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Mobile Enhancement Experts in Milford CT

55 Woodmont Rd., Milford, CT 203-954-0066
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The Many Benefits of Installing Window Film on Your Vehicle

Window TintingAutomotive window film has been around for more than 50 years. What started as a spray-on process to add privacy has evolved dramatically over the past few decades. Modern window films offer amazing optical clarity, excellent heat rejection, reduced glare and improved occupant protection. Let’s look at what this technology is and some of the reasons why people tint their windows.

What Is Window Film?

Most window films are made from a thin polyester sheet with layers of a proprietary mixture of coatings. These coating materials offer UV-, IR- and light-blocking properties. Window films are applied directly to the inside surface of the glass and include an adhesive to ensure they stay in place. High-quality films are designed not to fade or change color over their lives. These quality adhesives will not break down and cause the film to release over time.

Window Film and Light Transmission

The typical facility that sells and installs window film may carry as many as four of five different grades of film. Each grade often has several different light transmission levels available. Films are rated by the percentage of visible light that they allow to pass. A 15 percent film only lets 15% of the light directed at the film pass through. A 5% film would be very dark, while a 70% film is very light.

Why Use Window Film?

There are four main reasons to use window film or tint on your vehicle:

  • Improve styling
  • Security
  • Heat rejection
  • Protection against UV rays

Style

Window TintingThere is no doubt that a vehicle with professionally installed window tint looks cool. A white car with a dark tint evokes the “stormtrooper” look, while a dark paint color with tinted windows and no chrome is an amazing “blacked out” style. Whatever your preference, tinting your windows can have a dramatic effect on the style of your vehicle.

Safety

Windows films that protect the vehicle and its occupants are steadily growing in popularity. There are security films designed specifically to adhere firmly to the tempered glass of side and rear windows. These films keep the window intact in an accident or an attempted “break and enter.” If you are concerned about attempted break-ins, ask your local window tint specialist about security films.

Heat Rejection

Window Tinting
A heat lamp display, such as this one at Window Tint School allows you to not only see the difference in the light transmission, but also feel the heat reduction.

One of the most popular reasons to tint your windows is to help keep the interior of your vehicle cool. The key to succeeding at this goal is to request a good-quality window film. These thermal blocking films are often called “nano” or “ceramic.”

Think about just how much glass there is in the average vehicle. What does your steering wheel feel like when you get in the car on a hot summer day? In most cases, you can barely touch it! Premium films are designed to block heat, not just light. They not only help keep your car cooler, but they ease the load on your air conditioning system. That can directly translate into savings in fuel costs.

When it comes to blocking heat, the amount of light the film transmits is not the only criterion. Many shops will have a way to demonstrate the capabilities of heat-blocking films, often using a heat lamp display of some sort. There are 5% films that use dyes that barely block any heat. At the other end of the spectrum, there are films that allow more than 70% of light to pass, but block 50% of the heat from the sun.

Skin Protection

Window TintingThe Skin Cancer Foundation has released an article about the benefits of window films that are designed to block UV rays. UVA and UVB rays are what cause sunburns and eye damage. Conventional glass blocks the transmission of UVB radiation, but UVA rays can pass through effectively unhindered. These protective films can block up to 97% of UVA rays. Unlike traditional films, many of these UV-blocking films offer excellent light transmission characteristics. As much as 93% of visible light can be transmitted, making them suitable for use on windshields in some areas. The best of these films offer an equivalent Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of up to 1,000. If you spend a lot of time in your vehicle, then you should look into UV-blocking films.

We have all seen pictures of cracked vinyl dashboards in our favorite ’70s and ’80s cars. The same window film protection characteristics that protect you also protect your vehicle. Plastic, vinyl, rubber and cloth are all susceptible to damage and fading caused by UV exposure. A quality window film keeps your car interior not only cool, but looking great for years.

