PASMAG - 119 - Dec/Jan

HIDDEN TREASURE: BOOMIN' & BALLIN' LEXUS IS F

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

D E X O B UN 10

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SEE HOW THEY PERFO

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TO THE UNIFIED CAR AUDIO FINALS

Cover - Dec_Jan (15.09).indd 2

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800.723.2553 | RT615K | PAS Mag | DEC 2013 | 7.875”W x 10.75”H

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www.orioncaraudio.com

During the show, you can contact us at: T:786.253.4061 | T:305.986.5934 | T:305.310.0903

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For dealers inquires: www.orioncaraudio.com | info@mdaudio.net T: (305) 593.8361 | F: (305) 593.8413 | Toll free: 1-855.475.6048 Miami, FL - USA facebook.com/orion.car.audio | twitter.com/OrionCarAudio

10/30/2013 10:23 AM

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JANUARY 2014

CONTENTS TEST REPORTS

052 ESSENTIALS

GEAR & GUIDES

EVENTS

016 SOUND ADVICE

WITH GARRY SPRINGGAY

022 12-VOLT INSIDER BY PAUL PIRRO The Sport of Car Audio

110 KONIG WHEELS CALENDAR

Photographer Profile: Beans otos

018

024

HOT NEW PRODUCTS

UNIFIED FINALS 2013 CAR AUDIO CHAMPIONSHIP

FEATURES

106 CARISSA ROSARIO 10

030

MAGNUM OPUS

Orion Car Audio Dodge Magnum SXT

036

RAMBO VS. ZOMBIES ARC Audio Chevrolet Cruze

042

HIDDEN TREASURE 2011 Lexus IS F

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

TOC 15.09 US.indd 1

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www.sylvania.com/zXe

© 2013 OSRAM SYLVANIA. SilverStar is a registered trademark of OSRAM GmbH.

Light of the party.

Roll with our whitest, most stylish light. SYLVANIA SilverStar® zXe headlights are fueled by exclusive xenon halogen gas technology, with all the attitude of HID. Learn more at www.sylvania.com/zXe. /sylvaniaautomotive

/sylvania

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4/12/13 3:13 2013-04-17 4:34PM PM

JANUARY 2014

CONTENTS TEST REPORTS HEAD UNITS

SPEAKERS, SUBS & DSPS

052

080

ALPINE CDE-HD149BT CD RECEIVER

POWERBASS L2-702 COAXIAL SPEAKERS

084 AUDIOCONTROL DQ-61 OEM INTEGRATION PROCESSOR

058 DUAL AXXERA AXD530 CD RECEIVER

064 090

JVC KD-A845BT CD RECEIVER

068

ARC AUDIO BLACK SERIES 12D2 WOOFER

094 ORION HCCA154 DUAL 4-OHM VOICE COIL SUBWOOFER

KENWOOD DNN990HD NAVIGATION RECEIVER

074 SONY XAV-602BT MULTIMEDIA RECEIVER

TECH

CONNECTED

100 HUSHMAT

104 CLARION

Reduce Heat and Noise

12

CC510 CAMERA

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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Performance Auto & Sound Magazine (ISSN # 1710-1573) is published 10 times a year by Performance Auto & Sound Inc. 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada Subscription Rates: (10 issues) Canada and USA: $14.99 (20 issues) Canada and USA: $24.99 (30 issues) Canada and USA: $34.99 Toll Free: 1 (888) 564-SUBS [7827] Email: subs@pasmag.com www.pasmag.com/subscribe GROUP PUBLISHER & CEO Tim Rutledge PUBLISHERS Blake Breslin & Perry Breslin FOUNDER & SR. VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Frank Spezzano

EDITORIAL

GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Shaun Keenan EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lee Bailie PRODUCTION EDITOR Richard Robles ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jordan Lenssen TECHNICAL EDITOR Garry Springgay

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS MOTORSPORTS EDITORS JACOB LEVETON JEREMY ALAN GLOVER FEATURE EDITORS DAVID MACKINNON ERIC EIKENBERRY PAUL PIRRO PHOTOGRAPHERS FRED LYNCH JAY CANTER JORDAN DONNELLY MICHAEL WATSON

ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Queue Gonzalez PRODUCTION & SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Dinglasan SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Edward Shintani SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Beltijar GRAPHIC DESIGNER Mike Chan SALES & MARKETING

DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING Matthew Adolfo DIRECTOR, CLIENT SERVICES Justin Hasan SENIOR SALES MANAGER Erickson Obiacoro AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Randi Bentia SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Charlotte G. O’Rourke

ADMINISTRATION

DIRECTOR, CIRCULATION & RETAIL MARKETING Craig Sweetman FINANCE MANAGER Michelle Forsyth DIGITAL COORDINATOR Patrick Lagowski

PRODUCT TESTING

COGENT AUDIO LABS - www.cogentaudiolabs.com

Performance Auto & Sound Magazine welcomes unsolicited contributions including stories (typewritten), photos, club news, events, etc.

(Forward to PAS, 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada) Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement #40069655 PAP Registration #10760

Periodicals Postage Paid at Niagara Falls, NY and at additional mailing offices.

U.S.P.S. # 022-608 U.S. Office of publication: 2421 Hyde Park Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY, 14305 U.S. Postmaster send address corrections to: Performance Auto & Sound, Box 1082, Niagara Falls, NY, 14304 Exclusive distribution by: Coast-to-Coast Newsstand Service Ltd. Occasionally, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies whose products and services might be of interest to our readers.

If you prefer to have your name removed from this list, please write to us at the address below and include your mailing label. For any subscription inquiries, including change of address, call 1 (888) 564-SUBS.

Performance Auto & Sound Phone: (416) 922-7526 Fax: (416) 964-1836 Toll Free: (866) 737-8805 www.pasmag.com • pas@pasmag.com

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11/1/2013 4:02 PM

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SOUNDADVICE

> WITH GARRY SPRINGGAY

COMING SOON

N

ot long ago I found myself channel hopping, looking for something to capture my interest. I happen to land on an old TV drama from the 1980s and hear something that made me think. Two detectives are discussing high-end electronics they find in a suspect’s hideout, and they are incredulous to learn that the room is equipped with a recording device that can stop and start recording video using sound as the trigger.

Of course that technology is considered rather obvious and mundane these days, but it makes me realize how quickly we adapt to and then rely upon technology in our daily lives. Not long after seeing that ‘80s show, I test a new Kenwood head unit (DNN-990HD) that incorporates technology that keeps the user connected to the Internet while driving. Having your social media feeds, real time traffic information and cloud storage stream live into your dash is pretty damn cool in this day and age. But I’m willing to bet that before long advancements of that type will also become de rigueur – web-connected vehicles will be common and who knows what the “next big thing” will be.

Well, I have a few ideas…not really predictions, but innovations I foresee coming to the automotive world in the very near future. Many of them are based on making driving safer, but there are a few that are all about enjoyment as well.

HAVING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS, REAL-TIME TRAFFIC INFORMATION, AND CLOUD STORAGE STREAM LIVE INTO YOUR DASH IS PRETTY DAMN COOL IN THIS DAY AND AGE."

INNOVATIONS TO WATCH FOR IN THE COMING YEARS ∫ Drive by your favorite coffee shop and it will electronically send you a discount tag that expires in the next 30 minutes. ∫ Drive by a home for sale and see a video tour of the home without getting out of your seat. ∫ Your car sends an email to the dealership prompting a service representative to contact you to make your scheduled maintenance appointment. When you do, the dealer will ask you if you’d like to automate the process further and allow the car to make its own appointment based on your availability in the calendar of your smartphone. ∫ Upon reaching a preset fuel level, the car’s infotainment display will show you fuel stations in your vicinity along with current prices ∫ You fill up with and forget to tighten the gas cap. The vehicle’s emissions system sends a coded message to the multimedia system. The car then automatically sends you an SMS text alerting you to replace or tighten the fuel filler cap.

∫ Tire wear affects fuel economy, so it’s monitored by laser interferometry and you are automatically notified when you need to start shopping for new rubber. Any abnormal wear patterns are also noted and the dealer is automatically advised that the car may require a wheel alignment. ∫ Your audio system is capable of playing back virtually any sort of media – audio or video – stored on the cloud. You no longer have to carry any sort of media or media storage device with you… it’s all streamed to the vehicle on demand. In addition to your own media, you also have access to a vast array of various Internet based entertainment services, including YouTube. ∫ Virtually all consumer grade audio amplifiers will be Class D, or a derivative thereof, including home amplifiers. ∫ As Wi-Fi becomes more widespread and national coverage with high-speed data via cellular networks improves, the death knell will sound for satellite radio.

∫ Every car will have Bluetooth and will accept voice commands, and will read your email as you drive. Just say, “I need food” and a list of nearby restaurants will appear. Select one and the days specials will be read to you. ∫ Display technology is developed to create holographic images.

Remember Star Wars R2D2’s cool projector? Yep – in your car. ∫ In the near future, cars will begin to adopt various forms of “auto-pilot” technology that will do things like automatically course-correct if you drift out of your lane, and radar sensors will keep you safer in heavy traffic situations by taking over control of the vehicle in emergency situations. A few vehicles already offer a basic version of this technology, known as “adaptive” cruise control. ∫ Virtually all cars will have rear and side view cameras in order to eliminate blind spots.

∫ Cars will “talk” to each other via Wi-Fi, and be able to reduce accidents as a result. Your car will automatically know if another car is runs a red light or if another vehicle five cars ahead stops short. ∫ Battery technology will improve, and there will be more electric and hybrid vehicles, some of them true high-performance cars. ∫ Engine displacement will decrease, but technology will allow healthy horsepower numbers to still be maintained.

How about a 300 horsepower 1 liter turbocharged motor that can manage 35-40 mpg on the highway? It’s closer to reality than you imagine. ∫ To maximize fuel economy, transmissions will feature more gears (8 or 10-speed), and constantly variable transmissions (CVTs) and power sharing transmissions (PSTs) will be common.

These are just a few of the things I believe we are going to see by the end of the decade, if not sooner. When I walk around the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January I’ll be on the lookout for these things and other new cool stuff, the sorts of things we’ll all be taking for granted in another five years.

W R I T E U S W I T H YO U R CA R AU D I O Q U E ST I O N S A N D YO U M AY S E E YO U R L E T T E R I N P R I N T 16

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

Sound Advice 15.09.indd 1

11/1/2013 2:04 PM

Informed.

Safe.

entertaIned.

In-vehicle cloud connectivity is revolutionizing the way we interact with entertainment and information while driving. With over 73 years of leadership in-vehicle audio, navigation and electronics, Clarion has designed its Smart Access system to be the most advanced in-vehicle cloud-based infotainment access, analysis and sharing platform in the world.

Smart Access pairs with iPhones* and Android* smartphones to let dozens of Smart Access compatible apps come to life, giving users instantaneous access to real-time data such as analysis of the route and vehicle performance, customizing entertainment options, easy social media interaction, as well as distraction-free operation of many of their favorite apps while driving.

Smart Access’ adaptable architecture, always-on uninterrupted network, and a steady flow of new compatible apps make the system practically future-proof as Clarion paves the road forward towards seamlessly intuitive in-vehicle connectivity.

Learn more at cLarionsmartaccess.com *Compatible with iPhone 4/4S and Android 4.0 and higher systems

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Follow clarionUsa

6/26/13 11:46 AM 2013-06-26 3:42 PM

REIKKEN BATTERIES THE REIKKEN

reikken.com

The Reikken is the world's largest power cell, weighing in at a whopping 123 lbs. and rated at 200 Ah. Reikken also introduced the heavy-duty, high-output 34UH, with mounting tabs on the case for easy under-the-hood installation with a brass top post. All Reikken cells are designed for audio, performance, racing and every day applications.

AMERICAN BASS

XR SERIES 10 & 12” SUBWOOFERS americanbassusa.com

iDATASTART

American Bass recently added the new 10 and 12-inch XR Series subwoofers to its impressive lineup.

Features a cast frame, mirror image spiders, stitched high-roll rubber surround, fiberglass-reinforced cone, 20 oz. Magnet and 4 ohm, 3-inch aluminum voice coil. The XR Series has an RMS power rating of 1,200 watts, a frequency range of 35 to 500 Hz and sensitivity of 1 W/1 M @ 89 dB.

BM1 REMOTE STARTER FOR BMW/MINI iDataStart.com

The first ever remote start solution for BMW & MINI models is finally here! iDataStart BM1 can remote start directly from your factory keyfob by pressing ‘lock’ three times or be paired with compatible long-range remote kits sold separately.

Best of all, iDataStart does not require cutting any wires in your vehicle or sacrificing one of your keyfobs to bypass the factory immobilizer.

FORTIN ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

XSCORPION

EVO-ONE

fortinbypass.com

HBC80X HYBRID CAPACITOR

By combining a preloaded interface module with remote starter technology that supports 5,000+ vehicles in one single device, Fortin Electronic Systems has redefined the way to interface a vehicle using an all-in-one solution - no additional interface module required.

The new EVO-ONE is compatible with most data link protocols, RF-KITS and telematic modules for smartphone apps that increase the possibilities for the installer. With its superior hardware, equipped with five built-in relays and an impressive collection of T-harnesses, the EVO-ONE simplifies installations at a new level.

xscorpion.com

Keep your lights bright and your system right! The Xscorpion 80 Farad Hybrid Capacitor will deliver. The 80 farad capacitor provides optimal performance for heavy-duty bass response (SPL) by increasing the peak power of your amp to help stabilize the voltage of your system. The HBC80X is designed specifically for high-powered systems. Includes all mounting hardware.

• Bright blue LED voltage display • Improves bass response (SPL) • Helps reduce dimming lights • Platinum screw terminals for easy connections of 1/0 AWG or 4 AWG power/ground cable

AUDIOMOBILE

GTS 21 SERIES SUBWOOFERS audiomobile.net

Using a compound-type design, Audiomobile's GTS 21 Series subwoofers deliver stellar sound quality at high outputs, from micro enclosures as small as .40 cubic feet.

Designed to resolve limitation of most ‘slimline’ subs, the GTS series replicates the performance of a pair of “Isobaric” subwoofers with nearly twice the power-handling using half the usual enclosure space. The 21 Series uses a rare combination of slim-mounting depth and very low resonance, while retaining very small VAS numbers. Rated at 400 watts RMS and available in 2 and 4 ohm versions.

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» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

Hot new Products 15.09 v3.indd 1

11/1/2013 4:20 PM

SPEAKERS • SUBWOOFERS • AMPLIFIERS • SOUND DEADENING • ACCESSORIES

SUBWOOFERS 8 SERIES OF SUBS IN EVERY PRICE RANGE

American Bass’s award-winning products have become favorites in the SPL competition world and the latest additions have more than enough bass for just about anyone.

SPEAKERS

American Bass Full-Range speakers range from 3.5” up to 6.9” sizes. Midrange speakers with woven poly cones utilize fully-independent tweeters to give your music just what it deserves, which is unequaled clarity and depth.

AMPLIFIERS

5 SERIES OF AMPS IN EVERY PRICE RANGE

Our amps are World Renowned for Their Unparalleled Power Output and Reliability. WorldClass Competitors are using our VFL Series Amplifiers to Dominate the Competition Circuits Regularly

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WWW.AMERICANBASSUSA.COM American Bass.indd 1

MIDRANGES

Midrange is the most important element of sound since this is where most of music’s tone comes from. American Bass manufacture a variety of midrange speakers to suit anyone’s needs. Our 5” to 6.5” mids will carry sound as the original recording’s audio engineer intended, and reproduce more of what car enthusiasts need.

