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Product Spotlight: AudioControl A600.4

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AudioControl A600.4

If you have been around the car audio industry for as long as we have, then you have likely used an audio processor in your vehicle. This veteran company is recognized worldwide for its line output converters, equalizers and crossovers. A few decades later, the brand has introduced several series of amplifiers. Their latest offering is the Altitude Series. In this spotlight, we’ll check out the four-channel A600.4 amp.

AudioControl A600.4 Specifications and Features

The A600.4 four-channel amp is rated to produce 100 watts of power per channel when driving four-ohm loads. That output increases to 150 watts per channel when driving two-ohm loads. When each pair of channels is bridged to a four-ohm load, the amp produces 300 watts of power.

With respect to performance, the amp has a THD+N specification of <0.21% and a signal-to-noise ratio of 107 dBA referenced to full power.

Let’s start with a unique feature included in the A600.4 – Valet mode. When a 12-volt signal is applied to the Valet input, the maximum power the amp can produce is reduced to 25% of its maximum output. The malfunction indicator LED will illuminate orange when the amp is in Valet mode. If you are concerned about someone abusing your car audio system, this feature is perfect for keeping your speakers safe.

The A600.4 is also equipped with AudioControl’s Great Turn-On (GTO) circuit. The amp can be activated by applying 12 volts to the remote input. Alternatively, when in GTO mode, the amp will detect the ~6-volt bias on the speaker wires of a factory-installed or aftermarket radio. If your installer is integrating the amp into a vehicle with a full-bridge amplifier, Audio mode will monitor the inputs for the presence of an audio signal to wake the amp up.

Another unique feature of the A600.4 is its use of Linkwitz-Riley alignments on the crossovers. While the slopes are still shallow at 12 dB / Octave, they will sum smoothly around the crossover point because the signal will be -6 dB at the knee frequency. Butterworth crossovers are only at -3 dB at the crossover point, which results in a 3 dB bump when the acoustic signals sum. In short, your system will sound better and have improved clarity around the crossover frequency with this design.

The amplifier is based on an aluminum extrusion and features uniquely styled end-caps for a clean appearance. A removable panel on top of the amp conceals all the signal adjustments and the set screws for the power and speaker connections.

All connections are made along the front edge of the amp using high-quality terminal blocks for 4-AWG power and ground, and 12-AWG speaker wire connections.

AudioControl A600.4
All connections are made along the front edge of the amp for a tidy installation.

Signal Processing Information

Each pair of channels has a sensitivity control that is adjustable from 0.5 to 6 volts on the RCA inputs and 1.5 to 20 volts on the speaker-level inputs. The speaker inputs are on an eight-pin Molex plug, and AudioControl calls this the LC Direct connection. The amp has a two or four-channel input switch. In two-channel mode, the signal on channel 1 (LC Direct or RCA) is copied to channel 3, and the signal on channel 2 is copied to channel 4. This is ideal if you are connecting that amp to something like a Bluetooth streaming device as a signal source. Each pair of channels has a Max input indicator. This LED will illuminate when the input is maximized and should flash occasionally when playing music recorded at high volume levels.

AudioControl A600.4
The A600.4 has clean lines and a modern aesthetic. It’s also small enough to fit under the seat of most vehicles.

The crossover on each pair of channels is adjustable between 50 and 500 Hz, or when the x10 switch is enabled, 500 to 5 kHz. This is enough range to handle subwoofer to midrange speakers, or midrange to tweeters. The crossovers on both channel pairs can operate in high- or low-pass mode to ensure maximum system design flexibility.

The amp has an RCA output terminal that can be used to feed an audio signal to an additional amplifier like the A800.1 800-watt monoblock to power a subwoofer.

Finally, there is a connection for an optional ACR-1 remote level control. When connected, you can adjust the output level of channels 3 and 4 to suit your mood or the music you’ve chosen.

AudioControl A600.4
Controls and set screws for the terminals are concealed behind a removable panel on top of the amplifier.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with AudioControl

If you are shopping for a well-equipped four-channel amplifier to enhance your car audio system, drop by a local authorized AudioControl retailer and ask about the new Altitude Series A600.4. You can find a dealer near you using the locator tool on the AudioControl website.

Be sure to follow AudioControl on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to stay up to speed with all their new products and solutions.

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

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate HD24BL69

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Rockford Fosgate HD24BL69

The latest generation of Road Glide and Street Glide touring bikes from Harley-Davidson are now ready for a high-performance audio system upgrade thanks to Rockford Fosgate. We took a look at the Stage 2 and Stage 3 kits recently. Now it’s time for a deep dive into the HD24BL69 saddlebag speaker kits. Let’s check them out!