Film Installation

Window TintingIt is best to seek out a professional installer to have window film installed. They are trained in techniques to ensure that the film is cut and shrunk to fit the glass perfectly. The difference between a do-it-yourself job and a professional installation extends far beyond the initial result. Proper installation techniques ensure that no fingerprints, dust or debris get caught under the film. A proper installation will last longer because it adheres to the glass better. The film won’t peel or pull away from the edges or defroster lines.

If you are interested in having your windows tinted, check with your local tinting professionals. Ask to see examples of their work, and be sure to discuss different qualities of film and ask about their thermal, UV and light transmission capabilities. Modern window films are amazing feats of engineering that can protect you and your vehicle while making it look awesome.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, RESOURCE LIBRARY, Window Tint

Product Spotlight: Hertz Mille Pro Speakers

Hertz Mille Pro

Hertz Mille Pro speakers are designed for car audio enthusiasts who demand world-class performance and impressive value. The Mille Pro series includes five component speaker systems, a pair of coaxial speakers, or drivers in a-la-carte pairs for an actively filtered system. Trickle-down technology from the esteemed Legend Series helps to ensure that music lovers can find a solution that fits their needs.

Hertz Mille Pro Speaker Systems

Starting with the flagship MPK 1650.3 Pro, this two-way component speaker set includes a pair of 6.5-inch MP 165P.3 woofers, two MP 28.3 1 3/8” tweeters and a set of MPCX 165.3 passive crossover networks. The woofers are based on a cast aluminum alloy basket and use a 1-inch polyamide voice coil former with a 0.55-inch tall winding. The woofers have a nominal impedance of 3 ohms to maximize the power production capabilities of the connected amplifier. Xmax is specified at 4.5 mm, and power handling is a healthy 125 watts continuous. The woofer cones are made from a pressed pulp paper with cotton fibers, and they feature an exponential-curve deep-V shape. The cone is attached to a rubber surround that Hertz calls “Boundary Free” in reference to the smooth transition between the area that attaches to the cone and the outer roll. The MP 28.3 tweeters have a 1.1-inch voice coil and use lightweight CCAW wiring to assist with amazing transient response. The Tetolon fiber domes work with tuned rear chambers to deliver an extremely low resonant frequency of 900 Hz. This low Fs value allows for low crossover points and improves the overall dispersion performance of the set. The passive crossover networks include tweeter level attenuation switches and two contour settings to compensate for different tweeter installation positions.

The MPK 165P.3 Pro set uses the same 6.5-inch MP 165P.3 woofers as the above system with a set of MP 25.3 1.14-inch tweeters. These smaller tweeters are more suitable for integration into factory pods in sail panel, A-pillar and door locations. The crossover point in the included MPCX 2P.3 crossovers is at 4 kHz instead of 3 kHz, as in the 1650.3 Pro set.

Hertz Mille Pro
The MP 165P.3 Pro woofers feature a large 95 mm ceramic magnet for great efficiency in a package with a mounting depth of only 2.52 inches. Optional mesh grilles are available for custom installations.

The MPK 165.3 Pro Set uses the MP 25.3 tweeters with a set of 6.5-inch MP 165.3 woofers. These woofers retain the cast aluminum basket, pressed cotton and pulp-paper cone, the Boundary Free surround and a 1-inch voice coil design. Power handling is somewhat more modest at 110 watts, and Xmax is plus or minus 4 mm. The MPCX 2.3 crossovers have a 0 or +2 dB tweeter adjustment and filter the drivers at 3.5 kHz.

For those who require a three-way speaker solution, the MPK 163.3 Pro system adds a pair of MP 70.3 3-inch midrange drivers to the MPK 165.3 set. The mids feature a cast basket, dual neodymium magnets, cotton and pressed-pulp cones, and the Boundary Free rubber surround design. With a resonant frequency of 110 Hz and Xmax spec of 1.5 mm, these mids play down to 450 Hz with the included MPCX 3.3 passive networks.

Hertz Mille Pro
The three-way MPK 163.3 Pro set is a great upgrade solution for factory-installed audio systems that use a woofer, midrange and tweeter in the front stage speaker system.