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11/1/2013 5:36 PM

DD AUDIO

REDLINE SUBWOOFER ddaudio.com

The DD Audio REDLINE sobwoofer series is handbuilt to exact specifications with the highest quality materials, giving you the performance you demand at the price you want. The REDLINE Series features the same performance innovations as DD Audio's American-made subs. Sold exclusively through authorized DD Audio dealers and available in 200, 500, 600 and 700 Series.

SYLVANIA

SILVERSTAR ZXE HEADLIGHTS sylvania.com

The Silverstar zXe headlights are made to transform and upgrade the look of your vehicle with the brightest, crisp white light. With a brilliant jewel-like appearance and color temperatures that rival HID lighting, Silverstar zXe headlights are brighter than their OEM counterparts and 100% street legal.

AUDIOPIPE

TXX-BD3 SUBWOOFER SERIES audiopipe.com

The brand new TXX-BD3 dual 2 ohm subwoofers from Audiopipe come in three sizes (10, 12 and 15 inches), with an 18inch model coming soon. They offer the same powerful triple-stacked magnets as the dual 4 ohm series with brand-new wiring options.

Power ratings range from an impressive 1,400 W (peak) / 700 W (RMS) to 2,800 W (peak) /1,600 W (RMS). Each model uses a four-layer aluminum TIL voice coil and Audiopipe's patented Pipe Multi-connect terminal design. To commemorate their 10th anniversary last year, the new black and silver "Ap" logo gives the sub a clean, professional look.

CADENCE

XENITH MICRO XAM 500.4 cadencesound.com

DESCRIPTION: The new Xenith Micro Amplifier XAM500.4 are a high efficiency full range Class D design utilizing the latest PWM switching amplifier circuit designs for high audio quality and high power from an ultra-compact chassis measuring only 5-inches wide and less than 2-inches tall!. Power output is rated at 125 watts x 4 RMS and comes equipped with autostart circuitry and both high-level and RCA connections for seamless integration!

GROM AUDIO

MST3P-AUDO MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE gromaudio.com

The GROM MST3P-AUDO is a multimedia interface for Audi car stereos with MMI 2G M.O.S.T fiber-optic sound systems. Integrating USB mass storage, Android, iPhone/ iPod and Aux-in to the car audio, the MST3P-AUDO also adds Bluetooth hands-free and wireless audio streaming.

Control the devices using car stereo or steering wheel buttons for even greater convenience. Charges mobile devices while in use. One-year extended warranty.

FORTIN ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

EVO-ALL WITH NEW BUILT-IN STAND ALONE ALARM SYSTEM FUNCTIONS fortinbypass.com

With its most advanced standalone technology, the EVO-ALL interface module allows you to remotely start and secure the vehicle with one single device - no aftermarket alarm system and remote starter modules required. The EVO-ALL uses the vehicle horn as a sound monitor and the factory remote as an arm/disarm controller. Remote starting functions are enabled by pressing the 'lock' button three times to start and stop the vehicle's engine. Compatible with most protocols, long-range RF-KITS and telematic modules for smartphone apps, the EVO-ALL offers a new and real way to make your vehicle smarter.

Preloaded to support more than 3,000 vehicles and an impressive collection of T-harnesses, the EVO-ALL sets the bar for simpler installations.

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Âť PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

Hot new Products 15.09 v3.indd 2

11/1/2013 4:20 PM

PAS_FULL_PAGE 7 2011.qxd:Layout 1

18/3/11

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GOING TO THE TRACK ???

YellowStuff is perfect for Drift racing but EBC now offer their new long lasting BlueStuff NDX full race pad for heavier cars and longer race applications

EBC Brake pads are 100% British Made

EBC.indd 1

EBC’s latest race pad, Bluestuff NDX, is a full race compound capable of street use. Brakes have bite from cold right up to 1400°F. Bluestuff features super strength interlayer for pad bond retention and are surface scorched - bed-in times are reduced to 1 or 2 laps maximum.

11-03-21 1:03 PM

12 VOLT INSIDER > BY PAUL PIRRO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD DONOHOE

THE SPORT OF CAR AUDIO

HOW AND WHY TO GET INVOLVED here is an elite group of people out there who take car audio and its performance to another level.

Similar to the major sporting bodies in North America (NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL) organizations such as the IASCAi (International Auto Sound Challenge Association), USACi (United States Autosound Competition International), MECA (Mobile Electronics Competition Association), and the dB Drag Racing Association are the major bodies that have been operating car audio competitions dating back to the 1980s. Each of these series have platforms and regulations to distinguish the diverse field of competitors for fair competition, from manufacturer and professional classes to consumers and DIYers.

If you want to get involved, you'll first need to educate yourself.

With any car audio event there are a vast number of competition categories. The most popular are usually Sound Quality, SPL, and Installation. The first step to become a competitor is to research the categories and compare them to your likes and dislikes.

SOUND QUALITY Sound Quality can be described “as an accurate and realistic reproduction of the music you are listening to.” To have a better understanding, there are a several aspects the judges listen for: is your bass and treble tonally accurate and spectrally balanced? Some vehicles might have too much of one sound and not enough of another. This is called sound linearity and is also evaluated at different sound levels and listening settings. Vehicles are much different than a home or concert hall, so achieving a good sound stage can be challenging. A good sound stage reproduces the audio at approximately the dashboard level – the center of the windshield is even better. A bad sound stage is when the music is low and sometimes known as ‘under steering wheel height.’

NOISE Your car audio system should be absent of any external or added noise. You may have heard audio systems with engine noise coming out of the speakers when the engine revs climb. An improperly installed system may have popping, clicking and miscellaneous noises.

Eliminating these mystery sounds is an important aspect of true audio reproduction.

Multi-year SPL World Champion and AudioX owner Steve Cook surprised everyone in 2008 when he made the switch to the Sound Quality class, but even he says the competitions are too hard to resist.

“I switched to sound quality after hearing several vehicles at shows over the years,” Cook says. “I got hooked on the idea of being able to hear the sound, and the accurate reproduction of quality sound. It is not about winning anymore, it is about having the actual artist in my vehicle.

When you reproduce that feeling it is success!”

SPL Otherwise known as Sound Pressure Level, SPL competitions are based on pure volume and offer varying classes, from street competitions to the more exotic extreme classes. Two vehicles go head to head to see whose vehicle is the loudest – some people use tie downs, ratchet straps, and bolts to hold the vehicles together – important when exceeding the 140 to the 180 db range. At these levels the competitors are not permitted to sit in their vehicles for volume and safety reasons. Judging is done via SPL meters and custom software programs using Real Time Analyzing (RTA) devices. Like drag racing, dB Drag uses a bracket competition format to select an overall winner.

INSTALLATIONS Installations in every competition vary from mild to wild. Safety is important, and many judges are strict when it comes to the final integration of aftermarket products within the vehicle. Some upgrades appear invisible because they are located in the original OEM locations, while other vehicles have been completely rebuilt around the audio system. Costs can easily rise quickly, but this is a great place for innovation of future products as well.

So how do consumers benefit from the car audio competition circuit? One major benefit is the innovation of new products. Smartphone, tablet and audio gear accessories and creative installs usually happen in the judging lanes before hitting the retail market. Car audio manufacturers constantly have their fingers on the pulse and keep an eye out for creative product, sound performance and reliability ideas.

“ARC Audio’s Founding Roots came from the competition lanes, says Fred Lynch, ARC Audio’s Marketing Director. “We learn from our team and other competitors. The feedback we receive is truly amazing. The little things we’ve learned in the lanes has definitely made it into the products we sell today. Supporting such a wonderful group of competitors has allowed us to pursue and reinforce the fundamentals of good music and better sound, helping customers create that individualized emotional experience in their own vehicle.”

Next time there’s an event in your town, be sure to check it out. You might be surprised by what you learn – maybe one day you’ll win that coveted title and see your idea on store shelves!

IMAGING Have you have ever heard a song where the sound moves from left to right? This is known as imaging. If the drummer was recorded in the middle of the band and the trumpet player is on the right side, your vehicle should reproduce the music in that fashion.

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» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

2013-11-01 3:04 PM

Ultra Rev - SPEC.indd 1

10/22/2013 12:36:39 PM

October

19-20 2013

UNIFIED FINALS 2013 CAR AUDIO CHAMPIONSHIP START OF A NEW ERA

STORY BY PAUL PIRRO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL WATSON

T

he mobile electronics community gathered in Huntsville, Alabama for the second-annual Unified Finals Car Audio Championship – an event that draws more than 3,000 competitors and attendees. Taking part in dB Drag, IASCA, MECA, USACi, it is a true culmination of cool technology, awesome vehicles, great sound, and a ton of fun.

The idea of an all-association Unified Finals began years ago as the brainchild of Paul Papadeas, who attended the famous Spring Break Nationals and saw the intense competition and commotion it caused.

After several conversations with numerous organizers, his vision was on its way to becoming a reality.

With the help of Ralph Randall, President of USACi, his organization and IASCA staged a joint show in 2001 and 2002. dB Drag and MECA joined the Finals in Cleveland in 2005, and followed that up with the 24

Louisville event in 2006. In addition, dB DRAG and USACi held joint events in 2009, 2010 and 2011. When the 2013 the invitation goes out, all the major associations are able to attend, making for or one of the biggest and hottest shows in the country.

“We began jointly planning, selecting a location, and working on the promotion of the event,” says Steve Stern, President of MECA. “People had been saying for years that the "Big 4" should come together for a huge finals event, and we decided to give them what they wanted. Part of the reason we did it was to find out if the industry would support the event and our unified efforts. We had a pretty good turnout and we couldn't have fit any more booths – or cars – in the place anyway. I believe we all work exceedingly well together. We are unified in wanting to keep car audio sports alive, and we want our sport and our industry to prosper.”

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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CONNECT YOUR DEVICE Using Your Car’s Factory Radio Enjoy

All through your car’s stereo system Your phone is your life – connect it to your car. The Connect from iSimple is the best solution.

It gives you all those great features you see on new cars, but without the new car price.

Works with AndroidTM, iPod®, iPhone®, iPad®, and more. Visit ConnectYourRide.com to learn more.

iPod, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

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ConnectYourRide.com Distributed in Canada by gentec-intl.com

Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

10/31/2013 11:55 AM

UNIFIED FINALS 2013 CAR AUDIO CHAMPIONSHIP Each organization recognizes and awards its own competitors, but for 2013 they chose to collaborate on a special award for a standout competitor. Named after the late Alma Gates, a huge contributor and supporter of the dBDRA since the organization's beginning, the first-ever Alma Gates Memorial Sportsmanship Award was given to Mark Eldridge for his extremely high standards and activity throughout the fields of competition. Ironically, Eldridge is a competitor in the Sound Quality Expert Class in every competition except dB Drag.

Despite not competing in dB Drag formats, as an SQ competitor and not an SPL competitor, dB Drag could not agree more with the presentation of the award to Eldridge.

“Mark is truly deserving of this award,” says Wayne Harris, president of the dB Drag Racing Association. “We believe Alma would wholeheartedly agree with our choice for this award in her honor.”

Eldridge's winning entry is a one-ofa-kind, American flag-clad NASCAR race car complete with a sound system that is extreme in every sense of the word. His prize is a one-off custom acrylic trophy designed and built by IASCA Install Judge Andrew Fleming from the UK, built to honor of Alma and her contributions to the industry. Steve Stern of MECA notes that Eldridge's NASCAR entry and his heartpounding sound system is a crowd drawing magnet wherever it goes.

This year's competition was tough and the overall results for each organization are very close.

FOLLOW THE LINKS FOR RESULTS FROM EACH COMPETITION dB Drag results:

www.termpro.com/asp/officialevent.asp?EventID=13877&Method=1001 dB Drag Bass Race:

www.termpro.com/asp/officialevent.asp?EventID=13877&Method=1002 dB Drag Psychlone results:

www.termpro.com/asp/officialevent.asp?EventID=13877&Method=1003 IASCA INAC results:

events.iasca.com/00000032.html MECA Sound Quality results:

www.mecacaraudio.com/dnn50/Events/tabid/76/ctl/eventresults/mid/438/eventid/1478/Default.aspx UASCi results:

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» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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UNIFIED FINALS 2013 CAR AUDIO CHAMPIONSHIP The dB Drag Racing Association stages their competition in a unique head-to-head format over the Internet utilizing the TermLAB SPL meter. Half of the competitors are in Huntsville, Alabama while the other half are at a satellite location in Sacramento, California.

Qualifying is on Saturday, and eliminations follow on Sunday.

According to Steve Mick, a long time dB Drag competitor, “The runs were so smooth, I couldn’t tell if the guy was in the lane next to me or across the country.”

The vendors consist of manufacturers, distributors, local retailers, and rep firm booths filled with demo products, vehicles, and competition tech support. MECA is happy that P&E (Performance & Electronics Distributors, Inc., spearheaded by Josh Eatherly), is getting their manufacturers and Xtreme Tint & Security (one of its retailers) involved.

It's a great way to stir up some business and educate attendees.

Audio Enhancers/Chameleon showcase their new custom-made, vehicle specific enclosures, and TANTRIC is also in their booth all

weekend, building, fixing, and making woofers for their competitors and show goers. "This was the best show in years,” says Ray McKenzie of Batcap.

This year is a successful one for Unified Finals and the mobile electronics industry. The attendance is high, with great manufacturer support and the competition is truly top notch.

"This year's Unified Car Audio Championship was a huge success and proved that all of our organizations can work together for the benefit of the car audio industry as a whole,” IASCA Director of Operations Moe Sabourin says. “Our goal is to raise awareness about our industry among the general public, recognize our competitor members who help us to raise that awareness and promote the independent retail dealers who are the true professionals in our industry."

Speaking of next year’s event, the organizers say attendees will have a more enhanced experience with even greater spectator involvement, but wouldn't elaborate any further.

This year will be hard to top, but we'll just have to wait and see!

For additional information visit: www.termpro.com www.iasca.com www.soundoff.org www.mecacaraudio.com

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amplifiers • speakers • SUBWOOFERS • processors • motorcycle audio

W W W . A R C A U D I O . C O M A r c A u d i o I n c 4 7 1 9 G r e e n L e a f C i r c l e # 4 M o d e s t o , C A 9 5 3 5 6 TE L : 2 0 9 . 5 4 3 . 8 7 0 6 F A X : 2 0 9 . 5 4 3 . 9 2 6 9

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pus” is an old English term for an undertaking of great magnitude, like a masterpiece of art or an epic story. Homer's Odyssey is a perfect example. The subject of this tale, the Orion Car Audio 2005 Dodge Magnum SXT, can certainly be considered a creation of great magnitude, and of even greater volume.

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When Orion found themselves in need of a heavy-hitting display vehicle, the group green-lit the acquisition of the Dodge Magnum you see in these pages. They tricked out the exterior with an OEM Dodge SRT-8 fiberglass hood painted black to match the two-tone black and silver finish. Naturally, Orion graphics adorn the sides. It is slammed on Tein springs, and fitted with a set of fully-polished 20-inch

Konig Blix 3 wheels and Falken tires. A full Pypes exhaust system with polished tips and dark tinted windows complete the beefed-up exterior down to the finest detail.

