When it comes to purchasing a new radio for your car or truck, one of the most important steps is trying out the new radio. This process involves three key elements: the interface, support for your digital media and how your smartphone connects to the radio. Let’s take a close look at each of these crucial criteria.

Why Do I Need to Test Drive a New Radio?

Twenty years ago, all we had to worry about was making sure the radio we wanted to buy fit in the dash, could play our compact discs and had a good quality AM/FM tuner. While these criteria still matter (though the CD part is quickly going away), there are many other features that we need to test before agreeing to purchase the unit.

Testing a Radio Interface

Once the product specialist at your local mobile enhancement retailer has suggested a radio that offers the features you’ve requested, it’s up to you to ensure you like the way it works. Are you going to be happy with a push-button volume control on a multimedia receiver with a 7-inch screen, or would you prefer a 6.2-inch unit with a rotary volume control? Make sure the volume can be increased or decreased quickly by pressing and holding the buttons or spinning the knob quickly.

Pick two or three audio sources that you’ll be using and make sure you can change tracks intuitively. Hard buttons are often a preferred control method because the physical shape helps you know whether you’re pressing in the right spot. Touchscreen controls require you to look at the radio, which can be distracting and dangerous while driving.

Next, find out how the steering wheel audio buttons control the radio. Can you change radio stations, activate voice recognition for Android Auto or CarPlay, and pause or mute the audio?

Finally, look at the source selection menu. Is it intuitive? Is it adjustable? Can you access the sources you want quickly and easily? Remember, at 65 mph, you’re covering 95 feet per second. Even a quick glance at the radio can be dangerous.

Testing Digital Media Support

If you have a large digital media collection, you’ll need to do a few tests to make sure you can enjoy the songs or videos the way you want. Start by connecting your USB memory stick, portable hard drive or smartphone and make sure all the songs are accessible. If you have mixed formats like MP3, WAV and FLAC on a single device, make sure those all work. Some source units have limits as to the number of tracks that can be accessed because of memory limitations. If you have music that may include copyright restrictions, give those a try before you buy.

If you like to listen in random mode, make sure the device will randomize the way you want. Some systems only scramble the playback order in a single folder, and some will select from multiple folders. Explore how easy it is to change folders or scroll through a long list of albums or artists. If you have to press a down-arrow 150 times to find the track you want, well, you won’t enjoy using the radio.

If you plan to play video files, test compatibility before you buy. Video files are complicated. The file contains separate video and audio information, each of which can be compressed in many different formats. H,264, H.265, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and WMV are common for video and MP3, AAC, WMA and FLAC are common for the audio portion. Many sources have limitations on video file resolution. Unless you’re choosing a truly premium source unit, the system is likely limited to 720×480 pixels of resolution. The top players can now handle 1920×1080. Finally, check to make sure that the audio from the files you are playing is in sync with the video. Using a test file that has a close-up of a gun firing is a good way to confirm this. The bang should coincide with the flash as the bullet leaves the barrel. Catching up on the John Wick trilogy would be a good starting point.

Smartphone Support for Car Radios

Back in 2005, we saw the first multimedia receiver with integrated support for the Apple iPod. A decade later, playback of Android-powered devices was added as a feature. If you have an older device, make sure you test it before you buy a new radio. If you have an iPod Classic or Nano with a 30-pin dock connector, it might not work on a new radio. In fact, most new radios only support the iPhone, iPad and the sixth-generation iPod Touch. You’ll get an error if you connect anything else. Want to be sure? Try it at the store before you buy it!

Next in our test criteria is Bluetooth. When it comes to iPhones, things are usually pretty reliable. Nevertheless, pair your phone, make a call, make sure Siri Hands Free works the way you want and finally, make sure the phone reconnects after you cycle power on the radio. Try this a few times to be sure all is well.

If you are an Android phone user, the above tests are crucial. Because the Android operating system is open source and available to any phone manufacturer to be implemented in the way they see fit, there is absolutely no standard for connectivity. You can’t simply ask whether your Android phone will work since the Bluetooth software on the phone can be updated without your knowledge. Connect the phone and test it. Don’t buy a new car radio without completing this step.

