Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate T1T-S

When defining realism in a car audio system, frequency response is one of the most crucial aspects. We want the midbass, midrange, and high-frequency information to be reproduced at similar levels. When done correctly, voices and instruments sound like they did in the mastering room at the recording studio, and not like a clock radio or smartphone. A key factor in delivering this sense of realism is to use high-quality tweeters with your midrange speakers. In that regard, Rockford Fosgate has the perfect solution with its Power Series T1T-S 1-inch tweeter set. Let’s check them out!

Rockford Fosgate T1T-S Design

The T1T-S tweeter set includes a pair of 1-inch audiophile-grade fabric dome tweeters, passive crossover networks, mounting rings, and installation hardware. Rockford Fosgate rates the set to continuously handle an equivalent of 75 watts of power. Maximum power handling is rated at 150 watts, and efficiency is specified as 90 dB SPL 1W/1M. Finally, the tweeters have a nominal impedance of four ohms. Like all Rockford Fosgate speakers, these ratings comply with the ANSI/CTA-2031 Automotive Loudspeaker standard.

The tweeter diaphragms are made from treated fabric. The balance of low mass from the fabric and damping from the treatment helps ensure linear operation up to extremely high frequencies without unwanted resonance. Undamped designs can cause resonance, which many people find harsh. Rockford Fosgate claims an upper-frequency limit of 22 kHz, which is very good. The design has a resonant frequency (Fs) of 1.8 kHz, which is nice and low for a 1-inch tweeter. An integrated neodymium magnet drives the tweeters. Neodymium provides a much stronger magnetic field than ferrite magnets, so you get more efficiency and output from a compact design. These are the same drivers you’d find in the T-162S and T-1652S two-way component speaker sets.

Passive Crossover Networks

The Rockford Fosgate T1T-S set includes a pair of passive crossover networks designed with a 3 kHz cutoff frequency and a third-order -18dB/Octave attenuation slope. Your installer has input connection options to adjust the output sensitivity to 0, -2, or -4 dB to ensure the tweeters blend well with the midrange speakers. On the output side, on- and off-axis connection options subtly alter the signal phase around the crossover point to improve the system’s coherence further. The crossovers use high-tolerance polypropylene capacitors and air-core inductors for good power handling. The circuit also includes a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistor. Should you drive the amp you are using into clipping, the PTC will limit the power going to the tweeters. Unlike fuses, the PTC resets itself to normal operating conditions once everything cools off.

Premium Mounting Hardware

At a time when many of the most expensive tweeters on the market require mounting with hot glue or backstraps, it’s refreshing that Rockford Fosgate provides real metal mounting hardware. You can mount the tweeters either flush or on the surface using the Discreet Dual Clamp (DDC) hardware. An installer might also create a custom mount to position the tweeter behind an OE grille in your car or truck.

Another key feature of the T1T-S set is the inclusion of a mesh protective grille with each tweeter. Without protection, many expensive tweeters have suffered damage, making this a welcome addition.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Rockford Fosgate T1T-S Tweeters

Whether you want to add clarity to a dull factory-installed audio system, need a solution to keep up with a few woofers in each of your vehicle’s doors, or are putting together a clean and classy system, the Rockford Fosgate T1T-S tweeter set is a great choice. They sound great and include premium mounting solutions that ensure they function reliably for years without any headaches.

Use their website’s locator tool to find a Rockford Fosgate retailer near you. You should also follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for new product releases and event updates.

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.

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate RFK1D Dual Amp Kit

Knowing that it takes power to make power isn’t rocket science. When feeding high-power car audio amplifiers, skimping on wiring invites problems. If starved for voltage, your amplifiers will run hotter and clip earlier. Rockford Fosgate offers a unique solution to ensure your amp gets the current and voltage it needs. Let’s dive into the Rockford Fosgate RFK1D Dual Amplifier Installation Kit.

Rockford Fosgate RFK1D Overview

The Rockford Fosgate RFK1D is a 1/0-AWG kit that simplifies installing two amplifiers in your vehicle. It includes 1/0 power and ground wire, 4-AWG wiring, a fuse holder, distribution blocks, a ground lug, three stereo interconnects, speaker wire, ring terminals, grommets, and zip ties. Everything needed to install amplifiers like the T1500-1bdCP for your subwoofers and a T1000-4ad for your mids and highs is included.

