Devine Concepts

Mobile Electronics Expert in Naples, Florida

Car Audio

Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX6000 Automotive AV Receiver

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Sony XAV-AX6000

Hundreds of audio-video receiver options are available to upgrade your car’s or truck’s entertainment system. Selecting one that’s easy to use, reliable and sounds great is no easy task. The car audio team at Sony has combined the most sought-after features with state-of-the-art technologies to create the XAV-AX6000 digital media receiver. This radio includes wireless Apple CarPlay and both wired and wireless Android Auto, so your smartphone’s voice recognition and internet-connected features become a crucial part of providing you with the information and entertainment you want while driving.

Sony XAV-AX6000 Source Information

Most owners will connect their Sony XAV-AX6000 to their Android or Apple phone using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to stream music from Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio or Tidal. You’ll also have the option of playing music files stored directly on the phone, which can be accessed using simple voice commands. Both Apple and Android-based phones can connect wirelessly to the radio using a Wi-Fi connection, so there are no cords or cables to worry about each time you get in or out of the vehicle. You can also use these smartphone connectivity solutions to get detailed, turn-by-turn navigation directions to almost any address, business or landmark in North America using Google, Waze or Apple maps. Both systems allow you to check your schedule, make phone calls, listen to incoming text messages and dictate a reply – all while keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel.

Sony XAV-AX6000
You can use your Apple or Android smartphone wirelessly for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to make communicating while driving safer.

The XAV-AX6000 includes an AM/FM receiver with RDBS station information display. Users can connect a USB mass storage class device to play MP3, WMA, ACC, FLAC, WAV, ALAC or DSF/DSDIFF audio files with sampling rates up to 768 kHz (depending on the file format). The USB-C port on the rear of the chassis provides up to 3 amps of current to recharge your smartphone efficiently when connected. The XAV-AX6000 also has a micro-HDMI port on the back of the chassis so that you can connect a smartphone, computer or game system to the radio as an external multimedia source. Bluetooth audio streaming with support for high-resolution LDAC is built into the radio to maximize the sound quality of wireless audio playback on supported devices.

Sony XAV-AX6000
When your vehicle is parked, you can use the micro-HDMI input to display video from a smartphone, laptop or game system on the XAV-AX6000.

Connectivity and Control Options

The XAV-AX6000 features a 6.95-inch display with a capacitive-touch interface. The screen assembly is integrated into a bezel-less design that looks as though it belongs in the dash of your car, truck or SUV. A set of six hard buttons is included at the bottom of the screen to make volume, source selection, track selection and voice recognition activation easy without having to look at the radio.

In terms of audio features, the radio has a 20-watt-per-channel amplifier built in and can be connected to external amplifiers using the 5-volt front, rear and subwoofer preamp outputs. The XAV-AX6000, the XAV-AX4000 and the XAV-9500ES offer high- and low-pass filters on all four channels with slopes that are adjustable from -12 to -48 dB/octave. Your installer can fine-tune the installation with the five-channel time alignment settings and the 14-band graphic equalizer. Many users will appreciate the ability to change the background wallpaper to a JPEG image from a USB memory stick.

Sony XAV-AX6000
Users can change the background color of the menu screens or upload their own wallpaper from a USB memory stick.

A backup camera input is also included to make it easy to see everything behind your vehicle while parking or maneuvering. The backup camera image will display automatically when the transmission is in reverse or can be selected manually from the source menu if you need to check on a trailer.

Sony XAV-AX6000
A dedicated backup camera input allows the driver to see everything behind the vehicle when parking or maneuvering.

Sony has included support for the iDatalink Maestro RR and RR2 integration system. These modules allow the radio to talk to the computer network in your car to display information like engine speed, vehicle speed, coolant temperature and much more. Select applications include information like tire pressure, battery voltage and even climate control adjustment. Check with your local Sony retailer to learn more about your vehicle’s Maestro compatibility and features.

Sony XAV-AX6000
Support for the iDatalink Maestro RR and RR2 provides access to climate control adjustments in certain applications.

Upgrade Your Entertainment System with Sony

If you’re looking for a new radio to upgrade the sound quality, features and technology in your car, truck or SUV, drop by a local authorized Sony retailer and ask about the XAV-AX6000. Be sure to bring your smartphone to experience how intuitive and responsive the system is. To learn more about Sony car audio products, check out the Sony Car and Marine Audio website. You can also follow Sony on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to keep up with their latest product releases and new information.

