So here it is everyone!
The definitive list of some of the best subwoofers around right now. As you may or may not know, subwoofers are in charge of playing the low frequencies of the sound spectrum. Therefore no matter what size subwoofer you have, it will fill that lower end that the midrange speakers can simply not produce. Due to their design and use, subwoofers are Omni-directional. This means that no matter which way they face you will still feel the force of the subwoofer, unlike midrange speakers for example, where you would not be able to gain benefit of all the detail and clarity they are able to produce if you are standing behind the actual speaker.
Through my experience with different subwoofers, I've found that subwoofers generally become more like tactile transducers as they get louder in essence, you end up feeling the bass more than being able to hear it. As a result, if you're someone that is going for sound quality over loudness, I would recommend using a smaller size subwoofer. Many audiophiles who concentrate on sound quality over sound pressure will choose a smaller size subwoofer as the cone area is much smaller, and as a result, a tighter bass is achieved and when married with a sealed enclosure, the end result will be a nice tight bass that will be precise and accurate while not attempting to crack your windows! However, those who prefer sound pressure will choose the biggest cone area they can fit in their car. Take for example Steve Meade; with regards to his subwoofer he was able to put 4 18 inch subwoofers. The result of these monster subs is that Steve is able to achieve a high SPL. It is apparent that Steve attempts to increase his sound quality by installing large midbass speakers as well as using high quality midrange and good quality tweeters, all manufactured by Rockford Fosgate.
For my system I was restricted for space, and that is what defined to an extent my choice of subwoofer. I needed to have amplifiers that would be as powerful as could be whilst being as small as possible while still trying to maintain a budget! As a result, I settled for the Alpine MRP-M500 and as you can probably tell from the name, the amp is capable of pushing out 500RMS at 2OHM. Sure you might be thinking there’s plenty of choice with regards to a subwoofer but after running a 400 RMS Pioneer subwoofer in my previous system, I quickly learnt that each sub sounds very different and although the Pioneer produce very good subwoofers, (my old Pioneer, now retired to my bedroom!) I found that they were not able to produce the sound I was after which is when I turned my eye to Kicker.
The Kicker L7, a subwoofer that has truly lived up to the reputation and hypes that goes along with it. Yes the first time someone told me they had an L7 as part of their setup I stared at them, blank faced and somewhat lost, but then they gave me a demo and WOW! Although it was not perfect for what I wanted it sounded great! Precise and Accurate as well and the best bit of it all, I found that if I gave it 500rms, although not reaching its potential, it would be more than happy.
For subwoofers, the enclosure is vital for the sub to perform to its best abilities. Although you’ll see many subwoofer packages come with generic subwoofer boxes. While this is not an issue, it does somewhat hinder the performance of your sub. This is why I would recommend a custom made box. By their nature, custom boxes are much larger in size giving the subwoofer the air they require and many people choose to have a ported box, usually tuned to between 30 and 34 hertz. The benefit of this range of frequencies is that you’re pretty much maximising the output of the subwoofer without it becoming solely a transducer. For me, my box was tuned to 32Hz and the result was a sound that is pleasurable to hear as well as giving you the physical experience of moving air and I love it!
So in conclusion, subwoofers are just as important as any other speaker you have in your car if you want to enjoy the full spectrum of your sound, and after having a subwoofer in my car I can guarantee you all that I will, no matter what size, always have a subwoofer in my future cars!
Showing posts with label car. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Bullet tweeters
YES EVERYONE, THE RUMORS ARE TRUE, THE BULLETS ARE BACK IN STOCK! They are priced at £39.99 and are flying out of our showroom! Bullets are probably the only way of getting that crisp high end sound that we all strive for from out car audio systems as there is no point in having all that bass without any mid-range or tweet.
Bullet tweeters work like ordinary tweeters however they are more durable and able to handle much higher power giving you the ability to be heard from further away! Some would argue that they fall in to the 'super-tweeter category'. This essentially means that the frequencies that they play are beyond the potential of regular tweeters.
The name 'bullet tweeter' has been bestowed upon these beauties due to their design. Their distinct shape allows for maximum effect with minimum fuss, plus when we clash people with these badboys, it's like firing high frequency bullets that smash their systems to bits and pieces.
