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Product Spotlight: Momento M7 Dash Camera

Momento M7

Protecting yourself against fraud and false accusations while driving is easier when you have a dashcam system installed in your car or truck. Momento, the collision avoidance and safety technology brand from Firstech, has just introduced a new and revolutionary video recording solution – the M7, also known as the MD-7200. This new dash camera system increases the camera’s recording resolution, adds support for up to two additional cameras, and includes a unique radar-based motion sensor for parking mode.

Momento M7
The heart of the new Momento M7 is a QHD dashcam that includes a color LCD touchscreen for easy control and configuration.

Dashcam Video Features

The M7 is a super-compact dashcam system with a body measuring just over 2 inches wide, 1.5 inches tall and a mere 1.14 inches deep. The camera includes a windshield mounting bracket with the power, rear camera and interior camera connections built in for a tidy installation. The GPS receiver is also built into the base to have a clear view of the sky to provide as much accuracy as possible.

Momento M7
The mounting bracket includes rear and interior camera connections as well as the power connection and GPS antenna.

A compact color LCD touchscreen is on the rear of the body. Your installer can configure the camera settings quickly and easily through the menu, and you can view videos right in the vehicle without needing a computer or smartphone.

Momento M7
The color touchscreen will display the forward or rear camera image and includes an intuitive menu system.

The integrated forward-facing camera features a QHD (Quad HD) 2560-by-1440-pixel image sensor. That’s an increase in detail of 1.78 times what’s offered by 1080p sensors. As we’ve mentioned numerous times, image sensor resolution is crucial for capturing vital information like license plates and other identifying marks. Low-light and high-contrast video performance are a key part of what separates good cameras from great ones. The 5-megapixel image sensor in the M7 benefits from class-leading light sensitivity, exceptional noise reduction in dark conditions and seamless dual-exposure HDR to ensure that every detail is captured with the utmost clarity. It’s designed around a native 16:9 aspect ratio.

A key feature of the M7 is that the system comes out of the box with a high-performance rear camera. Many competing solutions have secondary cameras as an optional upgrade. Momento felt it was just as important to capture what was happening behind the vehicle as in front. The rear camera has a 1080p sensor, and the mounting bracket can be adjusted for perfect coverage out the back window of a sedan, hatchback, SUV or pickup truck.

Momento M7
The M7 system includes a 1080p rear camera.

The optional IC6 (known formally as the MD-IC6) vehicle interior camera is also 1080p and includes infrared emitters so everyone and everything inside the vehicle will be visible in the recording, even when it’s dark.

Finally, the M7 system includes a 64 GB microSD memory card, so there’s nothing extra required before your installer gets to work. Of course, a power harness is also included, so your installer can wire the camera system into the power and ignition sources for seamless operation.

Eco Mode Parking

Most modern dashcams have a function called Parking Mode. When the camera system is stationary for a short time (usually a few minutes), it stops storing video on the memory card. Most cameras continue to monitor what’s happening around the vehicle, and then they store a video file when the image sensor detects that someone or something has moved. Parking mode operating requires roughly 240 to 250 milliamps of current draw from the vehicle battery. This amount of current can drain the battery significantly after just a day or two.

The new Momento M7’s Eco Mode doesn’t use the image sensor to monitor motion. Instead, the M7 has a built-in radar sensor, as you’d find in a commercial building security system. When the radar sensor detects motion, the M7 starts to store video again. The benefit of this design is that the radar sensor motion detector draws less than 30 milliamps of current. Unless someone is circling your car constantly, that’s a massive reduction in current consumption that translates into less draw from the vehicle battery.

Momento M7
An integrated radar sensor monitors the area in front of your vehicle for motion while in parking mode.

Just as with Momento’s previous flagship dashcam, the M6 or MD-6200, during regular driving, the integrated accelerometer can trigger an alert recording that captures 15 seconds before the trigger and 15 seconds after. In addition, you can start a manual event recording by tapping on the REC button in the lower right corner of the touchscreen should you witness something abnormal during your driving adventures.

Easy-to-Use Desktop Software

You can download the M7 PC or Apple viewing software directly from the Momento website to easily navigate videos stored on the card with your desktop computer. The software will also allow you to view the front, rear or interior video feeds along with vehicle speed and location information. The location information is overlaid onto Google Maps data to see exactly where the vehicle was headed. Finally, data from the three-axis accelerometer is also shown on the screen, so braking, sudden steering inputs or an impact are also visible.

