Thursday, January 26, 2012

Keeping Your Sanity With a Mobile DVD Player

If you get the shakes just thinking of the last road-trip you took with your toddlers or teenagers, you are not alone. It can be tough travelling with kids of any age, for both themselves and their parents! But while you may not be able to turn a car ride into a trip to remember, there are certain damage-control techniques that can ensure you will at least survive the experience, if not enjoy it out right.

Firstly, consider setting some ground rules for the whole family. Decide on certain subjects or even phrases that always seem to get someone's back up, and make it a ground rule that no one is allowed to voice them. Also agree to take turns with setting the temperature in the car, weather windows or the fan is allowed, etc. It's important that everyone be as comfortable as possible during long trips on the road, so play it fair and make sure everyone's voice is heard.

Secondly, invest in a mobile DVD player for your car if you can possible afford it. This might seem like a frivolous expense, but I promise you that if you buy one, you will fall in love with it. Mobile DVD players designed for cars come in a variety of models and screen-sizes, with price-tags to match.

Ideally, your best choice is to go with a headrest DVD player. These players come installed in headrests that you simply swap for your existing headrest, so the screen and player are literally in the back of the front-seat headrests, so they take up no extra space, can't get bumped around or become air-born, and are more easily hidden from potential thieves. Headrest DVD players tend to be a little more expensive than other types of mobile DVD system, but you can pick a single player up for anywhere from $90-$250, and a set of two for anywhere between $200-$500.

Other choices for in-car entertainment include flip-down TV's and DVD players, and portable and in-dash DVD players, but these are far less safe and are much more visible to thieves.

Particularly if you can manage a DVD player per child (if you have two kids, you can buy a set of 2 headrest DVD players for a moderate sum), your road trip will become dramatically easier. Not only will your kids be passively entertained and quiet, but if they each have a player of their own, they won't even have to squabble over what movie to pick! Alternatively, if you can only afford one player or have more than 2 children, just make sure you establish ground rules about taking turns choosing a DVD to keep tempers to a minimum.

You can even keep movie-time educational by occasionally choosing a documentary or historical film, then start a conversation and encourage a family discussion about the subject.

Finally, try to remember to have relax and have fun! So what if you are a bit delayed in reaching your destination. It's worth being a bit late in order to make sure the whole family arrives happy and comfortable. Nothing kills a nice vacation like resentments and family members refusing to speak to each other! So above all, just trust that everything will work out, keep calm and cool, and enjoy the ride.



Saturday, January 21, 2012

Head Unit Power: What You Should Know

Car Stereo deck power is very deceiving! Many head units have HUGE power ratings on the Boxes or right on the front of the units! The highest head unit power I have ever actually tested was 13 watts (at a half way decent THD)... So even if the head unit says 35Watts or 40 watts per channel on it don't ever expect for it to really be more than 15! Just cant happen!

Real amplifiers use massive power supplies in them with toroidal transformers to "step up" the voltage so that large amounts of power can be made! Head units just don't have room in them For the large transformers that are needed for large power supplies, so don't expect more than 15 watts per Speaker out of the unit's built-in amplifier circuitry. Some of the more reputable head units might print high power ratings on the boxes but If you read the small print in the spec sheets in the owners manual they might admit to the 15 watt figure! Alpine's V-Drive head units are stated to put out 60 watts per channel, using a direct 10AWG power line directly from the car battery's positive terminal, but once you read the fine print, you'll see that the actual power output is a maximum of 26 watts per channel continuous. This is still one of the most powerful head units on the market... at 26 watts.

Most high power stereos use a bridged output (also called floating ground or push pull), units use an IC chip that makes both speaker wires to each speaker work together with one pushing while the other pulls (so to speak) just like a real amplifier does when you bridge it. Unlike a real amplifier however, most car stereos cannot be un-bridged. Even still, having no transformer in the head unit limits it severely and your output will be around 12 to 13 watts per speaker.

How can they print these specs if they aren't true? Well, for starters, car audio is not regulated like home audio. The Federal Trade Commission several years ago required home audio manufacturers to print accurate power ratings based on a standard testing procedure. Car audio did not yet exist (much), so this requirement was not worded to include car audio. As a result, less scrupulous manufacturers will print the peak power rating, as opposed to the RMS. A peak power rating (usually called "maximum" because it sounds better) is a measure of what the amplifier can do for just a very short time. RMS (often called "continuous", because it sounds better) is a more true measurement. This is how much power an amplifier can continue to put out for longer periods. Accurate peak and RMS measurements give a good view of an amplifier's capability (the peak measurement is required to produce the heart pounding bass, which requires much more power than the continuous music, which needs RMS power). However, there is no standard for measuring peak power among manufacturers, so it can't be trusted for most equipment.


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Sweeten Your Ride With a Car Audio System and Other Mobile Electronics

Your car is likely to be one of the places where you spend a lot of time. Make your time in the car more enjoyable by adding new audio and video systems to your vehicle.

Most people spend a great deal of time in the car, traveling from destination to destination. Without a working stereo system or other entertaining mobile electronics, this time in the car can be boring and downright frustrating. Fortunately, though, you can make your ride a lot sweeter by choosing to add the right mobile electronics.

A good car audio system is essential if you want to enjoy the time that you spend in your vehicle. If you don't have a way to pass the time, you could get bored easily and end up making bad driving choices. Being frustrated behind the wheel can even lead to road rage, which is something that all drivers will want to avoid. Having a quality audio system in your vehicle will make it much easier for you to stay entertained and stay focused on the task at hand. A car audio system is especially important for those who have to spend a significant amount of time in the car, such as people who commute to work or school. Having a good audio system is essential in these situations, as radio can help to provide traffic updates as well as entertainment options.

