I hear a lot of people complaining about their headlights dimming to the beat of their music after having a car audio system installed. Depending on what size amplifier you have added, you may notice electrical fluctuations throughout the car, including in your car's performance. Here is a simple and cost effective way to stop or significantly reduce this side effect.
The large amounts of power pulled from the amp have to come from somewhere, so it robs your battery, your alternator, and everything else of power that is connected to your battery. This can put a lot of undue strain on the alternator, and can in many cases result in premature failure. You may even notice a decrease in your car's performance too with larger amps. The ignition components all require a steady amount of voltage and amps to perform correctly, and if this flow is disrupted, you can see a decrease in horsepower. This is directly because power that would have been used to fire the spark plugs is being drained by the amp faster than it it being replenished by the alternator.
The easiest solution to this issue is to add a second battery. This essentially doubles the amount of available power the car has. For around $50.00, you can add a second battery and virtually eliminate the dimming headlights. The amp and other added car accessories (except the head unit) should be run off of the added battery. It is also a good idea to get a battery isolator for the second battery. This allows the alternator to charge the second battery, but does not allow the components attached to the second battery to put added strain on the primary battery, leaving the primary battery to power the car's other electrical systems. An average battery isolator will run you about $50.00-$100.00, but worth the investment for larger systems.
Don't sacrifice your car's performance for sound. Do it right and get great performance AND great sound.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Mobile video units still growing in popularity
Mobile video components are becoming more and more affordable this year. The options are also growing. You can now get video monitors in a variety of styles, including the double din mobile video "all in one" units with a 6.5" or 7"screen. Some of these units even come in a touch screen mode and can feature windows mobile or act as an in car computer. Other options include the flip out 7" screens which come loaded like the double din versions, or stripped down as just a monitor. If you are looking for just the monitor, then there are several options, like the headrest monitors, sunvisor monitors, flip down monitors, and dash mounted monitors.
Mobile video is an awesome addition to any vehicle, and can help parents cope with children on longer trips. State laws limit how and where video monitors can be displayed, so check with your local law enforcement to be sure to stay legal. Most require monitors to be out of sight of the driver unless they are off while driving. Installing them without the safety features is illegal, so be careful what you ask the installers to do. Chances are you won't get caught, but if you do, the fines are hefty.
We will post the state law requirements for you in the next post.
Mobile video is an awesome addition to any vehicle, and can help parents cope with children on longer trips. State laws limit how and where video monitors can be displayed, so check with your local law enforcement to be sure to stay legal. Most require monitors to be out of sight of the driver unless they are off while driving. Installing them without the safety features is illegal, so be careful what you ask the installers to do. Chances are you won't get caught, but if you do, the fines are hefty.
We will post the state law requirements for you in the next post.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
In Dash DVDs
In-dash DVD player and monitors are expecting to see another year of sales growth.
By one estimate, in-dash dvd players won 6 to 8 percent of the total head-unit market in 2006 as measured in dollars, and will increase to about 10 percent of the market in 2007.
The number of in-dash dvd players is rapidly increasing in some lines. Some suppliers are now offering seven to nine models, compared to two or three last year. In fact, many head units over $400 are now full audio/video units rather than CD players.
Dual and Jensen are the most aggresive companies emerging in 2007.
Dual claims it now has a 20 percent unit share in in-dash multimedia and that it sold out of its 2006 in-dash DVD products by mid September. Dual plans to increase its in-dash DVD/monitor line to six units this year, including its first navigation/DVD model.
Two new models debuting at CES include the XDVD8185, a single-DIN DVD player with a 7-inch widescreen, XM capability, SD card slot, built-in Bluetooth, iPod controler and iPod cable. The unit has peak 60x4 power and is expected to debut in january for about $799. A double-DIN version with similar features is the XDVD8285. It has a 6.5-inch screen and will offer 5.1 sound for $799.
Kenwood's Audio/Video line now has seven models, starting at $799 this year as opposed to the $999 starting price last year. Kenwood's first in-dash navigation/DVD/monitor all-in-one unit, the DNX1700, will run you about $1,600. The lproduct line also includes a single-DIN KVT-719DVD retailing at $999 with USB input, 7-inch touch screen and GUI. It is also satellite, HD-Radio, and Bluetooth ready. It will debut sometime in March 2007.
Pioneer's new entry-level AVH-P4900DVD will see a reasonable $800, which is significantly less than similar models from rpevious years. With a March debut date, the single-DIN DVD/monitor has MP3/WMA and 6.5-inch motorized touch-screen monitor, iPod controls with iPod adapter and XM radio capability. The upscale version, the Pioneer AVH-P5900DVD includes a 7-inch screen, and adds AAC and DiVX playback with iPod video playback, Bluetooth, USB and rear auxiliary input. It will be available in May at an MSRP of $1,000.
JVC is debuting three Audio/Video head units including two EXAD models with embedded 3.5-inch screens for displaying DVD movies, DiVX files and JPEG images. JVC's elite model, the KD-AVX33, also has Bluetooth capability with an adapter, USB and 5.1-channel surround, and is XM radio, and iPod ready (with an adapter). The unit also has a seven-band graphic equalizer.