Features of the Rockford Fosgate HD24BL69

The Rockford Fosgate HD24BL69 is a cut-in speaker kit designed for 2024 and newer Road Glide and Street Glide bikes with the Skyline infotainment system and Harley-Davidson’s ABS saddlebags. You can check fitment for your bike using the compatibility chart on the product page.

The kit includes a pair of the new TMS24-69 6×9-inch Element Ready speakers, a set of bag-lid grilles, the speaker bucket system, the lid cutting templates and a plug-and-play wire harness. The kits are compatible with the Power Lock Kit, so you can keep your gear safe.

Rockford Fosgate HD24BL69
The HD24BL69 saddlebag lid speaker kit not only sounds great, but looks right at home on your Harley-Davidson.

How the HD24BL69 Kit Works

Here’s how the Rockford Fosgate HD24BL69 kit works. Your installer will remove the lids from the factory saddlebags, then protect them with masking tape. Next, the cutting templates included with the kit are put in place, and holes are drilled to serve as a pilot for a saw. Lastly, the bag-lids are cut to make room for the speaker upgrade.

Once the lids are cut, the grille and basket assemblies are put in place. The new baskets mount from the top, providing room for a large speaker. They fasten to a self-centering backer ring for a watertight seal, and integrated O-rings help improve water resistance. Finally, with the speaker and wiring installed, a set of grilles shaped to match the bag geometry fit in place, and the Rockford Fosgate badge on the outside shows you are serious about your music.

Rockford Fosgate HD24BL69
The new kit cutting templates include reinforcing ribs to make the installation process easier.

Exploring the new TMS24-69 Speakers

While every component in the kit is vital to performance, the heart of the upgrade is the new TMS24-69 speakers. These new speakers take everything you love about Rockford Fosgate motorcycle audio and take things up a notch or two. First and foremost, the speakers are Element Ready. This means they can handle exposure to rain and prolonged UV without fear of damage. Each component in the speaker, from the high-performance coaxial tweeter and curvilinear polypropylene woofer cone to the motor components and basket, won’t fail even after thousands of hours of shocks and vibration.

The new speakers are based around a glass-fiber reinforced PA66 Nylon basket. This rigid and thermally stable design ensures motor geometry remains accurate. The carbon-impregnated woofer cone is attached to the basket using a Santoprene rubber surround that resists rot and UV degradation. The carbon doping in the cone enhances thermal stability and damping, resulting in tight bass and clear midrange performance. The new speakers have more excursion capability than their predecessors, with an Xmax specification of 4.5 millimeters in each direction.

Speaking of output, Rockford Fosgate implemented its Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) geometry on the woofer surround. VAST dramatically increases the driver’s cone area, which translates to more bass and improved efficiency.

Rockford Fosgate HD24BL69
The new TMS24-69 speakers sound better and play louder than their predecessors.

Dual neodymium motor magnets ensure excellent speaker efficiency without adding a lot of weight to your bike. An integrated motor cover inside the saddlebag ensures your belongings won’t be exposed to high temperatures after a long ride with the volume cranked. Speaking of high power, the 1.5-inch Kapton voice coil is larger than previous speakers to increase power handling 50% over the 1st generation TMS69 speakers. Likewise, the tinsel leads to the coil are braided and stitched to the surround for reliable operation.

Finally, the TMS24-69 speakers feature a concealed passive crossover network that Rockford Fosgate calls their Integrated Concealed Crossover (ICC). This design eliminates the need to mount oversized external components, simplifying the installation process while ensuring maximum performance. The 4 kHz crossovers feature a second-order 12 dB/octave slope to ensure smooth performance across the entire listening range.

Power handling on the TMS24-69 is rated at 150 watts continuous, with a maximum power rating of 300 watts. The speakers are 91.4 dB efficient when measured at a distance of 1 meter and fed with 1 watt of power. That’s impressive for a speaker that still delivers bass down to 50 Hz. As with all Rockford Fosgate transducers, the specifications they provide are compliant with the ANSI/CTA-2031 standards, so you know you can trust them.

Rockford Fosgate HD24BL69
The HD24BL69 kit allows your installer to add rear saddlebag lid speakers to your 2024+ Road Glide or Street Glide.

Upgrade Your Harley-Davidson with Rockford Fosgate Today!

If you are looking to hear every word and note of your favorite music on your next ride, consider visiting a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer to learn more about the new HD24BL69 saddlebag speaker cut-in kit for 2024 and newer Harley-Davidson touring bikes. You can find an authorized retailer using the locator tool on their website.

