Sunday, March 18, 2012
Friday, September 18, 2009
CALIFORNIA CAR EVENTS
California Car Events, Automobile Shows, Races
California Car Events include classic car shows, woody cars, Grand Prix auto racing, hot rod events and more. You may submit automobile events to us at BEACHCALIFORNIA.COM. Contact : 
California car shows and events largely go uncounted in the massive list of California event lists, but they actually fill the roster as some of the biggest, most popular gatherings, and their numbers are staggering. If you take a single event such as the Donut Derelicts weekly meet in Huntington Beach, that's 52 events per year, alone! Add to that other such meets throughout the state of California and you have a whopping calendar that most would be hard-pressed to maintain accurately. From the beach classic car shows such as the annual Surf City Woody Car Show in Santa Cruz to the to the big LA Auto show held each Winter in Los Angeles, or the Pismo Beach Classic in June, car lovers seem to never get their fill of beautiful bodies, shiny engines that purr or hum, and leather interiors of colors ranging from pale blue to cherry red.
| city | event | phone / web | month |
| Anaheim | Orange County Auto Show | orangecountyautoshow.com | Oct |
| Arcata | Kinetic Sculpture Race | kineticsculpturerace.org | May |
| Buena Park | Silverado Days Car Show | silveradodays.com | October |
| Capitola | Capitola Rod & Custom Classic Car Show | capitolachamber.com | May |
| Corning | May Madness Show, Shine & Cruise Car Show | corningchamber.org | May |
| Colusa | Farm Show, The (tractors, trucks, etc.) | thefarmshow.com | February |
| Encinitas | Wavecrest Woodies Weekend | encinitas101.com | September |
| Fairfield | Fairfield Summerfest Car Show | ntsba.org | June |
| Galt | Galt Old Car Festival | galthistory.org | September |
| Huntington Beach | Concours d'Elegance | hbconcours.org | June |
| Huntington Beach | Donut Derelicts | web page | Saturdays |
| Huntington Beach | Wavecrest Woody Meet | March | |
| Lakeport | Annual Car Roundup | lakeportchamber.com | May |
| Lakeport | Kulture Shock Car Show | kultureshockcarshow.com | June |
| Long Beach | Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach | gplb.com | April |
| Los Angeles | LA Auto Show | laautoshow.com | November |
| Oakley | Oakley Almond Fest Car Show | oakleychamber.com | Sept |
| Palm Springs | Palm Springs Car Classic | palmspringscarclassic.com | April |
| Pismo Beach | Pismo Beach Classic Car Show | thepismobeachclassic.com | June |
| Ridgecrest | April Fools Car Show | ridgecrestchamber.com | April |
| San Jose | San Jose Grand Prix | sanjosegrandprix.com | July |
| Santa Cruz | Surf City Classic Woodies on the Wharf | ci.santa-cruz.ca.us | June |
| Seal Beach | Classic Car Show | sealbeachchamber.org | April |
| Sausalito | Classic Car Show | sausalitoclassiccarshow.com | October |
| Sonoma | IRL Grand Prix of Sonoma | infineonraceway.com | August |
| Weaverville | Car Show - Street Rodders | trinitycounty.com | August |
| Westminster | Westminster 4 Square | westmin4sq.org | September |
| Yountville | Father's Day Invitational | vmarketplace.com | June |
Thursday, August 6, 2009
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
How do subwoofers affect your Home Theater experience? What is a subwoofer, anyway?
Subwoofers are becoming more and more crucial to the home theater experience. When you go to the movie theater, you marvel not only at the images projected on the screen, but the sounds emanating around you. What really grabs you, though, is the sound you actually feel; the deep bass that shakes you up and gets you right in the gut.
A specialized speaker, known as a subwoofer, is responsible for this experience. The subwoofer is designed only to reproduce the lowest of audible frequencies.
