One of the biggest innovation today in car audio after bluetooth is the integration of smartphones to our car receivers. The two major platforms, Apple and Android has revolutionized the way we travel in our vehicles by giving us Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The two integration system works similarly but have their own unique features and user interfaces. The way these two systems work is basically make your smartphones be easily controlled on the head unit touchscreen with a simple interface without distracting the driver. Icon are made large and accessible which can also be operated while driving (not recommended).
Apple Carplay
Still the most widely used platform, iOS has been dominating the industry due to the huge following of the iPhone. Carplay is robust in terms of usability and features. If you are an avid iphone user, you will have no problem integrating your phone on your car stereo. First off, Siri is easily accessible with the use of voice command or steering wheel button. You essentially open, close and whatever you command Siri on the head unit.
Carplay has basically made travelling easier thru the integration of maps, either from Apple, Google or Waze. Finding direction is as easy as saying the address thru voice command; or typing on the screen. There is literally no need for satellite subscription to know how the traffic as map applications have live traffic updates throughout our travel.
Phone and SMS messages are also easily accessible on Carplay. You can command Siri via voice to call anyone in your contact list or send an SMS message without touching the screen. Most car manufacturers have now adopted the use of Carplay as well as major consumer electronics brands for their head units which gives us variety of models to choose from.
Android Auto
On the other side of the spectrum are Andoid geeks and they have a fair share of smartphone integration called Android Auto. First, you can easily access Google Assistant and command via voice to open and play any app on your radio. There is also a seamless compatibility to majority of the navigation apps which makes it easy to travel and you'll also be provided with live traffic updates. The user interface is also designed to be easy-to-use even while driving (not recommended). Communication on Android Auto is also simple as the call and text icons are easily launched, either via Google Assistant or on the touch screen.
Both platforms will provide users with excellent entertainment features. Carplay and Auto can be connected with a use of the proprietary cable thru USB or wireless for selected head unit models. Major music apps such as Spotify, Pandora and iHeart Radio are easily streamed and users can control the playlist and can also display album art on the radio screen.
Here are a list of some of the popular head units that incorporate both Carplay and Auto. All are available at Onlinecarstereo.com.
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At Onlinecarstereo, we are always striving to grow our business to cater to every car audio lover in the world. Today, a brand is returning its partnership to us and making us authorized dealers both online and in-store.
Clarion is known for their marine electronics as well as car audio. a perfect example of exquisite marine sound is the CMS-651-CWB. This 6.5" coaxial speaker is certified salt and sun that can withstand harsh weather in the middle of the sea. It has 30 watts RMS. It offers both sport and classic grills.
If you want to step up a notch, the CM1624TB marine tower speakers will be perfect for you. It features RBG illumination perfect for night time sailing and can handle 80 watts of RMS and comes in both black and silver.
To power your speakers, Clarion amplifiers are also very efficient and high quality. The XC2510, XC2410 and XC2110 has all the possible channel configurations you needs to power your boat. Clarion amplifiers feature uncompromising resistance to magnetic noise, thereby minimizing distortion, as well as high quality terminals to offer low electrical and contact resistance. Easy subwoofer system configuration is possible with the embedded low pass filters. The result is high quality sound you can enjoy in a variety of systems.
To play your music, the Clarion GR10BT definitely satisfy your friends with your playlist. It is built to withstand the harsh and wet environment of marine usage, by virtue of an IPX5 rated water-resistant front panel and IPX3 rated chassis. Buttons positioned along the rim of the circular face enable quick, stress-free access to functions. What's more, the oversized LCD display offers clear visibility during day or night. The high-contrast LCD display enables you to quickly confirm details like the song title or artist name, at a glance. Bluetooth for Stereo Audio Streaming Built-in Bluetooth provides stereo streaming with a wide variety of Bluetooth compatible devices. Play music stored on your connected Bluetooth device, whether it’s a smart phone or tablet, with wireless convenience.
