PASMAG - Tuning Essentials Mobile Electronics Vol.4

CANADA’S SOURCE FOR MODIFIED CAR CULTURE

EXCLUSIVE: EXPERT ADVICE ON GETTING GOOD SOUND T U N I N G ESSENTIALS

CAR AUDIO UPGRADE GUIDE 2 0 1 5

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AUDIO DIYs TESLA

SOUND ADVICE

SOUNDSTAGING AND STEREO IMAGING

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BUYERS GUIDES

HEAD UNITS • SPEAKERS • AMPLIFIERS • SAFETY & SECURITY BATTERIES • WIRING & DISTRIBUTION • SUBWOOFERS & ENCLOSURES

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T U N I N G

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CONTENTS Visions Electronics

48-HOUR BUILD-OFF Page

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EXCLUSIVE

31 Head Units

BUYERS GUIDES

36 Speakers

42 Amplifiers

50 Subwoofers & Enclosures

56 Batteries

58 Wiring & Distribution

60 Safety & Security

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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CONTENTS

TEST REPORTS

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Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Head Unit

66 68

ARC Audio Moto 600.4 Amplifier

TECH

Clarion XC1120/1420 Amplifier

72 76

Kenwood KAC-M1824BT Amplifier

Do-It-Yourself Deadening: Dynamat Extreme

COLUMNS

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Sound Advice with Garry Springgay: Sound Staging and Stereo Imaging

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Cabe’s Corner with Cabe Sipes: Tesla-Style Tablet Dash Install

MTX SS7 Component Speakers

78 80

Illusion C3CX & C8-W 3-Way System

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Orion XPM64MBF Mid-Bass Drivers

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84 86

DD Audio TS1510-D2 Subwoofer

KONIG WHEEL CALENDAR

BRITTANI PAIGE & The Konig Runlite

Hertz Mille Legend 2000.3 Subwoofer

88 90

KICKER L7 Subwoofer

Rockford Fosgate POWER T2 Subwoofer

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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ISSUE PREVIEW

START YOUR WISH LISTS PASMAG (ISSN # 1710-1573) is published 6 times a year by Performance Auto & Sound Inc. 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (10 issues) Canada and USA: $24.99 (20 issues) Canada and USA: $34.99 (30 issues) Canada and USA: $42.99 Toll Free: 1 (888) 564-SUBS [7827] Email: subs@pasmag.com www.pasmag.com/subscribe GROUP PUBLISHER & CEO Tim Rutledge PUBLISHERS Blake Breslin & Perry Breslin FOUNDER & SR. VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Frank Spezzano

EDITORIAL GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Shaun Keenan DIGITAL / EXECUTIVE EDITOR Michael Bettencourt ASSOCIATE EDITOR Micky Slinger TECHNICAL EDITOR Garry Springgay

CONTRIBUTORS

Scott Demarco Jamie Kembel (Lacie Lou Photography) Jay Martinez Cabe Sipes

ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Queue Gonzalez PRODUCTION & SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Dinglasan SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Edward Shintani SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Beltijar GRAPHIC DESIGNER Mike Chan

SALES & MARKETING SENIOR DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Matthew Adolfo DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING Justin Hasan AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Randi Bentia SENIOR SALES ASSOCIATE Ken Rule

A D M I N I ST R AT I O N DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Craig Sweetman DIRECTOR, CLIENT SERVICES Richard Robles CLIENT SERVICES Anna Brown Performance Auto & Sound Magazine welcomes unsolicited contributions including stories (typewritten), photos, club news, events, etc. (Forward to PAS, 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada) Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement #40069655

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f you love your sound as much as we do, then you’re probably as stoked about this issue as we are. Our Mobile Electronics special issue is upon us once again, and as always, it delivers everything you’ve wanted to know about the M.E. world from the best audio companies out there.

Are you in the market for a new head unit? How about a woofer? Maybe an amp?

All of the above? You came to the right place, buddy. Our technical editor and sound engineer extraordinaire, Garry Springgay has been slaving away over his test bench to bring you the latest in product reviews from the brands you want. Hertz, Illusion Audio, Pioneer, ARC Audio, Clarion and many more have had their newest offerings analyzed and measured with the utmost accuracy.

Say you’ve gone through the Test Reports and still haven’t found something to tickle your fancy (unlikely). We’ll, we’ve got a whole lot more where that came from!

Our monstrous Buyers Guides house over 140 of the latest and greatest products from receivers and speakers to wiring and safety devices. I dare you to flick through those pages and not make a wish list.

Somehow, after all that testing, Mr. Springgay still managed to pump out his usual Sound Advice column. You guys have requested it and it’s finally here: a guide to sound staging! If you’ve been trying to make your in-car band play front and center, you’ll want to give this a gander.

If you’re American, you may not know the name “Visions Electronics.” Heck, some of you Canadians may not have heard of them. All you need to know is: they live and breathe 12-volt. Not wanting to be the company that just slaps in head units and speakers all day, head office sets up a training exercise every year for their install staff to learn a thing or two. This year, training day got turned on its head, as it turned into a full-on 48-hour build-off ! Check out the full feature for a look at just how passionate Visions is about what they do.

There's even more inside, including some step-by-step DIYs, so take a flip through (with a pen and paper for that wish list) and start building! Let us know if you found what you’re looking for at letters@pasmag.com. If you’re already building something, give us a shout, too. We always love to see what you’re up to.

Stay loud.

MICKY SLINGER

PASMAG ASSOCIATE EDITOR

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NIAGARA FALLS, NY AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. U.S.P.S. # 022-608 U.S. OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 1855 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY, 14305 U.S. POSTMASTER SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO: Performance Auto & Sound, Box 1082, Niagara Falls, NY, 14304 Occasionally, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies whose products and services might be of interest to our readers.

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TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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SOUND ADVICE

GETTING GOOD SOUND Good sound. Those two words mean something different to almost everyone.

And depending on your personal definition, achieving it in your car might not be too difficult, or it can seem virtually impossible. This article will explain why.

From a purist’s point of view, a stereo system should reproduce the original performance as accurately as possible. Not just the quality of the sounds from each instrument, but also the stereo image that provides an indication of where each performer is on the stage.

In a home stereo, this is a lot easier to achieve for several reasons. First of all, the stereo in your living room doesn’t have to overcome road and vehicle noise. Secondly, you can arrange your speaker placement and seating location so that you can listen from a point roughly equidistant between the two speakers, which is the single most critical factor in achieving some semblance of a real stereo image. Although it may sound contradictory at first, the most difficult thing a stereo system does is create the illusion of the lead singer being right in the center of the “stage” coming from a point directly between the two speakers.

If a system can do that with some realism, obtaining the rest of the stereo image comes naturally.

To create that elusive “phantom center,” several things need to happen. First, the sounds coming from the speakers need to be equal in amplitude (loudness) as well as phase (arrival time). Then you need to be seated at a point that is about the same distance to each speaker, and have both speakers aimed toward your head. Ever wonder why smaller home stereo speakers use stands to raise them up off the floor? It has nothing to do with cosmetics – it’s in an effort to get the sound at ear level.

Now, let’s look at this problem in your car.

Assuming you don’t drive a McLaren F1 with a center seat, the above ideal scenario is almost impossible to achieve in a typical car.

Yes, there are all sorts of DSP devices that

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can adjust arrival times to compensate for poor listening positions, but remember: if you apply correction for one spot, it makes it even worse everywhere else.

For readers who have built cars that compete in SQ contests and are judged on staging and imaging, you’re forced to use kick-panel speaker locations, or perhaps special waveguide-style, horn-loaded drivers. Either way, you are faced with a ton of custom fabrication and endless hours of tweaking, only to be eventually forced to settle for the best possible compromise. For this reason, I don’t endorse trying to achieve home audio type stereo imaging in a street driven car.

Rather than trying to re-invent the wheel, I focus on designing and building a car audio system with exceptional clarity, detail, accuracy and dynamic range. If a car sounds realistic in these aspects, the lack of a great stereo image can more easily be overlooked.

To create a good sounding system with great tonal accuracy, natural timbre and clarity, there are several critical steps.

But before getting into how, it’s important to know what you are listening for. In my opinion, thanks to compressed music and computer and cellphone speakers, fewer people ever really experience good sound.

If you think your laptop or earbuds sound good enough, you have no idea what you’re missing!

WITH GARRY SPRINGGAY

GARRY.SPRINGGAY COGENTAUDIOLABS.COM

“TO CREATE THAT ELUSIVE 'PHANTOM CENTER,' SEVERAL THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN. FIRST, THE SOUNDS COMING FROM THE SPEAKERS NEED TO BE EQUAL IN AMPLITUDE (LOUDNESS) AS WELL AS PHASE (ARRIVAL TIME).”

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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Audio Excellence Wherever the Road Leads

CUSTOM SOUND No matter what you drive, a Kenwood eXcelon Mobile Audio System can put the sound of a live performance in your car. eXcelon is an advanced array of precisely matched components that work together to transcend the many challenges of the automobile listening environment.

It’s our most advanced series of mobile audio products, and delivers the kind of uncompromising sound that true audiophiles demand. Contact your local authorized Kenwood dealer today at http://locator.kenwood.com/usa/ and discover audio excellence.

LIVE CONNECTED. DRIVE CONNECTED.

kenwood.com/usa

Š 2015 JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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SOUND ADVICE

GETTING GOOD SOUND

TONAL ACCURACY This is the system’s ability to faithfully reproduce the sound of the recording overall. The better it is, the more realistic it sounds. It also includes often overlooked, but critically important things like ambience and space. When you hear the music, can you close your eyes and imagine being at the performance? Do you get a sense of how big the room was where it was recorded? You should.

TIMBRE Pronounced TAM-bir, timbre is the system’s ability to accurately reproduce the sound of the instrument or voice. A system with average timbre allows you to hear the warmth and resonance in an acoustical instrument. You can tell a guitar from a piano or banjo. A system with good timbre allows you to hear the difference between a Stratocaster and a Gretsch or Les Paul. A system with excellent timbre allows you to tell the brand of stings on them. Of course, you also need to be a skilled enough listener to tell them apart.

So, how to create this sonic nirvana?

First, you have to design the system with speakers you really like the sound of. Sound is a very personal and subjective thing, so what is perfect for one person may not be another person’s choice. If you have read any of my speaker reviews, you may recall that I always encourage people to audition new speakers with some familiar music before buying. Secondly, the speakers need to be installed properly – rigidly mounted and located where they can be best heard.

Don’t mount your speakers to plastic pan-

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“SO, HOW TO CREATE THIS SONIC NIRVANA? FIRST, YOU HAVE TO DESIGN THE SYSTEM WITH SPEAKERS YOU REALLY LIKE THE SOUND OF.” els that will vibrate along with them. In my vehicles, the speakers are mounted on rigid Baltic birch or coated MDF baffles. When you reduce sympathetic panel vibration, you increase speaker output and eliminate resonances in the car itself.

If you have a car where the factory locations are low in the doors, and the speakers basically play into your legs, you will want to consider a component system that allows you to raise the tweeter up so you can actually hear it. On the other hand, you might have a car that places the speakers closer to your ears and directly toward your ears. In that case, a point source coaxial speaker could provide the best performance and save you installation time.

Some people prefer the sound of tweeters reflected off glass, while others avoid it at all costs. The best speaker for any given system will depend on the car and the listener. Experimenting with locations as much as possible (particularly tweeter locations) can dramatically improve the system’s sonics. I experimented for three days when I was deciding on the tweeter

locations for my Corvette system build.

To improve clarity and dynamic range, you will want to reduce the interior noise as much as possible. Many companies offer damping materials specifically for this purpose, with the difference being dramatic. I have measured as much as a 10 decibel reduction in interior noise on cars that were thoroughly treated. Now, 10 dB might not sound like much, but think of it this way: for every dB of noise reduction you get, it’s equal to having one dB greater amplifier power. Here is a real world sort of example.

Let’s say you have a system that produces 500 watts of power. If you can reduce the interior noise levels by 10 dB, it would be the same as adding 10 times the amplifier power, or going to 5,000 watts!

As you can see, there is no single correct formula for creating great sound in your car. But armed with an understanding of what matters and an idea of how to achieve it, you’ll be much further ahead than folks who buy their gear off the Internet with no thought to how it sounds or how it will work in their car.

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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TRAINING

DAY

BY MICKY SLINGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMIE KEMBEL (LACIE LOU PHOTOGRAPHY)

VISIONS’ 48-HOUR BUILD CHALLENGE

We’ve all experienced the audible sigh that sweeps throughout a room when management says there’s some required training to be done. You can expect to be in a mind-numbing lecture or sat in front of a computer watching painful informational skits, and then answering multiple choice questions afterwards to “test your knowledge.”

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y those standards, the installer staff at Visions (a Canadian chain of electronics stores specializing in 12-volt) have it pretty good. Usual fare for the 40 or so guys from regions all over western Canada is to sit in a classroom and learn from notable members of the industry, like Bryan Schmitt of Mobile solutions, or the madman himself, David “Fishman” Rivera.

Ryan White, Visions Regional Manager of Car Audio in Northern Alberta, takes feedback on the course every year and decided to switch up the pace this year after some complaints.

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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professional automotive reversing systems High Quality Screens TV-SD358 - 3.5” Rear View LCD Monitor

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TV-SD716 7” Touch keys stand alone monitor with camera input

TV-RVM70 - 7” TFT LED

TV-SD438 - Foldable 4.3” Color LCD TFT Rearview Monitor screen

High Resolution Cameras

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TV-FT168 Safetyview camera

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2015-07-20 2:53 PM

TRAINING

DAY

“The installers always complain that they don’t want to sit in a classroom,” White explains. “So, this year, when planning started for this thing, we had this crazy idea: ‘Why don’t we have a build-off with all of our installers?’

Of course, none of the installers knew what was going on.

When they showed up, they were basically put to work.

They wanted hands-on, so they got hands-on!”

Imagine showing up for a classroom lecture, only to be handed tools and told to give it what you got! I think we can all say that’s a class we wouldn’t skip. Visions’ installers weren’t just told to have at it though; this was a challenge with rules and guidelines to be followed. Split up into four teams of 11, the installers were to work on specially selected Visions employees' vehicles.

“Each team was given a list of rules to treat those vehicles exactly as they would a customer vehicle,” says White.

“One guy, for his truck, couldn’t lose a certain amount of space under the rear seat because he had a fold-out thing and he had to put a dog in there. The other guy still needed to fit his kid’s stroller in the trunk. It wasn’t like a free-forall where they could do what they wanted.”

“WHY DON’T WE HAVE A BUILD-OFF WITH ALL OF OUR INSTALLERS?’ OF COURSE, NONE OF THE INSTALLERS KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. WHEN THEY SHOWED UP, THEY WERE BASICALLY PUT TO WORK. THEY WANTED HANDSON, SO THEY GOT HANDS-ON!”

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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info@mdaudio.net For dealers inquires: www.orioncaraudio.com | T: (305) 593.8361 | F: (305) 593.8413 | Toll free: 1-855.475.6048 Miami, FL - USA @orioncaraudioofficial facebook.com/orion.car.audio | twitter.com/OrionCarAudio

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TRAINING

DAY

This provided the eager installers with real-world scenarios, some of which they may not have even come across before. They also had a chance to tackle some installs that aren’t very popular given their different regions, so just in case they need to, they have that experience to draw from in case someone needs an alarm, heated seats, back up camera or even headrest video displays.

The best thing was that the installers, whether a rookie or not, didn’t have to go it alone with unanswered questions. Instead of a special guest to give a lecture, Visions asked its partners, like GEM-SEN and Gentec, to provide factory techies that are versed in the brands that would be going into the vehicles.

“They got right in there and installed just like us,” smiles White.

“The nice thing was that the guys were able to ask them questions one-on-one, where before if we had a guy speaking to a classroom of 40 guys, they might not have had actual time to talk to him or have him answer their questions accordingly. Now, they’re working alongside him for two days straight and he’s able to show them install techniques.”

“INSTEAD OF A SPECIAL GUEST TO GIVE A LECTURE, VISIONS ASKED ITS PARTNERS, LIKE JEMSEN AND GENTEC, TO PROVIDE FACTORY TECHIES THAT ARE VERSED IN THE BRANDS THAT WOULD BE GOING INTO THE VEHICLES.” TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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10/07/15 13:39 2015-07-16 10:06 AM

TRAINING When all was said and done, the fortunate victims of the installer training – a 2013 Jeep Patriot, 2015 Chevy Malibu and two 2013 Dodge Rams – had tasteful installs, built around the owners’ needs, done with premium brands like Kicker, JL Audio, Alpine, Hertz, Pioneer and JVC. There was no first prize however; it just wasn’t that kind of exercise.

“The whole idea was to promote teamwork within the company,” White says. “We didn’t want to have Calgary against Edmonton or something like that. The nice thing was that each team had a person on it from each of our markets, so one team had a guy from Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg – all of our stores.”

White says they’re already planning a bigger and better surprise for next year. Looks like mandatory training won’t ever be seen the same way again at Visions! This 32-store, 12-volt speciality chain is training its staff to not just slap in a head unit and a couple speakers all day, it’s promoting them to fabricate and build really cool stuff.

DAY

“THE NICE THING WAS THAT EACH TEAM HAD A PERSON ON IT FROM EACH OF OUR MARKETS, SO ONE TEAM HAD A GUY FROM CALGARY, EDMONTON, REGINA, SASKATOON, WINNIPEG – ALL OF OUR STORES.” TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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Axxera AV6995MB DualMirror Multimedia Receiver $379 | AxxeraAudio.com Enjoy 2-Way DualMirror for Apple and Android devices: mirror the screen of the connected device onto the receiver's screen and control (Android only) the device directly from the receiver. The smartphone connects via cable or wirelessly. Bluetooth supports audio streaming, hands-free calling and phonebook profiles.

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The X009-WRA is compatible with 2011-up Jeep Wrangler and features a 9-inch touchscreen that controls navigation, audio, video and Bluetooth wireless technology. The supplied iDatalink Maestro module retains factory features like steering wheel controls and control of the premium audio system. Vehicle information like tire pressure and check engine codes are viewable on the screen.

The double-DIN 6.2-inch TFT touchscreen digital display of the New York head unit includes built-in Bluetooth by Parrot for hands-free calling and phone book upload, as well as Android Music Control and iPod/iPhone direct control support.

The 3-band equalizer with eight pre-sets and 4-channel preamp-out and sub-out rated at 4 x 50 watts Max. There’s even a steering wheel interface.

Clarion M505 Marine Receiver $349.99 | Clarion.com Clarion’s M505 digital media receiver features a multitude of entertainment functions combined with stylish looks and rugged features, including global radio with weather band, iPod/iPhone connectivity, USB, MP3/WMA compatibility, Pandora internet radio, Bluetooth with aptX and SiriusXM capability. The M505 is powered with a 50-watt x 4 power output with 6-channel 4-volt RCAs and fixed dual zone audio output.

Clarion NX605 Multimedia Receiver $1,099.99 | Clarion.com Clarion’s NX605 double-DIN in-dash multimedia receiver comes fully equipped with USB connectivity, built-in Bluetooth, Pandora, SiriusXM and dual zone entertainment. Clarion’s exclusive Intelligent VOICE technology provides navigation guidance. Clarion Smart Access offers real-time analysis of destination routes, allowing for entertainment customization, safe access to social media networks, monitors status of the vehicle and provides distraction-free smartphone app use while driving.