For those who have heard my car, and from my opinion I can say that this is an offer that SHOULD NOT be refused. To have these tweeters available for the price they are going for is a complete bargain and I know that I will definitely be saving a pair myself!
Be sure to call in and reserve these monster tweeters to avoid disappointment!
You can call on 0800 917 7998 or send an email to enquiries@sound-evolution.co.uk
Please note that due to the high demand of these monster tweeters, availability is ONLY through Facebook or in-store and will not be featured on our website!
Get em' while they're hot!
Bullet tweeters work like ordinary tweeters however they are more durable and able to handle much higher power giving you the ability to be heard from further away! Some would argue that they fall in to the 'super-tweeter category'. This essentially means that the frequencies that they play are beyond the potential of regular tweeters.
The name 'bullet tweeter' has been bestowed upon these beauties due to their design. Their distinct shape allows for maximum effect with minimum fuss, plus when we clash people with these badboys, it's like firing high frequency bullets that smash their systems to bits and pieces.
For those who have heard my car, and from my opinion I can say that this is an offer that SHOULD NOT be refused. To have these tweeters available for the price they are going for is a complete bargain and I know that I will definitely be saving a pair myself!
Be sure to call in and reserve these monster tweeters to avoid disappointment!
You can call on 0800 917 7998 or send an email to enquiries@sound-evolution.co.uk
Please note that due to the high demand of these monster tweeters, availability is ONLY through Facebook or in-store and will not be featured on our website!
Get em' while they're hot!
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Head Unit
Head units
Like your music? Whether you store your music on CD’s, mp3, iPod, phone or any other form, if you want to have full control and to play your music in your car the way you like, you need a stereo. This is a great way of improving the detail and clarity from your music so you will have a higher quality of bass, midrange and high end when compared to your factory fitted stereo. It should be noted however that headunits do come with a amplifier built in which although is able to send a cleaner signal to your speakers when compared to the factory one if you are after a loud sound you will need an external amplifier. However head units come in a variety of forms and as a result there is a large range in functions but all aim to make your music sound as good as possible which is why, you NEED a head unit. Due to the vast range of features and options that head units have, it can be a daunting task to find your ideal head unit, I know that for me personally, when first starting out I was unclear on which head unit would be best suited to my demands, however after a lot of research I have been able to find my ideal stereo solution and I hope that I can pass on the knowledge that I have found on to you! And so here comes the big question;
Then look no further, over the next few weeks, I hope to give you all the knowledge required so that you will be able to pick your perfect stereo and as an added bonus understand why certain units would be better than others, so be sure to read on and keep checking for the next few updates on stereos!
What are head units?
Head units are also known as car stereos. They are used as a means to allow the user to have control over what is played and at what volume. Most modern head units have a built in CD player to play CD’s as well has having the ability to equalise as well.
Types of head unit
The technology used in most aftermarket head units allow for a range of features available to the end user. There are two sizes that are universal to most cars. Single din or double din radios. There are many reasons however that even though someone would have the ability to install a double din unit, they may wish to add a equaliser to their car audio system to increase the voltage being sent to the amplifiers and thus delivering a cleaner signal. I always had the intention of using an equaliser however I was able to house my equaliser somewhere that would be convenient to use as well as looking aesthetically pleasing. However do not get me wrong, the stereo systems employed in cars such as Mercedes Benz and the like are of high quality too as well as some people do not want to swap their stereo based on personal reasons as well as with some cars, it is nearly impossible, without serious modification to be able to change a head unit and for those reasons, there are alternative methods to be able to improve the sound quality which we will look at later on in this blog.