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Kicker subwoofers have been a staple with car audio lovers worldwide. It is the first brand that comes into mind when we think of subs and speakers. Today, we will focus our attention on subwoofer enclosures. Kicker enclosures are very easy to setup and are very well made.They have a variety of sizes that will fit you vehicle. The modern sleek design also add to the appeal of both younger and older consumers. Here are some of the most popular Kicker enclosures.
Kicker 44DL7S122
This unit is huge and packs a punch. It sports the high-end Kicker l7's that gives out a maximum of 3000 watts of power. The Solo-Baric design is unique to Kicker and having the dual subs will be perfect to any vehicle especially with trucks. It is designed with sturdy MDF and bracing making it very durable and would last long. The round corners add to the futuristic design that blends well with any car or truck.
Kicker 46CWTB102
This loaded enclosures has great bass for its size. The new tube design is done to blend well with the back of a truch or a trunk of a car. It is weatherproof so you don't have to worry about it lasting long even if you place it in open space. The CompR sub powers this little monster and is protected by a think ABS tube construction with its signature red stitching from the CompR subs. In addition, the new design allows the 46CWTB102 to be mounting either laying down or verticall with its innovative mount.
Kicker 47TRTP82
The TRTP is a very compact enclosure and fits in very tight spaces in your vehicle. It is powere with a CompRT sub with 300 watts RMS. Its stylish carpet deisgn is classic of Kicker enclosures and also built to last a long time. It comes in 8", 10" and 12" so you have a variety of subwoofer sizes to choose from.
Kicker 46TL7T124
Another loaded Kicker enclosure that is powered by a Solo-Baric T7T subwoofer that gives you 600 watts of RMS. This is a saller alternative for those who just wants a single woofer in a bix but can rumble. Also built with Kicker proprietary MDF construction and also sports the embroidered Kicker Logo on a thick black carpeting. The rounded corners add to its sleek minimalistic design.
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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 4th 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.
We all love listening to music and it’s that music that keeps us sane while driving through traffic. One of the most common upgrades an audiophile wants to do is subwoofers. Depending on your preferred music, there are a number of considerations you’ll have to do to get the perfect sound you are looking for.
Several brands come to mind when you are on a lookout for subwoofers. First is JL Audio which needs no introduction. They make the best subwoofers money can buy and they are more expensive than the other brands out there. Their best seller is the W3V3 which is a standard upgrade for intermediate to advanced audiophiles. These are powerhouse subs that deliver potent performance and quality sound for medium power applications. They also have the W7AE series which delivers exceptional balance and limitless dynamics.
Massive Audio is another brand that is well known in the car audio industry. Their subwoofers are built like a tank and even provide power only a bass addict can dream of. Currently, their best seller is the HIPPOXL 152R that produces a whopping 3000 watts of RMS. Massive’s line is well suited for completion and it will never let you down.
For conventional subwoofers, Kicker stands out in terms of quality and price. They have 12 subwoofer lines that cater to different applications and various price ranges. For starter upgrades, the CompR series are very popular such as the 43CWR104, 43CWR124 or 43CWR154 that produces reliable bass sounds for the money. For premium model, nothing can go wrong with Kicker’s Q class. With their innovative classic square design and oversized magnets will allow every drop of power to get from the sub to your ears.
Lastly, there are other notable premium brands to mention like Alpine’s Type-R series, Pioneer’s A-series, Focal’s Elite and Auditor lines; and Hertz and Audison. These are more upscale models that are preferred by high-end audiophiles.
This makes you think, how to I select which subwoofer to buy? The answer lies on different factors. First is Power. This is the main criteria to consider identifying how much bass you want to produce for your car. There are misconceptions that you refer to the peak power, but it is the other way around. You should look at the RMS which is the rating for continuous power a subwoofer produces. If you are within the RMS power, you are not risking your subs or amp to be blown. Subsequently, after knowing the power, one should also consider the sensitivity of the sub. This determines how sensitive the subwoofer to receive power to produce for the sound required. It is also important to consider how low the frequency range the subwoofer will produce. This is indicated by the frequency range of the subwoofer.
