Saturday, February 23, 2008
Why You Should Review Car Stereos Before Buying
Most people want to get the most for their money. A car stereo review can give you cutting edge information on the latest car stereo components and technologies; supplying you with the information you need in order to acquire the best possible quality sound system with the features that you want at the most reasonable price.
When you're in the market to buy a car stereo there are so many avenues of purchase available to you that it's hard to figure out where to go. Car stereo reviews are supplied by different sources. You can find reviews from the direct manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers. Depending on how much you like to do research, you can find an endless supply of information to any and all questions you might have regarding the purchase or function of your car stereo.
Your options for buying are from the chain stores, specialty car-electronics stores and online. There are a wide range of retailers to choose from; retail stores like Best Buy or Radio Shack, to "specialty" stores that are exclusive to car-electronics-only and millions of stores online that you might not have even heard of.
When you shop at a car-electronics specialty store you usually have access to a larger selection of brands, some more well known than others, with a sales staff the is usually a bit more qualified to give you more specific information.
If you're looking to buy at one of the larger chain stores, you will find a fair selection of brands at low prices, presented to you by somewhat knowledgeable sales associates who may or may not be able to help you make the best choice.
By shopping online you can usually find the best deals that are available to you. The only problem is your buying sight unseen and you are limited to the review that is supplied when you purchase the product.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure you read as many car stereo reviews as possible pertaining to your specific stereo.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Car Radio Installation Part 1 - Removing Your Existing Radio
Removing your in-dash car radio is generally quick and easy. Removal and installation are best carried out from the front passenger seat if you are right-handed. Some, but only a small number of cars, will require the dash surrounding the radio to be removed as the radio may be held in with screws.
Your first step is to remove your original radio. Pay close attention to the steps involved, as refitting is simply a reverse of the removal.
There are various radio-mounting methods used among the different car manufacturers. However, the majority of factory-fitted radios are secured either in a metal sleeve (also known as cage) by two or four securing clips that you push inwards toward the radio to release it, or using the same method without the sleeve.
For radios that have either one or two small round holes on either side of the radio, you can use standard (DIN) radio removal Keys found in all car accessory shops or websites.
DIN radio tools release the majority of radios found in pre-2004 Fiat, Ford, Land Rover, MG, Peugeot, Rover models and many makes of radio. Simply insert the keys into the holes until they lock into place (for radios with only two holes, you can simply bend the keys). Some radios will require you to remove four small Allen screws (with a 2mm or 5/64 Allen Key) before you can insert the removal keys. I believe these are simply a security measure.
Now, push the keys outwards slightly, away from the radio, this will push the securing spring clips inwards. Now, pull on the removal keys to remove the radio. Some radios are a little bit stubborn, but a little persistence should pay off.
Some factory-fitted radios are held in place by securing the screws located at the sides of the radio. This type of mounting concept is found primarily on Japanese cars and these radios are mounted behind the dash that surrounds the radio. Most radios have some type of rear support but this is more often than not, just a push fit.
Once you have removed the radio from its sleeve, disconnect the aerial and factory wiring harness connectors.
If you encounter problems when removing radios that are mounted behind the dash try ringing your local dealer. Ask for the service department and ask to speak to a technician as they are generally happy to advise. On the other hand, you could always consult a Haynes manual.
Car Radio Installation - Ford KA Fascia
First of all, mount the radio cage inside of the fascia, but do not install it in the radio aperture yet. Now on the back of the radio, attach the black clip mentioned above using a self tapper screw (actually screwed into the back of the radio where the hole is provided) Leave the black clip somewhat loose. If it is too long, use washers to pack it out.
Now, slide the radio half way into the cage and then straighten the black clip ready for it to mount on the runner in the radio aperture. Compare this clip to the clip on the Ford radio to get an idea of it's position. Tighten the screw/clip but not too much. This is important so that when installing the radio it can manoeuver on the runner to fit correctly. This screw will not come loose.
Next, attach the wiring to the rear of the radio and locate the clip onto the runner inside the radio aperture. You can use some installation tape to hold the aerial in position on the rear of the radio. Run this from the top to bottom of the radio, covering the aerial connector.
To finish off, push the fascia into position flush with the dash, then slide the radio into position and lock it into the cage.