The KD-AVX11 will offer many of the same features without Bluetooth, USB, 5.1 surround and DVD-Audio. It will be available in February at a retail price of $429, followed by the KD-AVX33 in March at $649. For the full screen version, JVC is offering a KW-AVX800 double-DIN EXAD DVD/monitor with a 7-inch screen, SD and USB. Other features include Bluetooth for hands-free calling with an adapter, iPod control, and XM radio. It also can play back MP3s from a DVD and supports AAC and DiVX files, and offers 5.1-channel surround. This unit will become available in March 2007 for $849.
Panasonic is adding iPod video capability to two new Audio/Video products, which include the single-DIN DVD player/monitor with 7-inch touch screen, and the double-DIN DVD player with 6.5-inch touch panel. Both are Bluetooth ready for hands-free calling, XM satelite ready with Dolby Digital and DTS surround and seven-band graphic EQ. These units will debut in February. Pricing has not been announced for these two units.
In addition to Clarion's new Max675VD/Nax970HD navigation Audio/Video system, Clarion is also adding two Audio/Video head units. The VRX375USB single-DIN DVD receiver with a built-in 3.5-inch TFT monitor with rear USB terminal and iPod capability will be available beginnign in April 2007. Its counterpart has a 7-inch flip-out screen.
Several other key players are making plans for their Audio/Video units for the next year, so be sure to check back periodically for the latest updates.
Visit our full line of auto accessories for your in dash DVD players and monitors!
By one estimate, in-dash dvd players won 6 to 8 percent of the total head-unit market in 2006 as measured in dollars, and will increase to about 10 percent of the market in 2007.
The number of in-dash dvd players is rapidly increasing in some lines. Some suppliers are now offering seven to nine models, compared to two or three last year. In fact, many head units over $400 are now full audio/video units rather than CD players.
Dual and Jensen are the most aggresive companies emerging in 2007.
Dual claims it now has a 20 percent unit share in in-dash multimedia and that it sold out of its 2006 in-dash DVD products by mid September. Dual plans to increase its in-dash DVD/monitor line to six units this year, including its first navigation/DVD model.
Two new models debuting at CES include the XDVD8185, a single-DIN DVD player with a 7-inch widescreen, XM capability, SD card slot, built-in Bluetooth, iPod controler and iPod cable. The unit has peak 60x4 power and is expected to debut in january for about $799. A double-DIN version with similar features is the XDVD8285. It has a 6.5-inch screen and will offer 5.1 sound for $799.
Kenwood's Audio/Video line now has seven models, starting at $799 this year as opposed to the $999 starting price last year. Kenwood's first in-dash navigation/DVD/monitor all-in-one unit, the DNX1700, will run you about $1,600. The lproduct line also includes a single-DIN KVT-719DVD retailing at $999 with USB input, 7-inch touch screen and GUI. It is also satellite, HD-Radio, and Bluetooth ready. It will debut sometime in March 2007.
Pioneer's new entry-level AVH-P4900DVD will see a reasonable $800, which is significantly less than similar models from rpevious years. With a March debut date, the single-DIN DVD/monitor has MP3/WMA and 6.5-inch motorized touch-screen monitor, iPod controls with iPod adapter and XM radio capability. The upscale version, the Pioneer AVH-P5900DVD includes a 7-inch screen, and adds AAC and DiVX playback with iPod video playback, Bluetooth, USB and rear auxiliary input. It will be available in May at an MSRP of $1,000.
JVC is debuting three Audio/Video head units including two EXAD models with embedded 3.5-inch screens for displaying DVD movies, DiVX files and JPEG images. JVC's elite model, the KD-AVX33, also has Bluetooth capability with an adapter, USB and 5.1-channel surround, and is XM radio, and iPod ready (with an adapter). The unit also has a seven-band graphic equalizer.
The KD-AVX11 will offer many of the same features without Bluetooth, USB, 5.1 surround and DVD-Audio. It will be available in February at a retail price of $429, followed by the KD-AVX33 in March at $649. For the full screen version, JVC is offering a KW-AVX800 double-DIN EXAD DVD/monitor with a 7-inch screen, SD and USB. Other features include Bluetooth for hands-free calling with an adapter, iPod control, and XM radio. It also can play back MP3s from a DVD and supports AAC and DiVX files, and offers 5.1-channel surround. This unit will become available in March 2007 for $849.
Panasonic is adding iPod video capability to two new Audio/Video products, which include the single-DIN DVD player/monitor with 7-inch touch screen, and the double-DIN DVD player with 6.5-inch touch panel. Both are Bluetooth ready for hands-free calling, XM satelite ready with Dolby Digital and DTS surround and seven-band graphic EQ. These units will debut in February. Pricing has not been announced for these two units.
In addition to Clarion's new Max675VD/Nax970HD navigation Audio/Video system, Clarion is also adding two Audio/Video head units. The VRX375USB single-DIN DVD receiver with a built-in 3.5-inch TFT monitor with rear USB terminal and iPod capability will be available beginnign in April 2007. Its counterpart has a 7-inch flip-out screen.
Several other key players are making plans for their Audio/Video units for the next year, so be sure to check back periodically for the latest updates.
Visit our full line of auto accessories for your in dash DVD players and monitors!
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