But it is inside where the real show begins. A custom vented trunk enclosure holds three of Orion's HCCA122 dual 2 ohm subwoofers. These massive-motor drivers require a staggering 2,500 watts of continuous power – each!

They're also completely re-buildable according to Orion, should you somehow manage to damage one. With three of these firing backwards out of the hatch, they generate an effective and punishing wall of accurate bass frequencies.

The wall is powered by an HCCA 8000.1D mono amplifier, running on an efficient MOSFET Class D architecture at a “ridiculously low impedance” value.

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THE SYSTEM TOTAL IN THE HATCH IS WELL OVER 5,100 WATTS OF PULSEPOUNDING RMS." We're not certain this is even streetlegal due to the sheer volume of sound it can produce.

To ensure the other key frequencies weren't left out, Orion customized the hatch lid with two HCCA 104NHP mid-bass speakers, two HCCA 84N mid-range speakers, and four HCCA TN-1 tweeters. Power for these are split between an HCCA 2000.4 amp for the mid range and an XTR 600.4 for the high frequencies. These deliver an additional 2,600 watts of reinforcement.

The system total in the hatch is well over 5,100 watts of pulse-pounding RMS. All of this is controlled with one XTR-X3R three-way active crossover, meaning the mid bass and mid range speakers are covering the same range. Somehow, we don't think anyone who witnesses this is too concerned, as the name of the game is sonic domination.

As multiple show winners, Orion is very proud of their past credentials, and this display vehicle is no exception. The “amps under glass” approach has been used before, but it always looks snazzy and clean – especially with an amp as large as the HCCA 8000.1D. 32

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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MOBILE

|

MARINE

|

POWERSPORTS

|

HOME AUDIO

Old rules no longer apply.

TW3's are now available.

10TW3-D4 400W, Dual 4ohm 10 inch Subwoofer Driver Rec. Sealed Enclosure: 0.50 cu ft / 14.16 L Mounting Depth: 3.25 in / 83 mm 12TW3-D4 400W, Dual 4ohm 12 inch Subwoofer Driver Rec. Sealed Enclosure: 0.80 cu ft / 22.7 L Mounting Depth: 3.5 in / 89 mm

How we play.™ © 2013 JL AUDIO, Inc. For more information on our TW3 Subwoofer Drivers, please visit your Authorized Dealer or www.jlaudio.com In Canada contact GemSen Distribution at www.gemsen.com

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TO ENSURE THE OTHER KEY FREQUENCIES WEREN'T LEFT OUT, ORION CUSTOMIZED THE HATCH LID WITH TWO HCCA 104NHP MID-BASS SPEAKERS, TWO HCCA 84N MIDRANGE SPEAKERS, AND FOUR HCCA TN-1 TWEETERS." Filling sound inside the cabin comes from two pairs of XTR 65.SC components and an XTR 350.4 amp, firing off 350 watts divided by four channels. The signal is supplied by the Pioneer AVH-X2500BT which offers Bluetooth connectivity to iPhones, iPads, and other supported wireless devices. The ability to carry several weeks worth of music in your pocket has totally changed the car audio game, and for the better, we might add.

The big touchscreen DVD system sits comfortably in the dash over top of the crossover bass control remote. This allows for as much as 18 dB of bass boost, just to better stun the crowds. Two Shuriken batteries and Orion's For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/MagnumOpus

own main fuse holder and O-gauge wire deliver the juice to the Orion Wired distribution blocks.

To dress the rest of the interior they added custom seat covers embroidered with “MD/ Owire” on the seat backs, and floor mats embroidered with the Orion logo. A Directed 10-inch drop-down rear seat monitor ensures guests in the rear seat have a good view of the show.

Orion doesn't have to slay a giant or a wolf to gain their street cred like the heroes of old.

Those days are long behind us, but they built a monster audio system – and in an incredible three days. And that's a crowning achievement that stands on its own merit.

ESSENTIALS › 2005 DODGE MAGNUM SXT BUILT BY: Orion Car Audio/MD Audio Engineering, Inc. ENGINE: 3.5L V6 HORSEPOWER: 260 hp TORQUE: 250 lb-ft EXHAUST Pypes exhaust system w/ polished tips CHASSIS / SUSPENSION Tein S.Tech lowering springs WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES Konig Blix 3 wheels – 20 x 8.5 (f/r) Falken Azenis tires – 255/35R20 (f/r) EXTERIOR Two-tone black and silver paint Dodge SRT-8 fiberglass hood Orion Car Audio graphics INTERIOR Custom-embroidered seat covers Custom floor mats AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS Pioneer AVH-X2500BT head unit Orion Car Audio (XTR-X3R crossover network, HCCA 8000.1D subwoofer amplifier, HCCA 2000.4 mid-range amplifier, XTR 600.4 high-frequency amplifier, XTR 355.4 rear fill amplifier, HCCA 122 dual 2 ohm subwoofers (3), HCCA 104NHP mid-bass speakers (2), HCCA 84N mid-range speakers (2), HCCA TN-1 tweeters (4), XTR 65.SC component speakers (2 pairs), OWFHANL20DIGIV main fuse holder, 0-gauge power wire, Wired distribution block) Directed 10-in. rear ceiling-mount monitor Custom vented enclosure Shuriken batteries (2) SPONSORS Orion Car Audio

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the App store for your Parrot Asteroid Innovative infotainment systems for the car: navigation, Apps, multimedia and BluetoothÂŽ hands-free. Drive Connected!

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Applications availability depends on your product, country, legal system and usage licences and rights. For more information, please visit: www.parrotasteroid.com/asteroidmarket The Parrot Trademarks appearing on this document are the sole and exclusive property of Parrot S.A. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All Rights reserved. Visual, description and specifications are not contractual. Product specifications may change without prior notice. April 2013. Parrot S.A. - RCS PARIS 394 149 496.

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RAMBOVS ZOMBIES CRUZING OVER THE GHOULIES

I WAS ABLE TO TAKE A LOWLY CHEVY CRUZE AND MAKE IT INTO A NATIONAL-LEVEL SHOW CAR. BEING A FAN OF THE WALKING DEAD AND OTHER SCI-FI SHOWS FOR MY WHOLE LIFE, THIS WAS A DREAM COME TRUE."

STORY BY ERIC EIKENBERRY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRED LYNCH

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s Rambo, Sylvester Stallone's character struck quite a chord in the movie First Blood. Given Hollywood's penchant for mixed genres, we're surprised the movie executives out west never launched a Rambo vs. Zombies action flick. It seems like the perfect combination - zombies who kill and eat everyone versus a man who kills everyone who pisses him off. Machine guns, knives, booby traps, and a whole lot of hand-to-hand combat filmed in the vogue, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon style; instant

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blockbuster! But there has to be some flash with the story, right? So how about this: Rambo is trapped at a car dealership. He needs to get away fast so he uses his 2012 Chevrolet Cruze with zombie-slaying weaponry. That Cruze would probably be very similar the one which belongs to Brian Mitchell of Liquid Trends Modesto, a well-respected audio shop in northern California, a sonic avenger with a well-respected audio shop in Northern California. Mitchell bought the Cruze for its distinctive shape and fuel economy after building V8-powered, gas-guzzling show

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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THE TAPPED AND THREADED CABINET IS FILLED WITH TWO ARC AUDIO BLACK SERIES 12V2-D4 DUAL 4-OHM VOICE-COIL SUBWOOFERS AND AN RGB LED WI-FI CONTROLLED LIGHTING KIT FROM STREET GLOW."

RAMBO VS ZOMBIES 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE

machines prior to this one. Its 145 horsepower doesn't sound like much, but cruising along at near 40-mpg with crushing audio appointments has its own unique appeal. To begin, he disassembled the entire interior and contacted Dynamat for nearly an acre full of their products to better isolate the cabin from unwanted resonance. Upon reinstallation, he fabricated custom A-pillar pods to hold the ARC Audio Black 4.0 4-inch midrange and 1.0 tweeters. All of the pillars in the car are covered in smooth black suede by Watson Brothers. Hand-molded fiberglass and laser cut stainless steel was built to house the custom Alpine 910 head unit display and painted to match the silver interior trim. The lower door panels house ARC Audio Black 6.0 mid-bass 6-inch woofers, and both the mid-bass, mids, and tweeters all have separate ARC SE 4200 amplifiers driving them for balanced power. The trunk install dials the style up to 11. Mitchell designed an enclosure made

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from three-quarter-inch-thick plexiglass, laser cut by Plastics 2000. The tapped and threaded cabinet is filled with two ARC Audio Black Series 12V2-D4 dual 4-ohm voice-coil subwoofers and an RGB LED Wi-Fi controlled lighting kit from Street Glow. Below the enclosure, in the spare tire well, Mitchell installed the four ARC Audio custom-painted and modified amplifiers, with the SE2300 driving the subs. An ARC Audio PS8 serves as the signal processor and active crossover, increasing overall system flexibility and tuning capability. With 5,100 total watts, balancing the frequencies is very important to competition, and Mitchell has proven he knows exactly what needs to be done. His numerous awards include the 2013 Spring Break Nationals Expert Solo SQ 1st place and the 2013 USACi Extreme SQ+ World Championship, among others. He doesn’t stop there. In spite of it being his daily driver to and from Liquid Trends Modesto, a shop he owns, Mitchell first coats the body with

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RAMBO VS ZOMBIES 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE ESSENTIALS › 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE

flat black Plasti Dip paint by DRIVER: Brian Mitchell BUILT BY: Liquid Trends Modesto Auto Body solutions. On top ENGINE: 1.4L turbo HORSEPOWER: 145 WHP of that, Mitchell had Daniel "Chato" Sperry of Sperry AirEXHAUST Magnaflow cat-back exhaust system brushing create a screw-mounted armor CHASSIS / SUSPENSION panel graphics application, complete with K-Sport coilover system impressive weathering details. The ultraWHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES lightweight Eco wheels (measuring 17 Chevrolet ultra-lightweight Eco wheels - 17x7.5-in. (f/r) inches each) are also decked out in black Goodyear tires - 215/55R17 (f/r) Front brake upgrade - 13-in. rotors and wrapped in Goodyear tires. When the EXTERIOR road ahead is clogged with the undead, the Flat black Plasti Dip panels by Auto Body Solutions Cruze is ready to take them on thanks to a Graphics by Daniel "Chato" of Sperry Airbrushing custom aluminum saw blade that literally Street Glow (seven rolls of RGB LEDs, RGB Wi-Fi controller) forms the front splitter and saw-edged Custom (aluminum saw blade front spoiler, saw-edged dual-foil aluminum rear wing. To keep rear aluminum double wing) 3M 5% window tint Rambo happy, dual hood-mounted Gatling INTERIOR guns are place - perfect for slinging lead Hand-molded fiberglass and laser cut stainless dash into any zombie herd. With a few carefully Black suede headliner and pillars by Watson Brothers placed (fake) body parts haphazardly Hand-made pillar pods for exact tweeter and midrange imaging hanging off the bodywork, the “Act Three: AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS Rambo Escapes” look is complete - right Alpine custom INA-W910 navigation receiver down to the last severed head. This look ARC Audio (5,100 total watts) (PS8 digital signal processor, painted and modified SE 2300 subwoofer might not be for everyone; zombie stories amplifier, painted and modified SE 4200 midbass amplifier, painted and modified SE 4200 mid-range amplidefinitely aren't Shakespeare, but Mitchell fier, painted and modified SE 4200 high-frequency amplifier, Black 12V2-D4 dual voice-coil subwoofers feels he hit his mark. “I was able to take (2), Black 6.0 mid-bass speakers (2), Black 4.0 mida lowly Chevy Cruze and make it into a range speakers (2), 1.0 tweeters (2)) Stinger (speaker wire, 1500 battery, 1/0 main power wire) national-level show car. Being a fan of The Plexiglass subwoofer enclosure (tapped and threaded Walking Dead and other sci-fi shows for construction, exceeds 130 dB) my whole life, this was a dream come true.

Chevrolet truck alternator Custom (battery distribution center, distribution blocks) I wanted to make a statement that showed Compustar remote start with Drone phone control my passion to win and my love for sci-fi.”

Dynamat Dynaliner sound deadening Look for this innovative machine to be SPONSORS knocking 'em dead at shows in 2014 - with Ryan Bauman, Daniel "Chato" Sperry, Rich Pedrozza, Eddie at City Tire Sales, Fred Lynch, Demetrios, Robyn, or without Rambo's help. and Brad at ARC Audio, Street Glow, Compustar, Dy-

ITS 145 HORSEPOWER DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH BUT CRUISING ALONG AT NEAR 40-MPG WITH CRUSHING AUDIO APPOINTMENTS HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE APPEAL."

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namat, Liquid Trends Modesto, Plastics 2000 (laser cut plexiglass work), City Tire Sales (coilover installation) AWARDS 2012 USACi Extreme SQ+ World Champion, 2013 Spring Break Nationals Expert Solo SQ 1st Place, 2013 INAC 1st Place Expert Solo SQ and Install, Coveted 2 Seat Triple Crown, National Points Champion, MECA Grand National Points Champion, 2013 USACi Extreme SQ+ World For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/Rambo_vs_Zombies

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STORY BY ERIC EIKENBERRY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY CANTER

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rand loyalty is a coveted asset in the automotive marketplace. Every manufacturer strives to craft a following of enthusiasts of a certain sort: people who are well-enough off to be able to afford its vehicles, thus ensuring the company's continued success. Competing in the luxury arena is always a bit of an uphill battle and one that Toyota chose knowing full well the Lexus brand would have to go beyond consumers' expectations in order to establish the lineup on American soil. The IS Series has always been of interest to US buyers and, for Cali-

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fornia resident Steve Meade, when his IS 250 got slammed from behind while sitting at a stop light, he knew right away what he'd be buying next.

Meade planned to step up to an IS 350 as soon as he could, to the point of doubling up his car payments in order to have his ride paid off as soon as possible. Those plans changed in a blink of an eye one afternoon.

With his IS 250 crushed, Meade made a video of the damage and uploaded it to YouTube. Within a day he received a call from the Lexus USA headquarters asking if he was okay. They promised to help out when

he was ready to replace his car. Once the insurance payments were handled (thankfully he had not been badly injured), Meade picked up the keys to a new 2011 IS F. Rumored to be the love-child of some overlyenthusiastic Toyota engineers in Japan who realized that, with a little effort, they could stuff a V8 into the IS 350 chassis, the IS-F drops all pretense of being a family-friendly machine. It is – and has always intended to be – the Toyota equivalent to BMW's mighty M5, the long-time ruler of the sport sedan landscape. Meade had not even left the dealer lot before making plans in his head.

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“My dealer, who was great, was bragging about how nice the factory Mark Levinson 7.1 [audio] system was,” Meade said. “I told him I was ripping it out. He said 'Okay, well the new 2011 IS-F has all new suspension upgrades over the previous years.' I looked at him and said 'This thing isn't low enough, I am gonna rip all that out too.”

And true to his word, that's exactly what he did. The OEM suspension parted ways with the chassis in favor of a KW Variant 3 coil-over package set for a drivewayscraping ride height. Fender gaps were eradicated, and the wheels are tucked so hard you'd need a floor jack to read the name of the Pirelli P-Zeros hiding within. His custom AZA Forged three-piece wheels are color-matched to the gloss black finish and sized at 20 inches to help impart a sinister look. They're definitely not soccer mom, focus-group approved. The rest of the suspension is finished off with a GTSPEC front strut brace for stiffness and FIGS Engineering rear lower control arms and toe links for precision alignment.