JL Audio MBT-RX Bluetooth Audio Receiver $49.99 | JLAudio.com The MBT-RX wireless audio receiver streams music from Bluetooth equipped (A2DP) devices and easily connects with its stereo pair of RCA outputs directly to an installed audio system.

With Bluetooth v4.0 and aptX codec, the MBT-RX sends topquality audio from compatible devices to deliver dynamic, CD-like sound up to 35 feet away without any cables. The MBT-RX’s IPX6 water-resistance rating is ready to withstand the elements.

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JVC KW-V31BT Multimedia Receiver $620 | mobile.JVC.com / JVC.ca The KW-V31BT is a 6.1-inch touchscreen multimedia receiver system. Using optional cables, the diverse system can display most apps from connected MHLenabled Android smartphones, iPhone 5 devices, and up to 20 apps for iPhone 4 and 4s devices ranging from navigation, to driving, to music streaming services.

The receiver is also SiriusXM ready, iHeartRadio and Pandora Compatible and has built-in Bluetooth.

Kenwood DNX571TR Multimedia Receiver

Kenwood DNN9907s Multimedia Receiver

$1,400 | Kenwood.com

$1,000 | Kenwood.ca

This double-DIN, 6.1-inch WVGA multimedia receiver features builtin Garmin GPS and traffic tuner. The Bluetooth hands-free function allows phone calls and media streaming from iPhone 5 and up, or Android devices. Alternatively, there is a rear USB, Sirius XM, Dual Zone, ADS Maestro input, 7-band EQ/DSP and three 2-volt pre-outs to choose from as well.

Kenwood’s eXcelon double-DIN 6.95inch WVGA multimedia receiver features built-in advanced Bluetooth hands-free, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The unit includes iPhone 5 HDMI Input, Android MHL compatibility, rear USB connections, SiriusXM and ADS Maestro input for all your entertainment needs. A 7-band EQ and three 4-volt pre-outs round out this versatile unit.

MTX Audio MUDBTRC Universal Bluetooth Receiver $129.95 | MTX.com The MUDBTRC is a universal Bluetooth wireless receiver that eliminates the need for a head unit in any amplified audio system where streaming content is required. This small chassis, weatherproof unit can be flush or surface mounted and connects to any amplifier via a 3.5-mm auxiliary output.

All wiring is included for easy connection to any vehicle's electrical system.

Pioneer Electronics AVIC-4100NEX Head Unit

Pioneer Electronics AVIC-8100NEX Head Unit

$700 | PioneerElectronics.com

$1,400 | PioneerElectronics.com

Pioneer’s AVH-4100NEX in-dash DVD receiver is one of the first aftermarket car audio products to offer both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, showing that you can get the latest smartphone technology in the vehicle you already own. Additional features include Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, AppRadio Mode, SiriusXM ready, HD Radio, iDatalink Maestro support, Pandora and detachable face security.

The flagship AVIC-8100NEX in-dash navigation receiver with a capacitive touchscreen features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility to use your voice to get directions, make calls, send and receive messages and listen to music. Additional features include built-in navigation, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, AppRadio Mode, SiriusXM ready, HD Radio, iDatalink Maestro support and Pandora.

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Take your smartphone experience to the next level!

KW-V51BT Model Shown

Integrate various GPS navigation, audio & video apps from your iPhoneTM 5 /6 or compatible AndroidTM MHL smartphone and “mirror� the image directly onto your in-dash monitor. Select AndroidTM MHL devices can also be controlled via Bluetooth HID from the touch-screen monitor. This new level of connectivity delivers a truly digital experience for all your audio/video entertainment options. For ultimate control and safety, use Bluetooth hands-free functionality and Siri Eyes FreeTM / voice control directly from your smartphone.

JVC Mobile Entertainment

@JVCMobileUSA

JVC Mobile USA | Official

@JVCMobile

#JVCMobile #QualityBuilt #Since1982 AndroidTM and its user interface are trademarks of Google Inc. Wired accessories required for HDMI/MHL connectivity to devices. For safety, various touch-screen functionality is disabled while the vehicle is in motion. See your local authorized dealer for more details. All logos are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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Sony MEXXB100BT Head Unit $ 2 2 9 . 9 9 | S o n y. c o m Take drive-time seriously with a full-featured, 160-watt Sony head unit. Setup and control the system with the SongPal app via your phone or tablet, take control with Siri Eyes Free for iOS devices and make calls or stream music with Bluetooth technology. Expand your listening experience with options for SiriusXM and USB connectivity.

Soundstream VRN-625B GPS Multimedia Head Unit

Sony MEXN4100BT Head Unit

Soundstream.com

$ 1 4 9 . 9 9 | S o n y. c a

Soundstream’s VRN models feature GPS Make the most of driveturn-by turn navigation for USA, Canada and time with a full-featured Mexico. Set your destination and follow the Sony head unit. Take control commands by text-to-speech directions, with Siri Eyes Free for iOS including lane guidance. Additional features devices and take calls or include favorites list, programmable home stream music with Bluetooth destination, destination fuel estimates, technology. Expand your multi-lingual, multi-gender voices, speed listening experience via USB limit warnings and more. Bluetooth 3.0 with connectivity and setup and enhanced data rate increases clarity and control the system with the virtually eliminates distortion during calls SongPal app via your phone and wireless playback. THERMAL ACOUSTIC CONTROL or tablet.

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Soundstream VR-64H2B Multimedia Head Unit Soundstream.com Soundstream’s MobileLink 8.2 mobile device integration enables complete control of your Android smartphones and tablets.

Conveniently launch any application, post social media updates or play your own videos and all other content on your mobile device.

Your device’s display is mirrored to the head unit’s larger LCD screen and all commands are sent via Bluetooth 3.0 connection.

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Rockford Fosgate RFBTRCA Universal Bluetooth to RCA Adapter $49.99 | RockfordFosgate.com The RFBTRCA Universal Bluetooth to RCA adapter is a must for those who want to be able to listen to music on their audio system via a hand held device.

Compatible with most Bluetooth devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops, the RFBTRCA allows the listener to wirelessly stream media, such as music library, Pandora, Rhapsody, etc. from a Bluetooth-enabled device through stereo RCA output jacks.

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BoomMat.com 1-800-264-9472 (800) 264-9472 BoomMat.com TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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Alpine Electronics SPT-21GM Speaker System

Cerwin Vega SPRO65C Stroker Pro Component System

Clarion SRG1623S Component System

$700 | Alpine-USA.com

Importel.com / CerwinVegaMobile.com

$89.99 | Clarion.com

The SPT-21GM speaker set fits and sounds great in select 2007 to 2014 GM trucks and SUVs. It includes a pair of 2-way, 6.5-inch component speakers for the front and a pair of 6.5-inch coaxial speakers for the rear. The speakers and tweeters fit in the factory locations and the included mounting adapters optimize their angles for the best sound.

The SPRO65C component system is a 6.5-inch 2-way speaker system rated for 450 watts Max / 175 watts RMS. The die-cast solid aluminum frame, unique fiber weave cone material and oversized motor structure result in a high-fidelity, high-power system. The crossover design includes rear acoustic fill output and the tweeters are 1-inch “LOUD Tuned” Stroker Pro aluminum domes for extreme output.

The Clarion SRG1623S 6.5-inch 2-way component speaker system delivers 350 watts Max. The 1-inch metallized PEI-balanced drive tweeter features an injection-molded MIPP cone woofer with propylene mica particles blended in to attain superior highspeed response and low distortion, making it ideal for digital sources. The separate tweeter unit is surface or flush mountable for installation variety.

Clarion SRG6953R Midrange Speakers

DB Drive Euphoria ES9-6C Component System

DD Audio BC6.5 Component System

$129.99 | Clarion.com

Importel.com / EuphoriaCarAudio.com

$419/pair | DDAudio.com

Upgrade your speakers with a set of Clarion SRG6953R multiaxial 5-way units for maximum performance. These 6x9-inch speakers are rated at 600 watts Max and feature a Mica Injection Poly Propylene (MIPP) blended woofer cone that delivers superior response and sound quality.

The PEI Balanced-Drive system for both tweeter and midrange minimizes sound distortion, while enabling crisp dynamic range.

The midrange hybrid cones of the ES9-6C components are lightweight and acoustically rigid enough to be dynamic with any level of output.

The tweeters are made of a magnesium aluminum alloy with infused dampening properties, which allows for crystal clear dynamics and smooth frequency response. Featuring the dynamic, realistic and natural sonic reproduction associated with the Euphoria line.

Based on DD’s flagship A-Series components, the BC6.5s offer incredible audio quality at an equally incredible value. The features found on these are the same as you would find on other, much higher priced, high end sound quality component sets. With the aluminum cone mid-driver, large diaphragm tweeter, and bi-ampable crossover network, this set is loaded and ready to go.

Helix MS4C-BMW MATCH Component System

Illusion Audio C3CX Point Source Speaker

$289.95 | HelixHifi.com

$699 | IllusionAudio-America.com

The MS4C-BMW is a complete 2-way, 100 watts RMS / 200 watts Max speaker system that replaces the factory BMW standard speaker configuration. A hassle-free installation thanks to car-specific baskets is guaranteed. The combination of top-class speaker components and a specially designed crossover will shift the sound in your BMW to another level.

The compact, 3-inch, coincident C3CX point source car speaker is comprised of a carbon fiber woofer and an aluminum-magnesium dome tweeter. Three Faraday rings were used for lowest distortion, while the speaker achieves optimum tweeter time alignment, constant directivity off-axis frequency response and a +/-4-mm Xmax. Being a true component kit, it includes a bi-ampable crossover.

Diamond Audio Diamond Elite DE69C Component System $499.99 | DiamondAudio.com The Diamond Elite DE69C is a high-performance, true audiophile 2-way 6x9-inch component set that provides a factory-direct replacement alternative for newer model vehicles that require this size application. The DE69C components utilize Diamond Audio's AST (Asymmetrical Slope Technology) network design for both the midbass drivers and tweeter to blend harmoniously together to create a cohesive sound stage.

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Infinity Kappa 60.11CS Component System

JBL GX600C Component System

$349 | InfintySpeakers.com

$199 | JBL.com

The Kappa 60.11cs component system from Infinity is built with amazing sound quality in mind.

The Kappa series features Plus One woofer cones, edge-driven fabric dome tweeters, selectable tweeter level controls and 2-ohm voice coils for optimal power harvesting, all wrapped up in a stunning injected carbon matrix frame that is designed to fit most factory locations.

Designed to fit most factory specs, the GX series flaunt a new JBL-proprietary tweeter deflector, they’re individually voiced and have 3-ohm voice coils for optimal power harvesting. Add Plus One woofer cones, edge-driven soft dome tweeters and an ogle-worthy design for the full package.

JL Audio M880-CCX Marine Coaxial System

$899.99 | JLAudio.com Built in Germany, Evolution C5-653 component drivers are a 3-way speaker system capable of dynamic output and world-class fidelity. Both 6.5inch and 4-inch woofers utilize Kurt Müller cones and suspensions to deliver smooth vocals with solid mid-bass output. The 0.75-inch C5 tweeters use silk dome diaphragms and include flush and surface mount fixtures. The C5 crossover networks offer 12 voicing combinations for the ultimate in tuning flexibility.

Kenwood KFC-2053MRB Marine Tweeter

Kenwood KFC-X183C Coaxial Speaker

$270 | Kenwood.com

$180 | Kenwood.com

This 8-inch, 2-way dome tweeter is ideal for your boat or UTV as part of Kenwood’s “Marine Speaker System.” Available in black or white, the 1-inch balanced KFC-2053MRB tweeter features 100 watts RMS rated input power, a water-resistant polypropylene cone and a mounting depth of 3.375 inches.

The 7-inch KFC-X183C is a true upgrade to a factory speaker system. It can handle up to 280 watts of output and can be easily installed with multi-adapter plates. These brackets can be easily modified for use in a variety of makes. In addition, the speaker features an oversized diaphragm that is 28% larger than the KFC-X173, so it delivers exceptional audio reproduction.

KICKER KSC65 Coaxial Speakers

Lightning Audio L65-S Component System

Memphis Audio Power Reference Coaxial Speakers

$119.95 | KICKER.com

$69.95 | LightningAudio.com

$40 to $120 | MemphisCarAudio.com

KICKER’s elite coaxial upgrades feature accurate sound, extended bass and smooth highs thanks to stiff polypropylene midrange cones, tough surrounds and silk-domed tweeters. KS-Series coaxials are designed to fit in more cut-out applications than ever and engineered to avoid internal door obstructions.

The 40 watts RMS / 80 watts Max 6.5-inch L65-S comes with all the attitude you’d expect from Lightning Audio. It includes an integrated 6 dB/ Octave Butterworth tweeter crossover, speaker grills and speaker wire and features a micainjected Polypropylene cone, foam surround, an 18-AWG cold-rolled steel frame, 0.5-inch Mylar balanced dome tweeter and flush tweeter mount with swivel action.

Power Reference speakers are engineered to fit effortlessly into any vehicle and come standard with a swivel tweeter to custom tailor the sound and location to your vehicle. Memphis is so confident in the construction of the Power Reference line that they back them with a lifetime warranty when installed by an authorized Memphis Audio dealer.

$549.99 | JLAudio.com Designed to deliver world-class acoustics in marine applications, the M880-CCX features an 8.8-inch diameter driver and generates greater output and mid-bass punch than smaller sized systems. The onboard true 2-way crossover network precisely filters and balances the output with the oversized 1.2-inch silk dome tweeter for brilliantly clean output. Available in two grille options (classic or sport), each in all-white or black/titanium color scheme.

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Orion XTR 65.3 Coaxial Speaker

Pioneer Electronics TS-D1730C Component System

PowerBass 2XL-60.3C Component System

$60 | OrionCarAudio.com

$200 | PioneerElectronics.com

$259.99 | PowerBassUSA.com

The new XTR Series coaxial speakers offer the renowned Orion performance in easy to install standard frame sizes and feature 3-ohm voice coils for getting the most out of your head unit or amplifier. The ceramic dome tweeters can be angled up to 15% on a 360-degree swivel. This 6.5-inch 3-way model is capable of 75 watts RMS and 400 watts MAX.

The TS-D1730C, 6.75-inch component speaker package boasts 260 watts Max / 60 watts RMS with Twaron aramid fiber cones providing strength and durability for powerful sound and a highquality crossover network. Installation speaker mounting adapters are also included.

Looking for sonic excellence that high-end cars boast? The 2XL-60.3C is the answer. This 3-way component set with a 6.5-inch paper/wool blend woofer, 3-inch textile dome mid-range and 1-inch silk dome tweeter will reproduce every nuance that your favorite artist wants you to hear. Handling 120 watts of RMS music power is only the beginning of your next sonic experience.

PowerBass L2-652 OEM Replacement Speakers

RE AUDIO REX-5x7 Coaxial Speakers

Rockford Fosgate Power T1650 Euro Fit Speaker

$79.99 | PowerBassUSA.com

$119.99/pair | USAmps.com / REAudio.com

$149.99 | RockfordFosgate.com

The L2-652 is part of an OEM factory replacement line with a 2-ohm impedance to get the maximum performance out of a factory system. These speakers feature aluminum dome tweeters, carbon fiber infused cones and butyl rubber surrounds. The L2-652 handles 60 watts RMS of sonic excellence.

RE Audio’s engineer, Dirk Ecker, has redesigned the motor structures for all RE coaxial speakers.

Not only has the magnetic “flux” energy been increased, which raises the power handling, but the overall bass response has been substantially improved as well. Better yet, the overall height profile of the speakers has been shortened, making them easier to install.

Get Power series sound quality in a drop-in OEM replacement speaker. These 6.5-inch, 75 watts RMS /150 watts Max, 2-way full-range speakers inherit all of the coolest features from their big brother - the T1 component systems.

Features include a bridge-mounted tweeter and optimization for a wide variety of U.S., European and import vehicles.

Rockford Fosgate Punch P1650 Euro Fit Speaker

Sony XB Series Midrange Speakers

Soundstream RC.6 Component System

$99.99 | RockfordFosgate.com

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$229.95 | Soundstream.com

The 55 watts RMS/110 watts Max Punch P1650 is a P1 full-range speaker system featuring a true 6.5-inch midrange and a coaxial mounted tweeter. The P1650 offers a Flex Fit2 basket to ensure compatibility with U.S., European and import vehicles. The system also features an ICC (Integrated Concealed Crossover), eliminating the need to mount any black boxes. Grilles and mounting hardware included.

Let your music loose with Sony XB speakers.

When paired with an MEX-XB100BT head unit, these speakers deliver big sound thanks to beefy internals, rigid MRC woofer cones and a smooth and natural high-end, even at the loudest volumes.

Available in 5.1-, 6.5- and 6x9-inch 3-way models.

The RC.6 uses non-traditional driver material to be innovative, but also sound amazing. Everyone knows paper sounds better, but Soundstream uses aerated paper for a lighter, stronger cone resulting in a very natural sound. The tweeter in this set uses a PST (puffed silk tweeter), which results in the strongest and lightest silk tweeter on the market.

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Alpine Electronics MRV-V500 V-Power Amplifier

Audiomobile LDV6 LineDrive Processor

Cerwin-Vega SRPM1100.5D Amplifier

$380 | Alpine-USA.com

$ 24 9 | A u d i o m o b i l e . n e t

$699.99 | CerwinVegaMobile.com

The MRV-V500 is a 5-channel model within the V-Power amplifier line. CEA-2006 ratings are 40 watts RMS x 4 and 150 watts RMS x 1 (4-ohm, 14.4-volt ≤0.07% THD+N); 60 watts RMS x 4 and 250 watts RMS x 1 (2 ohm, 14.4-volt ≤0.09% THD+N). Signal-to-noise ratio is 81 dB (ref: 1 watt into 4 ohms]. It’s compatible with the separate RUX-KNOB remote bass knob.

Audiomobile’s LDV6 LineDrive provides a unique suite of features and processing, including 4-channel inputs with summing (to create fullrange outputs), 6-channel outputs, selectable 18-dB subsonic filter and proprietary RSL wired remote. This unit also features unique ELF-Q driver-adjustable “bass restoration” for customized low-frequency enhancement at any volume level.

The RPM series amplifiers utilize conformalcoated PCBs to protect against moisture, dirt, stress and temperature. Through hours of torturous testing in harsh environments, the SRPM1100.5D amplifier is proven to perform under extreme outdoor conditions. Equipped with an industry first BTR port for optional Bluetooth connectivity with a Cerwin-Vega receiver. Power is rated at 120 watts x 4 / 500 watts x 1 at 2 ohms.

Clarion XC1410 Amplifier

Clarion XC2510 Amplifier

DB Drive Euphoria EDSP31 Digital Sound Processor

$199.99 | Clarion.com

$349.99 | Clarion.com

Importel.com / EuphoriaCarAudio.com

Both compact in size and affordably priced, Clarion’s XC1410 4-channel amp delivers 300 watts Max, 75 watts x 4 at 2 ohms or 50 watts x 4 at 4 ohms from a chassis that's about as long and wide as a dollar bill. Soft turn-on and turn-off circuitry, selectable high-pass filters and highlevel inputs give you the ability to make this amp part of any system.

