How To Get Dead: Florida SPL & Second Skin

The guys over at FloridaSPL have put together this awesome video on how to properly dampen a vehicle to get the most from your audio equipment.  They apply Second Skin to the cabin and trunk of a 2004 Toyota Corolla, using Damplifier Pro in the trunk and interior panels, and Luxury Liner Pro on the floorboards. FloridaSPL wraps up the video by taking us on a test drive to show us the difference the sound deadening made using a TermLab RTA that graphs the interior noise levels of the Corolla both before and after then project was completed. Great video!

Source: FloridaSPL.com

Field Trip: Chesky Records HQ

By: Ben Vollmer, Car Audio Nationals, Team SoundDomain

After spending a couple of days last week in Boston, this week I was once again in the Northeast. My day job called me there to conduct some training, but while in New York City, I was able to sneak away to the headquarters of audiophile CD producers,  Chesky Records.

I met up with Lisa, who has been invaluable working with Car Audio Nationals on our competition CD. She has also been awesome working on several other small projects that may bare fruit soon I hope.

While offices are offices, Lisa was able to sneak me into Chesky's in-house studio. I also had the opportunity to meet Nick, the recording engineer, who was busy creating the high definition tracks for the HDTracks.com website.  While in the studio, Lisa and Nick sat me down on the listening sofa.

WOW! WOW! WOW! ...

Field Trip to Ritop School in Boston

By: Ben Vollmer, Car Audio Nationals/Team SoundDomain

Last week I had to visit Boston for my day job, but while paying a visit to the Wonder City, I was able to sneak out for a couple of hours and chat with long time industry member and Car Audio Nationals Judge, Richard Inferrera at Rich's CarTunes. He founded The Ritop School in 1985, with the training facility graduating over 100 installers each year from its Watertown, MA location. If you are looking to enter the car audio field or polish your skills, take a peek at Ritop. 

I was given an awesome tour of the facility and it was very impressive. Much time was spent both in class rooms talking about theory and in some pretty impressive installation bays. One of my favorite items during the tour was the paint booth. I've visited hundreds of shops over the years, and this is the first paint booth I have ever seen in a shop.

Since they have been at it for over 20 years, it was awesome seeing some of classic equipment I have a  soft spot for. There was an older JBL Power Series amp and a brand that I haven't seen in forever, Street Edge.

They had a Audi A4 in the bay for the students to work on. I enjoyed seeing...

Ultra Subs/Arc Audio Knight Industries 2000

SoundDomain Mod Brian Murphy has been helping spread the word about Ultra Subs and got the scoop on Ultra's next demo car: an original Knight Industries Two Thousands,  K.I.T.T., built by legendary super hot rod builder, George Barris. However, this is not your "average" K.I.T.T.. No, this is the Super Pursuit Braking Mode version of the Hollywood super car. According to Ultra's CarDomain ride page:

"It was the model used for the "braking mode" before it went back to "normal" from Super Pursuit Mode. There were only four of these models made, three have been  destroyed and that makes this car the last of it's kind. It was last used in the movie Benchwarmers and soon will be a showcar for Arc Audio and Ultrasubs."

As Ultra stated on their Ride Page, this car is going to be built up as a demo car for Ultra Subs and Arc Audio, and we'll be sure to keep you in the loop! Follow the jump for a YouTube clip of this Hollywood hot rod in action and a few more pics!

New Vifa Drivers Launching in January

By: Ben Vollmer, Car Audio Nationals/Team SoundDomain

Tymphany, the parent company for such well known brands as Peerless, Vifa and ScanSpeak, is developing an entirely new range of VIFA drivers. Prototypes of the new driver line, scheduled to launch January 2009, will be on display at Tymphany’s suite at CEDIA in September 2008.

The new range will include the following:

Get Dead: Second Skin Hands-On

SoundDomain member Bikinpunk decided it was time to lose the rattles and hum from his daily driver and get the most out his sound equipment investment, so he applied a bit of Second Skin's to his Civic. Bikin's weapons of choice for the battle against noise? A couple hundred feet of Second Skin Damplifier Pro, a Speaker Tweaker Kit, and a box of Luxury Liner Pro. Check out his write up in the forums!

