Car audios have come a LONG way since its first inception. It is fascinating how the concept of car audio has evolved from clunky AM radios to ones with operating systems and with multiple functions. For today we’re gonna talk about the evolution of car audio.

1900s - Did you know that the first car audio was presented as early as 1904? Lee De Forest, the “Father of Radio”, performed a demonstration at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis.

1920s - The first factory-installed car radio was installed on a 1922 Chevrolet (the radio brand was Westinghouse) and almost cost as half as the actual cost of the car itself! Talk about pricey!

1930s - Paul and Joseph Galvin, entrepreneurs and brothers, bought the bankrupt Stewart Battery Company. The company made The Battery Eliminator that allowed battery-operated home radios to run on household current, the equivalent to today’s AC adapters. The Galvin brothers utilized the company’s battery eliminator design and used that to manufacture battery eliminators for their radios.

Eventually, the battery eliminators became obsolete as AC-powered radios were becoming the standard. Paul Galvin met with William Lear and Elmer Wavering, two radio engineers, who created a radio with a design that removed the problem with static interference.

(the first commercially released car audio -- The Motorola)

The brothers eventually came up with the first radio which they named The Motorola, which is a portmanteau of the words “automative” and “Victrola” (a brand name of a phonograph, but eventually became a generic term for any kind of phonograph). Motorola eventually became the big telecommunications company it is today (YES, that Motorola).

1952 - Blaupunkt, a German company, created the first FM radio. Prior to this, the only option of frequency for radios was the AM frequency. A year later, Becker Mexico made an AM/FM receiver with a station search or scan function.

1955 onwards (before 1970s) was a period of trial and error for car audio manufacturers. Chrysler Hi-Fi was the first time one’s own records were played in the car, and was also the first and only car phonograph. It used a mini-turntable (located on the dash of the passenger side) to play its records. This only lasted for a few years, however. This is because one of the Hi-Fi’s fatal flaws is that the record skips even on the smallest bump on the road the car runs into. 

(photo by sv1ambo on Flickr)

The Hi-Fi eventually evolved to Earl Muntz’s Stereo-Pak, who was the pioneer of a 4-track system. Tracks did not skip with this kind of car audio (an upgrade to the Hi-Fi). Muntz then developed the AutoStereo in the early 60s, which had drivers the freedom to customize and select their personal listening experience. After that, improvements were made to Muntz’s idea and the 8-track cartridge system was developed.

1970s to 80s - Cassette tapes eventually replaced the 8-track system. And with the invention of the Walkman in 1979, cassette tapes became much more prevalent. It improved 8-track’s technology with longer play times, improved tape quality, Dolby noise reduction and auto reverse.

1980s to 90s - Philips and Sony were the first to develop the model for the CD which was first marketed for home use in 1982. However, it was Pioneer who developed the first ever car CD player in 1984. Named the CDX-1, this player had a significantly improved sound quality unlike everyone else. Aside from that, CDX-1 was much more durable than cassette tape players and had the ability to skip tracks.

(CDX-1 image from Pioneer's website)

2000s - car audio quality even improved significantly after the CD player phase of car audio. There was the digitization of music, and gave rise to MP3 players. These are portable devices that can hold thousands of songs and can play different types of music formats. By the mid-2000s, in-car audio systems developed the capability to connect these players to the car’s audio systems. Features like the USB, AUX and Bluetooth became staples on car audios.

And with the rise of smartphones and the usage of apps like Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM and the use of car assistant systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, playing music in your car has never been easier. 

Sources: (1) (2) (3) (4)

So check out onlinecarstereo.com for our wide array of car audio products and subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash!

Ever wondered what makes what makes your music sound better in your car. There are a lot of available speakers, subwoofers and tweeters in the market which makes it hard to choose. Here are some terms to consider when trying to select the perfect speaker, subwoofer or tweeter upgrade for your vehicle.

HIGH FREQUENCY
These are sound produced mostly by tweeters which are commonly manufactured to operate sounds between 3kHz to 20kHz. These are sounds produced by guitars, trumpets and high voice. Tweeters are built small as high frequency sounds are only heard to enhance your overall music for clarity. Some regular speakers already come with built-in tweeters and are classified as 2-way or 3-ways speakers. Here are some of the best tweeters from Online Car Stereo. Pioneer TS-T110, JL Audio C5-075CT and Alpine SPR-10TW.

