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Product Spotlight: Sony XS-162GS and XS-160GS 6.5-inch Speakers

Sony 6.5-inch

You’d think that the Sony product development team would deserve a break after releasing no less than nine new Mobile ES speakers and subwoofers over the past few years. While they might deserve it, they kept up the momentum by redesigning their popular GS-Series speakers. This Product Spotlight will examine Sony’s new XS-162GS component and XS-160GS coaxial 6.5-inch (16-cm) speakers.

Sony XS-162GS 6.5-inch Component Speakers

The XS-162GS is a 6.5-inch (16-cm) component speaker set that includes a pair of 6.5-inch (16-cm) woofers, two 13/16-inch (21-mm) soft dome tweeters, an inline passive crossover for the tweeter for discreet installation, and mounting hardware for the tweeters. The woofers in the set feature a high-quality stamped-steel chassis with a four-spoke design. The rigidity of the design is improved over typical stamped baskets by adding a reinforcing rib down the center of each spoke.

Sony 6.5-inch
The four spokes of the XS-162GS speaker basket feature a reinforcing rib for added strength.

The basket design includes two sets of mounting tabs, making it suitable for both three- and four-position mounting hardware when replacing a factory-installed speaker. The woofers have a total mounting depth of 1 7/8 inches and sit above the mounting surface by 7/16 inch. Your installer will need to leave extra room in front of the driver to ensure that the cone and surround don’t run into the speaker grille or a trim panel in your vehicle.

Sony 6.5-inch
Dimensions of the XS-162GS tweeters and woofers.

Each woofer is based around a composite polypropylene cone that delivers an excellent balance of bass and midrange frequencies. A foam rubber surround at the top edge of the cone features an air-filled matrix structure that’s low in mass while being durable. The result is a reliable and flexible connection that provides good damping characteristics.

The woofers in the XS-162GS set feature a phase plug design that’s a direct descendant of the Mobile ES XS-162ES speakers. The Dynamic Air Diffuser phase plug eliminates the need for a dust cap, which can add high-frequency distortion to the speaker. Further, the exposed ridges provide a significant amount of surface area to help extract heat from the voice coil and motor assembly. Sony uses a progressive-rate spider, another component brought over from the Mobile ES line, at the base of the cone to maximize physical power handling while providing precise compliance for accurate bass performance. A single ferrite magnet serves as the heart of each speaker.

Sony 6.5-inch
The Dynamic Air Diffuser phase plug improves power handling and reduces distortion for clearer sound.

The tweeters in the set feature a silk dome material with a diameter of 13/16 inch (21 millimeters). Each tweeter has a super-efficient neodymium magnet for excellent efficiency. The assembly is housed in a custom-tooled frame with a perforated mesh grille. Sony includes flush, angled and flat surface-mount accessories to optimize the installation. Filtering for the tweeter is handled by a passive crossover in line with the tweeter speaker wires.

Sony 6.5-inch
Sony includes flush, angled and flat surface-mounting hardware for the silk dome tweeters in the XS-162GS set.

The XS-162GS set has a continuous power rating of 45 watts that complies with the CTA-2031 measurement standard. Peak power is 250 watts. Efficiency is 89 dB at 1W/1M with a tolerance of 2 dB SPL. Finally, frequency response is specified as 45 Hz to 24 kHz using the IEC 60268-5 standard.

Sony XS-160GS 6.5-inch Coaxial Speakers

The sister speakers to the above are the XS-160GS 6.5-inch coaxial set. This speaker system includes a pair of two-way coaxial 6.5-inch (16-cm) speakers along with appropriate mounting fasteners. The basket design for the coaxial speakers is the same as those found on the component speaker woofers with seven mounting tabs. The woofer design is the same as the XS-162GS component speakers with a composite polypropylene woofer cone, foam rubber surround and progressive rate spider.

Sony 6.5-inch
The coaxial design of the XS-160GS is a direct descendant of the Mobile ES XS-160ES speakers.

