Fresh asphalt lies ahead. Look further and you can see it weave through the hills and down near the beach like hot fudge swirled on super-white vanilla ice cream. As you exit the main highway, you downshift, then squeeze the gas just hard enough and early enough out of a lazy hairpin to get the rear tires to break loose for a second. Then, as if the day can't get any better, you grab 3rd with a perfectly timed shift, then switch on the stereo to hear the opening, angst-ridden chords of The Killers' Somebody Told Me. Perfect.
Actually, it could be any piece of music, from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Brooks and Dunn, but the point is the same. The right track, the right tune, the right sound can add creamy frosting to an already moist and chocolaty cupcake of a drive. (It must be close to lunchtime.) And we can almost guarantee that nobody is picturing their favorite song playing through an old Kraco stereo with two paper-thin speakers.
Music for the masses
Most of us simply take for granted that the standard stereo in a new Toyota or Cadillac is going to be great, but that wasn't always the case. It used to be that the first stop on the way home from a new-car purchase was the local car-stereo store so you could get a "serious system" complete with pipe-organ-looking speakers and an eight-track player.
OK, so the '70s are over, but today's premium car stereos have their roots firmly planted in the aftermarket. Without aftermarket audio manufacturers that seemed to boom in the late '80s and early '90s, it's doubtful we'd have a Dodge Magnum SRT-8 outfitted with a Kicker subwoofer, or a Nissan Frontier with a best-in-class Rockford Fosgate stereo, or even a Lexus GS with a stellar Mark Levinson system. It's those aftermarket manufacturers that pioneered today's excellent-sounding, factory-installed in-car audio systems and it's those same manufacturers (along with a few newcomers) that continue to innovate and create the features, technology and excellent sound quality that will show up in the next generation of new cars.
Un-pimped stereos
Now, if you're thinking aftermarket car audio equals awful-looking, overly pimped-out head units or freakishly large woofers, you may be a little behind the times. Today's in-car systems can look stock, but still deliver astonishing sound quality and performance. Jaed Arzadon with Pioneer Electronics told us that the trend is changing toward more plain-looking units. "A higher percentage of our sales are now of units that either look stock or work with the stock in-car system" he says. Blinking dash lights and neo-future displays may have looked really cool on Knight Rider, but in today's world the "Hey, look at me, I'm expensive" stereos can sometimes be translated, "Hey, steal me, I'm expensive."
To get the latest on in-car audio systems we could wait for the 2010 Nissan whatever to show up at the L.A. auto show or our local dealer. We could, but we won't. We're impatient. Instead we've decided to skip ahead and find out for ourselves what's hot for 2006 in aftermarket car audio. Here's a brief rundown of what we think are must-haves for those who know deep down that the right song and the right system make the drive that much better.
Alpine PDX amplifiers
The main advantage of Alpine's new PDX amps is that they are compact despite the fact that the top-of-the-line PDX-1.1000 delivers 1,000 watts of power. Alpine says the other advantage is that these amps are so energy-efficient that they run relatively cool and do not need internal fans or large heat sinks. PDX amplifiers are also designed to be stackable so several can fit in a limited space.
Kicker Solo-Baric L7 subwoofer
Essentially a square subwoofer, Kicker says the square design of the L7 makes it louder than a round sub — plus it just looks cool. It's not entirely clear that the square shape alone will produce superior sound, but we do know that Kicker's reputation for high-quality, well-engineered, thumping subwoofers is well deserved.
Panasonic CQ-TX5500D vacuum head unit
Thanks to Uncrate.com, we stumbled upon this super-cool vacuum-tube car stereo head unit from Panasonic. Audiophiles often prefer the warm, rich tone a tube amplifier brings to the listening experience. In fact, there are even a handful of companies still making modern tube components for home use. Sure, a vacuum tube may not be practical for the rigors of an in-car environment, but it sure is different. Plus, that tube emits a captivating orange glow when it's fired up, and we're especially fond of the retro level meters. Even with the old-school look, this unit plays CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3 discs.
Pioneer AVIC-Z1 navigation system
Billed as one of the most advanced in-car navigation systems on the market, the AVIC-Z1 boasts a 30-gigabyte hard drive and a navigation system with the ability to "learn" which routes you prefer. Combine that with features like voice recognition, traffic information and Bluetooth, and this Pioneer system easily competes with some high-end new-car systems. The AVIC-Z1 also has the ability to analyze road data information such as posted speed limits, number of turns to the destination, etc., to provide the driver the most logical route. To keep you entertained, the AVIC-Z1 also plays DVDs and CDs, and supports satellite radio.