A word to the wise; when a rear wheel drive car is lowered this far, adjustable toe and camber links are 44

necessary to keep from grinding the expensive rear donuts to dust.

Upping the ante in the engine bay, Meade turned to Gearhead Garage for the installation of a Holly Nitrous Oxide 100-hp wet-shot kit and a Takeda polished cold air intake. ISS Forged built a stainless steel catback Track exhaust system with four Magnaflow mufflers to replace the four OEM diffuser exhaust tips. Additionally, an A'PEXi throttle controller boosts power delivery and makes engine response programming that much easier. There's a stout 454

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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HIDDEN TREASURE 2011 LEXUS IS F

AN IPAD MINI SERVES AS A SONG-SELECTOR AND PROGRAMMING TOOL FOR THE RF 3SIXTY.3 AND IS TUCKED INTO A FOLD-DOWN MOUNT ABOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR."

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rear-wheel horsepower on tap, along with 443 lb-ft of stump-pulling torque. And the rest of the world wonders why we love V8 engines so much!

Exterior modifications are limited to VHT Night Shade coating on the rear tail lamps.

This is a case where the manufacturer got it right from the very start. Case in point: the oversize Brembo 14.2-inch front and 13.6-inch rear brakes. The IS-F body needs absolutely no external changes to accentuate its strong lines. What it lacks in racing pedigree it makes up in aggression with a long nose (and V8-encompassing hood bulge) and short rear deck. There's no need for fads like boy-racer wings and stick on eyebrows; a handsome sedan like this never goes out of style.

Like he said, Meade tore out the Mark Levinson stereo components, keeping only the Lexus head unit and 6.5-inch touch screen. Custom fiberglass speaker pods were fabricated for the doors and kick panels and wrapped in black leather and suede to match the interior. Sacramento, California-based Katt Kustoms handled all of the hard work, stitching up the black suede leather with blue French seams. Meade took care of all of the audio system panel construction himself, crafting subwoofer and amplifier enclosures from one-inch MDF and multiple layers of fiberglass. Just like his seats, he had all of his panels covered in leather by Katt Kustoms, including the one in the trunk lid which retains the Rockford Fosgate 3sixty.3 sound system processor.

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EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS ARE LIMITED TO VHT NIGHT SHADE COATING ON THE REAR TAIL LAMPS. THIS IS A CASE WHERE THE MANUFACTURER GOT IT RIGHT FROM THE VERY START."

Meade even made removable covers embroidered with the IS F logo to hide the blue-clear backlit plexiglass panels etched with the F-Sport logo. DVD playback and navigation are available, and in addition to being Apple iPod ready, the head unit is tied in to the RF 3sixty.3. That powerful system controller feeds the signal to two Rockford Fosgate T2500 bdCP subwoofer amplifiers – one RF T1000.4 handles the mid range and mid bass notes, one RF T400 for the high frequencies, and a separate RF PBR-300.4 amplifier for rear fill. An iPad Mini serves as a song-selector and programming tool for the RF 3sixty.3 and is tucked into a fold-down mount above the driver's side visor.

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HIDDEN TREASURE 2011 LEXUS IS F

ESSENTIALS › 2011 LEXUS IS F DRIVER: Steve Meade LOCATION: Sacramento, CA ENGINE: Lexus 5.0L V8 HORSEPOWER: 454 rwhp TORQUE: 443 lb-ft

The list of audio equipment is as impressive as it is long. In the trunk there's one Ascendant Audio SMD 15-inch subwoofer in a vented enclosure behind the plexiglass panel and three extra XS Power S975 batteries hidden within the confines.

Two more shallow-mount P3 8-inch subwoofers are installed into custom kick panels. Four total RF T5 6.5-inch midbass speakers are installed in the front door pods along with four RF T5 one-inch tweeters – one each in the front and rear doors. Two more RF T5 6.5-inch speakers are installed in the rear, to fill the soundscape. Meade also hand-fabricated aluminum power distribution bars which reside in the bottom-mounted component plexiglass panel. With all that audio 50

drawing voltage and amperage, the alternator had to be swapped out for a Mechaman 270a highoutput alternator to provide sufficient juice for the massively augmented system.

Equally impressive, Meade completed his IS F in an astounding three months. “I got started right away...I couldn't help it, it's just me,” he said. “I rarely see an IS F on the road, and probably three total all-year long, but one thing I never see is one like mine.”

Luck, luxury, and loyalty; this ride has all three in spades.

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/HiddenTreasure

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS Takeda cold air intake Holley 100-shot wet-shot nitrous oxide system Custom XS Power 1/0 cable grounding system A'PEXi throttle controller EXHAUST ISS Forged stainless steel catback Track exhaust system Magnaflow mufflers (4) DRIVETRAIN Stock CHASSIS / SUSPENSION FIGS Engineering (rear lower control arms, toe links, end links) KW Variant 3 coil-over suspension GT Spec front strut brace WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES AZA Forged three-piece custom, measured, color-matched wheels – 20x9 (f), 20x10 (r) Pirelli P-Zero Nero tires – 235/30-20 (f), 285/25-20 (r) Brembo brakes (stock) – six-piston front calipers, 14.2-in. one-piece slotted and drilled rotors (f), two-piston rear calipers, 13.6-in. one-piece rotors (r) EXTERIOR VHT Night Shade-tinted rear tail lamps INTERIOR Carbon Fiber interior trim Custom (fiberglass speaker pods for doors and kick panels by SMD, trunk enclosure made from 1-in. MDF board and plexiglass, upholstery in leather and suede

by Katt Kustoms) AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS OEM Lexus 6.5-in. DVD/NAV head unit w/ iPad/iPod interface Rockford Fosgate (3sixty.3 system processor, T2500 bdCP subwoofer amplifiers (2), T1000.4 amplifier, T400.2 amplifier, PBR300 amplifier, P3 shallow 8-in. subwoofers (2) in sealed kick panel enclosures, T5 6.5-in. Speakers (6), T5 1-in. tweeters (6) Ascendant Audio SMD 15-in. subwoofer in ported enclosure in the trunk Apple iPad Mini XS Power (D2400 aGM battery, S975 batteries in rear enclosure (3), OFC 1/0 main power wire) Stinger ANL fuse holders (2) Mechman 270a high-output alternator Hand-built aluminum power bus bar distribution blocks

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

2011 Lexus IS-F 15.09 v4.indd 6

11/1/2013 11:47 AM

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ALPINE

CDE-HD149BT CD RECEIVER REVIEW

BY DAVE MACKINNON

F

fff...Ffff. Sorry, just blowing the dust off the old test bench. It has been several years since I handed the reigns over to Garry Springgay for PASMAG test reports, but I miss it – and with Garry travelling all over North America on his motorbike for a few weeks, I've managed to sneak in to check out some products. The lads at Gentec (the Canadian distributor for Alpine products) sent me a CDE-HD149BT single-DIN CD player to check out, so let’s dive right in. alpine-usa.com

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FEATURES Connectivity is where it’s at, and the CDE-HD149BT doesn’t disappoint. The built-in Bluetooth allows audio to be streamed from your BT-equipped phone so you can take calls while keeping your hands on the steering wheel. The pairing process is very easy with my iPhone.

I simply search for the deck, select the Alpine CD receiver on my phone, and accept the connection when the deck asks - that's it. I start by playing a song and to my delight, the deck displays the track time information along with the song title and artist information. There are fast-forward and rewind controls as well. Alpine also includes an external Bluetooth mic for hands-free calls – this

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optimizes sound quality for the driver (depending on the dealer, it might cost you a few extra bucks during installation, but could be worth it).

Next, I plug my iPhone into the rear USB port. After a second it starts charging. A couple taps on the source button brings up a song and, again, I can see track title and artist information. If you tap the “view” button on the right, you see the album name and a large clock display. Tap the volume control to quickly and easily start searching for music by album, artist, etc. Alpine rates the USB output at 1 amp of current, so most phones will charge just fine – but you can’t charge an iPad.

Next, it's time to see how it handles Pandora. I launch the app on my phone and select Pandora from the source menu. Again, the CDE-HD149BT is easy and intuitive to use. While my phone is an Apple product, Alpine notes that Pandora supports Android-powered devices as well.

LISTENING Of course, the CDE-HD149BT includes a CD transport equipped with a 24-bit D/A converter. Compared to 1-bit DACs, 24-bit converters offer better sound quality, which is especially apparent in the mid range and high-frequency range.

Don’t think for a moment you can’t hear

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ALPINE CDE-HD149BT CD Receiver

5dB/div Top: 20dBV

Start: 1Hz

the difference. I have switched between similar models with and without 24-bit DACs, and even on factory speakers in my old WRX, there is a night and day difference. The CDE-HD149BT is a flip-face radio, so the CD loading slot is behind the face. This design BEING ABLE TO ALTER THE enables Alpine to include SETTINGS VIA THE ITUNES a nice large white-on-blue LCD display with a resoluAPP STORE OR GOOGLE PLAY tion of 256x64 pixels.

STORE APP MAKES TUNING Delving deeper into the FASTER, MORE ENGAGING deck and its setting and configuration features, the AND MORE INTUITIVE. " 149 features Alpine’s new TuneIt compatibility. This system uses an iPhone or Android app (free of charge) to give you control over many of your source unit settings, including a powerful 9-band parametric equalizer, time alignment/delay settings, crossovers, and balance and fade controls.

You can even save these settings on the Internet and share them with others – so cool!

In terms of settings, the 9-bands of the EQ overlap, so you can fine-tune quite easily. You

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Stop: 100kHz

can cut or boost each band by seven steps, and can control the Q of each band with settings of 3, 4 or 5. Some lower Q-Factors would be ideal, but that is really nit-picking. Each of the six pre-amp outputs has its own time delay adjustment. You set the distance from the listening position in 3.4-cm (1.33 inch) steps.

The crossovers are independent for front, rear and subwoofer outputs and each are flexible in terms of frequency – from 20 Hz to 200 Hz in slopes of 6, 12, 18 and 24 dB/Octave. You can also reverse polarity on the subwoofer level control.

On the rear of the radio are a plethora of connections – six RCA jacks on the chassis of the radio and the Motorola AM/FM connector beside them; 3.5-mm jacks on the chassis for the Bluetooth microphone and the steering wheel control interface connection, and another 3.5-mm aux-in jack for external audio sources. The power harness features industry-standard ISO wire colors and offers a dedicated power antenna and remote turn-on output. Just don’t mix these up (it happens all the time). Lastly, there is a jack for an external SiriusXM tuner module.

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REVIEW

ALPINE CDE-HD149BT CD Receiver

ALPINE’S NEW TUNEIT TECHNOLOGY...USES AN IPHONE OR ANDROID APP TO GIVE YOU CONTROL OVER MANY OF YOUR SOURCE UNIT SETTINGS..."

ON THE BENCH I connect the CDE-HD149BT to my [now less dusty] test bench to take some frequency response and power measurements.

In terms of power, the deck produces 8.49 Vrms per channel into a 4 ohm load at about 1% distortion. This equates to 18.02 watts per channel, compliant with the CEA-2006A specification. The preamp outputs are rated at 4 volts per channel. I measure 4.05 Vrms with no signs of clipping at all. Frequency response of the deck is -3 dB at 14.3 Hz to 23 kHz, and -1 dB at 26 Hz to 22.5 kHz.

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CONCLUSION Alpine has paved the way for a new level of creativity when it comes to tuning. Being able to alter the settings via the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store app makes tuning faster, more engaging and more intuitive. The ability to share tuning settings between users of the same deck via Alpine's TuneIt cloud is also awesome, as is the ability of your dealer to troubleshoot settings that may have been altered.

Hopefully this means people will spend more time making their vehicles sound as good as can possibly be. In terms of connectivity, the CDE-HD149BT has everything you could ask for from a single-DIN CD receiver. If you are in the market for a new CD head unit, you owe it to yourself to visit your local Alpine dealer.

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/aplinecdehd149bt

11/1/2013 2:46 PM

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DUAL

Axxera AXD530 CD Receiver REVIEW

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

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THE PRODUCT SOUNDS GREAT AND HAS MEASURED SPECIFICATIONS THAT SHOULD SATISFY EVEN SERIOUS LISTENERS."

ot long ago, I reviewed the Axxera AXD430 digital media receiver. It proved to be a competent unit at a very affordable price. This time we are looking at the step-up model, logically called the AXD530, which is Axxera's top-of-theline CD receiver. The differences between the two are significan and more than justify the twenty dollar price bump to $139.99, which is still an amazing value for a product with this feature set and performance.

dualav.com

facebook.com/DualElectronics

@DualElectronics

youtube.com/DualElectronics

FEATURES Like its previously tested sibling, the AXD530 is a single-DIN receiver with a fold down removable faceplate and a variety of source options. Standard features include an AM/FM tuner, CD, MP3 and WMA playback. You also get dual auxiliary inputs with your choice of a 3.5 mm jack on the front for occasional use, and a pair

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of RCA inputs on the rear of the chassis for more permanently installed auxiliary sources. There is also a USB port hiding behind a hinged, back-lit door on the front panel to connect and charge your iPod or iPhone.

One of the step-up features of the AXD530 is built-in Bluetooth function-

ality. With the AXD530, you can make hands-free calls with the touch of one button on the faceplate. The unit also stores recent calls and allows you to redial any number from your recent calls list. In addition, you can also stream audio from your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone. Once the music is playing,

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10/24/2013 9:52 AM

REVIEW

DUAL Axxera AXD530 CD Receiver

MEASURED SPECIFICATIONS

IN TERMS OF SOUND, THE AXD530 HAS EVERYTHING A SERIOUS AUDIOPHILE IS LOOKING FOR. THERE ARE THREE SETS OF PRE-OUTS, WITH 4 VOLTS OF SIGNAL AND A BUILT-IN CEA 2006B-RATED 18 W PER CHANNEL AMPLIFIER."

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A M P L I FIER CEA-2006A Power per channel (all channels driven, @ 4 ohms) A Wtd S/N Ratio (ref to 2 V/1 W @ 4 ohms) Amplified output THD+N @ 2 V/1 W @ 4 ohms 1 kHz Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

18.3 W/ch x 4 -75.1 dBA (CD) -77.3 dBA (aux) 0.31% 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (aux)

P R EA M P SECT IO N Max Usable Output Voltage

4.3 Vrms -81.1 dBA (CD) -85.7 dBA (aux) 221 ohms 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (aux)

A Wtd S/N Ratio ref to full output voltage Output Impedance Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

you can control track selection and play and pause functions from the AXD530 faceplate.

If you are an iOS user, you can connect to your Pandora internet radio channels, and have control of the usual thumbs up or down commands, as well as bookmarking a song for purchase later. During Pandora playback, you can also play, pause or select the next song and switch between any of your personalized stations.

In terms of sound, the AXD530 has everything a serious audiophile is looking for.

There are three sets of pre-outs, with 4 volts of signal and a built-in CEA 2006B-rated 18 W per channel amplifier. A low-pass crossover with an all-pass setting or three selectable frequencies (80, 120, 160 Hz) provide signal control for the bass output and a separate adjustable level control handles the subwoofer output. A DSP-powered three-band parametric equalizer is provided for more precise tuning, and individual gain

settings for each source allow level matching between the various available sources.

Like its little brother, the AXD530 has a lot of cosmetic flair, with blue button illumination and a 3-inch, full color TFT LCD with a screen resolution of 320x240. The display provides good definition for album art and overall readability.