Be sure to follow the team from Rockford Fosgate on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to stay up-to-speed on all the amazing new products they will be releasing over the next year or so.

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

Product Spotlight: Morel Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62

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Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62

One crucial factor when purchasing speakers for your car or truck is choosing a model that fits the available space. While it’s most evident that the diameter or outside dimensions need to suit the available space, the speaker depth is also crucial to creating the installation. When the available mounting depth makes it seem like a high-end upgrade is impossible, Morel has an answer – the Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62. Let’s check them out!

Morel Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62 Features

The key feature of these speakers is their diminutive mounting depth. Before we look at that, let’s explain what you get. The Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62 is a set of 6.5-inch Integra 6 coaxial speakers that includes high-quality grilles and MXR 200.3 premium passive crossovers.

The key element is the woofer cone, with its unique woven carbon sandwich construction. Morel has implemented what it calls Grand Dome Geometry. The convex shape is a crucial part of the design, balancing impressive performance with a remarkably shallow mounting depth. The solution balances rigidity, mass, and damping to deliver exceptional performance.

Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62
A key element in developing a shallow speaker is the Grand Dome Geometry of the carbon fiber woofer cone.

Specifications and Application Information

Morel rates the speakers as being able to handle 100 watts of power continuously, with peak power handling at 300 watts. The speakers have an efficiency rating of 87 dB SPL when measured with 2.83 volts at a distance of 1 meter from the microphone. Frequency response is specified at 50 Hz to 25 kHz.

With respect to electromechanical requirements, the Integra 62 woofer has an Fs of 73 Hertz, a Qts of 0.73 and a VAS value of 0.26 cubic feet. The effective cone area of the woofer is 17.98 square inches, and the maximum linear excursion is 0.12 (3 mm) inches in each direction. They are designed to work in infinite baffle applications like a car door, kick panel or rear parcel shelf. Should your application call for an enclosure, you’ll want about 0.6 cubic feet to keep the total system Q under 0.8. An ideal enclosure would be about 1.0 cubic foot per driver, resulting in an F3 frequency of 77.3 hertz and a Qtc of 0.765.

Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62
Whether in an infinite baffle application or in an appropriately sized cabinet, the Integra 6 woofer provides a smooth frequency response.

Shallow Mounting Requirements

As you can see from the photos, the mounting requirements of the Integra 6 woofer are incredibly small. From the mounting surface, the woofer needs only 0.7 inches or 17 millimeters of depth. That’s right, the cone, voice coil, basket and motor will all fit within the confines of a piece of 3/4-inch thick MDF. Now, they do need airspace behind them to function correctly, but from a physical requirement, they are about as thin as a high-quality speaker can get.

What’s really cool is that Morel has patented the geometry of the speaker with respect to using a single neodymium magnet to power the woofer and the tweeter. The result is the thinnest car audio speaker on the market, and one that happens to sound excellent.

Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62
Morel’s Virtus Nano Carbon Integra is the shallowest high-end 6.5-inch speaker in the industry.

The Integra Tweeter Design

You’ve likely noticed the integrated tweeter design that Morel calls Integra. In essence, this is a point source tweeter implementation that helps provide a smooth and predictable output both directly in front of the speaker, as well as off to the side.

The tweeter diaphragm itself is made from silk and features an Accuflex coating to help prevent resonances at extremely high frequencies. The tweeter has a relatively massive 1.125-inch (28 mm) voice coil and a resonant frequency of 1,000 Hz. This allows the system to be filtered at an impressively low 2.2 kHz with second-order slopes. Why is this impressive? Most 6.5-inch midrange speakers become quite directional above 2.5 kHz. So, when combined with the Integra tweeter design, these speakers will sound amazing from almost any listening position. When you have a speaker mounted low in the driver door or kick panel, these design criteria make a considerable difference in performance compared to most offerings on the market.

Premium Performance

The Integra 62 speakers aren’t just shallow; they are a high-end speaker in their own right. Morel uses a 2.16-inch aluminum voice coil former on the woofer with their Hexatech aluminum winding. The compact winding results in a nice low inductance value of 0.17 millihenries. This low inductance helps improve midrange performance. You can see the smooth output to 2.5 kHz in the frequency response graph above. The nominal impedance of the woofer is three ohms, so it will work with the amplifier built into a radio, while also maximizing the performance of external amplifiers.

Premium Passive Crossover

As mentioned, the Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62 set includes premium passive crossover networks. The MXR 200.3 networks feature high-quality components like polyester capacitors and air-wound inductors. The tweeter output level can be adjusted in two steps from +2dB, 0dB or -2dB to compensate for personal listening preferences.

Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62
The MXR 200.3 passive crossover network features premium components and includes tweeter output level adjustment.

An Upgrade That Fits Almost Anywhere

If you’re looking for high-end car audio speakers that fit almost anywhere, consider visiting an authorized Morel retailer in your area to audition the Virtus Nano Carbon Integra 62 set. Morel also offers a two-way component set with a similar woofer design and a three-way set with an equally shallow 2-inch midrange driver.

You can find an authorized Morel retailer near you using the Locator on their website. Be sure to check out Morel on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to stay up to date with their impressive offerings.

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

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG2 and HD24-STG3

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Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG2

If there were a car audio brand synonymous with motorcycle audio upgrades for Harley-Davidson Road Glide and Street Glide motorcycles, it would be Rockford Fosgate. Their upgrade kits are the benchmark for improving the audio on these touring bikes. With the introduction of new fairing and saddlebags on 2024 and later bikes, Rockford Fosgate has introduced new audio upgrade kits featuring a unique amplifier solution. Let’s check out the HD24-STG2 and HD24-STG3 audio kits for the 2024 and up bikes.

Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG2 Features

The HD24-STG2 is a high-performance two-speaker amplified audio upgrade designed for 2024 and newer Road Glide and Street Glide models. You can find exact fitment details on the product page (https://rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/hd24-stg2/). The kit includes a set of the new TMS24-65 6.5-inch Element Ready speakers, complete with grilles, and a 1,000-watt amplifier.

Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG2
The Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG2 audio upgrade kit for 2024 and up Road Glide and Street Glide bikes includes a high-power amp and new fairing speakers.

The TMS24-65 speakers are the next evolution of Rockford Fosgate’s motorcycle speakers. They feature a carbon-filled curvilinear polypropylene woofer cone and a Santoprene rubber surround. The speaker utilizes the Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) design to maximize cone area, thereby increasing efficiency and bass output. The 1.5-inch Kapton voice coil is larger than that of previous models, providing improved power handling. The tweeter remains mounted in the center of the cone, delivering perfectly aligned output at all angles. The frequency response has been improved over the 1st generation by providing extended low-end response and reduced distortion for a richer, more balanced listening experience.

Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG2
The TMS24-65 speakers are impressively efficient, allowing your audio system to play loudly without straining the bike’s electrical system.

The new amplifier is a masterpiece. First, it connects directly to the A2B digital audio bus output of the Skyline OS factory radio, eliminating the need for expensive interfaces. The TMA-1000X4i amp is rated to produce up to 200 watts of power per channel into four 4-ohm or 2-ohm loads. It can be bridged to deliver 400 watts into a pair of four-ohm loads. The amplifier’s dynamic power output is 1,200 watts.

The amplifier includes an integrated digital signal processor. Your installer can configure the amp for the type of stage installed using the RF Connect app. These are DSP presets done by Rockford Fosgate with the EQ, Gain, and Crossover settings pre-configured to take the hassle out of tuning the amplifier manually.

Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG2
The TMA-1000X4i amplifier is capable of producing 200 watts of power per channel – four times the power provided by the factory amp.

The HD24-STG2 kit includes an RFK-HD24 amplifier installation kit, complete with a bracket and all necessary wiring, for your motorcycle. Best of all, everything is designed to connect directly to the factory audio system wiring, eliminating the need for cutting or splicing. This means your warranty remains intact.

Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG3 Upgrade

If you are looking for even more sound from your Harley-Davidson, then the Stage 3 kit is the way to go. The Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG3 builds upon the features of the Stage 2 kit by incorporating the HD24BL69 bag lid speaker kit. This kit includes a set of the new TMS24-69 6×9-inch Element Ready speakers, upgraded cut-in speaker grilles, and all the wiring necessary to connect to the TMA-1000X4i amplifier. It’s important to note, this system is designed for “blank” saddlebags, so if you already have color matched speaker lids, the HD24-STG2 + TMS24-69 speakers is a better choice.

Rockford Fosgate HD24-STG2
The HD24BL69 saddlebag speaker kit for 2024+ Road Glide and Street Glide adds impressive performance to the Stage 2 audio upgrade kit.

The new 2024 and later saddlebag speaker kit plays louder while occupying less cargo space. It even works with the Power Lock Kit. Being Element Ready means everything can withstand water, dust, prolonged UV exposure, and harsh vibrations —such as those experienced by Road Glide and Street Glide bikes.

Upgrade Your New Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Today!

