LOOKING FOR A SUBWOOFER (BEFORE YOU BUY)

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.

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 units 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 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

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.

Ports and Passive Radiators

Some subwoofer enclosures also 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.

Crossovers

The crossover is an electronic circuit that routes all frequencies below that point to the subwoofer; all frequencies above that point are reproduced the main, center, and surround speakers. Typically, a good subwoofer has a "crossover" frequency of about 100hz.

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

In addition, since the deep-bass frequencies reproduced by the subwoofers are non-directional (as frequencies that are at or below the threshold of hearing). It is very difficult for our ears to actually pin-point the direction in which the sound is coming. That is why we can only sense that an earthquake seems to be all around us, rather from coming from a particular direction.

Subwoofer Placement

As a result of the non-directional sound that is reproduced by the subwoofer, it can be placed anywhere in the room. However, optimum results depend on room size, floor type, furnishings, and wall construction. Typically, best placement for a subwoofer is in the front of the room, just to the left or right of the main speakers, or in a front corner of the room.

The Bottom Line

Depsite all of the technical specifications and design factors of subwoofers, the type of subwoofer you choose for your system depends on the characteristics of the room and your own preferences. When you go to a dealer, take a favorite DVD and/or CD that has a lot of bass information and listen to how the bass sounds through various subwoofers.

THE NEW FERRARI F430

Only 11 Ferrari F430 “CALAVERA ” (Skull in Spanish) from Unique Sportscars and NOVITEC ROSSO will be made. At the heart of the CALAVERA lies the NOVITEC ROSSO twin-supercharger engine in its latest evolutionary stage. The special collaboration created a unique 707-horsepower sports car that sprints from 0 to 62 mph in only 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 216 mph.

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.

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!"

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.

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.

HOW TO INSTALL A IN DASH STEREO

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Wiring harness
• Wrench/socket
• Installation kit
• In-dash DVD player

Step1

Open the hood of the car and disconnect the battery. You can disconnect the negative cable only and still be safe, but it's best to disconnect both the positive and the negative cable.

Step2

Using the proper screwdriver, take out the screws holding the factory stereo in your car's dashboard, then remove the stereo from the dash. You may have to remove parts of the dash to take the stereo out.

Step3

Carefully remove the connectors from the back of the stereo. Check the connectors to make sure they're not broken or dirty.

Step4

You can buy a wiring harness designed for your vehicle at a car audio and video equipment dealer; these are intended for aftermarket installations. Connect the wiring harness to the car's connector. See the wiring harness instructions for the proper connection.

Step5

Insert the in-dash DVD player in the aftermarket installation kit head unit. All dashboards are different, so you must buy an installation kit that matches the make of car.

Step6

Connect the other end of the wiring harness to the back of the DVD player. Connect the antenna cable to the antenna input on the back of the DVD player.

Step7

Insert the DVD player and the installation kit in the car's dash. Put in any screws that are required and replace any dash panels that you removed.

Step8

Replace the battery cables and make sure they are tightened. Close the hood and turn on the car. The in-dash DVD player panel will light up if the installation was successful.

The Danger Of Current Over Voltage

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.

1. 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.
   
2. 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!
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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.