Headed to Tulsa? Check Out Mark Eldridge's Sound Quality Seminar

By: Ben Vollmer, Car Audio Nationals/Team SoundDomain

Mark Eldridge is having a two day class in Bixby, OK right before the big CarToys show.

His company, Mobile Soundstage Engineering is proud to announce that it will be conducting several of our Advanced Sound Quality Seminars in the latter half of 2008. This first is going to happen Thursday and Friday the 28th and 29th right before the CarToys show on the 30th and 31st.

The classes will be non-stop action both days, strictly practical application information, with only enough theory to let everyone understand why it works.

I registered for it already as did Andy and Rick from Team SoundDomain. So just based upon that it should be a ton of fun.    

Based upon the registration list I saw, we are going to have a lot of very experienced competitors and judges in the same room, with lots of different opinions on some of these topics.  We should have some lively and very interesting discussions to supplement the actual curriculum.

Please e-mail Mark directly if you are interested in attending, and he can provide specific details on pricing, and other important information.

Mark Eldridge
meldridge@mblsound.com

I look forward to seeing you there!

in the forums!

Rest in Peace: Car Audio and Electronics Magazine

By: Ben Vollmer, Car Audio Nationals/Team SoundDomain

I just found out that one of my favorite magazines is being laid to rest. Source Interlink, the owner of Car Audio & Electronics is shutting the magazine down.  CA&E is joining several of my other favorite magazines in our memories. I hope some smaller publisher recognizes that the we still like paper magazines and picks up the brand.

Anybody remember some of the other car audio mags from the past? Check out the jump for a few other titles.

in the forums!

Congrats to "Snakebite" For Earning His Masters!

Big congrats to David "Snakebite" Parhat for achieving MECP Master Technician certification! David now joins a small and very exclusive group of Mobile Electronics Certified Professionals to achieve this highest level of certification. David is currently the a Product Specialist and Tech for Directed Electronics, a company that leads the industry in technical support and information. Directed provides first class service and support to their dealers to make sure your car receives the highest quality installation possible, and with David's new certification, this only reinforces Directed's (and David's) dedication to this industry. "Snakebite" is also a moderator for many of SoundDomain's forums and was also one of the installers responsible for building CarDomain's custom Scion xD SEMA booth car for 2007. He's also a heckuva nice guy! Congrats again, David!

Hands-On: Alpine IVA-W505

SoundDomain member Erin "bikinpunk" Hardison picked up an Alpine IVA-W505 and decided to document the unboxing and provided a pictorial walk-through of some of the different menus and screens. If you've considered picking up one of these multimedia powerhouses, click through to the forum to check out everything from the basic CD and DVD controls to the USB input interface and sound-shaping controls.

Check it out!

IASCA Finals Rescheduled To Spring Break Nationals

With the news of all future NOPI events canceled, that left IASCA car audio competitors in the dark as to where the 2008 IASCA finals would be held. Well, IASCA has it covered and Finals will be held at Spring Break Nationals in Daytona Beach in March 2009. Thanks to SoundDOmain member KickinAudio of FloridaSPL.com for the heads-up! Full details after the break.

Alpine Bluetooth Install & Hands-On

Team SoundDomain member Robert Petty has been building up his toy arsenal again, this time adding an Alpine KCE-300BT Bluetooth adapter to his IVA-W205. But since Robert is an engineer by trade and a gadget geek by hobby, he wanted to take his install a bit beyond what Alpine provides instructions for. Robert's Acura CL-S came equipped with an analog OnStar system (which was made useless after OnStar switched to an all-digital system not too long ago), and he successfully incorporated the factory OnStar microphone in his rearview mirror with the Alpine set-up. Now Robert has a stealthy hands-free solution for his mobile phone and can even stream audio from his cell into his W205.

Check out Roberts hands-on of the KCA-300BT, including screen shots and install progress, in the Head Unit Help forum, and take a peek at his competition SQ CL-S build in the Team SoundDomain forums.