Single din head unit
Single din head units are half the size of double din. They due to their space confinement they can be used where it is not possible to install a double din. The single din units vary in price, ranging from the basic units offering a CD player all the way to the high end head units offering a greater control of equalisation (control over the different frequencies) as well has having connectivity for amplifiers. There is also the option, should you wish/your budget allow, to get single din head units with motorised screens. The benefit of this sort of setup would be to have the full functionality of a double din head unit but with half the side, and some people think the motorised mechanism looks cool!
single din head unit with a pocket in a double din area
Double din head units
These are double the size of single din units and due to their size; many units are touch screen operated. This allows for additional features such as satellite navigation as well as the ability to watch movies and videos while also including convenience features such as a reverse camera. Such as this Pioneer Double Din head unit which will automatically switch the display to the reverse camera without the need to change anything manually. There are also double din head units available without the features of a screen and are similar in function to a regular single din head unit however you may, should your car allow for a double din stereo, to have a stereo that takes up all the available space so that you are not left with a compartment underneath as shown in the picture above taken in a Vaxhaul Corsa.
double din head unit in a VW Golf
Facias
For some cars however, the standard stereo does not confirm to the standard DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) sizes the need for a facia comes into play. The facia will make adapt the car to be able to accept standard din sizes. These are the little things that will ensure that not only will your car audio system sound good, but will also look great! However, if you are lucky enough to not need a facia then your head unit will literally replace your old one.
Alternatives to head units
You may decide however to install an in car computer for example and as a result it is not uncommon to choose to to bypass a head unit and therefore connect the computer directly to the amplifiers. This method can result in poor sound quality at high volume levels and as a result, a signal processor can be used to not only control the equalisation but to also process the signal, such as the Rockford Fosgate 3.sixty.2
. The advantage of using this, is that the unit will increase the voltage being sent to the amplifiers and coupled with the fact that it will process the sound over many bands of equalisation, will be ‘cleaner’ and will have less distortion being sent, as playing distortion through any type of speaker will damage it.
Some people may find that a signal processor such as the Rockford Fosgate 3.sixty.2 are not within their budget, they may choose a signal line to RCA adaptor. The problem with using this adaptor is the quality of signal being sent to the amplifers, as the main goal is to send the cleanest signal to the amplifiers, which is something that the line to RCA adaptors do not do. I would personally avoid the use of an adaptor and use a line driver or a signal processor if possible.
So what do I need?
Well, after looking at what car you have (as this will define what type of head unit you require) you need to think about what features you want too. If you wish to have satellite navigation as well as to watch DVD’s etc for example, but do have space for a double din head unit, then there is the option of using a single din head unit that features a motorised screen. This will offer all of the benefits of a double din unit but in a single din unit.
I hope that this has given you an insight into all the different alternatives available to you, however if you are still undecided, do not hesistate to contact me and I will be more than happy to help you in any way that I can. Either send me a facebook message directly here or send an email to info@sound-evolution.co.uk stating you're enquiring about a stereo solution after reading this blog entry.
And now a bit on my car. For my car, I had the option to go for a double din head unit, while this would have looked better; my plan was to install a car computer. Therefore I wanted to run a separate screen and the only way was to use a single din head unit and a single din motorised screen designed specifically for in car computers so that it would be easy to use the features of the computer without the need of a mouse which would be difficult to use while driving.
Due to the nature of this area of car audio, without a doubt head units is one topic too vast in size to cover without going into much detail however I hope this has given you food with regards to choosing a stereo. In the next few weeks, look for future entries that will focus on more specific aspects of car stereos. These will go into detail regarding the type of products if you’re weather you’re looking for a new stereo, thinking of a new one or just reading for curiosity, watch this space for the next installment!
Neil Patel
Like your music? Whether you store your music on CD’s, mp3, iPod, phone or any other form, if you want to have full control and to play your music in your car the way you like, you need a stereo. This is a great way of improving the detail and clarity from your music so you will have a higher quality of bass, midrange and high end when compared to your factory fitted stereo. It should be noted however that headunits do come with a amplifier built in which although is able to send a cleaner signal to your speakers when compared to the factory one if you are after a loud sound you will need an external amplifier. However head units come in a variety of forms and as a result there is a large range in functions but all aim to make your music sound as good as possible which is why, you NEED a head unit. Due to the vast range of features and options that head units have, it can be a daunting task to find your ideal head unit, I know that for me personally, when first starting out I was unclear on which head unit would be best suited to my demands, however after a lot of research I have been able to find my ideal stereo solution and I hope that I can pass on the knowledge that I have found on to you! And so here comes the big question;
Are you confused at the vast choice of stereo?
