Car Audio

Thanks to the DSR1 digital signal processor from Rockford Fosgate, upgrading car audio systems has never been easier. Aside from a full suite of easily configurable audio processing features, the DSR1 includes an iDatalink Maestro amplifier replacement interface. Maestro technology can be used to upgrade the audio system in more than 1,500 vehicle applications with reliable and predictable results. The DSR1 is compact, powerful and, most importantly, it can make the stereo in your car, truck or SUV sound amazing.

Rockford Fosgate DSR1 Features

At its core, the DSR1 is the latest generation of Rockford Fosgate’s 3-SIXTY digital sound processor. The compact unit includes four pre-amp inputs that will accept up to 4 volts of signal from a radio and four speaker-level inputs that will accept signals up to 12.5 volts from an amplifier. The DSR1 includes a DC offset detection circuit that will power the unit up when it detects that the factory radio has turned on. Rockford has also included a coaxial digital input for connectivity with SP/DIF-equipped factory-installed audio system. The eight outputs are rated to produce up to 4 volts, making them compatible with any amplifier on the market.

The software used to configure the DSR1 is designed for tablets and smartphones. Your installer can download the PerfectTune app from the Apple Store or Google Play store and use this slick graphical interface to configure the input and output connections and calibrate your audio system.

From a system configuration perspective, the DSR1 can accept audio on one or two sets of inputs. There are output configuration options that include front/rear/sub, front two-way/rear/sub, center/front/rear/sub, front three-way/sub and a few more options. The function of the optional PLC2 remote is configurable in the software to act as subwoofer level control, a Punch bass boost control or the master volume control for the system.

The setup options continue with crossovers adjustable in frequency from 20 Hz to 10 kHz with slopes of 6 dB through 48 dB per octave. All of the filters have a Linkwitz-Riley alignment, so they sum flat at the crossover point. Your technician can apply high- or low-pass filters to each channel or use both to create a bandpass crossover for midbass and midrange drivers. Your installer can implement an infrasonic filter on the subwoofers by applying a high-pass filter at 20 or 25 Hz to protect drivers from excursion issues at high volume levels.

Each output has a dedicated output trim level control to adjust each driver before your technician implements equalizer settings to smooth the output. The EQ for each of the eight outputs has 31 bands of adjustment. Each band can be fine-tuned in terms of frequency, Q-factor and boost or cut. Lastly, the signal delay settings for each channel are adjustable in 0.01-millisecond steps. Rockford Fosgate includes a delay calculator tool that allows your installer to enter the distance to each speaker. In turn, it provides the equivalent delay setting information while minimizing the maximum overall delay.

iDatalink Maestro Integration Features

Many modern cars and trucks use a source unit and amplifier configuration with a fixed-level audio signal. Volume, tone, fader and balance adjustments take place inside the amplifier. Additionally, signal processing like equalization, crossovers, volume-based tone adjustments and all-pass filters are applied to the outputs of the factory-installed amplifier to maximize the performance of the speakers that came with the vehicle. Attempting to undo this processing is complicated. Enter the Maestro Interface. As experts in working with the digital networks in cars and trucks, iDatalink partnered with Rockford Fosgate to create an interface that will convert the CAN signals passing from a factory-installed radio to the amplifier into commands that the DSR1 can execute. When you turn up the volume on the radio, that command is forwarded to the DSR1 and the master output level increases.

Rather than experimenting with the input EQ and mixers on a DSP, or adding unwanted delay from an integration processing, using a solution like the DSR1 allows your installer to create an audio system that works just like the one from the factory. Not only will the music sound great, but prompts from the navigation system, audio from Bluetooth hands-free phone calls and chimes from safety solutions will function flawlessly.

Why Upgrade Your Car Stereo with the Rockford Fosgate DSR1?

If you don’t have a digital signal processor in your aftermarket audio system, adding a solution like the DSR1 from Rockford Fosgate is the easiest way to add realism and authenticity to the listening experience. Instruments and vocals will sound more lifelike, and your music will be reproduced with accurate staging and imaging that will make you feel like you are at a concert.

There are DSR1 applications for select Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Maserati, Volkswagen, Lexus, Subaru, Toyota, Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. When combined with a dedicated integration harness, upgrading your car audio system while retaining the factory infotainment system couldn’t be easier. Your installer can configure your new amplifier, speakers and subwoofer quickly with the PerfectTune app and deliver an audio system that sounds amazing. Likewise, the DSR1 is an ideal solution to upgrade audio system performance on a motorcycle, boat or side-by-side.

To find an authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer that can install a calibrate the DSR1 in your car or truck, visit the Dealer Locator page on their website. Be sure to give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram and learn more about their fantastic mobile, marine, motorcycle and powersports audio upgrades 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.