With the popularity of home theater sound systems resulting in specialized speakers for center channel dialogue, main soundtracks, and surround effects, the need for a speaker to reproduce just the deep bass portion of a movie soundtrack is all the more important. Although these subwoofers are not quite as "thunderous" as the subwoofers employed at the local movie theater, these unique loudspeakers can still shake the house down or annoy the downstairs neighbors in your apartment or condo complex.
Subwoofers come in two basic types, Passive and Powered.
Passive Subwoofers
Passive subwoofers are powered by an external amplifier, in the same fashion as other speakers in your system. The important consideration here is that since extreme bass needs more power to reproduce low frequency sounds, your amplifier or receiver needs to be able to output enough power to sustain bass effects in the subwoofer without draining the amp. How much power depends on the requirements of the speaker and the size of the room (and how much bass you can stomach!).
Powered Subwoofers
To solve the problem of inadequate power or other characteristics that may be lacking in a receiver or amplifier, powered subwoofers are self-contained speaker/amplifier configurations in which the characteristics of the amplifier and sub woofer are optimally matched.
As a side benefit, all a powered subwoofer needs is a line output from an amplifier. This arrangement takes a lot of the power load away from the amp/receiver and allows the amp/receiver to power the mid-range and tweeters more easily.
Additional Subwoofer Characteristics
Additional subwoofer design variations include Front-firing , and Down-firing, and the use of Ports or Passive Radiators.
Front-firing subwoofers employ a speaker mounted so that it radiates the sound from the side or front of the subwoofer enclosure. Down-firing subwoofers employ a speaker that is mounted so that it radiates downward, towards the floor. In addition, some enclosures employ an additional port, which forces out more air, increasing bass response in a more efficient manner than sealed enclosures. Another type of enclosure utilizes a Passive Radiator in addition to the speaker, instead of a port, to increase efficiency and preciseness. Passive radiators can either be speakers with the voice coil removed, or a flat diaphragm.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Aerielle i2i Folding Portable Speakers
I have reviewed Aerielle’s i2i products before, such as the i2i Stream, that allows sharing tunes from your iPod or other MP3 Player to any other PMP Portable Media Player. It appears that i2i is expanding their MP3 Player accessories with the i2i Folding Portable Speakers.
It was the shape, design, and functionality that sold me. As you can see from the photo, the Folding Portable Speakers have a base station in the middle. What you can’t see is that these speakers can literally pull out, and you can put your iPod in a very convenient place. Those semi-circular shapes are designed to lean against the iPod and hold it in there.
Unfortunately, it is not an iPod dock, so abandon any hopes for charging your favorite Apple MP3 player there. As for the power of the speakers, you will need four AAA batteries that are placed underneath the station. By the way, these AAA batteries are actually included.
All you need to plug in the 3.5mm headphone jack into the headphone jack of the iPod or any other MP3 player, and then turn the speakers on. Turning the speakers off will preserve the battery life. Unfortunately, the 4 AAA batteries are only good enough for about five hours worth of playing time, so you might want to get four rechargeable AAAs if you want this particular product.
The i2i Folding Portable Speakers can also work on a laptop, and they work rather well. The sound quality is a lot bigger than you would think for something the size of a sponge. The size works to its advantage, and it is designed to fit into an ordinary pocket.
The Folding Portable Speakers come with a pouch for some easy portability. They also come with a 3.5 to 2.5 mm adapter for those tiny headphone jacks that you can find on cellular phones. I tried using the adapter on my cellular phone to play a Windows Media file, and it didn’t quite work. The signal kept going bad with terrible feedback.
I was not able to find the i2i Folding Portable Speakers on the i2i website. This was pretty strange, because they seem to be designed to work with the i2i Stream. In short, you could stream the music from your MP3 Player into these portable speakers with the Stream.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
NEW PIONEER INDASH
Pioneer Electronics is a big name in car and home theater products. The company had announced its latest in-car navigation device called the AVIC-Z110BT. The top-of-the-line in-dash navigation system allows simulations map and route guidance.
