Devine Concepts

Mobile Electronics Expert in Naples, Florida

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Product Spotlight: RDV Automotive Technology CarPlay and Android Auto Upgrades

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CarPlay Android Auto

No technologies have made a more significant impact on drivers’ productivity and safety while behind the wheel than Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unfortunately, not all cars, trucks or SUVs come with these smartphone integration solutions. RDV Automotive Technology offers solutions to add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to many Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and other vehicles without the need to replace the radio.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Upgrades

RDV Automotive Technology smartphone integration modules display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto information from your smartphone on the factory-installed display in your vehicle’s dash. If you want to use Waze, Google Maps or Apple Maps for navigation, you’ll see route information on the screen and hear detailed directions through the speakers in the vehicle. You can use voice commands to choose entertainment options like Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio or Tidal or ask the system to play music stored on your smartphone. Of course, you can make phone calls or listen to incoming text messages and dictate a response, all while keeping your eyes on the road.

Additional Features

RDV Automotive Technology smartphone integration upgrades feature wireless connectivity for both Apple- and Android-based smartphones. Right after you start the vehicle, your phone will connect using Wi-Fi. You can leave your phone in your pocket or purse and still use the connectivity features you want.

The interfaces include Mirror Cast and AirPlay. If you want to watch YouTube on the car display while waiting to pick someone up, that’s easy.

CarPlay Android Auto
You can watch YouTube while waiting to pick someone up, thanks to Mirror Cast and AirPlay integration.

These modules also add parking camera integration. If your vehicle didn’t come with a backup camera, your installer could add one during the installation. As soon as you put the transmission in reverse, the image from the camera will display on your dash so you can park safely and efficiently. These systems will overlay dynamic parking lines on the camera image, so you’ll know where you’re headed as you back up.

The interfaces also have a secondary camera input that could be used with an optional forward-facing camera on a sports car or SUV. You can manually activate this second camera input to see a parking curb or garage wall to make maneuvering much safer.

CarPlay Android Auto
Most RDV Automotive Technology interfaces include a backup camera input so you can see what’s behind your vehicle while parking or maneuvering.

Vehicle-Specific Solutions Simplify Installation

All RDV Automotive Technology solutions are designed with connectors and harnesses specific to each vehicle platform. Your installer doesn’t have to cut or splice anything to add these smartphone features to your vehicle. A few radio platforms, like the Porsche PCM3.1 infotainment system, must be disassembled to complete the integration process. Fear not; everything can be reverted to its original condition if you decide to sell the vehicle.

Also, in most applications, the interface will work with the factory touchscreen and microphone for a factory-installed experience. Those that differ are outlined on the RDV Automotive Technology website.

Most importantly, these solutions are backed by a three-year warranty, so you can be confident that you are purchasing a high-quality product.

CarPlay Android Auto
The RDV Automotive Technology smartphone interface comes with everything your installer needs to upgrade your vehicle.

Upgrade your Car or SUV with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

If you have a Porsche, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz or Lexus that didn’t include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from the factory, contact the team at RDV Automotive Technology to find out if there is a solution for your vehicle. You can also search for solutions by vehicle year, make and model on their website. Be sure to follow them on YouTube to learn about the other unique smartphone and multimedia integration products and solutions they offer.

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 T1650 and T1693 Power Series Speakers

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Power Series Speaker

You’ll find thousands of options when choosing upgraded speakers for your car audio system. Rockford Fosgate’s Power Series fits the bill perfectly for those looking for a solution that delivers great sound quality with impressive efficiency and output capability. In this spotlight, we’ll look at the T1650 and the T1693 speakers – two of the most popular sizes in the series.

Rockford Fosgate Power Series Features

The T1650 is a two-way 6.5-inch class speaker optimized for installation in North American, European and Asian vehicles, thanks to its FlexFit 2 basket design. The T1693 is a three-way 6×9 speaker that works in almost any application with at least 3.43 inches of mounting depth.

Both drivers are based on a sturdy stamp-cast aluminum frame. The woofer cones are made of carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene to deliver excellent rigidity and thermal stability balance. The outer edge of the woofer cone is attached to the basket using a Santoprene rubber surround. The T1650 features Rockford Fosgate’s Vertical Attach Surround Technique design that optimizes the effective cone area of the woofer to increase bass output and efficiency.