Pioneer Inno portable music player
The Pioneer Inno is a portable music player that features an XM radio receiver and also plays MP3 and WMA files thanks to its 1-gigabyte storage capacity. The Inno isn't strictly an in-car device, but it does feature a built-in FM transmitter so you can listen to MP3s or XM in the car (we hope a Bluetooth version is on its way). The Inno also features Napster software that allows you to "mark" a song you hear on XM. Later when you connect to your PC, the marked songs will be instantly purchased and loaded onto your Inno.
Rockford Fosgate 3Sixty audio customizing tool
If you want excellent sound in your car without tearing up the dash, the 3Sixty is for you. It's a signal processor that allows a user to add aftermarket audio equipment to a factory-installed system without losing key features like navigation and steering wheel audio controls. Rockford Fosgate says, "The 3Sixty uses artificial intelligence to correct the inadequacies of the factory system and overcome factory equalizer settings." The more expensive 3Sixty.2 adds more control by offering an interactive touchscreen or you can use a Bluetooth-enabled Palm OS to custom-tune the sound. The 3Sixty also adds an auxiliary input for connecting other devices like portable MP3 players.
Scosche BlueLife System
Scosche's BlueLife System offers the wireless convenience of Bluetooth without having to buy a new car. The drawback is that you will have to hardwire a Bluetooth receiver to your car stereo and the BlueLife system really works best on aftermarket units as it connects via RCA jacks. And unless you live in a small town or rural area, FM transmitters for your iPod simply aren't a viable option for listening in the car. Scosche solves that issue too, with a kit that allows you to connect both your iPod and Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to your car, giving added flexibility and almost zero wiry mess on top of your center console. Scosche even earned a 2006 Consumer Electronics Show innovation award for this little gadget.
StreetDeck electronics package
StreetDeck is much more than just another car stereo; it's a mobile all-in-one electronics package that can handle almost anything. It offers navigation features, Bluetooth phone integration, satellite radio, a DVD player, an MP3 player, WiFi sync support, a rearview camera support and vehicle diagnostics. StreetDeck allows you to search and sort music by genre, song title or artist, and supports user-created playlists. It can also display album art. Finally, StreetDeck has an ultra-easy-to-use interface that allows you to simply draw letters on the screen with your finger when searching or programming the nav system.
Actually, it could be any piece of music, from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Brooks and Dunn, but the point is the same. The right track, the right tune, the right sound can add creamy frosting to an already moist and chocolaty cupcake of a drive. (It must be close to lunchtime.) And we can almost guarantee that nobody is picturing their favorite song playing through an old Kraco stereo with two paper-thin speakers.
Music for the masses
Most of us simply take for granted that the standard stereo in a new Toyota or Cadillac is going to be great, but that wasn't always the case. It used to be that the first stop on the way home from a new-car purchase was the local car-stereo store so you could get a "serious system" complete with pipe-organ-looking speakers and an eight-track player.
OK, so the '70s are over, but today's premium car stereos have their roots firmly planted in the aftermarket. Without aftermarket audio manufacturers that seemed to boom in the late '80s and early '90s, it's doubtful we'd have a Dodge Magnum SRT-8 outfitted with a Kicker subwoofer, or a Nissan Frontier with a best-in-class Rockford Fosgate stereo, or even a Lexus GS with a stellar Mark Levinson system. It's those aftermarket manufacturers that pioneered today's excellent-sounding, factory-installed in-car audio systems and it's those same manufacturers (along with a few newcomers) that continue to innovate and create the features, technology and excellent sound quality that will show up in the next generation of new cars.
Un-pimped stereos
Now, if you're thinking aftermarket car audio equals awful-looking, overly pimped-out head units or freakishly large woofers, you may be a little behind the times. Today's in-car systems can look stock, but still deliver astonishing sound quality and performance. Jaed Arzadon with Pioneer Electronics told us that the trend is changing toward more plain-looking units. "A higher percentage of our sales are now of units that either look stock or work with the stock in-car system" he says. Blinking dash lights and neo-future displays may have looked really cool on Knight Rider, but in today's world the "Hey, look at me, I'm expensive" stereos can sometimes be translated, "Hey, steal me, I'm expensive."