Where the speakers differ is in the tweeters. The top of the Dynamic Air Diffuser post in the driver’s center is home to the 13/16-inch (21-mm) tweeter, with its integrated phase plug built into the mounting assembly. In both instances, the integrated phase plug, another trickle-down technology from the Mobile ES speakers, helps improve tweeter output around the crossover point. This improved midrange output allows Sony to lower the crossover point and reduce directivity issues typical in two-way systems that use a relatively large woofer. These tweeters share the same neodymium magnet design for excellent efficiency and compact dimensions.

All the specifications for the XS-160GS coaxial speakers mimic those of the component speakers with power handling rated at 45 watts continuous and 250 watts peak. Efficiency and frequency response numbers are also the same at 89 dB 1W/1M and 45 hertz to 24 kHz.

Sony 6.5-inch

Environmentally Friendly Packaging

Sony has committed to significantly reducing environmental impact by simplifying the packaging design for the GS speakers. Gone are the fancy full-color graphics, now replaced with single-color line art, reducing the amount of ink by about 90%. The internal packaging is now paper-based, further reducing environmental impact.

Great Sound with a Great Warranty

Sony backs the XS-162GS and XS-160GS speakers with a three-year warranty that covers defects in materials or workmanship during ordinary consumer use. As with all speakers, you’re on your own if you overpower them with a large amplifier or too much distortion and damage them.

We have each set on their way to our labs for a Test Drive Review, so we can share how they perform shortly. In the meantime, if you want a great set of speakers to connect to a factory-installed or aftermarket radio, drop by a local authorized Sony retailer and ask for a demonstration of the new 6.5-inch (16-cm) GS series speakers. You can find an authorized Sony car audio retailer using their dealer locator. For more information about Sony Car Audio products, follow them on Facebook.

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, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Sony

Product Spotlight: Drone XC-LTE Dash Cam

Drone XC-LTE

If you’re a regular visitor to BestCarAudio.com, you should be familiar with dash cams and smartphone-based remote vehicle control solutions like Drone. Imagine combining the features of both units into one product and then adding live video streaming capabilities! The new Drone XC-LTE 2K QHD dash cam with LTE, GPS and Wi-Fi does precisely that. Let’s check it out!

What Is the Drone XC-LTE Dash Cam?

There are a lot of features and design elements to unpack with the Drone XC-LTE. The unit has a footprint of 4.2 by 2.8 inches with a thickness of 1.5 inches. A vertical mounting orientation on the windshield minimizes obstruction.

Drone XC-LTE
The XC-LTE mounts vertically on the windshield to stay out of your line of sight.

The XC-LTE uses a Sony STARVIS image sensor for excellent contrast and low-light performance. The sensor is mated to a wide 154-degree lens to allow recording well off to the sides of the vehicle. The camera records at a 2K Quad HD resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels at 30 frames per second. A built-in Wi-Fi transceiver lets you download stored videos to your smartphone.

Firstech includes a high-quality 64 GB microSD memory card to ensure reliable recording. Upgrading to a 128 or 256 GB memory card allows the system to store more data. The system also accepts a secondary camera input signal. Your installer can add the XC-RC100 rear-facing or the XC-IR100 infrared interior cameras. The interior camera is very popular with taxi, Uber and Lyft operators. The parking mode feature allows it to monitor the visible area continuously and then record when something or someone enters its field of vision.

Drone XC-LTE
The optional XC-RC100 rear-facing camera allows the Drone XC-LTE to capture video of what happens behind your vehicle.

What makes this dash cam unique is the ability to view live video on the DroneMobile app on your smartphone using an LTE cellular data connection. You can see exactly what the camera sees on your phone. The system uses an LTE data connection to transmit video. As long as your phone can access the cellular data network, it doesn’t matter where it’s parked or driving. Remote live-viewing capability is a feature people have been requesting for years.

Drone XC-LTE
The DroneMobile app provides access to a live video feed from your Drone XC-LTE dash cam.

Regarding live-feed details, the video stream has a resolution of 960 by 540 pixels. Depending on your chosen service package, you get 1 or 2 GB of cloud storage for important videos you tag via the DroneMobile app.