A final word of warning: Because Android can be set to update automatically, your phone may suddenly stop working the way you want for no apparent reason. In these cases, test the radio with an iPhone to make sure it’s functioning properly, then contact the phone manufacturer to seek assistance in rectifying the issue. Car radio manufacturers cannot issue updates every time an Android phone’s Bluetooth software changes.

Try Out Your New Radio Before Buying

If you follow any of the technology websites or Facebook groups, then you have undoubtedly seen the hundreds or thousands of posts about smartphones not working with automotive technology. You must make sure things are as compatible and easy-to-use as possible before buying a new source unit for your vehicle. Drop by your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer and ask to test-drive the radio you’re interested in before they install it in your vehicle. This process can save you a lot of hassle.

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 enthusiasts are very familiar with the ways sound deadening can improve the performance of a car stereo system. Many of us have heard interactive displays at our local specialty mobile enhancement retailer that demonstrate the improvement in bass response that a treated door has compared to one that’s, well, naked. Let’s take a look at what sound damping is and how it can improve our time behind the wheel.

What Is Automotive Sound Deadening?

Also called sound damping, or incorrectly called sound dampening, these products are thin sheets of dense butyl rubber that your technician attaches to the metal panels of your car or truck. The additional mass of the rubber makes it more difficult for sound energy to pass into the vehicle.

Many damping solutions include a layer of aluminum, which holds the thin butyl sheet together and acts as a thermal barrier.

Several companies offer a butyl and aluminum damping material that includes a layer of foam on top, which helps reduce buzzes and rattles from objects that make contact with the panel.

Where Is Damping Material Installed?

Relatively flat metal surfaces transfer the majority of the sound energy from outside the vehicle. The doors, roof, rear fenders, floor, firewall and trunk lid or hatch are the prime targets. Having these surfaces treated with a quality deadening product will create results that are easily audible. If you are interested in improving the performance of the audio system, sealing the holes and access openings on the inner door skin with deadening can improve midbass performance and efficiency from the speaker.

Lower Noise Level

Regardless of whether you’re listing to music, talking to a passenger or simply enjoying a drive, having your vehicle treated with quality damping can reduce road, engine and exhaust noise by as much as 10 dB. Having a quieter cabin is more relaxing, and studies have shown that drivers can concentrate better in a quiet environment.

Improved Bluetooth Performance

Imagine that you’re talking on the phone using the Bluetooth hands-free solution in your car or truck and the air conditioner or heater is turned up all the way. The noise from the fan and the moving air drowns out part of what you are saying and makes it harder for the person on the other end of the call to hear and understand you. Reducing road, exhaust, wind and engine noise in your vehicle has the same effect as turning the fan down. Your voice will stand out from the noise and be clearer and easier to understand.

Improved Physical Comfort

If you have a powerful engine in your car, the heat from the engine, transmission and exhaust system will quickly warm the metal firewall and floor, making the interior of your vehicle hot and uncomfortable. Hot rod and custom car builders have used damping materials in their builds for decades to help block heat transfer. Companies like Dynamat, Cascade Audio, Lizard Skin and Hushmat offer products that are designed specifically to reduce that transfer of heat energy into the interior of your vehicle. With one of these products installed, the heater or air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep you comfortable.

Make Your Vehicle More Comfortable with Sound Deadening

If it’s difficult to carry on a conversation with your passengers or if the sound quality of your Bluetooth hands-free system is questionable, drop by your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer today. They can let you know which surfaces will result in the biggest reduction in noise transfer, and they can provide you with a detailed quote for an installation that will make your vehicle more comfortable.

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.

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.

For most of us, streaming the genre of music we want from an online service is the way to go. Whether we’re in the office, at home or in the car, access to millions of songs is always just a click away. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular music streaming services available.

Pandora

Because of how it chooses the music you want to hear, Pandora is a unique streaming service. Powered by the Music Genome Project, Pandora analyzes between 150 and 450 attributes, depending on the genre of music, to classify each song. Interestingly, the analysis is performed by a musician in a process that takes 20 to 30 minutes. At least 10% of the songs are analyzed by more than one musician to maintain statistical accuracy.