Also included is a wireless infrared remote control, while an input jack for steering wheel control adapter is sold separately.

CONTROLS From an ergonomics standpoint, the AXD530 has its high points and not-sohigh points. For example, I really like the tactile feel and smoothness of the rotary volume control; the buttons also have good feedback when pressed. However, I tend to use the track up and down buttons often, and on this unit these buttons are small and difficult to find by feel. When you do access

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DUAL Axxera AXD530 CD Receiver 4 OHM POWER vs THD+N 14.4V Battery

them, they require a very determined press to activate. On the other hand, the buttons for Pandora’s thumbs up and down are prominent and easy to find – but I believe these will be used far less often.

To select sources, repeatedly press the source button. After a slight delay, the available sources scroll in the display. Once the source you want is highlighted, you must also press the volume knob to enter your selection. I’m not sure why the designers feel two steps are a good idea. It would be much simpler to press the button until you have the source you want, and then after a short timeout, the source would be automatically selected. While they’re at it, they could eliminate unused sources from the scrolling menu, so I don’t have to scroll over things I never use. The iPod controls are thankfully much simpler and faster, making accessing your artists, songs and playlists on your iOS fast

and simple.

If you frequently remove and replace the faceplate of your radio, you’ll appreciate the easy-to-operate disconnect and connect mechanism. It is simple and easy to use.

LISTENING From a sonic perspective, the Axxera AXD530 stands tall. It has very good audio performance from a frequency response standpoint and good stereo separation. Noise is low, but not as good as a much more expensive unit. The RCA outputs provide a clean strong signal for your amplifiers and the equalization and crossover functions operate exactly as intended.

The Bluetooth audio streaming quality is also quite good, bettered only by a few players that cost several times the price of the AXD530.

AM/FM tuner performance was fine, with good sensitivity and very acceptable audio quality.

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ON THE BENCH

THE AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS PROVES TO BE VERY GOOD – SURPRISINGLY GOOD IN FACT – FOR A $139.99 HEAD UNIT."

As always, I connect the AXD530 to my test bench to verify the measured specifications of the unit. As I expect, the audio specifications proves to be very good – surprisingly good in fact – for a $139.99 head unit. The internal amplifier met all of its published specs and the pre-amp output section delivered 4.3 volts of clean output signal.

Output impedance was average at just over 200 ohms. The equalization and crossover frequencies also prove accurate. Disc loading times are average, with a brief delay in loading the disc each time you changed sources.

CONCLUSION RCA Max Flat - CD Source - Frequency Response

In general, the Axxera headunits provide a fantastic value for features and audio performance. The product sounds great and has measured specifications that should satisfy even serious listeners.

My only qualms relate to the source selection and button placement. I suppose to most folks those are very minor gripes, but those things are also fairly easy to improve and would make the unit much easier to live with, so I have to wonder why they're built this way.

For more information on this and other Axxera products, visit them online at www.axxera.dualav.com.

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/DualAXD530

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JVC

KD-A845BT CD Receiver REVIEW

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

W

e all know there are a ton of choices when it comes to selecting a new head unit for your ride. Deciding which one is the perfect choice is a personal decision - we all have different priorities when it comes to the features in our dash. Most of us start out by looking at models that have the basic functions we need, then the two main decision-making factors are usually cost and cosmetics. With a suggested retail price of only $189.99 (USD), the JVC KD-A845BT has the cost issue covered. That leaves cosmetics. Studies have shown that people choose a head unit because of the way it looks more than almost any other factor. The JVC product development team made sure this factor did not get overlooked when they designed the KD-A845BT. Read on. jvc.com

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@JVC_USA

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mobile.jvc.ca

facebook.com/JVCMobileCanada

@JVCCanada

youtube.com/JVCCanada

FEATURES The KD-A845BT is a single-DIN head unit with a removable faceplate. It is loaded with useful audio features such as 4.8-volt front, rear and subwoofer preouts and a front panel-mounted 1/8-inch auxiliary input. There are dual (front and rear) USB connections for a thumb drive and iPod/iPhone, a built in MOSFET power amp and DSP powered signal control.

Bluetooth connectivity brings hands free telephony to the party, and of course

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it supports streaming audio from your Bluetooth-enabled phone as well.

The KD-A845BT is fully compatible with your iPod or iPhone and includes a Pandora app that works when your iPhone is connected via the USB cable. iPhone users can also take advantage of the Siri Eyes Free mode that allows you to use Siri for various things like search for songs, read text messages, or provide navigation instructions.

Android users aren’t left out either; they can use Pandora through a Bluetooth connection for full station selection, thumb up/down functions and even on-screen title display.

The KD-A845BT also has one of the most attention-getting “demo modes” I’ve seen in a long time. The unit not only changes the color of the display and buttons, but can do it in various segments across the face. In demo mode there is

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PREAMP OUTPUT, MAX FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE AUX Source

AMP OUTPUT, MAX FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE CD Source

Crossovers - Frequency Response

PREAMP OUTPUT, MAX FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE CD Source

a wild (verging on annoying) display of all these colors flashing crazily. Sometimes things can be taken a bit too far, and this is a good example of that; but you can set the faceplate to one of 32 colors in five selectable areas, with six pre-set moving illumination patterns. The LCD display also has its own set of adjustments and you can set it to change color with the volume setting. Now I’m all for personalization, and matching your dash colors, but wow, does anyone really need three different button colors going across the radio face? Either this borders on gimmicky, or I’m just getting old.

But when you have a look at the advertised specifications, the KD-A845BT takes things a bit more seriously. A CEA-2006

rated amplifier, and 4.8-volt pre-outs give you an idea that this unit will deliver when it comes to your music.

To get things dialed in to suit your car and personal tastes, the KD-A845BT offers the choice of a built-in, three-band PRO EQ with selectable frequency, level, and Q settings, or the Easy EQ which includes six available preset curves. If you decide to set things yourself, you have the ability to select one of four frequencies in the three bands of adjustment, and then adjust the filter Q and amount of boost or cut. While it’s not a precision equalizer by any means, it’s much more useful than a typical tone control. Sources can also be level matched to prevent large differences in volume levels

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JVC KD-A845BT CD Receiver

when switching sources. On the front and rear preamp outputs, a high-pass filter is available with frequencies of 100, 120, and 150 Hz. The subwoofer preamp outputs also have their own set of controls, with low-pass crossover frequencies at 55, 85, and 120 Hz, plus a subwoofer output level control with an adjustment range of +8 to -8.

And here is a feature I’ve never seen before (and I’m not sure I’ll see again) – the KD-A845BT has an internal timer to turn on the radio to a particular station, at a set time either once, daily or weekly.

I suppose it’s a cool feature if you have a radio show you can’t miss.

Other popular and useful features include Sirius/XM compatibility, and a steering wheel control input.

CONTROLS In terms of functionality and ergonomics, the JVC KD-A845BT works pretty well. Some of the buttons are a bit small and close together, but under normal conditions the controls are easy to find and have good tactile feedback. Menu navigation is reasonably logical and the software does a good job of identifying what function you’re adjusting. A small IR remote control comes included, and is so well designed that it can be used without looking at it.

The display is fairly basic in terms of actual design, using the Union Jack/starburst system of LCD segmentation, but it displays the most important information just fine. The CD takes a bit of time to start playing, with the display flashing “READING,” but the delay is only a few seconds.

Using a track with an 18 Hz note on it, I notice from the woofer cone movement that the head unit has good bottom-end output, which should please bass-heads on a budget out there. This flat, low-end response is fairly uncommon at the lower price points, so kudos to JVC for paying attention. The FM tuner section of the KD-A845BT is pretty good too, with strong, clear reception and good sound.

ON THE BENCH When the listening was over, I moved to the test bench to get the numbers out of the unit. The RCA outputs measure at a very healthy 3.6 volts at 1.0 % THD, and the S/N was excellent, at almost -88 dB A-Wtd. Frequency response was very flat from below 20 Hz to well over 20 kHz.

IN TERMS OF SONIC PERFORMANCE, THE JVC KDA845BT SOUNDS EXCELLENT IN CD MODE. THE UNIT HAS VERY LOW NOISE, PLENTY OF OUTPUT, AND GOOD STEREO SEPARATION.

MEASURED SPECIFICATIONS A M P L I FIER CEA-2006A Power per channel (all channels driven, @ 4 ohms) A Wtd S/N Ratio (ref to 2 V/1 W @ 4 ohms) Amplified output THD+N @ 2 V/1 W @ 4 ohms 1 kHz Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

17.7 W/ch X 4 -79.1 dBA (CD) 0.27% 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (aux)

P R EA M P SECT IO N Max Usable Output Voltage A Wtd S/N Ratio ref to full output voltage Output Impedance Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

3.6 Vrms -87.9 dBA (CD) 232 ohms 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (aux)

LISTENING I set up the KD-A845BT in my listening room, using the front pre-outs to drive my reference amplifier, and the subwoofer outputs to drive a separate amp for my subwoofer. After a bit of basic level setting and ensuring everything is set flat, I get down to listening. In terms of sonic performance, the JVC KD-A845BT sounds excellent in CD mode. The unit has very low noise, plenty of output, and good stereo separation. On very intimate tracks like the Cowboy Junkies Sweet Jane, which was recorded in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto, all the space and reverb in the room is reproduced well. Changing sources to my iPod and using 320 kb/s AAC tracks, the sonic characteristics are still excellent, and searching for tracks is quite fast.

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CONCLUSION The JVC KD-A845BT has a retail price of under $200 and a seriously good preamp section, making it a great value for someone wanting a high-performance audio source on a budget. Add the iPhone functionality and it almost becomes a no-brainer – that is, if you don’t mind dialing down the disco light show that the faceplate performs. But once tamed to a normal, functional display, the KD-A845BT simply becomes a great source for your music. As part of the JVC Arsenal line, the unit comes with a full two-year warranty as well. Drop in to your local JVC dealer and check one out for yourself. You certainly won’t miss it in the display board!

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/JVCkd-a845bt

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KENWOOD

DNN990HD Navigation Receiver

REVIEW

I

kenwood.ca

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

facebook.com/kenwoodcanada

n case you haven’t noticed, we are getting more and more dependent on the Internet for real time information and social networking. One survey reports that over 30% of the population uses social networking as their primary source of news, and the internet has replaced virtually all other sources of information. If you are one of those folks who simply hate to be without a constant stream of updated information and messages, Kenwood has a new, top-of-the-line navigation and multimedia receiver that you are going to love. Why? Because it is built on an Android platform and has Wi-Fi connectivity built in! Now you can stay connected to your Facebook and Twitter feeds, stream content from cloud storage, and take complete advantage of a full time internet connection in your car. While the suggested retail price of $1,799.99 may limit some newcomers, this is a game changer folks.

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@Kenwoodcanada

youtube.com/kenwoodusa

FEATURES The Kenwood DNN990HD has almost every feature you could ever hope for, all in a package that’s designed to provide all the entertainment and information you need. The DNN990HD is built around a 6.95-inch touchscreen with reverse tilt, providing the user with a crystal clear image regardless of the source.

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See you in Vegas! CES January 2014

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REVIEW

KENWOOD DNN990HD Navigation Receiver

WIFI

WITH SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY OF FEATURES AND CAPABILITIES, YOU MIGHT EXPECT THE DNN990HD TO BE COMPLICATED TO USE. ACTUALLY, IT’S QUITE SIMPLE."

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By far, the single most important feature of the DNN990HD is the Wi-Fi connectivity feature.

The unit is designed to work with Wi-Fi hotspots, and you can create your own by tethering your smartphone or mobile hotspot device. Once setup is complete by creating an account on Kenwood’s online server, you can access a vast amount of web based content – and of course – all your favorite social media feeds, RSS feeds, and any other media you have stored online.

If you are a Pandora, iHeart Radio, or YouTube user, the DNN990HD has you covered as well. If you store your music in the cloud, it’s all available to you in your car.

Built-in text-to-speech capability will read your Twitter, Facebook and emails to you as you drive. And if the vehicle has more than one regular driver, the unit permits up to four different accounts, remembering each user’s preferences. Of course you’ll need a robust data plan for your phone to avoid excessive charges.

If you are an iPhone user, you can connect your phone with a cable for Pandora and advanced iPod functionality. Siri functions (including voice dialing) are done wirelessly via Bluetooth. If you are an Android or Blackberry user, cables aren’t required as the Bluetooth connection is used to control Pandora on both of those platforms.

FORMATS The Kenwood unit works with the usual AM/ FM/CD/DVD/MP3 sources, and comes with an HD Radio tuner, SiriusXM, DivX video compatibility, and DTS and Dolby Digital decoding. The Bluetooth section is a high-performance unit by

Parrot. There are also full Pandora controls for skipping, channel selection or rating tracks.

SAT-NAV Navigation comes from Garmin and includes their excellent 3D mapping and Birds Eye junction view features. Millions of POIs are included, and the power of the Garmin GPS is augmented with INRIX connectivity (via Wi-Fi hotspot) – one of the best real-time traffic networks in the world.

You’ll not only get directions where you want to go, you’ll also get there quicker and more efficiently.

If you map a route on your smartphone via Kenwood’s Route Collector app, you can also save it to Kenwood’s secure website and automatically send it to the DNN990HD. Once the DNN990HD is connected to Wi-Fi, the route is easily accessible in the navigation menu.

OEM CONNECTION Maybe you have a newer vehicle with Ford SYNC or OnStar functions. The DNN990HD can be interfaced with those services via an iDatalink Maestro RR module (sold separately).

When connected to the OnStar system, all of the subscribed features like steering wheel controls, chimes, and OnStar service is integrated. Ford’s SYNC users also retain all of the abovementioned functions, plus additional features like tire pressure data, climate controls, and voicecontrolled features.

AUDIO All of the connectivity and functionality in the world doesn’t do any good without high performance audio performance, and that area

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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TEACH YOUR CAR A NEW TRICK

LOCK+LOCK+LOCK = START! Introducing iDataStart – a new and innovative line of remote start systems designed to seamlessly integrate with BMW, MINI and Mercedes-Benz models. iDataStart lets you remote start directly from your factory key fob by pressing LOCK three times OR from a variety of optional extended range remotes. For more information on iDataStart-compatible vehicles and optional remotes, visit www.idatastart.com.† TM

www.idatastart.com | www.facebook.com/idatastart | #iDataStart †Remotes shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not included. Factory key fob range may vary by vehicle model. Extended range remotes are sold separately.

All trademarks, trade names, logos and images used herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2013 Automotive Data Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.

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REVIEW

KENWOOD DNN990HD Navigation Receiver

certainly does not get neglected. A built-in four channel MOSFET amplifier, rated at 22 watts per channel, is ready to drive your existing speakers.

Or you can take full advantage of the front, rear and sub RCA outputs with 5 volts of output.

A powerful DSP processor provides controls for various soundstage setups and includes a 13-band equalizer, internal crossovers for high-pass on the front and rear outputs, and low-pass crossovers on the subwoofer output.

Thirteen separate frequencies are available, and you can also select from four different slopes. Channels delays can also be adjusted for distances of up to twenty feet – in increments of less than an inch!

PERIPHERAL CONNECTIONS There are two rear-mounted USB cable connections that easily reach a glove box or console. Additionally, there are inputs for a Sirius/XM tuner, two A/V inputs, and front and rear camera inputs. Suffice to say that you should have no problem connecting almost whatever you want to the DNN990HD.