For those who need a 5.25-inch component set, Hertz offers the MPK 130.3 Pro system. The system uses the MP 25.3 tweeters with a pair of MP 130.3 woofers. The woofers have cast baskets, and the same cone and surround design as their big-brother 6.5-inch speakers. The system includes the same MPCX 2.3 crossovers as the MPK 165.3 set.

High-Performance Coaxial Speaker Sets

There are two coaxial speaker options in the Hertz Mille Pro Series. The MPX 165.3 Pro set is a pair of two-way 6.5-inch speakers that use a 1-inch tweeter mounted at the very base of the woofer cone. The woofer uses a 1.42-inch voice coil former so that there is enough room for the tweeter to fit inside. The same paper-cotton cone and surround woofers design complement soft Tetolon diaphragms in the tweeters. Hertz added an acoustic lens on top of the tweeter to help improve off-axis performance.

Hertz Mille Pro
This cutaway view of the MPX 165.3 Pro shows the complexity involved in integrating a tweeter into the pole-piece of a woofer. The capacitor for the tweeter crossover is integrated into the assembly that bolts into the woofer.

The MPX 690.3 Pro is a set of 6×9-inch three-way speakers. The large oval woofer is complemented by a 1.4-inch soft-dome tweeter and a 1.14-inch super-tweeter. Both use the soft-dome Tetolon design with crossover points of 4 and 10 kHz, respectively, to deliver even dispersion both on- and off-axis. Power handling is rated at 130 watts, and the woofer has an Xmax spec of plus or minus 4 mm.

Premium Speaker Upgrades for Every Application

The Hertz Mille Pro series fits perfectly between the Mille Legend and the Energy speakers. The offerings combine great power handling, flexible installation options and the reputation for performance that has made Hertz one of the best-known speaker manufacturers in the car audio industry. For more information about these speakers, visit the Hertz website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Hertz

Product Spotlight: ARC Audio X2 600.4

ARC Audio

When it comes to balancing fantastic sound quality with impressive power production, the X2 600.4 four-channel amplifier from ARC Audio checks all the boxes. This compact amplifier is rated to produce 150 watts per channel, and it includes all the signal routing and integration features your installer would need to complete your installation.

ARC Audio X2 600.4 Specifications vr

ARC AudioUp first, let’s talk about how much power this amp can produce. ARC rates the amp as being capable of delivering 150 watts per channel or 300 watts per channel pair when bridged into a 4-ohm load. The stereo specifications apply to both 4-and 2-ohm loads as a switch located beside each of the speaker output connectors adjusts the power supply rail voltage. Whereas most amplifiers make power into lower impedances, the X2 600.4 ensures that you have all the power you’ll need into 2- or 4-ohm loads.

Signal Processing Features

ARC AudioEach pair of channels is equipped with a stereo sensitivity control that is adjustable from 200 mV to 3.5V. Channels 1 and 2 have an adjustable crossover than can be configured in high- or low-pass mode and is adjustable from 50 to 500 Hz. This pair of channels also has an adjustable bass boost function that allows your installer to dial in up to 12 dB of boost at 45 Hz. When the crossover for this pair of channels is set to low-pass mode, the included remote level control can be used for subwoofer level adjustment.

Channels 3 and 4 have the option of being configured in a bandpass configuration for a midrange or mid-bass speaker. The high-pass filter is adjustable from 50 to 500 Hz, and the low-pass filter has two ranges – 50 to 500 Hz, or 500 to 5,000 Hz when the x10 multiplier switch is activated. The signal input for channels 3 and 4 can be sourced directly from the RCA jacks on the front edge of the amp or can be “copied” from inputs 1 and 2 to eliminate the need for Y-cables.

ARC Audio also includes a bridging switch that sets the signal routing up to use the amp in a two-channel configuration. The signal from RCA input 1 goes to channels 1 and 2, and the input from RCA 2 goes to channels 3 and 4. The controls for channels 1 and 2 are used in this configuration.