At the base of the woofer cones are aluminum voice coil formers that help to draw heat away from the winding. The T1650 has a 1.1-inch voice coil former, and the T1693 features a 1.2-inch diameter former design for added power handling. Vents in the basket under the spider mounting ledge allow hot air to escape from the voice coil. These vents also improve linearity at high excursion levels. Finally, fatigue- and tear-resistant poly-cotton spiders return the woofer cones to rest once the audio signal stops.

The tweeters in the speakers feature a treated aluminum dome design for excellent power handling and high-frequency extension. The tweeter on the T1650 is mounted on a bridge that suspends it above the woofer. This design eliminates the need for a pole piece through the center of the woofer and further increases the radiating area of the woofer. Both drivers feature Rockford Fosgate’s Integrated Concealed Crossover design that hides the filter network within the basket to protect the components and simplify the installation process.

Both systems include a pair of speakers, a set of steel mesh protective grilles and mounting hardware.

Power Series Speaker
The bridge-mounted tweeter on the T1650 increases the effective woofer cone area for more bass.
Power Series Speaker
The three-way design of the T1693 delivers impressive clarity and detail to ensure that your music is loud and clear.

Rockford Fosgate T1650 Specifications

The T1650 has a continuous power handling rating of 75 watts and can handle up to 150 watts of peak power. The driver has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, and its efficiency is specified as 88 dB when powered with 1 watt and measured at 1 meter. A moderately high Qts specification of 0.73 will give the driver a little extra warmth in the lower midrange, making it a perfect solution as a stand-alone option or for use in an audio system with a subwoofer.

Power Series Speaker

Rockford Fosgate T1693 Specifications

The T1693 is a three-way 6×9 speaker with a 1-inch aluminum-dome tweeter and a ½-inch super tweeter. The driver has a nominal 4-ohm impedance and a rated efficiency of 91 dB at 1 watt/1 meter. Power handling is specified as 100 watts continuous and 200 watts peak. The Qts value of 0.6 still delivers a slightly warm sound but emphasizes the focus on excellent dynamics in the lower midrange.

Power Series Speaker
Rockford Fosgate T1693 Dimensions

All the dimensional and performance specifications provided for these speakers are compliant with the ANSI/CTA-2031-A standard for the Testing and Measurement of In-Vehicle Loudspeaker Systems. This means you can trust the provided information to be accurate and truthful. It’s also worth noting that Rockford Fosgate uses Klippel speaker analysis equipment to optimize the design of their loudspeakers and subwoofers to ensure that they operate linearly and deliver excellent sound quality.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Rockford Fosgate Power Series Speakers

While we’ve highlighted the T1650 and the T1693 in this spotlight, the Power Series includes 4-, 5.25- and 6.75-inch options, along with 4×6, 5×7, 6×8 and two-way 6×9-inch speaker systems for a solution for almost any application. Drop by your local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer to find out what size is perfect for the upgrade in your car, truck or SUV. You can find a local dealer by using the locator on their website. Be sure to follow the Rockford Fosgate team on Facebook and Instagram to learn about their latest product releases. Also, check out the fantastic videos they post on YouTube.

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

Product Spotlight: Compustar Q9 with LTE Remote Starter

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Compustar Q9

Two-way remote car starters and security systems help to ensure that you always know what’s happening with your car or truck. Remote controls that include an LCD screen make it quick and easy to know whether the doors are locked or the engine is running. Compustar’s Q9 remote kit consists of a two-way LCD remote and their DroneMobile X1-LTE telematics interface to provide a complete control-from-anywhere remote starter or security solution for your vehicle.

What Is the Compustar Q9 with LTE Kit?

