PASMAG - Tuning Essentials Special Edition - Mobile Electronics Vol.2

CANADA’S SOURCE FOR MODIFIED CAR CULTURE STYLE // MOBILE ELECTRONICS // PERFORMANCE

EXCLUSIVE! FIRST ANNUAL MOBILE ELECTRONICS GUIDE T U N I N G ESSENTIALS

ULTIMATE CAR UPGRADES 2 0 1 4

S P E C I A L

22

DAILY LUXURY AUDIO ENHANCED

EXCLUSIVE TESTS!

300C

BUYERS GUIDES

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PROJECT GROUND POUNDER: PHASE 3

PASMAG.COM

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AMPLIFIERS HEAD UNITS SPEAKERS SUBWOOFERS ENCLOSURES BATTERIES WIRING & DISTRIBUTION OEM INTEGRATION

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SPEAKERS • SUBWOOFERS • AMPLIFIERS • SOUND DEADENING • ACCESSORIES

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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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MEMPHIS MUSIC

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CONTENTS ARTICLES

FEATURES

18

54 Cabe’s Corner:

Sound Advice:

Amplifiers Explained

20 Hot New Products 126 Connected:

MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

144 Hour 300C Show Car 58 Project Ground Pounder Phase 3:

The Hummer Enclosure

128 Konig Wheel Calendar

Kat Kelley

Escort Laser ShifterPro

HEAD UNITS 62 66 70 72

Clarion NX404 Kenwood DDX8901HD MB Quart Nautic GMR-1 Sony XSP-N1BT

TEST REPORTS

SPEAKERS 76 Axxera AS65C 78 Pioneer TS-D1720C 82 Precision Power P.65C3

AMPLIFIERS

SUBWOOFERS

86 88 92 94 96 98 102 104 106

108 Arc Audio XDi 12D2 110 Cerwin-Vega Mobile Stroker

Pro SPRO122D 114 Hybrid Audio Technologies

Clarus C15SW 116 Memphis Street Reference 15-SRX12D4 120 Phoenix Gold SX112d4 124 Audiomobile LDQ-4 Line Driver

Alpine PDR-M65 Arc Audio XDi 600.4 Audiopipe APCL-15001D DD Audio M45 Focal FPD 600.4 Hifonics Atlas Kicker PX Series Orion Cobalt CB2400.1D Rockford Fosgate T400X4ad

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

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CONTENTS

MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

22

OEM INTEGRATION

BUYERS GUIDES

24

HEAD UNITS

28

34

40

SPEAKERS

AMPLIFIERS

SUBWOOFERS

46

48

52

ENCLOSURES

WIRING & DISTRIBUTION

BATTERIES

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ISSUE PREVIEW

SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL

PASMAG Tuning Essentials (ISSN # 1710-1573) is published 5 times a year by Performance Auto & Sound Inc. 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (10 issues) Canada and USA: $24.99 (20 issues) Canada and USA: $34.99 (30 issues) Canada and USA: $42.99 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 SENIOR EDITOR Jordan Lenssen TECHNICAL EDITOR Garry Springgay ASSOCIATE EDITOR Micky Slinger

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS George Dimitriadis Cabe Sipes

PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason Carroll

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 SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER Rex Cawagas

A D M I N I ST R AT I O N DIRECTOR, CIRCULATION & RETAIL MARKETING Craig Sweetman FINANCE MANAGER Michelle Forsyth DIGITAL COORDINATOR Patrick Lagowski 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.

T

he Mobile Electronics issue is a very special publication for PASMAG each year. It honors our beginnings as a print publication and the reason we are here today. We are one of the few magazines that have supported the car audio and electronics industry since the beginning and, over the years, we have seen our community grow and evolve; from small car audio competitions to massive vehicle showcases and events. The community and our staff have been part of a pretty amazing ride, and we all have each other to thank.

Vehicle modifications are an extremely demanding and rewarding experience, but the PASMAG community has – and always will – take it a step further. Sometimes we’re content with a build, but when the world is at your fingertips, why stop there?! The acoustic and visual potential of mobile electronics is what keeps us turning our heads and stomping our feet. Over the past 16 years, we have seen everything from light-piped seats to hollowedout doors, back-lit sub boxes and vehicles so full of car audio that they physically can’t drive!

It’s an amazing thing to witness, and the coolest thing about it is our industry and creative manufacturers continue to provide new products, create trends and build on current and future technologies. There’s literally endless potential to create the ride you want, and make a lasting impression.

So, that’s all well and good, but what about the stuff within these pages? Well, what better place to start than some Sound Advice from Garry Springgay, our Technical Editor and knower-of-all-things-electronics extraordinaire? Springgay has entered another orbit for this special issue, taking charge of his regular column and the majority of the content inside. We all know his award-winning insight

CONNECT

is invaluable and his in-depth tests are the industry standard, but here, he’s giving us his insight on debunking amplifier myths, as well as an astounding 22 test reports. Don’t rub you’re eyes, you read that correctly! We’re just as shocked as you, and it’s going to make this one of the most comprehensive test issues we’ve ever done. And deservedly so.

Our other car audio guru and master fabricator, Cabe Sipes, has been toiling day and night for weeks on end, installing all kinds of electronic gizmos, doo-dads, motorized parts and even wheels, tires and suspension to get his Chrysler 300C ready for its in-person debut at Slamology, and in-print premiere in his regular space, Cabe’s Corner. Mr. Sipes has written the full story on getting his car up to par, and has all kinds of interesting bits and bytes to share with you, our loyal PASMAG reader.

Phase three of Project Ground Pounder shows just how monstrous George Dimitriadis’ H2 Hummer build is, but we’re not quite at the end of this insane build! This edition focuses on building an enclosure for 10 15-inch subs, removing the sunroof and supporting the passenger cabin with a custom welded cage.

It won’t be long before we can see the fruits of his painstaking labor and, actually, we’re quite excited to hear this thing pound the ground.

Capping things off, our mobile electronics product guides showcase the latest in multimedia head units, navigation, speakers, amplifiers, subwoofers, enclosures, batteries, wiring, distribution and more hot new products. We want to ensure you’re aware of what’s out there so you can make educated decisions when shopping for products to customize your ride exactly how you dream. It is, after all, why we’re here.

JORDAN LENSSEN PASMAG SENIOR EDITOR

MAKING IT EASIER TO STALK US THAN EVER BEFORE!

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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Download the iTunes app PASMAG+

Get the digital edition for your tablet at pasmag.com/zinio

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TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

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SOUND ADVICE

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

AMPLIFIERS EXPLAINED When it comes to selecting a piece of audio equipment, there are many criteria that can be used to help make up our minds, but by far, the most common one is measured specifications.

While an entire book could be written on how to properly define, read and interpret specifications, I’m going to condense that info to the most commonly quoted specifications and give you a bit of insight as to what they mean (or don’t mean, in some cases).

FIRST, THE BIG ONE: POWER When it comes to choosing an amplifier, this single specification is most frequently viewed as the most important, but it may not be as important as you think. I have actually seen people open up amplifier boxes to see which serial number has five or 10 more watts than the others. Yet the differences in actual power usage are much smaller than you may expect.

Take two amplifiers: one rated at 800 watts, and another at 1,000 watts. That sounds like a big difference, right? Well, it’s not. You see, in terms of output, there is less than 1.0 dB between 800 and 1,000 watts – a difference so small that most people will never hear it.

When you consider amplifier power, remember this simple fact: If you want something twice as loud, you need 10 TIMES the power. So, for a significant difference in volume you will need to buy an amp that’s at least five or six times more powerful than your current amp. If you already have 50 watts, your next logical step would be 250 to 300 watts, assuming you have speakers to handle the new power.

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO (S/N) This spec means exactly what it says.

It is the difference, expressed in decibels, between the level of a signal and the residual noise with the signal removed. Properly done, this spec is measured at one watt. Products with poor S/N performance will have an

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audible “hiss” from tweeters during very quiet passages or between tracks. The reference level used is critical, so if it’s not stated, assume it is full power and adjust it down accordingly.

TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION + NOISE (THD+N) Many people put far too much emphasis on this specification, however it can be an indication of better quality designs. Look for numbers below 0.1% at one watt, but don’t worry about getting a bunch of zeros in front of that. It has been proven many times the majority of people have no perception of distortion until the level reaches at least 1.0%.

FREQUENCY RESPONSE Again, this is a fairly self-explanatory specification. This is the measurement of a bandwidth of frequencies that are produced within a narrow window of amplitude. For example, a full range amplifier may have a specification of 20 Hz to 25 kHz (25,000 Hz) @ -3 dB. This means the amp is capable of producing each of the frequencies between those limits, without reducing the output by more than 3 dB.

DAMPING FACTOR

mythical spec in front of dozens of students over the years. So, when you see a damping factor specification on any audio amplifier, you can very safely ignore it, as it’s totally meaningless. Unfortunately, many companies publish incomplete specs, or specs that are not measured to any industry standard. If you are basing your amp purchase on specifications, at the very least you should look for products that use the CEA-2006B standard, which permits an even playing field and allows for “apples to apples” comparisons.

Better yet, just read my test reports here in PASMAG and on PASMAG.com!

Now I’m probably going to upset the marketing departments of some companies, but here it is… This so-called “specification” was invented back in the 1960s as a way to improve the sales of a specific brand of home audio amplifiers.

The actual number is derived fairly ridiculously – by dividing the nominal impedance of the loudspeaker by the output impedance of the amplifier. What this is supposed to mean is the higher the resulting number, the more control the amp has over the speaker, and the more accurate the sound will be.

While this sounds good in a product brochure, it simply doesn’t work in the real world. The formula conveniently disregards some very real resistances that are in series with amp output that absolutely swamp out even the lowest Facebook: garry.springgay output impedances. This is fact and I, Website: www.cogentaudiolabs.com as well as several other reputable industry professionals, have refuted this

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

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IT’S MY STYLE.

ST XTA COILOVER These kits offer mild to eXtreme lowering with on-car ride height adjustment. Designed using KW automotive’s technical expertise, the all-new ST XTA kits give a bolt-on suspension solution.

The ST XTA kits offer adjustable rebound damping and bespoke camber to be set by aluminium uniball top mounts.

The result is improved looks and performance teamed with excellent driving dynamics and ride quality.

SEE YOUR LOCAL ST SUSPENSIONS DEALER OR GO TO WWW.STSUSPENSIONS.COM FOR DETAILS © 2014 KW AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

GO PUCK 8X PORTABLE USB POWER BANK $149 | gopuck.com The 8X is GO PUCK’s longest lasting portable USB external battery charger to date, capable of charging smartphones, action cameras, tablets, portable audio players and virtually any other USBpowered device. With 10,800 mAh, the 8X is able to charge your smartphone up to eight times on the go.

WHITELINE NISSAN 350Z / INFINITI G35 VEHICLE ESSENTIALS KIT $299.90 | whitelineus.com

The Essentials Kit from WHITELINE is designed to increase vehicle stability and handling characteristics by targeting known high-failure rate items and bangfor-your-buck enhancements in one convenient, costeffective kit. The kit includes differential mount bushings, front control arm upper and lower inside bushings, shock-to-control arm bushings, and compression rod bushings. WHITELINE’s synthetic elastomer bushings are covered with a lifetime warranty.

MCGARD SPLINEDRIVE LUG NUTS $19.64 (set of 4) | shop.mcgard.com McGard SplineDrive lug nuts are engineered to fit in small-diameter recesses in aluminum wheels for a tight, clean look. They offer closed-end caps, maximum grip, more stud attachment, a greater seating surface than socket-style lug nuts and are 30% lighter. The chrome plating, no matter the color, is guaranteed for life not to rust, chip or peel.

PHILIPS LED HEADLAMPS

SYLVANIA ZEVO LED STRIP KIT

$399.00 | philips.com/automotive

$39.99 | sylvania.com/zevostrip

Philips LED Headlamps feature LUXEON Altilon LEDs that deliver bright, white 5,600 K light output that mimics the color temperature of daylight. The ‘split-lamp’ appearance offers a dramatic look to the headlamps, on or off. Available in a 5 x 7-inch rectangular bulb or 7-inch round bulb.

Put more colors and more light where you want it, and add endless design options to enhance the interior look of your vehicle. True RGB mixing technology gives you 16 colors and five modes.

A 20-button remote and 12 V car adaptor makes for an easy “plug and play” installation. Easily expandable with extension kits.

ORACLE DYNAMIC LED LIGHT BAR $875.25 | oraclelights.com The Dynamic LED Light Bar that can be controlled via a free app on your smartphone. You can turn your lights on, off, control brightness and even strobe the lights. The package includes: a wireless remote, colored gels (red, blue, green, and yellow), a protective cover, and three different mounts to fit any installation application.

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BUYERS GUIDES

OEM Integration American International GMK325BM Dash Kit iSimple BluClik Bluetooth Controller

Contact for pricing | aius.net

Contact for pricing | isimplesolutions.com This amazing remote pairs with a Bluetooth-enabled device, even if that phone, tablet or device is already paired to the vehicle.

When BluClik is mounted on the steering wheel, it allows for a convenient, safe and enjoyable music listening experience.

This is the industry’s first dash kit for the recently-released 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Available in painted black metallic ABS plastic to match the factory finish, this kit facilitates the install of a single-DIN or ISO-mount radio with pocket, or a single double-DIN radio. The kit comes complete with single and double-DIN trim rings, instructions and hardware.

INTRAPHEX P1N-GM11 Navigation & Camera Integration Crux Interfacing RVCCH-75D Rear-View Integration Kit $899 | cruxinterfacing.com The RVCCH-75D is a multi-function rear-vision integration system and video activation module for Dodge Ram vehicles with Uconnect Radios (2013 and up). It seamlessly integrates with all factory installed systems and includes every component needed for enabling the multiple visualizations that can be activated by the OEM stereo.

Contact for pricing | intraphex.com Made specifically for use with 7-inch GM infotainment screens found in late model Chevrolet (MYLINK), GMC and Buick (INTELLILINK) vehicles, the INTRAPHEX P1N-GM11 is a stand-alone, 100% plug-and-play solution that allows the addition of an integrated GPS navigation system and backup camera directly to the OEM display.

JL Audio CL441dsp CleanSweep OEM Integration $349.95 | jlaudio.com JL Audio’s revolutionary CleanSweep CL441dsp lets you retain your dash and OEM head unit, while keeping the full functionality of factory-installed features. Its powerful digital signal processor and 30 band EQ allow you to replace the weak factory audio system with highperformance amplifiers, subwoofers and component speaker systems.

Metra Electronics 99-5028 & 95-5028 Radio Installation Kits Contact for pricing | metraonline.com

Pacific Accessory Corporation ControlPRO Module $119.95 | pac-audio.com The ControlPRO is a universal module that can be quickly programmed via today’s most popular smart devices. Designed for versatility and ease of use, the ControlPRO saves valuable time and works with virtually any vehicle with a steering wheel. It installs behind the radio instead of the steering column and allows for quick custom button configurations.

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The new 99-5028 and 95-5028 installation kits are designed for 20032006 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator factory navigation radios that are in need of some new aftermarket flare. Both kits provide a stable set of brackets and radio housing for even the newest, heaviest radios.

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BUYERS GUIDES

Head Units

KICKER PXiBT50.2 Amplified Device Controller C o n ta ct fo r p r i c i n g | k i c ke r. c o m The PXiBT50.2 lets you easily add music to any vehicle not equipped with a source unit, and works with all media devices via Bluetooth streaming. Users can enjoy their personal soundtracks through Bluetooth. The small footprint “brain”/amplifier delivers 50 watts of power, has speaker outputs and a USB port for charging.

JVC KW-V50BT $599.99 | jvc.ca | jvc.com

Enjoy the use of GPS, audio and video content from virtually any app on your iPhone 5, Android or other compatible device via HDMI/ MHL connectivity right on the KW-V50BT. Features Siri Eyes Free support for easy one-touch access of voice control for hands-free dialing, text messaging, email, music playback and a host of other voice supported functions on your Siri-enabled iPhone.

Sony XSP-N1BT In-Car Smartphone Cradle Receiver

BOSS Audio Systems 752UAB Stereo

$ 24 9 . 9 9 | s o n y. c a | s o n y. c o m

$129 | bossaudio.com Take full wireless control of your 752UAB stereo with the Radio Control Stream app from BOSS Audio Systems. This Bluetooth system provides audio streaming through the MP3-compatible CD/AM/FM receiver. USB port, SD port, front aux-in port, and full detachable front panel are included.

Using the smartphone cradle for secure mounting and Bluetooth with NFC connectivity, your smartphone acts as the brains of your system. Enjoy voice control and hear your messages read aloud with the App Remote 2.0, and hear everything loud and clear with an Advanced Sound Engine and a 10-band equalizer.

Alpine Electronics X008U Multimedia System $2,100 | alpine-usa.com | alpine-canada.com The X008U with 8-inch touchscreen works with Alpine’s Perfect F.I.T. dash kits for a vehiclespecific fit. The X008U features Bluetooth wireless technology, control of digital audio sources, and retains factory vehicle controls through the iDatalink Maestro module (sold separately). Navigation features include pre-loaded U.S and Canadian maps and free traffic service.

KENWOOD EXCELON KDC-X598 RECEIVER Contact for pricing | kenwoodusa.com | kenwood.ca The Kenwood eXcelon KDC-X598 is a high-performance USB/iPod/CD receiver with built-in Bluetooth capabilities for hands-free calling and music streaming. The KDC-X598 also features dual phone support for multiple users and allows voice dialing via Apple’s Siri Eyes Free mode. Includes variable color illumination, front AUX/USB, three preouts, 50 W x 4 MOSFET power output, SiriusXM, Drive EQ and more.

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MORE FEATURES

MORE SAVINGS GET MORE WITH

AUDIO SYSTEMS

Experience the BOSS Audio Systems broad range of Bluetooth®-enabled in-dash multimedia units like the 752UAB with our RADIO CONTROL STREAM APP. Available for download on GOOGLE PLAY STORE, the new RADIO CONTROL STREAM APP provides smart devise control for a variety of our new multimedia systems. FULL FEATURE SYSTEMS available for any budget.

www.bossaudio.com

MORE FEATURES, MORE SAVINGS! GET MORE WITH BOSS AUDIO SYSTEMS

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BUYERS GUIDES

Head Units

Soundstream VR-622HB Mobile Link Multimedia System Contact for pricing | soundstream.com Safely share videos, pictures, and all other content on your mobile device through the Soundstream VR-622HB. Mobile Link replicates the image of your smart device onto the LCD screen of several of Soundstream's in-car entertainment products, including select Mobile 8 source units, headrests, and overhead displays. Mobile Link integration cables are available for select Android and iOS smart devices.

Clarion NX404 Multimedia Receiver Contact for pricing | clarion.com The award-winning NX404 in-dash navigation multimedia system offers exceptional on-screen graphics and connectivity from an iPod, USB or back up camera and full smartphone integration. It has superb audio quality with a built-in EQ featuring multiple parameters, high- and low-pass filters, 6-channel 2-volt RCA output, subwoofer control, and three sets of RCA outputs for adding external power amplifiers.

Nesa NSC-101 Ceiling Monitor $469 | nesavision.com The 10.1-inch high-res digital TFT-LCD widescreen supports DVD, CD and most video file playback. The built-in radio transmitter and dome light ensures you lose no functionality after installing the 1024 x 600 resolution unit.

