Use & Enjoy Your A/V Gear : car stereo

Top Down Sound, Part 4: Equalizing the audio system in a convertible

Charlie — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:23:00 GMT

Jeff and I meet at the Crutchfield Research Bay for the final system tuneup. In the last installment , we set the crossover points and adjusted the gain structure in the Sebring's system. Now, we've borrowed an AudioControl Real Time Analyzer...(read more)

Top Down Sound, Part 3: Tuning up the audio system in a convertible

Charlie — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:24:00 GMT

In Part 2 , we ripped my Sebring apart to install a high-performance audio system. Since then, I've been playing lots of music over my system in the last two weeks, and I spend a little time in my garage every night making adjustments. I've got...(read more)

Top Down Sound, Part 1: Planning an audio system for a convertible

Charlie — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:23:00 GMT

For most people, the words "car audio" conjure up an image of a big SUV blasting you with waves of bass at a stoplight. But car audio systems aren't all about bass - they come in as many shapes and sizes as home audio systems. To the car...(read more)

3 Benefits of Using USB to Connect an iPod to a Car Stereo

KenSpike — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:15:00 GMT

My old iPod® mini died a couple of weeks ago. No need to mourn, it had a good life. But when I purchased a new 8GB iPod nano , I realized something important about car receivers and iPods. My car receiver, a Pioneer DEH-P7000BT , has a USB input that...(read more)

Better car audio, Tip #6: Your crossover can really improve the sound of your system

Jim R — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:58:00 GMT

Many in-dash receivers include frequency filters that can steer deep bass notes away from your car's "full-range" speakers, which really aren't capable of handling deep bass at high volume levels. By removing the bass, the filter lets you get more clean...(read more)

Better car audio, Tip #1: New speakers

Jim R — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:08:00 GMT

How much time do you spend in your car? If your daily commute consumes 100 hours a year, as is the case for many people , then you can easily justify a modest investment to improve the sound of your car stereo. Navigation , video screens and Bluetooth...(read more)

Subwoofers rule: finally, I get it

ZakB — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:12:00 GMT

Before I started working at Crutchfield, I associated car subwoofers with punk kids that roll up on you at traffic lights, sporting that low-frequency rattle that reminds you of the Space Shuttle taking off. But after a tall glass of Crutchfield Kool...(read more)

Bluetooth Basics

CraigV — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:18:00 GMT

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the word “Bluetooth?” Most people would say cell phones. I have to admit it’s the first thing that pops into mine as well. However, being a computer guy, the next thing that springs to mind...(read more)

If your car stereo sounds bad, look at the speakers first

Buck P — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:17:00 GMT

My brother-in-law knew that his car stereo sounded bad. He didn’t know why. He spends a lot of time, every day for his job, driving around town listening to classic rock radio. He came to me for help. “I’m willing to spend five hundred dollars to make...(read more)

My Top 10 Car Audio Myths

Charlie — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:16:00 GMT

1) I don't need a subwoofer because I never listen to loud music, just classical and jazz. Subwoofers go great with heavy metal, rap, and other types of high-impact music, but they're not just for people who like to turn it up. In fact, a well-tuned subwoofer...(read more)

Do I need this stuff?

Dave H — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:40:00 GMT

If you’ve spent much time looking at consumer electronics websites, such as crutchfield.com, you’ve definitely seen the word “accessories.” But what the heck does that mean, anyway? While this word can be used for everything from hats to drill bits, when...(read more)

smart car sneak preview

Jim R — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:01:00 GMT

We recently had the opportunity to put a system in a smart car, the eagerly anticipated two-seater that is scheduled to debut soon at U.S. dealers. Our research team measured it stem to stern, so we will have the complete stereo fit information available...(read more)

Car Stereos: RMS vs. Peak Power

Charlie — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:05:00 GMT

It's always made sense to use RMS power ratings, and not peak power ratings, when shopping for car stereos. That’s because the RMS rating is a more accurate measure of a receiver's "real-world" power, especially when compared to an outboard amplifier...(read more)

How I come up with holiday gift ideas for my brother Bob

Deb G — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:11:00 GMT

My brother, Bob, is a year and a half older than I am and was a year ahead of me in high school. He would let me drive his car and hang out with his friends. He would share his albums with me and took me to my first rock concert. He taught me about the...(read more)

Car Stereo: It's not just a guy thing

Deb G — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:10:00 GMT

Whoever said, “chicks don’t dig car stereo,” was sadly misinformed. This chick sure does. One of my fondest memories from high school involved borrowing my brother’s car and zooming down the highway listening to Van Halen II full blast on his stereo....(read more)