Power Wiring

The highlight of the RFK1D kit is the 17 feet of 1/0-AWG power cable and three feet of ground cable. Rockford Fosgate wiring meets the full American Wire Gauge (AWG) specification for size at 53.5mm², exceeding the 50.3mm² minimum. The wiring uses Pure Crystal Oxygen-Free Copper (PC-OFC) for maximum conductivity. The 1/0-AWG cable has 4,702 strands, making it extremely flexible.

The kit also includes four feet of 4-AWG power and ground cables. Like the 1/0-AWG cables, the 4-AWG cable is full AWG-sized with 1,862 strands, more than required for its size. It offers a cross-sectional area of 21.1mm².

Additionally, the kit provides 30 feet of two-conductor 16-AWG speaker wire. This wire also uses PC-OFC, with a high strand count for flexibility and AWG compliance.

A high strand count is crucial for speaker wire as it helps prevent work hardening when the wire bends. For instance, if your installer uses Rockford Fosgate’s 65-strand wire for your door speakers, it’s less likely to fail than “value” products with just 26 strands.

All wiring in the kit exceeds ANSI/CTA-2015 Mobile Electronics Cabling Standard requirements and meets the BC-5W2 marine wiring standard. The flexible PVC jacket resists arcing up to 600 volts and handles temperatures up to 105°C without melting or becoming gummy when exposed to oil or fuel.

I can’t stress enough the importance of looking for cables that conform to industry standards. Many brands sell “4 Gauge” wire for a bargain, but once you inspect the number of strands and bundles, you realize there’s more insulation than the wire itself! Undersized or aluminum wire will starve your amplifier and prevent it from producing its rated power.

Fusing and Power Distribution

The RFK1D kit includes an RFFANL Inline ANL or Maxi fuse holder to protect the battery if the wire shorts. The block accepts the included 300-amp ANL fuse. It’s made from solid brass and features a High-Performance Plating (HPP) finish for corrosion resistance and durability.

The kit also includes one-input and two-output distribution blocks, which feature 4-AWG adapter inserts. You can run a 1/0-AWG cable from the battery and alternator, then split it into 4-AWG for a four-channel amp and 1/0-AWG for a sub amp like the T1500-1bdCP. The brass blocks have an HPP finish and come with injection-molded plastic covers.

RCA Interconnect Cables

Just as your amplifiers need efficient power delivery, they also need clean signals. The RFK1D kit includes three 16-foot, two-channel Rockford Fosgate twisted-pair interconnects. Twisted-pair geometry helps reject noise when used with amplifiers featuring differential inputs.

The interconnects feature split center pins for a solid connection. Injection-molded RCA ends provide strain relief, and gray and black markings make it easy to distinguish between channels.

Kit Accessories

The kit is complete and well-designed. It comes with ring terminals crimped onto the 1/0-AWG power and ground cables and the 4-AWG ground cable. A spare 1/0-AWG ring terminal and a brass grounding lug are also included. Additionally, there are 20 feet of 18-AWG remote turn-on wire, butt connectors, grommets, and zip ties.

Complete Dual Amplifier Installation Kit

You could piece together a similar kit from other brands, but matching this quality would take a lot of work. If you have two amplifiers that need reliable power, visit an authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the RFK1D kit. If it’s too much, Rockford Fosgate also offers dual amplifier 4-AWG and single-amp kits in 4 and 8-AWG sizes.

To find a Rockford Fosgate retailer near you, use the locator tool on their website. You can also follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for new product releases and event updates.

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.

Upgrade the Radio on Your Motorcycle for Performance and Features

Most touring motorcycles and trikes come with some form of radio and entertainment system. With the majority of bikes on the road being older models, many of their audio systems lack modern technologies like Bluetooth audio streaming, support for digital audio files like MP3 and WMA, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Even if you have a rare bike that you don’t want to modify permanently, there are lots of entertainment options available to make your time on the road much more enjoyable.

Replace That Old Radio

If you have a ’98 through 2013 Harley touring bike, upgrading the radio is an easy task. Rockford Fosgate and Aquatic AV both offer upgraded source units designed specifically for these bikes. In both cases, the radios fit perfectly into the fairing opening and include electrical connectors that don’t require any modifications to the vehicle. Your local mobile enhancement retailer can have you back on the road in about an hour with all the source unit features you could ever want.