Welcome Ultra Subs To CarDomain!

SoundDomain mod Brian Murphy gave me a heads up that Ultra Subs recently created a new member page on CarDomain to show off some of their products and a few of their latest demo cars and installs. The Charger you see above is pretty impressive, as are the other multiple rides on the page. In case you're not familiar, Ultra Subs is what some would consider a "boutique brand" with the vision of producing some of the loudest and cleanest subs for those with SQ and SPL goals for their sound systems. Ultra got their start manufacturing no-holds-barred beefy subwoofers, and are also venturing into speakers, components, and amplifiers. There's even a sneak peak on Ultra's ride page of a prototype five-channel amp that may or may not make it to market.

Hop on over to CarDomain and check out their new page, and stay tuned to SoundDomain for more news from Ultra!

Manufacturer Home Page: Ultra Subs
CarDomain Ride Page: UltraSubs's 1969 Dodge Charger

Pretty Cool Hair Trick Vid

I'm not sure why these vids are so entertaining to watch, they just are. I mean, we know what's going to happen just by the description of the video... There's going to be some bass and there's going to be a girl getting her hair whipped around. Regardless, it's still somewhat mesmerizing and fun to watch. This vid was put together by Snoopdan of E-Town, Kentucky at a MECA SPL event.

Team Bassick Update: Cage Almost Complete, World Domination Eminent

I just checked back up on the Team Bassick build post and it looks like things are coming along nicely on the bangin' Burban build. Looks like the cage is just about done, which means the guys can start getting down and dirty with the next steps in fabrication. I can't wait to see how this turns out! Here's a few sneak peaks. If you want to follow the thread over at Steve Meade Designs, click on any of the pics!

Oh yeah, and if you were one of the few folks who got hit with the Antivirus 2009 Spyware ad that appeared on CarDomain and SoundDomain, check out John's post for a details on this annoying and non-CarDomain- or SoundDomain- approved advertisement.

Friendly Reminder: Handsfree While Driving is a Good Idea, the Law

Just a public service advertisement announcement that driving handsfree is the law in many states as of July 1st. And honestly folks, even if it's not the law, it's just a good idea.

Heat Wave Gallery LIVE!

Well I guess it took a bit longer to get this gallery live than it does most of our other events... Why? Because I made it a point to shoot every car, truck, and 2-wheeled vehicle that crossed my path - almost 1500 pictures snapped under the blazing Austin sun. There were even a few hot motorcycles, ATVs, and a handful of lowrider bicycles adding a little flavor to the show. Can you find you ride?

Check out the complete coverage over at CarDomain!

Monday Meade: New Victims & New Old Stock

Steve posted up a new video this weekend and two older vids from his "Inventory of Hurt". Here's the first vid:

"Went up to my boy Chicken's house and there is never a shortage of people who want to hear my beat....One of them was a non-believer a few days ago...."

Two more vids after the jump!

Gettin' Stealthy In A Lancer Sportback

By: Brian Murphy, SoundDomain Moderator/MECP Installer

JL Audio makes some of the best vehicle specific sub woofer enclosures on the planet. However, their boxes are not mass produced, each box is a one-off made by hand from custom molds. I found a box made for the VW Golf that would be perfect in my car, however, I don't drive a VW Golf, I drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback. So what can I do? I can make my own box. I have a little bit of experience with fiberglass and have made several boxes, amp racks and kick panels. So I decided to be a nice guy and put this build here on SoundDomain so others can learn with me.

in the forums!

Journey MP3 Player Is Perry Cool

OK, so I admit it... When a Journey song comes on the radio, I know the words. I don't own any of their albums, I think I might have one of their songs in my music collection, but for some reason I know the words to most of the popular 80's hits. And if you don't, well, now you can!

This amazing mp3 player that comes preloaded with 22 songs from the Revelation album and is decorated in some really hot Journey art. You know you want it. This mp3 player features a massive 1GB of storage capacity, voice recorder, and a built-in speaker so you can rock out with your friends. Don't Stop Believin' folks, this this is for real. For a mere $40, this MP3 player can be Faithfully Yours.

