Gadgets Blog » speakers

I get a great deal out of enjoyment from driving in my car, something that doesn’t necessarily appeal to everyone. Recently, I drove from Los Angeles all the way to Seattle, Washington, a three-day trek I completed entirely by myself. I’ll admit this endeavor took a fair amount of patience on my part, but the trip was made quite nice by a steady supply of good music. I’m lucky enough to have some nice speakers in my car, so the quality of sound is always nice while listening to music on the drive. Today we’re going to compare two different subwoofers, the MTX Audio TR4512-04 and the Audiobahn AW121T Flame Excursion. Both of these subwoofers are designed for optimal car use.

BEST: MTX Audio TR4512-04

The MTX Audio subwoofer provided the best sound quality of the two. While installation and wiring for car stereos is best handled by a professional, unless you really know what you’re doing, the quality of this unit is well worth the price of installation. Crisp bottom end provided loud and deep bass lines, with lower frequencies penetrating the audio mix but never overwhelming the trebles. On a variety of different styles, from rock to rap, the MTX Audio subwoofer was solid and clear. The 12″ speaker can handle up to 400 watts, and it’s stylish polypropylene cone was free from volume-related distortion at some serious noise levels. Priced at just over $100, it’s a great deal, meaning you won’t have to break the bank to have quality bass from your in-car audio system.

Finding quality computer speakers can be a real chore, and it’s easy to see why with the wide variety of options available. While surround sound and stereo systems are designed for a specific audio function, be it movies or music, computer speakers must instead inhabit the middle-ground, needing to be versatile in application while still packing an aural punch. Additionally, computer speakers have to compete with other office electronics for desk space, making larger and bulkier units a hassle.

Enter the Bose Companion 3 Series II computer speaker set. In spite of its long and awkward name, these speakers offer up a great combination of quality, price, and style to make them great for all types of audio. The setup is straightforward and space-saving: two stand-mounted speakers rest on either side of the computer with a beefy but compact subwoofer going somewhere nearby, or even under the desk.

Seeing as it’s a Bose unit, there are some fair expectations about sound quality at stake, and these speakers do not disappoint. Using Bose TrueSpace Signal Processing, the speakers are able to add spaciousness and ambiance to the sound, giving the speakers a larger-than-life quality. Bass frequencies are crisp and punchy thanks to the subwoofer, which provides ample boost to the low end without overwhelming the speakers. Volume can easily be controlled by the disc-shaped control know, offering auxiliary and headphone jacks in a compact unit.

The flexibility of the speakers is a great asset. They can easily be transported due to their small size, and they perform well with a variety of sound. Although they don’t have the volume levels of some larger systems, the clarity present at low volumes more than makes up for this. Movies sound as though they are in surround sound, and MP3s have a light and crisp tone to them, with vocals in particular sounding lush in the mix. There’s no way to adjust the EQ on the speakers, which should be alright if your computer or MP3 player offers the ability to do this, but it would have been a nice touch.

I’d like to start today’s article by shamelessly bragging about my winter break from school, which actually has some bearing on today’s topic. I’m from Missoula, Montana. When fall started, I drove from Montana to Los Angeles for college. This wasn’t as bad as it seems, as there was a week-long layover in Lake Tahoe. However, for winter break, I decided it was time to embark upon the ever-alluring college road trip, driving up the Pacific Coast Highway, to Sacramento, to Eugene, to Portland, to Seattle, and finally home. It was a remarkable week of travel, with the only damper coming two weeks later when I had to make the return trip. It was a great trip, and I was able to spend a lot of time exploring the west coast, bonding with Interstate 5, and hanging out in my car.

For that third reason, I feel incredibly qualified to write about some great car electronics that can improve the quality of your vehicle. If you’ve got a long trip in your future, or if you have a regular commute, a few additions to your automobile can greatly improve the use you get out of it. Here are three great kinds of electronics for your car:

Car Speakers:
While many cars on the market already have serviceable audio systems installed, there are always upgrades available if you find your stock system lacking in volume or quality. Most of these speakers require professional installation, making them more expensive than their price tag would indicate. If you have an older model, purchasing a stereo upgrade can be great for your commute. I almost always listen to music while in the car, and it’s a great way to relieve stress while on the road and pass the time on long trips. Some speaker systems are affordable, allowing you to expand your car audio easily. Check out this Pioneer speaker componant package for a great starting point.

GPS Navigation:
If you live in a big city, one of these units can be a great asset. While companies like Garmin and Tom Tom make devices that have many high end features (such as business directories built into the device), a less expensive model will still be a great asset. By having step by step directions to virtually any destination, it can take much of the stress out of driving to a new locale, or driving in a new city. Be forewarned, though, that some units suffer from confusing menu organization, making them downright dangerous to operate while driving. Always exercise caution, and never operate one while in motion. A great deal can be found on some of the entry-level models in the Garmin StreetPilot series.

As a pretentious audiophile, I’m picky about the way my music sounds (which is too bad in some respects, because we’ve lately been going through a period where high quality music is hard to come by). I’m not talking about the quality of modern pop music either. There’s an ongoing debate as to what format of music has the highest quality of audio: everything from the “natural” sound of a record player to the “chopped up” sound of a CD.

While only the most trained ears are able to pick up on some of the minute differences, the advent of MP3 players initially dealt a serious blow to audio quality, a period we’re only now coming out of. When these players only have a small amount of available hard drive space, we wind up with lower quality MP3s and thus lower sound quality on the music.

In addition to the importance of having high quality MP3s on your device, the next most important item to making your music sound great are the speakers. By using this guide, you should be able to find a system that is best for your needs and you should be well on your way to great-sounding music!

Know the return policy before you buy! This is an important step, as you’re shopping for a speaker system that fits your listening space and the acoustics it has. Not all living rooms are created equal, and oftentimes, it’s hard to hear exactly how a system sounds while it’s set up in a large department store with lots of background noise. To successfully find a speaker system that’s right for you, you’ll need a fair degree of patience. By purchasing a unit with a solid return policy, you’ll be able to shop with the security in having the freedom to test out a number of units, ultimately settling on one that matches your needs.

Find a system that matches your desired listening power! If you’re intending to blast music for large parties, you’re obviously going to need a system with some oomph. On the other hand, some speakers systems have great sound quality at lower volumes. The difference is up to you, for the most part, and you’ll need to find speakers that correspond. For louder volumes, a set of subwoofers is almost required. A good subwoofer will enable you to play music with strong, punchy bass and low-end frequency. If you’re intent on serious decibels, then you’ll probably want more than one, strategically placed in the room for maximum efficiency of sound. On the other hand, if you’re looking for ambient background music, you’re best off with a pair of bookshelf speakers. These units include good bass frequency built-in but can become clipped and blaring at louder volumes. This is an important decision to make as you shop for a system.