Motorcycle Radio — The PMX-HD9813 from Rockford Fosgate is a single-DIN, water-resistant digital media receiver with Bluetooth, USB and a bright color display.

In many applications, especially with Harley-Davidson bikes, your installer can connect the radio to the audio control switches on the handlebars to make it safer to adjust the volume or change songs while you ride.

Audio Upgrade for Custom Applications

If you own a motorcycle like a Honda Gold Wing or a BMW K 1600 GTL with a radio that’s integrated into an infotainment system, installing a new radio isn’t an option. That doesn’t mean that you can’t upgrade the stereo system. Companies like ARC Audio offer signal processors designed to take the audio signals coming out of the factory stereo system and allow your installer to process them so that they will sound great with a new amplifier and upgraded speakers.

If you have a newer Harley-Davidson with the Boom! Box radio, using a signal processor is the best way to upgrade the sound system on these bikes. Some stereo shops offer radio reflashing services that can help you get better sound, but these setting changes may affect your warranty or may be undone if the bike goes in for service.

The biggest benefit of having a signal processor on a bike is that your installer can fine-tune the output of each speaker on the bike to your personal listening style. If you like smooth and natural sound, that’s an easy option. If you like an in-your-face tune that rocks-out when the throttle is cranked, they can do that too. Within reason, a processor can make any high-quality speaker sound the way you want.

Great Sound with No Radio at All

Finally, if you want great sound on your bike but don’t want a radio at all, your installer can integrate a stand-alone Bluetooth receiver directly into an aftermarket amplifier. When you want to listen to music, just pair the audio streaming function of your smartphone to the receiver. For hide-away units, you can adjust the volume using the buttons on your phone. Music options include songs stored on a smart device or any streaming service like iHeartRadio, Pandora, Spotify or Apple Music.

Upgrade the Radio on Your Motorcycle Today

Whether you want an elaborate audio system with fairing, lower and saddlebag speakers or just want to add some new technology to your motorcycle, your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer can help you choose a solution that’s perfect for your application. Drop by their shop today and let them check out your bike. They’ll come up with a plan to have it sounding 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.

Five Upgrades to Make Your Motorcycle’s Audio Sound Better

If you’re a fan of a little “wind therapy,” then having some great music to listen to while you you’re riding your motorcycle starts with a great audio system. Sure, BMW, Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki and Honda include radios and speakers with their touring bikes, but so do Toyota and Hyundai cars and SUVs. All of them could use an upgrade or two to put a smile on your face when a great song comes on. Let’s take a look at five great upgrade options that will make your motorcycle audio system sound better.

Upgrade 1 – Upgrade Existing Speakers

If you’re a regular reader of BestCarAudio.com, then you know how important speakers are to the performance of any audio system. Imagine a high-end home audio system with an amplifier, preamp, CD transport and stand-alone digital-to-analog converter. It isn’t hard to spend $10,000 on this equipment, and you’d be surprised how easy it is to spend more than $500,000. When it comes time to choose speakers, you need something amazing to accurately convert those electrical signals into sound.

High-quality speakers transform electrical signals into sound more accurately than poorly designed solutions. Better speakers offer a smoother frequency response so your music will sound more realistic. Finally, great speakers can handle more power and play much more loudly than an inexpensive solution. All of these criteria are important for motorcycle audio upgrade.

Another important factor in choosing new speakers for your motorcycle is whether they’re designed to be specifically suitable for the application. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun can damage some car audio speakers and cause the cones and surrounds to fail very quickly. Likewise, if there’s even the slimmest chance the speakers will get wet, choosing a solution with integrated weatherproofing and water-resistant materials is mandatory to ensure reliability.

Motorcycle Audio — The Moto602V2 speakers from ARC Audio feature a UV- and weather-resistant design that will ensure that they look and sound great for many years.

Upgrade 2 – Add High-Power Amplifiers

When it comes to playing music loudly, your speakers will need lots of power. Upgrading your motorcycle with a high-power, high-efficiency amplifier is the only way to make your music loud enough to drown out wind and exhaust noise.

Size is a top priority when it comes to choosing an amplifier for your motorcycle. You want something that will fit inside the front fairing or not take up too much space in a saddlebag. Many companies make compact powersports amplifiers that will fit nicely above the factory radio in a Harley.