Upgrade Your Protection with the Momento M7 Dashcam

If you’re looking for a premium dash camera system with a high-resolution image sensor, support for multiple cameras and the latest in power-saving parking mode monitoring, visit a local authorized Momento retailer and ask about the new M7 dual-camera dashcam with radar. You can find a retailer near to you using the online dealer locator on their website. Also, be sure to follow Momento on Facebook, Instagram and to keep up with their latest news and product releases.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

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

Saying ‘Gains Set Halfway’ Is Concerning to Car Audio Professionals

Gains halfway

If you’ve browsed amateur car audio groups on Facebook, you’ve likely seen someone post that they have “set the gains halfway” on their amplifier. Their misguided theory is that this setting will limit the maximum amount of power the amplifier will produce. Saying this in the presence of a professional installer is the best way to announce that you don’t really know how the sensitivity control on your amplifier should be set to optimize its output capabilities and minimize the noise in your car audio system. Confused? No worries, we’re here to help explain it all.

What Does the Gain Control Do on a Car Audio Amplifier?

Imagine a world where every car radio provided the exact same preamp output voltage at full volume. If you play a song that reaches the maximum allowable recording level for the medium you’re using (CD, cassette, digital audio file or whatever), and you have the volume control on the radio turned up all the way, then you might get a signal that peaks at 2 volts. In this scenario, every amplifier on the market could be configured to produce its maximum rated power when it sees 2 volts of input signal.

Gains halfway
The T500-1bdcp from Rockford Fosgate is a 500-watt subwoofer amplifier that will produce full power from sources rated from 150 mV to 4 volts.

In reality, the sources we use to play our music vary dramatically in their output capabilities. An iPod might produce 330 millivolts. An inexpensive radio is likely capable of producing around 2 volts, and a higher-end multimedia receiver or a good DSP might reach or exceed 5 volts. Ignoring the need to balance the relative output level between a subwoofer and midrange speakers (for now), we need an amplifier that can produce full power with signals that vary from few hundred millivolts up to more than 5 volts. The sensitivity control on car audio amplifiers is the adjustment that lets a properly trained technician configure the amp to make its maximum rated power from a variety of sources.

Gains halfway
The X2 650.1 from ARC Audio is rated to produce up to 650 watts into a 1-ohm load with input voltages from 200 mV to 3.5 volts.

Why Setting Gains Is Crucial

Let’s start with a simple example. You’ve had a subwoofer system installed in your vehicle and you’ve chosen a 500-watt amplifier to drive a pair of subwoofers that are rated to handle 250 watts of power. In the simplest scenario, the technician installing the system should set the sensitivity control on your amplifier so that the amp clips a tiny bit when you max out the volume on a radio that can produce 2 volts of output. If the amplifier is rated to work with sources ranging from 150 mV to 4 volts, then a setting around 2 volts or around 20% from its minimum sensitivity will be pretty close. The technician will check to make sure that the type of music you enjoy will play loudly, then send you on your way to enjoy your upgrade.

Gains halfway
The AP 1FD from Audison is a monoblock subwoofer amplifier that is rated to produce as much as 1,000 watts when connected to a 1-ohm load.

Suppose you decide at a later date to update your audio system with a premium multimedia receiver that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In that case, you might find that it can provide 4 or 5 volts of output on the preamp connections. With this unit in place, the sensitivity controls on your amp are too high, and it would be easy to drive it into clipping. The amp needs to be turned down to just about its lowest sensitivity to make full power at full volume.

Gains halfway
The D ONE from Helix is a 600-watt subwoofer amp with a sensitivity range of 500 mV to 6 volts.

The Drawback of Too Much Gain

If you are attentive to listening for significant distortion being added by pushing your amp to the point that it clips, then theoretically, you could leave the sensitivity control at 20%. By lowering it, the amp will add less unwanted noise to the system, and you don’t have to worry about how high you turn the volume. That said, it’s hard not to want to turn the volume up when your favorite song comes on. Noise isn’t much of a consideration with a subwoofer amp, but low- to moderate-quality amplifiers can add a lot of hiss with the gains cranked up when driving coaxial or component speakers.