Parrot ASTEROID Smart

Pioneer NEX In-Dash Receivers

Contact for pricing | parrot.com

$700 to $1,400 pioneerelectronics.com pioneerelectronics.ca

The Parrot ASTEROID Smart introduces a new dimension of infotainment on a 6.2-inch multi-function touchscreen. Enjoy hands-free calling, access your music and videos, navigate to your destination and control your calls and music by voice.

You can even customize your ASTEROID Smart with a wide range of apps available from Parrot's ASTEROID Market. Stream music from your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth or connect through USB, SD cards and line-in ports.

Pioneer's NEX or Networked Entertainment eXperience line of receivers feature an innovative and powerful new user interface controlling a combination of on-board features with connected services. The five NEX models are designed especially for today's smartphone-driven lifestyle, bridging the gap between smartphone tethered products like Pioneer's revolutionary AppRadioÂŽ and traditional multimedia receivers.

Dual DV1014BH Multimedia Receiver C o n ta c t fo r p r i c i n g | d u a l av. c o m This single-DIN DVD receiver boasts a 10.1-inch HD LCD, built-in Bluetooth (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and PBAP), and DualMirror for Apple and Android smartphones.

Also features USB and SD card inputs and a built-in, programmable steering wheel control interface.

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BUYERS GUIDES

Speakers

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Alpine Type-R series | SPR-60C

Arc Audio ARC Series | 602

Axxera AS Series | AS65C

$379 | alpine-canada.com | alpine-usa.com

$259 | arcaudio.com

C o n ta c t fo r p r i c i n g | a xxe ra . d u a l av. c o m

Size: 6.75 in. (also fits 6.5-in. openings) Design: Component Cone / Surround Material: Multi-layer hybrid fiber cone / Santoprene rubber surround Tweeter material: Silk Power: 110 W RMS / 330 W Peak Basket: HD polymer frame

Size: 5.25 in., 6.5 in., 6x9 in.

Design: Coaxial Cone / Surround Material: ROHACELL fiber composite cone / Poly butyl surround Tweeter Material: Wool dampened silk fiber Power: 75 W RMS / 150 W Peak Basket: CNC machined and tuned

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: Component Cone / Surround Material: Three-layer honeycomb glass fiber cone / Rubber surround Tweeter Material: Laminated silk Power: 65 W RMS / 200 W Peak Basket: Aluminum cast

BLUES AUDIO Blues Classic Series | BC-65

BOSS Audio Systems Phantom Ghost Series | PG693

Cadence QRS Series | QRS 6K3

$89.99 | bluesaudiousa.com

$79.99 | bossaudio.com

$395 | cadencesound.com

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: 2-way component Cone / Surround Material: Poly-coated Tweeter Material: Mylar balanced dome Power: 60 W RMS / 240 W Peak Basket: Stamped steel

Size: 6x9 in.

Design: 3-way component Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene woofer cone / Butyl rubber surround Tweeter Material: Piezo Power: 250 W RMS / 500 W Peak Basket: Stamped steel

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: 3-way component Cone / Surround Material: Woven Kevlar cone / SBR rubber surround Tweeter Material: Silk Power: 100 W RMS / 250 W Peak Basket: Stamped steel

Clarion SRG Series | SRG6953R

DB Drive OKUR Series | S5-6CV2

DD Audio B-Series | BC 6.5

$129.99 | clarion.com

$199 | dbdrive.net

$419 | ddaudio.com

Size: 6x9 in.

Design: Multi-axial 5-way Cone / Surround Material: Mica-injected polypropylene cone Tweeter Material: Metalized PEI Power: 100 W RMS / 600 W Peak Basket: Cast aluminum

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: Component Cone / Surround Material: TSD coated pressed paper cone / Butyl rubber surround Tweeter material: Aluminum dome tweeter Power: 90 W RMS / 400 W Peak Basket: Heavy-gauge stamped steel basket

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: Component Cone / Surround Material: Aluminum cone / Butyl rubber surround Tweeter Material: Silk Power: 50 W RMS / 150 W Peak Basket: Cast aluminum

PASMAG

Speakers 16.05.indd 1

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

2014-07-07 5:00 PM

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2014-04-02 7:28 PM

BUYERS GUIDES

Speakers

30

Diamond Audio HEX Series | H65S

DS18 Black Diamond Series | BD-G694

Focal Expert Series | PS165F3

$879.99 | diamondaudio.com

Contact for pricing | ds18.com

$899 | focal-america.com

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: Component Cone Material: Treated anodized black aluminum Tweeter Material: Silk Power: 150 W RMS Basket: Die-cast

Size: 6x9 in.

Design: 4-way coaxial Cone / Surround Material: Injection cone / Rubberized texture surround Tweeter Material: Piezo Power: 230 W RMS / 540 W Peak Basket: N/A

Size: 6.5 in. mid bass, 3 in. mid range, 1.8 in. tweeter Design: 3-way component Cone / Surround Material: FLAX cone / Butyl surround Tweeter material: Aluminum, magnesium Power: 80 W RMS / 160 W Peak Basket: Cast aluminum

Hifonics Hercules Series | HS6.2C

Image Dynamics IDQ Series | IDQ65cs

JL Audio Evolution C3 Series | C3-650

$79.99 | hifonics.com

$499.99 | imagedynamicsusa.net

$529.95 | jlaudio.com

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: 2-way component Cone / Surround Material: Woven pressed poly cone / Butyl surround Tweeter material: Silk Power: 35 W RMS / 70 W Peak Basket: Stamped steel

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: Component Cone Material: Fiber matrix paper Tweeter Material: Silk Power: 125 W RMS Basket: Composite glass fiber

Size: 6.5-in. woofer, 1-in. tweeter Design: Convertible component / Coaxial system Cone / Surround Material: Mineral-filled polypropylene cone / Rubber surround Tweeter Material: Silk Power: 75 W RMS / 150 W Peak Basket: Injection-molded polymer

JVC DRVN Series | CS-V628

KICKER KS Series | KSC67

MB Quart Reference Series | RCM216

$79.99 (CAD) | jvc.ca | jvc.com

$ 1 1 9 . 9 5 | k i c ke r. c o m

$169.99 | mbquart.com

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: Coaxial Cone Material: Carbon-fiber mica Tweeter Material: Poly-ether imide Power: 40 W RMS / 250 W Peak Basket: Steel

Size: 6.75 in.

Design: Coaxial Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene cone / Rubber surround Tweeter Material: Silk Power: 100 W RMS / 200 W Peak Basket: Power-coated steel

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: 2-way component Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene cone / Butyl surround Tweeter Material: Titanium Power: 60 W RMS / 120 W Peak Basket: ABS composite

PASMAG

Speakers 16.05.indd 2

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

2014-07-07 5:04 PM

Untitled-1 1

2014-05-20 2:02 PM

BUYERS GUIDES

Speakers

32

Memphis Car Audio Power Reference Series | PRX 69C

Morel Tempo Ultra Series | 2-Way

MTX Audio Signature Series | SS7

$169.95 | memphiscaraudio.com

Contact for pricing | morelhifi.com

$399.95 | mtx.com

Size: 6x9 in.

Design: Component Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene cone / Polyurethane surround Tweeter Material: Polypropylene Power: 60 W RMS / 120 W Peak Basket: Stamped steel

Size: 5.25 in. / 6.5 in. / 5x7 in. / 6x9 in.

Design: 2-way component Cone Material: Treated paper composite Tweeter Material: Soft dome Power: 100 to 130 W RMS / 250 to 280 W Peak Basket: N/A

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: 2-way component Cone / Surround Material: Glass fiber cone / NBR surround Tweeter Material: Tetoron Power: 150 W RMS / 300 W Peak Basket: Cast aluminum

Orion XTR Series | XTR65.SC

Phoenix Gold Ti Series | Ti265PS

PowerBass Autosound Series | S Series

Contact for pricing | orioncaraudio.com

$240 | phoenixgold.com

Contact for pricing | powerbassusa.com

Size: Various Design: Component Cone / Surround Material: Fiber-blended cone / Butyl surround Tweeter Material: Ferrofluid silk Power: 85 W RMS / 450 W Peak Basket: Stamped steel

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: Point Source Cone Material: Poly-treated paper Tweeter Material: Silk Power: 100 W RMS / 200 W Peak Basket: Powder-coated stamped steel

Size: 2.75 in. / 6x9 in.

Design: Full-range Cone Material: Treated paper Tweeter Material: Silk Power: 30 W RMS / 200 W Peak Basket: Stamped steelÂ

Rockford Fosgate POWER Series | T4652-S Speakers

Soundstream Reference Series | RC.6 Speakers

$999.99 | rockfordfosgate.com

$309.95 | soundstream.com

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: 2-way component Cone Material: LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) fiber sandwich cone Tweeter Material: LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) dome tweeter Power: 150 W RMS / 300 W Peak Basket: Die-cast aluminum flex fit

Size: 6.5 in.

Design: Component Cone Material: Puffed paper cone Tweeter Material: Aerated silk Power: 250 W RMS / 400 W Peak Basket: Cast aluminum

PASMAG

Speakers 16.05.indd 3

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

2014-07-07 5:05 PM

Untitled-1 1

2014-06-20 3:10 PM

BUYERS GUIDES

Amplifiers

34

Alpine PDR Series | PDR-M65

American Bass VFL Series | VFL-PRO-3K

Arc Audio XDI V2 Series | 600.4

$ 5 4 9 | a l p i n e - c a nada. co m | al pi n e- u sa. co m

Contact for pricing | americanbassusa.com

$479 | arcaudio.com

Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 450 W RMS x 1 @ 4 Ω / 650 W RMS x 1 @ 4 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: Variable low-pass Equalization: Variable bass EQ Frequency Response (-3 dB): 8 Hz to 400 Hz (1 W into 4 Ω) S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): 113 dBA (1 W into 4 Ω) Dimensions: 9 in. (L) x 7.125 in. (W) x 2.0625 in. (H)

Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 2,500 W RMS x 1 @ 1 Ω Topology: Mid-range Class D Crossovers: Low-pass (35 Hz to 10 KHz @ 24 dB/Oct), Subsonic filter (10 Hz to 50 Hz @ 24 dB/Oct), Phase shift (0 to 180 degrees) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 20 Hz to 10 kHz S/N Ratio: 90 dB Dimensions: 14.96 in. (L) x 9.72 in. (W) x 2.24 in. (H)

Channels: Four Power (CEA-2006 standard): 150 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω / 300 W RMS x 2 @ 4 Ω (bridged) Topology: Class D Crossovers: 50 Hz to 550 Hz Equalization: Variable bass boost (0 to 12 dB) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 20 Hz to 20 kHz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): -83.6 dBA Dimensions: 9.020 in. (L) x 6.268 in. (W) x 2.162 in. (H)

Autotek Mean Machine Series | MM4050.1

Axxera Ultra Slim Series | AX70SM

Blues Audio Blues Classic Series | BA-1.350

$399.99 | autotekcaraudio.com

$ 24 9 . 9 9 | a xxe ra . d u a l av. c o m

$149.99 | bluesaudiousa.com

Channels: One Power: 4,000 W MAX x 1 @ 1 Ω Topology: Class A/B Crossovers: Variable low-pass (40 Hz to 150 Hz), Subsonic (15 Hz to 55 Hz) Equalization: Bass boost (0 dB to 9 dB @ 45 Hz) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 15 Hz to 150 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >90 dB Dimensions: 12.60 in. (L) x 9.72 in. (W) x 2.28 in. (H)

Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 140 W RMS x 1 @ 4 Ω / 250 W RMS x 1 @ 2 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: Variable low-pass crossover (35 Hz to 250 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct) Equalization: Variable bass boost (0 dB to 12 dB @ 45 Hz ), Variable subsonic filter (20 Hz to 50 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 20 Hz to 250 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >80 dB Dimensions: 5.9 in. (L) x 3 in. (W) x 1.5 in. (H)

Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 350 W RMS @ 2 Ω Topology: MOSFET A/B Crossovers: Low-pass, Subsonic, 180 phase Equalization: Variable bass boost Frequency Response (-3 dB): 20 Hz to 20 kHz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): N/A Dimensions: 9.2 in. (L) x 8.8 in. (W) x 2 in. (H)

BOSS Audio Systems Chaos Extreme II Series | CXX2705

Cadence Zenith Series | XAM500.4BT

Cerwin-Vega Mobile High Energy Design (HED) Series | H42000.1D

$249 | bossaudio.com

$540 | cadencesound.com

$439.99 | webinfo@cerwinvegamobile.com

Channels: Five Power (CEA-2006 standard): 150 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω / 600 W RMS x 1 @ 4 Ω (bridged) Topology: Class AB Crossovers: Variable low-pass, Fixed high-pass Equalization: Switchable bass boost Frequency Response (-3 dB): 10 Hz to 20 kHz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): 95 dB Dimensions: 20.25 in. (L) x 11 in. (W) x 2.875 in. (H)

Channels: Four Power (CEA-2006 standard): 65 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω Topology: Full Range Class D Crossovers: High-pass, Low-pass (50 Hz to 150 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct) Equalization: Bass EQ (+12 dB @ 45 Hz) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 10 Hz to 40 KHz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): 97 dB Dimensions: 12.91 in. (L) x 5 in. (W) x 2 in. (H)

Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 1,000 W RMS x 1 @ 1 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: N/A Equalization: Vega bass boost (0 dB to 12 dB @ 45 Hz) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 24 dB S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 Standard): -101.1 dBa Dimensions: 18.5 in. (L) x 8.8 in. (W) x 2.1 in. (H)

PASMAG

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

©2014 ROCKFORD CORPORATION

Untitled-1 1

2014-04-15 3:46 PM

BUYERS GUIDES Amplifiers

Clarion XC Series | XC1410

DB Drive OKUR Series | A7-2500.1

DD Audio C Series | C3d & C5d

$199.99 | clarion.com

$1,199 | dbdrive.net

$359 to $399 | ddaudio.com

Channels: Four Power: 75 W RMS × 4 @ 2 Ω / 50 W RMS × 4 @ 4 Ω Topology: Full-range Class D Crossovers: Selectable high-pass crossover (60 Hz, 90 Hz, Flat) Equalization: Power MOSFET switching transistors Frequency Response (-3 dB): N/A S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): 80 dB (1 W into 4 Ω) Dimensions: 7.125 in. (L) × 2.75 in. (D) x 1.375 in. (H)

Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 4,300 W RMS x 1 @ 1 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: Variable high-pass (35 Hz to 250 Hz), Subsonic filter (24 dB slope), Variable low-pass (10 Hz to 50 Hz) Equalization: Variable bass boost (0 dB to 9 dB @ 45 Hz) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 20 Hz to 250 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >100 dB Dimensions: 16.88 in. (L) x 10.25 in. (W) x 2.5 in. (H)

Channels: Two (C3d) / Four (C5d) Power (CEA-2006 standard): 250 W RMS x 2 @ 2 Ω (C3d) / 150 W RMS x 4 @ 2 Ω (C5d) Topology: Class AB Crossovers: Bandpass (24 dB/Oct) Equalization: N/A Frequency Response (-3 dB): N/A S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): N/A Dimensions: 13.11 in. (L) x 6.89 in. (W) x 2.07 in. (H)

Hifonics Mt. Olympus Series | Cyclops Amplifier $599.99 | hifonics.com Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 1,500 W RMS @ 1 Ω / 3,000 W RMS (dynamic) Topology: Ultra D-Class

Crossovers: Variable low-pass (35 Hz to 250 Hz) Equalization: Parametric (30 Hz to 100 Hz), Bandwidth (wide & narrow), Bass boost (0 dB to 10 dB) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 15 Hz to 250 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >96 dB Dimensions: 20.9 in. (L) x 19.7 in. (W) x 11.8 in. (H)

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Untitle

Diamond Audio Micro Series | MICRO4

DS18 Genesis Series | DS-15K-BEEMA

Image Dynamics MQ Series | MQ150.2

$499.99 | diamondaudio.com

$1,470.59 | ds18.com

$299.99 | imagedynamicsusa.net

Channels: Four Power (CEA-2006 standard): 150 W RMS x 4 @ 2 Ω / 80 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω Topology: Full-range Class D Crossovers: 25 Hz to 250 Hz, 50 Hz to 200 Hz Equalization: N/A Frequency Response (-3 dB): 10 Hz to 35 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 Standard): -101.1 dBA/0.5 % Dimensions: 8.39 in. (L), 4.05 in (W), 1.38 in. (H)

Channels: One Power (Manufacturer Rated): 3,250 W RMS x 1 @ 4 Ω / 7,500 W RMS x 1 @ 2 Ω / 15,000 W MAX x 1 @ 1 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: Variable low-pass (35 Hz to 250 Hz), Subsonic (15 Hz to 35 Hz) Equalization: Bass boost (0 dB to 18 dB @ 45 Hz) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 10 Hz to 250 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >80 dB Dimensions: 21.7 in. (L) x 9.9 in. (W) x 2.2 in. (H)

Channels: Two Power (CEA-2006 standard): 150 W RMS x 2 @ 4 Ω / 250 W RMS x 2 @ 2 Ω / 500 W RMS x 1 @ 4 Ω Topology: Full-range Class D Crossovers: Selectable high-pass, Full-pass, Low-pass Equalization: Variable Frequency Response (-3 dB): 10 Hz to 42 kHz S/N Ratio: >85 dB Dimensions: 7.2 in. (L) x 4.1 in. (W) x 1.4 in. (H)

JL Audio XDv2 Series | XD1000/5v2 $899.95 | jlaudio.com Channels: Five Power (CEA-2006 standard): 75 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω / 100 W RMS x 4 @ 2 Ω / 200 W RMS x 2 @ 4 Ω (bridged) / 400 W x 1 @ 4 Ω (subwoofer channel) / 500 W x 1 @ 3 Ω (subwoofer channel) / 600 W x 1 @ 2 Ω (subwoofer channel) Topology: NexD ultra-high speed Class D

Crossovers: Ch. 1 & 2 (Front): High-pass (50 Hz to 5,000 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct), Ch. 3 & 4 (Rear): High-pass or Bandpass (50 Hz to 500 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct), Ch. 5 (Subwoofer): Low-pass (50 Hz to 500 Hz @ 12 dB/ Oct or 24 dB/Oct) Equalization: N/A Frequency Response (-1 dB): 12 Hz to 22 kHz (Main), 10 Hz to 1 kHz (Subwoofer) S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >84 dB referred to 1 W (A-weighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz noise bandwidth) (Main), >80 dB referred to 1W (A-weighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz noise bandwidth) (Subwoofer) Dimensions: 14.73 in. (L) x 7.09 in. (W) x 2.05 in. (H)

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Untitled-3 1

find out what sound should be by calling us today. | 1-800-477-2267 stingerelectronics.com | phoenixgold.com Distributed in Canada by gentec-intl.com 2014-06-23 4:51 PM

BUYERS GUIDES

Amplifiers

38

KICKER KX Series | KX800.5

JVC DRVN Series | KS-AX3201D

Kenwood XR Series | XR900-5

$199.99 | jvc.ca | jvc.com

$499.99 | kenwoodusa.com | kenwood.ca

$ 5 4 9 . 9 5 | k i c ke r. c o m

Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 250 W RMS x 1 @ 4 Ω / 400 W RMS x 1 @ 2 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: 50 Hz to 200 Hz @ -18 dB/Oct Equalization: N/A Frequency Response (-3 dB): 20 Hz to 200 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): 60 dBA Dimensions: 8.9 in. (L) x 7.3 in. (W) x 2.125 in. (H)

