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Product Spotlight: Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit

Compustar 2WG17 Remote KitCompustar was one of the first brands to allow consumers to choose a remote control package to accompany their remote start controller. Previously, we looked at flagship-level solutions like the PRO T13 and PRO R5. In this spotlight, we’re taking a closer look at the new and more affordable 2WG17 remote package. Let’s check it out!

What’s Included with the 2WG17:

  • The Compustar 2WG17 remote bundle includes:
  • A pair of three-button remote controls
  • A Drone X2/LTE module
  • An antenna with cable
  • A temperature sensor

Your authorized retailer can recommend the most suitable system controller for your vehicle. If you’re looking for full-featured performance, something like the CM-X is a popular and capable choice.

2-Way Remote Control

Taking a closer look, we see that the remotes included in this kit differ from each other. The primary remote, model 2WG17R-FM, is a two-way unit. It features three buttons, and three LED indicators located just above the top button. These LEDs confirm when a command like locking or remote starting is successfully received and executed by the vehicle control module.

The LEDs also indicate the remaining engine runtime when the vehicle is running via remote start:

  • All three LEDs flash when 100% of runtime remains
  • Center and right LEDs flash at 50%
  • Only the right LED (start icon) flashes at 25%

Don’t be fooled by the remote’s simple three-button design. Lock, unlock, and remote start are directly accessible, while advanced functions are handled through intuitive button combinations:

  • Trunk release: Press and hold the unlock button for 2.5 seconds
  • Auxiliary output 1: Press start, then double-press the lock button
  • Auxiliary output 2: Press start, then double-press the unlock button

These outputs can be programmed to control functions like sliding doors, tailgate glass releases, or additional lighting.

Using other button combinations, you can also control features such as siren chirps, shock sensor settings, valet mode, ignition-controlled door locks, passive locking, and turbo timer activation. This makes the remote highly customizable to fit your specific needs.

Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit
The main remote includes LEDs to confirm when commands are executed using 2-way communication with the vehicle controller.

1-Way Remote Control

The secondary remote, model 1WG17-FM, offers similar core control functions but does not include 2-way confirmation LEDs. It’s a great backup remote or a simpler option for another household driver.

Both remotes feature up to 3,000 feet of range thanks to Frequency Modulation (FM) signal transmission. That’s enough to start your vehicle from inside a small apartment, office building, or even across a massive parking lot.

Another standout feature is that both remotes are water-resistant. It should keep functioning without issue if you accidentally drop your key fob in a puddle or snowbank. This durability adds a layer of everyday peace of mind and extends the lifespan of your investment.

Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit
The companion remote in the 2WG17 kit offers the same 3000 feet of range.

Drone Smartphone Control

The 2WG17 package includes a Drone X2/LTE module for smartphone control. When paired with the DroneMobile app, you gain full access to your remote start system from virtually anywhere your phone has internet access.

You can:

  • Lock or unlock the doors
  • Start or stop the engine
  • Release the trunk
  • Activate auxiliary features

Whether at the office or vacationing in another country, you can easily check the vehicle’s status or control it. On the beach in Mexico and want make sure the doors are locked – it’s as simple a tapping an icon in the DroneMobile app.

GPS tracking is also enabled with a compatible service plan. If your vehicle is moved—say, loaded onto a flatbed—you’ll receive a notification. You can then alert authorities and provide your vehicle’s location in real time.

Retailers can walk you through the available service plans and help you select one that matches your needs.

Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit
The 2WG17 kit includes a Drone smartphone interface for your remote car starter.

Ready to Roll in Comfort

The included temperature sensor allows for automatic climate-related activation features. For instance, you can:

  • Automatically turn on the rear window defroster when starting the vehicle in cold temperatures
  • Trigger heated seats or a heated steering wheel

The product specialist helping to configure your system can tell you which factory features in your vehicle are compatible with these automatic activations. These small touches add significant comfort and convenience during extreme weather.

Add Comfort with a Compustar 2WG17 Remote Car Starter

Whether you live in Montana or New York and dread frigid winter mornings, or you’re in Florida or Texas and want to avoid stepping into a sweltering vehicle, a remote car starter from Compustar ensures your ride is comfortable every time you get in.

The 2WG17 remote kit offers high-quality, affordable functionality. It combines convenience, rugged durability, and peace of mind thanks to two-way command confirmation. It’s a smart upgrade for any vehicle.