Amp Gains and Maximum Power Delivery

The correlation between the setting on your amp and how much power is produced is based purely on how much signal is sent to your amp. If you have an extremely low-voltage source like an iPod, then the amp may need to be set at 75% to 85% of its maximum. In this case, turning the amp back to 50% WILL reduce how much power it produces. If the amp is optimized at 25%, then turning it to its minimum will also reduce power.

To state that an amplifier is set “halfway” ignores the variables of source unit output voltages, volume settings, source material loudness, system equalization and the impedance of the load connected to the amp. If you only need 10% of an amp’s gain capabilities, setting it to 50% doesn’t make sense, and it certainly doesn’t limit the amplifier to half its power production capabilities.

Gains halfway
The Mille Power ML Power 1 is a subwoofer amp rated to produce 1,000 watts of power into 1- or 2-ohm loads.

It’s Much More Complicated

The sensitivity control is also used to balance the relationship between speaker output levels in actively filtered car audio systems. If you have a 500-watt amplifier for your subwoofer and a 50-watts-per-channel amplifier for your door speakers, setting both so that they clip simultaneously might not deliver an overall system balance that’s ideal. Of course, the design of the audio system matters. If you’re running one 8-inch sub in an acoustic suspension (sealed) enclosure or a pair of 12’s in a bass-reflex (vented) enclosure also plays a huge role in how things will be configured. You also need to take into account that the amp for the door speakers is likely only going to play down to about 80 Hz. Crossover settings complicate the calibration process even further and render tools like an oscilloscope useless without the proper test tracks.

Let’s wrap this up with another example. Say you’re using a high-quality digital signal processor that can provide as much as 8 volts of output to your amplifier. It’s quite likely that you can provide more than enough voltage to drive that amp to or beyond the point that it will add distortion from clipping to the output, even with the amp gain set to its minimum setting. Consider the flawed logic of saying, “I’ll only get half the power if the set the gain halfway.” The reality is, the amp will likely reach its maximum output capability at half to three-quarters of the maximum volume on the radio. If you turn the volume up further, you are just adding distortion to the output signal and risk overpowering the speakers or subwoofers.

Gains halfway
If you’re shopping for a great subwoofer amp on a budget, check out the 1,200-watt Rockford Fosgate R2-1200X1 from the Prime Series.

Our second and equally illogical example would be a scenario where you have an amplifier that’s capable of overpowering your speakers. Imagine a subwoofer rated for 200 watts connected to an amplifier that could produce 1,000 watts. Is “setting the gain at half” going to protect this sub from damage? If you have an audio source with extremely limited output voltage, maybe. Suppose you have a source capable of producing more than a couple volts, then nope. You’ll likely destroy it.

If you’re starting to get the impression that setting the gain correctly in a car audio system with multiple amplifiers isn’t as simple as you first thought, then this article has served its purpose. It’s a complicated process that requires the technician working on your vehicle to consider many factors. More importantly, if you’ve damaged a set of speakers by overheating the voice coils, you’ve overpowered them. Too much power produces too much heat. That’s it. Period. There’s no other reason this happens. It doesn’t matter how your amp was set. You melted them.

If you’re having problems with your car audio system, look for a qualified specialty mobile enhancement retailer in your area to help configure your system properly or help you choose a combination of components that will work together to deliver the performance you want.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

Why Would Your Car Audio Amplifier or DSP Need a Bandpass Crossover?

Why Would Your Car Audio Amplifier or DSP Need a Bandpass Crossover?

When designing and integrating high-performance speakers into your car or truck, your local specialty car audio retailer might suggest choosing an amplifier or signal processor that includes a bandpass crossover. If you aren’t used to designing speaker systems, a task that most consumers don’t concern themselves with, then the term bandpass might be confusing. Please don’t fret; we’ll explain what it means and why it’s necessary to extract the best performance possible from your speaker upgrades.

What Are Crossovers?

The theory of a perfect speaker that produces the entire audio range, from a single driver, at an adequate output level with no directivity, is so far from reality that the concept alone makes a speaker engineer’s eye twitch. As such, we need to use speakers of different sizes to cover the audio spectrum. In the simplest of systems, we need a woofer to produce bass and midrange frequencies and a tweeter to produce high frequencies. Since most tweeters are rarely capable of reproducing information below 2 kHz with significant output, we need to block that information. We use what’s known as a high-pass crossover to pass only high-frequency information. Looked at another way, a high-pass filter blocks low-frequency information from going to your speaker.

Bandpass Crossover
This graph shows the response curve of a high-pass filter set to a frequency of 3 kHz.