Then look no further, over the next few weeks, I hope to give you all the knowledge required so that you will be able to pick your perfect stereo and as an added bonus understand why certain units would be better than others, so be sure to read on and keep checking for the next few updates on stereos!
If you remember the post on Speakers, the Head Unit is the other piece to the puzzle when you're going about ensuring that your car audio system is able to produce sound to the highest quality that you can feel that you have the artist singing live next to you!
What are head units?
Head units are also known as car stereos. They are used as a means to allow the user to have control over what is played and at what volume. Most modern head units have a built in CD player to play CD’s as well has having the ability to equalise as well.
Types of head unit
The technology used in most aftermarket head units allow for a range of features available to the end user. There are two sizes that are universal to most cars. Single din or double din radios. There are many reasons however that even though someone would have the ability to install a double din unit, they may wish to add a equaliser to their car audio system to increase the voltage being sent to the amplifiers and thus delivering a cleaner signal. I always had the intention of using an equaliser however I was able to house my equaliser somewhere that would be convenient to use as well as looking aesthetically pleasing. However do not get me wrong, the stereo systems employed in cars such as Mercedes Benz and the like are of high quality too as well as some people do not want to swap their stereo based on personal reasons as well as with some cars, it is nearly impossible, without serious modification to be able to change a head unit and for those reasons, there are alternative methods to be able to improve the sound quality which we will look at later on in this blog.
Single din head unit
Single din head units are half the size of double din. They due to their space confinement they can be used where it is not possible to install a double din. The single din units vary in price, ranging from the basic units offering a CD player all the way to the high end head units offering a greater control of equalisation (control over the different frequencies) as well has having connectivity for amplifiers. There is also the option, should you wish/your budget allow, to get single din head units with motorised screens. The benefit of this sort of setup would be to have the full functionality of a double din head unit but with half the side, and some people think the motorised mechanism looks cool!
single din head unit with a pocket in a double din area
Double din head units
These are double the size of single din units and due to their size; many units are touch screen operated. This allows for additional features such as satellite navigation as well as the ability to watch movies and videos while also including convenience features such as a reverse camera. Such as this Pioneer Double Din head unit which will automatically switch the display to the reverse camera without the need to change anything manually. There are also double din head units available without the features of a screen and are similar in function to a regular single din head unit however you may, should your car allow for a double din stereo, to have a stereo that takes up all the available space so that you are not left with a compartment underneath as shown in the picture above taken in a Vaxhaul Corsa.
double din head unit in a VW Golf
Facias
For some cars however, the standard stereo does not confirm to the standard DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) sizes the need for a facia comes into play. The facia will make adapt the car to be able to accept standard din sizes. These are the little things that will ensure that not only will your car audio system sound good, but will also look great! However, if you are lucky enough to not need a facia then your head unit will literally replace your old one.
Alternatives to head units
You may decide however to install an in car computer for example and as a result it is not uncommon to choose to to bypass a head unit and therefore connect the computer directly to the amplifiers. This method can result in poor sound quality at high volume levels and as a result, a signal processor can be used to not only control the equalisation but to also process the signal, such as the Rockford Fosgate 3.sixty.2
. The advantage of using this, is that the unit will increase the voltage being sent to the amplifiers and coupled with the fact that it will process the sound over many bands of equalisation, will be ‘cleaner’ and will have less distortion being sent, as playing distortion through any type of speaker will damage it.
Some people may find that a signal processor such as the Rockford Fosgate 3.sixty.2 are not within their budget, they may choose a signal line to RCA adaptor. The problem with using this adaptor is the quality of signal being sent to the amplifers, as the main goal is to send the cleanest signal to the amplifiers, which is something that the line to RCA adaptors do not do. I would personally avoid the use of an adaptor and use a line driver or a signal processor if possible.
So what do I need?
Well, after looking at what car you have (as this will define what type of head unit you require) you need to think about what features you want too. If you wish to have satellite navigation as well as to watch DVD’s etc for example, but do have space for a double din head unit, then there is the option of using a single din head unit that features a motorised screen. This will offer all of the benefits of a double din unit but in a single din unit.