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 T2S1-16 Subwoofer

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Rockford Fosgate T2S1-16

When it comes to car audio subwoofers, Rockford Fosgate has solutions for everyone. Whether you need something affordable for the daily driver or want ground-shaking bass that registers incredible SPL measurements on the meter, they have you covered. At the top end of the scale is the Power Series T2S1-16 and its brother, the T2S2-16. These massive 16-inch subwoofers are rated to handle 2,500 watts of power and move air like you’ve never experienced before.

Rockford Fosgate T2S1-16 Features

The T2S1-16 is a 16-inch subwoofer with an effective cone area of about 1.25 square yards. Compare that to a typical 15-inch subwoofer, and you have almost 24% more cone area. That means more efficiency from every watt of power from your amplifier. This subwoofer is based on a proprietary die-cast aluminum chassis that includes twin spider mounting plateaus and extensive cooling vents around the voice coil. Ensuring that everything remains aligned and linear at high excursion levels is paramount with a cone assembly that weighs just shy of 1.25 pounds. The twin progressive Nomex spiders are spaced apart to help prevent rocking when things get loud.

The massive cone includes twin glass fiber layers sandwiched over an aramid honeycomb core to deliver amazing strength and rigidity. An aluminum dust cap with the Rockford Fosgate logo in silver keeps debris out of the monster 3.96-inch aluminum voice coil former. The voice coil winding is edge-wound to optimize flux density and provide excellent efficiency. Edge winding a flat wire is a difficult process and nearly unheard of in car audio, so this tells me it’s designed for sound quality as well as efficiency. The tinsel leads from the coil to the massive eight-AWG terminals are sewn to the spiders to keep them under control.

Rockford Fosgate T2S1-16
The T2S1-16 aluminum trim ring gives it a neat finish once installed in your vehicle.

An injection-molded foam surround at the top of the cone is secured to the basket with an aluminum clamping ring. The T2S1-16 uses Rockford Fosgate’s Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) to optimize the cone area of the driver. This method eliminates the 90-degree mounting angle typically used to secure surrounds to a basket while helping to increase the radiating cone area for more SPL.

The design engineers at Rockford Fosgate included a unique inductive damping heatsink on top of the motor assembly. The heatsink fins help radiate heat and keep the voice coil cool. More importantly, the copper assembly dramatically reduces voice coil inductance to minimize distortion and improve midbass response. The 1-ohm T2S1-16 has a voice coil inductance (Le) specification of a mere 0.53 millihenries. Competing products are often two to four times higher, leading to changes in performance based on cone position. For reference, the T2S2-16 is a single voice coil 2-ohm driver with all the same features. Three 11-pound (5-kilogram) segmented ferrite magnets are stacked on the bottom of the driver to drive this monster.

Last and certainly not least, we should talk about dimensions. The T2S1-16 requires a speaker cut-out with a diameter of 15.04 inches and a mounting depth of 10.47 inches. You will want to have eaten at least two bowls of Wheaties before attempting to handle this roughly 85-pound behemoth.

Rockford Fosgate T2S1-16
The segmented ceramic magnets dramatically increase surface area to improve voice coil cooling and reduce power compression.

Room to Boom

Rockford Fosgate offers two enclosure recommendations for the T2S1-16 on its website. If space is at a premium, then a sealed enclosure with a net internal air volume of 2.3 cubic feet provides a -3 dB frequency of 43.3 and a Qtc of 0.74. If you really want to rock, a vented enclosure with a net internal volume of 5.5 cubic feet and three 4-inch vents tuned to 35 hertz will get pretty serious. The F3 frequency of the vented enclosure is 29 Hz, and you’ll have picked up more than 10 dB of output at 40 hertz compared with the sealed enclosure for the same amplifier power. Even with 5,000-watt peaks in terms of drive power, the T2S1-16 won’t reach the jaw-dropping 34-millimeter Xmax rating of the sub at any frequency above 23 Hz. If you need a high-power subwoofer for a home theater or even a small movie theater, a vented enclosure with a slightly lower tuning frequency will be nearly flat to 20 Hz and capable of producing enough bass to make you think a jet engine or explosion is happening in the same room.

Rockford Fosgate T2S1-16
Predicted free-field output of the Rockford Fosgate T2S1-16 in a 2.4-cubic-foot sealed enclosure (red) and a 5.5-cubic-foot vented enclosure (yellow).

Feed Your Need for Bass with Rockford Fosgate

If you demand the best when it comes to high-output car audio subwoofers, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the amazing Power Series T2S1-16 16-inch subwoofer. This sub is a perfect match for the T2500-1bdCP amp we looked at a few weeks ago.