Once we have routed high-frequency information to our tweeter, we don’t need the woofer to reproduce those sounds. So, the technician configuring our audio system will apply a low-pass filter to the woofer at the same frequency. This filter passes low-frequency audio information below our crossover point to the woofer.

Bandpass Crossover
This graph shows the response curve of a low-pass filter set to a frequency of 3 kHz.

What Is an Electronic Bandpass Filter?

If we decide that we want to further upgrade the audio system with a subwoofer, we’ll need more filtering. Subwoofers are great at reproducing audio frequencies below about 80 Hz. Most don’t do a good job with midbass and midrange information. As such, we want to block frequencies above about 80 Hz from going to the sub. We’ll use an 80 Hz low-pass filter to accomplish this task.

Bandpass Crossover
This graph shows the response of a low-pass filter set to a frequency of 80 Hz.

Now that we have a speaker dedicated to reproducing bass, we don’t need our woofer to play those frequencies. We can apply a high-pass filter to the woofer to block audio information below 80 Hz.

Bandpass Crossover
The predicted response of our woofer with an 80 Hz high-pass and 3 kHz low-pass filter applied.

The graph you see above is called a bandpass filter. It passes audio within a specific band of frequencies. In this example, our bandpass filter passes audio information between 80 Hz and 3 kHz.

Some car audio systems add a fourth set of speakers in the form of a small midrange driver. In most cases, these speakers are mounted higher in the doors or the dash and focus on information from about 300 Hz up to where the crossover takes over. In a four-way audio system design, we can now move the low-pass crossover on our woofer to 300 Hz and run the mid from 300 Hz to 3 kHz.

Bandpass Crossover
A typical four-way car audio system design with crossover points at 80 and 300 Hz and 3 kHz.

Proper Crossover Configuration Is Crucial

There is a lot more to setting crossovers than just picking some arbitrary frequencies that look good on a graph. The values depend on the speaker’s low-frequency capability and its directivity characteristics. The installer calibrating your audio system also needs to consider the physical power-handling limitations of speakers and how loudly the system will be played. Quite simply, it’s not an easy task, and the process is exacerbated by component systems that don’t include drivers with adequate bandwidth to work well together.

Bandpass Crossover
The ARC Audio DSP-Pro series of digital signal processors has fully adjustable high- and low-pass filters on each channel to let the technician configuring your audio system optimize each speaker.
Bandpass Crossover
The Audison bit ONE HD Virtuoso includes crossovers with adjustable crossover frequencies, attenuation slopes and response curves to let your technician fine-tune your car audio system.
Bandpass Crossover
The DSR1 from Rockford Fosgate is a full-featured digital signal processor that can be used as a stand-alone solution or configured to function with iDatalink Maestro connectivity to integrate digitally with your car radio.
Bandpass Crossover
The DSP Mini from Helix includes four inputs and six outputs to create an amazing three-way audio system in your car, truck or SUV.

If you want the music reproduced by your car audio system to sound amazing, drop by your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer and ask them what’s available for your vehicle. Be sure to audition one of their demo vehicles to ensure that they can deliver the performance you want. It’s not unlikely that they’ll suggest an amplifier or signal processor that includes bandpass filtering to make everything sound great.
This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

Why Mid-Woofers Won’t Work Well in Small Speaker Enclosures

Speaker Enclosures

Dash pods, kick-panel enclosures and sealed enclosures in doors might look cool, but they aren’t always an ideal solution for a speaker that will attempt to produce bass. In this context, when we talk about bass, we are discussing audio frequencies below about 300 Hz. In this range, most drivers with a cone diameter of 4 inches or more can play down to around 125 Hz or lower. If the enclosure used with the speaker is too small, you’ll end up with unwanted distortion and limited low-frequency extension.

Modeling Speaker Behavior

Anytime a speaker will be used at frequencies below 300 Hz, we need to ensure that there’s enough air volume behind the driver so as not to affect the overall system compliance. In a sealed enclosure, air acts as a spring. This spring adds to the compliance of the speaker to form a high-pass filter. Yes, we have the benefit of increased physical power handling, but we trade bass output.

For this example, we’ll use a 6.5-inch midrange driver that’s been designed for infinite-baffle installations in the doors of a car or truck or on the rear parcel shelf of a sedan. The graph below shows the driver’s predicted frequency response in an enclosure with an air volume of about 3 cubic feet. This enclosure is large enough to simulate an infinite-baffle installation.

