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Alpine Electronics was founded in 1967 in Tokyo, Japan as part of the Japanese Alps Electric Co, which jointed with Motorola for the new name in a new country. It currently sells navigation and audio systems for cars. Alpine, although currently not the leading company in the car audio industry, has produced many lines of successful car subwoofers, all under $300 (with the exception of a couple of lines). The looks of the subwoofers are of note. Customers have reported that Alpine subwoofers are made so both sides look fantastic. One has even rated the clean look as a weakness, as a simple installation “will not visually do it justice”.

One of the more popular lines in the Alpine company, the Type-R series is also the largest: it has seven subwoofers compared to the three or four the other lines have. The Type-R series is composed of 10-inch, 12-inch, and 15-inch woofers. Alpine has really packed a whole lot into those inches, because there’s power, yet it doesn’t hurt like other subwoofers that sacrifice sound quality for strength. The two 15 inch products in the Type-R line are the only ones priced over $300, but that’s not to say they aren’t worth it. The entire line is priced as it should be, because high quality 15-inch subwoofers are actually quite difficult to find; most tend to stick to 10 and 12 inches. An owner of an SWR-1242D subwoofer (12 inches, part of the Type-R series) said that sound could be heard from the car from 2 miles away. He parked his car in a gas station and even made the shelves shake. You can get the 10-inch Type-R series for $200, the 12-inch for $220, and the 15-inch for $400. Continue reading ‘Alpine Car Subwoofers: Quality And Affordability’ »

Hifonics was first set up in 1981, November to be exact. Helmut Stieglitz, the man behind the first trades of Hifonics, decided on a very interesting concept that would put the first faces to the Hifonics company. Instead of using simple number and letter combinations to denote series and models, Hifonics borrows the names of Greek, Teutonic, Roman, and Egyptian gods to use in order to create a memorable name that wouldn’t be confused (like, say the 700 series versus 800 series). This has certainly paid off, because some series, like the Hifonics Zeus subwoofer series, are easy to remember. Hifonics is now owned by Maxxsonics, which continues to win numerous SPL wars.

Team Maxxsonics, as mentioned, consistently places in the top rankings for their sound pressure levels. They have won so many competitions using their strategies and products. As Hifonics has fallen into the hands of the Maxxsonics team, the company will absolutely continue to produce better car audio equipment aimed to pack as much power into a consumer model (rolling around in a competition car wouldn’t be too fun, some of them can’t even drive!) as possible while maintaining a low cost to make things affordable. Mr. Stieglitz certainly picked the best team to hand over his creations to, because we’re going to see some good things come out of Hifonics in the future. Continue reading ‘Hifonics Zeus Subwoofer: A Value-priced Subwoofer’ »

In any car audio system, the subwoofer must absolutely be present. It might not sound important at first, but if you remove the subwoofer component, there’s no bass left. A subwoofer by definition is a loudspeaker dedicated to producing low frequency sounds. Have you ever heard the booming beat screaming from a car? That’s the subwoofer at work. Of course, it’s turned past what the average car owner would have it at.

The top companies you’ll want to look for if you want to upgrade your car subwoofer are JL Audio, MTX Audio, and Kicker. These three are leading the car audio industry, all with early origins. JL Audio’s W7 line is one of the most advanced and most powerful subwoofer lines available on the market (pricey, but well worth it if you care about the quality). MTX Audio has released an amazing 60-inch subwoofer that holds the record for the size. They also have the largest consumer subwoofer that measures at 22 inches. Kicker’s L7 seems to be the best from the Kicker lineup, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be. Continue reading ‘Car Stereo Subwoofers: An Essential Car Audio Component’ »

If you said yes to any of these questions, then there are some tips you should know before you go ahead and make a purchase.

So, here are some tips on how to choose the right car sound system for your Ford, drafted with by using.

1) Firstly you should look at the speakers. An effective amplifier should produce good quality sound out of the speaker and will eliminate distortion and maintain a high quality of sound. Remember that the amplifier should be positioned in a car location that will acquire good air flow and will not get wet.

2) Secondly you should consider the speakers. The size of the speakers should work within the proportions of your car because too much of a magnet may cause bad sound quality in a smaller car. However, you need to stick to a budget you can afford and ensure you get speakers that are suited to your Ford. When shopping for speakers and amplifiers it’s easy to get carried away, so remember your budget.

3) After this consider automatic volume control, if the car has this feature it will allow the audio system to control the volume capacity whilst compensating for speed and wind noise. This could be a feature you want so check to see whether it is available on the models you are looking at.

4) What about the add-ons? Thanks to modern technology, advances, today’s newly developed sound systems are more versatile than the older systems. Recent technological add-ons include GPS ability, or a mapping system for directions, Bluetooth ready devices and audio/video display set up.

5) If in doubt, ask an expert. Go into your local Ford store and ask some questions. After this move onto the next store and compare the answers you get. This can be the only way to see if their advice is honest or whether they just want to sell you an expensive stereo. Shopping around is the best way of getting the right stereo for you at a good price.

6) Don’t alter the electronics. Unless you are a skilled electrician it isn’t advisable to alter the electronics of your Ford. If you want to change anything hire a professional electrician, which could end up costing you 100 to 200 pounds.

7) However a new stereo isn’t the only option. Even though installing a new stereo could help to modernise your Ford, it’s not always the most effective way to enhance your driving experience. This is because sometimes your Ford won’t be modern enough to handle a top of the range stereo. If this is your situation then you might prefer to buy or lease a vehicle that comes with a quality stereo. For example, car leasing deal may be the perfect way to replace yoru Ford with a newer model.

If you follow this advice then hopefully you’ll have no problem choosing and then installing a new car stereo in your Ford.