CONTROLS With such an incredible array of fea-

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tures and capabilities, you might expect the DNN990HD to be complicated to use. Actually, it’s quite simple, thanks to a very good GUI and easy-to-understand controls and functions.

Commonly used functions are readily available, and the touch screen is very responsive and easy to navigate. Other less-used functions tend to get buried in a few layers of menus, but generally speaking, I can use and navigate the menus without much drama.

Having said that, the unit is not without a few issues. This is essentially a computer in your dashboard – something you are reminded of when you start the vehicle and wait nearly a full minute to fully boot up. Touching onscreen icons will show that the command is received, but it can take several seconds for anything to actually happen. This is mainly during the boot cycle: while GPS signal is being acquired, the phone book is downloading and Wi-Fi is connecting. There are also occasional glitches that occur when using various functions, like when I try to go from B to T in my iPod. The unit froze for a few seconds and was briefly unresponsive. The problem only lasts for a couple of seconds, but minor annoyances like that occurred several times during my testing.

Switching between a source and the navigation can also test your patience if you are in a hurry.

To be fair, this is easily the most powerful head unit I have ever tested in terms of features and functions, so it stands to reason things will be a bit complex, especially at first.

The owner’s manual is clearly translated from Japanese, which can lend its own layer of mysticism to learning things. The initial setup is a bit painful; you need to go to Kenwood’s website and create your account, then respond to an email, then finish the connectivity to the unit. The good news is that the Android platform firmware can be improved and updated regularly, which should take care of many of these issues. Once it’s working there is an amazing amount of information and entertainment that makes it all worthwhile.

LISTENING Since the first thing I usually do with any product I review is listen to it, I unpack the unit, and begin the process of hooking it up in my reference system. The process takes a bit longer than usual, since the DNN990HD requires a few extra steps that aren’t normally required – like connecting it to the WPA secured Wi-Fi in the lab

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so I can test how it streams media from the cloud.

Once it is fully booted, and I have the initial setup done (which takes almost 30 minutes) I begin to familiarize myself with the various menus and controls. I set the unit for flat response and turn the DSP off to begin my listening. In short order I know the audio section is quite good, and I spend some time fooling around with the features and functions that a powerful on-board DSP can provide. Controlling my iPod is simple, albeit sometimes slower than I’m used to. I also stream music from my Pandora stations and check out the thumb swiping controls. I watch part of a Terminator movie and listen to the tuner, checking it for sensitivity and the reception of local HD Radio stations.

Everything works as intended. Overall the player proves to be a very good sounding source, with good musicality and enough control for a knowledgeable tuner to make all the vehicle/systemspecific adjustments required for great sound.

ON THE BENCH On the test bench, the Kenwood unit lives up to its measured specifications, exhibiting a nice flat response curve, good stereo separation, and respectable output impedance.

MEASURED SPECIFICATIONS A M P L I FIER A Wtd S/N Ratio (ref to 2 V/1 W @ 4 ohms) Amplified output THD+N @ 2 V/1 W @ 4 ohms 1 kHz Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

-80.7 dBA (CD) 0.08 % 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD)

P R EA M P SECT IO N Max Usable Output Voltage A Wtd S/N Ratio ref to full output voltage Output Impedance Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

5.0 Vrms -89.6 dBA 52 ohms 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD)

CONCLUSION The Kenwood DNN990HD completely changes the thinking behind head units in our dashboard. By bringing all of the information and entertainment from the Internet to our vehicles, it opens doors to all sorts of possibilities. Yes, it’s not perfect, and clearly it has a few technical glitches that you expect to be solved based on the asking price, but then again, I remember when VCRs cost $1,200 and would only record four hours of marginal quality video. Products that reshape our world are almost always imperfect and expensive, and for a great many of us, that’s exactly what we’re looking for.

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/kenwooddnn990hd

Making Good Sound Great™

The Ultimate Factory System Upgrade Six Channel Digital Signal Processor, Signal Delay, Speaker Level Inputs with Signal Summing, GTO Signal Sensing Turn-On, and Patent Pending AccuBASS to correct for factory bass rolloff For your nearest AudioControl dealer visit www.audiocontrol.com or go to our authorized on-line retail partner at www.crutchfield.com Contact the team at our secret location in the Pacific Northwest Rainforest at 425-775-8461 or by emailing sound.great@audiocontrol.com

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SONY

XAV-602BT MULTIMEDIA RECEIVER REVIEW

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

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bout a year ago, we reviewed the Sony XAV-601BT multimedia receiver. With its great performance and affordable price, it was a tough unit to beat. Never ones to rest on their laurels, the folks at Sony have been hard at work making changes and improvements to what was an already great head unit, and the result is the new XAV-602BT. Since they were kind enough to send me a pre-production sample for testing, we’re going to let you know what improvements have been made and how the new unit performs. The price hasn't even changed; it still lists at $549.99. sony.com

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FEATURES As before, the unit is based on a high quality 6.1-inch TFT touch screen display, which is detachable for peace of mind. The new XAV-602BT carries over many of the previous features such as integrated Bluetooth, MirrorLink capability, Pandora Internet radio, Sony’s ZAPPIN music function, and the SensMe app that can deliver music based on your mood. Of course full iOS compatibility is provided, as well as front and rear-mounted USB ports

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and two sets of auxiliary inputs. The unit is also compatible with the optional XA-NV300T navigation module, providing direct control of a TomTom-based navigation system.

If you haven’t used MirrorLink yet, it is very cool technology. You connect your MirrorLink compatible smartphone to the XAV-602BT via USB. When you activate the MirrorLink function the screen of the head unit displays your smartphone screen. You can then view, touch and con-

trol apps and functions on your phone by using the screen on the Sony head unit.

Additionally, the new unit supports Sony’s App Remote version 2, which includes a voice-controlled user interface for Android devices. The App Remote application is available in the Apple App Store and on Android’s Google Play site.

The app allows the unit to launch and control compatible applications on your iPhone or Android phone. App content is displayed on your smartphone while the

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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SHIFT To the next level of performance.

Tried-and-true mobile entertainment built by those who love live music.

The KX400.4 Four-Channel Amplifier pushes two sets of KS65 6.5-inch Coaxial Speakers, providing you with remarkable music reproduction.

Buy them together online at www.kicker.com, or visit your nearest Authorized KICKER Dealer.

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REVIEW

Sony XAV-602BT Multimedia Receiver

4 OHM POWER vs THD+N 14.4V Battery

& BAND EQ - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

CD SOURCE, MAX FLAT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE CROSSOVERS - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

BASED ON AUDIO PERFORMANCE, IT’S EVIDENT THE ENGINEERING TEAM RESPONSIBLE TAKE THEIR JOBS VERY SERIOUSLY, AND THE RESULT IS A SONICALLY EXCELLENT PERFORMER.” AUX SOURCE, PREAMP MAX FLAT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

audio content is heard through the speakers. Control can be accomplished via simple finger gestures, and for Android users, using the voice control function allows you to speak and compose text messages, or the head unit can read SMS text messages aloud.

Using the App Remote, you can even use your smartphone to control the sound settings of the radio for EQ, balance, fader and more.

The XAV-602BT 6.1-inch WVGA TFT touch screen has a resolution of 800x480 with a rotary volume encoder, all combined on a fullyremovable faceplate. CDs and DVDs can be loaded through the slot in the upper edge of the faceplate. Other important features include Sony’s ZAPPIN music search feature, the Advanced Sound Engine with 7-band EQ, Center Speaker Organizer (CSO), Intelligent Time Alignment (ITA) and Rear Bass Enhancer (RBE).

A built-in four-channel amplifier delivers a CEA-2006 rated 17 watts per channel, with front, rear and subwoofer pre-outs with 5 volts of

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output. Additional input signals can be connected to the front auxiliary input, dual rear A/V inputs and a rear camera input. Steering wheel control can also be added with one of several available aftermarket cables.

CONTROLS The Sony is very simple to operate. The commonly used functions are easy to access without much distraction. On screen controls are large enough to use without difficulty, and the unit groups most frequently used icons together. As with all Sony products, thanks to the Advanced Response User Interface, the touch screen is responsive and finger gesture commands further simplify things – it is a pretty easy piece to live with on a daily basis.

Thankfully, Sony has also retained the ability to simply press the rotary encoder to select sources instead of looking at the screen when I want to choose a source The button color on the XAV-602BT can be set to one of 12 preset colors, or you can create your own custom color for a perfect match

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REVIEW

Sony XAV-602BT Multimedia Receiver

to any dashboard. You can also upload a custom image as a screensaver if the included selections aren’t what you’re looking for. Dual zone capability is also included, providing simultaneous playback of different sources in the front and rear of the car.

Bluetooth pairing is also fast and simple thanks to Sony’s simple secure pairing function. After the initial pair, my Android phone automatically connects whenever within range, which is approximately thirty feet. For iPhone users, the unit is paired and connected with Bluetooth Auto Pairing when your device is connected to the USB port.

LISTENING Based on the performance of its predecessor, I had high expectations for the audio of the XAV-602BT, and it didn’t disappoint. It performs very well with any source I select – there is simply nothing to complain about in terms of sound quality. The Sony sounds natural and transparent, like a good audio component should. Stereo imaging is excellent, without any unwanted noise or artifacts introduced by the player.

DVDs sound first-class and the picture quality is brilliant. Fast motion and difficult-to-display scenes are also handled well. Discs load quickly and quietly, and the DVD menus are easy to navigate.

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MEASURED SPECIFICATIONS AM P LIFIER CEA-2006A Power per channel (all channels driven @ 4 ohms) A Wtd S/N Ratio (ref to 2 V/1 W @ 4 ohms) Amplified output THD+N @ 2 V/1 W @ 4 ohms 1 kHz Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

20.0 W/ch X 4 -87.2 dBA (CD) 0.27 % 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (aux)

P REAM P SECT IO N Max Usable Output Voltage A Wtd S/N Ratio ref to full output voltage Output Impedance Frequency Response (-3.0 dB)

5.1 Vrm -87.8 dBA (CD) 138 ohms 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (aux)

ON THE BENCH Sony is a supporter of the CEA-2006 Amplifier Measurement Standards, and I commend them for it. The standard is designed to allow consumers to make accurate comparisons of amplifier performance without it becoming too technical, and it includes amplifiers in head units. Sony uses the standard to rate the power of every head unit they make and I’m happy to report that in terms of advertised power, the XAV-602BT outperforms the published power specifications. Rated by Sony at 17 watts x 4 channels, I measured a useable output of 20 watts per channel at 4 ohms.

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CONCLUSION

The frequency response is exceptionally flat, with only about 1.0 dB of variation from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, regardless of the source. Low output impedance is critical to noise avoidance and preventing load-induced response problems, and the XAV-602BT measured a respectable 138 ohms. Stereo separation is also very good, as is the signal-to-noise performance – particularly in the internal amplifier. Based on audio performance, it’s evident the engineering team responsible take their jobs very seriously, and the result is a sonically excellent performer.

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All said and done, Sony has done a great job of updating an already very good product. The unit has all the features I want in my daily driver and it’s easy to live with. The audio performance is very close to as good as it gets; there is no question I could live with the XAV-602BT for a long time. Best of all, it comes with improved features and functionality at the same price as its predecessor. You can’t ask for much more than that. Check it out for yourself at www.sony.com For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/SonyXAV-602BT

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POWERBASS

L2-702 Coaxial Speakers REVIEW

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

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hen upgrading the performance of your OEM car stereo, usually the fir t thing people change is the radio. As we do the majority of our personal interfacing with the stereo, we subconsciously reserve it as the most important piece of audio equipment. In actuality – from a sonic perspective – it is probably the one thing that makes the least bit of difference. Nine times out of 10, the biggest performance gains are made by replacing the OEM loudspeakers.

Here we are looking at a new set of coaxial speakers from Powerbass that retail for $100, which should give you an idea how to make real improvements in your sound quality without spending a lot of money.

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FEATURES The new Powerbass L2 coaxials have been completely redesigned and specifically engineered to replace the OEM junk that came in your car. To take full advantage of the OEM amplifier, the L2 speakers utilize 2 ohm voice coils, maximizing power delivery and allowing you to get every last watt from the OEM amplifier. The system I received for review is the L2-702 model, which is a 7-inch, two-way design. By increasing the cone area as much as 20% over a typical 6.5-inch speaker, the L2-702s should be more efficient and have better bass

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QUICK TECH SPECS Power Handling Frequency Range Sensitivity Nominal Impedance

90 watts RMS 70 Hz – 21 kHz 89.8 dB/SPL @ 1.41 V (1 W) 2 ohms

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IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO FIND THE CURRENT CROP OF CAR AUDIO TWEETERS TOO BRIGHT AND SHRILL, YOU MIGHT APPRECIATE THE SMOOTH AND SLIGHTLY SUBDUED TWEETER IN THE L2-702s."

response. To match the increased output of the woofer, the system also uses a 0.75inch aluminum tweeter coupled with a new “L Series Waveguide” to improve dispersion and provide smoother high-frequency output. The non-adjustable tweeter is Ferrofluid cooled to improve power handling and overall speaker reliability.

The L2-702s are built on proprietary custom-tooled stamped steel baskets, and according to Powerbass, are coated with a “non-resonant basket treatment” to prevent the basket from adding unwanted resonance to the sound. The speaker is also relatively shallow, with a required mounting depth of only 2.4 inches.

According to Powerbass, the cone material is a blend of polypropylene and carbon fiber for low mass and high strength. Connecting the outer edge of the cone to the surround is a butyl rubber surround, again chosen for its high performance characteristics at all power levels.

The L2-702 kit comes with all required mounting hardware, including quality butt splice connectors.

LISTENING When choosing replacement speakers for your ride, I’m a big advocate of listening to a potential speaker system with some very familiar music before plunking down your hard earned money. The speakers that sound good to one person may not sound good to another – and that’s fine. Listen carefully and choose for yourself when buying speakers. This is one area where traditional brick and mortar stereo stores have a huge advantage over their online competition.

Go in with some favorite tunes and have a listen, then decide what you like.

I quickly install the system on the baffle board in the lab, and sit down for some listening evaluations. Over a wide range of musical artists and genres, I find the L2-702 coaxials to be relatively smooth and pleasant, with very good clarity in the mid bass range. Female vocals are clear, distinct and quite uncolored. For a simple and inexpensive set of coaxials, the L2702s are surprisingly good. Acoustic guitar and horns had realism and detail that is sometimes lacking in many coaxes. The

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REVIEW

POWERBASS L2-702 Coaxial Speakers

upper mid range is a bit subdued for my personal taste, but other listeners may disagree. Surprisingly, I find the aluminum dome tweeters to be very smooth and unobtrusive, which isn’t always the case with an entry level aluminum dome tweeter. If anything, I note they may be a bit too “polite,” and think they lack a bit of “sizzle” and brilliance. However, in a car where reflections and high frequency output will definitely increase, it might prove to be very pleasing.

If you are one of the many people who find the current crop of car audio tweeters too bright and shrill, you might appreciate the smooth and slightly subdued tweeter in the L2-702s.

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During my listening session, a friend of mine drops by and comments on how amazing these speakers sound. While they don’t hold quite as much appeal for my taste as they do for her, it simply reinforces what I mentioned earlier, choosing a speaker is a very personal decision – you have to hear them with your favorite tracks and judge for yourself.

ON THE BENCH As I always do, I complete all of my listening notes before making any technical measurements on the system. The resonance of the L2-702 system was right at 72 Hz, which is great for a midrange/mid-bass driver.