Speaker Enclosures
The predicted frequency response of our typical 6.5-inch midrange speaker when installed in a door or rear parcel shelf.

In this application, the driver’s -3 dB point is acceptable at 89.15 Hz, and the system has a Q of 0.672. Both calculations indicate that this mounting location will work superbly when combined with a subwoofer.

Small Speaker Enclosures

What if someone who doesn’t have experience using speaker modeling software decides they want to install this speaker in a pod in the kick panel of a car or, worse, on the vehicle’s dash? Let’s be generous and assume this pod has an internal air volume of about 2 liters or 0.07 cubic feet. What happens to the frequency response of our mid-woofer?

Speaker Enclosures
The yellow trace shows us that our woofer system now has a peak at 236 Hz and that the low-frequency output is dramatically reduced.

Our enclosure modeling software shows a peak of 4.5 dB at 236 Hz. The system Q has jumped to an unruly 1.605. Equally troublesome is the fact that bass output has been reduced dramatically. This small pod has choked the woofer, and it’s now producing 10.3 dB less output at 90 Hz.

Can We Fix This With an Equalizer?

To the uninitiated, it would seem that applying some equalization might fix the problem. If we keep the volume levels low, we could theoretically add some low-frequency equalization to compensate for output at 90 Hz. With that said, we’ll need to send almost 11 times as much power at 90 Hz for the same amount of output in a properly-sized enclosure.

Unfortunately, while we can tame the peak at 235 Hz, we can’t eliminate the resonance that caused it and the associated distortion. When the cone assembly’s mass, the compliance of the suspension and the compliance of the air in the enclosure interact, there’s a frequency where a small amount of input produces a disproportionally large amount of output. We call this the resonance frequency.

The Qtc value describes the size of the resonance. When looking at Thiele/Small parameters and calculating a driver’s behavior and an enclosure, the Qtc, or Total System Q tells us how prominent a peak in response is. It’s a unitless number in SPL, but software like BassBox Pro or Term-PRO can offer an accurate prediction.

Speaker Enclosures
This graph shows our speaker’s response in enclosures with Qtc values from 0.7 (red) to 1.6 (grey).

In most cases, we want to keep the Qtc value under 0.8 or maybe 0.9 to limit distortion. These suggested limits apply to woofers in speaker pods as well as subwoofers in their enclosures. If you want your music to sound tight and controlled with no resonance or ringing, then choosing a large enough enclosure is crucial.

Pick the Right Speakers for Your Application

Suppose the audio system design for your vehicle calls for relatively large mid-woofers (4 to 6.5 inches) to be mounted in an enclosure. In that case, it’s paramount that you work with the shop to make sure the enclosure will be large enough or to pick a low-Q driver. As a second example, we model the behavior of a 6.5-inch woofer with a Qts of 0.48 in the same two enclosures.

Speaker Enclosures
While bass output is still reduced, the Qtc of the system remains well below 0.7, and as a result, the combination of the speaker and the enclosure produces a smooth response with very little resonance and distortion.

Why Midrange Distortion Is Objectionable

If you were to talk into a real-time audio analyzer, you’d find that most male voices have the majority of their energy focused between 100 and 1000 Hz. If there’s any emphasis or distortion through this range, voices will sound unnatural and unbalanced.

Ultimately, designing a car audio system upgrade requires that the Product Specialist and installer you are working with balance speaker size with the available mounting locations in your vehicle. If a pod needs to be built, you may find that a smaller speaker will deliver a smoother frequency response with less distortion. It’s counterintuitive, but that’s just the way it works.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

Amazing Audio and Accessory Upgrades for Your Chevrolet Corvette

Corvette Upgrades

Since 1953, the Chevrolet Corvette has been an icon in the North American automotive industry. These two-seaters represent value and performance with styling that always lets them stand out from the crowd. Try as General Motors might, there’s still room for improvement, even on a flagship vehicle like this. Let’s look at some of the upgrades available to improve the performance of the audio system in a Corvette and accessorize the vehicle to make it more functional and look better.

Corvette Audio System Upgrades

Whether your Vette came with an analog radio mounted on its side (a la C2) or a touchscreen multimedia receiver in a C7 or C8, the audio system performance in these cars has never been something to write home about. Thankfully, the aftermarket is here to support your quest for superb sound with hundreds of upgrade options.