For more information on the Compustar 2WG17 remote kit or any of Compustar’s remote car starter and vehicle security solutions, drop by a local authorized retailer. You can find a shop near you using the dealer locator tool on the Compustar website. Be sure to follow Compustar on Facebook, Instagram, and, of course, on YouTube to learn about the new technologies they bring to the market.

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.

Filed Under: RESOURCE LIBRARY, ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters Tagged With: Compustar

Product Spotlight: Compustar EZGO-II

Compustar EZGO-II

Hands-free proximity unlocking is a feature found on many new cars and trucks fresh off the showroom floor. The Compustar EZGO-II adds this convenience to your remote car starter or security system. Let’s take a close look at this unique keyless entry solution.

What are Keyless Entry and Proximity Unlocking?

A typical keyless entry system uses a key fob to unlock the doors of your car or truck. The key fob communicates with the electronics in the vehicle using radio frequency signals. In most cases, you need to press the unlock button on the fob to disarm the security system and unlock the doors. This keyless entry technology was a major upgrade from manually inserting a key into a door lock, as was common in the ’90s.

Compustar developed a fully hands-free unlocking solution when it launched the Compustar PRO T13 and R5 remote controls for its starters and alarms in 2021. That same technology is now available in the EZGO-II proximity unlocking system.

Proximity unlocking refers to the automated process of unlocking the doors of your car or truck as you approach the vehicle. As we found when testing the T13 and R5 remotes, when you are about four or five feet from the door, the system will automatically detect the remote in your pocket and unlock the vehicle. In most cases, the tailgate of an SUV or truck will also unlock to provide full access to the vehicle.

Once the last door is closed, the system will search for the EZGO-II remote. When it doesn’t detect the remote, it automatically locks the doors. If you remain around the vehicle for five minutes or more after turning off the engine, the proximity locking feature is disabled until a door is opened or the vehicle is started.

With a Compustar remote starter or alarm and the EZGO-II, looking for car keys is a thing of the past.

The EZGO-II Remote

The EZGO-II system includes a small antenna and a compact, square remote with a single button. In terms of features, it’s surprisingly similar to the T5 remote we mentioned earlier. First and foremost, the remote will automatically unlock your vehicle as you approach. This is a godsend if you are carrying groceries or have one of your kids in your arms. Sure, you still have to pull the door handle to open it, but that’s always been the case.

Next, the remote’s single button allows you to lock or unlock the doors from up to 150 feet away from the vehicle. A single tap sends a lock command, and double-tapping the button sends the unlock command.

Finally, if you hold the button for 2.5 seconds, the remote will transmit a start command to your car starter. Pressing and holding the button again for 2.5 seconds will transmit a stop command. So, if you are in your home and the vehicle is in the driveway, the EZGO-II remote provides enough range to start the vehicle remotely.

The EZGO-II remote has a small LED that indicates when it is within range of the remote car starter or security system controller.

If you need additional range, then upgrading your car starter or security system with the Drone smartphone-based control system is a perfect solution. So long as you have access to the Internet, you can lock, unlock or remote start the vehicle. With a premium service plan, you can also use GPS-based tracking to monitor the vehicle’s location and how it’s being used.

Compustar EZGO-II
If you need more range to control your vehicle, add the Drone smartphone control system.

How Does Proximity Unlocking Work?

If you are like us, then knowing how something works is as interesting as the features it offers. The EZGO-II system uses a communication system called Bluetooth Low Energy, or Bluetooth LE. The key fob transmits a low-power signal that can be picked up by the EZGO-II antenna mounted to the dash. If the signal matches the security pattern, the antenna sends a digital command to the remote start or security system controller in the vehicle. That module then sends an unlock command to the vehicle’s door locks or, in some cases, the body control module (BCM).

When you close the last door, the antenna starts communicating with the EZGO-II remote again. Once the communication stops, as would happen when you walk away from the vehicle, the antenna sends a lock command to the controller.

Bluetooth LE was designed specifically for applications like what we’ve described above. These systems can consume as little as one microamp of current when in standby mode. As such, a typical CR2032 coin cell can last for more than a year. Even when communicating, the current draw is well under five milliamps. This communication is brief, however – lasting only as long as the remote is near the vehicle and the engine isn’t running. Put another way, the remote only consumes relatively high amounts of current while you are approaching or walking away from your car or truck. Honestly, that’s pretty cool!

Compustar EZGO-II
The EZGO-II remote control is incredibly small, measuring 1.5 inches square and only 0.25-inches thick.