MEDIUM FREQUENCY
This range of sound are commonly produced by your regular speakers in the range of 200-2,000 Hz. Different sizes vary such as 3.5", 4", 5.25" or 6.5". The sound heard in the medium frequency are the majority of the arrangement of the music you are listening. These are the vocals, drums, piano, and other instruments. If you normally listen to rock, jazz, classical and pop music, you will definitely need to upgrade your medium frequency to enjoy them a lot. Here are the top rated speakers from Online Car Stereo. Kenwood KFC-4675C, JL Audio C5-650x and Alpine SPE-6090.

LOW FREQUENCY
Also known as the bass sound, these are produced typically by subwoofers. Common sizes of subwoofers range from 8", 10", 12" and 15" with frequencies 20-80 Hz. If your type of music is hiphop, then you might want to upgrade your low frequency sound and purchase high end subwoofers. You can find the best subwoofers here at Online Car Stereo.The JL Audio 10W3v3-4, Kenwood Excelon KFC-XW1000F, JL Audio 6W3v3-4

Be sure to always visit WWW.ONLINECARSTEREO.COM for the newest car audio products nationwide. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.

Thanksgiving Day is fast approaching and that also means that Black Friday and Cyber Monday is also around the corner. This year in particular will be a very different one from all the previous years we have done the two biggest shopping days of the year because of the pandemic.

But where (and when) exactly did the terms “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” come from?

(image source: bloomberg.com)

Black Friday dates back to Philadelphia in the 1960s where newspapers in the state used the term to describe the massive frenzy of crowds at stores and the congestion of traffic that happens on the day after Thanksgiving. The crowd frenzy was paralleled after the original “Black Friday”, which was a stock market panic on September 24, 1869, where the price of gold collapsed due to then-President Ulysses Grant’s interference on the scheme of three investors: Jay Gould, James Fisk, and President Grant’s own brother-in-law, Abel Corbin.

(image source: abc7.com)

Cyber Monday, however, is a much newer term that was coined by Ellen Davis of the National Retail Federation and Scott Silverman, and was used as a marketing term for the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States. It was created as a digital counterpart to Black Friday to encourage people to do online shopping and has rapidly become the biggest ecommerce event in the US, whereas Black Friday is more of a brick-and-mortar sale event. 

However, with the pandemic happening right now, Black Friday will probably shift to a bigger online event than it was before rather than doing the traditional in-store sales retailers have done in previous years. So definitely watch out in the coming weeks for upcoming deals and bundles for Black Friday and Cyber Monday at onlinecarstereo.com and subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash!

We always strive for customer satisfaction when you buy from us here at Online Car Stereo, but sometimes, one might have problems with their purchase and decide to return it. We have one of the best hassle-free return policies out there. If by some reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, unused/uninstalled items can be returned within 60 days.

Making a return is pretty easy!

• Contact us. To start a return, call 1-310-526-8635 and chat with our helpful and friendly customer service representatives. We can also be reached through email at  [email protected] for any questions.
• Get an RA (return authorization). If you call us at our contact number, a customer service representative will be able to assist you through your options and help set up a return authorization. You can also request a return authorization online through email at  [email protected].
• Pack returned items carefully. Returned items should be new and in their original packaging, complete with all the original accessories, manuals and warranty card. We care about the safety of the items so we overbox most of the products to protect them during shipping.
• Attach the shipping label. You will receive a UPS Authorized Return Service shipping label along with a return authorization number. Remove or mark out the original labels, then securely tape the new return shipping label to the package.
• Give the package to UPS. Take it to any official UPS drop-off site. To search for drop-off locations nearest you, call 1-800-742-5877 or visit www.ups.com.

Online Car Stereo will send a “return received” notice through email detailing that the returned item has been received. An additional email will also be sent following the completion of the return process.

There are also important details to consider when doing a return.

Refund or exchange. You can either choose an exchange or a refund according to the amount of the item you purchased. Refunds will be issued to the same credit card, debit card, gift certificate, or other form of payment that was used in the original transaction. The refund or exchange process for items usually gets processed within three business days after we receive the returned item, as we normally conduct additional testing and evaluation. Additionally, depending on the financial institution, the refunded amount will take about 3-5 business days to reflect back on your account.

Shipping costs. Return shipping costs are deducted from your refund or exchange.

For most returns, Online Car Stereo can issue you a UPS Authorized Return Shipping (ARS) label for a flat fee.