Companies such as Custom Autosound Manufacturing and RetroSound offer twin-shaft radio designs that will work with your C1 through C3 Vette. These radios include a modern digital AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth and SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility when combined with an SXV300 tuner module. A USB port will let you connect your iPhone or use a USB memory stick to digital audio files. Best of all, these radios include preamp outputs that allow your installer to add high-power amplifiers to bring your music to life.

Corvette Upgrades
RetroSound offers its Long Beach radio in a design specific to the unique mounting requirements in the C2 Corvette.
Corvette Upgrades
Custom Autosound has Corvette-specific solutions such as this CAM-CVVE-740. You can play MP3, WAV and FLAC digital media files from a USB memory stick or stream music from your smartphone over Bluetooth.

For C4 through C6 Corvettes, the options for radio upgrades increased dramatically. Chevrolet used a more conventional design that paved the way for hundreds of radio upgrade options for music enthusiasts. The latest generation of floating-face radios are prime candidates for adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to your sports car.

Corvette Upgrades
The Sony XAV-AX8000 is a single-DIN multimedia receiver with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An 8.95-inch display sits in front of the radio chassis and can be adjusted to match the dash contour.

If you have a C7 Vette with a Bose audio system, you can upgrade the vehicle with high-quality amplifiers and speakers using a MOST radio interface such as the M650-GM from NAV-TV. This interface will extract a full-range audio signal from the digital connection between the radio and the factory amplifier. This signal can be fed to a digital signal processor and your choice of an amplifier to create an amazing audio system.

Corvette Upgrades
Power and control are the hallmarks of the ARC Audio PS8-50 eight-channel DSP amplifier. Equipped with 50 watts of power per channel and a full suite of tuning functionality, it gives your installer everything he or she needs to create an impressive audio system.
Corvette Upgrades
The M650-GM from ZEN Audio and NAV-TV will let your installer add your choice of digital signal processor, amplifiers and new speakers to make your C7 Vette sound great.
Corvette Upgrades
The Rockford Power-Series T3652-S component set features woofers with liquid crystal polymer fiber cones and a motor design with an integrated aluminum shorting ring to reduce distortion. This audiophile-grade speaker set also includes a pair of 1-inch silk-dome tweeters.
Corvette Upgrades
The Audio AP F8.9 bit is an eight-channel amplifier with an integrated digital signal processor. The amp features a host of integration options that make it easy to add to almost any factory-installed audio system.
Corvette Upgrades
The M Four DSP from Helix is a four-channel amplifier with an integrated 10-channel DSP. The amp can easily power the speakers in your car, and the processed outputs can drive a subwoofer for great sound.

Add a Subwoofer for Great Sound

If you’ve been a reader of BestCarAudio.com for any length of time, then you’ll know that adding a subwoofer to your car is easily one of the best bang-for-your-buck upgrades you can make. Corvettes can most certainly benefit from better bass response.

Corvette Upgrades
If you have a C7 and want to add a subwoofer, the PAC APSUB-GM61 interface is for you! The interface works with the radio and amp data connection to extract a signal for a dedicated subwoofer amplifier.

Of course, you’re going to want a subwoofer solution that works with your vehicle. JL Audio offers several Stealthbox vehicle-specific solutions that are exclusively designed for the Corvette. These fiberglass enclosures are molded to fit the contours of your car perfectly. The result is excellent bass in a solution that installs in about an hour.

Corvette Upgrades
The JL Audio SB-GM-C7CP1/10TW3 Stealthbox is designed for 2014 through 2019 C7 models. The enclosure features a single 10-inch subwoofer and is finished in a durable gray carpet that perfectly matches the interior.
Corvette Upgrades
The AFG-112CORV-D is a fiberglass subwoofer enclosure designed for 2005 through 2013 Corvettes. With an internal air volume of 1 cubic foot and a subwoofer mounting depth of 6 inches, it works great with a variety of 10-inch subwoofers.

Park Safely with a Backup Camera

If you’re having a multimedia receiver installed in your Corvette, ask about adding a backup camera. With their low seating position and relatively high rear bumper, Corvettes can make it difficult to see what’s behind your car. If you aren’t changing the radio, you can always have the rearview mirror upgraded with a unit that includes a color display for a camera.

Corvette Upgrades
A backup camera is a great way to see what’s behind your car when parking or maneuvering.