The unit allows users to control and iPod or iPhone and a Bluetooth enabled cell phone at the same time. Traffic, weather, and local information are provided via MSN Direct tuner integration. The large 7-inch touchscreen is motorized and has CD and DVD playback capability.
The navigation device features simulated highway signs that appear when drivers get near turns for better directional awareness at intersections. The device also allows drivers to input their fuel price and mileage numbers for their vehicle allowing the device to calculate the lowest cost routers to take on a trip. The DVD feature can also send video to optional rear seat monitors. The unit is set to launch in July for $1,600.
Via Pioneer
Sunday, June 7, 2009
LOOKING FOR A SUBWOOFER (BEFORE YOU BUY)
A specialized speaker, known as a subwoofer, is responsible for this experience. The subwoofer is designed only to reproduce the lowest of audible frequencies.
Passive Subwoofers
Powered Subwoofers
As a side benefit, all a powered subwoofer needs is a line output from a receiver. This arrangement takes a lot of the power load away from the amp/receiver and allows the amp/receiver to power the mid-range and tweeters more easily.
Front-Firing and Down-Firing Subwoofers
Down-firing subwoofers employ a speaker that is mounted so that it radiates downward, towards the floor.
Ports and Passive Radiators
Another type of enclosure utilizes a Passive Radiator in addition to the speaker, instead of a port, to increase efficiency and preciseness. Passive radiators can either be speakers with the voice coil removed, or a flat diaphragm.
Crossovers
Gone is the need for those large 3-Way speaker systems with 12" or 15" woofers. Smaller satellite speakers, optimized for mid-and-high frequencies, take up much less space and are now common in many home theater systems.
Deep Bass is Non-Directional
Subwoofer Placement
The Bottom Line
Sunday, May 24, 2009
THE NEW FERRARI F430
Like all other body components the NOVITEC ROSSO front spoiler was developed in the wind tunnel. It is attached to the underside of the production front apron. It lends the F430 an even more aggressive frontal appearance and reduces lift on the front axle. Knud Tiroch belongs to Europe`s finest Airbrush artists and is responsible for creating the exclusive designs on chassis and interior. Three-piece, 20-inch NOVITEC ROSSO NF3 double-spoke wheels and Pirelli high-performance tires round out the exterior modifications.
The finishing touch is given through its interior, where the CALAVERA design and theme continues with embroidered seats and a modified, extended middle console, leaving room for conventional functions and extensions like the new generation Apple iPod.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Jay-Z Says His Concert With Kelly Clarkson Shows Racial Unity
There's NO such thing as Black music or White music, only Good or Bad music,' Jay writes.
As odd as it may have been to see a bill featuring Kelly Clarkson, Third Eye Blind and Jay-Z, it's even stranger to see a blog post from Jay-Z.
Jay admitted that he doesn't use Twitter, but he managed to post a blog for RapRadar.com following his performance Thursday evening at the University of Arizona. The MC said he was caught up in the excitement of the moment, as well as the technical difficulties, and he missed the opportunity to say something important.
"On the show as well were Third Eye Blind and Kelly Clarkson ... I thought that had to be the oddest pairing ever, but soon realized it's what I've always professed. There's NO such thing as Black music or White music only Good or Bad music."
Jay said it was cool to like different things that are outside of your comfort zone. He said this also applies to the world around us and not just music.
"If you're African American you can have a Jewish friend." He brought up his own friendship with former Def Jam head/ current Warner Music CEO Lyor Cohen. "The Jew fro and the BLUEprint fro [Afro] are the SAME thing."
Jay added that he would like to see diverse concerts such as this happen more often, outside of the one or two festivals per year and big radio station summer concerts like Zootopia, held by New York's Z-100, among many others.
"I'm putting that into the universe," Jay blogged, adding, "Next up, [a concert with] Taylor Swift and Uncle Murda!"