Source: OhGizmo!

MTX Heats Up Heat Wave! (Pt 2)

Part One of our "MTX Heats Up Heat Wave" gave you a look at the amazing Lamborghini Nova Blue Nissan Titan, and now we'll show you the rest of the line-up: two smokin' hot Escalades and a bagged and dropped Chevy S10. All of the installs in these trucks were simply over-the-top, each with their own appeal. The matte black Escalade is still my favorite of this group because the paint and overall theme is so well laid out. The custom paint on the wheels are pretty crazy - the matte paint gives them an unreal, almost cartoonish look.

Getting Ready For The Show

All competitors have different ways in which they prepare for a show. Some do nothing, some spend hours into the wee morning testing and tuning their systems, some tear their cars apart to make last minute adjustments or changes to the install with hopes of scoring a few points higher or to satisfy a judge's suggestions for improvement. Team SoundDomain member Robert Petty gives us a little insight into his routine for pre-show prep. Nothing like a little last minute sound deadening and RTA tuning to get the blood pumping!

Check out Robert's routine! How do you prepare?

MTX Heats Up Heat Wave! (Pt 1)

Over the weekend I was down in Austin, TX for the Custom Sounds Texas Heat Wave. The show was much larger than I anticipated, a good thing of course, and I did my best to shoot every single car, truck, motorcycle, and whatever else looked cool. Many car audio and car and truck performance manufacturers were on hand to show off their products and demo vehicles, but none impressed me more than MTX's assault on the show.

They brought an arsenal of custom trucks for their booth, each displaying jaw-dropping style and eardrum splitting sound systems. The cartoon-like matte black Escalade that debuted during CES was on hand, along with a red and black Escalade equipped with the legendary 22" Jackhammers. And a bagged and dumped Chevy S10 extended cab had an awesome industrial-styled install with crazy doors, a blow-through box, and a bed full of amps and video screens. But even with all of those amazing demo cars, nothing impressed me more than the Lamborghini-blue completely custom Nissan Titan you see above (with more pics after the jump!), built by Kustomz Unlimited, Inc of Garland, TX.   

Scions Owners Owned Heat Wave

Scions are owning recent car shows. These guys roll in huge cliques and really represent their brand, each with a unique and sometimes entertaining style. Some owners choose a tuner theme to show their style; others go way over-the-top; almost following in a Japanese Bosozoku fashion; some attempt to add a touch of luxury to their econo-boxes - and all variations were represented well at Heat Wave.

But for some reason, this VIP-styled xB really grabbed my attention. Now, (no offense) Scion will never truly be considered a car that can be part of the VIP styling craze since it's not part of the luxury marques, but this xB was just clean and well thought-out. The basic low profile body kit, the deep dish color-coded monobloc style wheels, the chrome trim - all followed the VIP styling with a slight sport compact flair. But the color-coded minibar extending from the dash is what really grabbed me and had me giggling like a Japanese school girl. The rest of the interior followed the color-coded theme, finishing off the simple and clean design of this xB. Nice job! Check out the Gallery after the jump.

Worst Imaging Vehicle Ever!

By: Ben Vollmer, Car Audio Nationals

I have listened to some absolute terrible vehicles in my time.  After spending 15 hours in a Penske Rental truck, I can now officially say that this is the worst imaging vehicle ever. However it does have 194 square feet of floor space, 1,400 cubic feet of storage space, and the ability to hold 8,370 lb. worth of stuff.

So why did this sound system acoustically suck? Because they mounted the speakers behind the bench seat. Yup. Not one piece of sound originated from in front of you.

Oh yeah, and they put a governor on it at 67 mph. Talk about a loooong drive.

What is the worst sounding car you have ever heard?

in the forums!

Orion's Colorado Gets A Makeover!