Channels: Five Power (CEA-2006 standard): 60 W RMS x 4 @ 4Ω / 400 W RMS x 1 @ 4Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: Variable high-pass, low-pass (50 Hz to 200 Hz) Equalization: N/A Frequency Response (±1 dB): 20 Hz to 20 kHz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >78 dB Dimensions: 10.25 in. (L) x 6.6 in. (W) x 2 in. (H)

Channels: Five Power (CEA-2006 standard): 50 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω / 200 W RMS x1@4Ω Topology: Full-range Class D / Class D boost converter in sub section Crossovers: Selectable high-pass, low-pass or all-pass with 10x switch (10 Hz to 500 Hz @ 24 dB/Oct), Sub channel (40 Hz to 160 Hz @ 24 dB/Oct), Subsonic filter (24 dB/Oct) Equalization: Variable KickEQ (+18 dB, centered @ 40 Hz) Frequency Response (-1 dB): 10 Hz to 20 kHz (Full range), 10 Hz to 160 Hz (Subwoofer) S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >75 dB (1 W, A-weighted) Dimensions: 12.75 in. (L) x 8.3125 in. (W) x 2.125 in. (H)

Memphis Car Audio Street Reference Series | SRX1.70D

Mosconi D2 Series | D2 100.4DSP

MTX Audio XTHUNDER Series | XTHUNDER800.5

$299 | memphiscaraudio.com

$1,299 | mosconi-america.com

$499.85 | mtx.com

Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 750 W RMS x 1 @ 2 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: Low-pass Equalization: +6/12 dB @ 45 Hz Frequency Response (-3 dB): 20 Hz to 250 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >75 dB @ 4 Ω Dimensions: 11.6 in. (L) x 8.85 in. (w) x 2 in. (H)

Channels: Four Power (CEA-2006 standard): 100 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω / 130 W RMS x 4 @ 2 Ω Topology: Class D with 6 ch. DSP Crossovers: High-pass, Low-pass (10 Hz to 20 kHz) Equalization: Para-graphic, 30-band on ch.1 & 2, 25band on ch. 3 & 4, 9-band on output ch. 5 & 6 Frequency Response (-3 dB): N/A S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): N/A Dimensions: 5.9 in. (L) x 5.7 in. (W) x 1.6 in. (H)

Channels: Five Power (CEA-2006 standard): 90 W RMS x 4 @ 2 Ω / 400 W RMS x 1 @ 2 Ω Topology: Full-range Class D Crossovers: Variable low-pass (40 Hz to 250 Hz @ 12 dB/ Oct), Variable high-pass (40 Hz to 250 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct) Equalization: N/A Frequency Response (-3 dB): 10 Hz to 20 kHz (Front/ Rear), 10 Hz to 250 Hz (Subwoofer) S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >70 dB Dimensions: 14.2 in. (L) x 8.9 in. (W) x 2 in. (H)

Phoenix Gold SX Series | SX1200.5

PowerBass Autosound Series | ASA3-1000.1D

Rockford Fosgate POWER Series | T400X4ad

$550 | phoenixgold.com

$429.99 | powerbassusa.com

$499.99 | rockfordfosgate.com

Channels: Five Power (CEA-2006 standard): 125 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω / 200 W RMS x 4 @ 2 Ω / 400 W RMS x 2 @ 4 Ω (bridged) / 250 W RMS x 1@ 4 Ω (subwoofer channel) / 400 W RMS x 1 @ 2 Ω (subwoofer channel) Topology: High-efficiency Class D Crossovers: High-pass (15 Hz to 250 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct), Subwoofer channel (15 Hz to 250 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct) Equalization: N/A Frequency Response (± 1dB): 20 Hz to 20 kHz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >100 dB Dimensions: 12.3 in. (L) x 6.9 in. (W) x 2 in. (H)

Channels: One (bass only) Power (CEA-2006 standard): 1,000 W RMS @ 1 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: Low-pass, Subsonic Equalization: Bass (0 dB to 18 dB @ 45 Hz) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 20 Hz to 150 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >80 dB Dimensions: 15.5 in. (L) x 9.5 in. (W) x 2.3 in. (H)

Channels: Four Power (CEA-2006 standard): 100 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω / 100 W RMS x 4 @ 2 Ω / 200 W RMS x 2 @ 4 Ω (bridged) Topology: Class AD Crossovers: High-pass (50 Hz to 250 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct Butterworth), Low-pass (50 Hz to 250 Hz @ 12 dB/Oct Butterworth), All-pass Equalization: Treble (0 dB to +14 dB @ 12.5 kHz), Bass (0 dB to +18 dB @ 45 Hz) S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >90 dB Frequency Response (±1 dB): 20 Hz to 20 kHz Dimensions: 8.3 in. (L) x 4.25 in. (W) x 1.6 in. (H)

PASMAG

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

Shield_White_2013

Prepare for the elements

Version 1.1 – 25 October 2013

with Philips Upgrade Headlights and Philips Windshield Treatment Kit

MB Quart Reference Series | RA640.4 $259.99 | mbquart.com Channels: Four Power (CEA-2006 standard): 80 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω / 160 W RMS x 4 @ 2 Ω / 320 W RMS x 2 @ 4 Ω (bridged) Topology: Q-Stasis pre-amp and SoundSQ A/B Crossovers: Switchable high-pass (60 Hz to 13 kHz), Low-pass (30 Hz to 250 Hz), Full-pass Equalization: Bass boost (0 dB to 12 dB @ 45 Hz) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 250 Hz to 15 kHz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): >92 dB Dimensions: 15.51 in. (L) x 8.27 in. (W) x 2.4 in. (H)

Orion Car Audio Cobalt Series | CB3200.1D Contact for pricing | orioncaraudio.com

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Channels: One Power (CEA-2006 standard): 700 W RMS x 1 @ 4 Ω / 1,100 W RMS x 1 @ 2 Ω / 1600 W RMS x 1 @ 1 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: Low-pass (15 Hz to 400 Hz) Equalization: Bass boost (0 dB to +14 dB) Frequency Response (-3 dB): 10 Hz to 400 Hz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): 90 dB Dimensions: 15.7 in. (L) x 7.5 in. (W) x 2 in. (H)

PL1347_PAS_Mobility_HalfPageV_7-14_v1_1.indd 1

5/23/14 9:05 AM

Soundstream Stealth Series | ST4.1000D $219 | soundstream.com Channels: Four Power (CEA-2006 standard): 90 W RMS x 4 @ 4 Ω / 125 W RMS x 4 @ 2 Ω Topology: Class D Crossovers: Adjustable high-pass, Low-pass, Full-pass Equalization: N/A Frequency Response (-3 dB): 20 Hz to 20 kHz S/N Ratio (CEA-2006 standard): N/A Dimensions: 6.5 in. (L) x 3.5 in. (W) x 1.5 in. (H)

S U B S C R I B E O N L I N E N O W AT WWW.PASMAG.COM/SUBSCRIBE FACEBOOK.COM/PASMAG

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BUYERS GUIDES

Subwoofers

40

Alpine SWT Series | SWT-10S2

Arc Audio XDi Series | 12D2

Audiomobile GTS 21 Series | GTS 2112

$269 | alpine-canada.com | alpine-usa.com

$139 | arcaudio.com

$249 | audiomobile.net

Diameter: 10 in.

Impedance: 2 Ω Power: 350 W RMS / 1,000 W Peak Mounting Depth: 4.18 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Kevlar reinforced pulp cone / HAMRS Santoprene rubber surround VC Former Material: Aluminum Basket: Stamped steel

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 2 Ω Power: 250 W RMS / 500 W Peak Mounting Depth: 5.62 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Pulp fiber non-pressed treated cone / One-piece molded rubber surround VC Former Material: N/A Basket: Stamped steel

Diameter: 10 in.

Impedance: 2 Ω, 4 Ω Power: 400 W RMS Mounting Depth: 4.5 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Five-layer Kevlar reinforced “CLS” composite cone / Synthetic rubber surround VC Former Material: Kapton Basket: Custom-tooled Hex-Delta steel

Audiopipe Sound Quality Series | Q-12

Axxera DVC Series | AWD122D

Blues Audio Blues Classic Series | BW-12D

$599.95 | audiopipe.com

$ 1 4 9 . 9 9 | a xxe ra . d u a l av. c o m

$89.99 | bluesaudiousa.com

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 2 Ω Power: 1,000 W RMS / 2,000 W Peak Mounting Depth: 9.5 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene cone / Butyl rubber surround VC Former Material: BASV Basket: Cast aluminum

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 2 Ω Power: 450 W RMS / 900 W Peak Mounting Depth: 6.5 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Pressed paper cone / Rubber surround VC Former Material: Aluminum Basket: Stamped steel

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 4 Ω Power: 250 W RMS / 1,000 W Peak Mounting Depth: 5.12 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Poly-coated cone / Butyl rubber surround VC Former Material: Aluminum Basket: Stamped steel

BOSS Audio Systems Phantom Series | P128DC

Cadence S Series | S2W12 v.2

DB Drive WDX Series | WDX12-2K

$149 | bossaudio.com

$276 | cadencesound.com

$299 | dbdrive.net

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 4 Ω Power: 2,400 W Peak Mounting Depth: 7.12 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene cone / Butyl rubber surround VC Former Material: High-temperature aluminum Basket: Die-cast aluminum

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 2 Ω, dual 4Ω Power: 600 W RMS / 1,200 W Peak Mounting Depth: 6.5 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Kevlar-reinforced ultra stiff paper composite cone / Butyl rubber surround VC Former Material: Four-layer anodized aluminum Basket: Steel

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 4 Ω Power: 1,000 W RMS / 2,000 W Peak Mounting Depth: 6.22 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Kevlar-reinforced lightweight cone / High-roll foam surround VC Former Material: Four-layer aluminum Basket: Cast aluminum

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Every journey has a soundtrack.

Let's make yours sound amazing.

© 2014 JL AUDIO, Inc. For more information on our complete line of products, please visit your local authorized dealer or www.jlaudio.com.

In Canada contact GemSen Distribution at www.gemsen.com • Car photography © William Stern Photography, Miami, FL.

JLA-Soundtrack-PAS-062314.indd 1 Untitled-2 1

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BUYERS GUIDES

Subwoofers

42

DD Audio 3500 Series | 3500 Series

Diamond Audio Diamond Shallow Series | DS124

DS18 EXL Series | EXL-B154D

$629 to $769 | ddaudio.com

$299.99 | diamondaudio.com

$468.24 | ds18.com

Diameter: 10 in., 12 in., 15 in., 18 in.

Impedance: Dual 0.5 Ω, Dual 0.7 Ω, Dual 1 Ω, Dual 1.5 Ω, Dual 2 Ω, Dual 4 Ω Power: 600 W to 1,200 W RMS / 4,800 W Peak Mounting Depth: 7 in. to 9.5 in.

Cone / Surround Material: X-11 composite pulp cone / Foam EROM surround VC Former Material: Double-layer aluminum Basket: Cast aluminum

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: 4 Ω Power: 300 W RMS Mounting Depth: 3 in.

Cone Material: Fiber weave treated paper VC Former Material: Aluminum Basket: Die-cast aluminum

Diameter: 15 in.

Impedance: Dual 4 Ω Power: 1,800 W RMS / 3,000 W Peak Mounting Depth: 8 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Paper and glass fiber cone / Foam surround VC Former Material: Four-layer aluminum Basket: Aluminum

Hifonics Brutus Series | BRX12D4

Illusion Audio Luccent Series | L12

Image Dynamics IDQ Series | IDQ8

$179.99 | hifonics.com

$649 | illusion-america.com

$229.99 | imagedynamicsusa.net

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 4 Ω Power: 450 W RMS / 900 W Peak Mounting Depth: 5.6 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Woven pressed polypropylene cone / Butyl surround VC Former Material: Vented aluminum Basket: Deep-draw stamped steel

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: 4 Ω Power: 250 W RMS / 500 W Peak Mounting Depth: 3.25 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene cone / Butyl rubber surround VC Former Material: Aluminum Basket: Cast aluminum

Diameter: 8 in.

Impedance: Dual 2 Ω, Dual 4 Ω Power: 500 W RMS Mounting Depth: 5.5 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Poly mica cone / Rubber surround VC Former Material: High-temperature aluminum Basket: Stamped steel

JL Audio TW1 Series | 10TW1-4

JVC DRVN Series | CS-G1210

Kenwood KFC Series | KFC-XW12

$249.95 | jlaudio.com

$99.99 (CAD) | jvc.ca | jvc.com

Contact for pricing | kenwoodusa.com | kenwood.ca

Diameter: 10 in.

Impedance: 4 Ω Power: 300 W RMS Mounting Depth: 4.36 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene cone / Rubber surround VC Former Material: Kapton Basket: Die-cast aluminum

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: 4 Ω Power: 250 W RMS / 1,200 W Peak Mounting Depth: 5.4 in.

Cone / Surround Material: 3D structure olefin cone / High-density foam surround VC Former Material: N/A Basket: Stamped steel

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: 4Ω Power: 400 W RMS / 1,200 W Peak Mounting Depth: 6 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Square array polypropylene cone / Rubber surround VC Former Material: N/A Basket: Steel

PASMAG

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BUYERS GUIDES

Subwoofers

KICKER CompRT Thin-Profile Series | CompRT10

Lightning Audio LA-ZERO Series | L0-S412

MB Quart Reference Series | RWM304

$ 1 9 9 . 9 5 | k i c ke r. c o m

$64.95 | lightningaudio.com

$139.99 | mbquart.com

Diameter: 10 in.

Impedance: Dual 1 Ω, Dual 2 Ω Power: 600 W RMS / 1,200 W Peak Mounting Depth: 5.18 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Injection-molded polypropylene cone / Santoprene surround VC Former Material: Kapton Basket: Full-coverage steel

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: 4 Ω Power: 150 W RMS / 300 W MAX Mounting Depth: 4.92 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene cone / Foam surround VC Former Material: Anodized aluminum Basket: Stamped Steel

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 4 Ω, Dual 2 Ω Power: 350 W RMS / 700 W Peak Mounting Depth: 4.83 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Thermal formed polypropylene cone / UV butyl rubber surround VC Former Material: Vented aluminum Basket: Deep-drawn heavy gauge stamped steel

Subwoofers Untitled-7 116.05.indd 3

Memphis Car Audio Bass Reference Series | BR12D4

MTX Audio 75 Series | 7512-22

$199 | memphiscaraudio.com

$279.95 | mtx.com

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 4 Ω Power: 400 W RMS / 800 W Peak Mounting Depth: 5.5 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Paper cone / Foam surround VC Former Material: Aluminum Basket: Stamped steel

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 2 Ω Power: 750 W RMS Mounting Depth: 7.44 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Glass fiber cone / Inverted apex NBR surround VC Former Material: Aluminum Basket: Cast aluminum

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3:42 PM

ORION XTR Series | XTR124D

Phoenix Gold SX Series | SXT12d4

PowerBass Autosound Series | M-1004D

$82.83 | orioncaraudio.com

$240 | phoenixgold.com

$124.99 | powerbassusa.com

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: 2 Ω, 4 Ω Power: 600 W RMS / 2,400 W PEAK Mounting Depth: 8.54 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Oversized NBR Cone / Nitrilebutadine rubber surround VC Former Material: Kapton Basket: Custom stamped steel

Diameter: 12 in.

Impedance: Dual 4 Ω Power: 300 W RMS Mounting Depth: 4.25 in.

Cone Material: Reinforced vacuum form VC Former Material: High-temperature OFC Basket: Powder-coated steel

Diameter: 10 in.

Impedance: Dual 4 Ω Power: 325 W RMS / 750 W Peak Mounting Depth: 5.13 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Non-pressed paper cone / Santoprene surround VC Former Material: BASV Basket: Stamped steel (*enclosure not included)

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Precision Power Phantom Series | PHS.13

Rockford Fosgate POWER Series | TOD210

$ 1 9 9 . 9 9 | p re c i s i o n p owe r. c o m

$349.99 | rockfordfosgate.com

Diameter: 13 in.

Impedance: 4 Ω Power: 200 W RMS Mounting Depth: 2 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Polypropylene-coated pressed paper cone / Polyurethane surround VC Former Material: Aluminum Basket: Cast aluminum

Diameter: 10 in.

Impedance: Dual 2 Ω Power: 550 W RMS Mounting Depth: 6.5 in.

Cone / Surround Material: Kevlar fiber reinforced paper cone / VAST santoprene surround VC Former Material: Anodized aluminum Basket: Die-cast aluminum flex fit

7/7/2014 2014-06-20 3:46:48 3:02PM PM

BUYERS GUIDES

Enclosures Bassworx Reference Series RS12RC Enclosure $109 | bassworx.com Intricately designed with audio excellence in mind, the Reference Series is sure to leave its impression on your eyes and ears. The highly irregular interior lends to an acoustically advanced environment for your subwoofers, eliminating the nasty standing waves that lead to acoustic coloration.

Atrend AFG-202-12 Dodge Ram Enclosure Contact for pricing | atrendusa.com With the help of its designers, Atrend has created a solution for 2002+ Dodge Ram owners with a stylish and sleek enclosure. From design to delivery, the AFG-202-12 allows for a seamless enclosure install with a larger volume of space than traditional Ram-specific enclosures.

Crunch CR-212A Powered Enclosure

JL Audio High Output Enclosure

$299.99 | crunchusa.net

$699.95 | jlaudio.com

The CR-212A from Crunch features big power at 1,000 W, an amplifier with built-in crossover, and both high-level and RCA inputs to make it an easy installation anywhere.

The CR-212A pushes big bass, with a pair of 12-inch subwoofers and a strong sealed enclosure. MAXXLINK installation accessories are also included.

JL Audio’s High Output Enclosures deliver the ultimate bass experience with a rare combination of superb sound quality and awesome output. The patented, chamber-coupled port design combines the high power handling and small enclosure requirements of JL’s W6v3 subwoofers to create a compact subwoofer system capable of extraordinary output using moderate amplification.

Rockford Fosgate PUNCH Series P3S-1X12 Enclosure $299.99 | rockfordfosgate.com Big bass, little space. The P3S-1X12 is a single 12-inch Punch Shallow subwoofer rated at 400 W RMS, loaded into a sealed enclosure. This subwoofer enclosure is internally wired to a 1 Ω load and features 0.625-inch MDF and 10 AWG quick-release input terminals.

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2014-07-07 11:08 AM

KICKER CompRT Loaded Subwoofer Enclosure C o n ta ct fo r p r i c i n g | k i c ke r. c o m The CompRT loaded enclosure combines the ground-breaking technology of the thin-profile CompRT subwoofer with the smallest sub boxes ever made by KICKER, yet it still contains real, head-pounding bass. The diminutive size makes them perfect for placing under compact vehicle seats or in the small cab of a pickup truck without losing all of your space.