Saturday, May 9, 2009
CAR AUDIO COMPETITIONS VOL 2
Why Do You Want to Compete
Make sure you know why you want to compete. If you want great sound and a great looking car stereo system that's great. You can certainly have that with or without competing. If you're a person who enjoys competitive sports then you may also enjoy car audio competitions. There's a lot of fun to be had and a lot of great people to meet when you're on the sound off circuit. There's also a lot of rules that you have to follow in order to win a competition so make sure you understand and follow the rules set forth by your chosen competition organization.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
CAR SOUND COMPETIONS
Car Audio Competitions VOL. 1
Often car audio enthusiasts are brought into the hobby by attending car audio competitions or seeing competition vehicles in the magazines. They see these beautiful installs and they want to have one that's just as good. This is exactly the reason that car stereo competition organizations exist, to bring in more customers to the car audio stores. This is why you'll see most shows in the parking lot of your local car audio shop. The competition brings in spectators and those spectators often become customers of the shop after seeing the work they can do on the vehicles being displayed. Many enthusiasts then get the mistaken impression that also want to compete when in fact what they really want is a "competition quality" audio system.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
HOW TO INSTALL A IN DASH STEREO
Instructions
Things You’ll Need:
- Screwdriver
- Wiring harness
- Wrench/socket
- Installation kit
- In-dash DVD player
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Danger Of Current Over Voltage
Electrical shock occurs when current flows through the body. Though a high voltage can overcome the resistance of the skin, it is the amount of current flowing that causes injury. The old saying is, "Current Kills". The worst case scenario is a shock between the hands. The current path from one hand to the other is across the heart, and as little as 100 mA (milliamps or 1/thousandths of an amp) can prevent the heart from beating properly. This can cause unconsciousness and death if sustained.
Here are some pointers that may help you get a feel for how to avoid getting shocked when working on electrical or electronic components.
- Know Your Equipment
Being familiar with the device being worked on, and with the test instrument being used, is a must. It is very easy to make a malfunctioning piece of electronic equipment into a permanently damaged piece of electronic equipment. Expensive meters and other test instruments can be damaged or destroyed with improper use as well. - Start Off Small
Your first repair projects should not include things like TV sets or tube-type amplifiers. Both of these devices, though greatly different in design and complexity, have very high and potentially lethal operating voltages present! TV sets require isolation to prevent damage to some test instruments. Inadvertently touching the test lead of a voltmeter between the plate connector of a vacuum tube and a source of ground (which may only be 1/4" away) can have serious and permanent consequences!
- Locate And Isolate Yourself From Ground Sources
Use carpeting or a rubber mat under your feet to insure that you are not grounded through contact with a concrete floor when working around voltage. Being "grounded" means that a (low resistance) path for current flow has been created. If your body is not in contact with any object that is grounded, it is not possible to experience an electrical shock. You can touch a high voltage source with no shock or sensation if there is no path through your body for current to flow to ground.
The metal chassis of an amplifier is usually grounded through the round pin on a "three-prong" plug. Ground or earth represents an infinite supply of electrons! Resting one hand on the chassis of an amp while reaching into the device with a test probe is inviting a nasty shock!
Voltage measurements will usually be taken with respect to this ground. An alligator clip attached to the negative test lead and clipped to the chassis will free one hand while you use the other test lead to take measurements. Even if you should touch a source of voltage and current while reaching with a test lead, you will not experience a shock if you are not grounded.
Electrical or electronic equipment should be serviced only after the device has been turned off and unplugged. On the other hand, it is often necessary to work on a piece of equipment with it powered up, depending on the problem you are looking for. Knowing this, you will want to make sure that you are not in contact with a source of ground (a place where electrons can come from or go to) while your hands are in close proximity to voltages. Never work on anything electrical while standing on a concrete floor! Use carpeting or a rubber mat under your feet to insure that you are not grounded in this manner.
- Try To Test "Single-Handedly"
Checking high voltage in a power panel or device that uses high voltage must be done with extreme care and forethought. Most electricians will place one hand in their pocket when reaching into a power panel where high voltage is present with the other hand. This habit precludes the possibility of placing the other hand on a grounded object and receiving a high voltage shock between the hands.