Clarion’s XC2510 5-channel amplifier produces the same power output as conventional amplifiers more than double its physical size.

A MOSFET Pulse-Width Modulator (PWM) power supply is used for high power conversion efficiency, maximum power efficiency and less heat generated. The XC2510 delivers 700 watts Max, 150 watts per channel at 4 ohms bridged, but also fully capable of driving lower impedance loads at 2 ohms in stereo.

The Euphoria EDSP31 opens up the ability to fine tune the acoustical listening environment of any vehicle though the use of a 31-band fullyadjustable 1/3 octave digital equalizer. Speaker placement abnormalities can be solved through the use of the time delay feature on the EDSP31, which is selectable on every output channel.

DD Audio C5d Amplifier

Diamond Audio MICRO5V2 Amplifier

Gladen RC600c1 Amplifier

$399 | DDAudio.com

$699.99 | DiamondAudio.com

$399 | Gladen.com

The C5d 4-channel Class AB amplifier is designed to provide high fidelity from a compact footprint.

Rated 130 watts x 4 at 2 ohms, there’s plenty of power to drive multiple components in stereo configurations. It features a durable heavy trace double sided PCB, set screw terminals, panel-mount RCAs and fully adjustable HPF and LPF crossovers.

Diamond Audio's MICRO series 5-channel amplifier packs high power and sound quality in an ultracompact platform. Upgraded with a 4-layer PCB with ICAD circuit, which provides superior performance and overload protection. Utilize the new BTR port feature on the MICRO5V2 using Diamond Audio's Bluetooth audio receivers for full control of your Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Gladen’s RC600c1 is a 2-channel, full Mosfet Class-D amplifier that offers 600 watts into 2 ohms, as well as high level inputs with auto sense function. Made with a double-sided PCB and finished in a rugged brushed aluminum, this 8.2 x 5.9 x 2-inch amplifier is designed in Germany.

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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The L7™ Loaded Enclosure Award-winning L7 Subwoofers in a vented box Factory-tuned for tremendous sound The pinnacle of ready-made bass

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The L7 Loaded Enclosure is available exclusively at Authorized Q-Class Retailers. See the list at www.kicker.com.

KICKER is distributed in Canada by Gem-Sen. www.gemsen.com

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Helix HXPRODSP Signal Processor

Infinity KA5 Amplifier

JBL STADIUM GTR104 Amplifier

$999.95 | HelixHifi.com

$499 | InfinitySpeakers.com / ClarifiSound.com

$399 | JBL.com / ClarifiSound.com

Using the latest generation of ultra-fast Audio DSPs with 64-bit resolution, this device provides more calculating power than any other signal processor on the market today. It’s the first of its kind with a sampling rate of 96 kHz, resulting in an extended audio bandwidth beyond 40 kHz, as well as the first to provide 10 channels of configurable output.

The feature-packed, technology-infused Infinity KA5 5-channel amplifier utilizes Harman’s patented Clari-Fi technology, which takes compressed digital audio files from streaming services and analyzes and restores them. The KA5 has built-in Bluetooth for music streaming, handsfree calling and Party mode for up to three devices.

Featuring a front LED display metering that delivers 75 watts x 4 channels and 300 watts x 1.

The GTR series are the world’s first car audio amplifiers to feature Clari-Fi, a revolutionary patented technology that brings compressed music back to life. The GTR104 also has built-in Bluetooth for smartphone streaming, hands-free calls and Party mode, which controls up to three devices. This amplifier packs a powerful punch, cranking out 100 watts x 4 channels.

JL Audio 600/1v3 Amplifier

JL Audio HX280/4 Amplifier

JVC KS-AX201 Amplifier

$649.99 | JLAudio.com

$ 24 9 . 9 9 | J LA u d i o . c o m

$199 | mobile.JVC.com / JVC.ca

The 600/1v3 monoblock amplifier utilizes a patented control circuit and exclusive R.I.P.S. (Regulated Intelligent Power Supply) design to deliver a jaw-dropping 600 watts of power over a wide range of load impedances and vehicle voltages. JL Audio's Advanced Rollback Protection circuit eliminates thermal shutdown events and a full complement of signal processing features offer ultimate control and flexibility.

The 4-channel HX280/4 employs NexD technology to efficiently produce plenty of clean power.

Housed in a tiny, cast-aluminum chassis with an IPX6 water-resistance rating, it’s perfect for compact installations or applications where moisture can’t be avoided. Generating 50 watts x 4 into 4 ohms (14.4 V, 1% THD), it’s fully bridgeable as a 3-channel amplifier, or in 2-channel mode delivering a potent 140 watts x 2 into 4 ohms.

The KS-AX201 is a 2-ohm stable mono amplifier with 500 watts Max power output and is perfect for connecting a single or pair of 10- or 12-inch subwoofers. It features high and low level inputs for connection to a factory or aftermarket stereo, plus a low-pass filter for use with a connected subwoofer.

Kenwood KAC-M3001 Amplifier

KICKER PXA500.1 Amplifier

Lightning Audio L-1500D Amplifier

$230 | Kenwood.com

$349.95 | KICKER.com

$149.95 | LightningAudio.com

If you’re looking for a compact mono-channel amp for your car, boat or UTV, Kenwood’s KAC-M3001 may just be the amp you’re looking for. This Class D amplifier features speaker level inputs, conformalcoated PCB for water protection and 200 watts x 1 (CEA-2006) power handling.

KICKER’s compact PXA500.1 mono amplifier mixes high power and low current draw with an ultra-small chassis to add vital bass to your audio system, while retaining your vehicle’s custom look. This brick-sized amp allows you to customize your car fully, while modifying the sound system to your musical expectations.

The little powerhouse is easily hidden from plain sight until you turn up the radio.

The L-1500D amplifier is a 1,000-watt Max, 1-ohm stable Class D mono amplifier optimized for subwoofer low bass response.

The amp employs both high/low-level inputs for compatibility with a variety of radios and features a variable 12 dB/Octave crossover, fixed infrasonic filter, and a 180-degree phase switch. Bass is handled by a variable on-board bass boost, a remote level control, and RCA passthrough for future expansion.

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Memphis Audio PRX1.1500 Amplifier

Memphis Audio SA Amplifiers

Mosconi D2 80.6 Signal Processor

$499.95 | MemphisCarAudio.com

From $259.99 | MemphisCarAudio.com

$1,599 | Mosconi-America.com

Memphis Audio developed a reputation for building amps that delivered power into 1 ohm and doing it in a small package. The brand new PRX1.1500 delivers over 1500 watts of Class D power into 1 ohm in a package that will fit in any ride. With high and low-pass filters and 0 – 12 dB bass boost at 45 Hz, they’ll help it sound good, too.

Memphis Special Application amplifiers are engineered to pack a huge punch, while fitting in the smallest of spaces. These small, but mighty amps are the perfect solution where space is a factor. With full-range Class D topology, high and low inputs and variable high and low-pass crossovers, it’s a lot of bang in a little package.

With a small footprint of 7.8 x 4.6 x 1.6-inches, this Class D, 80-watt x 6-channel amplifier features on-board 8-channel DSP and two digitally processed line outputs. The DSP comes loaded with SP-DIF digital input/output, AUX inputs suitable for hands-free set, mobile navigation and external stereo sources. Bluetooth streaming is optional. Designed and built in Italy.

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MTX Audio THUNDER1000.1 Amplifier

NVX JAD800.4 Amplifier

Orion HCCA 5000.1D Amplifier

$399.95 | MTX.com

$285.99 | NVX.com

$948 | OrionCarAudio.com

The THUNDER1000.1 is a Class D monoblock amplifier capable of delivering up to 1,000 watts RMS power into a 1-ohm load. This small chassis, high-power machine is perfect for enthusiasts looking for high power output with a value price tag. The unit includes RCA input, low pass filter, subsonic filter and bass boost for the ultimate in customized sound.

With a footprint roughly the size of a sheet of printer paper and well under 2-inches thick, the JAD 4-channel amplifier is an installer’s dream.

The amps are remarkably tough inside and out, from the strong aluminum housing, to the 3-way protection circuit with LED indicators. Advanced Class D circuitry and an IR chipset result in clean and efficient power.

Whether you're looking for an SPL world record or some serious sound for the streets, Orion’s HCCA amplifiers will ensure they hear you before they see you. Serious power intersects with extreme efficiency under a rugged die-cast aluminum cover with illuminated “Orion” badges. This 5000.1D model can handle 1, 2 or 4-ohm loads and can handle a massive max power level of 22,000 watts!

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Phoenix Gold ZEN9 Amplifier

Pioneer Electronics GM-A6604 Amplifier

Pioneer Electronics GM-D1004 Amplifier

$2,999.99 | PhoenixGold.com

$160 | PioneerElectronics.com

$150 | PioneerElectronics.com

Enlighten your sound and discover the transformation of Zen. The highly anticipated, limited edition ZEN9 takes your audiophilia to a new transcendental level. Featuring full, flexible 9-channel amplification in one chassis, large sub channel for heavy output, Class A/B section for the highest of sound quality and no internal signal processing to deliver the purest signal integrity.

Having more power isn't just about LOUD sound; it's also about CLEAN sound. The 4-channel GMA6604 delivers a whopping 760 watts Max - plenty of juice to power your speakers. It's also got builtin low-pass/high-pass crossovers, speaker level inputs for easy connection to an OEM head unit and oversized power terminals.

Pioneer’s micro amplifier, the GM-D1004, is big on sound, producing sound quality that defies its petite stature. The extremely compact 4-channel amplifier measures only 7 x 1.5 x 2.6 inches and fits in exceptionally small areas. It also features speaker level inputs and signal sensing power management to simplify integration into both aftermarket and OEM entertainment systems.

PowerBass XMA-5900IR Amplifier

RE AUDIO SA-3000.1 Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate PUNCH P1000X5 Amplifier

$599.99 | PowerBassUSA.com

$799.99 | USAmps.com / REAudio.com

$699.99 | RockfordFosgate.com

The XMA line of amplifiers uses full-range Class D topology with IR chips, giving these amplifiers over 80% efficiency. That means that there is less battery drain and very little heat to dissipate. The XMA-5900IR boasts 200 watts x 4 / 800 watts x 1 at 2 ohms for a total of 1,600 watts of ultra-clean power.

The SA-3000.1 is the biggest of RE's SA Series monoblock amplifiers. Rated to deliver 1,900 watts RMS into a 1-ohm load. This amplifier is very compact (19.7 x 4.72 x 1.57 inches), but it packs a serious punch. Featuring remote bass control, subsonic filter between 10 Hz and 50 Hz and 12 dB of bass boost control at 45 Hz.

This ultra-efficient, 1,000-watt, 5-channel amp is capable of running an entire system without excessive drain on a vehicle’s charging system.

It’s perfect for running a front/rear system and a dedicated subwoofer. Featuring high level input capability, on-board Punch EQ with +18 dB boost at 45Hz, short circuit protection, 2/4-channel input switch and a stealth topmounted control panel.

Rockford Fosgate RFPEQU Universal Line Driver

Sony XM-GS100 Amplifier

Soundstream Tarantula Electro Amplifiers

$99.99 | RockfordFosgate.com

$ 24 9 . 9 9 | S o n y. c o m

$295 to $629 | Soundstream.com

The RFPEQU provides bass boost to any aftermarket audio system. The adapter features a high-level signal input with auto turn-on capability and adjustable sensitivity to match any audio source. The 2-channel RCA outputs with built-in line driver allow the signal to connect to any amplifier’s input jacks and overcome any noise.

The Sony XM-GS100 Class D subwoofer amplifier affords incredible installation flexibility thanks to its compact size and packs quite a punch. GS Series amplifiers offer tremendous value, including convenience features like modern cosmetics, variable crossovers and singe-side electrical connections to suit almost any application.

Each Tarantula Electro amplifier features a 12-point RGB LED lighting system, containing its own independent RGB control. A simple press of the end-panel-mounted switch changes the color to one of several presets. Tarantula Electro models include Class D 4- and 5-channel 1-ohm stable monoblocks and a 0.5-ohm stable 3,000watt monoblock.

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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Alpine Electronics SBT-S10V Enclosed Subwoofer

Audiomobile Evo 24 Series Subwoofer

Cerwin Vega VPAS10 Powered Active Subwoofer

$300 | Alpine-USA.com

$350 | Audiomobile.net

Importel.com / CerwinVegaMobile.com

The SBT-S10V enclosed truck subwoofer measures 16 x 22 x 7 inches, so it fits in a truck’s limited cab space. It’s loaded with an SWT-10S2 2-ohm 10-inch subwoofer that delivers 28 Hz to 200 Hz frequency response. The ported design handles 350 watts RMS for loud and low frequency output, while the 2-ohm impedance ensures maximum output from most mono subwoofer amplifiers.

The Evo 24 series is specifically engineered to address the challenges of today’s new vehicle applications by delivering the performance and sound quality of traditional depth subwoofers, but in micro-box enclosures. Requiring a mounting depth of just 3.9 inches and capable of handling 500 watts RMS, this unique composite of highexcursion, reduced form-factor and full-format performance sets the Evo series apart.

The VPAS10 (Vega Powered Active Subwoofer) consists of an active 10-inch subwoofer, which is amplified for extreme output. Encased in a solid cast-aluminum body frame for superior heat dissipation, the VPAS10 is compact enough for installation in the tightest of spaces without sacrificing performance.

Clarion WG3020D

DB Drive WDX6.5-3K Subwoofer

DD Audio LE-S06 Loaded Enclosure

$119.99 | Clarion.com

Importel.com / DBDrive.net

$219 | DDAudio.com

The Clarion WG3020D subwoofer is able to deliver 1,000 watts Max / 300 watts RMS. This 12-inch subwoofer features a Nitrile Butadiene rubber excursion surround, heavy duty black aluminum voice coil, aluminized composite dust cap, custom stamped steel powder-coated basket and a Strontium high-conductivity magnet for powerful output to enhance your vehicle’s music.

The 6.5-inch WDX6.5-3K subwoofer from DB Drive is rated at 600 watts Max power output. Featuring a dual 4-ohm voice coil, 71-ounce ceramic ferrite magnet and low carbon steel top and bottom plates, this woofer is designed to optimize SPL performance. Recommended enclosure size: 0.33 cubic feet / 9.34 liters (sealed), 0.64 cubic feet / 18.12 liters (ported).

The LE-S06 will fill your vehicle with big sound, while taking up minimal cargo space. Its ported MDF cabinet is loaded with a 200 to 500-watt 6.5inch subwoofer that can easily be set-up for 1 or 4 ohms, allowing it to work with almost any amplifier.

This enclosure works great for hatch, trunk and behind or under truck seat applications.

Focal P30F Subwoofer

Infinity Basslink SM Powered Subwoofer

JBL Series II Subwoofer

$399 | Focal-America.com

$ 24 9 . 9 5 | I n f i n i t y S p e a ke rs . c o m

$109.95 to $119.95 | JBL.com

P30F is a 12-inch subwoofer designed for a 28-liter closed cabinet or a 40-liter bass-reflex one. Regarding the performance, it announces 400 watts RMS and a frequency response from 27 to 500 Hz. The largest of the Flax subwoofer line, it provides powerful bass and high SPL without compromise. Performance and high acoustic pressure lovers will be won over by this subwoofer.

The Basslink SM under-seat high performance powered subwoofer might look shallow, but the bass it delivers is far from that. Featuring a slim 8-inch, high-excursion woofer powered by a 125watt Class D amplifier in a sleek ABS enclosure.

With simple connections you can wire this up, tuck it away and enjoy that bass.

JBL’s Series II subwoofers are available in 10- and 12-inch options. This woofer delivers hardhitting bass and features SSI (Selectable Smart Impedance), which allows you to select between 2-ohm or 4-ohm nominal impedance. You can start with a single woofer and expand your system with ease.

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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JL Audio ACP108LG-W3v3 MicroSub+ Subwoofer System

JL Audio TW1 Subwoofers

KICKER CompQ Subwoofer

$499.99 | JLAudio.com

$ 24 9 . 9 9 to $ 2 9 9 . 9 9 | J LA u d i o . c o m

$499.95 to $699.95 | KICKER.com

The ACP108LG-W3v3 MicroSub+ subwoofer system combines a proprietary DCD (Direct Conversion Class D) amplifier with a unique low-impedance driver to achieve 94% efficiency and generate 250 watts of power output. The enclosure’s slot-ported, low-profile design delivers output and extension normally possible with only much larger systems.

Delivering a combination of shallow mounting depth, minimal frontal clearance and tiny enclosure requirements, TW1 subwoofers are made for tight-space applications. A unique cast alloy frame and “concentric tube” structure create a powerful and compact, low-profile subwoofer.

Available in 10- and 12-inch sizes (2- or 4-ohm), with steel mesh grilles for protection.

The KICKER CompQ Subwoofer is the ultimate driver, with high-caliber bass, oversized voice coils and generous magnets; it has everything you want out of a high-end sub. The CompQ was engineered to perform under the stress of high cone excursion with great control and precise musicality via conebrace venting that alleviates heat and pressure.

Available at KICKER Q-Class Dealers only.

Lightning Audio L2-D412 Subwoofer

Memphis Audio Bass Reference Subwoofers

NVX VCW122-VCE212-XPLD3k Bass Package

$109.95 | LightningAudio.com

From $180 | MemphisCarAudio.com

1,099.99 | NVX.com

The L2-D412 subwoofer will add some serious low-end impact to your ride with 250 watts RMS / 500 watts Max power handling, while its 4-ohm dual voice coil configuration allows for a variety of wiring configurations. This 12-inch subwoofer takes a marginal amount of space in an easily constructed sealed or vented enclosure.

Bass Reference woofers are designed for high output in ported enclosures. These monsters were built to be loud and drop heart-stopping bass.

Give them one listen and you’ll understand what Memphis Bass is all about. Available in 10-, 12and 15-inch sizes with 400-watt RMS / 800-watt Max power handling.

The ultimate all-in-one bass package. This package offers two NVX VCW122 subs in a custom built enclosure (VCE212) that is specifically tuned for optimal output from the subs. The package also includes the NVX XPLD3K amplifier. This is not your off-the-shelf type of bass package. This is for the serious customer looking to add a lot of bass to their system.

Orion XTR 12D Subwoofer

Phoenix Gold Z8150 Underseat Subwoofer

Pioneer Electronics TS-WH500A HVT Subwoofer

$84 | OrionCarAudio.com

$350 | PhoenixGold.com

$300 | PioneerElectronics.com

Orion XTR subwoofers are back on the streets and they’re ready to pound their mid-priced competition into the ground. Head-to-head, with power handling up to 300 watts RMS, it’s not much of a competition. Featuring a custom trim ring for clean installation, dual cooling and x-venting systems for maximum heat dispersion and loopstitched tinsel leads to prevent failure.

The Z8150 compact underseat subwoofer is an all-in-one solution for adding bass to any system.