Memphis Car Audio SA112SP Special Application Loaded Self-Powered Enclosure Contact for pricing | memphiscaraudio.com Designed to deliver booming sound in very tight quarters, this wedge-shape box design tapers from 5.5 inches at the top to 7.25 inches at the base, making it the ideal solution for limited space applications. Equipped with a 12-inch Special Application subwoofer and integrated amplifier that features 100 W RMS, auto turnon, high/low level input and remote level, this is everything you need in one box.

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BUYERS GUIDES

Wiring & Distribution KICKER CK8 Full-Spec Complete Power Kits C o n ta ct fo r p r i c i n g | k i c ke r. c o m The most convenient package for easy amp installation. Featuring dependable K-Series accessories and Hyper-Flex power, ground and turn-on. User-friendly interconnects and speaker wire deliver the best performance in an ultra-compact design. The comprehensive kit includes heavy-duty fuses and AFS fuse holders, terminals, zip ties and spade and ground lugs.

Soundstream D.I.Y Installation Kits Contact for pricing | soundstream.com

Wirez Linkable Power Distribution

All kits include 17 feet of power wire, 3 feet of ground wire, 25 feet of speaker wire, a one-piece 17 foot RCA interconnect cable, 17 feet of remote turn-on wire and a fuse holder with the appropriate fuse. Available in 2 AWG with 100 A ANL fuse, 4 AWG with 80 A M-ANL fuse, and 8 AWG with 60 A AGU fuse.

Contact for pricing | gotwirez.com Wirez Linkable Power and Ground distribution blocks allow you to create your own power distribution system. As with all Wirez power distribution products, Wirez Linkable blocks are made from solid brass and feature a satin nickel finish. The set screws feature Wirez' own Grip Tip ends to bite into the wire and ensure a reliable connection. The PFSL4-1 Linkable Fuse Block was designed to use Mini-ANL fuses for maximum current transfer and reliability.

XS Power BIG3XS Power Cell Wiring Kit C o n ta ct fo r p r i c i n g | 4 xs p owe r. c o m

Stinger SK101 TPS Power Install Kit $82.99 | stingerelectronics.com The SK101 TPS kit includes all the hardware needed for a quality installation and also includes remote turn-on wire. Select the Stinger power cable, speaker wire and interconnect of your choice and create a high quality installation solution.

DB Link MK4K Maxkore Amplifier Installation Kit $199 | dblink.net This amp installation kit includes 17 feet of 4-AWG red OFC power cable, 3 feet of 4-AWG black OFC ground cable, 20 feet of 16-AWG black OFC speaker cable, 17 feet of OFC black quad-shield RCA cable, an ANL brass fuse holder, 150-amp brass ANL gold-plated fuse, 6 feet of split loom, and accessories to make your install an easy one.

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XS Power's Big3XS kit includes heavy-duty 1/0-gauge OFC cables to upgrade your vehicle's battery groundto-chassis wire, the chassis-to-engine block wire and the alternator charge output wire. The ring terminals are already crimped to the wires, so you won't have to replace the stock grounds unless you want to improve them or double up.

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BUYERS GUIDES

Wiring & Distribution

KnuKonceptz 4-Gauge Power Cable $ 7. 1 9 / f o o t | k n u k o n c e p t z . c o m KnuKonceptz has just released 4/0 (0000) gauge power cable, featuring over 10,000 tinned oxygen-free copper strands. With an outside diameter just under 1 inch, weighing nearly 1 lb. per foot, KnuKonceptz 4/0 exceeds American Gauge Wire standards and every other cable in the 12-volt market today!

Memphis Car Audio Memphis Connection

PowerBass AWK-4 & AWK-8 Amp Wiring Kits

Contact for pricing | memphiscaraudio.com

$39.99 to $49.99 | powerbassusa.com

The details make all the difference in performance, from Memphis Car Audio's 100% pure oxygen-free copper wire to their nickel-plated accessories. Memphis Connection kits and accessories are designed by audiophiles for audiophiles, to make sure you get the cleanest power and best protection to play your music louder and longer.

The AWK-4 and AWK-8 kits contain 17 feet of power wire and 3 feet of matching ground wire. Other items include a shielded RCA cable, speaker wire, AGU fuse holder and assorted installation hardware.

UNMATCHED QUALITY DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE

DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME MORE POWER PER POUND THAN A FLOODED BATTERY • NON-SPILLABLE AGM DESIGN • VIBRATION RESISTANT ULTRA LOW INTERNAL RESISTANCE • MOUNT IN ANY POSTION • FAST RECHARGE • DEEP CYCLE CONNECT WITH US ON

facebook.com/reikken

@reikkenergie

DISTRIBUTED IN CANADA BY ERICKSON CONSUMER 21000 Trans-Canadienne / Baie D’Urfe, Quebec, H9X 4B7 / Tel: (514) 457-6674 | Fax: (514) 457-0055 Toll Free: 1 (800) -567-3275 / Fax: 1 (866) 450-5507 / eriksonconsumer.com

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BUYERS GUIDES

Batteries & s Accessorie KINETIK HC1800S PRO Batteries $479.99 | kinetikaudio.com Kinetik raises the bar in power and performance with the new PRO Series power cells, giving you the power your products demand for peak performance. The HC1800S is great for under-the-hood applications, providing 880 CCA while supporting up to 1,800 W RMS power. Installation is a breeze, as the HC1800S comes complete with both top and side post connections for great placement anywhere.

CTEK MUS 4.3 Test & Charge Battery Charger $ 1 1 9 . 9 9 | s m a r te rc h a rg e r. c o m | i n fo @ s m a r te rc h a rg e r. c o m CTEK’s MUS 4.3 Test & Charge Battery Charger provides excellent performance on batteries from 1.2 Ah up to 110 Ah. Three easy-to-use programs test the battery voltage, start power, and alternator performance for a complete picture of the battery and vehicle charging system. The MUS 4.3 Test & Charge is fully automatic for optimal charging of all 12-volt lead-acid batteries.

PowerBass ASC-2.4 Digital 2.4 Farad Stiffening Capacitor $99.99 | powerbassusa.com The ASC-2.4 digital 2.4 Farad capacitor provides instant reserve power. The 4-digit LED readout displays amperage and voltage up to 20 VDC. Includes mounting brackets.

XS Power XP3000 Battery C o n ta ct fo r p r i c i n g | 4 xs p owe r. c o m

Shuriken SK-BT20 HPS Battery

XS Power XP Series batteries are designed for constant power use and any supplemental power needs you may have. The XP Series are high capacity batteries for secondary power use and are available in different sizes, from 15 to 74 lbs.

$139 | shurikenonline.com Shuriken power cells are engineered for today’s high-performance mobile audio systems. Utilizing Shuriken’s Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) technology and compact size, these rechargeable power cells can be mounted in any position, anywhere, and will not spill.

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OPTIMA YELLOWTOP Batteries From $209.99 | optimabatteries.com OPTIMA YELLOWTOP batteries are engineered to repeatedly return from deep power drains to full charge, so they can power plenty of electronics and start your vehicle reliably, time after time. The lower internal resistance also provides more consistent power output and faster recharges. They are also fully sealed, so they don't have to be mounted flat or level.

Stinger SPP1750DC Battery

Reikken HO3209 Pure Lead Power Cell

$699.95 | stingerelectronics.com

Contact for pricing | reikken.com

Stinger has expanded its lineup of batteries to encompass the undisputed performance champion, the SPP Power2 Series.

The SPP Power2 series is the best battery you can buy for your mobile installation. Stinger is so confident in the performance and reliability of the SPP Power2 Series that they now offer an unmatched 3-year, full replacement warranty.

The newest cell in the Reikken lineup sports pure lead plates, copper terminals and a fire-retardant case for the highest output and durability of any design to date. Earning rave reviews, this powerhouse provides high output and long service life for the most demanding systems.

Photo by Richard Fong

Don’t let a dead battery hold you back!

Never worry about the battery in your vehicle again. Just plug in a CTEK smart charger and walk away. CTEK chargers constantly monitor the battery, and apply the correct charge, so your battery is always in optimal condition when you need it.

CTEK chargers are the easiest way to recondition and maintain your battery extending battery life. Ideal for cars, trucks, motorcycles, personal watercraft, sleds, boats, even lawn equipment, or anything else that has a 12V battery.

smartercharger.com

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CABE'S CORNER

144 HOUR SHOW CAR

BY CABE SIPES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON CARROLL

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When I bought my 2005 Chrysler 300C, I had no intention of it ever being in a magazine or displayed at car shows.

That you are reading this article and looking at the images on these pages obviously shows that my intentions have changed.

Back in the heydays, when the car audio scene was at its peak and when every parking lot on every weekend was like a car show, it used to be that you could take any show car and put it in the audio competition lanes and it could hold its own. The same could be said for any of the audio competitors - they could take their car and have it judged for Best of Show. After attending a few shows this past year I noticed a trend that show cars are mostly non-functional “trailer queens� and competitive audio vehicles are barely anything more than stock looking.

So, this build is a throwback to those days.

Its intented to be a daily driver that can pull up to any car show and get respect, or pull into the audio lanes and hold its own. To top it

reverse and polarity flip circuits. The wooden doors open to reveal an RE Audio ZTX 800.4 amplifier that handles the front and rear stage of the audio system. The 800.4 motorizes back to reveal the RE Audio ZTX 5000.1 amplifier that is running the two RE Audio 10-inch SXX V2 subs in the bulletproof glass-protected, fourth-order bandpass enclosure. The 5000.1 also motorizes back and reveals two Xstatic Model 3000 BatCap batteries below that are charged by a Mechman 240-amp six-phase alternator under the hood. Along with the equipment in the trunk, there is also a pair of RE Audio 6.5C components, an Xbox 360, 19inch LED TV and custom multi-color lighting.

Daily Driver

off, the entire car has only 18 working days in it from start to completion.

The “SHOW” in Show Car

When building a show car you must have something you are trying to feature. Hence the word “show.” This normally falls under the builder's responsibility, whether that be interior, paint, body, performance, etc. Mine happens to be audio, so my main focus on this car is the trunk and the audio system, which utilizes RE Audio and three-stage motorization.

RE Audio, in my opinion, is one of the best-sounding, well-rounded brands available - perfect for someone who wants to go between different music genres seamlessly.

The trunk motorization is done strictly for wow factor and was also part of the throwback appeal, in that I did not use any motor controllers. Instead, I used over 70 standard SPDT Bosch relays to create the forward/

Since this is my daily driver, the car needed to be able to drive and handle well, but look the part of a show car. For this, I turned to Eibach's Sportline springs, Pro dampers and anti-sway bars. Even though I did my homework, I was worried the ride quality was going to be lost due to bad experiences with previously lowered vehicles. In the end, I shouldn't have been.

With the new suspension, the car rides better than stock and feels like a race car in the turns. The big question was how it would handle when the 22-inch 2Crave No. 11 alloy wheels were installed? Due to some shipping issues, I actually drove the car on the stock wheels and Eibach suspension for a few days and it looked as if I was going to have to reveal the car with stock wheels.

Fortunately, AudioCityUSA.com came to the rescue with 2Crave and got the rims to me quickly so they could be installed the day before the reveal at Slamology. My first time driving on the 265/30R22 tires and 2Crave 22s with Eibach Suspension was my hour-long drive to the show. Scared I would be stranded on the side of the road, I headed to the show and was pleasantly surprised. The car handles quite well and isn't nearly as bumpy or violent

as I thought it would be with such thin sidewall tires. I have no rubbing, full turn radius abilities and I am sitting at a full two-inch drop.

Not bad at all.

In the days before the wheels arrived I had the car dropped off at Autographics in Lafayette, Indiana to handle all the chrome vinyl work and give the love back to the sponsors.

On the Inside

The interior of the vehicle has been left very basic as far as the fabric goes, and this is because it's a daily driver and I have children.

Adding suede and exotic materials is great if you can control the environment, but with kids it's just a bad idea.

To add just some simple changes, I painted the dash trim pieces, dyed the leather from grey to tan and switched the carpet from tan to black. The head unit has been replaced with a Pioneer AVIC-8500BHS that feeds video to two seven-inch headrest video monitors, a 19-inch LED TV and handles all the audio sources.

The front door speakers are replaced by RE Audio XXX 6.9 components, but instead of using the tweeters that came with the set, I upgraded to the RE Audio TW-25s in the kick panel. The dash speakers and the rears, believe it or not, are the stock Chrysler speakers that are used for minimal fill to raise the soundstage. When listening from the inside, you would swear there are multiple speakers throughout the vehicle, but in reality there are two, plus a pair of tweeters and they sound amazing.

Security

Obviously, I'm not going to build a car like this and leave it unprotected. I am definitely not going to tell you everything I have done to protect my car, but I will let you know what I am using and why. Excalibur has been in the auto security game for a long time, so with its new cellular link system it wasn't

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

PASMAG

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CABE'S CORNER

PAINT

DEFENDER SYSTEM

SOURCES 2Crave Alloys 2crave.com ∫ 1-888-926-0306 AudiocityUSA.com 1-888-818-1158 Autographics 765-446-8060 Eibach eibach.com ∫ 1-800-507-2338 Excalibur Car Alarms caralarm.com ∫ 1-800-554-4053 Mechman Alternators mechman.com ∫ 1-888-522-6166 RE Audio reaudio.com ∫ 626-839-2300 Xstatic BatCap batcap.net ∫ 334-692-4650

ESSENTIALS 2005 CHRYSLER 300C

Durable

DRIVER: Cabe Sipes TEAM: Car Audio Reimagined (CAR) ENGINE: 5.7L Hemi V8 BUILT BY: Cabe Sipes

Removable

Invisible

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS • Mechman 6-phase 240-amp alternator EXTERIOR • Diamond-cut mesh grill • 20% window tint all around (including windshield) • Chrome vinyl Euro racing stripe, custom badges and sponsor logos WHEELS / TIRES • 2Crave No. 11 wheels – 22 x 9.5 (f/r) • Delinte tires – 265/30/22 (f/r) CHASSIS / SUSPENSION • Eibach (Sportline springs, Pro dampers, anti sway bars (f/r))

The 3M™ Paint Defender System is the lasting line of defense against everyday road hazards, such as road chips, that threaten your cars appearance.

Spray it on and it protects for at least a year. Easily remove it whenever you choose. Clear, durable protection.

Conclusion

So, is it worth all the time and effort? Hell yes! The car sounds amazing. RE Audio has stepped up its game this year with the introduction of the V2 line of equipment. The subs are accurate throughout all frequencies and the amplifiers are as musical as any amp I have heard in recent years. The Mechman alternator has not skipped a beat and has kept the monstrous Xstatic BatCap batteries going strong. The Eibach suspension makes the ride feel brand new and the 2Crave wheels are incredibly built and have handled some dodgy potholes already. I would have no problems pulling up to a show and having this car judged for looks or sound, and that is how I think a show car should be.

INTERIOR • Custom dyed leather interior (gray to tan) • Carpet color change (tan to black) • Painted dash trim panels (bright silver to flat silver) AUDIO/MOBILE ELECTRONICS • Pioneer AVIC-8500BHS DVD head unit • RE Audio (ZTX 5000.1 sub amp, ZTX 800.4 amp, SXX V2 10-in. four-ohm DVC subs (x2), 6.5C 6.5-in components, 6.9C 6x9-in. components, TW-25 tweeters) • Xstatic Batcap Model 3000 batteries (x2) • 7-in. LCD headrest TVs • 19-in.

LED TV mounted on trunk lid • Xbox 360 modified to run off 2TB hard drive • Custom removable trunk install with 3-way motorization and fourth-order bandpass sub enclosure ported through backseat arm rest SPONSORS RE Audio, Xstatic, Mechman, Eibach, 2Crave, PASMAG, Excalibur, Autographics, AudioCityUSA, Custom Audio Reimagined

AVAILABLE AT

a hard sell for me to use the AL-1850-EDP8 remote start alarm system. To trigger the trunk motorizations wirelessly, I am using the Omega REC-43T+ universal keyless entry system. All of these products installed seamlessly and, with the ability to add extra sensors and control my car from anywhere in the world using my cell phone, I am more than impressed.

Twitter: @cabesipes Facebook: /CabeSipesFanPage Website: www.customaudioreimagined.com

3M PAINT TM

DEFENDER SYSTEM Defend. Yourself.

The 3MTM Paint Defender System is an innovative, affordable three-step process that protects vehicles from rocks, bugs, sand, scratches, dings and more for at least one year. The product sprays on as a liquid and then turns into a clear, durable film.

AVAILABLE AT Untitled-2 1

2014-05-12 2:54 PM

MOBILE ELECTRONICS

I N S T A L L

THE ENCLOSURE PROJECT

GROUND POUNDER PHASE.3

BY GEORGE DIMITRIADIS

H

ello again and thanks for tuning in for Phase 3 of Project Ground Pounder, aka BIG BRUTE. Let's get down to the nitty gritty, shall we?

This phase is going to cover some important ground, namely the enclosure and all that goes in to making it.

First we measure out the area for the enclosure and calculate the total air space available. With the build being a B-pillar setup, we have quite a bit of room to work with as opposed to a C-pillar, which limits space. After the enclosure is built we still need enough room to fit more than a dozen amplifiers and 21 batteries. Yes, I said 21.

Why? BECAUSE MORE! To that end, a total of 13 sheets of one-inch MDF and six sheets of three-quarter-inch MDF are delivered.

With all that wood we're off to the races. We start with the floor, which is a total of 2.75-inches thick (two layers of one-inch and one layer of three-quarter-inch).

The floor of the enclosure is affixed to the floor of the truck with the help of PL Premium and the stock rear seat bolts. The sides of the shell are made of two sheets of one-inch MDF while the rear wall and roof are three sheets each. Thanks in part to a few

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First, the floor sheet is installed utilizing stock seat bolts.

Nick Cimino laying it all out.

The floor coming together.

bottles of wood glue, a few cases of PL Premium, 1,500 screws and a Kreg Jig pocket hole tool, the shell is constructed.

Special thanks go out to Daryl McCoy who stepped up during a time of need and provided invaluable help. McCoy also happens to be a competitor with a very impressive vehicle of his own, which will more than likely compete against the Big Brute. I'm very fortunate to call him a friend, so thanks again BIG D. With the shell complete, I sit down with John Wolak from Ultimate Autosports and Nick Cimino from Core Industries to figure out the design. The initial plan was to run a dozen RE AUDIO XX 15-inch woofers, but fate stepped in and gave us an open-handed wake-up call as we soon realized there wasn't enough real estate to do so. Once the stinging subsided and final measurements from the completed shell were done, it was determined that a two-to-one ratio, fourth-order bandpass with 10 15-inch subs would work best, given the amount of space we had for the desired output.

The design of the fourth-order bandpass had to be five 15-inch subs on the left side of the enclosure, and five on the right. In order to make that a reality, the baffles were laid out in a “V� pattern with the center of the enclosure acting as a port for the best music and demo results. The left and right baffles are three inches thick,

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

"AFTER THE ENCLOSURE IS BUILT WE STILL NEED ENOUGH ROOM TO FIT OVER A DOZEN AMPLIFIERS AND 21 BATTERIES. YES, I SAID 21. WHY? BECAUSE MORE!" Beginning with the side wall install.

Getting the interior ready for the left and right baffles.

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and each hole has been cut using a jasper jig. Let me tell you, trying to cut through one-inch thick MDF is no easy task! Now, try doing that for a total of six sheets, with the last layer countersunk for additional strengthening and cosmetic finish. Then you will understand how much of a pain it is.