On-Board Diagnostic System

ARC AudioAll of the controls are on the top of the amp and are concealed by a removable aluminum shroud. The acrylic badge in the center illuminates in blue when the amp is powered up. If the microprocessor in the amp detects a fault, the logo will flash in a pattern that describes the issue. Specific error codes are provided for under-voltage, over-voltage, short circuit, thermal and DC conditions. This information can dramatically reduce the time required to diagnose any vehicle or installation issues if the amp shuts down.

Electrical and Signal Connections

ARC AudioThe front edge of the amp has a power block that will accept four-AWG power cables. The block uses plated Phillips-head set screws with knurled tips to hold the wire securely. To the left of the power block is a pair of 30-amp ATC fuses. It’s nice to see an amplifier include fusing on the chassis – this saves the consumer money at the time of installation.

There are four chrome-plated RCA jacks and an RJ-11 for the remote level control. A pair of removable terminal blocks handles the speaker output connections. The blocks will accept 12-AWG cable. To the right of each block is the aforementioned load select switch that adjusts the power supply voltage.

Factory Stereo System Integration Features

ARC AudioEach of the RCA connections uses balanced differential circuitry to eliminate noise imposed on the interconnect cables. ARC Audio includes two sets of RCA pigtails with the amp for use as speaker-level inputs. These pigtails include a voltage divider network that allows for up to 20 volts of signal from a factory radio or amplifier.

The amp also includes a three-position switch that controls the auto-sensing turn-on circuit. In the Off position, the amp monitors the remote turn-on terminal for 12V. In the Signal Detect mode, it looks for audio to be present on RCA input 1. In the DC detect mode, the amp looks for a DC offset voltage on RCA input. This DC offset voltage is typically found in the output of most radios and small amplifiers.

The power supply is designed to work with electrical systems that function between 9 and 17 volts. It also includes provisions to function with vehicles equipped with Start-Stop technology. As long as your radio keeps playing, so will the X2 600.4.

Experience the ARC Audio X2 600.4 Today!

While the features and design of the X2 600.4 are unmatched, so too is its sound quality. You have to experience this amp to understand its impressive clarity and detail. Visit your local authorized ARC Audio retailer today for a demonstration. To learn more about the X2-Series amplifiers, or any of ARC Audio’s fine products, visit their website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: ARC Audio

Why Drone Is the Perfect Choice for Fleet Management

Fleet Management

Whether you are a small auto parts store with two delivery vehicles or run a local courier or moving company with dozens of trucks, Drone is the perfect fleet management tool. Drone uses high-performance telematics technology to monitor the location and behavior of the vehicle it’s installed in. DroneMobile – the powerful web and smartphone interface – makes managing the information collected by Drone efficient, so you can optimize the operation of your company vehicles and increase safety.

Drone Fleet Management Packages

Depending on the specific needs of your company, Drone offers three tracking solutions for business owners. The Premium package logs individual vehicle trips, monitors for speed violations and includes four geofence and 10 point-of-interest alert options. You can look up a vehicle location in seconds using the DroneMobile app on your smartphone or the web interface.

Stepping up to the Premium Plus plan adds turn-by-turn and breadcrumb trail logging that updates every two minutes. Geofences and point-of-interest locations are unlimited on the Premium Plus and higher packages.

Finally, the Ultimate package increases breadcrumb trail logging to every 30 seconds and adds location-based alerts. All three options include Drone’s standard vehicle control features like locking and unlocking, as well as battery voltage and vehicle temperature monitoring.

The packages include maintenance reminders, and vehicle diagnostic trouble code information is also logged to help ensure that the fleet is operating reliably and efficiently.

Fleet Management
You can choose from three GPS-enabled tracking packages to provide the connectivity and information you require to manage your fleet.

How Fleet Tracking Saves Companies Money

As a business owner, understanding how your equipment is being used is paramount to your profitability. Ensuring that delivery routes are being followed can save money in reduced fuel expenses. Information about arrival time to each destination can be used to optimize itineraries to avoid traffic congestion or construction. Curfew alerts ensure that your vehicle fleet is being used for business purposes only.