It is still possible to get your hand or fingers between a voltage source and ground and receive a shock through your hand. The minor shock and surprise will cause many to "snatch" back their hand as a reflex, resulting in a scrape or cut .
Impatience and carelessness causes most electrical shocks, and if you work with electricity and test equipment, sooner or later you will get shocked. The negative reinforcement leads most to adhere to basic rules of "do's" and "don'ts" when working around voltage of any kind. This also includes knowing when to admit that servicing or repair of a given device be left to someone with more knowledge or experience.
Friday, April 10, 2009
700 WATT 10 INCH SUBWOOFER
- Enjoy powerful, accurate bass in your vehicle with this powerful subwoofer from Audiovox®
- The Rampage® AVW111 10" subwoofer offers excellent power handling, high efficiency, and stellar bass all with a classy appearance which sets it apart from the crowd.
- This Rampage subwoofer from Audiovox® is engineered with state-of-the-art technologies, combining the best material available so you get top-notch performance and clean, smooth bass.
- The massive magnet cover keeps the sub's inner workings safe from the moisture and dust.
- This subwoofer works in both sealed and ported enclosures, so you can choose tight or boomy bass response.
- The Kapton voice coil form is vented so the sub stays cool when the bass gets hot.
- The cone is encircled by a tough Santoprene rubber surround that shrugs off the harmful effects of exposure to sun, moisture, and extreme temperature changes.
- This high performance sub will stand the test of time!
- Features:
- 700 Watts Max Power
- 3" High Temperature Kapton Voice Coil
- 110 oz Strontium Magnet
- Dual 6 Ohm Voice Coils
- Double Layered Foam Surround
- Santoprene rubber surround
- Die Case Aluminum Basket
- Chrome Plated Spring Loaded Terminals
- Capable of 10 Gauge Wire
- Patented Thermo-Cooling Motor Structure
- Strontium Magnet
- 6 Inch Mounting Depth
http://10inchsubwoofer.totalwarehouse.com
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
SPEAKER HOOK - UP
Speaker wire, fancy or expensive read this sheet before hooking up your amp. Some cases thick, high-end wire can cause MORE of a problem than the conventional skinnier stuff.
The term "amp" (short for amplifier) will be used to refer to any receiver, integrated amp or power amp.
Use extra care in hooking up any solid state (transistorized) amp. Make sure the amp is turned off before connecting the speakers. Next make sure your wires are long enough to reach the speakers in one piece - rather than splicing numerous pieces together. When connecting the wire to the amp and speaker, make sure you have the proper "connectors" on the wire to mate with their respective terminals. There are many types of plugs, jacks etc., used for this application. We can either supply you with these connectors or send you to a place that has them. Often connector plugs are not needed and simply "tinning" the stranded wire with solder is adequate. In general loose strands of wire are NOT good either at the speaker or amp!
WHAT ABOUT THICK, HIGH END WIRE?
Does this type of wire make any difference? If the length of wire is more than 50 feet, the light duty stuff that we give away with a purchase (18 gauge), may have some signal loss. Thick wire can present problems of its own.The main problem is that it is frequently too thick to cleanly attach to the amp or speakers. You MUST do whatever is needed to make the wire small enough at the end to make a clean connection. This can be done either with special connectors OR thinning down the number of conductors and tinning them.
Check the "phasing" of your speakers. In simple terms it means making sure the positive side of the amp goes to the positive side of the speaker and negative to negative as well. Positive and negative are marked in many different ways. Red screws, a plus sign (+), "8," etc., indicate positive; black screws, "0," a minus sign (-), "G," etc., indicate negative. Tie a knot in the negative side of the wire to make it easy to identify later. Transparent insulation showing different colored (usually silver and copper) wires make it easy to distinguish negative from positive, but all twin lead wire has some code, such as a ridge or a colored stripe to distinguish it from the other.
One final thing: If your speakers are less than 8 ohms ask us before you hook up another set of speakers to the same amp!