Before the baffles are installed, we mount both the driver and passenger seats in the cabin and recline them to a comfortable position, because once the baffles are in place they won't be able to move further back.

Prior to installing the baffles, each seam in the shell receives a good helping of Bondo, resin and fiberglass with tons of sanding. Once this is done, the baffles are installed and the process is repeated again.

I have to mention that Cimino, Core Industries' National Sales

I N S T A L L

GROUND POUNDER PHASE.3 The final layer of driver's side baffle showing the counter-sunk sub holes.

Manager, helmed this phase of the build and was hands-on from beginning to the end, spending countless nights elbow deep in resin, Bondo and MDF dust. You have a better chance of hitting the lottery than seeing a distributor get this involved in a build, but it speaks volumes to me and pro-

vides additional confidence in my choice of product.

The baffles act as support and bracing since they span the entire height and depth of the enclosure, but with the expected pressure from 10 62-pound woofers, additional bracing is a no-brainer.

Multiple braces made of square

tubing along with flat metal bases are strategically-placed in the sealed portion of the enclosure to add strength and support.

From there we move to the loading wall, which separates the enclosure from the front cabin.

Three layers of one-inch MDF are used for starters. The left and right loading walls are set in place with the help of good old, tried and tested PL Premium and a couple-hundred screws via the Kreg Jig. Once secured, the inside seams are glassed and covered in resin. The outer face of the loading wall has an additional 1.75-inches of wood yet to be applied. Another one-inch sheet of MDF is used for port depth and another three-quarter-inch sheet for trimming purposes.

I have to say, losing the use of my sunroof is going to be a bitter pill to swallow, but it is all for the greater good of bass. The rails

Final seat placement.

Applying resin to seams and corners of the enclosure.

PHASE THREE

ESSENTIALS • Enclosure for 10 RE AUDIO XX 15-inch subs (2:1 ratio fourth-order bandpass) • Removal of functioning sunroof • Custom welded cage for front cabin roof SOURCES Ultimate Autosports ultimateautosports.ca • 905-385-8446 RE AUDIO reaudio.com • 626-839-2300 Core Industries coreind.ca • 905-570-8613

The double thick baffles are built for a pounding.

Filling in the sunroof.

DEALER INQUIRES WELCOME RE AUDIO / US AMPS 626 839 2300 SALES@USAMPS.COM OR CORE INDUSTRIES INC 905 570 8613 SALES@COREIND.CA

XX motor meet Nick Cimino. Nick Cimino meet Mr. 62 lb. subwoofer.

were unbolted from the roof and the glass sunroof was removed.

From there, a steel cage was constructed using 1.5-inches of one-eighth wall square tubing.

This cage is an integral part and ties in the wall, sides and windshield frame together, while being completely sealed from the sunroof glass. With the cage welded in place along the sides and front, and bolted on the back end near the loading wall and enclosure, it's time to focus on reinstalling the sunroof. This is done by mounting the glass in place using custom welded brackets and windshield urethane.

With this massive phase complete, it's onto the next, which will cover the fit and finish of the enclosure, cabin and other key components of the build. Stay tuned for phase four in the next issue of PASMAG (16.06). pasmag.com/ground-pounderpart3

TEST REPORT

Clarion NX404 Navigation Receiver Review When choosing a new navigation receiver, these days it’s all about integrating your smartphone. Well, that’s exactly what the new Clarion NX404 does. Add in a capable audio section and this double-DIN head unit has everything you need to make your drive easier, whether it’s across town or right across the country.

Features and Functions The Clarion NX404 is built around a 6.2-inch TFT display that has incredibly rich color and great definition. I’ll be the first to admit I’ve struggled with some Clarion TFT screens in the past, but this one seems to work much better. The NX404 is an AM/FM/DVD/CD/MP3/ DIVX Navigation receiver, and comes with full Bluetooth connectivity for hands free calling as well as audio streaming.

With the HDMI connection, you can view and listen to content straight from your phone or make the head unit a duplicate screen. This seems very much like MirrorLink to me, but nowhere does Clarion use that term, so I'll let you be the judge. The NX404 will also play the files via USB drives (including lossless FLAC audio) and supports wonderful Pandora functionality via Bluetooth on both types of smartphones, or additionally, via USB with an iPhone. The

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

audio section of the unit is fairly standard, but very capable. It’s also measured according to the CEA2006B standard, so you know the specs are real.

There are front, rear and sub pre-out connections with two volts of output, and a built-in amplifier sporting 18 watts per channel. There are highpass filters for the front and rear outputs, while a low-pass crossover allows adjustment for the subouts. The available frequencies are 60, 90, and 120 Hz. Adjustments include a three-band EQ, Magna Bass EX, and even a selectable phase setting for the subwoofer output.

The GPS navigation section of the NX404 is a full-featured setup with over 11 million points of interest (POI), 3D visualizations, spoken turn by turn directions and, with TTS engaged, it will even speak street names and house numbers. Other sat-nav functions include lane guidance, junction view, and customizable voice choices. Maps are included for all of the United States and Canada, as well as Puerto Rico.

On the cosmetic front, the NX404 has custom button illumination and wallpapers. It includes an infra-red remote control, user defined shortcuts, you can choose which speaker you prefer the telephone audio to come from, and your vehicle’s steering wheel controls can be retained with the use of an optional adapter cable. A built-in input also allows for an optional rearward facing camera.

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The GPS navigation section of the NX404 is a full-featured setup with over 11 million points of interest (POI), 3D visualizations, spoken turn by turn directions and, with TTS engaged, it will even speak street names and house numbers.

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TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

TEST REPORT Clarion US NX404 (16.04).indd 1

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TEST REPORT

Clarion NX404 Navigation Receiver Review

For an expanded version of this test report, go to pasmag.com/testreports/ClarionNX404Nav

Controls and Functionality

Clarion.com/us

ClarionUSA

@ClarionUSA

ClarionUS

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There are a few things I really like about the Clarion NX404, beginning with the logical and safety-conscious rotary volume control. The touch screen is also easy to use, with controls and functions logically arranged. Ergonomics of the screen menus are also good, however I did notice a small amount of lag when operating certain functions.

The display gives you all the pertinent information, but frequently adjusted functions like the subwoofer level require several button presses and two on-screen menus. Perhaps if I use the unit long enough, this impression would dissipate.

The owner’s manual also comes on a disc in the box. I’m not a fan of this method because I like to keep the manual in the vehicle for future reference, but it is reasonably complete and quite well organized.

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Connected to my reference system in a quiet, acoustically-treated listening room, the NX404 proves to be sonically splendid, with very good performance on DVD, CD, or even high bitrate MP3 tracks. Thanks (at least in part) to the 24 Bit D/A convertor, when listening to a standard CD, the sound is very natural and uncolored.

Bass is strong and smooth, and high frequencies are reproduced with good definition and clarity – perhaps just a bit less definition in the stereo image than my reference player. But I do miss the ability to quickly adjust the level of the subwoofer output, which is a common setting in most systems.

There is no popping or clicking when making adjustments, and the signal-to-noise performance is very good with an almost inaudible noise floor – even between tracks with the volume wide open. Likewise, the tuner performs well and FM radio sounds excellent.

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For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

Conclusion If you have been searching for a reasonablypriced, full featured navigation/DVD receiver, you owe it to yourself to check out the Clarion NX404 in person. With all the bells and whistles most people could ever want, paired with great audio performance, very capable GPS navigation and the ability to fully integrate your smartphone, it might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

On the Bench On the test bench the Clarion easily meets or exceeds all of its published specifications.

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CLASSIC POWER, LOOKS & PERFORMANCE UNDER A NEW LIGHT Available now at car audio retailers (check www.powerbassusa.com/dealers for a dealer near you)

PowerBass faced the daunting task of improving our now legendary ASA-Series amplifiers. Welcome ASA3! Our third generation of our Classic ASA-Series amplifiers have a narrower footprint for installation versatility, increased overvoltage protection, broader input sensitivity, new extruded chassis designed for better heat management and a sporty new light--light up badge that is. Our backlit PowerBass logo badge can be turned on or off by the flick of a switch--how cool is that!

We still managed to keep all the popular features usually found only in other brands' high-end ranges. Feature packed with a wide line-up of 2, 4 and even 5 channel amplifiers, ASA3 Amplifiers meet the needs of any serious audiophile. The PowerBass Classic continues. Audition one at a dealer near you!

www.powerbassusa.com Š2014 PowerBass USA Inc.

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TEST REPORT

Kenwood DDX8901HD

DVD Receiver Review

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HDMI/MHL cable, you can be assured that you'll get the best possible A/V performance from your smartphone. Also, by using the connection and downloading the free Smartphone Control app, you can take advantage of my personal favorite smartphone navigation app, Garmin's Street Pilot.

The unit is equipped with Bluetooth for safe and convenient hands-free calling, but the DDX8901HD also adds support for aptX – a kind of ultra high quality Bluetooth lossless audio streaming.

Additionally, there are inputs for a rear view camera and, if you happen to drive a car that uses SYNC, On-Star or Uconnect systems, the DDX8901HD will work with an iDataLink module to retain all the factory installed features.

Not only does this mean you keep your factory voice commands, steering wheel controls and more, but there is also an option to connect to the vehicle's OBDII port and set up gauge displays on the receiver screen to monitor engine parameters. How cool is that?!

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The DDX8901HD is a double-DIN DVD/CD/ MP3/AM/FM/HD radio receiver with a high quality, responsive TFT touch screen. In addition to playback of the above sources, there are USB and additional auxiliary inputs, as well as an input for the optional Sirius/XM satellite radio module. I'm a real fan of HD radio because it sounds great, offers a lot of new programming choices, and best of all – it's free!

Maybe you’re more of an internet connected person who prefers Pandora or iHeart Radio? Well, you'll appreciate those apps being built right in, and by using an optional

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For people whose lives revolve around their smartphone, Kenwood has a new receiver that keeps you connected. The new Kenwood DDX8901HD DVD receiver is designed to interface with your smartphone (whether it's Apple or Android) and provides touchscreen control over your installed applications. The DDX8901HD lets you enjoy sources like Pandora, Netflix, YouTube, and even fully functional navigation, directly from an app installed on your phone.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the Kenwood Excelon receiver is $650 and it comes with a full two-year warranty.

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

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All of the connectivity and functionality in the world isn't worth a hill of beans without high performance audio, and that area certainly doesn’t get neglected with this unit. A built-in four channel MOSFET ampli-

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CEA-2006A Power Per Channel (all channels driven @ 4 Ω)

18.3 W/ch X 4

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5.1 Vrms

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TEST REPORT

Kenwood DDX8901HD

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On the Bench As expected, the Kenwood measures well on the test bench. Actual measured power falls a couple of watts short of the advertised 22 watts per channel when measured according to CEA-2006B standards, but since there is no test standard referenced in the manual, it's difficult to call Kenwood's published number inaccurate. Signal-tonoise is good, as is crosstalk. All of the DSP functions work exactly as expected, too. The only weak specification is output impedance, which came in at approximately 300 ohms.

For a receiver to be optimally immune to ground loop noise, etc., lower output impedance is always better. A good target spec is 100 ohms, and some units have been under 50 ohms. With an output impedance of 300 ohms, this unit may be a bit more susceptible than others, but it's still decent.

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The Kenwood DDX8901HD is an excellent choice for anyone who is as serious about their audio as they are about their smartphone. With a full feature set and enough available sources to please anyone, combined with a nice interface, virtually seamless smartphone integration and high performance audio, it would seem like perhaps you can have your cake and eat it too.

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For an expanded version of this test report, go to pasmag.com/testreports/KenwoodDDX8901HD

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For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

dBr

I set up the Kenwood 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 subwoofers. After a bit of basic level setting and ensuring everything is set flat, I get down to listening. Beginning with CDs then moving on to my iPod and streamed audio from my phone, the DDX8901HD sounds good. The unit has very low noise, plenty of output and excellent stereo separation. On one of my favorite test tracks – the Cowboy Junkies’ Sweet Jane – the space and reverb in the room is easily apparent.

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The touch screen of the DDX8901HD is responsive and very easy to use. Volume adjustments and other menus are accomplished with the hard buttons on the lower front edge of the faceplate. Icons for different sources are logically arranged and can be accessed quickly and easily. The same goes for audio adjustments, and thankfully, when adjusting things there is no time-out that takes you back to the main screen. The screen can be customized with your own artwork or photos, and button and screen background illumination colors are fully adjustable, making matching illumination easy.

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Control and Functionality

The various crossover adjustments and seven-band EQ come in very handy and prove to be good tools for basic tuning fixes.

Bluetooth pairing to my HTC ONE took only 10 seconds the first time, and thanks to the aptX capability of the unit, audio streaming high-bitrate songs from my phone sound as good as MP3s can.

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fier 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 five volts of output. A powerful DSP processor provides controls for various soundstage setups, a seven-band equalizer, and internal crossovers for high-pass on the front and rear outputs, and low-pass on the subwoofer output. There are no less than eight separate high-pass frequencies with independent adjustments for front and rear channels, and five low-pass frequencies for the subwoofer output, making tuning easy. Plus you can select from four available crossover slopes for both high- and low-pass filters. Controls for subwoofer level and phase are included, and you can delay the arrival time of channels, which can be adjusted for path length differences in approximately one-inch increments to a maximum distance of up to 20 feet.

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kenwoodusa.com

kenwood.ca

KenwoodUSA

KenwoodCanada

@KenwoodUSA

@KenwoodCanada

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"I’D RANK THE SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE OF THIS AMPLIFIER IN THE UPPER ECHELON OF CAR AUDIO AMPLIFIERS" GARRY SPRINGGAY TECHNICAL EDITOR PASMAG

CREATING EMOTIONS Designed by Robert Zeff exclusively for ARC Audio

THE DEBUT OF THE NEWEST GENERATION OF XDI AMPLIFIERS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE OUT OF THE BOX THINKING NEEDED TO CREATE THE NEXT “BIG THING” IN CAR AUDIO. The idea of having raw power, reliable performance and sonic purity all in a single affordable amplifier design is just a dream for many. Well it’s time to turn the dream into reality. With a simple, yet creative concept, ARC Audio has taken a new approach to “Quality” and “Hi-End” innovation without any of the compromises found in today’s full-range digital amplifier designs.

WWW.ARCAUDIO.COM 4719 GREEN LEAF CIRCLE #4, MODESTO, CA 95356, TEL: 209.543.8706 FAX: 209.543.9269

ARC Audio.indd 1

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For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

TEST REPORT

MB QUART Nautic GMR-1

BLUETOOTH SOURCE UNIT REVIEW We all want music, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. There are a lot of people out there who have been longing for a way to listen to their music in their boat, UTVs and basically everything, from garden tractors to a golf carts. Unfortunately, most of these vehicles won’t accept a traditional DIN or double-DIN head unit. So what’s the solution? Well, the folks at MB Quart may have the answer.

Features The MB Quart Nautic GMR-1 is a source unit unlike any other. It’s designed to fit into a standard, round 3.125-inch gauge opening with a mounting depth of under three inches! Building an audio source that fits this common opening makes the GMR-1 a perfect fit in a wide variety of vehicles where traditional head units simply won’t go without a lot of custom (aka expensive) work.

Another important considermbquart.com

the controls on the unit face allow you to adjust volume, play, pause, and select your favorite tracks.

Additionally, there is a built in AM/FM tuner to pull in your favorite stations, and a USB input allows you to connect your MP3 player or thumb drive. Still not enough?! A set of aux-in RCA connectors allow yet another possible source, like a portable satellite radio or any other portable audio device. Should you need to remote mount those other sources, the optional PSAP-2 dual input plug is waterproof and very handy. This accessory provides 10 feet of extension, allowing you to mount things wherever they need to go.

ation when installing a head unit in these types of vehicles is durability.

After all, if you are off road or on the water, there are a whole new set of rules when it comes to keeping things working. To that end, the MB Quart GMR-1 is designed to be waterproof, dustproof and UV stable. And with no moving internal parts, it will handle the extreme G loads found in these environments without any complaint.

While it may be small in size, the GMR-1 has more features in it than you might expect. First, a built-in four channel amplifier provides power to four speakers. If that’s not enough, you can drive an additional amplifier with the RCA pre-outs.

Bluetooth connectivity allows you to stream music from your favorite Bluetooth-enabled player including music apps like Pandora, Spotify and others. The GMR-1 is equipped with large, easy to use rubber buttons and a bright LCD display. Bluetooth pairing is quick and easy and

@MBQuart

MBQuartUSA

AMP MAX FLAT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

uses a standard Motorola plug for the radio antenna, and everything simply works as it should.

On paper, the internal amplifier power might seem limited, maxing out at around five watts per channel (measured using the CEA-2006B standard), but in small vehicles with speakers mounted in close proximity, it seems much more powerful than it is. The internal amplifier has a high-pass filter at approximately 85 Hz, and thanks to the RCA outputs, you can drive a separate subwoofer amplifier if you want some real bass in your face.

So there you have it: an AM/ FM, Bluetooth, USB and auxiliarycapable self contained audio system. All you need now are some four ohm speakers and a vehicle with a three-inch round space on the dash!

In the Details The GMR-1 is a well-built unit that should provide many hours of enjoyable listening. It’s dead simple to use, and there are no complicated menus or manuals required.

It wires up the same way as virtually every aftermarket radio since 1980,

For an expanded version of this test report, go to pasmag.com/testreports/MBQuartNauticGMR1.

MaxxsonicsUSAInc

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INTEGRATE ready-made solutions for adding the thump you want and the control you need. KICKER Powered Subwoofers provide an intense result – trust us.

The Hideaway™ compact powered subwoofer delivers surprising low-frequency output from a remarkably small enclosure.

Shop for the Hideaway online at www.kicker.com, or visit your local authorized retailer.

KICKER is distributed in Canada by Gem-Sen. www.gemsen.com www.kicker.com

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/kickeraudio

3/25/14 1:47 PM 2014-06-20 3:13 PM

TEST REPORT

Sony XSP-N1BT

Smartphone Cradle CD Receiver

Features

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The XSP-N1BT is a little unusual looking due to the smartphone cradle in the front of the unit where you'd usually find a large touchscreen. There is a smaller LCD screen for use when you don't care to dock your phone, and of course, the unit will operate just fine in tuner, CD, USB, or satellite radio modes without any phone present. But when you dock your smartphone and secure it in the neat cradle, things get a whole lot more fun.

The Sony uses near field communications (NFC) and Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone and provide all sorts of cool

features. Sony's Simple Secure Pairing means your phone will pair easily the first time, then you can use incredibly convenient voice control for the unit, and even have your messages read aloud with App Remote 2.0. You can compose text or email messages using voice control and of course, you'll be able to hear turn-by turn directions for a GPS app or listen and control your Pandora stations (U.S. only) as well. Hands-free and voice-activated phone calls are also part of the program, and the XSP-N1BT will keep your device charged as you drive, thanks to the 1.5 amp USB connection. If you happen to use a Sony Xperia smartphone, no USB connection is required, because the XSP-N1BT is designed to charge those phones via a special electromagnetic connection built into the front panel of the unit and the back of the Xperia phone.