Now test the radio for correct operation.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
What to Look for in Children's Car Accessories
Toy manufacturers and inventors alike have pondered the problem for many years, and a number of distractions have come to market, which can usually reduce, if not completely eradicate, the root of all annoyance. Having scoured the market myself, and inadvertently tested myriad gadgets along the way, here are my recommendations for the qualities you'll need in an effective child car accessory:
A Feast for the Senses
Whatever you choose to engage your child with, it should be a focus for the senses; be it visual or aural, a child is usually mesmerized by something that busies their eyes and ears. The more senses you can stimulate, the fewer there are left to cause annoyance. Such has been the success of the in-car DVD player, that many a vehicle has waved goodbye to the wrong kind of noises.
Portability
An obvious requirement for something that need to travel, you might think, but children also need distractions when they get to their destination, and will often switch their allegiance from one toy to the next in the blink of an eye, and so you may need to pack them high! Whatever you choose, keep it small enough to sit in the lap or hang from the chair back.
No Jigsaws
Not to be taken literally, this really refers to any accessory which breaks up into many pieces. Pieces get lost under seats, between seats, and more seriously, in any orifice your child deems fit to house them!
Non-marking
Junior would love to get the opportunity to draw all manner of pictures and scrawls all over your lovely upholstery, but such an event would cause more frustration in the front seats than the noise you were intending to turn the volume down on. Replace a felt pen with an etch-a-sketch, for example.
In summary, those long journeys need not be a chore. Your children need distractions as much as we do, but our concentration on the road needs to be paramount, for the safety of all inside. By thinking through your children's car accessory choices, you'll enhance your vacation experience for everyone.
Why You Need A Good Car Stereo System To Complete The Customization Of Your Ride
A good car stereo system is an awesome experience to behold with your ears, just like a poorly installed car stereo system is hideous to look at. The price of a system is a big factor to consider, but not all expensive hardware performs well if it isn't installed properly, or if matched up with incompatible hardware. It is also subjective to personal opinion of course, just as some of us find black cars more appealing than other color cars.
The type of vehicle that you are building a system for also plays a major part in what kind car stereo system you should build. Some people who have sensitive hearing, after only being in a few different vehicles can recognize the inherent characteristics of the unique environment in automobiles. What we hear for the most part in a vehicle is a recording of the original performer in a set environment, which can be playing in a totally different environment depending on the placement of speakers. You can only create a truly great car stereo system by properly understanding acoustics, basic electronics, and the other components used in putting the system together.
If you are really serious about the sound system in your vehicle and you want it to be the best it can possibly be then you may want to get references from other people by exposing it to other people at auto expos and conventions where you can get references and constructive criticism. Going to different exhibits you will find a great variety of sound at each booth. You will also find certain systems you like more than others and may even find one that is exactly like you want.
If you are going to build a high quality custom system you will have to go with after market speakers to be sure they can handle the power that the system generates. These speakers will have a much larger frequency response which will give you much clearer highs and reduce the fuzzy sound that can happen with loud base in factory speakers.
A great amplifier is the key to a good sounding stereo system. If you choose amplifiers that are not strong enough they can cause damage to your speakers. A high quality amp will give you the power that you need as well as get rid of distortion and increase the quality and clarity of the sound. Choose the appropriate sized amplifier by turning the system at just above half volume and still getting clear amplification through the speakers.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
How To Choose The Components For Your Own Custom Car Audio System
When you are buying car audio equipment you can choose from all kinds of brands and models. You can go out and get a JVC head unit, and go buy Kenwood subwoofers. There are all kinds of options for your car. Along with your new CD player and subwoofers you will need new door speakers and amps. You will want to get good door speakers so you can actually hear the music not the blown speakers that you bought with the car. The other thing that you will need is amps. You will need a highs and mid amp for the CD player and the door speakers. Thus you will need a second amp for your subwoofers around 500 to 1000watts are ideal. So after you have your whole system you are ready to pay for it and then have it installed if you do not know how to install it yourself. After you have installed one system it is like putting icing on the cake for all the rest.
Making your car system sound good can take a while, you might want all the best parts such as JL audio or JBL. So if you cannot afford all your parts at once just by the piece you need one at a time until you have your whole system complete and the way you wanted it. A perfect custom car audio system will take time and you might not have all the money at once that is why it is good that you save money to be able to finish the system. You will want quality subs and amps. You will not want to buy some stuff from Wal-Mart to put in your car and expect it to be custom. You will want quality and quality doesn't come from Wally world. You can get a JVC head unit with JL audio subs and amps along with door speakers and that would be the best system you will ever hear because JL audio is perhaps one of the best audio equipment suppliers around the United States. Everyone has their equipment because it is quality. So go out and get your system before they up the prices, you can still go online to buy your products.