The Q9 remote and DroneMobile kit is known formally as the RFX-2WQ9-FM. It includes a two-way LCD remote and the DroneMobile X1-LTE interface. The remote features five control buttons to make locking, unlocking, remote start and trunk release functions instantly and intuitively accessible. The centrally located Engine Start/Stop button on the Q9 mimics the lock, unlock and remote start functions of a Compustar one-button remote. You can also access two auxiliary outputs to control power sliding doors on a minivan or hatch release on an SUV. The LCD screen has dedicated icons that display the door lock status and indicate whether the doors are open or the engine is running. If you opt for a temperature sensor when the Q9 is installed, you can also check the temperature in the vehicle.

Compustar sells its remote packages separate from its control modules, so the retailer you’re working with can pair the Q9 kit with a remote starter, security system or a hybrid unit that offers all the features you want. The Q9 remote is bundled in the CSX2WQ900-A security system with DroneMobile and the CS2WQ900-AS remote starter and security system.

 

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The RF transceiver in the Q9 remote provides up to 3,000 feet of range to let you control your vehicle from inside a small apartment or a medium-sized office building. This is enough communication range to let you keep tabs on your vehicle and remote start it without going outside. Factory-installed keyless entry systems don’t provide this much range.

Compustar Q9
The Compustar Q9 remote features a color display that lets you know the status of your vehicle.

Security System Alerts

The Q9 remote will notify you if a Compustar alarm system has been triggered. The remote will beep and buzz when this happens. If someone has bumped into your car or is trying to cut the catalytic converter off your truck or SUV, these alerts will let you know it’s time to call the authorities.

 

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Control from Anywhere with DroneMobile

The Q9 remote kit includes the DroneMobile X1-LTE telematics system. DroneMobile consists of a communication interface that connects to your vehicle’s Compustar remote starter or security controller. The interface uses cell phone communication towers to relay commands from your smartphone to the vehicle and back. If you want to remote start your car or truck, launch the app on your phone and press the start button for a few seconds. The starting message from the app will travel through the internet and the cellular provider to the vehicle in a few seconds. Best of all, once the vehicle is running, you’ll get confirmation on your phone. There are no range limitations with Drone. You can be at home, at work or on vacation in Mexico – as long as you have internet access, you have control. If you have the FT-DAS-II sensor in your vehicle, the DroneMobile system also relays security alerts to your smartphone.

With a DroneMobile Premium service plan, you can also use the X1-LTE’s built-in GPS receiver to pinpoint the location of your car or truck. You can set location-based geofence or time-based alerts to keep tabs on your vehicle.

Compustar Q9
The Q9 remote kit includes the DroneMobile smartphone control system that provides vehicle control from almost anywhere.

Add Convenience and Security with the Compustar Q9 Remote

If you’re shopping for a remote car starter or car alarm with a high-performance two-way remote that includes an LCD screen and the state-of-the-art DroneMobile telematics solution, drop by your local Compustar retailer and ask about the Q9 remote kit. You can find a retailer near you using their Dealer Locator. Be sure to follow Compustar on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to stay up to date with their latest product releases.

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 P1/P2/P3-2X12 Loaded Subwoofer Enclosures

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Rockford Fosgate Enclosures

Few upgrades make a more noticeable change or add more fun to your car audio system than adding a subwoofer system. The car audio fanatics at Rockford Fosgate have made it easy to choose a performance level with their P1, P2 and P3 dual 12-inch 2X12 Loaded Punch Series subwoofer enclosures. Let’s dig into what makes these bass upgrades deliver some of the best bang for the buck on the market.

Custom Enclosure Designed for Car Audio Systems

If you look back at our Test Drive Review of the P500-12P, you might remember that the folks at Rockford Fosgate have a unique approach to car audio subwoofer enclosure design. While most companies perform simulations exclusively in software, the product development team at Rockford Fosgate designs their enclosures to work with the acoustics of the vehicle. This results in physically smaller enclosure designs that offer impressive efficiency and extension without taking up vast amounts of space.

The footprint of the 2X12 series enclosures measures 33.875 by 15.75 inches. To optimize space, the angled rear panel fits up snugly against the rear seats in a coupe, hatchback or SUV. The enclosures are 15.125 inches tall, so they won’t block the view out of the back of your vehicle.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
Robust MDF construction with reinforced corner joints ensures reliable performance.