To get the latest on in-car audio systems we could wait for the 2010 Nissan whatever to show up at the L.A. auto show or our local dealer. We could, but we won't. We're impatient. Instead we've decided to skip ahead and find out for ourselves what's hot for 2006 in aftermarket car audio. Here's a brief rundown of what we think are must-haves for those who know deep down that the right song and the right system make the drive that much better.
Alpine PDX amplifiers
The main advantage of Alpine's new PDX amps is that they are compact despite the fact that the top-of-the-line PDX-1.1000 delivers 1,000 watts of power. Alpine says the other advantage is that these amps are so energy-efficient that they run relatively cool and do not need internal fans or large heat sinks. PDX amplifiers are also designed to be stackable so several can fit in a limited space.
Kicker Solo-Baric L7 subwoofer
Essentially a square subwoofer, Kicker says the square design of the L7 makes it louder than a round sub — plus it just looks cool. It's not entirely clear that the square shape alone will produce superior sound, but we do know that Kicker's reputation for high-quality, well-engineered, thumping subwoofers is well deserved.
Panasonic CQ-TX5500D vacuum head unit
Thanks to Uncrate.com, we stumbled upon this super-cool vacuum-tube car stereo head unit from Panasonic. Audiophiles often prefer the warm, rich tone a tube amplifier brings to the listening experience. In fact, there are even a handful of companies still making modern tube components for home use. Sure, a vacuum tube may not be practical for the rigors of an in-car environment, but it sure is different. Plus, that tube emits a captivating orange glow when it's fired up, and we're especially fond of the retro level meters. Even with the old-school look, this unit plays CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3 discs.
Pioneer AVIC-Z1 navigation system
Billed as one of the most advanced in-car navigation systems on the market, the AVIC-Z1 boasts a 30-gigabyte hard drive and a navigation system with the ability to "learn" which routes you prefer. Combine that with features like voice recognition, traffic information and Bluetooth, and this Pioneer system easily competes with some high-end new-car systems. The AVIC-Z1 also has the ability to analyze road data information such as posted speed limits, number of turns to the destination, etc., to provide the driver the most logical route. To keep you entertained, the AVIC-Z1 also plays DVDs and CDs, and supports satellite radio.
Pioneer Inno portable music player
The Pioneer Inno is a portable music player that features an XM radio receiver and also plays MP3 and WMA files thanks to its 1-gigabyte storage capacity. The Inno isn't strictly an in-car device, but it does feature a built-in FM transmitter so you can listen to MP3s or XM in the car (we hope a Bluetooth version is on its way). The Inno also features Napster software that allows you to "mark" a song you hear on XM. Later when you connect to your PC, the marked songs will be instantly purchased and loaded onto your Inno.
Rockford Fosgate 3Sixty audio customizing tool
If you want excellent sound in your car without tearing up the dash, the 3Sixty is for you. It's a signal processor that allows a user to add aftermarket audio equipment to a factory-installed system without losing key features like navigation and steering wheel audio controls. Rockford Fosgate says, "The 3Sixty uses artificial intelligence to correct the inadequacies of the factory system and overcome factory equalizer settings." The more expensive 3Sixty.2 adds more control by offering an interactive touchscreen or you can use a Bluetooth-enabled Palm OS to custom-tune the sound. The 3Sixty also adds an auxiliary input for connecting other devices like portable MP3 players.
Scosche BlueLife System
Scosche's BlueLife System offers the wireless convenience of Bluetooth without having to buy a new car. The drawback is that you will have to hardwire a Bluetooth receiver to your car stereo and the BlueLife system really works best on aftermarket units as it connects via RCA jacks. And unless you live in a small town or rural area, FM transmitters for your iPod simply aren't a viable option for listening in the car. Scosche solves that issue too, with a kit that allows you to connect both your iPod and Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to your car, giving added flexibility and almost zero wiry mess on top of your center console. Scosche even earned a 2006 Consumer Electronics Show innovation award for this little gadget.
StreetDeck electronics package
StreetDeck is much more than just another car stereo; it's a mobile all-in-one electronics package that can handle almost anything. It offers navigation features, Bluetooth phone integration, satellite radio, a DVD player, an MP3 player, WiFi sync support, a rearview camera support and vehicle diagnostics. StreetDeck allows you to search and sort music by genre, song title or artist, and supports user-created playlists. It can also display album art. Finally, StreetDeck has an ultra-easy-to-use interface that allows you to simply draw letters on the screen with your finger when searching or programming the nav system.
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