You can learn more about Rockford Fosgate Power Series products by visiting their website. Be sure to follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to be the first to learn about their solutions for car, motorcycle, marine and powersports fanatics.

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.

The Importance of Proper Cables and Wiring

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WiringInstalling mobile electronics systems is not as easy as it used to be. In the “good old days,” cars were made from thick metal and didn’t have many electrical components. Modern vehicle construction makes use of the thinnest, lightest materials possible. These body panels are held together with non-conductive adhesives, and it seems that every square inch of our cars and trucks are packed with computers, sensors and modules. Even a task as simple as wiring an amplifier can become quite complex.

In this Best Car Audio article, we look at the importance of proper wiring techniques and materials, and the effect they have on the performance of an aftermarket audio system upgrade.

Power Delivery

WiringThis article is about installing a five-channel amplifier in a vehicle with a factory head unit. There are two important tasks when it comes to installing an amp: getting a signal to it and getting power to it. For an amplifier to produce power, you need to feed it power. The primary source of power in our vehicles is the alternator, followed by the battery. Most people focus on running a large conductor from the positive terminal of the battery to the positive terminal of the amplifier. While this is important, where and how the amplifier is grounded is equally important.

Quality installers will know the best locations on a vehicle to make a ground connection. They will know how to handle a vehicle with an aluminum or composite chassis. They will know how to recognize vehicles that are assembled with adhesives instead of spot welds. If you are installing a large amplifier, they will know how to upgrade the factory wiring under the hood to handle the extra current draw.

Wiring
It is best practice to install the fuse as close to the battery as possible.

Protecting your vehicle is a part of installing power wire. In the unlikely event you get into an accident or something bad happens to your amplifier, the wiring and the equipment installed in your vehicle need protection in the form of a fuse. A good installer will install a fuse as close as possible to each source of power for the system. In most installations, this is near the main battery.

Some systems have secondary batteries and require additional fuses for proper protection. If you have the choice, a fuse provides better protection device than a circuit breaker. Fuses offer more surface area for power conduction. Also, there is absolutely no chance that a properly installed fuse could fail in a condition that may allow current to continue to pass.

Signal Integration

The audio systems in modern vehicles are becoming increasingly complex. Manufacturers (JBL, Infinity and Lexicon) are turning to suppliers like Bose and Harman for increasingly complex audio systems. Each of these companies employs highly trained engineers who spend months tuning each new system.

Wiring
Technicians use an RTA to gain a visual representation of audio signals.

Trying to source an audio signal that will work with aftermarket equipment is becoming increasingly difficult at the same time. A properly trained installer will have the knowledge and experience to measure the signals in the factory system to determine if they can be used as is. If the signals are not acceptable in level, frequency response or bandwidth, your installer can recommend the correct component to correct them.

Your installer will also know to test each signal source across multiple functions. Ensuring that factory Bluetooth, navigation prompts and parking sensor warnings continue to work as intended is important to you being able to enjoy your upgraded audio system.

Noise Prevention

Wiring
Proper wire routing can help reduce the chance of radiated noise.

Dealing with factory computers, sensors, data networks and other high-current components can cause interference with the delicate low-level audio signals we send to our amplifiers. If you are not using good-quality interconnects that offer a twisted-pair design and appropriate shielding, you leave yourself open to picking up all sorts of strange noises. Likewise, choosing the right equipment is critical. You want to ensure that each component in the signal path has differential inputs to reject any noise that might be imposed on your interconnects, or the speaker wires running to the input of your amplifier.

The amplified signal coming from your amp is still subject to noise. Passive crossover networks can be notorious for picking up electromagnetic noise. Where your installer places the passive networks is quite important. An experienced installer knows what to avoid for your system to sound great and be noise-free.

Choice of Wiring Materials

Wiring
OFC wire is often tinned to help reduce surface oxidation.

There are two options for power and speaker wire – CCA and what most refer to as OFC. CCA stands for Copper Clad Aluminum. CCA typically is an inexpensive wire that is part aluminum and part copper. Aluminum costs less than copper, but it also does not conduct as well. You will usually see CCA wiring labeled with Gauge or GA when referencing its size. It is also worth noting that, unless the wiring you have chosen says AWG on it, there is no standard for the size of the conductor within the jacket.

Combine that with not knowing the ratio of copper to aluminum, and you run the risk of starving your amplifier for power. We have seen CCA 4 gauge wires that present almost four times the resistance as a proper 4 AWG conductor.

OFC stands for Oxygen-Free Copper. The term OFC has become the accepted slang term for all copper wiring. Properly sized copper wiring (using the AWG standard) offers the best possible power delivery to your amplifier.