Upgrade Your Convenience System Today

If you have a Compustar, NuStart, or FTX-branded remote car starter, the EZGO-II should be a compatible upgrade. Your Firstech (the parent company of the above brands) retailer can provide up to two additional remotes—whether they’re the EZGO-II or a more conventional one-button or four-button unit.

If you want to unlock your car, truck or SUV by simply walking up to it, you can find an authorized Compustar retailer near you using the dealer locator tool on their website. Be sure to follow Compustar on Facebook, Instagram and, of course, YouTube to stay up to date with all the new products and technologies available from this award-winning company.

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.

Filed Under: RESOURCE LIBRARY, ARTICLES, Driver Safety, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters Tagged With: Compustar

Product Spotlight: Momento M8 Max

Momento M8 Max

There are now hundreds of dash cameras on the market. If you are serious about protecting yourself from fraud and false accusations or simply want to capture those incredible once-in-a-lifetime moments, then you want a high-quality camera with excellent image quality. Momento’s latest flagship dash camera is called the M8 Max, and it’s the perfect choice for your car or truck. Let’s check it out!

Momento M8 Max Features

Let’s start by looking at the specifications of the new Momento M8 Max, which is also known as the MD-8400. This is the top-of-the-line in the three-model series. The M8 Max features a 4K Sony IMX image sensor for razor-sharp image capture at 30 frames per second. A secondary camera that can be pointed out the rear window features full HD (1920 x 1080 resolution) is also included in the kit. The system comes with a 64 GB memory card but can be upgraded to a 256 GB card for more storage. The M8 Max includes a GPS receiver to store vehicle location and speed.

The main power cable is also included in the box. This is a hard-wired cable, not a cigarette lighter plug. As such, your installer will need to find suitable constant 12-volt, switched accessory and ground connection points under the dash. A micro-SD to SD card adapter is also included.

Momento M8 Max
The camera on the Momento M8 Max can be adjusted to work with the slope of any windshield – from a Corvette to a transport truck.
Momento M8 Max
The M8 Max is ready for your installer to integrate into your vehicle to provide the ultimate protection against fraud and staged accidents.

Two- and Three-Camera Support Modes

Out of the box, the M8 Max is set up to handle dual-camera recording. However, if you want to add a third camera, like the IC6 interior camera, the M8 Max can be flashed with firmware to record from three sources simultaneously. The IC6 is ideal for taxis, limousines, buses, rideshare and company-owned vehicles. When flashed into three-camera mode, the system captures video from the front camera in 2K mode due to data storage bandwidth constraints.

Momento M8 Max
The M8 Max kit includes a full-HD resolution rear camera to capture what happens behind your vehicle.
Momento M8 Max
The IC6 Infrared interior camera is a perfect upgrade for taxi, Uber or Lyft operators to monitor occupant activity.

ECO Parking Mode

An essential feature of the M8 Max is its ECO parking mode. Unlike conventional cameras that use the image sensor to monitor the area in front of the vehicle, the M8 Max uses a low-power radar transceiver. If someone walks in front of your car or truck while the camera is in parking mode, the system will wake up and capture a video of the activity. Once the object has passed, it goes back into ECO Mode. The benefit of radar-based monitoring is that the camera consumes about 90% less power than video monitoring units. This means less drain on your vehicle battery and days of monitoring instead of hours.

Voice Recognition

The M8 Max includes voice recognition features. You can say “Hi, Momento,” then wait for the chime and say “Save Video.” The system will start a manual recording that is saved to a dedicated folder on the micro-SD card. Other voice commands include Enable and Disable Mic, Enable and Disable Wi-Fi, Switch Wi-Fi (between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz modes), and Enable and Disable Privacy mode.

Compact, Flexible Design with Manual Controls

The Momento M8 Maxi-fi is one of the lowest-profile dash cameras on the market. It attaches to your windshield with the included 3M VHB tape behind the rearview mirror. Once in place, the camera tilts upwards or down to ensure perfect coverage in front of the vehicle. The viewing angle is 112 degrees on the horizontal plane and 96 degrees vertically.

There are two buttons on the face of the Momento M8 Max, making it very intuitive to use. Pressing the left Wi-Fi button toggles Wi-Fi on and off. Pressing the right REC (Record) button initiates a manual recording in the event you witness something. Holding the REC button for three seconds turns off the mic. Holding the Wi-Fi button for 10 seconds will format the memory card.