You also want an amplifier that is efficient. Efficiency refers to how much of the power that is drawn from the battery and alternator or stator is converted into energy to drive the speakers. More efficiency means the amp will run cooler and your audio system can play louder without overloading the bike’s electrical system. The best motorcycle and powersports amplifiers on the market are over 93% efficient. That’s about 10% better than the typical car audio amplifier.

Upgrade 3 – Add More Speakers

Aside from using great speakers and providing them with lots of clean power from an amplifier, another great upgrade you can make to your motorcycle audio system is to add more speakers. Sure, the task isn’t as easy as cutting a panel in a car door, but it can be done. Many companies offer handlebar speakers, motorcycle-specific speaker pods that attach to the lower front fairing, and saddlebag lids with options for 6.5-, 8- or 6×9-inch speakers.

Upgrade 4 – Source Unit Upgrades

Every great audio system starts with a great source unit. If there’s distortion in the original audio signal, no amount of processing or tuning can remove it. Companies like Rockford Fosgate and Aquatic AV have created motorcycle-specific source units for 1998 through 2013 Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Another option is the cool Sony XAV-AX7000 multimedia receiver. Several motorcycle enthusiasts have integrated this double-DIN radio into the fairing of their bikes. The radio has a weather-resistant front panel and buttons. It’s not water-proof, but it can handle the occasional light sprinkle. If you want Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on your bike, then this radio is a perfect choice.

Upgrade 5 – Proper System Configuration

The perfect speaker, if it were to exist, would offer flat frequency response across the entire audio spectrum. The reality is, no speaker can deliver that. Likewise, where we install speakers can have a huge effect on how they sound. To get the most out of your motorcycle audio system upgrade, it needs to be configured to optimize the output of each speaker for the environment. You aren’t going to hear a bass drum or synthesizer riff at 65 mph on the interstate, so crossovers and equalization will let your speakers focus on the frequency ranges where they work best.

Just as in a car audio system, a concert venue or a theater, using an equalizer to optimize the response of a motorcycle sound system is important. Compact digital signal processors include multiband equalizers that can be configured with a calibrated microphone to deliver smooth sound, so your music sounds realistic.

Upgrade Your Motorcycle Audio System Today

The options for making the stereo system on your motorcycle sound better are nearly endless. Drop by your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer today to find out about the audio upgrades that are available for your bike. As always, remember that proper installation and excellent craftsmanship are as important as the products you choose. Be sure to work with a retailer that has the skills to execute your upgrade reliably.

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.

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate PMX-1

As much fun as it is to check out top-of-the-line products, sometimes the right solution is surprisingly affordable. The marine and powersport audio experts at Rockford Fosgate offer a full line of digital media receivers. In fact, there are five stand-alone units, plus an add-on multi-zone unit with several controller options. There is, indeed, a solution for every application. We will highlight the affordable but full-featured PMX-1 Punch-Series marine-grade receiver in this spotlight.

PMX-1 Physical Design

When we talk about source units, we usually discuss single or double DIN units designed for cars and trucks. The PMX-1 chassis, designed for marine and powersports applications, is intended to be flush-mounted on a flat panel. Rockford Fosgate has several vehicle-specific audio upgrade kits for side-by-sides that include mounting provisions for this unit.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-1 — The RZR14-STG1 audio kit for Polaris RZR vehicles includes a PMX-1, speakers, and a mounting pod that fits on the top of the dash.

The face of the PMX-1 is 4.5 inches wide and 4.2 inches tall. It protrudes 1.5 inches forward of the mounting surface, and the chassis and heatsink extend 2.9 inches rearward. The kit includes a rubber mounting gasket to ensure the face seals perfectly against the mounting surface.

The radio can be installed in one of two ways. If you have a dash with a round three-inch mounting hole, your installer can mount the radio using the supplied aluminum U-bracket, just like a speedometer or tachometer in a boat. Alternatively, the kit includes a metal mounting bracket that can be positioned behind the mounting surface, and four screws secure the display to the plate and sandwich on either side of the mounting surface. An included trim ring conceals the mounting hardware once in place.

The radio is rated to have an IPX6 water intrusion rating, so you can blast it all day long with a hose or let it get hit by waves. This is crucial in Rockford Fosgate’s Element Ready™ marine, motorcycle, and powersport products. Further, the radio has been tested to exceed prolonged UV and salt fog exposure requirements. Few, if any, other brands talk about the durability of the overall design. Rockford Fosgate punishes their Element Ready™ products with impact and vibration testing to ensure you’ll always have tunes when on the trails or ripping the waves.