If you want a fantastic bang-for-your-buck speaker upgrade for your car or truck, check out the Rockford Fosgate T1650 Euro-Fit speaker set. Using many of the same technologies found in the popular Power Series T1 components, these speakers optimize every dimension to deliver impressive efficiency and great bass output while delivering crystal-clear sound.

What Size Are My 6.5-inch Speakers?

You’d think that cars and trucks that use “6.5-inch” speakers would all be the same, right? The reality is, some OE speakers in this class are closer to 6 inches in diameter, while others are closer to 7. Rockford’s Power Series coaxial speaker offerings include three size solutions to optimize the upgrade in your vehicle. The T16 models are 6-inch speakers and fit in cut-outs with a 5.04-inch diameter. At the other end of the scale are the T1675 speakers, which are a 6.75-inch set and require a 5.68-inch cut-out. In the middle, we have the T1650 speakers that we’ll focus on for this spotlight. These two-way drivers mount in a 5.51-inch cut-out, have an outer diameter of exactly 6.5-inches and require 2.5 inches of mounting depth.

Rockford T1650 Features

The T1650 speakers are based around a custom-tooled, stamp-cast aluminum frame. Rockford Fosgate optimizes the rigidity of the design by including curved elements in both the vertical and lateral axis. Of note, there are four cooling vents near the magnet to let hot air escape from the outside of the voice coil and prevent air from pressurizing under the spider as the cone travels forward and rearward from rest. Also worthy of mentioning is the die-cut foam gasket on the rear of the mounting flange that helps to seal the speakers against the mounting surface. Not many companies include these gaskets, especially at a price point under $150 USD.

In terms of moving parts, the speakers use a carbon fiber-filled polypropylene woofer cone that’s suspended by a Santoprene rubber surround at the top and a long-lasting poly-cotton spider at the base. Rockford’s Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) optimizes cone area by minimizing the width of the surround. Of course, the design team used its Klippel test equipment during the development process to ensure that these speakers operate linearly to minimize distortion.

At the base of the cone is a 1.1-inch diameter, high-temperature aluminum voice coil former with a winding that presents a 4-ohm load for the amplifier. Spade terminals in 0.25- and 0.205-inch sizes are provided for electrical connections.

One of the features that separate this speaker’s design from most competing products is how the tweeter is mounted. In most 6.5-inch speakers, the tweeter is mounted on a post that extends forward from the T-yoke through the center of the woofer cone. While this works fine, it sacrifices some cone area and reduces the efficiency of the driver. Rockford chose to mount the tweeter on a bridge that extends from the lower edge of the basket. The tweeter is angled upward to allow the installer to optimize the delivery of the highest-frequency information to the listener.

The tweeter itself is a 1-inch aluminum-dome design that has been treated to prevent unwanted diaphragm resonance. Importantly, Rockford Fosgate has integrated a 12 dB/octave tweeter filter network into the speaker to ensure a smooth transition with the woofer.

Going back to the basket design, these speakers feature Rockford’s FlexFit 2 mounting solution. Rather than being riddled with holes, the driver mounting lip includes eight holes and eight slots that make them compatible with a variety of vehicles to save your installer time and hassle. Last and certainly not least, Rockford includes a set of perforated steel mesh grilles with the speakers for custom installations.

Let’s Look at the T1650’s Specifications

While design features are cool, how all those components come together is crucial to recreating your music with accuracy and exuberance. Rockford Fosgate rates the T1650 to handle 75 watts of power continuously and 150 watts maximum. The drivers have a Qts spec of 0.74, indicating that they are designed for installations in an infinite baffle application like the door or rear parcel shelf of a vehicle. This Q factor also indicates that the speakers will reproduce bass without the unwanted distortion that would be found from drivers with Qts values above 0.8. With that said, the compliance (Vas) specification is low enough that an enclosure with an internal volume of 0.5 cubic foot or larger won’t result in unwanted resonance in the midbass region (100-200 Hz).

Finally, the Xmax specification, which describes how far the woofer cone can move forward or rearward from rest, is an impressive 5 mm. This spec is more excursion than on some high-end component woofers in this size range. The transducer design team at Rockford Fosgate knows what they’re doing.

Upgrade the Speakers in Your Car or Truck Today

If you’re shopping for a 6.5-inch speaker set to upgrade your car audio system, drop by your local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask for a demonstration of the T1650 set. Their unique combination of features will undoubtedly prove to be impressive. You can find a Rockford Fosgate dealer near you by visiting the dealer locator on their website. You can keep up with the newest product releases from Rockford by liking their Facebook page and following their Instagram feed. They also offer informative and entertaining videos on their YouTube channel.