Featuring an optimized 8-inch subwoofer and 150-watt amplifier in a single chassis that can be mounted under the seat or vertically like an amplifier. Accepts OEM or RCA inputs and includes a remote bass level for fine tuning.

This powered amplifier is extremely compact and features Pioneer’s patented Horizontal-Vertical Transforming (HVT) Technology - a loudspeaker design, which uses horizontal and vertically moving dual speaker diaphragms that combine to have an effective surface area equal to a conventional 8-inch subwoofer while maintaining greater excursion and linearity for superior bass reproduction, natural sound quality and higher output.

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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©2015 Mitek Corporation. All rights reserved. MTX and Feel the Thunder are trademarks of Mitek Corporation. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners and no endorsement is implied.

Small Footprint

Big Power

MTX005220 RevA 6/15

The MTX THUNDER amplifier series is designed to deliver high power in a small chassis allowing them to power most speakers and subwoofers where amplifier mounting space is limited. Two class D mono blocks and a full range class A/B four-channel model offer the perfect combination of features to ensure your music will sound its best wherever you are listening.

• Extruded Aluminum Heat Sink • Surface Mount Technology Resists Vibrations Increasing Reliability • Adjustable Crossovers Allow for Easy System Tuning and Set-Up Ke e p Up d a t e d

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Available online at MTX.com or at an authorized MTX retailer mtx.com 6/17/15 8:01 AM 2015-06-29 1:35 PM

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PowerBass PS-DF110T Loaded Subwoofer

PowerBass XL-10T Subwoofer

RE AUDIO XX-12-D4-V2 Subwoofer

$159.99 | PowerBassUSA.com

$129.99 | PowerBassUSA.com

$ 1 , 3 74 . 9 9 | U S A m p s . c o m / R E A u d i o . c o m

Tight space with a lot of bass is what the PSDF110T loaded woofer box is made for. This high-output bass machine will fit under most truck or SUV seats. PowerBass uses aviation grade vinyl with tight weave carpet accents for its looks. It will rock with 275 watts of RMS power.

The XL-T line of shallow woofers are made to fit into tight spaces with very loud results. PowerBass acoustic engineers fit a 2-inch voice coil on the back of a proprietary injection molded cone, which is held by a polycarbonate/glass fiber basket for an insane amount of bass. The XL-10T will handle 350 watts of RMS power and XL-12T will handle 400 watts RMS.

RE Audio’s XX Series subwoofers (and others) now come with a much stronger F.E.A. optimized motor structure and a vented pole piece, giving the 3-inch diameter, 8-layer flat aluminum wire voice coils more magnetic “flux” energy to react to. Ultra rubber surround and dual progressive spiders provide control to accept 1,500 watts RMS power handling. Also available in 2- and 4-ohm DVC models.

Simple. Easy. Clean. Bassik.

BK-424 $7.99 BK-RCA5 $4.99

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Rockford Fosgate T1S-1X10P Enclosure

Sony XS-GSW121

Soundstream Tarantula T5 Subwoofers

$549.99 | RockfordFosgate.com

$ 1 2 9 . 9 9 | S o n y. c o m

$ 24 9 to $ 3 0 4 | S o u n d s t re a m . c o m

The T1S-1X10P ported woofer enclosure features the Power Series T1S1-10 1-ohm slim woofer. The enclosure is constructed of 0.6-inch MDF material and is covered in an automotive grade black carpet finish with stitched RF logos. This slim line enclosure features an integrated grill and 12-AWG compression speaker terminals and is ideal for vehicles with limited space.

The XS-GSW121’s SVC subwoofer cone is constructed using a mica-reinforced cellular composite for reduced weight and increased rigidity, delivering deep bass response. This 12-inch, 4-ohm subwoofer features high power handling, rated at 500 watts CEA RMS and 2,000 watts peak.

Tarantula T5 12- and 15-inch subwoofers now feature direct connect wire leads, oversaturated 12-mm top plate and t-yoke and double-stitched cone to high density polyether foam surround for improved sound quality. Key components that you expect from T5 still remain; 1,000-watt 3-inch voice coil, triple-stack magnet structure, high density spruce pulp sub-cone and the iconic black-on-black Soundstream spider.

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BOOST BX-800 Charger & Jump Starter

Reikken HO3209 Pure Lead Power Cell

Rockford Fosgate RFC-350 Power Bank

$ 2 7 9 | M y B O O S T. c a

Reikken.com

$159.99 | RockfordFosgate.com

BOOST's BX-800 all-in-one portable charger and jump starter is small enough to fit in your pocket, making it extremely mobile and perfect for when you need emergency power to jump start your car, recharge your smartphone, tablet, portable computer and USB-powered devices.

Ideal for travelling, driving, boating, natural disasters and camping.

The newest cell in the Reikken lineup sports pure lead plates, copper terminals and a fire-retardant case for the highest output and durability of any design to date. Earning rave reviews, this powerhouse provides high output and long service life for the most demanding systems.

Never again get stuck with a dead car battery or mobile device battery. The compact 9,000 mAh capacity RFC-350 has a USB outlet for charging mobile devices, as well as a jumper cable adapter for starting vehicles. It’s compatible with Apple and Android devices, includes a jumper cable harness and also includes an LED flashlight (stream, strobe, SOS).

Shuriken SK-BT48-70 Automotive Battery

Shuriken SK-BTX12-BS Power Sports Battery

Stinger SPP1750DC Battery

Importel.com / ShurikenOnline.com

Importel.com / ShurikenOnline.com

$499.99 | StingerElectronics.com

Shuriken batteries are built to the highest standard. Each battery exceeds required performance, making these batteries usable in all applications, including vehicles equipped with a start-stop feature. By design they maintain their charge longer and provide start capabilities in all kinds of environments. See website for vehicle application guide.

Utilizing Shuriken’s Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) technology, these rechargeable power cells can be mounted in any position and are maintenancefree. These power cells are extremely resistant to excessive heat and strong vibration, and can be discharged and recharged hundreds of times. See website for vehicle application guide.

The only power worthy of your sound. The AGM, 3,250-watt SPP1750DC packs gobs of power and ultra-fast delivery thanks to the flat plate construction and miniscule 3.0-milliohms of internal resistance. Perfect fit Group 65 footprint coupled with removable brass battery posts makes for a flexible installation.

Volt Reactor JP06 Portable Power Bank

XS Power PS Series Batteries

XS Power Lithium Power Cell

$199 | AvtekElectronics.com

4XSPower.com

From $1,495.99 | 4XSPower.com

This 12,000 mAh portable power bank is able to jump start any vehicle up to a 5.3L engine up to 15 times with its 1,000+ charge/discharge cycle battery life. It also allows you to charge all your electronic devices through the three available USB ports - 1 or 2.1 amp. Perfect for camping, boating, or to leave in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

XS Power introduces an all-new line of powersports batteries for many popular UTV’s, side by sides, motorcycles, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, and much more. Offering exceptional cranking amps, max amps and reserve capacity, the PS series offers the peace of mind to travel farther and do more. Available in three specially engineered models: PS240A, PS320A and PS550A.

XS Power’s first Lithium Ion Power Cells for mobile audio applications are designed to drastically reduce weight, while maintaining the highest level of safety. With single Power Cells capable of powering up to 30,000 watts, the XS Power Lithium Power Cell line offers extreme power density to power your daily driver or record-breaking SPL competition setup.

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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Cerwin Vega CAK0 Complete Amp Kit

DB Link MK4K Maxkore Amplifier Installation Kit

DD Audio Z-Wire

Importel.com / CerwinVegaMobile.com

Importel.com / DBLink.net

$ 7. 3 8 / f o o t | D D A u d i o . c o m

Cerwin Vega’s CAK0 amp kit includes a highcurrent ANL fuse holder, 200-amp ANL fuse, 17 feet of 0-gauge power cable and ground cable, as well as 17 feet of twisted pair RCA cable, 20 feet of 12-gauge speaker wire and all necessary hardware.

This 100% OFC copper amp kit inlcudes 17 feet of 4-gauge Maxkore power cable, 3 feet of 4-gauge ground cable, 20 feet of 16-gauge speaker cable and 17 feet of Quad Shield RCA cable. An ANL high conductivity brass fuse holder and 150-amp brass ANL gold-plated fuse, as well as 6 feet of split loom and accessories are also included in this all-in-one kit.

Z-Wire can be counted on to deliver maximum current to your amplifiers. By using high strand count 100% oxygen-free copper, Z-Wire has 61% more current conductivity than equivalently sized CCA wires. Each strand is tinned to resist oxidation, making it great for car and marine applications.

The outer PVC jacket is extremely flexible, yet highly durable.

JL Audio XMC-USB/3.5MM-PNL Auxiliary Ports

KICKER CK8 Full-Spec Complete Power Kit

Memphis Audio MXA Amplifier Wiring Kits

$69.99 | JLAudio.com

KICKER.com

$40 to $65 | MemphisCarAudio.com

With the XMC-USB/3.5MM-PNL, connecting a portable audio source to the auxiliary input of your installed system is easy. The combination 3.5-mm audio jack and USB port are conveniently set together in a compact panel-mounted plate. The XMC-USB/3.5MM-PNL connects to any flat surface and only requires a 1.125-inch hole for installation.

KICKER CK8 Full-Spec Complete Power Kits offer a convenient package for amp installation with K-Series accessories and top-quality Hyper-Flex power, ground and turn-on. The comprehensive kit includes easy-to-use speaker wire and interconnects, heavy-duty fuses and AFS fuse holders, terminals, zip ties and spade and ground lugs. Another year of KICKER amplifier warranty is included when the kit is purchased with the amp.

Memphis Xtreme Audio’s amp kits are designed specifically for powersports vehicles. MXA kits feature 6 feet of tinned copper power and ground wire with waterproof fuse holders. MXA kits include everything you need for great sound in any extreme environment and are available in 10-gauge and 8-gauge varieties. Also includes 30 feet of speaker wire.

Orion PW050R Cobalt Wire

PowerBass XWK-40 Amplifier Wiring

Stinger SI9217 9000 Series Interconnects

$99 | OrionCarAudio.com

$114.99 | PowerBassUSA.com

$ 24 9 . 9 5 | S t i n g e r E l e c t ro n i c s . c o m

Orion’s Cobalt wiring and distribution line presents a new series of power cables, RCA cables, speaker cables and installation accessories of the best quality for an incredible price. All components are engineered to provide the installer with peace of mind during installation. This 0-gauge wire comes in a 50-foot spool and features a soft red rubber jacket for protection.

The XWK-40 is what larger amplifiers need to get the voltage and current necessary to run at full efficiency and power. The XWK-40 has everything you need to install a large mono or 2-channel amplifier. PowerBass uses 100 percent oxygenfree copper to maximize delivery of what your amplifier needs to perform at its maximum.

With the Stinger 9000 Series, you'll hear clear and pure highs, full and deep bass and everything in between. Stinger’s 9000 Series' unique 12-independent conductor design is like no other. Only the best materials are used, from pure silver conductors bringing the full midrange and detailed high frequencies, to long grain copper providing the deep bass impact your ears are longing for.

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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Alpine Electronics HCE-C252RD Multi-View Rear Camera System

Axxess Start Remote Start & Security Devices

Crimestopper Cool Start RS7-G5

$450 | Alpine-USA.com

$199.99 to $599.99 | AxxessInterface.com

$ 24 9 . 9 5 | C r i m e s to p p e r. c o m

The HCE-C252RD multi-view rear camera system has four viewing modes: Rear, for backing into parking spaces; Ground, for seeing directly under the camera to help with connecting to a tow hitch; Corner, for identifying approaching objects when backing out; and Panorama, for seeing the entire driveway when backing out. It has a direct connection for compatible Alpine in-dash screens.

Axxess Start offers solutions for adding an alarm and/or remote start to your vehicle. Depending on the option chosen, you can have a full security remote start system or just a remote start alone. Sold separately are also plugs and harnesses for fast and easy hook-up. The AXALL module will also allow for your factory key fob to turn into a remote start controller.

The Cool Start RS7-G5 is a 2-way FM/FM LCD remote start and keyless entry system with trunk pop. The top-of-the-line RS7-G5 has an operating range of 3,000 feet and uses a 2-way rechargeable LCD paging remote to let the vehicle owner know when the engine is running and when the doors are locked/unlocked and the trunk is open.

Crux Interfacing RVCCH-75 Rear-view Integration Interface

DroneMobile RSD-3A Smartphone Security & Tracking System

Encore Automotive Systems E9 Security System

Importel.com / CruxInterfacing.com

$299.99 | DroneMobile.com

$499 | EncoreAutomotiveSystems.com

Rear-view camera integration for popular Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep models, such as the Ram, Journey, Durango, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Patriot and more! An aftermarket rear-view camera is included and the interface includes audio/video input to connect an extra A/V source. Automatically switches to rear-view when car is in reverse mode.

Lock your doors, track your car, and receive security alerts, all from your smartphone.

The DroneMobile RSD-3A includes everything you need to stay connected to your car from anywhere in the world using your smartphone (iOS & Android). This system also adds additional impact sensors along with a starter kill relay to prevent unauthorized driving.

The Encore E9 is the ultimate in automotive security and remote start systems. The flagship E9 features a 2-way remote that keeps you informed on the status of your vehicle’s security. As in all Encore products, the E9 utilizes state-of-the-art ASK radio transmission technology, giving it over 30% better performance than its competitors.

JBL Trip Bluetooth Speaker

Thinkware F750 Dash Cam

Viper VSS3001 SmartStart Remote Start System

$99.95 | JBL.com

Thinkware.com

$399.99 | Viper.com

The Trip is a Bluetooth hands-free speaker that utilizes active noise cancelation and voice control to navigate Siri and Google speech, allowing simple and safe control over your smartphone, while delivering premium sound quality for phone calls.

The built-in rechargeable battery allows for up to 20 hours of use and the magnetic visor clip makes mounting a snap.

Everyday driving should not be stressful.

Knowing that, Thinkware F750 is the ultimate package – providing the driver with an advanced dash cam that not only helps prevent accidents, but also includes an intuitive interface for drivers to instantly review recordings using the Thinkware mobile app via the built-in Wi-Fi.

Start and control your vehicle from virtually anywhere in the world with your smartphone.

This system features 60 days free service, and service plans start as low as the price of a cup of fancy coffee per month. Includes everything you need in one box, except the smartphone. Free downloadable Viper SmartStart app required.

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

Safety & Security_TE_ME4.indd 1

2015-07-21 2:02 PM

OzAudioUSA.com 626.521.9980 AVTEK_OZ Audio ME4.indd 1

2015-07-20 3:34 PM

TEST REPORT

Pioneer AVH-4100NEX

Multimedia Receiver All but complete Luddites have now completely embraced life with a smartphone. Although smartphones have been around for over 20 years, the last half decade has seen them go from executive luxury items to a must have for the average 12-year-old. Because of our smartphone-driven lifestyle, devices that connect to them and broaden the use of the phone are also rapidly growing in popularity.

These facts are not lost on the folks at Pioneer, who have recently released five new receivers specifically designed to create a “Networked Entertainment eXperience.”

These “NEX” receivers feature large touchscreen displays and a vast array of included features and functions. This review will focus on the flagship non-navigation receiver, the AVH-4100NEX. The unit is a double-DIN sized multimedia receiver and has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $700.

Features The AVH-4100NEX is another Pioneer multimedia powerhouse,

based on compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Integrating this functionality provides intuitive and less distracting ways to interface with your smartphone.

With the NEX receivers, you can access the voice commands of Siri or Google Now, plus get weather updates or have your messages or schedule read to you with both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. These functions also basically turn the screen into the controls for your phone. It should be noted that although the AVH4100NEX does support the most popular phones on both platforms (iPhone 5/Android 5.x or later), you should check to make sure your particular smartphone is supported. The unit is also compatible with the iDataLink Maestro, perhaps the best OEM integration module currently available for many popular vehicles.

The operation of the unit is done primarily via the high quality, 7-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio touchscreen display, but there are hard buttons below the screen for common adjustments like volume

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

and track change, as well as the “Home” button.

The AVH-4100NEX comes with an HD Radio tuner, playback for almost any type of CD format, DivX, iPod control, playback from SD Card or USB drive, Aha Radio, and Pandora built in, so there should never be a time when you can’t find some entertainment!

Even with all those sources to choose from, one of the first things you’ll want to do is download Pioneer’s free AppRadio app to your phone. With AppRadio, you can access your maps, photos, contacts and calendar directly from the source unit’s screen. You can swipe, touch, pinch and zoom, just as you would on your phone.

There are dozens of other apps also available - from mapping programs to traffic information and much more - that can be controlled directly from the touchscreen.

In addition to all of the above, you also get SiriusXM compatibility, and Pioneer's innovative MIXTRAX “DJ emulator.” Drawn from Pioneer’s rich DJ heritage, the MIX-

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TRAX feature creates a continuous mix from your musical library and adds nightclub-DJ-style audio and visual effects. By creating transitions between songs and other effects, the MIXTRAX function makes the music from your iPod, iPhone or USB device feel like there’s a virtual DJ in the car with you. To use the MIXTRAX feature, you first install the MIXTRAX PC software to your computer and have it analyze your music library. The software analyzes each song’s BPM, bar, beat position, vocal position and mood. The analyzed data is then added to the music file. When you playback these tracks on the AVH-4100NEX, you experience fullfeatured non-stop mixes, complete with dancing album art!

Of course, full Bluetooth connectivity is there to provide hands-free telephony with caller ID and storage of all of your phone’s contacts in the unit’s memory. You can also stream audio from your phone using any of the typical HFP/ A2DP/AVRCP/SSP modes. The AVH4100NEX can also be connected to an optional rear view camera and

PREAMP SECTION

CEA-2006A Power per channel (all channels driven @ 4 ohms)

18.3 watts/ch x 4

Max Usable RCA Output Voltage

4.0 Vrms

A Wtd S/N Ratio (ref to 2 V/1 W @ 4 ohms) Amplified output

-81.2 dBA (CD)

A Wtd S/N Ratio ref to full output voltage

-88.1 dBA

THD+N @ 2V/1W @ 4 ohms 1 kHz

0.05%

OOutput Impedance

68 ohms

Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

20 Hz – 20 kHz

Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

20 Hz – 20 kHz

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will automatically switch to the rear camera view when you put the car in reverse. It also includes adjustable rear camera guidelines to assist in reversing into tight spaces.

For additional convenience, you can retain your vehicle's steering wheel controls using an optional adapter.

As you’d expect from a Pioneer flagship product, the audio performance and feature set have not been neglected. A CEA-2006-rated 4-channel 18-watt amplifier is built-in, and there are front, rear and subwoofer RCA outputs with 4-volts of output. Also included is a powerful DSP processor with a 13band equalizer that comes complete with five preset EQ settings, or two user customizable presets.

The DSP powered tuning capability is vast, with the EQ, as well as highand low-pass crossovers each with five selectable frequencies and three available slopes. Then you can adjust the arrival times from the speakers (in as small as one-inch increments) using the time alignment feature that’s also included. There are controls for woofer phase and level, as well as a bass boost control that is separate from the built-in EQ. You can also use the DSP to level match your various sources, making volume adjustments when switching from radio to DVD or iPod will be a thing of the past.