Using the Trips feature (available on the DroneMobile app or at accounts.dronemobile.com on any web browser), managers can review up to six months of data for each vehicle and look for driving behavior issues like speeding, unnecessary stops and unscheduled detours.

Fleet Management
Drone tracks start and finish points, including date, time and distance, based on when the ignition is turned on and off.

The Activity Log function at accounts.dronemobile.com includes options to sort information by vehicle, date range and activity, enabling you to analyze operational status with impressive detail. Data from the Activity Log can be exported into a spreadsheet-compatible .CSV format with a single button-click to help create presentations and reports.

Fleet Management
Management can download Drone activity information quickly and easily through the website portal.

Additional Fleet Tracking Benefits

It’s been proven repeatedly that company drivers who know a tracking system has been installed on the company vehicle drive more safely and efficiently. Safer driving reduces fuel and vehicle maintenance expenses, and can also reduce insurance costs from reduced claims. Speaking of insurance, it would be worth asking your insurance company if they offer a discount for vehicles that have tracking systems.

Drone hardware can be upgraded with security features to add another level of protection to your fleet. The Firstech DAS-II sensor monitors the vehicle for impacts, glass breakage, towing and motion. Likewise, sensors can be added to tool storage compartments or cargo loading doors. These alerts are not only logged in the activity report, but notifications are sent directly to the driver’s smartphone so he or she can contact law enforcement if the vehicle is being tampered with.

Fleet Management
Alerts from optional security features are displayed instantly on a smartphone.

Accurate Data Makes Asset Management Easier

As a company owner with a fleet of vehicles, managing their expense can be a daunting task. From fuel and regular maintenance to insurance claims and damage repairs – your overhead can be thousands of dollars a year. Knowing where and how your vehicles are used is the first step to implementing policies that ensure their efficiency and safety. Drone can provide that information.

Fleet Management
Information from the Drone Telematics System offers details about how your vehicles are being used.

Contact your local Firstech retailer today to find out how you can equip your fleet with Drone Fleet Management solutions. You can find a dealer here. To stay up-to-date with the latest from Drone, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: DroneMobile

Digital Signal Processors Take Your Audio System To The Next Level

Digital Signal ProcessorsAdjusting or modifying audio signals is nothing new. Analog signal processors have been around recording studios and live performances for decades. Everything from equalizers to crossovers and compressors were conceived back when vacuum tubes were popular. As technology advanced, the size, cost and complexity of signal processors decreased. Now, many car audio source units contain more processing power than early recording studios. This article looks at digital signal processors (DSPs), what they do and why you need them.

A Hostile Environment

Digital Signal ProcessorsIf we were to take a full-range home speaker into an open field and measure the frequency response, we’d see a fairly flat and smooth response curve. If you take that same speaker into a small room and measure the response again, you will see peaks and dips at various frequencies. This change in frequency response is not caused by the speaker, but by the room itself. Reflections cause nodes and anti-nodes (peaks and valleys) that dramatically affect the perceived frequency response of the speaker system. To maximize our enjoyment of that speaker, we need to apply signal correction to the speaker so what we hear is similar to what we would have experienced in that field.

In a car, we are very rarely able to sit directly in the middle of the left and right speakers. The driver is usually twice as far from the right speaker as from the left. We hear the output of the left speaker first and it seems as if that speaker appears to be playing louder – because it is closer. Keep this in mind as we discuss digital signal processors (DSPs).

Speaker Limitations

No single speaker can reproduce the entire audio spectrum from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with accuracy, detail and even dispersion of sound. Even if there were one that could do this, the distortion levels in the midrange and high-frequency sounds would still be high because of the excursion requirements of the speaker at low frequencies. Because of this, we make use of several different speakers to cover the audio band. Woofers or subwoofers cover the bass, and typically play up to 80 or 100 hertz. Midrange drivers cover the range from 100 Hz to around 4,000 Hz. Finally, we use tweeters to cover the remainder of the frequencies above 4,000 Hz. While these are approximations, they are common crossover points for these speakers.