I hope that this has given you an insight into all the different alternatives available to you, however if you are still undecided, do not hesistate to contact me and I will be more than happy to help you in any way that I can. Either send me a facebook message directly here or send an email to info@sound-evolution.co.uk stating you're enquiring about a stereo solution after reading this blog entry.
And now a bit on my car. For my car, I had the option to go for a double din head unit, while this would have looked better; my plan was to install a car computer. Therefore I wanted to run a separate screen and the only way was to use a single din head unit and a single din motorised screen designed specifically for in car computers so that it would be easy to use the features of the computer without the need of a mouse which would be difficult to use while driving.
Due to the nature of this area of car audio, without a doubt head units is one topic too vast in size to cover without going into much detail however I hope this has given you food with regards to choosing a stereo. In the next few weeks, look for future entries that will focus on more specific aspects of car stereos. These will go into detail regarding the type of products if you’re weather you’re looking for a new stereo, thinking of a new one or just reading for curiosity, watch this space for the next installment!
Neil Patel
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Power Capacitors
Power Capacitors
What are they?
Power capacitors work by acting as a reserve power bank; they store the charge rather than being the source of power such as the battery. When you are listening to your music, and playing a heavy sub-bass note, the power will draw from the capacitor rather than from the battery so to ensure that the rest of the car will not be starved of power i.e. the headlights dimming. It will act as a buffer so that that the power being delivered to the amplifiers will not drop below the recommended voltages and be steady therefore reducing the risk of damage to the components.
So what power capacitor to choose?
After doing a bit of research, the general rule seems to be 1 farad per 1000 watts of power that your system is running at. So using that, a 1.5 farad power capacitor should be ideally suited to a 1500 watt system. There is a large selection of power capacitors available out there, for example, this power capacitor is a 2 farad power capacitor designed for smaller systems, this is not to say however that it will have a reduction in performance, however for those systems that require more power, a power capacitor with a higher farad will be able to deliver for longer and will usually be of a higher build quality. For a high quality power capacitor, I would recommend high quality car audio brands such as Rockford Fosgate. For example there is a selection of Rockford Fosgate series digital capacitors that are available in either 2 farad power capacitor or 10 farad power capacitor options that are well suited for highly demanding systems and as an added bonus, some might even say they look the business!
How to install the capacitor
Ideally the capacitor needs to be installed as close to the amplifiers as possible. The capacitor requires a 12 volt positive from the battery and a separate ground, to the amplifier; so that the 12 volt positive is 'inline' with the terminal from the battery and the amplifier. The amplifier 12 volt positive is then taken from the capacitor while the amplifier is usually grounded separately as it is important to use as short a ground cable as possible to reduce any potential ground interference.
When you need to consider other alternatives
Power capacitors will not always be of help when you are listening to music, if the lights for example dim down, and stay dim, this indicates there is a deficiency of power and there are other methods of solving the problem, it could potentially be that the battery is not able to generate a charge sufficient enough to meet the demands, so installing a higher cranking battery is usually the common solution however it is possible that upgrading "The Big Three" may also solve the issue(see below for more details). It is also important to check that the current alternator can produce a charge that will be sufficient with a larger battery.
'The Big Three'
The big three is a popular upgrade. It consists of upgrading three wires in the car to ones that are much thicker. As a result of using much thicker wire, more current is allowed to flow through; hence the overall effect seen will be that the voltage running through the car will be higher. The three wires that are upgraded are the wire from the alternator to the battery, the engine ground to the chassis and the battery ground to the chassis. It is common, but not always, that people will choose 0 gauge power wire when going about the big three upgrade. This is vital again to ensure that the voltage delivered to the amplifiers does not drop so low that the risk of damage is possible.
Conclusion
So in conclusion, there is no hard or fast answer to if a capacitor is necessary or not. However capacitors may have benefits if used appropriately. There are large selections of capacitors; some come with digital volt meters, distribution blocks etc, while others are purely chosen for aesthetic pleasure, I myself went for a 4 farad power capacitor with a built in digital volt meter with an LCD display so that it was something I was able to display and looks pretty damn cool.
Neil Patel
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