JVC KDR Series In-Dash Car Stereos

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Harry Donihue

Today we’re going to look at the all new KD-R Series single-din car stereos by JVC. There are 6 models in the series and with every model up you get a few more options than the last. We’ll start from the bottom up!

The KD-R330 is your basic car stereo that plays CD’s and accepts a 3.5mm auxiliary input for connecting an iPod or another MP3 player. It has 1 set of 2.5V RCA outputs that can be used to connect an amplifier for car speakers or a subwoofer. This deck is 50 watts Peak and 20 watts rms and is CEA compliant.

The KD-R540 has all of these features but also includes a front USB port that can be connected to an iPod or iPhone for controlling music directly from the stereo’s controls. Pandora Internet Radio is also supported with Apple iPhone so you can thumb up and thumb down songs from the receiver.

Step up to the KD-R640 and you’ll receive an additional pair of pre-amp outputs so you can connect more than one amplifier easily. Variable color illumination will let you match the colors of your stereo to the colors of your vehicle’s interior. Also, if you’ve got steering wheel controls, the 640 is steering wheel control compatible, you’ll just need to purchase an additional module.

Next up, the KD-R740BT features built-in Bluetooth, which is great for hands-free phone calls and streaming your music from a Bluetooth enabled device such as an iPhone or Android. This receiver still has all of the features previously mentioned, but has a solid blue button illumination color.

Step it up to the KD-R80BT and you’ll get a few new features. 5-zone variable color illumination and brightness control let you select your favorite colors to be displayed. A 4-line text display will show you much more information at a glance than other typical single DIN receivers. Not only that, the three sets of 4.8 volts pre-amp outputs that are built in will make a huge difference in quality and control when installing aftermarket amplifiers.

Last in the series is the KD-R840BT. It’s designed with an easy to read single-line display that’s visible day or night. Like the 80BT, it has 5-zone variable color illumination as well Bluetooth technology. This deck is equipped with three sets of 2V pre-amp outputs, and offers front and rear USB inputs to connect your favorite devices.

So, if you’re looking for a solid receiver that offers a ton of features, the KD-R series car stereos by JVC may be right for you. Check out all of these products and more at the one and only SonicElectronix.com.

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Top Features To Look For In Gaming Headsets

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Jason Theroux
Headset

Don't be this guy

So, there you are trying to snipe some 10 year old noob in Black ops 2 who told you that he invited your mother to play with his legos (language toned down, of course).  Little do you that he’s sneaking up behind you and knifing you in the back.  Now, this could have been a completely avoidable situation if you had a good pair of gaming headsets that could pick up on the sounds of the footsteps coming up on you. Gamers can sometimes forget that without detailed sound, even the most captivating visuals can seem anemic. If you want to take your gaming to the next level, then you’re going to need headphones that have certain qualifications.

Tritton 720+

There are several important features to consider before you jump the gun on buying a gaming headset. The first thing that should be a major concern is surround sound capabilities. Lots of gaming headphones like the Tritton 720+ have multiple drivers that produce sound equivalent to that of high end home stereo surround sound system. This is also extremely helpful in first person shooter games when someone is trying to sneak up behind you.  The surround sound capabilities will be able to pick up on the footstep audio that would otherwise go unheard by your conventional gaming headset.

Having wireless capabilities is another feature many might consider important.  If you like to move around a lot while you slay your adversaries, then it’s good to have no wires in the way that might cause your precious ear-hugging beauties to be thrown from your head. The microphone should be detachable and have an in-line controller to maintain chat and volume controls depending on your gaming situation.  Also, you should make sure they are equipped with comfortable earpads so that you can game through a long night.

Remember that if you don’t have good gaming headphones you could be missing out on a fully satisfying gaming experience!

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The Overhead Versus Headrest Monitor Video System Rumble

Posted on March 30, 2013 by cburkhart

It’s the age old question, do I get a headrest monitor or a flip down monitor? How do you decide on how to invest your money? Which system is going to be more practical or more awesome?

Well one of the first questions you should be asking yourself is, who’s going to be using the screen and what kind of car is it going into? Do you have a sedan and drive around with people in your back seat who argue and can’t agree on the exact color the sky is let alone what movie to watch? Well then you might want to check out dual DVD player head rest monitors. Give them some headphones and enjoy the peace and quiet while they each watch their own separate movie or even listen to separate music than what you have going in your car.

Ok so maybe you have an Escalade or a Denali or a Suburban or any other vehicle with three rows of seats. Well swapping out all of those headrests can be costly and impractical so you might want to go with an overhead monitor. This way you can get a nice big screen and more people can watch without you having to replace four headrests. And hey, while you’re at it, go have yourself a tailgate party or a beach trip and pop open the back and keep everyone entertained. You’re sure to impress and be the life of the party. And if you’re impressing and entertaining, that means you don’t have to bring the drinks and food.

Since a 21” flip down screen might not be the best idea if you have a smaller car, you’re free to try of course but good luck, a headrest monitor would probably be the way to go.

So you’re the person who wants a perfect color match in your ride and everything has to perfect in your car, and who could blame you, if you’re willing to spend the extra cash on a higher end headrest monitors like the ones from CarShow or Vizualogic, you can get custom matched colors that are designed specifically for your year, make and model. This way you know you won’t have to worry about the headrest being a charcoal black when your interior is a slightly darker charcoal black.