Drone Vehicle Control

While the excitement of the remote video viewing is the highlight of the Drone XC-LTE, it’s crucial to remember that this is still a Drone vehicle control interface. When paired with a compatible control module from Compustar, Arctic Start, FTX or NuStart, you can use the DroneMobile app on your phone to lock and unlock your vehicle or start the engine. You can even pop the trunk or open a sliding door or motorized hatch in many applications.

Drone XC-LTE
The updated DroneMobile app retains lock, unlock, remote start and auxiliary control features.

The Drone XC-LTE acts like the DAS-II sensor to detect impact, tilt, motion and glass breakage. Any of these triggers will instantly send a notification to your smartphone. You can use the LTE streaming feature of the dash cam to look around your vehicle to find out what’s going on. The DroneMobile app also allows you to trigger the Panic feature to scare away would-be thieves or the neighbor’s cat.

Drone XC-LTE
The Drone system pushes security alerts to your smartphone so you’ll know immediately when someone is tampering with your vehicle.

The system also functions as a vehicle-locating or -tracking solution with one of the GPS-enabled Drone service plans. You can configure speed-based warnings to monitor vehicle operation. Location-based notifications, often called geofencing, are also available. These warnings tell you when the vehicle enters or exits a specific area or location.

Drone XC-LTE
The Drone’s GPS receiver provides location and speed-based warnings on your smartphone.

See Why Your Car Alarm Triggered

Most of us are familiar with hearing car alarm sirens, getting a security alert from a two-way remote key fob or perhaps seeing an alarm notification on our smartphones. We all want to know what is happening in and around the vehicle. With the new XC-LTE, you can open the DroneMobile app and see what the cameras see in real time. There’s no need to leave the house or your office. You could be on vacation in the Caribbean and check on your car or truck from the pool while sipping a mojito or enjoying a beer.

The XC-LTE is ideal for commercial equipment left on a job site or in a company-owned service or delivery vehicle. The XC-LTE is a perfect solution if you rent your car or truck on Turo or Getaround and want to see where and how the renter uses your vehicle.

The Best Vehicle Monitoring and Control Solution

The Drone XC-LTE is the first aftermarket dash cam solution with live view capabilities that can integrate with a car alarm or remote start system to provide vehicle control and monitoring. You can also use the system as a stand-alone dash cam with remote live viewing. Your local Compustar retailer can explain the remote control and live-view service plans and the features they offer. To find an authorized Drone retailer near you, use the locator tool on their website. For more information about Drone solutions, visit their YouTube channel, Facebook page or Instagram. Check back frequently, as a full Test Drive Review of the Drone XC-LTE is coming soon.

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, Driver Safety, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY, Vehicle Security Tagged With: Arctic Start, Compustar, DAS-II Sensor, Dash Cameras, DroneMobile, Firstech LLC, FTX, Getaround, LTE, Lyft, NuStart, Sony, Turo, Uber

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14

Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14

Rockford Fosgate, a brand synonymous with Harley-Davidson amplifier, speaker and subwoofer upgrades, has just introduced its PMX-HD14 multimedia infotainment system. If you have a 2014 and newer Street Glide or Ultra, or 2015 and newer Road Glide, this might be the perfect way to make your entire stereo system sound better. Best of all, it’s got a unique trick up its sleeve. Let’s check it out.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14
The new Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14 is the ultimate audio upgrade for your Harley-Davidson touring motorcycle.

Features of the Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14 Radio

The PMX-HD14 is Rockford Fosgate’s second foray into the multimedia receiver market for Harley-Davidson. The radio is a direct drop-in upgrade for many of H-D’s touring bikes. This plug-and-play design works with the existing power and speaker wiring. It also features a 7-inch touchscreen that works even if the rider is wearing gloves. The screen and the trim around it are Element Ready, the term Rockford Fosgate gives to products that are sealed to keep out water and dust and can handle prolonged UV exposure and all the vibrations from applications like a big V-twin motorcycle.