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.

Since the ’80s, Rockford Fosgate has had a reputation for delivering big bass for car audio fanatics. Its most recent subwoofer solutions are the Prime Series R2-2X10 and R2-2X12 loaded enclosures. Equipped with a pair of 10- or 12-inch subwoofers, these ready-to-rock subwoofers solutions are a great way to improve the extension and impact of your car stereo system.

Prime Series Subwoofer Enclosures

The R2-2X10 and R2-2X12 are wedge-type enclosures that include two subwoofers in an acoustic suspension (sealed) design. Each enclosure is constructed from 5/8-inch thick MDF to deliver solid bass without adding a huge amount of weight to your vehicle.

The R2-2X10 measures 30.12 inches in width, 12.2 inches in height and is 12.11 inches deep at the bottom. It features a pair of Prime Series R2D2-10 10-inch subwoofers that are wired to produce a 2-ohm load for the amplifier of your choice. The total weight for the R2-2X10 is about 36 pounds. The R2-2X12 is a little larger at 34.06 inches wide, 14.37 inches tall and has a depth of 12.51 inches at the bottom. This enclosure is home to a pair of R2D2-12 subs, which are also wired to a 2-ohm load. The dual-12 enclosure weighs about 43 pounds.

Each enclosure is wrapped in a high-density durable black carpet for a neat and tidy look that won’t become frayed and ratty over time. There’s a high-current, spring-loaded terminal cup on the left side panel of each enclosure. The terminals can accept 12-AWG speaker cables for efficient power delivery while making it easy to remove the enclosure from your vehicle if the cargo space is needed.

Prime R2 Subwoofers

The R2 Series subwoofers used in the R2-2X10 and R2-2X12 enclosures are based on four-spoke stamped steel frames. The spokes are curved to increase rigidity in what Rockford refers to as its StampCast design. Eight ridges are pressed into the bottom of the stamping to form vents between the motor assembly top plate and the basket. These vents allow hot air to escape from the outside of the black-anodized, 2-inch aluminum voice coil former and eliminate the chance of air under the linear spider from being compressed or rarefied as the cone moves rearward or forward. The extended T-yoke at the bottom of the subwoofer has a large vent to let hot air escape from inside the voice coil and prevent pressure under the inverted polypropylene dust cap. The four 16-AWG tinsel leads of these dual-voice-coil subwoofers are embedded into the spider to eliminate the chance of noise at high excursion levels.

The woofer cones are made from mica-injected polypropylene for an excellent balance of rigidity, damping and thermal stability. An adhesive-bonded foam surround locates the outer edge of the cone in the center of the basket. The basket mounting surface and magnet are adorned with custom-molded PVC trim rings for a clean, classy look.

The Prime R2 subwoofers are rated to handle 250 watts of continuous power with a 500-watt maximum power rating. All models have a specified Xmax of 6.5 mm (0.256 inch) in each direction calculated at the point where the sub reaches 10% total harmonic distortion. All the dimensions and specifications provided by Rockford are compliant with the ANSI/CEA-2031 Mobile Loudspeaker Standard. Likewise, Rockford uses Klippel transducer measurement equipment to optimize its designs for low-distortion, high-output operation.

Amazing Bass Brings Your Music to Life

Based on some quick calculations, the R2-2X10 appears to have a net internal volume of just under 1.7 cubic feet and, as such, delivers an F3 frequency around 58 Hz with a total system Q of 0.68. The larger R2-2X12 has an internal volume of approximately 2.3 cubic feet and an F3 of about 53.5 Hz, and a reasonable system Q of 0.875. As such, when combined with the typical cabin gain found in most vehicles, either of these subwoofer solutions will deliver excellent output well into the infrasonic region while cranking out amazing impact in the upper bass frequencies. The low-Q designs will ensure that your bass is solid and musical without significant resonance and distortion so that every genre of music sounds realistic and enjoyable.

If you’re shopping for an amplifier to work with either of these enclosures, the 500-watt Prime R2-500X1 is the answer. For a little more clarity and definition, the P500X2 from the Punch series is a good option.

Upgrade Your Car Stereo with a Rockford Prime Series Subwoofer Enclosure

With so many generic subwoofer enclosures on the market, it’s hard to know which is the right solution for the subwoofers you have in mind. Rockford Fosgate has taken the guesswork out of adding amazing bass to your vehicle with the new Prime R2-2X10 and R2-2X12 loaded subwoofer enclosures. Drop by your local authorized Rockford Fosgate dealer to check them out. You can learn more about Rockford’s complete line of passive and powered subwoofer enclosures on their website, and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for updates on 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.