The Momento Smartphone App

All three Momento M8 dashcams are compatible with the free Momento App for Android and iOS devices. Once you have connected your smart device to the M8 Max using 2.4 or 5 GHz Wi-Fi, the app lets you view the live video feed from the camera. This is how your installer will initially set up the camera.

The app lets you view and download stored files from any of the five galleries: Driving, Driving Events, Parking, Parking Events and Manual. You can preview the video at 600p resolution or download the full-resolution version and save it with your files or images for sharing.

The app provides access to many configuration options. These options include sensitivity adjustments for the integrated accelerometer to determine when event videos will be recorded. You can also set the automatic low-battery cut-off voltage or allocate different storage space for driving and parking videos. You can also change vehicle speed units between MPH and KM/H, depending on whether or not the camera uses radar parking mode, camera exposure, and the optional Travelapse mode. In Travelapse, the camera records at one frame per second to compress a long trip into a short video. If the accelerometer detects an impact, the system will store a 30-frame-per-second video starting seven seconds before the event trigger. The app also allows you to initiate a firmware update if and when it is introduced.

Momento M8 Max
The Momento App provides access to stored videos and system configuration settings.

The Ultimate Driving Protection Solution

If you want a premium dash camera with excellent image quality and class-leading features, visit a local authorized retailer and ask for a demonstration of the Momento M8 Max. They can complete the installation to ensure your camera will work reliably to capture everything that happens while you’re driving.

For more information on Momento safety products, visit their website. You should also follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Finally, their YouTube channel has videos about all of their products.

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.

Filed Under: RESOURCE LIBRARY, ARTICLES, Driver Safety, PRODUCTS Tagged With: Momento

Product Spotlight: Compustar Pro T13 Remote Starter

Compustar Pro T13

Only a handful of reputable companies manufacture remote car starters, but one stands out for its innovative solutions—Compustar. Their flagship Pro T13 is the industry’s longest-range radio-frequency car starter remote. Combine that with features like proximity unlocking, an LCD screen, and intuitive controls, and this is the ultimate remote control solution. Let’s explore why range is vital to making your vehicle more comfortable.

Compustar Pro T13 Remote Control

Compustar makes it easy for mobile enhancement retailers to design a car starter system tailored to your vehicle and needs. The Product Specialist you are working with can choose from several control modules, with the right one depending on your car’s specifications and desired features. For instance, the CM-X controller is ideal if your vehicle has a manual transmission. For consumers, these decisions typically happen behind the scenes as your quote is prepared.

What matters to you is the system interface. The factory remote coded to start the car when you press the lock button three times in short succession might be adequate if the range doesn’t matter much. If you want more range and features, your retailer can pair any of Compustar’s RF remote kits with the control module to meet your needs. If you want a simple one-button solution with two or three times as much range as the factory fob, they have it. Need two-way communication with trunk release? No problem! But if you want maximum range, two-way communication, security alerts, and much more, the Pro T13 remote is the ultimate option.

The Pro T13 is impressively compact at 2.84 inches tall, 1.57 inches wide, and only 0.44 inches deep. It features a vibrant color display that indicates whether your vehicle is locked, unlocked, or running.

Simple and Elegant Interface

The remote includes three buttons to access 50 commands and configuration settings. Locking, unlocking, or remotely starting your car is just a button press away. Double-tapping the lock or unlock buttons activates auxiliary outputs one and two. These outputs can control features like power sliding doors or rear defrost. The latter can even be configured to activate automatically if the interior temperature drops below a specific threshold. Your retailer can provide more details. Car Finder, trunk release, and much more are also easily accessible.

Compustar Pro T13
The T13 remote includes a charging cable, antenna, and all the wiring your installer needs to integrate with a Compustar remote start control module.

Class-Leading Range and Reliability

The key factor that sets the Pro T13 apart from other remote starters is its range. Range is the maximum distance from which the remote can communicate with your vehicle. Compustar specifies the Pro T13’s range at up to three miles under ideal conditions. We’ve measured the performance in real-world situations, which bested other remotes by more than 20%!

More importantly, the Pro T13’s powerful transceiver works excellently indoors. For instance, you can be at the far end of a shopping mall, in an apartment or office building, or inside a large factory and still communicate with your vehicle. This exceptional range ensures your car or truck has enough time to warm up in winter or cool down in summer long before you arrive at it.

Color Display and Two-Way Communication

The Pro T13’s two-way communication ensures reliability. When you press the lock button, the remote confirms the action with a beep and a visual indicator on the color LCD screen showing that the vehicle is locked. Unlike one-way remotes, which act like TV remotes, this feature gives you peace of mind, as you always know your vehicle’s status.