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Hifonics was first set up in 1981, November to be exact. Helmut Stieglitz, the man behind the first trades of Hifonics, decided on a very interesting concept that would put the first faces to the Hifonics company. Instead of using simple number and letter combinations to denote series and models, Hifonics borrows the names of Greek, Teutonic, Roman, and Egyptian gods to use in order to create a memorable name that wouldn’t be confused (like, say the 700 series versus 800 series). This has certainly paid off, because some series, like the Hifonics Zeus subwoofer series, are easy to remember. Hifonics is now owned by Maxxsonics, which continues to win numerous SPL wars.

Continue reading ‘Hifonics Zeus Subwoofer: A Value-priced Subwoofer’ »

In any car audio system, the subwoofer must absolutely be present. It might not sound important at first, but if you remove the subwoofer component, there’s no bass left. A subwoofer by definition is a loudspeaker dedicated to producing low frequency sounds. Have you ever heard the booming beat screaming from a car? That’s the subwoofer at work. Of course, it’s turned past what the average car owner would have it at.

The top companies you’ll want to look for if you want to upgrade your car subwoofer are JL Audio, MTX Audio, and Kicker. These three are leading the car audio industry, all with early origins. JL Audio’s W7 line is one of the most advanced and most powerful subwoofer lines available on the market (pricey, but well worth it if you care about the quality). MTX Audio has released an amazing 60-inch subwoofer that holds the record for the size. They also have the largest consumer subwoofer that measures at 22 inches. Kicker’s L7 seems to be the best from the Kicker lineup, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be. Continue reading ‘Car Stereo Subwoofers: An Essential Car Audio Component’ »

Alpine Electronics was founded in 1967 in Tokyo, Japan as part of the Japanese Alps Electric Co, which jointed with Motorola for the new name in a new country. It currently sells navigation and audio systems for cars. Alpine, although currently not the leading company in the car audio industry, has produced many lines of successful car subwoofers, all under $300 (with the exception of a couple of lines). The looks of the subwoofers are of note. Customers have reported that Alpine subwoofers are made so both sides look fantastic. One has even rated the clean look as a weakness, as a simple installation “will not visually do it justice”.

One of the more popular lines in the Alpine company, the Type-R series is also the largest: it has seven subwoofers compared to the three or four the other lines have. The Type-R series is composed of 10-inch, 12-inch, and 15-inch woofers. Alpine has really packed a whole lot into those inches, because there’s power, yet it doesn’t hurt like other subwoofers that sacrifice sound quality for strength. The two 15 inch products in the Type-R line are the only ones priced over $300, but that’s not to say they aren’t worth it. The entire line is priced as it should be, because high quality 15-inch subwoofers are actually quite difficult to find; most tend to stick to 10 and 12 inches. An owner of an SWR-1242D subwoofer (12 inches, part of the Type-R series) said that sound could be heard from the car from 2 miles away. He parked his car in a gas station and even made the shelves shake. You can get the 10-inch Type-R series for $200, the 12-inch for $220, and the 15-inch for $400. Continue reading ‘Alpine Car Subwoofers: Quality And Affordability’ »

Everybody’s been driving down the road and heard an unexpected clunk or squeal coming from their car. You don’t know what it is and you certainly don’t do anything about it while it gets progressively worse and worse. Once you finally have a major breakdown or get your car in to the mechanic, you’re faced with a hefty repair bill that you should have seen coming. If you learn to listen to your car and respond to what it’s telling you, you can avoid some of these unexpected repairs and get them remedied before something catastrophic occurs.

The easiest problems to pinpoint by sound tend to be those involving your tires. If you hear any sort of grumbling or humming coming from the wheels of your car, this may be a sign of tire problems. These noises often become much louder as the speed of your vehicle increases. Roll your window down to get a better idea of what’s happening. When you hear these sounds, check your tires for bulges or uneven wear. Make sure that there are no major wear spots and the metal belts are not exposed. If you notice any of those problems or the treads are worn under the indicated marks on the tires, it is time to consider getting them replaced. Most tire shops offer extremely competitive prices on materials and labor, so shop around until you find a good deal. Continue reading ‘Listen to Your Car and Catch Problems Early’ »

The JL Audio 8W7 is the 8-inch version of JL Audio’s W7 line. The W7 series is JL Audio’s most recent car subwoofer release and is known as the most technologically advanced out of any of the JL Audio products. The entire line features six new, patented technologies never before seen in the lineup, mostly because none of the previous products, remade in a second version or not, can even relate; JL Audio built the W7 series from scratch and not from a previous model. The W7 series focuses on sound quality and volume at the same time; that is, JL Audio wants to see how loud they can turn the party up without having to sacrifice the sound.

The 8-inch version has drawn numerous positive reviews from car audio experts and leading organizations. Car Sound and Performance calls it the “best damn 8-inch subwoofer ever made”. It’s small, yet powerful, and the 8-inch subwoofer has never been made so well in so long. It’s really no wonder that it’s getting rave reviews. JL Audio has certainly taken advantage of the situation and brought the little ones to own the bigger ones. Continue reading ‘Jl Audio 8w7 Review’ »

The JL Audio 8W7 is the 8-inch version of JL Audio’s W7 line. The W7 series is JL Audio’s most recent car subwoofer release and is known as the most technologically advanced out of any of the JL Audio products. The entire line features six new, patented technologies never before seen in the lineup, mostly because none of the previous products, remade in a second version or not, can even relate; JL Audio built the W7 series from scratch and not from a previous model. The W7 series focuses on sound quality and volume at the same time; that is, JL Audio wants to see how loud they can turn the party up without having to sacrifice the sound. Continue reading ‘Jl Audio 8w7 Review’ »