On the audio side of things, the XSP-N1BT is no slouch either, with a built in four-channel amplifier, five-volt pre-outs, a 10-band equalizer and a powerful DSP function to set up the stereo image in your car just how you want it. There is a high-pass crossover for the full range channels, with five different frequencies available and three selectable slopes. A similar low-pass crossover is included for the dedicated subwoofer outputs.

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Leave it to Sony to come up with a new way to make your smartphone more useful than ever. The new Sony XSP-N1BT CD receiver is also the world's first double-DIN head unit that can turn virtually any NFC/Bluetooth enabled smartphone into a radio touchscreen control panel. And, after being ignored for years by head unit manufacturers, Android users are going to jump all over this thanks to the dead-easy connectivity and voice control available via Sony's “App Remote” application (available for free on Google Play). iPhone users can activate voice controls through Siri.

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

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TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

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2014-06-23 4:46 PM

TEST REPORT

Sony XSP-N1BT

HIGH-PASS CROSSOVER FREQUENCIES - FREQUENCY RESPONSE 6 4 2

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In addition, you have control of subwoofer phase and level, from the front panel of your phone, or via the included infra-red remote control when your phone isn't present.

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Back on the test bench, the Sony outperforms its published specifications and reinforces what I heard in my listening session.

The unit has a very flat frequency response, excellent preamp voltage, decent output impedance, and dead-quiet signal-to-noise performance. From a test bench perspective, there isn't a single thing to complain about.

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Conclusion The Sony XSP-N1BT will appeal to technophiles and those who simply can't be away from the connectivity their smartphone provides. Android users in particular will appreciate the voice control functionality, and anyone who enjoys music will be very pleased with the unit's audio performance.

Maybe best of all, with a retail price of under $250, it's also a head unit that most anyone can afford. If you want to be the first on the block to truly integrate your cell phone into your car audio system, get down to your local Sony dealer and check this one out. But I wouldn't dilly dally, because I'm predicting these are going to sell fast!

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The smartphone cradle is designed to securely hold almost any sized smartphone.

My HTC One is large, but it fits perfectly – even with its protective case on – and there is plenty of room for an even larger phone.

Pairing with the XSP-N1BT is very simple and easy. Simply touch the backside of the active phone to the lower left part of the face of the unit, and it immediately goes into pairing mode via NFC. For smartphones without NFC capability, pairing can be done via USB cable or Bluetooth connection. Connecting my phone for the first time took under 30 seconds with minimal instruction.

After downloading and installing the “App Remote 2” application, you have the ability to launch and control all compatible applications on your iPhone or Android device. With an Android phone, you can read out incoming texts, SMS, emails, Twitter, or Facebook feeds. You can even reply to email or text messages using the voice control. Additionally, Android users have the ability to launch applications or change sources via voice control as well. Again, voice control using an iPhone is done through Siri.

The volume controls are push-button style, mounted to the right of center, which I find a bit odd. The controls are quite minimalistic, with only five buttons on the entire unit. Obviously it is designed to be operated via a smartphone, and when in that mode, the screen is easy to read and works well.

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Overall, the XSP-N1BT sounds very good.

It has inaudible noise and the sound Q tracks I play sound very natural in tone and timbre.

Subtle nuances and details are reproduced very well, and the unit simply sounds proper.

After a bit of experimentation with the EQ and the DSP-powered soundstage adjustments, it is soon obvious that there is quite a bit of tuneability built into the XSP-N1BT. The tuner works very well, pulling in all the local stations with ease and good clarity.

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For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

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After connecting the XSP-N1BT into my reference system, I connect my iPod and gather a few of my favorite test discs. For the iPod, the access speed is good and the Quick BrowZer search feature allows me to quickly access any tracks I want. Of course the ability to search by category (artist, album, genre, etc.) is also supported. Controlling the unit with my phone screen is quite easy and intuitive and once again, I don't need to refer to the owner's manual to make adjustments.

For an expanded version of this test report, go to pasmag.com/testreports/SonyXSPN1BT

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store.sony.ca

@Sony_Canada

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2014-03-26 6:42 PM

TEST REPORT

Axxera AS65C

Component Speaker Review If you have been around car audio for more than a minute, you’ll know that the biggest single improvement you can make to a stock system is upgrading the OEM speakers. Nothing gives you a bigger bang for your buck. And thanks to systems like the Axxera AS65C components, you can swap out those stockers with a true component system for under $140 bucks a pair.

Midrange and Tweeter The AS65C component speaker system is comprised of a 6.75-inch woofer and a one-inch silk dome tweeter, connected via a two-way passive crossover network. The woofer is built around a rugged cast aluminum basket for low resonance and superior rigidity.

Multiple mounting hole patterns allow a wide array of fitments and with a mounting depth of only 2.55 inches, the woofers easily mount

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TECH SPECS

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in the shallowest doors. Speaker connections are made via rugged screw-style terminals, and the wire is included in the kit. Examining the speaker from the top down, the first thing that catches your attention is the blue three-layer honeycomb glass-fiber cone, chosen for its inherent rigidity, reduced distortion and low mass. The cone uses a black convex dustcap for a nice cosmetic contrast. Around the outer edge of the cone is a rubber surround for maximum durability, and beneath the cone is a Nomex spider with woven-in tinsel leads, which connect to a 1.2-inch (30.5 mm) two-layer copper voice coil wound on a lightweight Kapton former. The entire moving section is driven by a large 16 ounce ferrite motor measuring almost four inches in diameter.

The tweeter for the system utilizes a one inch laminated silk dome with Ferrofluid cooling for maximum reliability. It’s powered

Power Handling

60 W RMS

Crossover, Woofer

-12 dB per octave

Crossover, Tweeter

-12 dB per octave

Frequency Range

50 - 20,000 Hz

Sensitivity

82.3 dB/SPL @ 1 W / 1 M

Nominal Impedance

4Ω

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

"The midrange drivers have a warm, round, pleasant sound that you can listen to all day without ear fatigue, and the silk dome tweeters prove fairly capable..." by a neodymium magnet and can be easily mounted with either flush or angled surface mount cups that are included with the kit.

Crossover The passive crossover networks are nicely made and fairly basic. Input and output terminals are found on opposite ends. The housings are made of black ABS plastic and are trimmed with a top cover that features a black mesh grill and a chrome plated Axxera badge, which can be removed and oriented in the opposite way. Mounting screws are hidden under the top cover for a clean finished appearance when installed. The actual components of the crossovers include a mixture of Mylar and electrolytic caps and air and iron core inductors. There are no level adjustments available, and no over-current protection devices used.

Listening I set up the system with a 50 Hz high-pass filter on the reference amplifier, and as always, my listening position is directly between the two speakers, onaxis. Once set up, I settle in for some listening and note taking.

My initial thoughts after hearing the speakers for a few minutes are that the AS65Cs are decent performers for the price. The midrange drivers have a warm, round, pleasant sound that you can listen to all day without ear fatigue, and the silk dome tweeters prove fairly capable, so long as you are relatively on axis. However, these tweeters are definitely on the polite side of the high frequency output scale, so when installing them, it is best to point them right at your head.

After an hour of listening to many different types of music

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

800-525

AXXERA AS65C

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and a dozen of my personal reference recordings, I come away a bit perplexed. For example, Neil Peart’s snare shots in Rush’s Red Barchetta sound a bit muted, lacking the usual “bite” his snare has, and in the upper midrange, the female vocals lack a bit of presence. A final example was the acoustic guitar in Mighty Sam McClain’s Lonesome Road, which just doesn’t have the usual timbre.

Bass output is strong however,

and maybe that’s why I feel the speakers need more top end to keep up with the bottom. That said, especially with the vast majority of people listening to compressed, digitally manipulated facsimiles of actual music, these speakers will probably outperform most people’s expectations.

Conclusion This is a nicely made speaker system, designed to offer the

best possible components at an entry level price point. From an audiophile’s perspective, the Axxera AS65Cs may not be perfect, but for the price, they are significantly better than most buyers will expect. Thankfully, everyone likes something a bit different, so I strongly encourage you to give these a listen for yourself.

You might just find that they are the perfect mix of performance versus price.

For an expanded version of this test report, go to pasmag.com/testreports/AxxeraAS65C

For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

axxera.dualav.com Axxera-Audio @DualElectronics

PERFORMANCE - Xtra technology produces better color contrast and depth perception allowing drivers to see farther.

QUALITY – Manufactured to DOT Specifications and backed by a one-year warranty.

STYLE – Xtreme white color output with crisp illumination for the HID look.

800-525-7422

www.piaa.com

TEST REPORT

Pioneer TS-D1720C

Component Speakers Review When it comes to building a truly top notch audio system, the single most important decision you can make is your speaker choice.

More than any other component, your speakers will affect the overall sound and performance of your system. Just as a chain is as strong as its weakest link, it's only when you select the right speakers will the true quality of the other components in your system make any difference.

All the benefits of 24-bit D/A convertors, low tolerance parts, and high performance output devices are lost if you are listening to them through sub-par quality speakers.

This is a fact that is not lost on the product development folks at Pioneer. To show the sonic excellence of their head units and amplifiers, they had to develop some pretty excellent loudspeakers. With the introduction of the new D-Series, they have done precisely that. Designed from the ground up to provide great sound quality and excellent value with a suggested retail price of only $220, the top-of-the-line Pioneer components are the TS-D1720C 6.75-inch speakers.

Midrange Loudspeaker engineers tend to be a little more “out there” than your typical propeller head and, 78

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as evidence of that, the new TS-D speakers use an unusual dual layer midrange cone material.

The lower layer is a special injection molded matrix layer (IMX) which is bonded to a very unique upper layer material, formed from natural basalt rock and interwoven with Aramid fiber. The beauty of this dual layer configuration is a rigid, non-resonant cone which is ideally suited for the harsh environment and temperature extremes of the automotive environment. Put simply, in this case, rock beats paper.

But the trickery doesn’t end there. The midrange is also equipped with other highperformance features such as a low resonance heavy gauge steel basket, three large air vents for maximum cooling of the 1.25-inch copper voice coil, and a 13-ounce Strontium ferrite magnet.

Additional technical details of the woofer include a butyl rubber surround, Aramid fiber spider, and a special phase plug in the center of the cone.

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

rear chamber designed to lower tweeter resonance. The size and shape of the tweeter diaphragm assists in good off-axis dispersion, handy in vehicles where the tweeter position is less than optimal. Included in the box are flush, angled and custom mounting adapters for a wide variety of installation options.

Crossover All the attention paid to the midrange and tweeter design would be for naught without that same care shown to the crossover network. The TS-D1702C network is indeed a simple, but well-executed crossover, incorporating quality components and an effective design. An air core inductor and polypropylene capacitor form a 12 dB filter at about 2,500 Hz for the tweeter, and an iron core inductor is used to roll off the top end of the midrange. A resistor provides

Tweeter The tweeter used in the TSD1720C system also received its fair share of attention. The oversized soft dome measures 1.125 inches in diameter, and is finished with a urethane resin laminate.

Behind the dome is a neodymium magnet and an exclusive sealed

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

MEASURED

TECH SPECS

"To show the sonic excellence of their head units and amplifiers, [Pioneer] had to develop some pretty excellent loudspeakers."

Power Handling

60 W RMS

Crossover, Woofer

-6 dB per octave

Crossover, Tweeter

-12 dB per octave

Frequency Range

80 – 23,000 Hz

Sensitivity

88.4 dB/SPL @ 1 W / 1 M

Nominal Impedance

4Ω

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2014-05-20 9:59 AM

TEST REPORT

Pioneer TS-D1720C

Component Speakers Review the option of a 3 dB reduction in tweeter output, and a selfresetting polyswitch provides protection from over-current. All these bits are housed in a small and easy-to-hide rectangular plastic housing with a clear top cover. Connections are made via gold-plated screw terminals that accept up to 12-gauge cables.

or harsh. With the exception of an occasional bit of stridence and aggression in the upper midrange on a few tracks, the components could easily be confused for a set costing twice as much.

Overall, the TS-D1720Cs will show the benefits of good recordings and having good equipment driving them.

Listening

Conclusion

With the system mounted in the listening baffles and a handful of my favorite evaluation CDs, I fire up the system and settle in for what turns out to be a very enjoyable session.

I begin with some excellent recordings such as Sarah Vaughn’s Lullaby of Birdland and Chick Corea’s Captain Marvel. What I’m looking for here is the speaker’s ability to provide distinction for each of the wide array of instruments. The Pioneer TS-D1720Cs do an admirable job in this regard.

Lesser speakers tend to muddle the sound significantly, making it hard to concentrate on one particular element of the performance.

Shifting musical gears, I change to well-recorded male and female vocals from Michael Ruff and Jennifer Warnes, as well as Bill Meyer’s Evolution, a favorite track for checking spectral balance. I’m surprised and pleased with the overall performance of the Pioneer speaker system, especially considering its reasonable price. The vocals sound open and natural with the correct timbre.

Since I’m enjoying it, I listen to a wide variety of music at low and high volume levels over the next two hours. Bass output is strong without any ringing or overhang. The tweeters provide very good off-axis performance as advertised; the detail is excellent without any trace of being brittle

The Pioneer TS-D1720C system turns out to be a well-engineered set of components. Overall, I am pleasantly surprised at the level of performance that Pioneer is able to deliver at such a reasonable price. While perhaps not a perfect performer, you will need to spend considerably more money to get better sound. Comparing the speakers to others in the same price range, the TS-D1720Cs are very near the top of the list. Go have a listen for yourself at a Pioneer dealer near you.

PASMAG

For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA

PioneerNorthAmerica

@PioneerUSA

pioneerelectronics

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For an expanded version of this test report go to pasmag.com/testreports/ PioneerTSD1720CSpeakers

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2014-04-15 3:52 PM

TEST REPORT

Precision Power P.65C3

Component Speaker Review I was at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year and happened to look at a new set of component speakers from Precision Power. The system reminded me of an excellent package they had several years earlier, which was also a three-way system with a traditional 6.5-inch woofer, a 2.5-inch midrange and a separate tweeter. But that's about where the similarities to the previous system end.

The all-new P.65C3 system is redesigned from the ground up, and there are a few exciting changes.

Woofer and Midrange There are big changes from the old system that I reviewed back in 2010. The woofer has gone to a low-resonance, cast aluminum basket which now carries a 3.5inch ferrite motor. The basket is a multi-fit design with 14 mounting holes, spaced to fit almost any OEM pattern. Also new is the 1.2-inch voice coil, wound from

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BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

copper-clad aluminum wire to keep the mass low. Electrical connections on the woofer are made via spring loaded nickel-plated terminals. The current is transferred to the voice coil through lead wires integrated into the spider. Details on the computer-designed cone are somewhat scarce, but I can tell you it’s now made from a “natural composite fiber” with a light yellowish hue, pressed into a special shape incorporating seven swirlshaped tangential stiffening ribs.

Control of the outer diameter of the woofer and midrange cones comes courtesy of a UV-resistant and inverted butyl rubber surround, which claims to resist power compression. A flat-top phase plug finishes off the center of each the woofer and midrange. Both units come with molded rubber gasket/ trim rings and integrated grills.

air motion transformer (AMT) tweeter being used in a product designed for automotive use.

The AMT tweeter was invented by Dr. Oskar Heil. The diaphragm of the tweeter is formed into a sort of folded structure that moves side to side, like the bellows of an accordion. This forces air through special reed chambers with very high velocity – five times faster than the speed of the diaphragm – and why the design is called an “air motion transformer.”

The result is a tweeter that produces incredibly high frequencies, (up to 40 kHz is typical) and because of the actual area of the tweeter, it also has very low distortion. Perhaps the most important aspect of the tweeter is its fantastic off-axis capability. This is truly a tweeter that can be mounted almost anywhere.

Tweeter

Crossover

The tweeter of the P.65C3 is something entirely unexpected in the world of car audio; in fact, it’s the first time I can recall an

The crossover of the system follows the high end approach found on the other components. High quality polystyrene capacitors, air

and iron core inductors, and heavy duty response adjustment jumpers are used for maximum sound quality and reliability. The jumpers are used to reduce the output of the tweeter by three decibels, and another is marked “Midrange Contour,” which can be adjusted to alter the output of the system to compensate for speaker placement imperfections. Connections are made via conventional Phillips screw buss-bar style connections.

A polyswitch has also been employed to protect the tweeter from accidental over current.

Listening Being very impressed with the overall build quality and obvious attention to detail in examining the components, I’m really looking forward to listening to the P.65C3s. After a short break-in period, I mount them in my listening room baffles and get ready for a good session. Wow! I'm not disappointed!

I begin with Count Basie’s Take the A Train. This track has a spec-

Power Handling

250 W RMS

Frequency Range

70 – 30,000 Hz

Crossover, Woofer

-12 dB per octave

Sensitivity

86.8 dB/SPL @ 1 W / 1 M

Crossover, Tweeter

-12 dB per octave

Nominal Impedance

4Ω

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

Untitled-1 1

2014-06-24 5:20 PM

TEST REPORT

Precision Power P.65C3

Component Speaker Review The tweeter of the P.65C3 is something entirely unexpected in the world of car audio; in fact, it’s the first time I can recall an air motion transformer (AMT) tweeter being used in a product designed for automotive use.

Measurements When I measure the P.65C3 system, I notice a very narrow dip in the response curve right at 7,300 Hz. I assume this is the crossover point of the tweeter, but the width of the dip in response is so incredibly narrow that it is completely inaudible. You can disregard this when you look at the

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response graph. If I didn’t have my test equipment set up to show this much detail, the curve would have come out totally smooth. The midrange contour adjustment doesn’t make much difference in my onaxis measurement, but I believe it will be a useful feature when tuning the system in an actual vehicle.

Conclusion You owe it to yourself to audition the PPI P.65C3s. This is a truly great sounding speaker system. It ranks with the best in the $450 to $500 range, which is where these live. If you have never heard air motion transformer tweeters perform before, that’s reason enough to bring a couple of your favorite CDs to your local PPI dealer and give them a listen. They’re not built to

appeal to everybody, but if you fancy yourself as something of an audiophile, they may be for you.

For an expanded version of this test report, go to pasmag.com/testreports/PrecisionPowerP65C3.

For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

soundstream.com

SoundStreamUSA

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tacularly recorded Boesendorfer grand piano, and the PPI components do it complete justice.

The sound is natural with the full resonance of the piano and the sense of space the recording is supposed to have. Cliff Eberhardt’s My Father’s Shoes is a lively track with fantastic male vocals and a very wide range of frequencies.

The P.65C3s reproduce the acoustic guitar and tight drumming in this track almost perfectly. All the natural resonances in his voice are easily evident and the system simply sounds open and real.

The tweeters are amazing. The three-way PPI system delivers a level of detail that I usually only expect from good home speaker systems. This is a system that is probably going to appeal to more experienced listeners who appreciate very good recordings. The sound is so smooth and flat that some people may think it lacks excitement. The truth is, it’s simply more open and natural sounding, and much more refined than those “attention grabbing” systems.

Curves showing available crossover adjustments: Blue – Max Flat, Dark Green – Tweeter @ -3 dB, Light Green – Midrange Contour

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Garry Springgay, Tech Editor, PASMAG

subwo ofers

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2014-06-20 3:04 PM

TEST REPORT

Alpine Electronics PDR-M65 Amplifier Review It seems like everywhere you look, amplifiers are getting smaller and more powerful. This trend of “high power density” was started eight years ago with the groundbreaking introduction of the original Alpine PDX series of amplifiers. Lauded still for their excellent sound quality, top notch performance, and in a compact footprint, these were the amps to beat back in 2006.