The color display not only tells you what the car is doing using intuitive icons but also shows the vehicle battery voltage, the temperature in the vehicle, and the battery level of the remote itself.

Compustar Pro T13
The Pro T13 remote offers two-way communications to ensure you always know what’s happening with your vehicle.

Proximity Unlocking Adds Convenience

Another standout feature of the Pro T13—and its smaller one-button counterpart, the Pro R5—is proximity unlocking. When you’re within five to six feet of your car or truck, the remote automatically communicates with the vehicle to unlock the doors—no need to press any buttons! Whether carrying groceries, holding a child, or juggling tonight’s pizza, this feature makes life easier.

Rechargeable Battery Pack and Rugged Design

Unlike most remotes, which use disposable coin-cell batteries, the Pro T13 features a built-in rechargeable battery. Connect the provided mini-USB cable to a USB outlet for a few hours to recharge it. You can even charge it while driving your vehicle.

This remote is as durable as possible, with an IPX-7 water resistance rating. This means it can survive being submerged in water, whether it’s a pool, puddle, or snowbank. Compustar backs the Pro T13 and other Pro Series remotes with a three-year warranty, giving you confidence in your investment.

Compustar Pro T13
The durable design of the T13 is backed by a three-year warranty.

Security System Ready for Added Protection

Are you concerned about theft or vandalism? Most Compustar remote car starters with the Pro T13 can be upgraded with advanced security features. Compustar’s alarm enhancements include a starter kill, a high-output siren, an optional horn-honk output, and a robust digital security sensor.

This sensor monitors impacts, motion, glass breakage, or vehicle tilting. If triggered, the Pro T13 remote alerts you with a loud beep and a display notification. This lets you take immediate action if needed.

Drone Smartphone Control Included

The T13 Remote kit includes the Drone smartphone control interface. Drone allows you to use the DroneMobile app on your smartphone to control your vehicle. You can lock or unlock the doors, remote start the engine, or even pop the trunk with a tap on your phone screen. You can even log into the dronemobile.com website and send commands from your desk at home or work.

The Drone can be upgraded with GPS-based location and geofence alerts. Tracking service plans are ideal if you let your kids drive the family car or want to monitor how your staff uses a company vehicle. Your local authorized Compustar retailer can explain the different service plans available.

Compustar Pro T13
The Drone smartphone control system provides effectively unlimited range and advanced tracking options to protect your vehicle.

Why Is Remote Starter Range Important

Let’s say you work in a large building like a hospital, warehouse, or factory. When you finish your shift, you can remote start your car or truck while packing up to leave. Your vehicle will have several minutes for the climate control to start making the interior more comfortable. In the winter, the rear window defroster can be activated automatically, so cleaning the car off is easier.

If the remotes that come with your car or low-cost car starters don’t have enough signal transmission power, you’ll have to wait until you are at the door or even outside in the parking lot to activate the starter. Now, you’ll have less than a minute for the engine to warm up. Inadequate range negates the benefit of having the starter.

The Ultimate Remote Starter Solution

If these features sound like the ultimate remote car starter recipe, you’re right. With industry-leading range capabilities, two-way communication, a color display, rugged durability, a rechargeable battery, and advanced security options, the Compustar Pro T13 is in a class of its own.

Visit an authorized Compustar Pro retailer today to learn how they can configure a system for maximum comfort and security. Use the Dealer Locator on Compustar’s website to find a retailer near you. Also, follow Compustar on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for updates on their amazing products.

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.

Filed Under: RESOURCE LIBRARY, ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters Tagged With: Compustar

Do I Need a Line Output Converter To Add a Car Amplifier?

Output Converter

We’ve talked at length about how car audio line output converters work and have even compared a few to see which sound best. We skipped over a discussion on whether a car audio amplifier upgrade needs a line-output converter. Let’s dive in!

What Does a Line Output Converter Do?

A high-quality line output converter serves three purposes. First and foremost, it can reduce the voltage from a radio or amplifier output to something acceptable on the preamp input of an amplifier. Second, it converts a bridge-tied load (BTL) signal to a single-ended signal that works with all amplifiers. Thirdly, it can provide a remote turn-on signal to activate an amplifier when you turn on a factory radio.