If you have a 2024 or newer Street Glide or Road Glide, it’s time to visit a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the HD24-STG2 and HD24-STG3 audio system upgrade kits. They are designed to deliver a massive sound upgrade without any headaches. You can find a retailer near you using the Dealer Locator on the Rockford Fosgate website.

Be sure to follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to stay up to date with new product releases and coverage of the events their team attends.

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

Product Spotlight: Hertz CP4.800

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Hertz CP4.800

When choosing an amplifier for your car audio system, consider quality, features, physical size and power production to ensure a worthwhile investment. The mobile audio amplification experts at Hertz have recently released a new product line called Cento Power that specifically addresses these factors. In this spotlight, we’ll look at the four-channel CP4.800 amplifier.

Hertz CP4.800 Specifications

The Hertz CP4.800 is, as mentioned, a four-channel amplifier. The amp is rated to produce 110 watts of power when driving four 4-ohm speakers. That output increases to 190 watts per channel when driving four 2-ohm speakers. Hertz is generous with their configuration specifications. If one pair of channels is driving a set of four-ohm speakers and the other is bridged to a subwoofer, the mono channel can produce as much as 400 watts of power. If both pairs of channels are bridged to four-ohm speakers, the output is 380 watts each. All specifications are provided at 1% THD.

In terms of performance specifications, Hertz rates the amp as having a signal-to-noise ratio of 101 dBA when driven with 1 volt of input. Concerning harmonic distortion, the amp is rated at 0.02% when producing 100 hertz at 70% of rated power. While both numbers are quite good, keep in mind that the specifications aren’t compliant with ANSI/CTA-2006-D industry standards.

A key highlight of the Cento Power CP4.800 is that it qualifies as a true High-Resolution product with frequency response rated as 10 Hz to 48 kHz. If you are playing FLAC or WAV files through a high-resolution source unit, the extra bandwidth is a blessing.

Hertz CP4.800
The CP4.800 is impressively compact for its power output capabilities.

Amplifier Layout and Connections

The CP4.800 is based around a compact cast aluminum heatsink that’s 8.07 inches long, 6.1 inches wide and stands 1.89 inches tall. All the connections are made along the front edge of the amp, and the controls are concealed beneath a removable panel on the top of the chassis.

The amp has a two-position terminal block on the left end that will accept 4-AWG power and ground cables. Beside that is a 40-amp ATC fuse to protect the amp against reverse polarity power connections. From there, we have six Molex connectors. The first plug on the bottom has four RCA jacks on pigtails for the main low-level inputs. Two additional RCA output jacks can be used to feed another amp. The next two plugs have four positions and are the speaker-level inputs to the amp. The RCA inputs can accept an input range of 320 millivolts to 8 volts. The speaker-level inputs will take 1.6 to 40 volts RMS.

Above the RCA inputs is a two-position jack for the remote turn-on input and output. Besides that, there is another two-position jack for the remote volume control. The optional HRC-02 control allows you to adjust the output of the rear channels to fine-tune the system when the low-pass filter is active.

The last plug is a larger-gauge eight-position jack for the speaker output wires.

Hertz CP4.800
All signal and speaker connections are made via Molex-style connectors to keep the installation clean and tidy.
Hertz CP4.800
Power and ground connections are handled by a large terminal block.

Signal Processing and Adjustments

As mentioned, all the adjustments and controls are located on the top of the amp under a removable cover. Starting on the top left, there is a switch for the Automatic Remote Turn-on (ART) feature. When enabled, the amp should turn on when the factory source unit connected to the speaker-level inputs is activated. Below that is a button to select the source for the rear channels. They can be fed from the front inputs in a two-channel system or the rear inputs for complete system control from the source unit.

Each pair of channels has a level/gain control, a crossover function switch and a crossover frequency adjustment control. The crossover function switch selects between high-, low-pass, or full-range operation. The crossovers have second-order 12 dB/octave filtering that’s adjustable between 50 Hz and 4 kHz.

The rear channels include a bass boost control that can add up to 9 dB around 50 Hz. Finally, each pair of channels has a mono input selector. With both enabled, the amp could be used as a two-channel unit where the Left RCA feeds both front channels and the Left RCA on the rear input feeds both rear channels. The mono button is also helpful if your radio has only a single subwoofer output jack.

Hertz CP4.800
The CP4.800 looks tidy with the panel covering the top-mounting controls and adjustments.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with the Hertz CP4.800

If you are looking for a compact, high-power amplifier with good system application flexibility, drop by a local authorized Hertz car audio retailer and ask about the new Cento Power Series CP4.800. You can find an authorized retailer near you using the locator tool on their website.

Be sure to follow Hertz on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for information on all their latest product releases and events the team attends.

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