Working on modern vehicles has its challenges, but those challenges come with rewards regarding background noise levels, convenience and features. Trust the installation of your audio equipment to qualified professionals. They have the experience to get the job done right the first time. Visit your local mobile electronics retailer to find out more.

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 T2500-1bdCP 2,500-Watt Subwoofer Amplifier

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Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP

When it comes to subwoofer amplifiers from Rockford Fosgate, a few models stand out in the annals of car audio history: the Power 1000, the Power T15kW and the T2500-1bdCP. The latter is currently the flagship of the Power Series and is the most powerful subwoofer amplifier available from our friends in Tempe, Arizona. It’s a workhorse capable of impressive performance, so let’s check it out!

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP Features

The T2500-1bdCP is a 2,500-watt subwoofer amplifier. It’s based on a large cast aluminum heatsink with a footprint of 8.14 inches in depth, 21.875 inches in width and a total height of 2.14 inches. All the power, signal and subwoofer connections are made along the front edge of the amplifier. A pair of massive 0-AWG terminals on the right side connect the amp to your battery bank, and two pair of speaker terminals on the left side will accept up to 8-AWG speaker wires.

The center panel on top of the amplifier is home to a pair of LED-based level meters. The left-hand meter shows output power in 11 steps from idle to +2 dB (well into clipping). The right-hand meter displays battery voltage from 9 to 16 volts in 11 steps.

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP
Top-panel mounted LED level meters allow you to monitor power output and battery levels.

In the center of the side panel are the configuration controls. The amp will accept up to 4 volts of input on the RCA terminals. Of course, Rockford Fosgate has included balanced differential inputs on the RCA jacks to eliminate noise that might have been picked up by the RCA interconnects. The low-pass crossover is non-defeatable and offers -24 dB/octave attenuation with frequencies adjustable between 35 and 250 hertz. A selectable infrasonic filter applies a high-pass filter to the audio signal with a 12 dB/octave filter set to 28 hertz.

Of course, the amp includes the famous Punch EQ circuit that allows your installer to dial in up to 18 dB of boost at 45 hertz. An optional Remote PEQ module can be added to let the driver adjust the Punch EQ circuit from the front of the vehicle.

The amp features Rockford Fosgate’s BD output configuration that delivers excellent efficiency and sound quality. The Constant Power design helps ensure that the amp makes as much power as possible into various load impedances.

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP
All connections and controls for the T2500-1bdCP are along the side panel of the amp to make installation easy and reliable.

T2500-1bdCP Power Ratings

In terms of power production capabilities, the T2500-1bdCP is rated to produce 1,500 watts of output into a 4-ohm load and 2,500 watts into 2- and 1-ohm loads. Given our lab experience with Rockford Fosgate products, these numbers are likely underrated by about 10%.

If that’s not enough, two of these amps can be strapped together using the optional bdSYNC2 cable to deliver 5,000 watts of power into a 4- or 2-ohm load. Voice coils, be warned! The amp also has a MasterSync mode that allows a single unit to drive an array of similar amplifiers with the same configuration settings. The RCA output jacks on the right side of the side panel are fundamental to making these features function. Uniquely, your installer can combine the bdSync and Master Sync modes to drive two subwoofers with 5,000 watts each using four amplifiers.

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP
If you need 5,000 watts into 2- or 4-ohm loads, the bdSYNC mode with two T2500-1bdCP can deliver!

Smart car audio system designers will know that all amplifiers decrease in efficiency with decreases in load impedance. Rockford Fosgate rates the T2500-1bdCP as being 81.9% efficient at 4 ohms, 77.7% efficient at 2 ohms and 64.5% efficient when connected to a 1-ohm load. If you want to get the most bang for your buck in terms of battery and alternator capacity, a 2-ohm load makes these amps the happiest.

By way of sound quality specifications, Rockford Fosgate rates the amp as having a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 70 dB at a 1-watt output level. This is impressive for an amplifier with this much signal gain and capable of so much power. As with all amplifiers from Rockford Fosgate, all specifications comply with the ANSI/CTA-2006-C standard for car audio amplifier specifications.

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP

Experience Bass Like Never Before with Rockford Fosgate

If you are after the ultimate high-end subwoofer system, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about an amplifier like the amazing Power Series T2500-1bdCP. You can match it with a few of the Power Series subwoofers or one of the outrageously cool T3S1-19 superwoofers. For more information about Rockford Fosgate’s Power Series products, visit their website. You can find an authorized retailer near you using their Dealer Locator. Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to learn about their latest solutions for cars, boats, motorcycles and powersports applications.

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: 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.