driver (which is mostly me BTW... don't ask me how I always end up doing the driving). I would recommend getting a system that will allow for headphones, especially for those long road trips. Some DVD systems even come with GPS systems. If you ever get lost, or need directions, this is great to have! There is no need to make sure you have the correct map or deal with maps while on the road. Having to do this is very frustrating (and dangerous if you're driving at the same time)! For these Car DVD players, what are my options? There are numerous options that you can configure with your mobile video system. As I mentioned before, you can watch DVDs or videos, but that is just the beginning! Well, first off, you may want to focus on these groups:
What should I start to look at if I'm interested in buying a DVD system for my car?
That was a quick overview on the different types of Car DVD players available to you. My future posts will more in depth.