The cabinets are constructed from 5/8-inch MDF with inset side panels. They are finished in a durable high-density black carpet. The front panel features a large-surface-area vent optimized to prevent noise at high volume levels. A custom-tooled trim panel over the vent looks cool and keeps loose objects from entering the enclosure. A set of chromed spring-loaded binding posts on the left side end panel will accept 10-AWG wiring and make it easy to connect the subwoofer system to your amplifier.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
A terminal cup on the left-side end panel makes it easy for your installer to connect the enclosure to your amplifier.

Given that the Thiele/Small parameters of the P1, P2 and P3 Punch Series subwoofers are similar, the enclosure options offer similar overall tonal balance but with ever-increasing output capabilities.

Pick Your Poison: Mild to Wild Bass

Rockford Fosgate offers their 2X12-Series enclosures with your choice of Punch Series P1, P2 or P3 drivers. The P1-2X12 includes a pair of P1S4-12 subwoofers, each rated to handle 250 watts of power continuously and 500 watts maximum. Each driver has an Xmax spec of 9 mm, which is good for an affordable subwoofer solution. The system has a net load impedance of 2 ohms and weighs 70.9 pounds. Rockford Fosgate recommends the P300X1 as a great power solution for this enclosure.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
The P1-2X12 enclosure features a pair of 250-watt P1S4-12 12-inch subwoofers.

If you want more output, step up to the P2-2X12, with its pair of P2D4-12 subwoofers. These subs can handle 300 watts continuously or 600 watts each. The P2 subwoofers have a one-way Xmax spec of 13.3 mm, so this will play louder if you feed it more power. The pair of dual-voice-coil drivers is wired to a net 1-ohm load. The P2-2X12 enclosure weighs in at 77.35 pounds. The P500X1 is suggested as a perfect match for this enclosure. The Punch P2 subwoofers use Rockford Fosgate Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) to optimize cone area. The P2 and P3 12-inch subs have 4% more effective cone area than the P1 drivers.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
The P2-2X12 enclosure features a pair of 300-watt P2D4-12 12-inch subwoofers.

Rockford Fosgate offers the P3-2X12, which includes a pair of P3D4-12 12-inch subs for the most jam from this enclosure design. These drivers are rated to handle 600 watts continuously or 1,200 watts maximum power per driver. They have an Xmax specification of 15.9 millimeters and are wired to present a 1-ohm load. Paired with an amplifier like the P1000X1bd, this enclosure will shake your behind and rattle your fillings. The P3-2X13 weighs a hefty 89.65 pounds, so you’ll want to get some help if you have to remove it from your vehicle.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
The P3-2X12 enclosure features a pair of 600-watt P3D4-12 12-inch subwoofers.

You can pair these enclosures with Prime series amplifiers if you’re on a budget or Power series amplifiers if you want improved clarity and detail. Your local Rockford Fosgate retailer can help you create a package that will deliver the performance you want. Use the dealer locator on their website to find a shop near you. Of course, follow the Rockford Fosgate team on Facebook and Instagram to learn about their latest product releases. Also, check out the videos they post on YouTube; they are truly impressive!

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.

Car Audio Installation – The Good, Better, Best Approach

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Car Audio InstallationInstalling mobile electronics in a vehicle is a balance of technical skill and creativity. From the seemingly simple task of connecting wires to the creation of a custom amp rack or subwoofer enclosure, each task requires the car audio installation technician to call upon many different skills. When it comes to installing audio gear in your car, many retailers offer packaged solutions at different performance levels for their clients – this is often called the Good, Better, Best approach. In this article, we look at a few examples where this approach is commonly applied and examine the benefits for each.

Door Speaker Installation

Car Audio Installation
A composite mounting ring and some sound damping put this install in the “Better” category.

It sounds simple, doesn’t it? Take off the factory door panel, unscrew a speaker, connect the new one, then screw it in place. Finish up by putting the door panel back on. For the average mobile electronics retailer, this would just barely qualify for a “Good” installation. With the speakers connected and installed, the installer typically will have a listen to the system before putting it all together to confirm all the wiring is correct. If you require a speaker adapter, the shop may offer to supply one made from painted wood or crafted from HDPE or ABS plastic. Always take the plastic adapter. Wood will swell up when it gets wet.