This graph shows the actual impedance of the coaxial system across the frequency range. This is the load your amplifier will se at these frequencies.

With a resonant frequency of 72 Hz, I suggest using a highpass crossover point of approximately 7580 Hz for maximum power handling and reliability.

This graph is the actual on-axis measured response of the Powerbass L2-702 coaxial system.

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CONCLUSION

THE NEW POWERBASS L2 COAXIALS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REDESIGNED AND SPECIFICALLY ENGINEERED TO REPLACE THE OEM JUNK THAT CAME IN YOUR CAR. "

The Powerbass L2-702 system has a lot of things going for it when you are looking to upgrade your OEM speakers.

The system sounds remarkably good and seems to be well made for very little cost. I suggest checking these out for yourself at your local Powerbass dealer, to see what kind of improvement you can make in your stock system for just a small chunk of change.

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/PowerbassL2702

UNMATCHED QUALITY DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE

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AUDIOCONTROL DQ-61 OEM INTEGRATION PROCESSOR

REVIEW

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

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IT IS COMPETITIVELY PRICED, HAS A FANTASTIC WARRANTY AND THE EXPERTISE OF A GROUP OF FOLKS WHO SIMPLY “GET IT” WHEN IT COMES TO CAR AUDIO."

o one really likes the sound of an OEM system. We tolerate it but yearn for serious audio gear and tunability so we can make EQ adjustments, restore the missing bass from the radio, and improve the soundstage. Until now, that has meant many different bits of kit – and making those bits work properly together is another story. As a result, many folks give up because the whole process is simply too complicated or expensive.

If you have been struggling how to interface and provide extensive tunability from your OEM system to your aftermarket amplifiers and louds eakers, the folks at AudioControl have just made the decision a no-brainer.

With the introduction of their newest product, the DQ-61, they have basically made any other choices irrelevant in one fell swoop.

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FEATURES The new AudioControl DQ-61 is designed to be the answer to your OEM interface and tuning woes. With six channels of input and output, three separate 7-band equalizers (front, rear, and sub channels), the patent pending AccuBASS circuitry to restore the bass removed

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by the OEM system at high volume, and signal delay adjustments for the left front channel and the sub channels, the DQ-61 makes interfacing with the OEM radio simple, and tuning and system setup is a breeze. And maybe best of all, there are no computers or external devices

required (although by the time you read this, a free optional app for Apple devices should be available).

To try and list every single feature of the DQ-61 would take more space than I have available, but here's a list of what I consider the highlights:

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REVIEW

AUDIOCONTROL DQ-61 OEM Integration Processor

THE AUDIOCONTROL DQ-61 IS A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY IN A SMALL BOX, AND COULD PROVE TO BE THE 'GO-TO' OEM INTERFACE OF 2014."

• Separate input and output level controls allow users to set up the DQ-61 for the optimum levels for the output of the OEM source as well as the aftermarket amplifiers.

• Input circuitry capable of handling virtually any OEM amplifier (including Bose) up to 400 watts.

• Over 8 volts of usable output to keep the signal strong and well above any errant noise.

• AudioControl’s excellent “GTO” (Great Turn-On) input signal sensing for OEM systems without a normal 12-volt trigger. The DQ-61 includes a remote output to turn on your amplifiers.

• Dual Auto Mode allows internal summing of channels to overcome factory crossovers.

• Patent pending AccuBass® circuitry restores the bass that is removed by the OEM system as the volume is increased. Now you can play the system at proper levels without losing the backbone of your music!

• Separate signal delays for the front left channel (and the front channels together) allow you to achieve the correct stereo image and bring the bass up front as well.

• An iPhone/iPad app is in the works to make setup even simpler.

• ACR3 system remote control knob provides a way to adjust the delays from the driver seat.

When set to Music mode it provides a convenient sub level control.

• A full five-year warranty means the folks at AudioControl know this is a rugged piece and aren’t afraid to stand behind it.

OPERATION You begin the setup by selecting which inputs you’ll use. All six outputs can be driven from the main (front) inputs, or the DQ-61 can be configured to work with four or six channels of discrete inputs. If you have two inputs with different frequency ranges, you can use the summing feature to combine the signals for “full range” on the front and rear outputs.

Using the separate input and output level

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controls, it’s a snap to get the unit adjusted specifically for your particular OEM source and aftermarket amplification.

To setup the delay, you can use either the included ACR-3 control, or download the free iPhone app. The process is simple; you begin by setting the delay for the left front speaker while listening to a track with a good center image. Most tracks with a dominant vocal will work, or you may have your own special track. I use my Autosound 2000 test discs for this sort

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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REVIEW

AUDIOCONTROL DQ-61 OEM Integration Processor

of tuning. Adjusting the delay is as simple as selecting the correct mode and then turning the remote knob. Each detent in the knob is accompanied by a low level “tick” so you know you’ve added a bit more delay to the channel. Once you are happy with the left-to-right stereo image, switch from adjusting the left front speaker to adjusting them both, allowing the subwoofer to move up front into the soundstage. With up to 10 milliseconds of delay for the left channel and a maximum of 35 milliseconds for the front channels together, you have a powerful image enhancement and stabilization tool at your fingertips, all without needing complicated test equipment or computers.

The AccuBASS feature is just as easy to set up, and unlike simply adding EQ, this feature is designed sort of like a loudness contour in reverse. Most OEM car stereo systems are designed with low cost and reliability as their most important design goals. While this is an understandable approach for the car manufacturer, it’s less than ideal for us audio enthusiasts. To prevent speaker damage, the OEM systems will

begin to remove bass output as you increase the volume. The result is a system that has no bass when you approach enthusiast levels. The AudioControl AccuBASS function is designed to bring this bass back when the OEM system removes it. When adjusted correctly, it gives a virtually flat response at any volume level. The result is a system that has good linearity from low to high volume without having to make adjustments manually as you change your preferred level.

Over and above the AccuBASS restoration, there are the front, rear and subwoofer 7-band EQs which provide all the adjustment necessary to dial in the sound of the entire system just how you want it.

ON THE BENCH On the test bench, the AudioControl DQ-61 proves to be a very accurate, high performance processor. Interchannel gain tracking is within a half a decibel, signal-to-

IF YOU HAVE TWO INPUTS WITH DIFFERENT FREQUENCY RANGES, YOU CAN USE THE SUMMING FEATURE TO COMBINE THE SIGNALS FOR 'FULL RANGE' ON THE FRONT AND REAR OUTPUTS."

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noise is excellent, and frequency response is beyond the limits of human hearing on both ends. The unit has a maximum useable output voltage of 8.3 Vrms and a low output impedance of 137 ohms. My only quibble is the 20k ohm input impedance, which may cause some OEM radios to sense an open circuit and shut off the channel. This is easily overcome with a 150 ohm resistor, but it would be nice for the unit to look after this detail instead.

MEASURED SPECIFICATIONS Frequency Response (+/-3.0 dB) Signal to Noise Ratio (ref to 2 V out) THD+N (ref 2 V out, @ 1 kHz) Output Impedance Input signal range Maximum Output Voltage - Stereo outputs (unclipped) Maximum Output Voltage - Subwoofer outputs (unclipped)

<10 Hz – 23.5 kHz -93.5 dBA 0.01 % 137 ohms 1.9 V – >30 Vrms 8.3 Vrms 8.3 Vrms

CONCLUSION The AudioControl DQ-61 is a lot of technology in a small box, and could prove to be the “go-to” OEM interface of 2014. With its excellent tuning and system compatibility, and ease of setup and operation, it’s sure to draw the attention of many installers and anyone looking for a high performance, well-engineered OEM interface solution. It is competitively priced, has a fantastic warranty and the expertise of a group of folks who simply “get it” when it comes to car audio.

If you are considering any sort of OEM interface for your car, you owe it to yourself to get to your local AudioControl dealer and check this piece out for yourself. You can thank me later.

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/AudioControl-DQ61

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Black Series 12D2 Woofer REVIEW

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

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hen discussing the best high performance brands for any product, there are always a few that are considered by purists to be at the top, year in and year out. When it comes to cars, you might mention Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin or McLaren. If the discussion is about top wristwatches, names like Rolex, Tag Heuer, Omega or Breitling come to mind. When it comes to car audio, one of the names frequently associated with high performance and purist values is Arc Audio. In this review, we’re looking at one of their best woofers – the Black Series 12D2 – which is a dual 2 ohm woofer. A dual 4 ohm version is also available.

With a retail price of $459, the 12-inch Black Series represents the highest performance woofer the company offers. This should be good.

arcaudio.com

FEATURES A casual observer may not give the woofer a second look because of its understated and somewhat reserved cosmetics. The front the woofer is basically a matte black color, from the injection-molded inverted dust cap with matte black raised logo, to the high pressure composite cone (which is constructed of a blend of treated pulp and bamboo fiber) to the matte black, low shore progressive SLA rubber surround. Nothing flashy or gimmicky here – just straightforward quality components.

The woofer is constructed on a high strength cast aluminum basket, attached with adhesive and mechani-

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QUICK TECH SPECS Power Handling Frequency Range Sensitivity Nominal Impedance

500 W (RMS) / 1,000 W (Peak) 20 Hz – 500 Hz 85.8 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W (2.0 V @ 4 ohms) (2) 2 ohm coils

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IF THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT TOP WRISTWATCHES, NAMES LIKE ROLEX, TAG HEUER, OMEGA OR BREITLING COME TO MIND. WHEN IT COMES TO CAR AUDIO, ONE OF THE NAMES FREQUENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE AND PURIST VALUES IS ARC AUDIO." cal fasteners to a double stacked 7-inch magnet. The motor drives a precisionwound, high temperature copper voice coil, with a 3-inch diameter. The former for the coil is interesting; unlike the typical aluminum or Kapton fare, this is made of non-conductive fiberglass. Control and compliance comes from a single progressive type pure Nomex spider with woven-in tinsel leads. The woofer gets its electrical input via heavy duty spring loaded terminals which accept up to 8-gauge wire. A rubber gasket/trim ring is included for a clean look and better woofer-to-baffle-board sealing.

The Black Series 12D2 is conservatively rated for 500 watts of continuous power, and each driver must undergo a 12-stage quality control process before it is packaged for shipment.

LISTENING Whenever I evaluate a woofer like this, the first thing I do is exercise it to let the mechanical components “break-in” and loosen up a bit. When that’s done, I let the woofer sit overnight and prepare an appropriate enclosure for my listening session. In this case, I mount the 12D2 in a 1.2-cubic-foot sealed enclosure with the 2 ohm coils wired in series. Setting my system with a fourthorder low-pass crossover at 100 Hz and plenty of power on tap, I am ready to listen.

The first track is Take the A-Train from a DMP Big Band disc called “Carved in Stone.” One of my favorite parts of this recording is the stand up bass that sounds like it's positioned front and center. The instrument is played by the amazing Lynn Seaton and has plenty of natural resonance and overtones. Playback

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of this technical track proves to be no problem for the Black woofer, and the output sounds smooth and natural without any loss of detail. Another favorite track for woofer sound-quality is Donald Fagen’s classic Ruby Baby. This track has an exceptionally wellrecorded kick drum, synthesizer and bass guitar. Once again, the Arc Audio woofer sounds great, with very good authority and deep, clean bass.

So it sounds good, but will it play loud? A few tunes from Nelly, Nine Inch Nails, and Michael Jackson prove that it will indeed hammer out heavy bass notes without complaint – and sound good doing it. I listen to it for another hour or so and come away very pleased with the sonic capabilities of the woofer, regardless of the type of music selected or the volume level used.

ON THE BENCH After letting the woofer cool and normalize overnight once again, I remove it from the enclosure, fire up my Klippel analyzer and measure the Thiele-Small parameters. Comparing my results to the published numbers, I find them to be well within the usual tolerances for woofer specifications. The following parameters are measured on the sample I tested, with the voice coils in series.

THIELE-SMALL PARAMETERS MODEL = ARC AUDIO BLACK 12D2 Coils in Series Electrical Parameters Re = 3.79 ohm Le = 4.079 mH L2 = 4.298 mH R2 = 5.76 ohm Cmes = 742 µF Lces = 69.37 mH Res = 51.48 ohm fs = 22.2 Hz Mechanical Parameters Mms = 216.321 g Mmd = 204.042 g Rms = 5.664 kg/s Cms = 0.238 mm/N Kms = 4.20 N/mm Bl = 17.076 N/A Loss factors Qtp = 0.370 Qms = 5.323 Qes = 0.391 Qts = 0.365 Mechanical Parameters Vas = 81.042 l n0 = 0.217 % Lnom = 85.81 dB Sd = 490.60 cm² EBP = 56.8

Nearfield requency Response in Recommended Sealed Enclosure Free Air Impedance

System Impedance with Woofer in 1.25-cubic-foot Sealed Enclosure

...THE OUTPUT SOUNDS SMOOTH AND NATURAL WITHOUT ANY LOSS OF DETAIL."

CONCLUSION The Arc Audio Black Series 12D2 continues the high performance tradition the brand has become known for.

This is a woofer that can easily satisfy (if not delight) a wide range of listeners. From SQ tweeks to parking lot SPL bass heads, the Black Series will provide the type of performance you’re looking for, and that by itself puts in some fairly rare company. Couple that with great build quality and a reasonable price for a woofer of this quality and performance, and you’ve got a pretty compelling reason to check one out at your local Arc Audio dealer.

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/ArcAudioBS12D2

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ORION

HCCA154 Dual 4-Ohm Voice Coil Subwoofer

REVIEW

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

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hen it comes to woofer choice, some folks want audiophile bass, others want boom for cruising, and still others want the highest power handling and SPL possible. If you fit in o any of those categories, you might be interested in the subject of this review – the improved Orion HCCA154 15-inch dual voice coil, competition-grade subwoofer. The HCCA “Black Coil” Series is the cream of the crop from Orion, with ultra heavy-duty construction, performance and reliability that’s come to be expected from the legendary brand. The woofer has a retail price around the $500 mark, and for that money you get a serious and capable purpose-built woofer, rated for 2,500 watts RMS of power.

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FEATURES Looking at some of the components of this high power, high SPL woofer, one of the main improvements MD Audio made to the HCCA series has been a new treatment to the voice coil, designed to allow higher operating temperatures without failure. The 4-inch copper-clad aluminum voice coil is now coated with an improved polyesteramide resin that has a flat black color – hence the “Black Coil” moniker. This new, higher-temperature resin allows extreme temperatures to be handled without softening, thereby preventing voice coil failures. An aluminum former is also used to provide greater heat dissipation.

Mechanical control and compliance

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are handled by a pair of Conex spiders mounted on a removable mounting ring. On the top side of the woofer, a tall “Tri-Radius Symmetrical Edge” NBR surround provides additional mechanical power handling and enough travel for the advertised 30 mm of Xmax.

One of the really cool features of this woofer (and one that will especially endear it to serious SPL competitors) is the ability to disassemble the moving assembly and replace it with a completely new one. This means if the woofer is damaged during an SPL contest (or you just happen to blow your buddy's doors off), you can simply swap in a re-cone kit that

comes with everything that moves, including a new voice coil, without shipping the heavy frame and motor assembly.

The woofer moves a lot of cooling air past the voice coil then dissipates heat rapidly thanks to the forced air cooling system, which includes a 1.25-inch vent and the aforementioned mesh vents and cast aluminum finned top and bottom plate, which helps it live up to its 2,500 watt continuous power rating.