User Interface Design

The first feature you will see when you look at the PMX-1 is its 2.3-inch dot-matrix monochrome display. While this looks simple, the display is constructed with a wet-bonded process that makes it easy to read in bright sunlight. The glass screen over the display has a 9H hardness rating, so it’s scratch-resistant. Many competing products use plastic over the display.

A sizable rotary encoder in the center of the front panel allows for volume adjustments or navigating through different menu settings. Four buttons on either side of the encoder provide direct access to source selection, track adjustment, play/pause, menu access, and a dimmer control. Bass heads will love that there are subwoofer + and – buttons on the front panel.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-1 Source Options

You have four options for playing music from the PMX-1. The built-in terrestrial radio tuner includes AM and FM reception capabilities. It also has a weather band tuner for those near larger lakes or the ocean.

You can connect a 32GB or smaller USB memory stick to the USB port to play MP3 or WMA files. The system supports up to 255 folders with a maximum of 1,000 songs.

The radio has stereo RCA input jacks on the back as a third option. So, if you want your installer to connect it to a laptop, DVD player, or similar device, it’s ready to go.

Finally, the PMX-1 includes a Bluetooth receiver. The system uses Bluetooth 3.0+EDR and supports the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) version 1.3. You can connect almost any smartphone and play music stored on it or stream audio from Pandora, iHeartRadio, or Spotify. Album and artist information will scroll across the screen if your device supports sending this information over Bluetooth.

Power, Preamp, and Installation Considerations

The radio includes a four-channel amplifier rated to produce 25 watts of continuous power into four four-ohm speakers with less than 1% THD+N. It also has two sets of RCA jacks on pigtails, rated to produce up to 2 volts of output.

The radio includes a three-zone crossover set to high or low-pass modes with 60, 80, or 120 hertz filter frequencies. The crossovers work on the built-in amplifier and the preamp signals. For the second set of RCA outputs, your installer can select between the rear and subwoofer output functions in a nearby menu.

The radio has a seven-band graphic equalizer with Flat, Rock, Classic, Acoustic, Dance, Electronic, and Hip-Hop presets. A custom EQ mode allows you to fine-tune the system to suit your audio system design or listening preferences. Of course, Rockford Fosgate includes their famous Punch EQ in the PMX-1. You can dial up to 18 dB of boost at 45 Hz and 12 dB at 12.5 kHz.

Power conservation can be a concern for marine and powersports vehicles, so the PMX-1 includes a battery voltage display, so you can keep track of things. The radio uses non-volatile memory to store all setting information. As such, it only requires an accessory and ground power connection. There is no clock, so your installer doesn’t have to hook up a wire likely to drain the vehicle battery. If you turn the radio off but leave it powered, it draws under two amps of current. At the other end of the spectrum, the radio has a 20-amp fuse, so ensure your installer uses large enough wiring to power it.

Compact and Durable Audio Solution

If you are looking for a reliable, easy-to-use radio for a boat, side-by-side, ATV, or jet ski, the Rockford Fosgate PMX-1 is an excellent solution. If you’ve had a craving to build a portable boombox from an old ammo can, the PMX-1 is perfect for that as well. You can pick up a PMX-1 at any authorized Rockford Fosgate dealer. You can find a dealer near you using the locator tool on their website. Be sure to follow our friends from Tempe on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to keep up with new product releases and the events they attend.

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.

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Rockford Fosgate T1T-S Design

Passive Crossover Networks

Premium Mounting Hardware

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Rockford Fosgate T1T-S Tweeters

Rockford Fosgate RFK1D Overview

Power Wiring

Fusing and Power Distribution

RCA Interconnect Cables

Kit Accessories

Complete Dual Amplifier Installation Kit

Replace That Old Radio

Audio Upgrade for Custom Applications

Great Sound with No Radio at All

Upgrade the Radio on Your Motorcycle Today

Upgrade 1 – Upgrade Existing Speakers

Upgrade 2 – Add High-Power Amplifiers

Upgrade 3 – Add More Speakers

Upgrade 4 – Source Unit Upgrades

Upgrade 5 – Proper System Configuration

Upgrade Your Motorcycle Audio System Today

PMX-1 Physical Design

User Interface Design

Rockford Fosgate PMX-1 Source Options

Power, Preamp, and Installation Considerations

Compact and Durable Audio Solution

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