A crossover is a device that limits the passing of audio signals. There are two common types used in car audio: high-pass and low-pass. Their name describes their function. A high-pass crossover allows frequencies higher than the crossover point to pass through, and a low-pass allows frequencies below the crossover point to pass. A high-pass crossover would be used to keep the deep bass out of a small door or dash speaker, while a low-pass crossover is used to keep midrange and high-frequency information out of a subwoofer. We can combine both kinds of crossovers to produce what is known as a bandpass crossover – we limited the low- and high-frequency information. We would use this on a midrange speaker when combining it with a woofer and a tweeter. (We will discuss crossovers in detail in another article.)

Digital Signal ProcessorsIn car audio, we use both active and passive crossovers. Passive crossovers are a combination of capacitors, resistors and inductors that we connect to the speaker wires between the amp and the speaker. The behavior of the components, and how they are configured, limits what frequencies are allowed to pass through to the speaker.

An active crossover is an electronic device that affects the frequency response of the signal before the amplifier. The benefit of active crossovers is that it is easy to adjust them to different frequencies. Most, if not all, crossover components have to be replaced to adjust the crossover frequency of a passive network.

This information gives us a basic understanding of why we need signal processing. For decades, the mobile electronics industry survived and thrived using analog processing. Companies like AudioControl, Phoenix Gold, Rockford Fosgate and Zapco made equalizers and crossovers, and enthusiasts flocked to them like moths to a flame.

As computing power advanced, we saw products like the Rockford Symmetry appear. The Symmetry was an electronically controlled analog processor – a fantastic creation that allowed users to make many adjustments from a single computerized control panel.

The next evolution in signal processing was to do everything in the digital domain, instead of analog. How does that work?

Building Blocks

A DSP is a powerful audio signal processor with hardware and software that is optimized to perform high-speed processing in real time. Some of the less-expensive processors include the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters within the chip itself. On the higher-end units, the analog converters are external components. Better D/A converters offer increased resolution and improved signal-to-noise ratio performance. Once the audio signal is in the digital domain, one DSP doesn’t vary much from another. Algorithms are written in a similar fashion for filtering, equalization and time alignment.

Why would we want a DSP and not an analog processor? In a DSP, there are no associated concerns about component tolerances or temperature variations that will affect the response of the processing. With the right interface, users can access different system presets quickly and store an unlimited number of configurations on their computers. Most DSP units don’t include any analog adjustments, like potentiometers or switches, which can get dirty or wear out over time. Vibrations that could lead to component failure in an analog system rarely affect DSPs.

Features of Digital Signal Processors

Once an analog signal is converted to digital, the available signal processing is limited only by the software that is written for the chosen unit. The limit on the features of the software is typically determined by the available memory of the processor itself. It takes space to store the program, and additional space to store the converted analog information as the processor works with the information. When you see one processor with more features than another, the difference is usually a memory limitation.

Inputs And Signal Summing

Digital Signal ProcessorsMost DSP units on the market can combine and adjust the level of audio signals on the input to the DSP. If you have a radio with front, rear and subwoofer outputs, you may want to maintain all of these channels discretely as you process the audio signal.

What about when you are trying to integrate with a factory amplifier? Perhaps you have a front door midrange and tweeter output from an amplifier that you need to use for your new front speakers. Most digital signal processors will allow you to combine signals from multiple inputs to facilitate applications like this.

Since different sources have different peak voltage levels, the inputs to your DSP have adjustable sensitivities. Just like the gain control on an amplifier, we want to set the input gains on our DSP to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the processor.

Crossovers And Filtering

Digital Signal ProcessorsAs we mentioned, different size speakers are designed to focus their performance within different audio ranges. A 3-inch midrange will not play the same frequency range as a 1-inch tweeter or a 6.5-inch woofer. We use the crossovers in the DSP to divide up the frequencies sent to each output and speaker.