Sound Deadening Makes Driving Comfortable

If you are using your Vette as a daily driver, then you might want to consider having the doors, floor and hatch area treated with a layer of sound deadening. This butyl material absorbs sound energy and makes driving quieter and more comfortable. If you use Bluetooth hands-free systems or a smartphone integration technology like CarPlay or Android Auto, having a quieter car will make your voice easier to be heard.

Corvette Upgrades
Audiomaster in Austin, Texas, treated the doors of this Corvette with a layer of SoundShield sound deadening to make the car more comfortable.

Radar Detectors and Laser Defense

Who would buy a Corvette only to drive it slowly? If you find you have a bit of a lead foot, you might want to inquire about having a radar detector and laser defense system installed. Radar detectors are available in portable units that are great for quick installation and transportation from one vehicle to another.

Corvette Upgrades
The Redline 360C is one of the newest portable radar detectors from Escort. This unit offers amazing radar sensitivity and uses advanced filtering and GPS to help eliminate false alarms.

For the ultimate protection solution, consider a custom-installed radar detector and laser defense solution. The biggest benefit of a custom system is the availability of laser defense technology. As more and more police forces equip their officers with lidar instead of radar, you need laser shifters to help prevent tickets.

Corvette Upgrades
Ralph’s Radio in Vancouver equipped this Vette with a custom-installed Escort MAX Ci radar detector and laser defense system. The display for the MAX Ci was integrated into a custom housing on the steering wheel trim piece.
Corvette Upgrades
Adrenaline Autosound in Clayton, North Carolina, installed an AL Priority laser defense system in this Vette. The team built custom acrylic plastic mounts for the rear laser shifters.

Window Tint and Paint Protection Film

Having the windows of your car tinted offers three benefits. First, tint protects your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays. If you spend a lot of time in your car, tint can help to prevent wrinkles, blemishes and, in extreme cases, skin cancer. The same properties that protect your skin also protect the fabrics, leathers, vinyl and plastics in your vehicle. Colors won’t fade anywhere near as quickly, and plastics won’t dry out and crack.

Second, window tint is a great way to help keep the interior of your vehicle cool. Tint films such as 3M Ceramic IR and Crystalline block 97% of the sun’s infrared energy. If you live in an area that’s hot during the summer, heat-blocking window film is a great investment.

If you care about how your Corvette looks, then window tint can dramatically improve the style of your sports car. A nice dark tint can be very dramatic.

Corvette Upgrades
Shops such as Precision Audio in Thomasville and Bainbridge, Georgia, offer heat-rejecting window film that can help keep the interior of your car cool and comfortable. This Corvette was tinted with Llumar ATR film.

Speaking of great looks, you may want to consider having your car protected with a layer of paint protection film. Also known as clear bra, this transparent urethane film applies directly over the paint to offer a layer of protection from stone and gravel chips, bug splatter and stains from road tar. While most installations focus on protecting the front bumper, fenders and hood, other areas that deserve attention are the rocker panels, doors, mirror covers, and the area around the hatch. If you take your Corvette to the track, protecting the rear fenders from gravel and rubber chunks thrown up by the rear tires is a great idea.

Corvette Upgrades
Ocala Car Audio in Florida applied 3M Scotchgard Pro to this 2020 Corvette to help keep it looking pristine for years and years.

Remote Starters Add Comfort

Another great option for those living in areas of the country that get painfully hot is a remote car starter. Though more commonly associated with freezing winter conditions, remote starting your car a few minutes before it’s time to go will let the air conditioning system start cooling the interior.

Corvette Upgrades
The PRO T13 remote starter system from Compustar includes a color LCD remote that offers up to 3 miles of range and two-way communication. The included Drone telematics system lets you control your vehicle using your smartphone from anywhere you have a cellular connection.

We know that your Corvette is your pride and joy. It’s important to protect it and keep it safe. If you’ve opted for a remote starter system, then ask about adding security features such as a high-output siren, a remote with two-way communication or a GPS tracking option that works with your smartphone. If your car is moved without your authorization, the tracking system will send an alert to your smartphone, and you can check its location and notify the police if necessary.

Corvette Upgrades
The Drone telematics system works with a cellular receiver in your vehicle and the DroneMobile app on your smartphone to alert you when the alarm is triggered, or the car moves.