Do all of these EQ adjustments and time alignment tweaks make your head hurt and find you balled up on the floor in a fetal position?

Not to worry, the AVH-4100NEX is compatible with the optional CD-MC20 microphone and has an automatic-EQ and timealignment feature, so it will do the settings for you.

Controls and Ergonomics One of the things Pioneer has always done quite well is the ergonomics of the product, and this NEX receiver is no exception. Without opening the manual, I had no problem setting up and operating the unit. As I have noted in the past, I especially liked the center-mounted “Home” button, which allows you to quickly and simply navigate to any

source or control set you want to access. Overall, when you consider the incredible amount of functionality available, the AVH-4100NEX is very easy to use, and I like the combination of hard button and touch screen controls.

Customization and personalization also go to new heights, with various selectable themes and 112 key colors to choose from. You can also download your own wallpapers and the splash screen on boot-up can even be customized. The main source menu can be reorganized so your favorite selections are always available. Another unusual (but welcome) feature is the ability to completely remove the touchscreen front panel to discourage thieves. When installed, you can set it to the optimum angle by selecting one of five different angles that is retained in memory.

DVD playback is permitted on the unit’s main screen by setting the parking brake.

PRE-OUT (CD SOURCE) FREQUENCY RESPONSE Cogent Audio Labs

PRE-OUT MAX FLAT, CD SOURCE - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

+6 +5.5 +5 +4.5 +4 +3.5 +3 +2.5 +2 +1.5 +1 +0.5 d B r

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EQ ADJUSTMENT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

+14 +13 +12 +11 +10 +9 +8 +7 +6

Listening With the AVH-4100NEX connected to my reference system, I listen to a bunch of different sources including CD and DVD, and using my smartphone, I also play with some Pandora and internet video from YouTube while parked.

My session lasts several hours and I come away thoroughly impressed.

This is a good sounding receiver and I appreciate how simple and easy it is to use. I mess around with the EQ and crossover settings, and the only minor complaint I have is that the screen times out a bit too quickly when you are in these “adjustment” modes, unless you keep touching the screen. Overall, the sonic performance of the NEX receiver is excellent and it’s easy and intuitive to use.

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CROSSOVER FREQUENCIES - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

+6 +4 +2 -0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 -12 -14 -16

On The Bench The test bench confirms my opinions from my listening session.

All of the unit’s audio measurements meet or exceed the published specifications. The controls and adjustments are precise and accurate, signal to noise is exemplary and the frequency response is very flat. Output impedance is

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TEST REPORT very good at only 68 ohms and the stereo separation is exceptionally good at better than -70 dB.

Conclusion I test a lot of head units, but only a handful make me want to own one. The Pioneer AVH4100NEX is such a unit. Because of its incredible connectivity and superb audio performance, the readers who have been following my Corvette build will notice that this is going to be the receiver I use in my own car.

For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA

PioneerNorthAmerica

@PioneerUSA

CROSSOVER SLOPES Cogent Audio Labs

SUB OUT FREQUENCY RESPONSE

CROSSOVER SLOPES - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

Cogent Audio Labs

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CROSSTALK vs . FREQUENCY (Stereo Separation)

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WHAT BEATS AT THE HEART OF OUR AMPLIFIERS FLAGSHIP

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XMA | XL | ASA3 | ACS PowerBass amplifiers give you that heart pounding bass that your vehicle needs to get your music pumping. With four different series to choose from - we make an amp that satisfies your pocketbook and class of ride. www.powerbassusa.com ©2015 PowerBass USA Inc.

Untitled-1 1

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tel: 909.923.3868

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fax: 909.923.8048

2015-07-16 10:05 AM

TEST REPORT

Arc Audio MOTO 600.4 Amplifier Review Many of us are just as into motorcycles as we are cars. If you are also a motorcyclist that enjoys good tunes in your ride, you will be very happy to learn that the folks at Arc Audio have released a new amplifier that was specifically designed for HarleyDavidson touring bikes, but it can also be used in a wide variety of motorcycles and UTVs as well.

The amplifier carries the appropriate moniker MOTO 600.4. It is rated at 150 watts x 4, at either 4 or 2 ohms. The MOTO 600.4 has a U.S. suggested retail price of $649.

Features The MOTO 600.4 is a Class D amplifier, selected specifically to maximize power efficiency. That means the amp delivers more power per watt consumed from the battery than other types of amplifiers. A very high efficiency rating also minimizes the amount of heat developed, a real problem when the amp is mounted under a tight fitting fairing. Speaking of tight fitting, Fred Lynch, the product guru at Arc Audio explained to me that this amplifier’s size and shape were chosen specifically to make the amplifier fit on the top

TECHNICAL

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66

of the radio in a Harley-Davidson touring bike. As a result, the 600watt amplifier measures a very compact 8.125 x 5.4 x 1.8 inches.

To further enhance the amp's cooling capability, a fan cooling system draws air in and over the components and exhausts it out the rear of the chassis. As a result, the amp is claimed to be capable of several hours of high output operation without shutting down.

Thoughtfully included with the amplifier is a remote mounted status LED that shows the amplifier’s status should any of the amp’s multiple protection circuits ever be activated.

Because of the proximity of the amplifier to the bike's radio and antenna cable, great care was taken to reduce the electromagnetic interference (EMI) that is common in many Class D amplifiers. To minimize the possibility of any radio interference, the MOTO 600.4 uses fully encapsulated output inductors and filtered power connections. The chassis is designed to block high frequency emissions and even the fuses have been moved inside the chassis to reduce interference.

Some bikes come with 4-ohm

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

speakers, some come with 2-ohm speakers and many times, the choice of amplifier has been limited to only the ones that are compatible with your speakers.

Arc Audio has a solution for this dilemma via an unusual, but incredibly handy feature that allows the user to select the intended load impedance for the front and rear channels individually. This not only allows you to run differing impedance speakers, but you could also take advantage of it to run the amp in bridged mode. This feature, coupled with the ability to adjust crossover points from 50 to 500 Hz and a variable bass boost means that this amp is also an excellent candidate for use in UTVs, boats, or any other type of vehicle.

Listening Because of my ridiculous schedule (as I write this, the clock has just struck midnight), I don’t have as much time to listen to this amp as I would like, but I do manage a good hour-long session.

Even in that short period of time, I come away quite impressed with the performance of the MOTO 600.4. The amp proves to have an

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery

150x4 @ 4 Ω

95x4 @ 4 Ω

151x4 @ 4 Ω

150x4 @ 2 Ω

151x4 @ 2 Ω

153x4 @ 2 Ω

Manufacturer Rated Power

abundance of power headroom, even when pushed pretty hard on complex orchestral passages.

Dynamics are very good, and with this much power on tap, the amplifier is just plain fun to listen to. In terms of its sonic signature, the amp sounds very transparent and has commendable detail and stereo imaging. I also notice MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to 2 V output (CEA-2006A) (1 W @ 4 Ω)

-76.6 dBA

Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to full output

-98.4 dBA

THD+N at rated 4 Ω power

0.04%

Maximum efficiency at full 4 Ω power per channel

91.6%

Maximum efficiency at full 2 Ω power per channel

86.2%

Idle current Input sensitivity Maximum current @ full power, lowest rated impedance

1.4 A 198mV- 3.4 V 49.3 A

Frequency response (-3 dB)

15 Hz – >30 kHz

High-pass crossover

52 Hz – 500 Hz -12 dB/Oct

Low-pass crossover

52 Hz – 500 Hz -12 dB/Oct

Subsonic filter Bass boost

None Variable; 0 to +12 db @ 46 Hz

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4 OHM POWER VS THD+N @ 1 KHZ 14.4 V BATT

CROSSOVER RANGE - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

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BASS BOOST - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

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AMPLIFIER 1 WATT THD+N VS FREQUENCY

MAX FLAT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

SEPARATION OR CROSSTALK VS FREQUENCY

that even after an hour of enthusiastic listening, the amp is only warm to the touch. In fact, it impresses me enough to give it a try in my own Ultra Classic for a while for a long term test.

On the Bench On the test bench, I run the MOTO 600.4 through the usual battery of tests and it performs to specification in every regard. Distortion is very low. I do some radio interference testing as well, and I can report the amp does not cause the loss of a single station.

Although the MOTO 600.4 measures higher in efficiency than any other motorsport amp I have tested to date, it still needs some juice to make all that power. This means that maximum current draw is on the high side for an amp that has to rely on a motorcycle charging system, particularly if you have already added other electrical accessories, but unless you are absolutely flogging the thing 100 percent of the time, it should be fine. One more point of caution: this amp is a powerhouse for its size and should not be confused with some bargain brands that advertise 500 watts, but have a 10-amp fuse. There is 600 watts of clean power available, so you better make sure your speakers can handle it!

Conclusion With excellent installation flexibility, very high efficiency and a true compact size, the Arc Audio MOTO 600.4 is a serious contender when it comes to everyday use amplifiers that fit under a Harley batwing - or in your boat, tractor, UTV, dune buggy, or whatever else you may need a well-made, good sounding and very powerful amplifier for.

For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

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TEST REPORT

Clarion Micro Amplifiers Review

From the good folks at Clarion Canada comes a pair of “Micro Size” amplifiers, which are built to fit almost anywhere and deliver serious high performance audio in pretty much any application you choose to install them in.

The XC1420 (full-range 4-channel) and XC1120 (mono subwoofer) amplifiers are designed to deliver maximum sound, while requiring a minimum of space. These versatile amplifiers feature conformal-coated PCBs to withstand high humidity and dampness in marine applications, and can be used as an OEM upgrade amplifier with high level inputs or as a typical aftermarket car audio amp. The XC1420 is rated at 50 watts x 4 at 4 ohms, or 85 watts x 4 at 2 ohms. The mono version is rated to deliver 210 watts at 4 ohms, or as much as 350 watts at 2 ohms.

Canadian suggested list pricing is about $180 for the 4-channel and $170 for the mono model, making them incredibly good values.

Features The Clarion XC amplifiers share the same dimensions and are built on a long, narrow heatsink, measuring approximately 8.9 x 2.75 x 1.6 inches.

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BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

The heatsink is finished in bright brushed silver and all of the controls and connections are found on either end of the amps.

Unlike some other very small chassis amplifiers, the Clarion’s have adjustable gain controls, and variable crossover settings. The speaker output wires and the power input wires are pigtail-style and the gauge of the power cables is adequate for the power these amps can develop. Fusing is done with a rubber fuseholder molded into the power cable. Both models use a 30-amp ATC-style fuse.

XC1420 The full-range 4-channel amplifier is a Class D design to minimize current draw and heat buildup. A pulse width modulated (PWM) power supply supplies current to high speed MOSFET output devices. Input signals enter the amplifier through typical RCA connectors, but two pairs of special RCA inputs with built-in voltage dividers are included to allow speaker level inputs to be used as well. There are independently selectable crossovers for the front and rear channels operated by a three position sliding switch.

The settings allow for full range output or high-pass crossovers at either 60 or 90 Hz. The filters have a -12 dB/Oct slope.

XC1120 Sharing the same size heatsink, the mono subwoofer amplifier also shares the Class D topology, as well as a similar, but fractionally different, set of connections and controls.

Instead of the RCA voltage divider adapters, the XC1120 uses a dedicated high level input or a pair of RCAs to get a summed mono signal routed inside the amp. Once there, you have a variable gain control and your choice of 60, 90, or 250 Hz for your low-pass filter. There is also a connection port for Clarion’s optional wired remote level control, allowing you to adjust the level of the subwoofer amp from the driver’s seat. If you need some serious bass boost for your system, the XC1120 is equipped with a +12-dB bass EQ circuit that can be switched in, providing 12 dB of boost at about 50 Hz.

Listening To audition these two amplifiers I decide to run them as a system. I connect the XC1420 to a couple of pairs of component speakers and the XC1120 to a 12- inch woofer in a sealed enclosure. My reference system provides the input signals via RCAs for both amps. I use the 60-Hz high-pass settings on the XC1420 and the 90-Hz low-

Clarion XC1420 Manufacturers Rated Power 50x4 @ 4 Ω 85x4 @ 2 Ω 180x2 @ 4 Ω

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0% THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery 38x4 @ 4 Ω 66x4 @ 2 Ω 141x2 @ 4 Ω

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery 49x4 @ 4 Ω 85x4 @ 2 Ω 186x2 @ 4 Ω

Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to 2 V output.

(CEA-2006A) (1 watt @ 4 ohms)

-84.9 dBA

Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to full output

-101.9 dBA

THD+N at rated power

0.06%

Maximum Efficiency at full 4 ohm power per ch.

81.8%

Maximum Efficiency at full 2 ohm power per ch.

79.8%

Idle Current

0.7 A

Input Sensitivity

480 mV – 4.3 V

Maximum Current @ full power, lowest rated impedance Frequency Response (-3 dB)

29.7 A <10 Hz – >30 kHz

High Pass Crossover (Subsonic Filter)

60 – 90 Hz -12 db/oct

Low Pass Crossover

28 Hz – 180 Hz 24 dB/Oct

Clarion XC1120 Manufacturers Rated Power 210x1 @ 4 Ω 350x1 @ 2 Ω

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0% THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery 160x1 @ 4 Ω 287x1 @ 2 Ω

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery 210x1 @ 4 Ω 379x1 @ 2 Ω

Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to 2 V output.

(CEA-2006A) (1 watt @ 4 ohms)

-88.7 dBA

Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to full output

-111.9 dBA

THD+N at rated 4 ohm power

0.05%

Maximum Efficiency at full 4 ohm power per ch.

86.3%

Maximum Efficiency at full 2 ohm power per ch.

82.8%

Idle Current Input Sensitivity Maximum Current @ full power, lowest rated impedance Frequency Response (-3 dB)

0.7 A 315 mV – 5.4 V 31.8 A <10 Hz – 240 Hz

High Pass Crossover

N/A

Low Pass Crossover

60 – 90 – 250 Hz

Subsonic Filter

N/A

Bass EQ boost

+12.4 dB @ 51 Hz

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TEST REPORT pass on the XC1120. For my listening session the XC1120’s EQ is turned off.

As sometimes happens when I’m enjoying myself, I spend a lot more time playing this system than I had originally planned. I begin with some of my favorite tracks that really show a system’s musicality and range. Surprised with the overall ability of the system, I keep throwing different sorts of challenges at it - dynamics, noise floor, timbre and detail - and the two XC amps deliver more than I expect.

As I move into some heavier rock, I note that unlike a few other compact amp systems, this one allows me to pretty much play things as loud as I like. There is obviously plenty of power available to achieve realistic volume levels in a car or whatever else the system would be installed in. The bass is well controlled and articulate with unexpected authority. On the upper end, the XC1420 has great detail and a natural transparency. Both amps sound very good and I make a note that even after almost three hours of enthusiastic listening, I’m not experiencing ear fatigue or any unpleasantness.

On The Bench One of the reasons I always do my listening before my bench testing is so that my technical measurements don’t cloud my opinion of how the product sounds. Well, in this case, it’s sort of the other way around because I’m expecting good measurement data based on how the amps sound.

No surprise, both amplifiers outperform the published specifications and measure well. Easily overlooked things, like gain matching the left and right channels controlled by one pot or stereo separation, are as good as any full-size amp and clearly show attention to detail.

XC1420 4 OHM X 4 POWER

XC1120 4 OHM POWER

XC1420 – MAX FLAT

XC1120 2 OHM POWER

XC1420 – CROSSOVER SETTINGS

XC1120 – MAX FLAT

XC1120 – CROSSOVER SETTINGS

Conclusion I came away from testing these two amplifiers completely impressed, particularly when you consider the modest price and diminutive size of the pair. Regardless of price or chassis size, there is nothing small about the audio performance they deliver. If you need some serious audio power, but are very tight on space, check out these XC series amps from Clarion Canada. Tell them Garry sent you.

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For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

Clarion.com/ca

ClarionUSAOnline

@ClarionUSA

ClarionCanada

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TEST REPORT

Kenwood KAC-M1824BT Amplifier Review Sometimes getting good audio in a vehicle represents a real challenge.

Maybe there is very limited space or perhaps it’s a classic or vintage ride that you simply don’t want to modify to fit a traditional source unit. Maybe you have a motorcycle, boat or UTV that needs a simple, but high quality audio system that will stand up to the elements. Or maybe you have an older radio and would simply like to add the ability to stream music from your phone. Well, if you find yourself in any of the above situations, you will be happy to know the folks at Kenwood have a solution for you.

The Kenwood KAC-M1824BT four-channel amplifier will provide four channels of clean amplifier power, and thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity, you can control the music on your phone

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

via the water resistant controller, which can be mounted virtually anywhere that’s convenient.

FEATURES The KAC-M1824BT is a compact four-channel Class D amplifier, measuring about 6.75 x 3.875 x 1.75 inches. The heatsink is made from extruded aluminum and finished in tasteful brushed silver. Controls and connections are found on each end of the unit. One end houses the Molex speaker/power connector and a USB charge port. The charge port is simply there to maintain your phone charge during use and does not have any playback capabilities. On the other end of the amp, there are controls for a front/rear fader setting and an output mode switch for stereo or bridged mode operation. The connector for the wired

controller is also found here, as well as traditional RCA inputs for front and rear and a set of pass through RCA outputs. Both of the amp’s Molex connectors have water resistant boots on them to prevent the ingress of unwanted moisture. The unit is also built with marine-type conformal coating on the PCBs to withstand moisture and dampness, and ensure reliability in difficult conditions.

As you probably have figured out, this makes the KAC-M1824BT fully compatible with a typical source unit as well, and also provides signal output for a subwoofer amplifier. The other point worth noting is that the Kenwood amplifier develops roughly double the amount of power in a typical radio!

There are no other controls, so there is nothing to be adjusted

or set. Gain is fixed and there are no crossovers. The Bluetooth control module is quite compact and can be installed almost anywhere. Despite its relatively compact size, the control buttons are easily manipulated with a gloved finger and have a nice tactile feel. You can select the source (Bluetooth or Aux), as well as control volume and change tracks on your Bluetooth device.

A nice mounting cup is provided for custom flush-mounting of

Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to 2 V output.

-84.7 dBA

(CEA-2006A) (1 watt @ 4 ohms)

-76.2 dBA

Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to full output.

-92.7 dBA

THD+N at rated 4 ohm power

0.99%

Maximum Efficiency at full 4 ohm power per ch.

74.9%

Maximum Efficiency at full 2 ohm power per ch.

71.2%

Idle Current Input Sensitivity

The following power measurements were obtained as follows:

(1000 HZ @ 1.0% THD+N - Battery voltages shown, +/- 0.1 V)

Frequency Response (-3 dB)

MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TECHNICAL

DATA

72

Manufacturers Rated Power

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0% THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery

Maximum Current @ full power, lowest rated impedance

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0% THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery

0.8 A 482 mV 16.7 A 20 Hz – 20 kHz

High Pass Crossover

N/A

Low Pass Crossover

N/A N/A N/A

45x4 @ 4 Ω

40x4 @ 4 Ω

45x4 @ 4 Ω

Subsonic Filter

90x2 @ 4 Ω

80x2 @ 4 Ω

91x2 @ 4 Ω

Bass EQ boost

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TEST REPORT

4 OHM POWER VS THD+N @ 1 KHZ 14.4 V BATT

the controller. The KAC-M1824BT uses Bluetooth version 3.0+EDR, and the codecs supported include SBC, AAC and aptX.

harshness to horn sections, and occasionally they tend to be a bit sibilant especially with female vocals and cymbals. None of that is found in the Kenwood amp.

