Use & Enjoy Your A/V Gear

How I made my own photo softbox for less than $10

2009-11-17T18:45:00Z

I read a great (as always) post on Strobist about building your own softbox for less than 10 bucks, and I was instantly intrigued. A softbox is used for taking those nice product photos you see on Crutchfield's website and in catalogs. But the word that got my wheels turning was "Ebay." Anyone who's bought or sold anything on Ebay will tell you that good photographs make a huge difference when making a decision to buy. A big part of the online auction process involves trust —...(read more)

The vinyl records comeback from the musicians' POV

2009-10-15T14:17:00Z

About this time last year, Jim R. posted his thoughts on why vinyl records appeared to be making a comeback . Jim outlined what he thought were three reasons for the return: The sound of vinyl The ritual of listening to a record Vinyl as artistic expression A recent article by Matt Debenedictis for Noise Creep may add some additional insight -- Vinyl in the Digital Age: Straight From the Horse's Mouth, Talking to Bands puts the question straight to a number of up-and-coming and mainstay indie...(read more)

Crutchfield Signature -- It's About the Experience

2009-10-07T18:31:00Z

Have you visited Crutchfield Signature yet? The tagline says "it's all about the experience." And that's just what we mean. The site features the best products we carry. And it provides more detailed — and reader-friendly — information, along with some enhanced services for those products. (And if you're familiar with Crutchfield's everyday standards of customer service, you'll know that's really saying something.) Signature offers free expedited shipping...(read more)

Single stereo-input dash speaker for vintage car owners

2009-08-21T18:48:00Z

If you've ever tried to install a modern car stereo in a pre-1960s vintage automobile, you've probably run across the problem of getting stereo sound in a vehicle with only one center dash speaker. When I owned a '56 Studebaker Hawk, I faced two not-so-great choices: modify the car by installing speakers in the doors or keep the car stock by putting clunky speaker boxes on the back deck. We just got in a new product that gives vintage car owners a much better option. A speaker for your...(read more)

Way cool interactive frequency chart

2009-08-17T19:14:00Z

While doing some research, I stumbled across something remarkable that I just have to share. It's an interactive frequency chart published by the Independent Recording Network. What's it good for? Anyone who's looking to educate their ears will find it fascinating, and it should be of special interest to tweakers who are planning to equalize a car audio system or mix an audio recording. For example, as you mouse over the diagram, you'll learn that too much of a boost between 500 Hz...(read more)

Searching for SACDs

2009-08-12T19:02:00Z

"So what's the deal with SACDs?" a friend asked recently. "I'm looking for a new disc player, but I never see SACDs in the stores. Should I even bother getting an SACD player?" He had a lot of questions, and I answered them as best I could. I told him that the SACD format is still around and doing well. They aren't well-stocked at retail, but they're certainly available online. And in my friend's case, since he had a high-end surround sound system, I thought...(read more)

Big bass in a small-car world

2009-08-10T18:52:00Z

Gas mileage is a big issue with an ever-increasing number of people. Most recently, the "Cash for Clunkers" program has resulted in a lot of people driving more compact vehicles. A smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle is great news for your wallet, but it can really create problems if you like maximum bass in your car. And, fuel efficiency aside, there are some vehicles (Jeep Wrangler, for example) that make it tough for the bass enthusiast just by virtue of their design. So, how do you...(read more)

The point of point-and-shoot cameras

2009-08-07T19:02:00Z

Kathy, our customer support manager shared these pictures with us the other day, and with her permission, I'm sharing them with you. These pictures are her son at the beach. Last year, he was afraid of the water. Not now! You can see his new-found exuberance as he plays in the crashing surf (click on the images to enlarge). When Kathy was in the market for a new camera, she had a pretty good idea of what she was after. She wanted to take pictures of her children, but didn't especially want...(read more)

Directory of articles and videos on home theater

2009-08-05T19:36:00Z

Getting ready to build or upgrade a home theater system? Here's a handy guide to dozens of articles and videos to help you choose, install, tweak, and enjoy: Plan Your Room The components you need for home theater Choosing your TV's screen size and placing your TV in a room Choosing a wall-mount for your TV Find a TV to fit your cabinet or a cabinet to fit your TV Diagrams and tips on home theater speaker placement Home Do-It-Yourself Center TV and Blu-ray Directory of over 30 articles and...(read more)

Video: LED and Fluorescent Backlighting in LCD TVs

2009-08-03T18:31:00Z

(Please visit the site to view this media) In the Crutchfield Video for LED and Flourescent Backlighting in LCD TVs , Steve presents the key advantages of both technologies. Fluorescent backlit TVs can use "wide range" bulbs to produce a wider color palette. LED backlit TVs , on the other hand, are more energy effiicient, and can, through local dimming, create deeper blacks and higher image contrasts. Steve goes into greater detail on each concept. You can find all of our videos in our...(read more)

The Audiophiliac Poll

2009-07-31T18:59:00Z

A post on Steve Guttenberg's The Audiophiliac caught my attention the other day. In "What's Wrong with High-End Audio ?" Guttenberg, audio reviewer and record producer, puts forth a theory, and then asks for feedback. The problem, as he sees it, is that high-end audio is a well-kept secret. He writes, "Unlike high-end cars, watches, clothing, etc., 99 percent of potential high-end audio buyers are completely unaware of its existence." Guttenberg points out that "car...(read more)

Video: Choosing an HDTV

2009-07-29T19:52:00Z

(Please visit the site to view this media) Shopping for a new HDTV? Julie and Steve run down the basic information (in plain English) you should know before making your purchase. In our "Choosing an HDTV" video, they discuss key factors to consider, such as screen size, LCD TVs versus plasma TVs , resolution, and contrast ratio. And if you only need help on one of those topics, our HDTV Video Library has each part viewable as a separate video. You can find all of our videos in our Learning...(read more)

How to tame cable clutter

2009-07-24T19:20:00Z

Are you a neat freak? Then you'll love Cable it , a kit that makes it incredibly easy to wrap and organize cables behind your home theater components or home office machines. Dig the video: (Please visit the site to view this media) Crutchfield offers Cable it in in 8-foot, 16-foot, and 50-foot lengths, and two colors: white and black....(read more)

My summer staycation outdoor speaker project. Part 2 -- Planning the install

2009-07-22T18:40:00Z

In my first post in my outdoor speaker project series I talked about the gear I'd need to get my project for adding outdoor speakers to my deck off the ground. Now I'll take a look at how I'm planning the installation. In any home remodeling or improvement project, it's important to take some time at the beginning of the project and sketch out what you want to do. This helps you ensure that you'll have the right materials and the right tools to do the job correctly, and to plan...(read more)

Tech Terms Demystified: Impedance

2009-07-20T17:37:00Z

Impedance is one of those tech terms whose meaning is just close enough to its general definition to cause some confusion. In everyday language, an impedance is a hindrance — an obstacle to be overcome. Electrically, impedance is a neutral term — part of the physical properties of electrical components. In a simple direct current (DC) circuit, the signal moves in one direction. There’s only one force at play – resistance, and resistance is simply how well — or how poorly...(read more)