In terms of the interface, there are four fixed buttons adjacent to the screen for Home, Settings, Information and Power control. A short press on the information button in the top right increases the radio volume, and a short press on the power button below it lowers the volume. Pressing and holding the information button brings up an odometer and distance-since-last-service display.

Rockford Fosgate is on top of the integration situation with the PMX-HD14. The radio is compatible with the factory-installed handlebar audio controls without the need for any additional parts. It works with wireless headsets and the OEM CB system when the WHIM and CB modules are present. And there’s no need to reflash the bike to maximize the radio’s performance. These features make the radio ideal for those who don’t want permanent modifications on their motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson Multimedia Radio Audio Sources

Of course, the PMX-HD14 has an AM/FM and Weather Band receiver, so you can tune in to your favorite local radio stations. An optional SXV300 tuner module will give you access to SiriusXM satellite radio for uninterrupted genre-specific programming from coast to coast. You can also play MP3, WMA or FLAC digital audio files from a USB memory stick. A Bluetooth receiver allows you to play music stored on a portable media player or stream audio from your smartphone.

The PMX-HD14 also includes Apple CarPlay. Connect your Apple iPhone and you can easily access entertainment, communication and navigational information. You can make phone calls or send text messages without taking your eyes off the road. If you’re on a cross-state or cross-country adventure, access to Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze will help you reach your destination efficiently and safely. Of course, dedicated CarPlay streaming apps like Pandora, IHeartRadio, Pandora or Spotify make listening to almost anything you want quick and easy.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14
Large menu icons and handlebar control integration make the PMX-HD14 intuitive and safe to operate.

Take Your Party on the Road

Rockford Fosgate knows that an essential part of owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle is the lifestyle and brotherhood with fellow riders. That awareness led them to create a feature called Street Party Mode. If your friends have a PMX-HD14 on their bikes, you can share whatever music you’re playing. They can connect their radios to yours using a proprietary Bluetooth 5.0 solution. The crew can enjoy the same music while cruising or hanging out.

Amazing Audio and Processing Features

The PMX-HD14 includes a built-in amplifier that can deliver 25 watts of clean power to four 4-ohm speakers or 50 watts to four 2-ohm speakers. The radio has six preamp outputs that provide up to 4 volts RMS to your amplifiers. A built-in 14-band graphic equalizer allows you or your installer to fine-tune the sound to your listening preferences. Rockford Fosgate invested a lot of time developing this radio, with innovations like audio presets – called Optimized Tunes – for the different Rockford Fosgate amplifier, speaker and subwoofer upgrade solutions available for your bike.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14
Rockford Fosgate audio upgrade kits’ preset settings ensure maximum performance with minimal configuration time.

Transform Your Motorcycle Adventure with Rockford Fosgate

If high-quality sound, reliability and an easy-to-use interface are on your radio shopping list, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and check out the Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14. With a very detailed compatibility list on the product website, you can instantly see whether the radio is suitable for your touring bike. Follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with their latest releases. Of course, their YouTube Channel has some of the coolest and most informative videos in the mobile audio industry.

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.

  • Extreme Car Audio, Inc

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14

Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14

Rockford Fosgate, a brand synonymous with Harley-Davidson amplifier, speaker and subwoofer upgrades, has just introduced its PMX-HD14 multimedia infotainment system. If you have a 2014 and newer Street Glide or Ultra, or 2015 and newer Road Glide, this might be the perfect way to make your entire stereo system sound better. Best of all, it’s got a unique trick up its sleeve. Let’s check it out.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14
The new Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14 is the ultimate audio upgrade for your Harley-Davidson touring motorcycle.

Features of the Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14 Radio

The PMX-HD14 is Rockford Fosgate’s second foray into the multimedia receiver market for Harley-Davidson. The radio is a direct drop-in upgrade for many of H-D’s touring bikes. This plug-and-play design works with the existing power and speaker wiring. It also features a 7-inch touchscreen that works even if the rider is wearing gloves. The screen and the trim around it are Element Ready, the term Rockford Fosgate gives to products that are sealed to keep out water and dust and can handle prolonged UV exposure and all the vibrations from applications like a big V-twin motorcycle.

