Troubleshooting
How to Get Rid of Engine Noise in Car Stereo Systems
How to get rid of engine noise in car stereo systems: tell alternator whine from ignition noise, find where it enters, and fix the ground or filter it.
The archive
Car audio reviews and buying guides
Everything we have published, newest first. Every product below was bought at retail, measured on the bench and installed in a car before a single word was written about it.
Subwoofers
Best Car Subwoofer Under 200 in 2026: 10 Powered and Component Picks
Ten subwoofers under 200 on Amazon, from powered under-seat units to a loaded box and component subs, with real specs, amplifier needs and fit tips.
How-To
How to Set Crossover Frequency for a Car Audio System in 8 Steps
An 8-step process for setting tweeter, door speaker, midrange and subwoofer crossover frequencies, from speaker specs to the final listening pass.
How-To
How to Clean Car Stereo CD Player: Discs, Slot and Laser Lens
How to clean car stereo CD player parts: clean the discs first, then the slot, and learn when a lens cleaning disc or a manual lens clean is safe.
How-To
How to Listen to Radio Without Draining Car Battery: 8 Tips
How much power a car radio uses, how long a battery can run it, and eight ways to listen with the engine off without a flat battery.
How-To
How to Make a Car Amplifier More Powerful: 6 Changes That Work
How to make a car amplifier more powerful: raise voltage with better wiring, upgrade the charging system, lower the impedance, bridge channels and set the gain.