Moving on to some rock tunes from Deep Purple, Rush, Frank Zappa and Supertramp, I’m impressed with the amp’s ability to produce tight, controlled bass, while still providing a nice articulate top end from the front channels. Pushing the volume higher, I eventually reach the amplifier’s limits, but at volume levels

LISTENING My listening session with the KACM1824BT is fairly straightforward, consisting of a CD player driving the RCA inputs and my HTC One phone streaming music. The first Bluetooth pairing is fast and simple, and in less than a minute I’m streaming music to the amp.

I begin with a playlist on my phone containing very good quality recordings from various audiophile CDs (AAC and MP3 files at 320 kb) and did some listening. Given the small footprint of the amp, my expectations were not all that high, but I’m pleasantly surprised.

Beginning with some of Manhattan Transfer’s biggest hits, I’m pleased with the musicality and natural sound produced by the KAC-M1824BT. Some full-range Class D amplifiers I audition have tended to add a bit of “bite” or

Kenwood KAC-M1824BT_TE_ME4.indd 2

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MAX FLAT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

2015-07-21 4:30 PM

much greater than I expected. The overall performance is actually better than I had expected.

I drive the amp pretty hard on all kinds of music for a couple of hours and the heatsink is barely warm to the touch, indicating the amp’s highefficiency Class D topology.

PERFORMANCE/BENCH MEASUREMENTS On the test bench, the amplifier meets all of its published specifications, performing exactly as expected.

AMPLIFIER 1 WATT THD+N VS FREQUENCY

Kenwood KAC-M1824BT_TE_ME4.indd 3

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kenwoodusa.com

kenwood.ca

KenwoodUSA

KenwoodCanada

@KenwoodUSA

@KenwoodCanada

SEPARATION OR CROSSTALK VS FREQUENCY

CONCLUSION The Kenwood KAC-M1824BT is an excellent choice for any sort of Powersports vehicle or motorcycle.

It has very low current requirements and good thermal management.

Plus, it has more power than you’d expect and it’s very easy to install and use. Couple all of the above with a suggested retail price of only $400 in Canada and a bit less in the U.S., and it becomes an affordable, high quality solution for taking your tunes wherever your favorite vehicular activities take you.

2015-07-21 4:31 PM

TEST REPORT

MTX

Q-12 Signature Series SS7 Component Speaker System

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

Anyone who has been into car audio for more than an hour or so knows the name MTX. The brand has been a vital part of the renowned Mitek Group for over 40 years and is known as “America’s Sound Company.”

When it comes to car audio speakers, at the very top of the MTX food chain in the component speaker category are the “Signature Series” components. Available in 6.5-inch and 5.25-inch sizes, these are the finest full-range systems MTX has to offer. MTX was kind enough to send us a set of the $599.95 (U.S. MSRP) 6.5-inch SS7s. The SS7 component system is comprised of a 6.5-inch midrange driver, a 1.2-inch (30-mm) tweeter and a two-way, custom designed crossover network. Here is what we found.

Midrange and Tweeter The midrange driver used in the Signature Series system is a serious looking bit of kit. A stout cast aluminum basket provides the foundation for the high performance midrange. Unlike many

cast baskets, the SS7 features the usual myriad of mounting holes usually only found on stamped steel baskets. Because of this, the versatility in mounting the driver in an OEM application is greatly increased.

Behind the basket is a 14-ounce ferrite motor completed with an antique nickel finished bottom plate. The SS7 driver also features the same type of ribbed T-yoke that is found in many MTX subwoofers. To maximize cooling of the four-layer 1.5-inch copper voice coil, vents are provided below the spider plateau, while the aluminum basket acts as a heatsink. The voice coil is wound on a Kapton former to keep moving mass as low as possible.

Coil centering and compliance is provided via a progressive polycotton spider and an acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) surround.

The cone is quite unique looking in that the actual cone is pressed paper, but completely covered by a one-piece black glass fiber dustcap, resulting in a very hightech appearance.

The electrical terminals are sturdy Faston-type spades connected to the voice coil via a pair of low-resistance, fully-insulated tinsel leads. Full coverage steel mesh grilles are provided for installations that do not use a factory grille.

The system’s tweeter is built on a Ferro-Fluid-cooled 30-mm voice coil, driving a moisture-resistant Teteron dome. A protective steel grille is integrated into the tweeter housing. Both flat and angled surface mount adapters are also provided in the kit.

Crossover The MTX Signature Series come with a rather unique crossover network. The network is built into a round housing measuring approximately 3.75 inches in diameter and has no screw-type speaker wire connections. In the place of the typical terminal strip-type connections, the MTX system uses pre-attached color coded wires. Additional wires are provided for tweeter level adjustments. The housing itself can be mounted via two mounting tabs

or a threaded insert. This allows the crossover to be mounted from either side and improves the ease of installation.

Inside the housing is a -12 dB per octave high pass filter featuring mylar capacitors and air core inductors. As an example of great attention to detail, even the resistors used to control tweeter level are of the non-inductive variety to maintain the accuracy of the crossover. The low-pass section is also of the second order variety and uses an iron core inductor and electrolytic capacitors to achieve a crossover frequency of 2.8 kHz. A PTC resettable “fuse” is also included to protect the tweeter from accidental over-current situations.

Listening Due to a tight publishing schedule, we did not have time to fully audition the SS7s, but if you are already an MTX fan, we will leave you with this bit of information from the MTX website: “Loyd Ivey, the Founder of MTX and the GodFather of audio, has designed world class speakers for over 40 Years. Loyd has always been 'Serious About Sound...'" and on these high performance components he places his signature.

For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

mtx.com MEASURED

TECH SPECS

Power Handling

150 watts RMS

Frequency Range

35-28,000 Hz

Crossover, Woofer

-12 dB per octave

Sensitivity

85 dB/SPL @ 1 W/1 M

Crossover, Tweeter

-12 dB per octave

Nominal Impedance

4 ohms

mtxrocks @mtxaudio mtxaudiousa MTXAudioUSA

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TEST REPORT

Illusion Audio C3CX and C8-W Speaker Review If you have been searching for a pointsource-style mid-tweet that combines top of the line quality, exotic materials and non-traditional design queues, you are going to want to keep reading. Especially when you learn that this review covers the above midrange/tweeter, as well as a high performance 8-inch mid-bass driver.

If all of the above makes you salivate, drool on over to your local Illusion Audio dealer and check out the all new Carbon Series C3CX and C8-W speakers. These are the premier products in the Illusion Audio lineup, and for good reason, as will be made clear.

Carbon C3CX Midrange and Tweeter The C3CX is a 3-inch coaxialstyle driver with a coincident mounted tweeter. This means the tweeter is not sticking up on top of a long post or mounted on a cross plate. Instead, the Peter Larson designed 14-mm magnesium/aluminum alloy tweeter is mounted down low where you would normally expect a dustcap to be. This design improves phase coherency and takes advantage of the midrange’s cone geometry to act as a wave guide for the high frequencies. Thanks to a rear air chamber and a wide poly-fabric surround, the resonance of the tweeter is way down

SPECIFICATIONS - C3CX

78

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

around 1200 Hz. A perforated steel grill protects the diaphragm from damage. Further distinguishing this system form the rest of the pack is the ability to bi-amp the mid and tweet, yet still retain the included passive crossover networks.

Built on a die-cast aluminum basket requiring only 1.5 inches of mounting depth, the C3CX is powered by a neodymium motor.

In an effort to improve linearity and reduce distortion, the C3CX is built using the patented XBL dual magnetic gap technique and also incorporates three Faraday rings.

This design provides symmetric magnetic flux and inductance

over the entire range of motion.

The mid’s voice coil is made from copper-clad aluminum wire and is wound on a 1-inch former.

To dissipate heat, the driver has extensive venting and the motor assembly is pressed into the aluminum frame, allowing it to act as a heatsink. The cone material for the midrange is a woven carbon fiber material that has been coated with a special damping material and is affixed to the basket via a 0.2-inch wide rubber surround.

C3CX Crossover The supplied crossover is a two-way bi-ampable design, incorporating top quality compo-

SPECIFICATIONS – C8-W

Power Handling

50 watts RMS

Power Handling

125 watts RMS

Crossover, Midrange

-6 dB per octave

Crossover, Midrange

None

Crossover, Tweeter

-12 dB per octave

Crossover, Tweeter

None

Frequency Range

200-20,000 Hz

Frequency Range

50-3,000 Hz

Sensitivity

82.6 dB/SPL @ 1 W/1 M

Sensitivity

87.5 dB/SPL @ 1 W/1 M

Nominal Impedance

4 ohms

Nominal Impedance

4 ohms

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nents and seven-level adjustment for the tweeter. Air core inductors are used, as well as a metal film polypropylene capacitor. Via a clever design, three jumpers can be arranged to provide seven different levels of tweeter attenuation in 1-dB increments. The tweeter crossover alignment is a LinkwitzRiley second order filter, while a first order low-pass is used for the midrange. Tweeter over-current protection comes in the form of a self-resetting polyswitch.

Mid-Bass The C8-W mid-bass driver is also built on a cast aluminum basket, but features an innovative front-mounted neodymium motor assembly. Thanks to the frontmounted motor, the C8-W can be mounted in very shallow depth locations, requiring only 2.2 inches.

The basket uses narrow spokes to minimize acoustic reflections from the back side of the coated carbon fiber cone.

Providing the electromotive force is a N35H neodymium motor driving a 1.5-inch CCAW voice coil, wound on an aluminum former.

Also on the coil assembly are a pair of Faraday rings to reduce inductance and distortion, while allow the driver to be used well into the midrange frequencies.

This driver also uses the XBL dual gap technology mentioned in the C3CX. A linear type Conex spider provides compliance and coil centering. Heavy-duty spring-loaded terminals connect woven in-place tinsel leads.

Listening After a sufficient period of break in, I gather up a few of my favorite discs and sit down for some serious face time with the Illusion system. For my listening session, I mount the speakers in my baffles, and use separate amplifiers for the C3CXs and C8W. I also set the crossover for the C3CXs at 300 Hz, -12 dB/Oct. The C8-W is fed a bandwidth limited signal adjusted for 50 Hz to 300 Hz. All of the drivers are in an infinite baffle arrangement, as you would get from a car door.

Since this is not an inexpensive system, my expectations are admittedly pretty high. As it turns out, I’m not disappointed.

Over the next couple of hours, I run through my usual favorite evaluation tracks and find these speakers sound pretty damn good.

Bass reproduction is strong, with a warmth and richness that you don’t often hear from a shallow speaker of this size. The Illusion system exhibits very good clarity as well, and the 14-mm well-sorted tweeters blend smoothly with the upper range of the mid. The tweeter is polite and smooth and does not exhibit any sibilance or brittleness. I listen to everything from Bach to ZZ Top and the Illusion system handles it all in stride.

A few issues specific to this system come to mind, however, and bear mentioning. First, because the C3CX’s are so small, they will typically get mounted higher in the car and more on axis to your ears than a larger midrange. For this reason, I suggest playing with the levels on your amplifiers to help match the C8-Ws to the C3CXs. The point is, you have a lot more tuning capability with this setup than you normally would, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of it.

The Illusion system, when adjusted properly, provides a warm, yet accurate sound. The timbre of the system is very natural, and has excellent definition and detail.

I find myself increasing the level for the midrange a bit and using the available tweeter attenuation to balance things out. The bottom end is strong and full with good definition and detail.

The plucked bass strings in Glen Miller’s Little Brown Jug sound full and vibrant. Drums and snare are very articulate, nice and tight and well controlled, even at fairly high volume levels.

When my session is over, I come away impressed. I could easily live with sound this good for a long time.

Conclusion Combining the Illusion Carbon Series C3CX and C8-W speakers can be a brilliant solution to

MEASURED PERFORMANCE - C8-W

ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS Re

3.01

Ohm

electrical voice coil resistance at DC

Le

0.283

mH

frequency independent part of voice coil inductance

L2

0.790

mH

para-inductance of voice coil

R2

1.06

Ohm

electrical resistance due to eddy current losses

Cmes

777.33

µF

electrical capacitance representing moving mass

Lces

15.38

mH

electrical inductance representing driver compliance

Res

13.36

Ohm

resistance due to mechanical losses

fs

46.0

Hz

driver resonance frequency

MECHANICAL PARAMETERS (using laser) Mms

28.713

g

mechanical mass of driver diaphragm assembly including air load and voice coil mechanical mass of voice coil and diaphragm without air load

Mmd

25.307

g

Rms

2.765

kg/s

mechanical resistance of total-driver losses

Cms

0.416

mm/N

mechanical compliance of driver suspension

Kms

2.40

N/mm

mechanical stiffness of driver suspension

Bl

6.078

N/A

force factor (Bl product)

Lambda

0.116

suspension creep factor

LOSS FACTORS Qtp

0.478

total Q-factor considering all losses

Qms

3.597

mechanical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Rms only

Qes

0.537

electrical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Re only

Qts

0.467

total Q-factor considering Re and Rms only

OTHER PARAMETERS Vas

91.96

l

equivalent air volume of suspension

n0

0.339

%

reference efficiency (2 pi-radiation using Re)

Lm

87.50

dB

characteristic sound pressure level (SPL at 1 m for 1 W @ Re)

Lnom

87.71

dB

nominal sensitivity (SPL at 1 m for 1 W @ Zn)

Sd

1034.00

cm2

diaphragm area

EBP

50.65

getting premium quality sound in your car. Even if you aren't lucky enough to make the 8-inch fit, there's also a 6.5-inch option, the C6-W, designed for most standard locations. With excellent tuning options and lots of flexibility in mounting locations, serious audiophiles will want to audition these speakers for themselves.

Yes, premium quality components such as these come at premium prices (the full system would set you back about $1,498), but if you truly appreciate your music, they are worth every penny.

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TEST REPORT

Orion XPM 64MBF

High Efficiency Mid-bass Speakers Review

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

If you subscribe to the notion that louder is always better, but you also insist on quality with your quantity, you might want to check out the allnew XPM series of speakers from Orion. The XPM series of speakers range from 6.5 inches through 10-inch models and are designed specifically to play very loud and retain excellent sound quality while they’re at it.

For this review, I received a pair of the XPM64MBF mid-bass drivers. These 6.5-inch mid-bass units are available in either 4-ohm or 8-ohm versions, and rated at 330 watts continuous power. The drivers come with a one year warranty when installed by an authorized Orion dealer.

Features The XPM64MBF drivers are built around rugged, but nicely finished cast aluminum baskets with raised, polished logos. A huge ferrite motor assembly anchors the driver and provides the magnetic force needed to overcome the incredibly low compliance suspension.

To achieve maximum sensitiv-

ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS Re

3.36

Ohm

electrical voice coil resistance at DC

Le

0.190

mH

frequency independent part of voice coil inductance

L2

0.244

mH

para-inductance of voice coil

R2

2.29

Ohm

electrical resistance due to eddy current losses

Cmes

157.55

µF

electrical capacitance representing moving mass

Lces

2.97

mH

electrical inductance representing driver compliance

Res

46.57

Ohm

resistance due to mechanical losses

fs

232.8

Hz

driver resonance frequency

MECHANICAL PARAMETERS Mms

12.601

g

mechanical mass of driver diaphragm assembly including air load and voice coil

Mmd

10.751

g

mechanical mass of voice coil and diaphragm without air load

Rms

1.718

kg/s

mechanical resistance of total-driver losses mechanical compliance of driver suspension

Cms

0.037

mm/N

Kms

26.97

N/mm

mechanical stiffness of driver suspension

Bl

8.943

N/A

force factor (Bl product)

Lambda

0.096

suspension creep factor

LOSS FACTORS Qtp

0.734

total Q-factor considering all losses

Qms

10.733

mechanical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Rms only

Qes

0.775

electrical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Re only

Qts

0.723

total Q-factor considering Re and Rms only

Listening

OTHER PARAMETERS

The measurements from these mid-bass drivers are certainly nontypical for a 6.5-inch speaker. A look at the Thiele-Small parameters below will shed some light on

Vas

1.0129

l

equivalent air volume of suspension

n0

1.585

%

reference efficiency (2 pi-radiation using Re)

Power Handling

50-330 watts continuous

QUICK

Frequency Range

200-5000 Hz

SPECS

Sensitivity

94.9 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W

Nominal Impedance

(1) 4 ohm coil

TECH

80

ity, the moving mass of the drivers is kept to a bare minimum and is actually less than 11 grams. To achieve this extremely low mass, the cone material is made from pressed pulp paper and the surround is a doped fabric roll. The use of paper for these cones also contributes to the drivers' natural sound. Because these drivers are expected to live under very high power conditions, the voice coil measures a full 2 inches in diameter. The coil material is copperclad aluminum wire, wound on a TIL former. In the center of each cone is a very nicely made, machined aluminum phase plug, giving these speakers a professional appearance. The lower side of the moving assembly is centered and damped by a linear-type poly-cotton spider.

Traditional tinsel leads are used to connect the speakers’ spade-type speaker terminals to the voice coil.

Lm

94.20

dB

characteristic sound pressure level (SPL at 1 m for 1 W @ Re)

Lnom

94.95

dB

nominal sensitivity (SPL at 1 m for 1 W @ Zn)

Sd

138.93

cm2

diaphragm area

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TEST REPORT FREQUENCY RESPONSE

the design focus of this driver.

First, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll notice the very high (for a 6.5-inch) resonant frequency.

Where the majority of typical speakers this size have a resonance between 50 and 80 Hertz, this driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fs is 232 Hz. A look at the compliance numbers tells why, with a Cms (Compliance of mechanical suspension) figure of only 0.037 millimeters per Newton. The lower this number is, the lower the compliance; or stated differently, the stiffer the suspension is. And believe me, this baby is stiff. Pressing with considerable force on the strong cone with both thumbs only moves the cone a few millimeters.

Then there is the strength of that big motor assembly. Magnetic force in loudspeakers is expressed as Bl, and denotes the product of the magnetic field strength of the motor in the voice coil gap and the length of wire in that magnetic field. The measurement is expressed in tesla-meters.

Orion XPM 64MBF_TE_Mobile Electronics_4.indd 2

My measured data shows the XPM64MBF has similar Bl product to many large subwoofers!

Conclusion If you are looking for some mid-bass drivers (or possibly even midrange drivers if you have an appropriate tweeter) that sound great and play very loud, your search is over. You need look no further than your local Orion dealer to audition a pair of these high efficiency powerhouses for yourself.

MAGNITUDE OF ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE Z(F)

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OrionCarAudio.com.com orion.car.audio @OrionCarAudio Orion High Performance Car Audio

2015-07-21 4:21 PM

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TEST REPORT

DD Audio TS1510-D2 Subwoofer Review

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

The heartland of the USA is all abuzz with talk of the new DD Audio TS series of subwoofers. Built in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the TS series woofers are designed specifically for people looking for a high performance, sound quality oriented subwoofer. To see what all the fuss was about, we had them send us the 10-inch version known as a TS1510-D2. The woofer is rated for a maximum continuous power of 400 watts and has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $289.