If you’re like yours truly and want to have an awesome tricked out car, with a factory match look, but you haven’t quite gotten famous yet so you can’t spend too much money, you’ll want to go with an overhead monitor. If the flip down monitor doesn’t quite match your interior exactly, it’s not quite as noticeable. Or if you have a cloth interior, the overhead might be a better fit since a vinyl or leather headrest might look kinda awkward with cloth seats.

When it comes down to it either a flip down or headrests are going to be pretty sweet and are going to serve their purpose of providing some rear seat entertainment. If you have a smaller vehicle, want more viewing options and want to have a look as close to factory as possible you’ll probably want to go with headrest monitors. If you have a bigger vehicle with more seat rows, have cloth seats, and want the biggest screen you can get to entertain everyone then you’ll probably want to go with an overhead monitor. And hey, if you really want to want to turn your ride into a media entertainment hub and have the dough to spend on it, you can always go with both. Nothing will turn heads quite like a vehicle with a pair of headrest screens and a 17″ flip down screen. Do it…

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Wireless Back Up Cameras

Posted on March 30, 2013 by cburkhart

Why Wireless?

Our world is becoming less and less wired everyday. Lone gone are the days when you had to have cords on everything. The wires are getting chopped off all of our favorite gadgets to make them more convenient and easier to use. From our phones to our keyboards the wires are long gone. So why would we keep the wires on our backup cameras? We shouldn’t! And now we don’t have to with the ORQV110-SYS by Open Road and the RVC1R by Scosche, your installs will be that much easier when installing a backup system into your vehicle.

Tell Me More…

Normally a back up camera install requires you to run long wires through your vehicle that can become damaged so you have to replace them and can also require you to, depending on what kind of camera you buy, to also have to drill a hole in your bumper to mount the camera. The ORQV110-SYS and RVC1R make installation a breeze so you can make your vehicle safer and more convenient in no time. The video signals on both cameras are completely wireless and the viewing monitor on both can be either plugged into the cigarette lighter for an ultra fast install, or hardwired for a permanent install.

Scosche RVC1R 

The Scosche RVC1R comes with a 2.5″ viewing monitor and is at a steal of a price. The lens is at a 105 degree angle and even works well in low light situations. Say goodbye to long installs when you’re hooking this bad boy up. Simply connect the power wires on the camera to your reverse wire in your vehicle and power on the monitor and you’re ready to go.

Open Road ORQV110-SYS

The Open Road ORQV110-SYS has some similar features as the RVC1R but is built with better materials and also built in the United States. The ORQV110-SYS is also truly wireless with a battery powered camera that has a battery life of 6 months. The camera has a wide 130 degree for ultimate visibility and if you have  a trailer you can check on it while you’re driving to make sure you didn’t lose anything. You also get a 3.5″ screen that mounts right on the dash.

Why Even Bother?

Well a few reasons. One, if you have a large vehicle, backing into those tight parking spots can be a real pain. And it would be a shame to scratch the paint job on your ride and have to spend your hard earned dough on something that was totally avoidable. Two, if you have a trailer on your already large vehicle, the parking becomes even more difficult. Not to mention you can keep an eye on your cargo while cruising down the freeway to make sure you don’t lose your trailer and cause a pile up. Not to mention just the safety feature alone that makes a wireless camera all the more worth it. If you live in a neighborhood with lot’s of children, a tragic accident can be avoided if a kid is chasing a ball and runs behind your vehicle while backing up. Especially if you have a new driver in your household who, let’s face it, probably isn’t the best driver in the world.

So…

Why wait any longer? A wireless back up system is affordable and takes almost no time at all to install. They’ll help you avoid costly damage or from accidentally hitting someone. So now that all your excuses are gone, get yours now!

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Cerwin-Vega HED Series Speakers – Great Sound at a Lovely Price

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Harry Donihue

So you’ve got a vehicle, but the sound simply isn’t up to par. What do you do? Well, you upgrade your speakers of course!  Cerwin-Vega has made it easy and affordable to get the quality sound you’ve always wanted in your vehicle with the HED series coaxial and component car speakers.

Each woofer cone is composed of a polypropylene cone material which is accurate and lightweight so the speaker will have a greater transient response. The series is equipped with rubber speaker surrounds that help guide the movement of the cone in a perfectly linear fashion in order to preserve the accuracy of the music being produced. Each HED series speaker is equipped with a 19mm mylar dome tweeter that’s responsible for articulating super-high frequencies that pass the range of human hearing. All of these speaker components are driven by a powerful ferrite magnet and an aluminum voice coil that work to control the cone movement and to dissipate heat as quick as possible.

The HED Series car speakers are available in a 4”, 6.5”, 5” x 7” and 6” x 9” coaxial system, and a 5-1/4” and 6-1/2” component system. Both component sets feature a separate tweeter that can be flush mounted into the doors for optimal imaging of your music. Separate crossover networks are included which will blend the frequency spectrum of the mid-woofer to that of the tweeter for an ideal flat response. With relatively low power ratings, these speakers will sound great off the head-unit or even a small amplifier.

The entire HED lineup is constructed using quality parts and materials to ensure a long lasting driver that will forever sound great in your car or truck, so when it’s time for a little sound upgrade, don’t overlook the HED series by Cerwin-Vega. You can check out the whole line-up of speakers by visiting us at SonicElectronix.com!

Shop Now!

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