In the eight years since, Alpine has not been resting on its laurels.

The company's latest offerings in the compact high power category continue the tradition of high performance and leading edge technology. In this review we're looking at the new Alpine PDR-M65, a compact but powerful monoblock rated at 450 watts into four ohms, and 650 watts into two ohms.

Features The new PDR amplifiers have a host of high tech features to insure great sound quality and easy installation. On the sonic side, there's Alpine's Dual Feedback

Modulation, which effectively doubles the amount of error correction to the output signal for lower THD and output that's true to the source. Additionally, the PDR amps are built to have very quiet signal-to-noise performance and high efficiency, which permits the use of such a small chassis even in high power amplifiers.

From an installer's point of view, the amps feature a remote sensing function that can turn the amplifier on and off by sensing voltage at the input terminals, a handy feature when your OEM head unit has no remote trigger wire. Other nice features include a rotating badge (to mount in four different orientations), optional remote bass level control, high level inputs, and pre-outs to drive an additional amplifier. All the wiring connections are made along one side of the chassis, and the adjustments and controls are securely hidden under a removable top cover, which also hides the mounting screws.

The PDR-M65 is equipped with a variable low pass filter (50 to 400

Hz @ -24 dB/Oct), variable bass boost with up to 12 dB of boost at 50 Hz, and an adjustable subsonic filter with a range of below 10 Hz to 40 Hz. Input sensitivity can be adjusted for any input voltage between 72 mV to 10 V.

Listening For my listening session, I connect the PDR-M65 to my reference system and drive a pair of 12-inch, four ohm woofers in a sealed enclosure. With the woofers wired in parallel for a two ohm load, I set the amp crossover to about 80 Hz and leave the subsonic filter at minimum.

I begin my listening session with one of my favorite discs to evaluate subwoofer amplifiers, Essential Yello. If you don't have this disc in your collection, you should. Loaded with very deep synthesizer bass, it's a good test for any bass system and is just fun to listen to. Another favorite disc with an ultra high quality recording and incredible bass definition is a Telarc recording of a band called California Project,

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

who perform Beach Boys tunes of the 1960's. Their track Surfin' USA has possibly the best recorded kick drum in history. The Alpine PDRM65 makes the most of it, with very deep but tight, well controlled sound. With all that power on tap, the amp handles the really high dynamics of this CD without breaking a sweat.

In fact, I notice that the average current draw is quite modest, which speaks to the high efficiency of the design, even at less than full power. This is a very good sounding amplifier, and if you appreciate a deep, powerful and controlled bottom end, the Alpine amp should be on your list of amps to audition.

MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to 2 V output (CEA-2006A) (1 W @ 4 Ω) Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to full output THD+N at rated power Maximum efficiency at full 2 Ω power per channel Idle current Input sensitivity Maximum current @ full power, lowest rated impedance Frequency response (-3 dB)

TECHNICAL

DATA

Manufacturer Rated Power

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery

450 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

456 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

602 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

650 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

549 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

784 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

N/A

N/A

N/A

The following power measurements were obtained using industry standard methods. (100 HZ @ 1.0 % THD+N - Battery voltages shown +/- 0.2 V)

86

PASMAG

High-pass crossover (subsonic filter)

-93.6 dBA -121.4 dBA 0.027 % 83.4 % 1.1 A 72 mV- 10.3 V 65.3 A <10 Hz – 440 Hz 8 Hz – 41 Hz -24 dB/Oct

Low-pass crossover

50 Hz –440 Hz -24 dB/Oct

Bass EQ boost

0 to 13.5 dB @ 48Hz

Phase adjustment (degrees of shift @ 100 Hz)

N/A

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

Alpine 16.05 - Mobile Electronics Edition_v2.indd 1

2014-07-04 11:28 AM

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On the test bench, the Alpine amp meets or exceeds all of its published performance specs, and shows why so many people swear by these amps when it comes to sound quality. Distortion at one watt is an incredibly low 0.006%.

Signal-to-noise measures better than many full range amps, at better than -93 dB. Efficiency is between 80 and 90%, a critical spec in a compact amplifier. After completing all of the measurements, it's obvious that the PDR amplifiers continue the pedigree of the PDX amps.

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The new PDR amplifiers are based on the original PDX designs, but as technology has improved, Alpine has somehow found a way to retain the sound quality and high-end specs of the earlier versions, at a lower price. With a tested power level of nearly 800 watts and a suggested retail price of just $450, this is one amplifier that you get what you paid for...and then some.

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For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

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alpine-canada.com

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AlpineCAN @AlpineCAN

Alpine 16.05 - Mobile Electronics Edition_v2.indd 2

2014-07-04 11:29 AM

TEST REPORT

Arc Audio XDi 600.4

Amplifier Review Anyone who’s spent 15 minutes shopping for a new amplifier knows there is a wide variety to choose from. Where there is a shortage however, is the realm of intelligently-designed amps that aren't merely polished copies of an old design. Amps designed from the ground up provide excellent sound, high efficiency, and flexibility in the way they interface with the source as well as the loudspeakers. When a company like Arc Audio teams up with Robert Zeff, one of the most innovative and brilliant design engineers in the business, the result is definitely worth taking a closer look at.

The XDi V2 series of amplifiers offer a wide range of choices, with seven models to choose from including two four-channel amps, a pair of five-channel models, a six-channel monster and even a pair of monoblocks.

The XDi 600.4 is the largest of the four-channel models, with a suggested retail price of $479.

Features The new XDi series of amplifiers utilize Class D topology to maximize power efficiency and reduce heat, which allows a smaller footprint, making the amp easier to install and hide. The XDi 600.4 is a “constant power” design, which means it will deliver the 150 watts of rated power into either two ohm or four ohm loads. These new Arc Audio amps accomplish the feat in a way that does not require manipulation of the power supply secondary voltage. Without causing anyone to break out a technical dictionary or a slide rule, I’ll simply tell you that this constant power amplifier works through very clever manipulation of the Class D feedback loop signal, which is normally used to control distortion. By altering the shape of the waveform that gets fed back into the Class D controller, the amplifiers power output can be made virtually identical at two or four ohms. Best of all, this control is put into the installer's hands, and can be set differently for the front and rear channels.

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

The features don’t end there.

Arc Audio wanted to build a great sounding, high performance amplifier that could be used in as many different system scenarios as possible. The goals were real world functionality, flexible installation applications and of course, great sound quality. To that end, the XDi amp is equipped with a long list of features that are difficult to find in any other amplifier. The amp is a dream to install with all of the connections on one side, and even quick disconnect speaker plugs that will accept 14-gauge wire.

How about a removable top cover that gives you access to the amp settings and controls when removed, and keeps them from prying fingers when in place?

Not to mention the cover also protects the wire connections and terminals as well. Other features such as high and low level inputs, and the ability to use the DC signal present on most radio outputs to turn the amp on when using the speaker outputs for signal are

a plus. You can even run speaker level inputs on the RCAs! Special microprocessorcontrolled protection circuitry prevents amplifier damage to due inadvertent conditions such as under or over voltage, short circuits, thermal issues, etc. But what makes the XDi amp stand out from the crowd is that it also provides diagnostic fault codes for whatever protection has been activated. It accomplishes this via a series of timed flashes of the top-mounted logo panel. When MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to 2 V output (CEA-2006A) (1 W @ 4 Ω) Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to full output

0.67 %

CEA-2006A rated 4 Ω power (minimum power per channel developed over the entire intended audio bandwidth)

150 W

Maximum efficiency at full 4 Ω power per channel

88.3 %

Maximum efficiency at full 2 Ω power per channel

71.7 %

Efficiency at 10 W per channel, 4 Ω

73.4 %

Idle current

Maximum current @ full power, lowest rated impedance

TECHNICAL

DATA

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery

150 W x 4 @ 4 Ω

115 W x 4 @ 4 Ω

152 W x 4 @ 4 Ω

150 W x 4 @ 2 Ω

155 W x 4 @ 2 Ω

152 W x 4 @ 2 Ω

300 W x 2 @ 4 Ω

309 W x 2 @ 4 Ω

301 W x 2 @ 4 Ω

The following power measurements were obtained using industry standard methods. (1kHZ @ 1.0% THD+N - Battery voltages shown +/- 0.2V)

88

PASMAG

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

-105.4 dBA

THD+N at rated 4 Ω power

Input sensitivity

Manufacturer Rated Power

-83.6 dBA

Frequency response (-3 dB)

2.1 A 198 mV - 3.5 V 58.9 A <10 Hz – >32 kHz

High-pass crossover

54 Hz – 506 Hz -12 dB/Oct

Low-pass crossover

52 Hz – 501 Hz -12 dB/Oct

Subsonic filter Bass boost

None +12 dB @ 46 Hz

Š2014 Mitek Corporation. All rights reserved. MTX and Feel the Thunder are trademarks of Mitek Corporation. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners and no endorsement is implied.

40 YEARS OF THUNDER!

7512-44 750W RMS Dual 4 Ohm Subwoofer

XTHUNDER1500.1 1500W RMS Mono Block Class D Amplifier

MTX004963 RevA 7/14

For the past 40 years, MTX Audio has been taking car audio to the next level with their full line of speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers.

Buy Direct at mtx.com Ke e p Up d a t e d

mtx.com

TEST REPORT

Arc Audio XDi 600.4

Amplifier Review Audio is designed to make that decision easier, with unquestioned sonic performance, comprehensive connection capabilities, a small physical footprint, and the genius of Robert Zeff. To quote Arc Audio’s Product Manager, Brad Ott, “XDi is simply Class D done right.”

For an expanded version of this test report, go to pasmag.com/testreports/ArcAudioXDi6004.

Conclusion

On the Bench

This test report is also available on the PASMAG app. Download it from the App Store.

There are plenty of choices when it comes to selecting the right amp. The XDi Series from Arc

Back on the test bench the next morning, the Arc Audio XDi

arcaudio.com

ARCAudio

4 OHM POWER VS. THD+N

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When it comes time to listen to the XDi 600.4, my expectations are high. I particularly want to try out the amp’s ability to deliver high power into both a two ohm per channel woofer load and a four ohm per channel component speaker load. To that end, I bridge a four ohm woofer to the front channels, and set the crossover to low pass at about 80 Hz. The rear channels are connected to my reference component speakers, and I leave the crossover in full range mode. The results are impressive.

From a sonic perspective, the amp is basically transparent and PASMAG

600.4 shows why it sounded so good the day before. Frequency response is ruler flat, stereo separation is excellent, signalto-noise performance is better than average, and power output works exactly as described in the manual. So yes, the amp just flat works. Power efficiency is very good, particularly when compared to the other “constant power” designs, where efficiency drops in low impedance mode.

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musical. The bass is well-controlled with good authority. I didn’t notice any degradation of the full range signal from the components when the bass hit either, which is something I always listen for when auditioning a multi-channel amp driven from a single power supply. I’d rank the sound quality performance of this amplifier in the upper echelon of car audio amplifiers, certainly good enough to benefit from very good source material, and pleasing to skilled listeners.

%

the amp is operating normally, the panel illuminates in blue. But diagnostic codes are flashed in red, and by counting the number of flashes, the user can easily determine what the problem is and get it corrected.

There’s even a high quality Pi filter on the input of the power supply, which is high-speed switching to reduce the potential for radio frequency interference, and fan-assisted cooling to maintain the amps ability to play loud for long periods. Of course, all the normal features are included, the front and rear channels can be set up as full range, high pass or low pass operation, and the front channels are designed to be the subwoofer connection with the inclusion of a bass boost function as well as an included wired-level control.

If you have an installation where there is no traditional remote on wire, simply flip the auto sense switch on, and the amp will turn on and off with your headunit. Additionally, in this mode the amps remote in connection becomes a remote out feed, capable of turning on additional amplifiers.

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P E R F O R M A N C E

P R O D U C T S

Photo courtesy Lucio T

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www.amsoil.com | 1-800-777-8491

Untitled-1 1

2014-05-28 4:05 PM

TEST REPORT

Audiopipe APCL-15001D Amplifier Review If you are looking for big, low end power on a small budget, you may want to check out the Audiopipe APCL-15001D monoblock. Built for performance on a budget, the APCL-15001D is designed for reliable audio power, whether you have a single four ohm woofer, or multiple woofers wired down to one ohm. With a suggested retail price of only $212.99, it’s also one of the most affordable amplifiers out there.

Features The Audiopipe amp may be low cost, but it certainly doesn’t look cheap. A stylish cast aluminum heatsink is finished in black powdercoat paint, accented with oval shaped, silver mesh screens.

One end of the amp is home to four-AWG nickel-plated power terminals and two pairs of internally paralleled eight-AWG speaker outputs. The opposite end of the amp houses the signal inputs and outputs, which are rugged panel mount RCAs, as well as adjustment

pots for gain, a 40 to 180 Hz lowpass filter, 10 to 50 Hz subsonic filter, variable bass EQ (30 to 80 Hz), and a bass EQ boost level with up to 12 dB of boost. Built-in protection modes for thermal, short circuit, and low voltage issues keep things from going bad should you ever have a problem. The amp is mounted securely via metal tabs, integrated into the amplifier end panels. Also included is a wired remote level control so you can fine tune the amount of bass, directly from the driver’s seat.

Inside the amplifier you’ll find a double-sided PCB and specially treated transformers to improve reliability and eliminate transformer noise. Signal transfer from the output stage of the amp to the speaker terminals is accomplished via pure copper, heavy gauge stranded cables. The small signal parts are all surface mount devices, and the amp sports eight 2,200 µF capacitors in the primary and another four 1,300 µF caps in the high voltage stage. The inside of the amp appears to be

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

well designed, but perhaps a bit more attention to detail could have been employed during assembly.

Also included in the box is a large, sealed ANL style O-ring fuse holder, equipped with 1/0 AWG cable connections and a 100 A fuse. This fuse is designed to be placed close to the battery so it will protect the entire power cable from accidental overcurrent situations.

well, with good control and power delivery. The amount of power on tap is surprising, particularly when you consider the amp’s low cost. It runs fairly cool, even though I push it fairly hard during my listening session. All the adjustments and controls work as intended, and I like the wider than typical range of level adjustment available on the wired remote level control.

Listening

On the Bench

I connect the Audiopipe amp to a two ohm woofer system. I chose to use the two ohm configuration, even though this amp is quite capable of operating into one ohm loads. Regular readers of my column and reviews know that I’m not a big fan of one ohm loads, as they make amplifiers much less efficient and require excessive current for only a couple of decibels more output.

Once connected and adjusted to my satisfaction, I listen to a dozen or so of my favorite bass tracks.

The Audiopipe APCL-15001D performs fine and drives my woofers

Moving from the sound room to my test bench, I put the APCL15001D through its paces, and it performs quite well. Power at clipping is near and it makes no difference to the advertised MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to 2 V output (CEA-2006A) (1 W @ 4 Ω)

-64.4 dBA

Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to full output

-91.8 dBA

THD+N at rated 2 Ω power

0.73 %

Maximum efficiency at full 2 Ω power per channel

80.7 %

Idle current Input sensitivity Maximum current @ full power, lowest rated impedance

Manufacturer Rated Power TECHNICAL

DATA

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery

600 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

429 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

561 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

950 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

737 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

966 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

1,500 W x 1 @ 1 Ω

1,105 W x 1 @ 1 Ω

1,445 W x 1 @ 1 Ω (at clipping)

The following power measurements were obtained using industry standard methods. (1 kHZ @ 1.0 % THD+N - Battery voltages shown +/- 0.2 V)

92

PASMAG

Frequency response (-3 dB) High-pass crossover (subsonic filter) Low-pass crossover Bass EQ boost Phase adjustment (degrees of shift @ 100 Hz)

1.3 A 60 mV - 3.1 V 134.9 A 11 Hz – 181 Hz 11 Hz - 36 Hz -12 dB/oct 45 Hz – 181 Hz -18 dB/oct +12.5 dB @ 30 Hz to 85 Hz N/A

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

TEST REPORT Audiopipe 16.05.indd 1

7/7/2014 4:46:13 PM

4 OHM POWER

to almost anyone, the amp might be exactly what a person needs to get some big bass on a small budget.

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For an expanded version of this test report go to pasmag.com/testreports/AudiopipeAPCL15001D.

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number, although when measured at the industry standard of 1% THD+N, that one ohm number falls short of the mark due to a great deal of inaudible switching noise in the amp output. This noise is very high frequency and would never be heard in the real world, but it’s an indicator of the output filters used in the design. It’s also very common in entry level products.

Overall power efficiency, signalto-noise and frequency response measures very good. The amp has a lot of gain in the input stage, requiring only 60 millivolts of signal to drive it to clipping when the gain is maxed.

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For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

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@AudioPipe

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Overall, the Audiopipe APCL15001D has a lot going for it, and offers very good value.

With plenty of power on tap for all but the most enthusiastic users, a relatively small mounting footprint and a price tag that’s affordable

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audiopipe.com

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TEST REPORT Audiopipe 16.05.indd 2

7/7/2014 4:46:30 PM

TEST REPORT

Digital Designs M45 Amplifier Review From the folks in Oklahoma City comes the all-new Digital Designs M45 monoblock amplifier. Designed for high output power in a very small footprint, the brand-new M45 brings all the performance and quality you’ve come to expect from Digital Designs, in a smaller chassis that fits almost anywhere.

The price will easily fit into your budget too, with a suggested retail of only $289. When I say it's brand new, I’m not kidding - the sample we received for testing is labeled as a prototype and arrived packed in a plain brown box.

Features The Digital Designs M45 is a small-footprint amplifier with external dimensions measuring only 8 x 6.875 x 2 inches. That makes for some pretty inventive mounting locations. The amp is equipped with a well-finned heatsink and efficient Class D topology, so heat should not be an issue. It's finished in clean, brushed black aluminum with the ‘DD’ logo CNC’d into the top.

Power connections and two 25amp ATC fuses are located on one end of the amp with the speaker terminals. The amp handles four-gauge power cable and up to eight-gauge speaker cables with set screws to retain them. On the opposite side of the amp are sturdy input and output RCA connections. Here, you’ll also find three adjustable potentiometers: gain (adjustable from approximately 250 millivolts to over eight volts), a variable subsonic filter, and a second order crossover, adjustable to any frequency between 50 and 250 Hz. There is no bass EQ or phase control, but for the price I didn’t expect them. There is also a port for a remote level control that features a clipping indicator, but this part wasn't included with the prototype, so I'm not sure about the details of its operation.

Inside, the M45 is a combination of precision surface mount parts and robust through-hole parts. The amp uses a double sided fiberglass/epoxy PCB and looks ruggedly constructed.

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

Listening For my listening session, I connect the M45 to my reference system and use it to drive a pair of 10-inch woofers in a sealed enclosure. After getting the initial adjustments dialed in (subsonic to 20 Hz, crossover at 80 Hz) I sit down to give it a listen.

I begin my listening session with one of my favorite subwoofer amplifier evaluation CDs. It’s a Telarc recording of a band that performs Beach Boys tunes from the 1960s. The band is made up of current or former members of the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean, Frankie Valli or Brian Wilson’s bands. The disc is called California Project, and is simply a brilliant recording. The track Surfin’ USA has possibly the best-recorded kick drum in history.