In terms of the interface, there are four fixed buttons adjacent to the screen for Home, Settings, Information and Power control. A short press on the information button in the top right increases the radio volume, and a short press on the power button below it lowers the volume. Pressing and holding the information button brings up an odometer and distance-since-last-service display.

Rockford Fosgate is on top of the integration situation with the PMX-HD14. The radio is compatible with the factory-installed handlebar audio controls without the need for any additional parts. It works with wireless headsets and the OEM CB system when the WHIM and CB modules are present. And there’s no need to reflash the bike to maximize the radio’s performance. These features make the radio ideal for those who don’t want permanent modifications on their motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson Multimedia Radio Audio Sources

Of course, the PMX-HD14 has an AM/FM and Weather Band receiver, so you can tune in to your favorite local radio stations. An optional SXV300 tuner module will give you access to SiriusXM satellite radio for uninterrupted genre-specific programming from coast to coast. You can also play MP3, WMA or FLAC digital audio files from a USB memory stick. A Bluetooth receiver allows you to play music stored on a portable media player or stream audio from your smartphone.

The PMX-HD14 also includes Apple CarPlay. Connect your Apple iPhone and you can easily access entertainment, communication and navigational information. You can make phone calls or send text messages without taking your eyes off the road. If you’re on a cross-state or cross-country adventure, access to Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze will help you reach your destination efficiently and safely. Of course, dedicated CarPlay streaming apps like Pandora, IHeartRadio, Pandora or Spotify make listening to almost anything you want quick and easy.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14
Large menu icons and handlebar control integration make the PMX-HD14 intuitive and safe to operate.

Take Your Party on the Road

Rockford Fosgate knows that an essential part of owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle is the lifestyle and brotherhood with fellow riders. That awareness led them to create a feature called Street Party Mode. If your friends have a PMX-HD14 on their bikes, you can share whatever music you’re playing. They can connect their radios to yours using a proprietary Bluetooth 5.0 solution. The crew can enjoy the same music while cruising or hanging out.

Amazing Audio and Processing Features

The PMX-HD14 includes a built-in amplifier that can deliver 25 watts of clean power to four 4-ohm speakers or 50 watts to four 2-ohm speakers. The radio has six preamp outputs that provide up to 4 volts RMS to your amplifiers. A built-in 14-band graphic equalizer allows you or your installer to fine-tune the sound to your listening preferences. Rockford Fosgate invested a lot of time developing this radio, with innovations like audio presets – called Optimized Tunes – for the different Rockford Fosgate amplifier, speaker and subwoofer upgrade solutions available for your bike.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14
Rockford Fosgate audio upgrade kits’ preset settings ensure maximum performance with minimal configuration time.

Transform Your Motorcycle Adventure with Rockford Fosgate

If high-quality sound, reliability and an easy-to-use interface are on your radio shopping list, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and check out the Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD14. With a very detailed compatibility list on the product website, you can instantly see whether the radio is suitable for your touring bike. Follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with their latest releases. Of course, their YouTube Channel has some of the coolest and most informative videos in the mobile audio industry.

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.

  • Extreme Car Audio, Inc

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: iDatalink Maestro AR Multi-Amp Upgrades

Maestro AR

Several years ago, iDatalink, the company known for its class-leading remote car starter interfaces, launched an amplifier integration solution called the Maestro AR. The AR (which is short for amplifier replacement) was designed to interpret the CAN bus commands intended for a factory amplifier into something a third-party digital signal processor can understand. While DSP-equipped products from several companies work with the Maestro AR, iDatalink took advantage of a feature in the ARC Audio PRO Series line of processors to develop a unique solution. Multiple AR units can be installed in a single vehicle to control multiple digital signal processors or DSP-equipped amplifiers at the same time. Let’s examine how these upgrades work and why you’d want this solution in your vehicle.

How Does the Maestro AR Work?