Does size matter? Will a 15” sub produce more bass than a 10” or 8”? This is technically true but do not underestimate smaller subs. There are some smaller size subwoofers that produce quality bass. One factor to consider size is if it will fit your vehicle.
Make sure you visit us at OnlineCarStereo.com for more subwoofers with the best prices. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.
One of the most common accessory upgrade a car audio enthusiast deals with is a speaker. There are many types of speaker and with this, it can be confusing which one to choose. Today, we will discuss the basic anatomy of a car speaker so you will have the information in selecting the right speaker for your setup.
SPEAKER CONE
This is the part of the speaker that is usually constructed from paper, polypropylene, Kevlar or other materials. Manufacturers commonly use polypropylene due to its rigidness and easy to work with. However, some would say that it does not perform quite well with high frequencies but usually excel in midrange. Paper cones perform well and produce clear and crisp sound due to its lightness and stiffness. Some high end manufacturers make us of Kevlar as the main material for its durability and at the same for the light weight characteristic. Depending on the design, Kevlar material can also produce quality sound.
ANNULUS / SURROUND
This is the part of the speaker that serves as a suspension for the code to the frame of the speaker. It usually is made of paper, foam, butyl or cloth. There is other annulus design called the “m” which is claimed to provide a more effective way to absorb wave energy to the cone.
VOICE COIL
The voice coil is the coil of wire attached to the apex of a speaker cone. It provides the motive force to the cone by the reaction of a magnetic field to the current passing through it. The most common is the dual voice coil but single voice coils are also available as well.
MAGNET
Usually made of a rare earth metal called Neodymium for small tweeters; or ferrite commonly for speakers. Magnet is an essential part of the speaker as this holds the coil in place while it moves back and forth to push air and produce sound and at the same time preventing distortion. The result is a louder sound and better bas response.
SPIDER
It is responsible for the allowing the speakers parts to move in a linear fashion and prevent them from displacing and move consistently. It is fitted around the voice coil.
DUST CAP
This is the part of the speaker that covers the middle of the cone to prevent dust from accumulating inside the speaker elements. This part also provides as an aesthetic design for the speaker.
BASKET
Also called the frame of the speaker which houses the entire speaker assembly together. This essentially forms the main shape of the speaker or subwoofer. Some speakers are built deep and some are shallow to fit certain types of vehicle.
This week, we have featured speakers from various brands like Infinity, Memphis Audio, Pioneer, Kicker and more. Always visit OnlineCarStereo.com and browse our catalog of over 3000 products. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.
OnlineCarStereo recently signed a partnership with XS Power Batteries. This means that you are able to order batteries for different applications. XS Power offers absorbent glass mat (AGM) and lithium batteries of various outputs that will suit any car audio setup. AGM batteries has gained popularity in the 80’s due to its very low resistance and capability to deliver high currents on demand with a long service life. On the other hand, since time and memorial, lithium batteries has been also popular due to its best electrochemical property and provides the largest energy density for weight. Below are the different battery configurations of XS Power:
AGM Batteries
These are one of the lightest racing batteries in production and test results confirm that it produces more energy than other batteries that are bigger and heavier. These are non-spillable therefore you can mount them at any position you choose. These batteries are the choice of racers and monster truck drivers for its efficiency and durability. The series include:
- D Series
- V Series
- V Series
- PS Series
- XP Series
- 6V/14V/16V
LITHIUM Batteries
With its nanothenology, it offers extreme power and exceptional safety for daily driver vehicles. The highly advanced chemistry has been perfected to eliminate cell failure. This battery also features an electronic monitoring system that makes sure that each cell are balanced to produce maximum performance and and longer life. Popular in this section are the following:
- Titan8 Lithium Batteries
- Lithium S Series Batteries
- Lithium PS Series Batteries
- 16V Lithium Batteries
- 16V Lithium Combo Kits
XS power also provide you battery accessories such as terminals, hold downs, wiring kits, chargers and heat wraps all depending on your setup.
OnlineCarStereo is an authorized dealer of XS Power batteries and includes free shipping! Visit our website and find your next power upgrade for your car audio setup. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.