The Digital Designs amp handles the high dynamics with no problem whatsoever and sounds pretty darn good. The bass is well-controlled and presents a surprising amount of authority for such a small amplifier. Current draw is very modest

as well, indicating good power efficiency at all power levels. When I throw my Yello disc in to see how well the amp handles extended low bass notes and synthesized music, it does so very well. Once again, the M45 performs like a much bigger and more expensive amplifier. Only when I push it very hard (or if I get hyper critical of the amp’s sonics) am I reminded that this is a small, inexpensive amplifier that can almost fit in a glove box.

Maybe best of all, you won’t need a high performance alternator or other charging system upgrades, and you’ll have plenty of ground-pounding power at your fingertips.

MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to 2 V output (CEA-2006A) (1 W @ 4 Ω)

-77.4 dBA

Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to full output

-99.6 dBA

THD+N at rated power Maximum efficiency at full 2 Ω power per channel Idle current Input sensitivity Maximum current @ full power, lowest rated impedance

Manufacturer Rated Power 14.4 V TECHNICAL

DATA

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery

160 W @ 4 Ω

129 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

168 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

300 W @ 2 Ω

241 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

314 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

500 W @ 1 Ω

401 W x 1 @ 1 Ω

510 W x 1 @ 1 Ω

The following power measurements were obtained using industry standard methods. (100 HZ @ 1.0 % THD+N - Battery voltages shown +/- 0.2 V)

94

PASMAG

Frequency response (-3 dB) High-pass crossover (subsonic filter) Low-pass crossover

0.09 % 82.20 % 0.8 A 247 mV- 8.3 V 52.2 A 18 Hz – 255 Hz 18 Hz – 55 Hz -12 dB/oct 50 Hz – 255 Hz -12 dB/oct

Bass EQ boost

N/A

Phase adjustment (degrees of shift @ 100 Hz)

N/A

Thi pho on saf

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

TEST REPORT DD Audio M45 amp.indd 1

7/4/2014 12:51:49 PM

Untitle

On the Bench

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For an expanded version of this test report, go to pasmag.com/testreports/DDAudioM45Amp.

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This test report is also available on the PASMAG app. Download it from the App Store.

Conclusion The new Digital Designs M45 looks like a winner. With a tiny footprint but the power and per-

4 OHM POWER VS. THD

formance of a much larger amplifier, combined with the reasonable price, it’s a safe to say these amps are going to fly off the shelves. If you’re in the market for a small but powerful amplifier with great value, check out one of these little babies for yourself at a Digital Designs dealer near you.

%

I go through the normal battery of tests and push the amp to its absolute performance limits, recording all of the data. In all, I am impressed with the diminutive M45. It exceeds the power specifications I’ve been sent, and measures favorably in all other respects as well. The amp turns on and off without pops or thumps, and when I do nasty things to it, like dead shorting the outputs at high power, it simply protects itself and then works properly after a reset. No fuss, no drama and best of all, no failures.

2 OHM POWER VS. THD 100 Hz (14.4 V battery)

10

ddaudio.com

@DDAudio

5

2

TrueToTheSource

1

DDAudioTV

0.5

% 0.2

0.1

0.05

0.02

0.01

0.005

0.002

0.001

1

2

5

10

20

50

100

200

314

500

W

More Than Just Another Cute Button

Introducing the BluClik – a Bluetooth remote control that gives drivers control of their music when needed the most.

This amazing remote pairs with a Bluetooth-enabled device – even if that phone, tablet or device is already paired to the vehicle. And when mounted on the steering wheel, it serves as a steering wheel control and allows for a safe and enjoyable music listening experience.

Distributed in Canada by gentec-intl.com | Order today by calling 1-800-477-2267 |isimplesolutions.com Untitled-3 1 TEST REPORT DD Audio M45 amp.indd 2

2014-06-23 4:50PM PM 7/4/2014 12:51:59

TEST REPORT

Focal FPD 600.4

Amplifier Review Long known for exceptional loudspeakers that incorporate new technology and old-world quality, Focal has brought the same sort of approach to an all-new line of electronics.

The FPD series of amplifiers are designed in the U.S. with the collaboration of well respected amplifier designer Steven Mantz. The resulting products blend modern Class D efficiency and performance with serious audio quality.

There are three models in the Focal FPD series, including an ingenious six-channel, 1,300 watt powerhouse which won the 2014 Innovations Award at the CES show this January. There’s also the FPD 600.4, a flexible four-channel model and also a recipient of an Innovations Award – which we’ll look at in more detail here.

My first look at the Focal FPD 600.4 reveals an understated and classy design with cleverly hidden mounts and a nicely lit Focal badge, making for a product that would look right at home in any high-end audio system.

Features The FPD 600.4 is rated to deliver 150 watts of power per channel at four ohms, or 200 watts per channel at two ohms. This is a lot of power from an amplifier that barely measures 9.5-inches long and less than eight-inches wide. Even more surprising is that despite its small footprint, the amp is designed with all of the connections and controls along one front edge.

In terms of connections, the Focal amps use high quality screw connections, with the wires entering on a 45-degree angle from below and the set screws on a corresponding angle from above.

Perhaps to save some precious space, the connections are smaller than what I’m used to, with the power and ground accepting only six-gauge cable at maximum, and the speaker connections handling up to 14-gauge wire. The 1.5-mm set screws for the speaker connections are certainly tiny!

The crossovers can be configured as high-pass, low-pass, or interestingly, bandpass, which is a popular option in Europe.

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

The crossovers have a frequency adjustment range of 50 Hz to 4,000 Hz, with a second order (-12 dB) slope. This wide range of adjustment allows the FPD 600.4 to be used to bi-amp a woofer and tweeter, thus eliminating the need for a separate passive network.

The aforementioned signal routing switch can be used to send two channels of audio input to all four channels, or you can simply use four channels of input and retain full fading capability. It can also be used to copy the crossover settings of channels three and four to one and two, providing easy setup when bridging the amp across two channels for subwoofers.

The position of the routing switch and a separate stereo/ mono switch allow the FPD 600.4 to be setup in virtually any two-, three- or four-channel configuration. When used in bridged mono mode, the crossover slope doubles to -24 dB per octave.

Additional features include ‘signal sense turn on’ via BTL radio speaker outputs, which can be connected directly to the RCA con-

nectors should a traditional 12 V turn-on signal not be available.

A remote-mounted level control is included to adjust the subwoofer level; it also conveniently incorporates a red clip indicator LED to let you know when you’re overdoing things.

Listening I have pretty high expectations for Focal products, and I’m happy to report the FPD 600.4 doesn’t disappoint. For my listening session, I use the amp in three-channel mode, with a pair of channels driving my reference component speakers and the remaining pair MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to 2 V output (CEA-2006A) (1 W @ 4 Ω)

-93.3 dBA

Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to full output

-115.1 dBA

THD+N at rated 4 Ω power

0.77 %

Maximum efficiency at full 4 Ω power per channel

82.4 %

Maximum efficiency at full 2 Ω power per channel

63.4 %

Efficiency at 10 W per channel (4 Ω)

60.4 %

Idle current Input sensitivity Maximum current @ full power, lowest rated impedance

Manufacturer Rated Power TECHNICAL

DATA

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0 % THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery

150 W x 4 @ 4 Ω

154 W x 4 @ 4 Ω

157 W x 4 @ 4 Ω

200 W x 4 @ 2 Ω

180 W x 4 @ 2 Ω

233 W x 4 @ 2 Ω

400 W x 2 @ 4 Ω

348 W x 2 @ 4 Ω

423 W x 2 @ 4 Ω

The following power measurements were obtained using industry standard methods. (1kHZ @ 1.0% THD+N - Battery voltages shown +/- 0.2V)

96

PASMAG

Frequency response (-3 dB)

0.8 A 240 mV- 9.4 V 102.1 A <10 Hz – 43 kHz

High-pass crossover

50 Hz – 4 kHz -12 dB/Oct

Low-pass crossover

50 Hz – 4 kHz -12 dB/Oct

Subsonic filter

None

Bass boost

None

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

Focal 16.05 - Mobile Electronics Edition.indd 1

2014-06-27 12:42 PM

For an expanded version of this test report go to pasmag.com/testreports/FocalFPD6004Amp

focal.com This test report is also available on the PASMAG app.

Download it from the App Store.

Focal.Corporate FocalCorporate

4 OHM POWER VS. THD+N 1 KHZ 14.4 V BATTERY 10

5

Conclusion

2

1

0.5

%

Employing an experienced designer like Mantz has led to the production of modern amplifiers with excellent power density, good overall efficiency, exceptionally flexible signal manipulation and typical Focal sonic excellence. The FPD 600.4 sells for about $599. While that is a little more than some mid-range stuff that’s out there, when you look at the build quality and performance, it’s hard to deny these amps aren’t worth every penny.

0.2

0.1

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0.02

0.01

0.005

0.002

0.001

600M

1

2

5

10

20

50

100

200

500

1M

500

1M

W

BRIDGED 4 OHM POWER VS. THD+N 1 KHZ 14.4 V BATTERY

2 OHM POWER VS. THD+N 1 KHZ 14.4 V BATTERY

10

10

5

5

2 2

1 1

0.5

%

0.5

%

of channels in bridged mode to a 12-inch subwoofer. For my evaluation, I run the components at full range and the subwoofer set to a low-pass at 80 Hz. As always, my listening session includes a wide array of wellrecorded music: from classical to jazz, rock and even some hip hop.

I take notes, and upon reviewing them, I think they convey my overall impressions of the amplifier as good as anything else I could write here. So, in no particular order, my notes are as follows: • Very open and articulate, with a very good sound stage.

• Nice authority in the bottom end, good control. No evidence of a shortage of current.

• Plenty of detail and sparkle in the top end. Very natural sound without being hard.

The last note reads: • Pretty damn good amp. I could listen to it for a long time.

NOTE: Installing larger-than-recommended fuses is not only risky, it will void your warranty!

It takes a few hours to go through the Focal amp completely, but the results are impressive. The amp exceeds its rated power, has a very flat, extended frequency response, very good signal-to-noise performance and great stereo separation. Since four-channel amps tend to be more susceptible to alternator noise, it’s good to see when the amp’s CMRR (Common Mode Rejection Ratio) measures better than -40 dB.

0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1

0.05 0.05

0.02

On the Bench

0.01

0.01

0.005

0.005

0.002

0.002

0.001

600M

1

2

5

10

20

50

100

200

500

0.001

1M

600M

1

2

5

10

W

20

50

200

CROSSOVER RANGE FREQUENCY RESPONSE

7.5 5 2.5

+6 +5.5

0

+5

-2.5

+4.5

-5 -7.5

+4 +3.5

-10

+3

-12.5 -15

+2

-17.5

dBr

+2.5

+1.5 +1

+0.5

-25

-30 -32.5

-1

-35

-1.5

-37.5

-2

-40

-2.5

-42.5

-3

-45

-3.5

-47.5

-4

-50

-4.5

-52.5

-5

-55

-5.5 -6 10

-20 -22.5

-27.5

-0 -0.5

-57.5 20

50

100

200

500

1k

Hz

2k

5k

10k

20k

50k

-60 10

20

50

100

200

500

1k

2k

5k

10k

20k

30k

Hz

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

Focal 16.05 - Mobile Electronics Edition.indd 2

100

W

WIDEBAND FREQUENCY RESPONSE

dBr

Back on the indomitable Cogent test bench, I set about finding the real limits of this Focal amp. One of the first limits occurs during power testing, when I blow both of the internally-mounted 20 amp fuses.

Of course, power testing an amplifier with sine waves requires much more current for longer periods than typical musical passages, so while the supplied 40 amperes of fusing is actually quite appropriate for normal listening use, I substitute significantly higher fuse values to see what it can do. Also, all of the listening I did the previous day was with the original factory fuses installed.

0.02

PASMAG

97

2014-06-27 12:44 PM

TEST REPORT

Hifonics Atlas

Amplifier Review 4 OHM POWER VS. THD+N 100 HZ - 14.4 V BATTERY 4 Ohm Power 10

5

2

1

0.5

%

In Greek mythology, one of the titans was Atlas, who, as one story goes, was condemned to bear the heavens upon his shoulders, causing the globe to revolve. Now that’s power. Only slightly less powerful is the Hifonics amplifier of the same name, and with power ratings of 1,200, 2,100 and 3,000 watts into four, two, and one ohm respectively, the top-of-the-line in the Mt. Olympus Series is the kind of amp that demands the same respect and admiration as its namesake.

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

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FEATURES

0.01

0.005

0.002

0.001

600m

1

2

5

10

20

50

100

200

500

1.183k

2k

5k

W

2 OHM POWER VS. THD+N 100 HZ - 14.4 V BATTERY 2 Ohm Power 10

5

2

1

0.5

MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

%

The Atlas amplifier is built on an impressively-sized extruded aluminum heatsink, measuring approximately 22x9x2.75 inches and weighing just under 20 pounds.

Thick, heavy duty injection molded caps trim out the ends of the amp and provide secure mounting points.

Controls and connections are found on opposing ends of the amplifier, complete with RCA inputs, outputs and connections for attaching two of these beasts together.

Available adjustments include gain, variable phase, an extensive set of EQ controls with separate controls for level, frequency and filter bandwidth (also known as “Q”), a variable 15 to 35 Hz subsonic filter, and a variable 35 to 250 Hz low-pass filter. Power and speaker connections are made via set-screw terminals that accept 1/0 AWG cables for power, and eight AWG speaker cables. For convenience, when connecting multiple woofers (and with this much power available, you’ll need multiples) there are internally paralleled speaker connections with a pair of positive and negative terminals.

Inside the amp you’ll find a robust design with dual power supply toroids and 16 1,200 µF capacitors in parallel to minimize equivalent series resistance.

The secondary stage energy is stored via eight 1,500 µF high voltage, high-temperature rated caps. Most of the small components are traditional through-hole parts, secured to the double sided PCB. A daughterboard dedicated to the Class D control circuits is populated with surface mount parts and securely soldered into the motherboard. A remote level control and cable are included, which interestingly eschews the commonly found RJ-45 connector for a non-locking DIN style plug, similar to an S-video connector.

0.2

0.1

0.05

0.02

Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to 2 V output (CEA-2006A) (1 W @ 4 Ω)

-73.5 dBA

Signal-to-noise ratio referenced to full output

-104.2 dBA

0.01

0.005

0.002

0.001

600m

1

2

5

10

20

50

100

200

500

1k

W

2.037k

THD+N at 1 Ω rated power

0.67%

Maximum efficiency at full 2 Ω power per channel

80.4%

5k

Idle current Input sensitivity Maximum current @ full power, lowest rated impedance

Manufacturer Rated Power TECHNICAL

DATA

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0% THD+N // @ 12.6 V Battery

Actual Measured Power @ 1.0% THD+N // @ 14.4 V Battery

PASMAG

High-pass crossover (subsonic filter)

1,200 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

892 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

1,183 W x 1 @ 4 Ω

2,100 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

1,542 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

2,037 W x 1 @ 2 Ω

Low-pass crossover

3,000 W x 1 @ 1 Ω

2,391 W x 1 @ 1 Ω

3,142 W x 1 @ 1 Ω

Bass EQ boost

The following power measurements were obtained using industry standard methods. (100 HZ @ 1.0% THD+N - Battery voltages shown +/- 0.2 V)

98

Frequency response (-3 dB)

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

Phase adjustment (degrees of shift @ 100 Hz)

2.2 A 218 mV- 10.0 V 304.6 A 16 Hz – 236 Hz 16 Hz – 35 Hz -24 dB/oct 32 Hz – 236 Hz -24 dB/oct +12 dB @ 34 Hz- 95 Hz 218°

In Canada

888-557-8278 I www.automob.ca

MB Quart_v2.indd 1

2014-04-04 3:33 PM

TEST REPORT

SUBSONIC RESPONSE - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

1 OHM POWER VS. THD+N 100 HZ 14.4 V BATTERY

Hifonics Atlas

Subsonic Filter Response 4

5

2 0 -2

2

-4 1

-6 -8

0.5

-10

dBr

%

Amplifier Review

1 ohm Power 10

0.2

0.1

-22 -24 -26 -28

0.01

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0.005

-34 -36

0.002

-38 0.001

600m

1

2

5

10

20

50

100

200

500

2.037k

1k

-40 5k

20

50

MAX FLAT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE 6

500

1k

Variable Frequency Bass Boost

14

4

13

2

12

0 -2

11

-4

10

-6

9

-8 -10

8

-12

7

dBr

-14 -16 -18 -20 -22

6 5 4 3

-24

2

-26

1

-28 -30

0

-32

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-34 -36

-2

-38

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-40

-4

-42

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20

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500

-6

1k

10

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Hz

100

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1k

500

1k

BASS EQ VARIABLE BANDWIDTH - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

Crossover Adjustment Range

Variable Q Bass Boost

6 4

4

2

2

0

0 -2

-2

-4

-4

-6

-6

-8

-8

-10

-10

-12

dBr

dBr

500

Hz

CROSSOVER RANGE - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

-12 -14 -16

-14 -16 -18 -20 -22

-20

-24

-22

-26

-24

-28

-26

-30

-28

-32 -34

-30

-36

-32

-38

-34

-40

-36

-42

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200

BASS EQ VARIABLE FREQUENCY - FREQUENCY RESPONSE

Max Flat

-46

100

Hz

-18

There really aren’t any big surprises here. For a big amp, overall efficiency is pretty good at better than 80%, signal-to-noise is fine, and the variable phase control provides a wide range of adjustment. The input signal level adjustment range is also very wide from nearly 0.2 volts to 10 volts. Four ohm and two ohm power measurements are a hair under the published numbers, but close enough to make no difference.

At one ohm, the amp actually exceeds the published number by over 100 watts, and draws just over 300 amps of current. If you’re considering an ultra high-power amp like this, make sure your electrical system is up to the task.

10

W

dBr

On the Bench

PASMAG

-16

-20

0.02

I hook the Atlas up in my reference system to drive a pair of four ohm, 15-inch subwoofers. After setting the levels and adjusting the low pass crossover to about 80Hz, I begin with some heavy rock from Primus, Metallica and Motorhead. The bass is strong, with an authority that just makes me turn it up even more. To see how it handles more intricate bass passages, there’s nothing better than the late great Jaco Pastorius on bass. The Atlas does a great job of producing his musical brilliance in high detail, and because I like to hear his stuff loud, I’m happy the big amp has more than enough power, even driving my modest two ohm load. I mean, a couple-thousand watts on a pair of 15’s should get pretty much anyone’s car rockin’!

The amp has great musicality and effortless power delivery. Because I check for these things, I can tell you the amp has zero turn-on or turn-off noise, and even though I beat on it pretty good for a couple of hours, it’s barely warm to the touch.

100

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LISTENING

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1k

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Conclusion The Hifonics Atlas amplifier is exactly what the designers intended: an affordable, quality product capable of very high power levels and built to withstand daily abuse in the typical automotive environment. It looks good, sounds good, and isn’t likely to break. What the heck else do you want?

For an expanded version of this test report go to pasmag.com/testreports/HifonicsAtlasAmp

TUNING ESSENTIALS // 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS EDITION

100

200

Hz

For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

hifonics.com HifonicsUSA @HifonicsUSA MaxxsonicsUSAInc