In most vehicles with CAN bus-controlled factory-installed amplifiers, the radio’s audio output is a fixed-amplitude (volume) stereo signal. To be clear, the analog audio signal from the source unit, be it the FM radio, Bluetooth streaming or playback of a digital audio file, does not change level with the volume control on the radio. This limitation means that if your installer connects an amp to this signal, it will always be at full volume, no matter where the volume on the radio is set. In some vehicles, there is also a digital audio signal connection between the source unit and the amplifier. The Maestro AR will convert these to an analog signal.

Along with the audio signal coming from the radio are commands that travel along the CAN bus. These commands include volume adjustments, signal routing changes for Bluetooth hands-free calling, warning chimes and tone controls and adjustments to features like bass, midrange and treble tone controls, surround sound modes or speed-compensated volume adjustment. In many vehicles, a second analog signal from the radio caries navigation prompts and hands-free Bluetooth call audio.

The digital signal processor in the factory-installed amplifier routes the stereo audio signal to the various speakers in the vehicle after applying whatever filtering, equalization or up-mixing the manufacturer requested. The Maestro AR interprets commands on the CAN bus network and feeds them to the third-party DSP to ensure that warning prompts and Bluetooth signals are mixed into the system and routed as needed. Finally, and most importantly, the digital messages on the CAN bus control the output level of the third-party DSP in the amplifier to act as the master volume control.

Maestro AR
The radio in the dash of many vehicles sends digital commands to a DSP-equipped amplifier to process the stereo audio signal.

In the above diagram, you can see three connections from the source unit to the amplifier. Those are the fixed-level audio, the analog Bluetooth/prompt signal and the CAN network connection.

In a vehicle that uses the Maestro AR, those control commands go to a third-party DSP from companies like ARC Audio, Audison or Rockford Fosgate. These processors can then replicate the majority of the functions of the DSP in the factory amplifier to give you complete control over your audio system.

In a typical upgrade, your installer would program the Maestro AR interface for your vehicle’s year, make, model and trim level, then connect it to the wiring in the car with a T-harness that’s also available from iDatalink. All third-party partner DSP companies require the technician working on your vehicle to install a brand-specific adapter harness to work with the Maestro T-harness.

For this article, we’ll talk about an upgrade that uses ARC Audio DSP-equipped amplifiers. This ARC Audio DSP installation requires an input adapter harness called the IDATA-OEM, which would be available from your ARC Audio retailer. The IDATA-OEM harness connects to the iDatalink T-harness and the analog RCA inputs on any ARC Audio amplifier or DSP that uses the PS8-Pro platform (PS8 Pro, IPS8.8, PS8-50, Blackbird or PSM Pro). The T-harness includes speaker wires that your installer would connect to the output of the new amplifier to make it easy to feed audio signals to the speakers. Finally, your installer would configure the DSP’s output channel assignments (front left, front right, rear left, rear right, center and subwoofer), crossovers, equalization and, if applicable, delays for each speaker to make the new system sound great.

Maestro AR
An example of an audio system that includes a Maestro-AR compatible DSP-equipped amplifier.

ARC Audio Multiple Amplifier Systems

Many years ago, ARC Audio added a feature to its PS8-Pro and newer digital signal processors that allows several processors to be connected simultaneously to a computer via unique and individualized electronic product IDs for every signal processor made. The installer can label each processor, and the technician setting up the system can select which processor (or DSP-equipped amplifier) they want to adjust from a pull-down menu. While the product development team at ARC Audio was working with iDatalink on Maestro compatibility, the two companies realized they could use this feature to allow multiple AR modules to work together simultaneously to control multiple stand-alone DSPs or DSP-equipped amplifiers.

Maestro AR
The PS8-Pro and new DNA software allow your installer to connect to multiple DSPs simultaneously.

Why would someone want multiple amplifiers in their car’s audio system? We’ll use the example of Fred Lynch’s Ford Flex. Fred works at ARC Audio, and one of his many duties is to oversee international sales. He recently drove his Flex from Modesto, California, to Toronto to be displayed and auditioned at the CMA Expo in March 2023. The audio system in the Ford Flex has three ARC Audio Blackbird 12-channel DSP amplifiers and an additional ARC 1000.2 amp that powers a trio of A-Series shallow-mount subwoofers. In addition, three Maestro AR processors in the vehicle individually control each of the system’s three DSPs.