Origin, Development And History Of The Car Stereo System
The Galvin Manufacturing was owned and operated by Paul V. Galvin and his brother Joseph E. Galvin. The Galvin brothers purchased a battery eliminator business in 1928 and the first corporation product was a battery eliminator that allowed battery-powered radios to run on standard household electric current.
It was then in the 1930, the Galvin Corporation introduced the first commercial car radio, the Motorola model 5T71, which was sold for dollar 110 to dollar 130 and could be installed in almost all popular automobiles.
The name Motorola was coined when the founders Paul Galvin and Joe Galvin and his company started manufacturing car radios. The Motorola prefix motor was chosen because the initial focus was in automotive electronics.
Evolution of the car stereo system was subsequently taking place in various parts of the world . In the year 1932, Germany Blaupunkt fitted their first radio to a Studebaker and in the United Kingdom Crossley offered a factory fitted wireless in their 10 hp models from 1933. Thus began the evolution for the car stereo system.
The early car stereo systems were radio receivers that used the battery voltage 6.3 volts at the time to run the filaments, and generated the required high voltage using a vibrator to drive a step up transformer. The receivers required more stages than the typical home receiver in order to ensure that enough gain was available to allow the AGC to mask signal fading when the car was driven around. Soon after that when the cars switched to 12 volt batteries, the same arrangement was used where instead of tubes 12 volt heaters were used.
However, it was German Blaupunkt in the year 1952 which became the first in the market to introduce the FM receivers, it was a step of advancement in the car stereo system market. With the introduction of FM receiver, the seek function stepped in.
The seek function would allow the user to tune from one station to the next at the push of a button. After this followed the introduction of semiconductors. Semiconductors allowed the output stage to change to a transistor, which soon lead to the elimination of the vibrator, and the use of space charge tubes that only required 12 volts on their plates.Thus, there was another advancement in technology.
With the advancements of electronics with time, it allowed new additions to the basic radio and Motorola. It followed tape players using reel to reel equipments. With Phillips joining in with the introduction of compact cassette, tape players also began to be used in cars.
By 1978 amplifiers were introduced in the markets and then it was no looking back. Today, car stereo systems have revolutionized with the introduction of CDs and DVDs. Now the modern cars have radio, cassette players, CDs and DVDs players, and also MP3 or MP4 players. Even the video system has been attached with it.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Subwoofer Box Types - Sealed, Ported, Vented And Bandpass
Sealed Enclosure
These are generally the smallest of the three. If you have a small or a sports car, I recommend this enclosure for your car. There are pros and cons of course. As mentioned, it is advantageously smaller, allowing you to preserve your precious trunk space. They also allow the subwoofers to produce a highly accurate bass, but with the least amount of "boom" out of the three types of enclosures. This is primarily because the box is airtight, leaving no room for air to escape with the sound waves from the interior of the box. Unfortunately, this restriction does require a much more powerful amplifier and subwoofer combination. Unless you have a high-end set that could handle higher wattage, I do not recommend on getting a sealed enclosure setup.
Ported/Vented Enclosure
Because the ported enclosure requires additional room for the vent, it is typically larger than the sealed boxes. If you're not too concerned about space, this type is a popular solution for most people. The design is based on the vent with which air is allowed to move much more freely, channeling the sound from the interior and the rear of the enclosure to the outside. This gives it a much more boomy effect with less accurate bass response. With vented enclosures, you do not need as much power coming out of your system since the lack of an airtight box allows your subwoofer to move much more freely and the vents allowing you to hear every bit of sound produced by your subwoofer.
Bandpass Enclosure
Bandpass subwoofer boxes are the largest of the three. This is because the design is based on a number of ports and two main chambers-one for your subwoofer and another for air space within the enclosure to resonate. You could probably imagine the sound produced by this behemoth. It produces the least accurate bass but with the greatest level of "boom". With this enclosure, you can out-boom anyone on the streets of Los Angeles. But remember that bandpass enclosures require a lot of space, so be prepared to sacrifice a lot of trunk space for your setup. Also be mindful that some subwoofers do not work well in bandpass enclosures, so check your product manual before installing them. Ultimately, bandpass boxes are extremely efficient enclosures and demand much less power than the sealed enclosure. Be sure to have a tight install on a bandpass enclosure since any loose parts will easily rattle and could easily be heard on a bandpass setup.