Listening to the radio or a CD might be enough for adults when they're in the car, but traveling with children often requires additional forms of entertainment. While books and games can often entertain children for short rides, longer car trips can be difficult on them--and, by extension, you. You can make sure that you and your kids are happy on the road by choosing to add a car DVD system to your vehicle. When your kids have the option of watching a video while you're traveling, they'll be much less likely to get into trouble or cause a distraction while you're trying to deal with traffic. Help keep your kids happy on the road by choosing a new car DVD system. It will make hours in the car fly by and give your kids a chance to have added fun on road trips.



Monday, January 9, 2012

Choose Marine Audio in Time for This Summer Fun

If you're planning on enjoying this summer's beautiful weather out on the water, make sure your boat is ready with the best marine audio electronics before the warm temperatures arrive. Take your boat to the next level with marine stereos and more!

Hot summer days are practically made for lazing out on the river or lake in your boat. If you want to enjoy this summer's relaxation, water sports, or fishing to the fullest, though, you may want to consider installing a new marine stereo. A great way to amp up the entertainment factor, no matter what your favorite boating activities may be, marine audio systems can integrate all of the latest listening technology into your watercraft. So take some great music out on the water this year by getting the boat stereo system you've always dreamed of.

Whether you're a fan of country music or prefer hip-hop, it takes a top-quality audio system to enjoy those tunes to the fullest. And that's where marine audio electronics come in. Today's high-tech options mean that all of the types of cutting-edge aftermarket components that are available for your car or truck are also available for your fishing boat, speed boat, or other watercraft. Available options span the gamut from systems designed for clear, crisp audio over the rush of the wind and spray to systems designed to really blast the bass. You can get:

* Marine stereos

* Speakers

* Amps and woofers

* CD players

* MP3 player docks/integration

* Even satellite radio

All of these marine audio components will be installed in an attractive, watertight way. When it comes to your new marine electronics, you obviously want them to look their best and have them integrated into your boat in a way that looks natural. like they've been there all along. But you'll also need them to be installed in a secure, water-resistant way. Unlike with car stereo systems, mobile electronics that are installed on watercraft are exposed to the elements. That means wind and water, but it also means extensive UV exposure. That's why it's critical that your new marine audio speakers and other equipment are both specifically designed for the harsh marine environment and precisely installed to stand up to the years of splashing and spray.

Once it's installed, your new marine stereo system will be there to add a fantastic sound track to your summer, whether you're partying your weekends away on the water or fishing quietly along the riverbank.

So don't wait! Get your new marine stereo, speakers, and other electronics installed before summer's gorgeous days arrive and don't miss out on a moment of the fun. Visit your local car audio shop or call today to find out whether they offer skilled marine electronics installation.



Sunday, January 8, 2012

Benefits of Installing a GPS Navigation System in Your Car

Getting your car fitted with GPS navigation system is a sensible idea. It is indeed a need rather than a luxury. Fitting GPS navigation makes it easy for you to locate fuel refilling station, finding a bank and the like while you are traveling. At times, it would be an invaluable company when you are thrown desolate and are in need of help.

The GPS navigation system can make your traveling in car more convenient. Following are some benefits provided by this technology.

Travel easily in new places
While traveling to new places, either on a vacation or on a business purpose, there is a great probability of you being in a place you are not so familiar with. In the event you want to know where your destination is, having GPS navigation in the car would be of great help. This would conserve your valuable time, fuel and effort. Further, if you feel you are lost, it will help you. Thus, you can ensure that you do not lose path to your destination and waste time and fuel in tracing it.

Choose traffic free routes
Of late, traffic snarls have become so common that they are taken for granted, especially in large metropolitan cities, notwithstanding the proactive measures like increased surveillance and better traffic management using technology as well as labor. While part of the city is congested with traffic, a part may have a low traffic density. GPS navigation system you with the current situation at any locality and thus helps you spot areas with less traffic so that you can reach your destination hassle free.

Save fuel
While driving long distances, one of the primary considerations is conserving fuel. To save fuel, you should minimize its wastage. You waste considerable amount of fuel in searching a location, or following a wrong route, or the one with traffic hurdles. Having GPS device in your car, would rule out all this by locating your desired destination and showing the right route. GPS system provides options which lets you set goals in the device such as driving by the shortest route, a route with leanest traffic and the like, that help you conserve fuel.

Plan your travel by estimating the time
Another important consideration while driving is time. Using GPS installed in your car, you can plan your travel program. This system lets you determine the time you need to set for the travel program by helping you to know the distance between the places you traverse, and the routes that save your time like the ones with less traffic, and with convenient amenities. Thus, this makes your trip more beneficial and enjoyable.

Easy to trace routes when you are lost somewhere
The principle feature of GPS system to stand functional at any location across the globe helps you trace out the route to your destination in case you are lost on your journey. It locates you using the satellite communication system. This device fitted in your car will help you know where you are and through which route you can reach your destination.

Easy to trace your car in case of theft
A GPS device, when fitted in to a car will make it easy to trace it in case it is stolen. The car can be located exactly using satellite and GPS signal receiving aids. This helps police and other law enforcement agencies locate your car.

Save insurance cost
For cars having GPS installed at the time of purchase or later, certain insurance companies offer insurance at a reduced premium. This is because the risk of not being traced in the event of theft of the car considerably reduces. Thus, you get your car insurance for lower price. It would help you in the long run save on paying insurance costs.

You may have to invest some money to install a GPS navigation system initially, but the benefits you get from it are manifold. Thus, you should indeed consider getting it installed in your car if you do not have one.