What does this mean to the listener? If you choose a song you like, such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, Pandora will play that song, then follow it with something very similar. Using this example, Pandora, when used via its website with a computer, offers a list of features of the song. They are “Grunge recording qualities, Repetitive melodic phrasing, Extensive vamping, Minor key tonality and A vocal-centric aesthetic.” Similar songs would include “My Hero” by Foo Fighters, “Machinehead” by Bush and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day. You can create your own station based on an artist or genre of music. It’s a great way to get your Synth Pop fix when you’re feeling retro!

There are dedicated iOS and Android apps for Pandora, with integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Many aftermarket source units include a Pandora application built into the radio interface to let you give a thumbs-up to the songs you like.

Pandora was purchased by SiriusXM in February 2019 for $3.5 million. It’s worth noting that Pandora is not available in Canada.

Spotify

It is said that Spotify is a great streaming service for people who know what they want to hear. In contrast, Pandora might be a better source for finding new music. Spotify lets you search by song title, artist, album or genre. Listeners can create and share playlists of their favorite songs. According to Wikipedia, Spotify offers access to 50 million songs and as of the summer of 2019, has 232 million active users. Dedicated applications are available for your computer (Windows, Macintosh or Linux), as well as PlayStation, Xbox and Internet-connected speakers like Sonos, Alexa and Google home.

Spotify has iOS and Android apps that are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Like Pandora, many aftermarket radios include dedicated Spotify apps.

Tidal

Known best for its amazing sound quality, Tidal offers two levels of service: Tidal Premium, which uses lossy files, and Tidal Hi-Fi, which features FLAC-format CD-quality streams at 44.1 kHz sampling rates and 16 bits of resolution. Bandwidth reduction comes from FLAC compression that only reduces file size and not sound quality. Tidal claims to offer more than 60 million tracks and 240,000 videos.

Another characteristic that makes Tidal unique is access to exclusive music, including “first access” to releases from artists such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kanye West and Jay Z. Many artists are shareholders and co-owners in the company.

Of course, Tidal apps exist for iOS and Android mobile devices. CarPlay and Android Auto both support Tidal.

Qobuz

After a rocky start, Qobuz claims to be the first music streaming service that offers 24-bit Hi-Res files. Users have their choice of Qobuz Premium with MP3-quality 320 kbps streaming, Qobuz Hi-Fi with CD-quality FLAC files at 44.1 kHz/16 bit or Qobuz Studio with Hi-Res FLAC at up to 192 kHz and 24-bit resolution. Qobuz claims to offer access to 40 million songs. Unlike the other services we have listed, there is no free trial for Qobuz. If you’re serious about the quality of your music, then it’s worth checking out Qobuz.

Explore New Music with Streaming Services

There are dozens more popular streaming services like Apple Music, Google Play Music, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio. All of these have mobile apps that are supported by the smartphone integration solutions CarPlay and Android Auto. If you have questions about how to enjoy a streaming service in your car, or how to upgrade your mobile audio system to get the most out of the music you love, drop by your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer today. They would be happy to help!

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.

Whether you own a brand-new Ram Rebel or a classic Dodge 1500 pickup, your local mobile enhancement specialist carries a variety of accessories and upgrades that can improve the functionality of your vehicle and your enjoyment of it. If you love music, a speaker or subwoofer upgrade can transform your listening experience. If you use your truck for work, a toolbox or bed cover could be right up your alley. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular upgrades that are available.

Ram Pickup Truck Stereo Upgrades

If you have an older Dodge or Ram truck, upgrading the radio with something more modern can open up a whole new world of entertainment options. For those with the 1.5-DIN radio, up until now, adding multimedia was nearly impossible. The new “floating” display radio solutions from Alpine and Sony have changed this. The Alpine iLX-F309 and Sony XAV-AX8000 (shipping around December 2019) feature a single-DIN radio chassis and a huge 9-inch touchscreen display that mounts in front of the dash. These radios include Bluetooth calling and audio streaming, support for MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC digital audio files from a USB stick and, most importantly, include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

No matter what trim level of truck you own, upgrading the speakers or adding a subwoofer will make a huge difference in the way your music sounds. Better speakers offer improved clarity, thanks to a reduction in distortion. Typically, they will also play a lot louder when combined with an upgraded amplifier.