Features The TS1510-D2 is a dual 2-ohm voice coil subwoofer that can be used in either sealed or vented applications with a slight preference toward the sealed variety. And because the DD Audio team builds these right here in the U.S.of A, should you need something that sounds great and

will work in your specific application, custom build options are also available. Try getting that sort of service from a company building woofers in Asia.

Specifically designed for sound quality, the woofer is built on a stamped steel basket, mounting a two-layer ferrite motor assembly that weighs in at 7.5 pounds. The motor’s pole piece is vented and cross-drilled to improve cooling of the 2-inch, four-layer, Americanmade copper voice coil. Additional cooling capability comes in the form of 27 vents designed into the basket to promote airflow and heat transfer. The coil is centered in the magnetic gap by a progressive-type polycotton spider, which is also made in the U.S. In an effort to reduce distortion, the woofer is also equipped with shorting rings. By implementing a shorting ring, the non-linear drive force is corrected by counteracting flux modulation.

Power Handling

400 watts RMS

QUICK

Frequency Range

20 Hz – 400 Hz

SPECS

Sensitivity

82.4 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W (2.0 V @ 4 ohms)

TECH

Nominal Impedance

84

(2) 2 ohm coils

MEASURED PERFORMANCE - DD AUDIO TS1510-D2 WOOFER

ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS Re

0.96

Ohm

electrical voice coil resistance at DC

Le

0.830

mH

frequency independent part of voice coil inductance

L2

0.969

mH

para-inductance of voice coil

R2

1.49

Ohm

electrical resistance due to eddy current losses

Cmes

4006.01

µF

electrical capacitance representing moving mass

Lces

6.29

mH

electrical inductance representing driver compliance

Res

8.96

Ohm

resistance due to mechanical losses

fs

31.7

Hz

driver resonance frequency

MECHANICAL PARAMETERS (using laser) Mms

155.44

g

mechanical mass of driver diaphragm assembly including air load and voice coil mechanical mass of voice coil and diaphragm without air load

Mmd

148.565

g

Rms

4.329

kg/s

mechanical resistance of total-driver losses

Cms

0.162

mm/N

mechanical compliance of driver suspension

Kms

6.17

N/mm

mechanical stiffness of driver suspension

Bl

6.229

N/A

force factor (Bl product)

Lambda

0.039

suspension creep factor

LOSS FACTORS Qtp

0.710

total Q-factor considering all losses

Qms

7.154

mechanical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Rms only

Qes

0.769

electrical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Re only

Qts

0.694

total Q-factor considering Re and Rms only

OTHER PARAMETERS Vas

25.4818

l

equivalent air volume of suspension (0.89 cu ft)

Lnom

82.43

dB

nominal sensitivity (SPL at 1 m for 1 W @ Zn)

Sd

333.29

cm2

diaphragm area

EBP

41.2

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Propeller head explanation: When you drive a speaker hard, the drive force becomes increasingly non-linear as Xmax increases. This is due primarily to magnetic flux modulation and component heating. This means that the force moving the coil is not perfectly linear and consequently its movement is not perfectly symmetrical.

This happens because the magnetic field generated by the voice coil alters the magnetic field in the voice coil gap as it moves. The result is eddy currents in the magnetic circuit, literally modulating the flux. This is a primary cause of distortion on a typical loudspeaker.

The fact that it handles power well is a good thing because the TS1510-D2 likes power. It’s not the most sensitive woofer in terms of SPL per watt, but it’s not a slug either. I’d suggest amplifiers in the 300- to 400-watt range, and you won’t be disappointed.

More complex bass tracks, like Thomas Dolby’s Hot Sauce or the incredible bass solo in Thom Rotella’s Friends, are reproduced very well. The woofer produces a realism and authority that belies its size and price. This is a very good sounding 10-inch woofer, which actually works exceptionally well in a small sealed enclosure.

In addition to the progressive spider, the entire mechanical suspension system of the TS1510-D2 is tuned for maximum sound quality, including the tall EROM (Extended Range Of Motion) UV-protected foam surround.

The cone material is semi-pressed pulp and treated with a glossy black finish. An epoxy-coated paper dome is used for the dustcap. Amplifier connections are made via DD Audio’s typical Direct Connect 10-gauge oxygen-free copper cables. The motor assembly is covered and protected by a nice rubber boot and the back plate is finished with a black anodized coating.

On The Bench

Listening When the good folks at DD Audio sent the woofer, they were kind enough to also send me a sealed enclosure to use for the review. I measure the internal volume of the supplied enclosure and it comes in right at 0.7 cubic feet. After an eight-hour break-in period, I mount the woofer in the box and connect it to my reference system with the two coils wired in series for a 4-ohm load to optimize the sound quality. I adjust the subwoofer crossover to 80 Hz and sit down to audition the TS1510-D2.

While my listening session takes several hours, I can sum it up in one short sentence: “This is a damn good sounding woofer!”

From the first track, the DD Audio woofer exhibits tight, accurate bass that also goes nice and deep. The sound of the woofer is very musical with a natural timbre. Well recorded bass notes, like those on Donald Fagen’s Ruby and Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax, the woofer sounds deep and strong, but retains the excellent definition and handles the applied power without complaint.

MAGNITUDE OF ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE Z(F)

WOOFERS FREE AIR IMPEDANCE – COILS IN PARALLEL

SPL VS FREQ

The next day, I take the woofer back in the lab to measure the parameters and check out the specifications. As I expect, the published specifications are very close to my actual measurements and are another indication that this woofer was built by folks who pay attention to details. I also had a chance to measure the woofer’s output in the supplied enclosure - check out the graph of that for yourself.

Conclusion Overall, I came away pretty impressed with the DD Audio TS series woofer. It was obviously designed to sound good and they have certainly met that goal. In addition, the made-in-America TS1510-D2 proved that it could be a great all-rounder with good power handling and the ability to work very well in small enclosures.

To me, that just means you may have room for several of them!

NEARFIELD SPL/FREQUENCY RESPONSE 1 W/1 M

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TEST REPORT

Hertz Mille Legend 2000.3

Subwoofer Review

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

The Hertz Mille Legend series of products were first introduced to car audio aficionados in 1999. Since then, the Mille series goal has been to serve as a reference for music lovers. To achieve this goal, the company invests heavily in research and development, always looking for ways to improve the product’s performance. The engineering team behind these products is quite simply driven by a passion for the best possible reproduction of music, in an attempt to bring the emotion of a live performance to the car. To this end, countless hours are spent refining, tweaking and constantly improving the product. One result of all that tweaking and refinement is the ML 2000.3, an eight-inch woofer designed to be one of two reference woofers for the Mille Legend line. Don’t let the compact size deceive you, the ML 2000.3 woofer is rated for 700 watts continuous power!

ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS

The ML 2000.3 woofer is a very impressively constructed woofer.

The woofer is designed to work well in very small enclosures, and to that end, features a completely new design.

The eight-inch woofer is built around an anti-resonant aluminum alloy die-cast basket, which incorporates a special six-spoke low air resistance design, as well as voice coil venting underneath the spider. Beneath the alloy basket is the interesting neodymium motor assembly that has a 5-mm thick neodymium ring placed on the inside of the voice coil. This magnet provides an even magnetic flux and is augmented by a low-carbon steel top plate for low hysteresis.

The motor and magnet as an assembly was developed through extensive use of three-dimensional Finite Element Analysis (FEA simulations). This process allows engineers to “see” the magnetic

Re

2.78

Ohm

electrical voice coil resistance at DC

Le

0.875

mH

frequency independent part of voice coil inductance

L2

0.940

mH

para-inductance of voice coil

R2

1.42

Ohm

electrical resistance due to eddy current losses

Cmes

901.98

µF

electrical capacitance representing moving mass

Lces

14.59

mH

electrical inductance representing driver compliance

Res

28.31

Ohm

resistance due to mechanical losses

fs

43.9

Hz

driver resonance frequency

Power Handling

50-700 watts continuous

QUICK

Frequency Range

30-500 Hz

SPECS

Driver Sensitivity

83.1 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W

Nominal Impedance

(1) 4 ohm coil

TECH

86

Features

MECHANICAL PARAMETERS (using laser) Mms

117.301

g

mechanical mass of driver diaphragm assembly including air load and voice coil mechanical mass of voice coil and diaphragm without air load

Mmd

113.767

g

Rms

4.594

kg/s

mechanical resistance of total-driver losses

Cms

0.112

mm/N

mechanical compliance of driver suspension

Kms

8.91

N/mm

mechanical stiffness of driver suspension

Bl

11.404

N/A

force factor (Bl product)

Lambda

0.126

fs

43.9

suspension creep factor Hz

driver resonance frequency

LOSS FACTORS Qtp

0.639

total Q-factor considering all losses

Qms

7.039

mechanical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Rms only

Qes

0.691

electrical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Re only

Qts

0.629

total Q-factor considering Re and Rms only

OTHER PARAMETERS Vas

7.2589

l

equivalent air volume of suspension

n0

0.085

%

reference efficiency (2 pi-radiation using Re)

Lm

81.51

dB

characteristic sound pressure level (SPL at 1 m for 1 W @ Re)

Lnom

83.09

dB

nominal sensitivity (SPL at 1 m for 1 W @ Zn)

Sd

213.82

cm2

diaphragm area

EBP

63.5

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

Hertz Mille Legend 2000.03_TE_ME4 v2.indd 1

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field and observe its interaction with the woofer’s voice coil. In this manner, the geometry of each part can be optimized, resulting in very predictable and linear woofer operation. To reduce distortion, the woofer is equipped with an aluminum shorting ring, placed inside the pole and out of the area of the magnetic gap, rather than the traditional copper ring method.

Additional three-dimensional FEA simulations were employed on the development of the woofer’s cone geometry and spider optimization. As a result of the experimentation and simulation research, the designers chose a 100-mm (fourinch) copper-clad aluminum voice coil wound on a TIL film former. The large coil was chosen for extreme heat dissipation and therefore very high power handling.

However, it’s not just the size of the coil that’s different. The winding process used to build it is called “In/Out,” which is claimed to result in a more even cooling of the coils two layers.

The cone of the woofer is pressed from pulp paper containing 20 percent cotton fibers with Hertz’s V-Cone geometry and attached to the basket via a pure IIR butyl rubber surround.

Connections are made via a set of 6.3mm Faston nickel-plated connectors comolded into a heat resistant nylon body.

Listening After several hours of break-in and after reading the enclosure recommendations in the owner’s manual, which states that the woofer can be used in enclosures as small as 0.35 to 0.6 cubic feet, I mounted the woofer in a 0.5-cubicfoot sealed enclosure. With the woofer mounted and connected to my reference system, I begin with a crossover setting of 125 Hz at -24 dB/Oct., but later found that I preferred a setting of 100 Hz. Immediately, I note the tight controlled sound from the ML 2000.3 woofer. This is a very musical sounding woofer and throughout my listening session, I keep thinking to myself how much this sounds like a good home audio woofer.

One of the tracks I listen to is My Maria by Brooks and Dunn. The kick drum in this track is very well recorded and has excellent definition. On a good system you can hear the attack as the batter strikes the drumhead and the full, warm resonance of a properly tuned bass drum. The ML 2000.3 reproduces this very well, and to be honest, it’s been a while since a woofer this small has done so.

As my listening continues, I grow more impressed and surprised with the performance of this diminutive woofer.

I note that in my chosen enclosure the bass is very linear, that is, I do not have to increase the volume to hear the bass detail. When it does get loud, the woofer doesn’t get boomy or sloppy sounding.

From hip hop to classical, rock to country, the ML 2000.3 simply reproduces the recordings I play, without strain or complaint. Even when pushed hard on bass-heavy music at high power levels, it simply plays on and asks for more. I find myself quite impressed with not only the sonic performance of the woofer, but the unexpected output from a single eightinch woofer.

On The Bench After allowing the woofer to rest overnight, I move it back into the lab to do technical measurements. As the frequency response graph shows, this is a wide bandwidth, flat response woofer and I’m very happy with its performance in the 0.5-cubic-foot enclosure.

My Klippel analyzer produces ThieleSmall parameters very close to the woofer’s published specifications (also measured with a Klippel device), so there are no surprises there. I do note an interesting point, though; on the nylon block, where the woofer’s terminations are located, it states the coil is 4 ohms.

However, my testing indicated a DC resistance of 2.78 ohms and the woofer’s own published specifications also called out a 2.7 ohm Re. Not to worry - an impedance plot of the woofer in free air shows an impedance of almost exactly 4 ohms at 20 Hz and it never drops below 3.3 ohms at any frequency. I’m assuming this is where the 4-ohm reference comes from, as it is in fact accurate from the amplifier’s point of view.

MAGNITUDE OF ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE Z(F)

FREE AIR IMPEDANCE

SPL VS FREQ

1W/1M SPL SEALED

IMPEDANCE VS FREQ

Conclusion With exemplary sonic performance and power handling that vastly exceeds the expectations of an eight-inch driver, the Hertz Mille Legend 2000.3 woofer just may become a legend in its own right. This is a very well-engineered and constructed subwoofer that’s fully capable of pleasing the most discriminating audio palates.

I can’t help but imagine how much fun four of these babies would be with a couple thousand watts driving them. For more information, visit ElettroMedia-USA. com / ca.HertzAudioVideo.com.

SYSTEM IMPEDANCE (IN ENCLOSURE USED FOR TESTING)

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2015-07-21 11:55 AM

TEST REPORT

Kicker L7 Q-Class

Subwoofer Review I can recall a time as a schoolboy when we were studying geometry. I could not fathom how this was ever going to be useful to me in my life, but of course, it was and continues to be. Apparently the engineers at Kicker were paying attention in those classes too, because they have put a fundamental principle of geometry to good use. We learned, way back then, that a square of a given size will always have more area than that of a circle of the same dimension - exactly 27.33 percent more, regardless of the relative dimension.

When you are designing a subwoofer, a device that is supposed to move as much air as possible, that 27.33 percent becomes very significant! To get an increase of 27.33 percent in area from a round shape would mean going from a 12-inch woofer to a 13.6inch diameter, but a square 12inch woofer fits in the same space as the round one, so the enclosure baffle size can be the same.

Kicker has taken advantage of the principles of geometry for

Features The Kicker L7 woofer is built around an obviously square, heavyduty cast aluminum alloy basket.

The woofer uses a 7.8-pound magnetic motor assembly, which has been optimized for linearity and power handling using finite element analysis. The magnetic field generated drives a 2.375-inch multi-layer copper voice coil with 26 percent greater length than the previous model, which is wound on an extreme high temperature glass-fiber reinforced polyimide

TIL-B former. Rather than using a typical vented pole piece, the voice coil is surrounded by a finned aluminum heatsink, which is mounted to the top plate of the motor assembly. Kicker spent years of research in developing a special low-carbon solid extended pole piece, resulting in very high excursion and higher internal mass for improved cooling.

Keeping the coil centered in the gap is a Blue-Lace spider with a larger outer diameter to allow greater excursion. The spider also incorporates laminated-in-place high-current tinsel leads. The cone is connected to the voice coil former via a polymer 360-degree cone brace that has been laser etched to improve adhesive bonding and reliability. The cone material is made of injectionmolded polypropylene, ribbed for rigidity and strength.

On a square woofer, the surround is a critical component, as there are four individual corners that must flex in unison with the four straight sections. To accomplish this, Kicker uses

Power Handling

900 watts RMS

QUICK

Frequency Range

20 Hz – 200 Hz

SPECS

Sensitivity

86.1 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W (1.414 V @ 2 ohms)

Nominal Impedance

(2) 4 ohm coils

TECH

88

14 years with their industry first square woofers. In this review, we’re going to take a closer look at the new and improved L7 woofer, which serves as the foundation for the flagship “Q-Class” product lineup. According to Kicker president and co-founder Steve Irby, “The L7 and Q-Class products represent what Kicker innovation and evolution are all about. With the L7, you can expect bold small-box performance, bigger than ever power handling and even higher SPL.”

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

genuine Exxon Mobil Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) surround material with a patented ribbed corner design, which varies in thickness to maintain maximum linearity, excellent cone control and high excursion capabilities. As all Kicker woofers have been, the cone is glued and stitched to the surround to ensure a long-lasting, trouble-free connection.

Wiring connections to the dual voice coil L7 woofer are conveniently located together on one side - handy when doing either series or parallel configurations. The terminals are square (of course!) spring-loaded, and nickel-plated. Polarity is clearly marked and the terminals will accept up to 8-gauge wire.

Listening For my listening session, I choose to mount the L7 in a sealed enclosure with an internal volume of 1.3 cubic feet. The woofer is powered by a 1,000-watt studio amplifier with a crossover set to

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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WOOFERS FREE AIR IMPEDANCE – COILS IN PARALLEL.

NEARFIELD SPL/FREQUENCY RESPONSE 1W/1M MEASURED

WOOFER DATA

ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS

COILS IN PARALLEL

Re

1.62

Ohm

electrical voice coil resistance at DC

Le

1.315

mH

frequency independent part of voice coil inductance

L2

2.724

mH

para-inductance of voice coil

R2

8.54

Ohm

electrical resistance due to eddy current losses

Cmes

2503

µF

electrical capacitance representing moving mass

Lces

9.39

mH

electrical inductance representing driver compliance

Res

22.78

Ohm

resistance due to mechanical losses

fs

32.8

Hz

driver resonance frequency

MECHANICAL PARAMETERS (USING LASER)

Mms

310.544

g

mechanical mass of driver diaphragm assembly including air load and voice coil

Mmd

291.274

g

mechanical mass of voice coil and diaphragm without air load

Rms

5.445

kg/s

mechanical resistance of total-driver losses

Cms

0.076

mm/N

mechanical compliance of driver suspension

Kms

13.22

N/mm

mechanical stiffness of driver suspension

Bl

11.138

N/A

force factor (Bl product)

LOSS FACTORS

Qtp

0.800

total Q-factor considering all losses

Qms

11.765

mechanical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Rms only

Qes

0.839

electrical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Re only

Qts

0.783

total Q-factor considering Re and Rms only

OTHER PARAMETERS

Vas

46.9998

l

equivalent air volume of suspension

n0

0.191

%

reference efficiency (2 pi-radiation using Re)

Lm

85.00

dB

characteristic sound pressure level (SPL at 1m for 1W @ Re)

Lnom

85.90

dB

nominal sensitivity (SPL at 1m for 1W @ Zn)

Sd

662.54

cm2

diaphragm area

EBP

39.1

Kicker L7 Q-Class_Mobile Electronics_4_DPS.indd 2

100 Hz and a slope of -24 dB/Oct. The coils are wired in parallel for a 2-ohm load.

I begin with a few of my favorite bass tracks, like the John Lee Hooker version of Sweet Home Chicago, Thomas Dolby’s Hot Sauce, and Ricky Lee Jones’ Danny’s All-Star Joint. The L7 woofer sounds very good, with a nice, tight attack and quick decay.