A benefit of doing all the crossover processing in the digital domain is that many digital signal processors offer different crossover filter alignments and roll-off slopes. The alignment describes the shape of the roll-off around the -3 dB point. This shape also affects how signals sum back together acoustically. Options are Butterworth, Linkwitz-Riley, Chebychev, Bessel and more. It’s not that one is better than another, but that each is distinct and different. We could write an entire article about crossover alignments.

The crossover slope describes how fast the audio stops playing as a signal moves away from the crossover point. Because it’s all digital, most digital signal processors offer slopes from -6 dB to -48 dB per octave, in steps of 6 dB or 12 dB, depending on the chosen alignment. In most cases with DSPs, 24 dB/Octave Linkwitz-Riley filtering works quite well, but there are dozens of different tuning approaches, so use what works well for you.

Time Alignment And Signal Delay

One of the coolest features of a digital signal processor is its ability to store the audio signal for a variable amount of time before sending it to the speaker. This storage ability allows a properly trained installer to delay the signal going to the speakers closest to the listener so the sound from created by them arrives at the listening position at the same time as the rest of the speakers. For four-way systems (subwoofer, midbass, midrange and tweeter), this setup and fine-tuning can take a little time.

Equalization

Digital Signal ProcessorsThe ability to fine-tune the frequency response of each speaker in an audio system is a huge key to making that system sound amazing. We have to measure the response of each speaker at the listening position, then adjust the equalizer so each speaker produces a smooth response. There are many ways to achieve this.

Graphic equalizers typically offer 31 bands of equalization per channel and are spaced 1/3 of an octave apart. This spacing usually provides enough frequency resolution to resolve response issues. Graphic equalizers are easy to understand: You pick the desired frequency band, then boost or cut the signal by the amount of your choice.

Parametric equalizers are much more powerful, but can be a little more difficult to configure. In a parametric equalizer, the user can choose the frequency, bandwidth and amount of signal boost or reduction. Understanding the selection of frequency is simple, but understanding filter Q factor is more difficult. When it comes to Q, the basic concept is that a higher number means that the band adjustment affects a narrower range of frequencies. A low number, like 0.7 or 1, covers a wider range of frequencies. Setting up a parametric equalizer accurately takes some practice. That said, some software applications will provide setting information automatically after you measure the frequency response of the speaker or system.

Output Level And Remote Controls

Digital Signal ProcessorsHaving the ability to tune the output level of each speaker finely is critical to the performance of an audio system. To achieve an accurate and balanced soundstage, the amplitude (level) of each speaker in the system must be adjusted very accurately. Output level control is also quite important to matching the efficiency of the different speakers.

Many DSP units have the option of a remote control. These controls can be used to adjust the overall system volume and adjust the subwoofer output level, and can typically load presets for the processor. More advanced controllers give you access to some of the system tuning features, allowing you to make adjustments without the need for a laptop computer. Displays on these remote controls vary from simple single-color dot-matrix LCD panels to full-color OEL displays that are easy to see in bright sunlight.

Digital Signal Processor Tuning – Art Or A Process?

There are many schools of thought about how to configure a DSP. Whether you do it using instrumented measurements or different acoustic techniques, we want to achieve proper protection for the speakers, smooth frequency response from both channels of the audio system and aligned arrival times from each speaker.

Many car audio manufacturers train their dealers in different methods of achieving a great “tune” on their customer vehicles. If you are looking to improve the sound of your mobile entertainment system and already have great speakers and amplifiers, visit your local car audio professional. They would be happy to demonstrate the benefits of DSPs, and provide you with the information you need to make an educated decision about buying one.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

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Super great place to get lots of custom things done. Very nice, very knowledgeable and very fare prices. I recommend to everyone I know.

Will be going back for sure!

Very happy with how the tint came out. Professional and friendly. Will be going back for sure.

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Location

55 Woodmont Road, Milford, CT 06460

Get Directions to Speed of Sound Technologies

Connect With Us

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Services

  • Car Audio
  • Custom Installation
  • Driver Safety
  • Radar/Laser Detectors
  • Remote Starters
  • Truck Accessories
  • Vehicle Security
  • Window Tint

Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Closed
Sunday

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