Lastly, the woofer includes a foam mounting gasket and machine-threaded screws with threaded steel plates to go on the backside of the baffle board to mount it securely. No drywall mounting screws here.

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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REVIEW

ORION HCCA154 Dual 4-Ohm Voice Coil Subwoofer

THE HCCA154 OWNER’S MANUAL PROVIDES PLENTY OF GREAT INFORMATION TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR SYSTEM, COVERING A WIDE VARIETY OF INSTALL CONFIGURATIONS. IT IS A WELL-WRITTEN BOOK, AND IT’S WORTH READING..."

IN-BOX FREQUENCY RESPONSE - SEALED VERSUS VENTED

COSMETICS

FREE AIR IMPEDANCE – COILS IN PARALLEL

One look at the HCCA154 woofer and you know you’re in the big leagues. The big Orion is built around a massive customtooled cast aluminum basket, powdercoated in high gloss red.

Non-restrictive mesh vents allow you peer inside and observe the equally massive 4-inch voice coil. Then you get over to the motor assembly, which by itself is responsible for over 27 pounds of the woofer’s 62-pound overall weight. The backside of the motor is constructed with built-in cooling fins and a vented pole piece.

From the front, the red basket is trimmed with a great looking CNC-cut, brushed aluminum trim ring with aluminum HCCA logos painted in matching red. The outer cone and dust cap are polypropylene with a heavy duty paper cone underneath. The woofer is finished very nicely and looks great. It definitely stands out.

LISTENING

FREE AIR IMPEDANCE – COILS IN SERIES

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The HCCA154 owner’s manual provides plenty of great information to get the most from your system, covering a wide variety of install configurations. It is a well-written book, and it’s worth reading, even if you’ve installed as many woofers as I have.

I choose to do my most of my listening in a sealed enclosure with an internal volume of 3.5-cubic feet. Power for this brute comes from my largest reference amplifier – a Crown Macro Tech MA-5002 – which will deliver over 2,500 watts of clean power into 2 ohms.

After an eight hour break-in period, I mount it securely in the enclosure and connect the largest amplifier I own, set the electronic crossover for 80 Hz at -12 dB/oct, and listen to some of my favorite low-frequency woofer tracks.

One of these is Avril Lavigne’s Sk8er Boi. There is some low frequency information in the beginning of this track that can really surprise you if you’ve not heard it on a serious system before. (Note: One of my friends who didn’t own a decent audio system was so shocked when she heard this track on a good system she actually went out and bought a new stereo because she realized what she was missing.

What are you missing?)

On tracks like the Pussycat Dolls’ Don’t Cha, and Bachman Turner Overdrive’s Not Fragile, the Orion rocks the house and has enough output that the next-door neighbor even comes over to have a listen too! Changing musical gears to some well-recorded and detailed bass tracks, I find the HCCA woofer to be quite decent at reproducing the details in most tracks.

Very critical listeners will notice some overhang and lack of definition, but let’s face it – the HCCA woofer is made for those

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ORION HCCA154 Dual 4-Ohm Voice Coil Subwoofer

who like it loud and proud, not a sound Q tweak.

Overally, general tonality is enjoyable – the bass never sounds muddy or overly resonant.

The woofer does like abundant power, so I suggest at least a good 1,000 watt amplifier (or more) if you can afford it and have the electrical system to power it.

ON THE BENCH After my listening session I let the woofer cool overnight and fire up my trusty Klippel to analyze the Thiele-Small parameters. I noted in the manual the factory chose to provide the parameters for a series wiring configuration, but being a dual 4 ohm version, I think a parallel configuration is more appropriate. So below you’ll find the parameters for both wiring configurations. It’s common for woofer specifications to be as much as 20% different between samples, but my measured data is significantly different than what is in the owner’s manual. It does say that certain specifications are subject to change without notice, so perhaps there have been a few changes since the original specs were measured. At any rate, the woofer measured well, and the results are below.

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Series Wiring Configuration Measured Thiele-Small Parameters Electrical Parameters

Parallel Wiring Configuration Measured Thiele-Small Parameters Electrical Parameters

Re=7.67 ohms Le=6.801 mH Cmes=596 µF Lces=29.62 mH fs=37.9 Hz Mechanical Parameters Mms=568.787 g Mmd =535.071 g Rms=18.659 kg/s Cms=0.031 mm/N Kms=32.20 N/mm Bl=30.885 Loss factors Qtp=1.010 Qms=7.253 Qes=1.088 Qts=0.946 Other Parameters Vas=40.671 L or 1.43 cu. ft. n0=0.195% Lm=85.10 dB Sd=962.00 cm² EBP=34.8

Re=1.93=ohms Le=1.709=mH L2=3.652=mH R2=4.81=ohms Cmes=2382=µF Lces=7.41=mH Res=12.60=ohms fs=37.9=Hz Mechanical Parameters Mms=561.452 Mmd =527.736 g Rms=18.704kg/s Cms=0.031mm/N Kms=31.82N/mm Bl=15.352 Loss factors Qtp=1.014 Qms=7.147 Qes=1.096 Qts=0.950 Mechanical Parameters Vas=41.156 L or 1.45 cu. ft. n0=0.196% Lm=85.13 dB Sd=962.00 cm² EBP=34.58

QUICK TECH SPECS Power Handling Frequency Range Sensitivity Nominal Impedance

2,500 W RMS 25 – 500 Hz 85.1 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W/1 M (2) 4 ohm coils

CONCLUSION The Orion HCCA154 woofer is meant to deliver good sound and very high SPL levels for a long period of time.

Build quality is top notch and thanks to the field rebuild capability, it’s a great choice for serious SPL contest participants as well. If you like it loud and have the power available, it’s a tough woofer to beat. Check one out at an Orion dealer near you, or take a look at the entire lineup online at www.orioncaraudio.com For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/orionhcca154

Photo by Richard Fong

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HUSHMAT Reduce Heat and Noise

BY PAS STAFF

Y

our vehicle is a part of your personality and your daily life. Some of us might even say we live in our car or truck: think daily commuters. Most people do not realize, but when driving 65 to 70 MPH on the highway, interior noise reaches 80 to 90 decibels. When you exit the highway and come to the stop at the end of the exit, what do you do? You turn your stereo down because it is too loud. It had to be loud to overcome 80-90 decibels of noise. Often, our vehicle is louder than we can tolerate. People just are not aware there is a simple solution - HushMat. Quiet your ride with the no. 1 rated, USA-made sound damping pad. HushMat reduces sound levels up to 15 dB. That means you will be able to hear a conversation or enjoy your favorite music without having to crank up the volume. Make your ride as comfortable as possible with the quality materials of HushMat. You do not have to pre-clean the surface, and you do not need heat. Simply cut with scissors, peel and stick. Adhesion is guaranteed.

Line your entire ride with Ultra. You can apply HushMat Ultra to doors, frame and outer skin, the floor from firewall to rear deck, the lid and floor of the trunk and quarter panels...even the underside of the hood. Choose from a variety of kits designed for specific areas of your vehicle, or complete kits designed to treat a specific vehicle from front to back. The unique benefit of Ultra is its proven ability to eliminate noise, vibration and reduce temperature.

HushMat Ultra is a pressure-sensitive, constrained-layer damping material which has excellent adhesion and over 25 years of proven performance! HushMat Ultra is available in both Silver and Black foilâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;same great performance. Visit www.hushmat.com for more information.

HUSHMAT IS UNIVERSAL TO EVERY CAR, TRUCK, RV AND BOAT! IF IT MAKES NOISE, GENERATES HEAT, IS ON WHEELS, FLOATS OR IS IN YOUR HOME, INSTALL HUSHMAT TO REDUCE HEAT AND NOISE."

HushMat is pioneering top-of-the-line products for sound damping, vibration control, and thermal insulation in the automotive market.

Society of Automotive Engineers SAE J1637 is the damping material specification for the North American automotive industry. HushMat Ultra is the only material on the market to perform at the low end 200 Hz and high end 800 Hz frequency range for damping materials. Vibration transmits noise in the 0 to 1000 Hz range with an emphasis at 400 to 600 Hz. HushMat is the leader in this technology with 40% higher performance over the closest competitive brand.

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The aluminum foil laminate and proprietary formula combines to give incredible vibration damping and outstanding thermal insulating performance over a wide temperature range. HushMat Ultra, through its proprietary chemistry, reduces heat from the hot firewall, floor and trunk over the exhaust and tunnel locations. The firewall and floor pan exceed 180° F (>80° C), making the interior hot and uncomfortable. HushMat lowers this surface temperature to 100° F (38° C) - over 40%!

Enjoy the cool, quiet and comfortable ride with HushMat.

In addition to the many uses and properties of HushMat Ultra, it is also lightweight and super flexible. Great for working in a vehicle that has minimal space allowance, HushMat Ultra is 1.5 mm thick (or slightly less than 1/8 inch). Ultra is so flexible that it contours exactly to the vehicle surface without the bulk! Also, at less than 1/2 lb. per square foot, it will not weigh your vehicle down!

¬ HushMat Ultra requires no surface cleaning/ preparation or heat guns to install ¬ withstands temperatures from -30° F up to 550° F ¬ Proven to lower thermal transfer by over 40% ¬ No surface prep – no alcohol or acetone wash needed ¬ No installation tools required ¬ Self-adhesive peel and stick - no secondary glue ¬ Trims with a razor knife or household scissors ¬ Installs in half of the time versus other brands ¬ Available in silver or black foil ¬ Manufactured in the USA for over 25 years!

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One of the highlights of HushMat Ultra is the ease of installation. It is simple to install- peel and stick! With an adhesion guarantee, HushMat Ultra will stick - and stick for the life of your vehicle. youtube.com/HushMat1

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/hushmat

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CLARION

Clarion CC510 Camera

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f you have ever hit something while reversing and wished you could see what was behind your vehicle, the Clarion CC510 Universal Rear View Camera might be your answer. The CC510 camera provides a fantastic full-color picture of what’s behind you, with colored guidelines on screen so you know just how close you really are. The lines start off green then turn to yellow, orange, and finally red when it’s time to stop.

The camera itself is tiny, measuring less than 1 inch in any dimension. It weighs under half an ounce and thanks to true CMOS technology, it consumes very little energy. The CC510 comes with a 31-foot cable so it can be mounted on virtually any vehicle – even motor homes. Thanks to the easy-to-install tilt and swivel mounting bracket that’s included, mounting the CC510 is a piece of cake. The output signal of the camera is standard composite video, so it is fully compatible with any display that accepts a standard video signal – meaning most vehicles with a built-in dash display. The CC510 also uses a mirror image inversion function, so the image you see on screen is the same orientation as your rear view mirror, helping eliminate confusion.

With a resolution better than 3.4 megapixels, which is over 40,000 more pixels than its nearest competitor, automatic iris and white balancing, the CC510 provides a clear high resolution image.

It also works in very low light, thanks to

the 0.5-lux rating. The special wide-angle lens has a 150-degree horizontal viewing angle. Using the camera vertically, the range is approximately 100 degrees to encompass the entire area behind you.

Even though the camera is mounted on the exterior of your vehicle, the the IP67rated waterproof design and aluminum housing protects the camera from weather, UV and other wear and tear.

Connected to your in-dash screen, the CC510 removes the worry of backing into or over anything. It also makes parking or connecting a trailer a breeze. It can even be used to provide in-trailer surveillance while transporting valuable cargo. With a suggested retail price of $99.99 (USD), the CC510 is a great investment that gives you convenience and peace of mind.

Check out one of these tiny, high performance cameras at a Clarion dealer near you, and reverse with confidence.

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/Clarion_CC510

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Go-getters, hard workers, a man that knows how to treat a lady, and confi ence

BIRTH DATE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE BITANGA (WWW.STEVEBITANGA.COM) HAIR & MAKEUP BY VALERIE JC (WWW.ICONIMAGE.COM) WARDROBE BY ACQUA COUTURE SWIMWEAR (WWW.ACQUACOUTURE.COM)

5’6” WEIGHT: 115 LBS. HEIGHT

JUNE 28 Location

Measurements

ZODIAC SIGN

ETHNICITY

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA CANCER

32D | 25 | 36

GREEK/PUERTO RICAN

106 » PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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Carissa

ROSARIO

WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO BED?

I like to wear a wife beater and panties to bed because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple, sexy and comfortable.

For additional photos and the full interview, visit pasmag.com/CarissaRosario

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DECEMBER 2013

SU M T W TH F

1 2 3 4 5

6 S 7 SU 8 M 9 T 10 W 11 TH 12 F 13 S SU M T W TH F S SU M T W TH F S SU M T

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

OVERSTEER FINISH: • Gloss Black (shown) and Opal SIZE: • 16x7.5, 17x8, 18x8, 18x9, 19x8.5, 19x9.5

KONIGWHEELS.COM 110 » PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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PHOTOGRAPHER PROFILE:

Beansfotos COMPANY: Beansfotos PHOTOGRAPHER: Brian Bowers LOCATION: New Orleans, LA CAMERA: Nikon D3S LENS: Sigma 50 mm / Nikon 24-70 mm COMPUTER: PC (Windows 7) SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Adobe

Lightroom 4,

Nikon Capture NX 2, DxO Optics Pro 8 CAR: 2004 Infiniti G35 BEANSFOTOS.COM BEANSFOTOS

@BEANSFOTOS BEANS_FOTOS

Q&A How would you describe your style? I would say my

style is very graphical and artistic in nature. Since I've always been into art (drawing), and graphic design was my first computer trade. A mix of those two is definitely seen [throughout] my work.

What equipment and software do you use? My

main piece of equipment is a Nikon D3S. I started with a D5000 and love the Nikon line. The two pieces of glass that I use the most are my Sigma 50 mm and my Nikon 24-70. There isn't a shoot when I don't break both of these out. I feel as though they are an extension of my eye sight. I know exactly what to expect from them and love them.

Where is your favorite location to shoot pictures? I love the

studio, but to contrast that I LOVE natural light. Sunlight coming through windows or doors in an indoor setting is my shooting heaven. It usually takes an Act of Congress to get me on location or outdoors.

11/1/2013 12:00 PM

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Niche Road Wheels ............................................. 8 ORACLE Lighting INC ....................................55 Orion High Performance Car Audio ..........4 OSRAM SYLVANIA LTD. .................................11 Parrot, Inc ...............................................................35 PASmag ...................................................................114 PIAA Corporation ..............................................63 Pioneer Electronics Inc. .................................116 Powerbass ..............................................................57 Pyle Audio Inc. .....................................................95 Racing Beat ..........................................................102 Reikken ....................................................................83 SPC Performance ..............................................112 Spec Inc - UltraRev.com ..................................23 Super Bright LEDs Inc. .................................104 Tein - Option Auto Salon ...............................45 Tein - Turn 14 Distribution ............................ 51 TSW Wheels ............................................................ 7 Turbo Kits ...............................................................89 What Monsters Do ............................................28 Wilwood Engineering ...................................... 41 Xscorpion ......................................................... 65, 91

PAS_sub-Scion_2013_1-2pg_Layout 1 6/12/13 11:51 AM Page 1

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Ad Index's 15.09.indd 1 Untitled-3 1

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11/1/2013 4:54 3:30 PM

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11/1/2013 3:51 PM 11-07-07 10:24 AM

BORED? GET ON FACEBOOK AND LIKE US!

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10/24/2013 3:45 PM

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