Fred built the sound system in his Flex to demonstrate the capabilities of ARC Audio’s amplifiers, processors, speakers and subwoofers in an OEM application with all OEM controls and features retained. Most importantly to his family, no storage space was lost. As such, he optimized the system with as much power as possible. He’s also upgraded the vehicle with a three-way front stage with 8-inch woofers in the doors and RS-3.0 3-inch midrange speakers, and RS 1.0 tweeters in the A-pillars. He also bi-amped the rear ARC-Series, coaxial speakers in the mid doors and rear D-Pillar speakers! The center channel midrange and tweeter are also filtered actively. A pair of preamp DSP outputs on one of the Blackbird amplifiers provides the signal to the ARC 1000.2 subwoofer amplifier.

Bonus Features of Maestro Integration

We mentioned earlier that the AR interface sends more than just volume control commands from the factory radio to the amplifiers or signal processors. The ARC Audio DNA software allows your installer to set up a dedicated equalizer band that works with the midrange control and a high-shelf filter that responds to the treble tone controls on the radio. The bass EQ control on the radio can be configured to adjust a single-band EQ, a shelf filter or the remote level control for the subwoofer output.

Finally, the Surround Mode control on the factory radio allows for selecting from several DSP configuration presets. It’s worth noting that the number of presets is limited by the interface on each vehicle’s radio. In Fred’s Flex, he has a configuration with just the front-stage speakers only. The second preset adds the subwoofers. The third preset adds the side and rear speakers. This third preset configuration added space and size to the experience without degrading the tightly focused front stage. The fourth preset changes from a sound-quality-oriented configuration to something more popular with enthusiasts who like a lot of bass by raising several crossover points so the system can safely use the amplifiers’ prodigious power. Toggling the “speed-compensated volume” selection from off to Low to Medium or High switches the presets on all three amplifier DSPs simultaneously.

Another unique feature of the Maestro AR system when using the ARC Audio Pro-Series DSP-equipped product is that installers can reconfigure the volume structure and incremental step level on the factory volume knob. For example, many factory-installed audio systems have issues where the volume control’s first step results in sound that can be too loud to converse with the person in the seat next to you. Another common problem is that the system reaches its maximum output capabilities using half of the volume steps on the factory radio. With AR and an ARC Audio processor, your installer can redefine the volume steps so the volume control works like a factory system with the range and incremental steps you expect.

Maestro AR
Commands from the midrange and treble controls on the factory-installed radio adjust the midrange and treble tone controls as configured by the ARC Audio DNA software.
Maestro AR
ARC Audio’s DNA software allows your installer to set minimum and maximum volume levels to ensure that the system doesn’t distort.

Why Use the Maestro AR?

Any audio system upgrade ideally aims to deliver improved sound quality, extended frequency response and output capability while maintaining the system’s ease of use. Upgrading the system with better speakers, subwoofers, high-power amplifiers and client-specific system calibration while retaining the intuitive control and appearance of the factory radio using the iDatalink Maestro AR ensures that the results are going to be predictable and reliable. Furthermore, this solution eliminates the need for the installer to attempt to recombine filtered, equalized and delayed signals; worry about Bluetooth hands-free calling echoes; or add an external volume control. In short, everything works intuitively and sounds excellent.

So if you have a Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, Volkswagen or Mitsubishi, or a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, visit a local authorized vehicle iDatalink Maestro Retailer and ask about an audio system upgrade that uses the iDatalink Maestro AR interface. As a bit of teaser, we have it on good authority that iDatalink is working on an interface solution for vehicles that use A2B communication, digital over the copper (as is found in many Hyundai and Kia vehicles), along with MOST 50- and MOST 125-equipped vehicles. With the Maestro AR solutions, owners of these vehicles will be able to upgrade the sound systems with premium signal processing, amplification and speakers, ensuring that music enthusiasts can continue to have audio systems that are enjoyable and easy to use.

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, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: ARC Audio, iDatalink

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