Definition in the bass is excellent and I like the overall timbre of the woofer. This is a very musical woofer considering its high power handling capability. Stated differently, this is an excellent choice for those who like great musicality and high SPL. Switching musical gears, I played some Nine Inch Nails, Yello and other bass heavy tomfoolery, and turned up the power to the 900-watt rated limit and beyond, with nary a complaint from the big square woofer. Just for fun, I did an impromptu side by side comparison with a very popular 12-inch round woofer (also 2 ohms) and the Kicker L7 was most definitely louder.

On The Bench On the test bench, with the woofer connected to my Klippel analyzer, I measure the parameters and find them well within the normal tolerances used in manufacturing woofers. I also note that the woofer does have a preference for a sealed enclosure, and unless you only care about maximum SPL, that is the type of enclosure I’d suggest.

Conclusion I really enjoyed my time with the Kicker L7 woofer. Like other products from Kicker, its focus is on musicality and reliability.

And with 27.33 percent more cone area than a 12-inch round woofer, it comes with extra output too!

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2015-07-21 3:38 PM

TEST REPORT

Rockford Fosgate T2S1-16

Subwoofer Review

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

Back in the day, when SPL contesting was first invented, Rockford Fosgate had a slogan that said, “For Those Who Think Too Much Is Just Right.”

It would seem the folks over at Rockford have not forgotten this credo because the new T2S1-16 woofer is a perfect example of that slogan. In an effort to exceed the expectations of their fanatical customers, the T2 16-inch woofer is designed especially for those who crave high SPL bass and have the cargo space to dedicate to it.

The T2S1-16 is seriously impressive to just look at. The monster woofer weighs in at over 80 pounds (36.5 kg) and is over a foot deep. A 16-inch cone provides greater surface area and an equally impressive motor assembly drives it to its 2.7-inch excursion limits. The woofer is available in either 1- or 2-ohm versions, and is rated for 2,500 watts of continuous power. As you’d expect, this sort of perfor-

mance comes with a price, as the MSRP of the T2S1-16 is another attention grabber at $1,499.99.

Features As you’d expect from such a massive woofer, it’s built on an extremely robust proprietary cast aluminum frame unlike any other.

However, it does share Rockford’s “FlexFit” basket mounting architecture, which allows fine tuning of the subwoofer’s mounting position. The basket also incorporates large heatsink fins to dissipate the heat generated by the 4-inch edge-wound aluminum voice coil. To further improve thermal power handling, the voice coil is wound on an anodized aluminum former. Magnetic energy to drive that coil comes from a clever segmented triple stack ferrite motor assembly. The magnetic motor weighs in at 529 ounces (15 kg) and is about 10.5 inches in diameter. The pole piece is vented, again in an effort to dissipate the

Power Handling

2500 watts RMS

QUICK

Frequency Range

20 Hz – 200 Hz

SPECS

Sensitivity

87.1 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W (1.0 V @ 1 ohm)

TECH

Nominal Impedance

90

(1) 1 ohm coil

T2S1-16 MEASURED SPECIFICATIONS (KLIPPEL)

ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS Re

0.95

Ohm

electrical voice coil resistance at DC

Le

0.667

mH

frequency independent part of voice coil inductance

L2

1.102

mH

para-inductance of voice coil

R2

1.35

Ohm

electrical resistance due to eddy current losses

Cmes

3294

µF

electrical capacitance representing moving mass

Lces

10.38

mH

electrical inductance representing driver compliance

Res

6.39

Ohm

resistance due to mechanical losses

fs

27.2

Hz

driver resonance frequency

MECHANICAL PARAMETERS (using laser) Mms

550.74

g

mechanical mass of driver diaphragm assembly including air load and voice coil

Mmd

513.17

g

mechanical mass of voice coil and diaphragm without air load

Rms

26.184

kg/s

mechanical resistance of total-driver losses mechanical compliance of driver suspension

Cms

0.062

mm/N

Kms

16.10

N/mm

mechanical stiffness of driver suspension

Bl

12.930

N/A

force factor (Bl product)

Lambda

-0.025

suspension creep factor

LOSS FACTORS Qtp

0.478

total Q-factor considering all losses

Qms

3.597

mechanical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Rms only

Qes

0.537

electrical Q-factor of driver in free air considering Re only

Qts

0.467

total Q-factor considering Re and Rms only

OTHER PARAMETERS Vas

91.96

l

equivalent air volume of suspension

n0

0.339

%

reference efficiency (2 pi-radiation using Re)

Lm

87.50

dB

characteristic sound pressure level (SPL at 1 m for 1 W @ Re)

Lnom

87.71

dB

nominal sensitivity (SPL at 1 m for 1 W @ Zn)

Sd

1034.00

cm2

diaphragm area

EBP

50.65

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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extreme heat generated by the 2,500-watt power handling. To keep the coil centered in the gap and provide exact compliance, the woofer uses dual progressive-type spiders made of Nomex. These spiders are separated by a 2-inch gap, made possible through two separate custom tooled spider plateaus. These plateaus are mechanically bolted directly to the basket, ensuring complete reliability - even at full excursion.

From the front side of the T2S1-16, you are treated to a good looking black cone, which is made with three layers of material. A layer of glass fiber on each outer side sandwiches a center layer of aramid honeycomb. The result is a super strong, yet lightweight cone. In the center of the cone is an aluminum dust cap with the Rockford Fosgate logo dead center.

To connect the OD of the glass fiber cone to the basket, Rockford uses an injectionmolded foam surround with their patent pending “VAST” surround which increases the viable cone area. The surround is attached to the basket using special high performance adhesives and a proprietary mechanical clamping ring. To further enhance the woofer’s cosmetics, a die-cast aluminum trim ring hides all the actual mounting bolts and attaches to the basket via four machine thread mounting screws.

Wire connections are made via custom tooled, spring-loaded terminals that will accept 8-gauge cable. To feed the power to the voice coil, fully insulated ultra high current tinsel leads are stitched to the spider.

According to the product’s manual, the T2S1-16 can be used in either sealed or vented enclosures. The recommended sealed volume is 2.4 cubic feet, and the high output vented recommended volume is 5.5 cubic feet. Luckily, my lab is only a few miles from Rockford’s headquarters in Tempe, so they were kind enough to supply a custom made vented enclosure for my testing, which I measured at a bit over 6 cubic feet after subtracting the internal bracing, port assembly and the driver volume.

tuned frequency of the enclosure, which I determine is very close to 30 Hz. I grab my usual set of subwoofer test discs and begin my listening session. Wow. It quickly becomes very apparent that this is going to be fun. If you have never had the opportunity to listen to a system where the capabilities of the product exceed that of the listener, you should. That is how this thing feels. I can turn it up, and up, and up some more, and it simply gets louder and louder. No signs of stress or fatigue, just the impression that I could set it to whatever volume I wanted and enjoy it. I have a little fun with the volume while playing Yello’s Oh Yeah, which results in neighbors from across the complex coming over to see what’s going on.

I have played in bands for years, and the output of this single woofer is greater than some of the stage setups I’ve used. The sound quality is actually better than I expect from a woofer, as it’s so obviously designed to play very loud, for a long time. Even in the big vented box, the bass is pleasant and controlled without excessive boom or overhang. At low volumes, the woofer loses a bit of detail and articulation, but it all comes back in spades when you increase the volume to “enthusiastic” levels. There isn’t much a woofer like this can’t do.

Listening

This is a serious woofer and it takes a seriously fanatical bass-head to truly appreciate just how good it is. If you are interested in lifelike concert level bass output in your car, and you have the space and deep enough pockets for the woofer and the required power, it will be hard to beat the Rockford Fosgate T2S1-16 woofer.

That is unless you opt for the bigger and even louder T3S2-19 - a 19-inch woofer with even more performance! For those who think too much is just right, indeed!

When it came time to listen to this monster, I wanted to really put it to the test. As luck would have it, I just happened to have a Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP amplifier on the shelf. This amp makes enough power to drive the T2S1-16 properly, so it was sort of a no-brainer to replace my usual reference amp with the big Fosgate amp.

I begin by setting the amp’s crossover to about 80 Hz. I use the built-in 28 Hz infrasonic filter to control cone motion below the

MAGNITUDE OF ELECTRIC Z(F)

WOOFERS FREE AIR IMPEDANCE

IMPEDANCE VS FREQ

On The Bench As expected, the T2S1-16 measures almost identically to Rockford’s published specifications. I also measure the nearfield SPL of the system in the supplied enclosure as a reference. Keep in mind when viewing the graph that there is no transfer function included, and when you put this in a car, you can expect the lowest two octaves to significantly increase.

I also included a system impedance plot, which is useful when driving 1-ohm loads to get a better understanding of the actual load your amplifier sees at any given frequency.

SYSTEM IMPEDANCE (WOOFER IN SUPPLIED ENCLOSURE)

SPL VS FREQ

Conclusion

NEARFIELD SPL-FREQUENCY RESPONSE 1W/1M

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TESLA-STYLE TABLET INSTALL STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY CABE SIPES

T

he Tesla Model S is one of the coolest cars on the planet. Not only is the electric propulsion system revolutionary, so too is the premium dashboard and connectivity experience it provides. Seeing as how the whole trend of the connected car is only going to grow, I thought it would be cool to do the same thing in my Chrysler 300C, but on a smaller scale. My original idea was to mimic the 17-inch tablet information screen that Tesla Motors uses in the Model S and upcoming Model X and Model 3 models as closely

as possible. The Tesla screen is, of course, mounted vertically in the dash, so this is how mine is oriented as well.

STEPS TO CREATION To add the tablet to the dash I used a Metra dash kit, ABS plastic, SONUS body filler and a mount from ProClip. I started by figuring out where I was going to mount the Clarion radio display and decided the sunglasses holder in the ceiling console would be a good place, but only if I could still close it. It took a lot of cutting on the backside

of the holder, but I got it to work and used Velcro and a piece of ABS plastic to hold it in place. The reason for the Velcro was due to the fact that the top of the display needs to move a little as it closes or else it gets jammed. I then ran the data cable across the ceiling and down the A-pillar to the factory radio location, where I mounted the Clarionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main unit behind the dash panel.

I then took the Metra dash kit and cut a piece of ABS plastic to cover the factory vent holes and radio area. Once I had the ABS glued to the kit face, I shaped it with a right

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL TO DO THE SAME THING IN MY CHRYSLER 300C, BUT ON A SMALLER SCALE.

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angle grinder and began blending the edges down to the level of the kit. Once the ABS was shaped, I used body filler from SONUS Car Audio out of Tennessee to begin smoothing the edges and where the ABS meets the kit. I have to address the fact that the SONUS body filler is by far the best filler I have used in years. It lays out with ease and sands smooth with minimal effort. After spraying primer and paint to finish off the the dash piece, I lined up the tablet to the center and marked my holes for the ProClip tablet mount.

Once screwed on, the tablet can easily slide into the mount from the right side and charge while mounted.

CHOOSING YOUR SOURCE If you’re going to use a tablet as your primary car radio, I would advise against it. I have seen people running 3.5-mm audio cables to processors and then splitting the signal to their amplifiers only to find they needed more options than their tablet can provide. Not having a CD player nowadays isn’t a problem, but you will want USB, radio and maybe satellite radio. I know that a standard AM/FM tuner may not be high on your list, but trust me, you’ll look real stupid at the drive-in movie theater without one.

If you’re not using the tablet as the primary source, you will need a head unit with Bluetooth or an auxiliary input that you can port your tablet’s audio through. I chose a Clarion MS2 Marine radio so I could mount the radio’s face in the sunglasses holder in the ceiling while concealing the main unit behind the dash.

CHOOSING YOUR TABLET I can’t speak on Apple tablets (not a fan), so this will cover what I know about Android.

I have rooted (“hacked”) and unlocked many Android devices, but I really didn’t want to

do any of that when choosing a tablet for the car. I knew I wanted at least a 10-inch display and it needed to have Wi-Fi. As I searched all the tablets, I kept running into a huge price gap between name brand and not-so-name-brand tablets. I speak from experience when I say that you will not be happy with a cheap, knock-off tablet. I have thrown more away then I want to remember.

Looking at only name brand tablets, I began to break down the different options for each one and ended up with the Samsung Tab A 9.7-inch tablet. It had just been released about a week prior and had two features that sealed the deal. The first is the Samsung Multi Window option, which allows me to split the screen in two. This allows me to have Google Maps on one side of the screen and a movie or music on the other side. The screens can also be resized, so it’s a pretty cool feature.

The second feature is Samsung’s new audio service MILK, which is a direct competitor to Pandora. The big difference between the two is you can listen to your channels on MILK without any network connection. It works by downloading your channels when you have Wi-Fi, and then placing the app in offline mode when you’re driving. Offline mode allows you to listen to all the channels you previously down- loaded. This is a huge feature because where I live there are constant data dropouts. Using 4G and Pandora would result in buffering for half your trip.

TWO WEEKS TESTING AND… I have been driving around using the tablet and have come to a couple of conclusions. The first is that having a tablet in the dash is awesome. Having access to my calendar and my emails is great since I am on the road half of my day. Using a 128-GB micro SD card, I have more than enough room for movies and music, and having the ability to undock it and take it in the house to update my library is convenient.

CONCLUSION I was never a fan of tablets in the dash and always enjoyed custom-built, full PCs instead. To be honest, I always looked at tablet installs as a cheap way out of doing the full PC route. Now that I have actually done it myself and see the benefits, I’m converted.

If you’re someone who likes to have information at your fingertips, then a tablet may be for you, but please be responsible.

It’s very easy to get distracted while driving.

Also, be sure to mount the tablet at the correct angle so your back window isn’t glaring directly onto the screen or you will be very annoyed when trying to use it. Outside of that, be sure to check the PASMAG blog for more updates from Cabe’s Corner.

DO I NEED A DATA PLAN? I personally got a tablet without 4G capabilities because I can use my phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot. If you’re an organized person, you can get away without a data plan by using the MILK app as discussed before and setting your Google map routes prior to leaving the house. Many people don’t realize Google Maps will work without a network signal if you set the route before you leave network coverage.

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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INSTALL

DO IT YOURSELF DEADENING

G E T T I N G T H E D Y N A M AT X T R E M E T R E AT M E N T

BY MICKY SLINGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT DEMARCO

W

hen building anything, you have to start with a solid base.

No gaps or imperfections; this is what your labor of love will stand proudly on top of. The song remains the same when you’re building any kind of audio system worth its salt. If you’re looking for the best sound with little to no reverberations, you’ll definitely need to get yourself some sound deadening in your ride.

Back in our December/January issue, there was a little, white EP3 Civic belonging to Lauren Hansell and Eric Bungo. Being that they’re not ones to sit still, almost as the issue hit shelves they were tearing back into the Civic to improve their sound game. A key component was Dynamat Xtreme sound deadening. Installed by the capable and Dynamat-experienced hands at Soundwaves of Tampa, everything went according to plan. We asked Soundwaves’ fabricator/installer/ technician, Terry Winchell, to take us through the process.

STEP 1 TEAR IT UP AND CLEAN IT OUT

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If you’re going to be installing deadening of any kind, you’re going to need to strip your car down to drift-spec. We’re talking down to the bare metal and floorboards.

“When you’re applying Dynamat, you need to get to the rawest material possible,” Winchell says. “You need to get right to the metal and you can’t have anything in the way of it. If anything does get in the way, it’ll create a gap and let air in, which will negate the whole purpose of doing the install.”

You heard the man: leaving any kind of gap between the Dynamat and the bare metal will result

in unwanted vibrations and an incomplete seal. Do you want lessthan-stellar acoustics when you go to listen to your system after tearing your whole car apart to install the deadening? We didn’t think so.

Do it right the first time.

And don’t think you can just start slapping on the Dynamat before doing a bit of spring cleaning first. Depending on how old your car is, you could have some pretty ancient dirt and dust accumulating under your panels and carpets – not to mention the stuff that will fall off of your panels and carpets.

“If you just pull a dirty carpet out of the car and all the dirt falls on the floorboards and you attach the Dynamat to that, it’s not going to stick as well, obviously,” Winchell points out.

To give your installation surfaces a good clean, Dynamat recommends thoroughly cleaning the area with a quick-drying, residue-free cleaner to remove any and all dirt, grease, oil, wax, moisture and rust that might get in the way of a perfect seal.

PASMAG TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION

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STEP 2

GEAR UP AND MAKE THE CUT You’re going to need the right tools for this job, trust us. You can’t just go to the kitchen, grab something sharp and then use a paint roller from the garage.

“You absolutely have to have a roller, a utility knife, box cutter and whatever tools you need to disassemble the car,” Winchell advises.

If you happen to already have some kind of razor cutter and a deadening roller, you’re set; if not, Dynamat offers all of the tools needed for application. When cutting up your Dynamat, make sure you’re trimming it exactly to the surface you’re looking to cover. Dynamat actually recommends using a cardboard or paper template to make sure your cut is as accurate as possible. We totally back that recommendation.

If you’re not making your cuts as accurate as possible and wasting Dynamat, you’ll make Winchell angry.

“You’re just wasting the money if you’re not installing it correctly,” says Winchell. “If you’re leaving gaps, not covering the panel correctly and you’re not getting into where you need to, you’re not getting your money’s worth out of the material.”

Don’t make Winchell angry.

STEP 3

APPLICATION AND STABBING Once your desired shape is cut out of the Dynamat, remove the release liner on the back. If you’re working on a large section, remove the liner piece by piece so you don’t accidentally stick the deadening to itself. That would be pretty unfortunate. As soon as you’ve got it stuck on the area, go to town on it with the roller, making sure there are no air bubbles showing.

What if you have air bubbles, though? Stab those suckers.

Grab your cutting tool and make pinpoint holes in the bubble with the point of your razor, then work out the trapped air with the roller.

“Take the time and cut all of your pieces correctly – don’t have a bunch of overlap, otherwise it’ll be even harder to put the car back together when you’re done,” Winchell explains. “If you have a large cavity, don’t just go over the top of that. Try to get material in there or you could even try spray

foam to deaden the thin material that will resonate.”

Prepare yourself accordingly and take your time and you’ll be very happy with the finished product. Just ensure that you’re prepared for the time it will take.

It takes the pros at Soundwaves of Tampa about 9 hours to do a usual Dynamat install. Lauren and Eric’s Civic was a more involved one, taking two days to complete.

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2015 MOBILE ELECTRONICS // 4TH EDITION PASMAG

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WITH ITS 9-INCH TOUCH SCREEN AND COUNTLESS FEATURES, THE X009-WRA IS READY FOR YOUR NEXT BIG ADVENTURE

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The X009-WRA is compatible with front and rear view cameras (sold separately), to help eliminate blind spots around your Wrangler.

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* Jeep and Wrangler are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC. The BluetoothŽ word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such mark by Alpine Electronics, Inc. is under license. Other vehicle makes and models are those of their respective owners. Š 2015 Alpine Electronics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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1. Rated Power: CEA2006 Standard Power Output: 40 Watts RMS × 4 at 4 Ohms < 1% THD+N SN Ratio: 80 dBA (reference: 1 Watt into 4 Ohms).

©2015 Sony Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Sony and the Sony logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation. Bluetooth and the Bluetooth logo are trademarks of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. All other marks are properties of their respective owners. Features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

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