You might remember this Colorado from its debut two years ago at SEMA.... It sported the first (as far as we know) rotating subwoofer enclosure. Since it was making it's debut at the SEMA show in Vegas, the rotating woofers were meant to resemble a slot machine. It was an insane idea, and it slammed like crazy. Now the guys have decided to give the truck somewhat of a rebirth, sending it down to have world-class installer Calvin Thomas a shot at the beast. He loaded the Colo full of HCCA woofers, amps, and speakers in a very clean, very loud custom install. Follow the jump to check out our gallery and audio system list!

Custom Sounds Texas Heat Wave, Here I come!

The Texas Heat Wave show series is one of the biggest in Texas, and quite possibly the entire South. I attended back in 2003 while working for Custom Sounds (the title sponsor), and was blown away. I had never attended a show with so many cars in one location! The event offers a lot of everything: from hot rods to muscle cars, from donks, boxes, and bubbles to sport compact, trucks, sport bikes, choppers, complete customs.... Seriously, this show is ginormous! Soulja Boy, Paul Wall, Lil Boosie, and Lil Will will also be performing during the weekend, and then there's the bikini contest.... I just hope the weekend will give me enough time to check it all out! I'm heading down to Texas tomorrow to get ready to shoot the entire show over the weekend... Every car, every bike, every truck, and we'll have it all posted up to CarDomain with a few featured rides here on SoundDomain. There might even be a few Team SoundDomain members on hand at the car stereo competition... More details to come so stay tuned!

Check out the full show flyer after the jump, or get more details over at the Heatewave's website!

Video: Pioneer Sound Build-Off - Sport Chassis's Freightliner

Sport Chassis of Clinton, OK brought one the largest demo cars for the event, an Freightliner! When I spoke with Sport Chassis at the show, they said the system you see in this install will be available from Sport Chassis as an package for your cross-country hauler! The install was extrememly clean, and probably one of the best sounding systems you'll hear in an industrial-sized truck. No panel was left unturned in this job. Check out the custom (and very comfy!) interior, and the killer center console and door panels in the pics after the jump. In the video, Johnny Red of Sport Chassis explains provides insight into the overall install and their goals for the show.

Car Audio mag 20th Anniversary

By: Ben Oh, Car Audio & Electronics Magazine

Vote for your favorite... We're celebrating Car Audio and Electronic magazine's 20th anniversary this summer. See the October issue for a special retrospective covering some of the best custom car audio rides from the show and sound competition circuit. Online we'll be featuring each of the vehicles from the retrospective with additional pics. Every week users can vote for their favorite cars from the different categories. Here I'm posting interior shots from various Alpine demo vehicles (the full features can be found on our site). Chronologically you have the Honda Civic, Mini Cooper, BMW X5, The BMW 645 and the MBZ R500. Tough choice but I think I may have to lean toward the Civic that Chris Yato and Steve Brown built, partially because it's the vehicle that really got the over-the-top demo car trend going. And you see variations of different design elements from the Civic in the cars that followed. Comment on your favorite and vote for yours starting next week on the Car Audio website.

Follow the jump to check out the legendary rides!

Team Bassick Builds Big Boom In A Burban

Team Bassick's Jason "Alpine" Evans has been documenting their Suburban SPL build and have posted up a ton of photos of the progress over on Steve Meade's forum, SteveMeadDesigns.com. The guys are building a complete steel square tube cage frame on the inside to keep the planned massive amounts of pressure in check. SoundDomain's Deafy negotiated with Fi to build some purpose-built  18" Fi BTLs (Similar to what Mr. Steve Meade is running in the Tahoe), which will be driven by four, yes four, of Stetsom's 7KDs. The 7KDs are pretty amazing mono amps, delivering a measly 2400 watts at 4-ohms and up to 7000 watts RMS when driven at 1-ohm! I guess that's why the truck was upgraded to run two alternators juicing out 19-volts and a total of 14 Kinetik KHC-16 batteries (that's 16V each...). They even went so far as to have custom wiring made for all the power connections, printing the Team's name on the wire jacket! The overall goal is to break the 160dB mark. We wish them well and we'll keep you posted on the progress. Oh yeah, and he's already gone through 300' of steel tubing and 200' of 2/0 wire!

Follow the jump to check out a few more pics!