New condition. All returns for refund will be subject to a 10% restocking fee (and higher if the item is used/abused). Online Car Stereo may refuse a customer return or charge a higher restocking fee when the returned item is not NEW. Conditions that will lead to refused returns or be charged a higher restocking fee include:

• When the returned item has a different serial number than what Online Car Stereo originally shipped.
• When there are missing parts or the original packaging has been damaged or tampered with.
• When there is damage due to the package being improperly packaged for return shipment.
• When there is physical damage from drops, spilled liquid, or mishandling.
• When the product has been installed or has attempted to be installed and was removed from the original packaging.
• When the item has any signs or indication of it being installed, with scratches, or other signs of use such as physical markings, screw holes, etc.

Freight shipping: Items like Boxes and Large subwoofers may require special freight shipping, and they usually cost more to return. An Online Car Stereo representative will be able to help figure out the exact shipping cost of freight items when setting up the return.

**Online Car Stereo does not accept any returns for Rims, Tires and finance orders. Only exchange or store credit will be granted.

International shipping: UPS ARS labels are not valid for international shipping or shipping on US territories. The customer is responsible for any international shipping charges or duties.

We here at Online Car Stereo will always be committed to give you the best customer service we can possibly give. Always visit us at onlinecarstereo.com to check out our wide array of products and subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.

Summer is almost over out off-roading is still very much alive with enthusiasts. As we still quarantine ourselves to fight the spread of the Covid19 virus, we find ourselves enjoying the outdoors more and more because we feel it’s safer with open fresh air. A lot of the places to enjoy off-road and cross country are open and it is a great time to take advantage of some of the promotions happening here at Onlinecarstereo.

Fuel Off-Road and XD Series Wheels is considered by many as a major player in the off-road sport world. They manufacture using over 25 computer controlled machining centers running around the clock to apply engineering know-how and accuracy. Both brands have their own set of designs that cater to various customer preference. These are manufactured in California from blank wheels to the box. Each design appeals to a particular vehicle that everyone will love.

On the other hand, MSA Off-Road provides a huge catalog of different designs for your off-road vehicle as well. Every model is designed and field tested in their headquarters in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Texas. They are the very few who have retained hand inspection of paints and insert bolts to maintain a high quality of standard in every wheel they sell.

Checkout our newly arrived off-road wheels and enjoy summer before it ends.

• Moto Metal MO97021067324N
• XD Series XD84221067318N
• XD Series XD84221067718N
• XD Series XD77821067712N
• XD Series XD84221035718N
• Fuel D56418907350
• Fuel D57520002650
• Fuel D71120009847
• Fuel D62020009846
• Fuel D61020009845
• Fuel D53820009847
• Fuel D60620009847
• Fuel D62720002647
• XD Series XD85121035418N 
• Fuel D68720908450
• Fuel D57520902650
• Fuel D64520009846
• Fuel D61120909857
• XD Series XD84722068418N
• Fuel D57620002647
• Fuel D64620909857
• Fuel D62120909857
• Fuel D64620909849
• Fuel D61622009846
• Fuel D69620908457

Always visit us at Onlinecarstereo.com to find more off-road wheels for your vehicle. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.

Today’s feature product is the JL Audio VX600/2i Class D amplifier. This high end amp simplifies great sound for your setup. It combines the JL Audio’s proprietary advanced NexD2 switching amp technology with an integrated, full-featured digital signal processor. The result is a clean and high fidelity sound. The class D build makes this unit very stable and power efficient. The size was made ultra-compact for easy storage and concealment.

The VX600/2i provides 300 watts RMS x 2 at 2 ohms; or 180 watts RMS at 4 ohms. There are 3 levels of tuning: Basic, Advanced and Expert. There is a clipping indicator to avoid distortion and allow fine tuning with fully adjustable low, high and bandpass filters.

Instead of the traditional knobs, JL designed the VX600/2i to be controls either thru PC, tablet or phone using the JL Audio TUNS app that has an easy-to-use UI and makes it very convenient in configuring your sound.

Overall, the VX600/2i provides premium sound with its excellent build quality encompassing JL Audio’s high quality car audio engineering.

Always visit us at Onlinecarstereo to find all your car audio and video needs. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.

Since it release in February 2019, the ILX-F259 has been flying off the shelves and has garnered great reviews from car audio lovers. Alpine was the first to adapt the floating screen to accommodate a bigger dimension without dashboard customization and it worked for the consumers. It's whopping 9" screen will blow your mind and and is the centerpiece of the unit. Users can actually position the screen for the best viewing angle for the driver while driving; or the passengers while listening to music.