Dashcams Add Protection

Whether you’re worried about how the drivers around you behave, or you want to keep track of who or what is prowling around your car when it’s parked, having a dashcam installed is a great upgrade. These compact digital video recording systems install on the front windshield of your car. If there’s an accident, fraud or just something amazing happening in front of your vehicle, you’ll capture it all on video. Many dashcams can be upgraded with rear-facing cameras, and many include GPS options and built-in accelerometers.

Corvette Upgrades
Dashcams such as the Mio MiVue 798 include high-resolution image sensors, a built-in GPS receiver to capture vehicle speed and location information, and an accelerometer that detects impacts.

LED Lighting Adds Fun and Safety

If you have an older car with incandescent headlights, drop by your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer and ask about high-performance LED replacements. Not only do LED bulbs put out significantly more light, but they are also more efficient. With less draw on your electrical system, the alternator will be happier. Ask the retailer you’re working with to spice up your Vette with some LED lighting. Headlight rings, such as those popularized by BMW, are a popular upgrade. Of course, multicolor LED lighting strips are a great choice for personalizing your engine compartment or footwells or for adding under-car lighting.

Corvette Upgrades
Mobile Edge in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, equipped this 1976 Corvette with LED lighting in the engine bay to highlight the swapped 6.2-liter LS3 V8.
Corvette Upgrades
Companies such as Diode Dynamics offer various LED rings that can switch between white and amber to add some style to your headlight assemblies.

Upgrade Your Corvette Today

Whether you’re driving a Corvette that’s fresh off the showroom floor, the car you had in college or a custom restoration, your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer has thousands of options to update your vehicle. Drop by today and talk to them about new communication technology, a better sounding stereo system or a lighting upgrade.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

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Testimonials

A love of sound only few can know…

Bryan has been a friend of mine for most of my life. He and I have ventured several stereo systems our entire lives. We both share a love of sound only few can know. We have worked together, installed together, learned lessons, experienced life as a whole. In my life travels, I have still never met a better man, installer, and person. I am proud to know Bryan as a friend and business owner.

Adam Francis

806 Autoworks
5
2016-09-27T02:12:51-05:00

Adam Francis

Bryan has been a friend of mine for most of my life. He and I have ventured several stereo systems our entire lives. We both share a love of sound only few can know. We have worked together, installed together, learned lessons, experienced life as a whole. In my life travels, I have still never met a better man, installer, and person. I am proud to know Bryan as a friend and business owner.
https://www.806autoworks.com/testimonials/go-1sixty8-audio-dont-go-anywhere/

Thank you for all the hard work yall are doing

I've been accessories manager at a Toyota Dealership going on 3 yrs now, and the majority of my remote starts have been done by Bryan over the years. Whenever I have questions Bryan always makes himself available to help, whenever there is an issue, he would never give me the run-around he would simply tell me to bring it by and he would fix it whether minor or major. He is extremely thorough with his installations which is the most important factor when installing aftermarket electronics in Toyota vehicles as Toyotas are very sensitive in their electrical configurations. He has won several awards for his work and his actions back up everyone.

Christopher Clark

806 Autoworks
5
2016-09-27T02:18:41-05:00

Christopher Clark

I've been accessories manager at a Toyota Dealership going on 3 yrs now, and the majority of my remote starts have been done by Bryan over the years. Whenever I have questions Bryan always makes himself available to help, whenever there is an issue, he would never give me the run-around he would simply tell me to bring it by and he would fix it whether minor or major. He is extremely thorough with his installations which is the most important factor when installing aftermarket electronics in Toyota vehicles as Toyotas are very sensitive in their electrical configurations. He has won several awards for his work and his actions back up everyone.
https://www.806autoworks.com/testimonials/thank-you-for-all-the-hard-work-yall-are-doing/

Very Professional

Bryan has worked on a few vehicles for me, and his work has always been very professional. Everything he has done for me looks like it came straight from the factory that way, and the service he has provided has been fantastic. I would recommend anyone needing any type of audio work to give him a call you won't be disappointed!

Mathew Miera

806 Autoworks
5
2016-09-27T00:49:55-05:00

Mathew Miera

Bryan has worked on a few vehicles for me, and his work has always been very professional. Everything he has done for me looks like it came straight from the factory that way, and the service he has provided has been fantastic. I would recommend anyone needing any type of audio work to give him a call you won't be disappointed!
https://www.806autoworks.com/testimonials/best-experience-ever/
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