Car Audio | Gear Diary

Front view through Alpine DVR-C320R Dashcam

Alpine Halo 9 and DVR-C320R Dashcam Review: The Ultimate Wireless Infotainment and Dashcam Upgrade for Any Vehicle

If your car’s factory stereo feels outdated, clunky, or downright primitive, Alpine has a compelling upgrade that might just transform your entire driving experience. The Alpine Halo 9 digital media receiver, especially when paired with the DVR-C320R dual-camera dashcam, delivers a massive infotainment and safety overhaul. With wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a stunning 9″ high-definition touchscreen, and 1080p front and rear dashcam recording with night vision, this setup brings your car into the modern era with convenience, clarity, and peace of mind in a sleek, user-friendly package.

Reviews

Alpine iLX-507 Digital Multimedia Receiver Review: Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Make It a Fantastic Upgrade to Any Car Stereo System

What’s even more convenient than Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? WIRELESS Apple CarPlay or Android Auto! The new Alpine iLX-507 7″ Digital Multimedia Receiver allows you to turn on your car and automatically connect your iOS or Android device to two of the best auto smartphone platforms out there.

Reviews, Crowdfunding, Vehicles & Gear

AAWireless Review: Brings Solid and Reliable Wireless Connectivity Convenience to Your Vehicle’s Android Auto

One of the first upgrades my 2017 Jeep Wrangler got was a replacement for the stock radio. Since this is my vehicle and a personal build, I installed a Pioneer touchscreen stereo with Android Auto connectivity. Still, the wired connection was buggy at best and a real pain to operate. I found AAWireless on Indigogo, and I now have a real upgrade.

Reviews

The Alpine Power Duo Is the Best Affordable Upgrade You Can Make for Your Car Stereo

The biggest upgrade you can make to your car stereo these days is adding Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality. Alpine’s ILX-W650 is a best-in-class in-dash digital multimedia receiver that is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in a shallow chassis with a 7″ capacitive touchscreen. Paired with Alpine’s KTA-450 amplifier, the value and features can’t be beaten.

Events, News & Features, Travel, Vehicles & Gear

Alpine Debuts Impressive New Head Unit, Amplifier, and Dash Cams at CES 2020

Alpine Electronics has a bunch of exciting new tech to announce during CES 2020. One of our favorite mobile tech brands is announcing an 11-inch touchscreen head unit, new speakers, amplifiers, subwoofers, and sound processors, a 9-inch aftermarket head unit for Jeep Wranglers, as well as new dash cameras. Read on to hear more from Alpine’s latest announcement.

Reviews

Infinity Reference 1200S Subwoofer Is All About The Bass

While not an homage to Meghan Trainor, this review is all about that bass–specifically, the Infinity by HARMAN Reference 1200S Subwoofer. An award for unique style and design should go out to the Infinity car audio engineers that came up with this unique, space-saving, low-profile subwoofer that brings excellent bass reproduction, selectable impedance, and small enclosure requirement.

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

JBL GX600C Component Speakers Bring the Concert to the Car

JBL has been a leading name in audio for years, and the name that became famous at rock arenas and concert halls also brings spectacular sound reproduction to your automobile. JBL offers a host of car audio products and recently sent along the GX600C component system for us to test and what a treat for our ears it was.

How to Do It Yourself!, Music Diary, Vehicles & Gear

D.I.Y. or PAY: How Will You Upgrade Your Car Audio?

As I mentioned previously in this series on Car Audio, I test a lot of premium factory car stereo systems, and while I am impressed with the quality they achieve I have found they still cannot stand up to the sound quality of aftermarket components installed properly. If you are ready to upgrade that factory stereo system, read on.

Music Diary, Vehicles & Gear

Listen Up!: Car Audio, Part II

In the first part of this series on Car Audio I discussed basic terminology and history of radios in the automobile. This part takes a look at the types of music sources, and the music itself, that we play in our vehicles. Regardless of what type of car stereo equipment you employ in your vehicle, it all begins with music.

Music Diary, Vehicles & Gear

The Basics: Car Audio, Part I

Music in the mobile environment is more than just an accessory or option to drivers, and for many it is a necessity. Every new vehicle I test usually arrives with a premium audio system, and I love putting the stereo systems through their paces almost as much as the vehicles themselves. But car audio can be more, much more.