The compatibility of the Apple Carplay and Android Auto is another features that popularized this product. The seamless integration of the two platforms makes it easy to pair the latest smartphones to enoy music, video, calls and messages. The ILX-F259 can be customized to provide perfect sound using the 9-band equalizer and make use of Alpine's proprietary MediaXpander and Bass Engine SQ. It plays MP3, WMA, AAC and Lossless music files for high definition music. For users who prefer satellite subscription, the ILX-F259 is SiriusXM ready so you'll definitely enjoy your commercial-free music while driving. As a promotion, for every purchase of the ILX-F259, you get a free SiriusXM SXV300V where you can get a $70 rebate if you subscribe to SiriusXM.

For video, the ILX-F259 plays AVI and MPEG4 files and it looks perfect on the WVGA screen. The unit also provides rear view camera inputs that displays clearly on the screen to avoid unnecessary bumps while backing up on the driveway. With Apple Carplay and Android Auto, maps UI are very intuitive and vivid on the 9" screen and you will surely not miss your next turn. On the homescreen, users can customize the UI to easily access apps such as Clock, Messages, Music Player and Calls without touching your smartphone while driving.

The consumer response for the ILX-F259 has been enthusiastic which is still the reason why it is one of the top seller at Onlinecarstereo. Visit us at WWW.ONLINECARSTEREO.COM and subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.

During 4^th of July weekend, many car audio lovers are going online to avail of the biggest discount. This year, since we are all inclined to stay at home and keep safe, Onlinecarstereo is bringing the shopping to your screen. Over 1000 car audio products are up for grabs to make your vehicle sound better. To help you identify which items to buy here are the top 10 car audio products every car guy should own, in no particular order.

Every car audio enthusiast wants a total entertainment receiver to play with whether you are waiting for your wife or girlfriend while their doing shopping or grocery.  On top of our list is the Kenwood DMX125BT. This 6.8” touchscreen is not only featured-filled, but also very affordable at $170. For this price, you get Bluetooth connectivity, Android USB mirroring and rear view camera input all in a slim chassis. Another staple are the Sony head units and their latest iteration is the XAV-AX5500. If you want to step up a notch, you can go premium with this model that includes Apple Carplay and Android Auto and a personal navigator. The slick bezel-less 6.95” design is like no other and you can truly enjoy Japanese technology at its finest. For the old school car audio guy that does not want the touch screen, you can opt for the Alpine CDE-175BT. This unit is simple and compact but has all the bells and whistle. It comes with a front USB slot, Bluetooth and can play lossless FLAC high quality music. Its intuitive controls are strategically designed for ease of use.

Next in the list are speakers. The most common speaker size is 6x9” for most vehicles and the JL Audio C2-690TX tops this category. The 3-way design provides the best sound quality from different frequencies with RMS of 15-125 watts. Another common speaker size if 6.5” and again, JL Audio tops the list. The C2-650 is a great speaker due to JL’s quality materials that produces sparkling highs; smooth midrange and powerful bass. For the more affordable side, the Pioneer TS-A652F is also equipped with 320 watts RMS suitable for most car audio requirement and is perfect for first-time upgrades.

Calling all bassheads! In this area, the Massive Audio HIPPOXL 122 is essential. This monster gives out 4000 watts of power that is perfect for competition and just pure fun. On the cheaper side, the Power Acoustik MOFO-122X rules with its 2700 watts peak power, it is truly a bang for the buck. If you are looking for high quality, we go back to JL Audio. The superb craftsmanship of the 12W3v3-4 is really a no-brainer. The W3V3 series offers up to 1000 watts clean and high quality bass that is worthy of your car.

Lastly, car amplifiers are also essential gears to setup your car audio. You can choose from the amazingly compact JL Audio JX1000/1D that can power up to 900 watts. The Alpine PDR-M65 also stands out in the group for its high performance signature sound.

Some of the products worth mentioning is a good ampkit to start your setup. The Power Acoustik AK-4 and Soundstream WK-80X are very affordable ampkits that does the job. On the other hand, it is advisable to use oxygen-free ampkits and the Memphis Audio 17-4GPWKIT and JL Audio XD-PCS4-1B can provide this especially for your premium gear.

Make sure you visit us at OnlineCarStereo.com for more products with the best prices. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.