For those looking for a “Better” installation, several companies offer speaker mounting baffle rings. These are foam rings that surround the speaker and seal the mounting surface to the back side of the door trim panel. This ring can help with the transfer of sound energy into the vehicle and is likely to reduce the chances of buzzes and rattles. Your installer may also place a sheet of damping material behind the speaker – 12×12-inch pieces are common. This material helps to damp the metal to which the speaker is mounted and ensure there is no gap between the speaker and the mounting surface.

Car Audio Installation
This door speaker installation by our friends at Handcrafted Car Audio is a perfect example of a “Best” level job.

In a “Best” quality installation, the installer will cover the entire surface of the door in a high-quality damping material. Sealing up the access holes in a door panel can dramatically improve the low-frequency response and overall efficiency of the speakers you are having installed. In fact, money spent on proper damping offers a bigger gain in performance than an equivalent upgrade in the quality of speakers.

Several companies offer composite damping solutions that combine damping with a layer of closed-cell foam. This type of damping material offers a further reduction in buzzes and rattles, and improvement in sound absorption.

You may opt to have damping material installed on the outside door skin while the trim panel is off. Damping the outer door skin will further reduce the transfer of outside noise into your vehicle, making your audio system easier to enjoy. If you are using a moderate- to high-power amplifier, you may also opt to have new speaker wires run into the doors.

Subwoofer Enclosure

One of the first upgrades you should do to your audio system is to add a subwoofer. Almost every factory audio system, even one that includes subs, sounds anemic and weak.

Car Audio Installation
This custom-built enclosure by Sound Depot is a great example of a “Good” level subwoofer enclosure.

When it comes to the choice of subwoofer enclosure, the options are nearly limitless. The most basic of subwoofer enclosure solutions is to pick a pre-fabricated enclosure from a catalog, have your installer install the sub and plunk it in your vehicle. This solution doesn’t qualify for our standard of “Good”, but it works, and it’s better than not having a sub at all.

Choosing to have your retailer design an enclosure specifically for the subwoofer you have chosen and the exact space you require moves us up to the “Good” standard. The enclosure should be made of 3/4″ MDF and finished in a material that matches your vehicle. It should maximize the available room in your vehicle reasonably well.

The move to the Better level may take different directions, depending on your vehicle. Fiberglass or Stack-Fab enclosures can further maximize the available space in your vehicle. If constructed correctly, these enclosures can be more rigid thanks to additional bracing. This bracing results in better performance. At the “Better” level, your installer may choose to incorporate some cosmetic accents. Including a trim ring around the sub in an accent material is pretty common.

Car Audio Installation
Kingpin Car & Marine Audio provide an example of a “Best” level subwoofer enclosure.

At the “Best” level, the enclosure design will be topnotch! Your installer may even choose to measure the Thiele-Small parameters of your subwoofer before starting work. The enclosure will be extremely rigid and well-reinforced internally.

Your installer may choose to line or stuff the enclosure with materials like Dacron or foam. Cosmetics will also take a leap forward at this level. Having the enclosure trimmed flush to the sides of the vehicle is a must to make it look like it came from the factory. Your installer may choose to use vinyl or leather on the visible parts of the enclosure to further improve the match with factory styling. A product or vehicle brand or logo may be incorporated into the design as well. At the Best level, anyone who sees the resulting creation should be immediately impressed.

Design and Cost

There is no limit to how creative your installer can get with the installation – it’s all governed by how much you want to spend. At the higher end, the installer may provide drawings or sketches of the finished product. You will probably have to pay for this design time. That said, many shops will credit some or all of that back to you as part of the final cost.

The top installers around the country charge upwards of $100 per hour for custom work or more. Their experience and creativity allows them to be very efficient in executing their ideas, and the work behind the scenes is often equally exemplary. Attention to detail for wiring, product mounting with Nutserts or stainless steel hardware, and proficiency in system design and tuning are all part of getting the Good, Better or Best value for your money.

Visit Your Local Specialist For Car Audio Installation

When it’s time to go shopping, drop by a few of your local mobile electronics specialist retailers. They would be happy to show you different options for your project.

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.