Most car audio amplifiers can only accept up to 5 or 6 volts on their preamp inputs. This voltage is equivalent to the output of an amplifier that produces a maximum of 9 watts of power into a 4-ohm load. Since most car radios can produce at least 20 watts, equivalent to just under 9 volts of signal, we need circuitry to reduce that level and not over-drive the input stage on the amplifier.

All car radios we’ve tested use the bridge-tied load speaker output configuration. This speaker driving method allows a radio to provide more power than a single-ended design without needing a dedicated switching power supply. If you’ve asked a technician to install an inexpensive or poorly designed amplifier, it will likely need a single-ended signal.

If you have a factory-installed radio in your car, truck or SUV, the chances of a wire going live only when the radio is on is quite unlikely. You’ll need a way to tell the new amplifier when it’s time to wake up and get to work. A good-quality line output converter can do that.

Modern Amplifier Features – Automatic Turn-On Circuits

If you look at most high-quality amplifiers on the market, you’ll see they include some sort of remote turn-on detection circuitry. Some of these circuits monitor the input connections on the amplifier for a presence of an audio signal. This is usually called a signal-detect turn-on circuit. Others look for the 55 to 6 volts of DC offset found on the output of BTL amplifiers as would be used in a car radio. These circuits are called DC offset or BTL detection solutions.

Output Converter
The DPower 1 from Hertz includes their ART Auto Turn On/Off Circuitry to simplify installation.
Output Converter
The XM-4ES from Sony’s Mobile ES line includes a switch that will activate the remote turn-on detection feature.
Output Converter
Rockford Fosgate’s Prime-Series R2-300X4 four-channel amplifier includes an Auto Remote Turn-On option.
Output Converter
X2-Series amplifiers from ARC Audio include both signal and DC offset detection remote turn-on circuits for maximum installation flexibility.

Car Audio Amplifier Differential Inputs

Decades ago, car audio amplifiers used the same single-ended RCA input circuitry as a home stereo receiver. Reputable car audio equipment manufacturers realized that switching to balanced differential circuitry inputs dramatically reduced the chances of ground loops that could cause unwanted engine noise in an audio system. This balanced input circuitry also helps eliminate any unwanted noise that the interconnect cables might have picked up as they run through the vehicle.

We’ve written a few detailed articles on the importance of balanced differential inputs and how to test an amplifier to make sure it has this feature. Don’t bother with amplifiers that don’t use differential inputs. You’re only asking for headaches and noise.

Too Much Preamp Voltage

It’s not often you hear the phrase “too much voltage” in the context of car audio discussions. With that said, if you feed too much signal to the RCA inputs on an amplifier, both the input and output can add huge amounts of distortion to your audio system. This distortion is called clipping.

Designing a car audio system upgrade requires an understanding of how the factory-installed audio system works. Your installer might need to take frequency response and amplitude measurements before recommending products. Some factory-installed subwoofer amplifiers can produce just shy of 40 volts of signal.

If you’re shopping for an amplifier to add to a factory-installed radio or amplifier, choose one that can accept a wide range of voltages. Some amplifiers have dedicated speaker-level input terminals. Others have a switch that attenuates the signal on the RCA jacks. Some DSP-equipped amplifiers have digitally selected input voltage ranges.

Output Converter
The Audison Forza AF M4D four-channel amplifier can accept up to 22 volts of signal on its speaker-level inputs.
Output Converter
Sony’s Mobile ES Amplifiers will accept up to 16 volts on the RCA jacks when set to their high-voltage range.
Output Converter
Rockford Fosgate’s Punch-Series P600X4 amplifier can accept up to 12V on the RCA inputs without any switches or adapters.
Output Converter
The Blackbird DSP amplifier from ARC Audio will accept up to 32 volts on the RCA inputs. Four input ranges are selectable in the ARC DNA software.

Questions To Ask When Purchasing Audio Upgrades

If you want to add an amplifier to your car audio system, you’ll want to ask the product specialist you’re working with some questions. Aside from everything we’ve suggested in our Buyers Guides, you need to know what accessories they plan to use for the installation. If they say you need a line output converter, ask what it would cost to move up to an amplifier that can accept the full signal from the source unit and turn itself on and off automatically without any adapters. The chances are good that the higher-quality amplifier won’t just simplify the installation but will likely sound better. If they insist a line-output converter is still required, ask why.

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.

Filed Under: Driver Safety, ARTICLES, Car Audio, New Category Name, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY, UTV Audio, Vehicle Security, Vinyl Graphics, Vinyl Wraps, Wheels and Tires, Window Tint

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Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday9:00 am – 6:00 pm

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