Adding a subwoofer system to any truck is perhaps the most dramatic improvement you can make. Having an amplifier and speaker dedicated to producing bass not only allows you to hear more low-frequency information from your music, but it also alleviates the need for your smaller speakers to try to reproduce those power-hungry frequencies. In short, everything about your stereo will sound better with a subwoofer.

Safety and Collision Avoidance Systems

Your local mobile enhancement retailer offers a variety of backup cameras and collision avoidance systems for Ram trucks. A backup camera is one of the best upgrades you can make to a pickup truck. Being able to see what’s hiding behind that tailgate can prevent accidents and injury. Camera options include solutions that mount to the license plate or that are integrated into a new tailgate handle.

Parking sensors are another great upgrade for pickup trucks. These small sensors mount in the front and/or rear bumper to detect and warn the driver as you approach an object. The system will begin beeping once you are a few feet away from a wall, a post or parked vehicle. Once you are within 12 inches, the beeping becomes a solid tone to let you know it’s time to stop.

Remote Starters and Security Systems

Most people think that remote starters are only for people who live in areas that get cold. The reality is, having a remote starter in Florida, Texas, Arizona, Georgia or California is a great way to let the air conditioning system start cooling the vehicle before it’s time to leave. Whether you are worried about heat or cold, a high-quality remote starter is a great way to make your vehicle more comfortable.

Your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer can help you choose a control option that provides the range you need to ensure your vehicle can be started long before it’s time to leave.

If you are worried about someone stealing a cool set of wheels, most remote starters can be upgraded to include security functions. Adding a tilt/motion sensor and shock sensor will sound an alert if someone jacks up your vehicle to steal your wheels.

Ram Running Boards and Bed Covers

Functionality and styling upgrades are very popular with truck owners. A set of side-steps or running boards is a welcome addition on a truck with big wheels or a lift kit. For a truly elegant solution, motorized running boards like the PowerStep from Amp Research make it easy to get in and out when a door is open, then fold up tight against the rocker panel when the doors are closed to maintain ground clearance and aerodynamics.

If you carry tools or personal belongings in the bed of your truck, adding a tonneau cover is simple and effective protection. A soft roll-up or folding cover is an inexpensive way to conceal what’s in the bed. A hard cover upgrades your protection by making it difficult to access the contents. Both hard and soft covers roll or fold quickly to provide complete access to the bed to load and unload large items.

Lighting Upgrades

If you find you spend a lot of time driving after the sun sets or you take your Ram or Dodge off-road, a lighting upgrade might be a great idea. LED and HID bulb upgrades for the factory headlights can more than double the amount of light produced to help you see farther and be safer. A set of auxiliary lights in the form of LED light cubes or a light bar can light up a trail or road to ensure you can see everything in front of you.

Window Tint and Paint Protection Film

Another great upgrade that can improve the comfort and safety of your Ram or Dodge truck is window tint. Adding tint to the windows blocks 99% of the UV rays from the sun to protect your skin and reduce damage to the fabric, leather and vinyl in your truck. Choosing a high-quality ceramic film can cut the amount of heat that enters the truck by more than two-thirds to keep it cool on a hot summer day.

Paint protection film is an incredibly durable transparent urethane coating that is applied directly over the paint on your truck. Also called clear bra or Heli Tape, paint protection film is designed to absorb impacts from sand, gravel, stones and small rocks to prevent chips and scratches. The film can be applied to front bumpers, the hood, fenders, mirror covers, door handle cups, rocker panels and the perimeter of the truck bed and the tailgate to keep your investment looking like new.

Upgrade Your Ram or Dodge Pickup Truck Today!

Whether you need an old blown speaker replaced, want a studio-quality sound system installed or are shopping for truck accessories, drop by your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer today to find out how you can improve your Ram truck.

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.