Other Details on Subwoofer Boxes
There are also a few other things to keep in mind when you are deciding between different subwoofer boxes. Most subwoofer enclosures now are constructed using MDF, or Medium Density Fiberboard, these are excellent for enclosures so be sure you're buying MDF construction boxes and not cheap plastic or plywood. Fiberboard (even if it says medium density) is much denser than any other material so it does not rattle and could withstand very high temperatures. Particle boards are much lighter material and do not bond as tightly as fiberboard and would therefore not be suitable for harsh environments.
Cosmetically, there are usually two options for you to get-a carpet exterior or a vinyl/paint finish. Carpet will protect the exterior from getting scratched and usually matches the trunk color pretty well (gray, black, and tan). Paint or vinyl finish tend to show exterior blemishes much easier than carpeting, but cleaning them is also much easier-especially valuable if you are installing a non-trunk subwoofer enclosure install.
How many subwoofers in a box? This depends on obviously how much money and space you have. Don't buy two when you can buy one that could produce the power of two. This will potentially save you money and space. If you can help it, do not settle for a set of two cheap ones when you can buy one good one. Yes, two will help add more power and sound, but it sacrifices sound quality for volume and boom.
I hope this short summary have helped you in your decision making process. At the end of the day, it is truly up to you to research your subwoofer and find the best solution for your system. Happy hunting!
The Advantages of a BMW Bluetooth Upgrade
The Advantage of Bluetooth
If you're like many people on the go, your cell phone is on and at the ready almost every waking minute - including drive time. However, studies (and a few bitter experiences) have clearly demonstrated that attempting to use a cell phone while driving highly distracting and dangerous, posing a hazard to both driver and others on the road (in fact, in 2005, a woman in Portland, Oregon drove off a bridge and into the Willamette River while talking on a cell phone). Many states and municipalities are now passing laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving.
A BMW Bluetooth upgrade makes it possible - and legal - to use your cell phone while driving.
About Bluetooth
Named for the Viking king who briefly united the Scandinavian countries over a thousand years ago by the Swedish engineers who first developed it in the 1990s, Bluetooth technology actually has its roots in the work of early Gugleimo Marconi and Nicola Tesla and their pioneering work on wireless communications during the late 1800s. It is an industry standard protocol that allows wireless communication between computers, cell phones, digital cameras and more.
Unlike radio, Bluetooth is a very specific protocol for linking a variety of digital devices over a very short range; in addition, such communications can be encrypted so as to protect privacy. Today's BMW Bluetooth upgrade enables much stronger encryption to be maintained over connections that last a longer period of time (up to 23 hours and 20 minutes).
Features
With the new Bluetooth 2.1 and a headset, you'll enjoy total "hands-off" operation of your cell phone, because you can hear your incoming calls over your OEM radio, using the control buttons on your steering wheel.
This upgrade also means that you won't miss any more important calls, since it will automatically turn off any programming you may be listening to on your radio. The BMW Bluetooth upgrade is also very easy to install and very affordable. With "plug-and-play" capability, you'll be up and running in no time!
The Advantages of a BMW Bluetooth Upgrade
The Advantage of Bluetooth
If you're like many people on the go, your cell phone is on and at the ready almost every waking minute - including drive time. However, studies (and a few bitter experiences) have clearly demonstrated that attempting to use a cell phone while driving highly distracting and dangerous, posing a hazard to both driver and others on the road (in fact, in 2005, a woman in Portland, Oregon drove off a bridge and into the Willamette River while talking on a cell phone). Many states and municipalities are now passing laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving.
A BMW Bluetooth upgrade makes it possible - and legal - to use your cell phone while driving.
About Bluetooth
Named for the Viking king who briefly united the Scandinavian countries over a thousand years ago by the Swedish engineers who first developed it in the 1990s, Bluetooth technology actually has its roots in the work of early Gugleimo Marconi and Nicola Tesla and their pioneering work on wireless communications during the late 1800s. It is an industry standard protocol that allows wireless communication between computers, cell phones, digital cameras and more.
Unlike radio, Bluetooth is a very specific protocol for linking a variety of digital devices over a very short range; in addition, such communications can be encrypted so as to protect privacy. Today's BMW Bluetooth upgrade enables much stronger encryption to be maintained over connections that last a longer period of time (up to 23 hours and 20 minutes).
Features
With the new Bluetooth 2.1 and a headset, you'll enjoy total "hands-off" operation of your cell phone, because you can hear your incoming calls over your OEM radio, using the control buttons on your steering wheel.
This upgrade also means that you won't miss any more important calls, since it will automatically turn off any programming you may be listening to on your radio. The BMW Bluetooth upgrade is also very easy to install and very affordable. With "plug-and-play" capability, you'll be up and running in no time!
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