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Product Spotlight: Thinkware U1000 Plus Dash Camera

Thinkware U1000 Plus

If you are shopping for a premium dash camera with a high-resolution image sensor, the Thinkware U1000 Plus should be on your shortlist. This solution can record video in 4K resolution and is available with a secondary camera to capture what happens behind your vehicle. Let’s take a close look.

Design of the Thinkware U1000 Plus Dash Camera

The U1000 Plus is a low-profile camera that mounts at the top of your windshield. Rather than a square or round body, the bulk of the camera sits flat against the glass. This design leaves a lot of clearance for the sun visor and rearview mirror.

The main camera can be tilted up or down to ensure the system works with windshields with varying rakes. The camera body is 4.33 inches tall, 2.55 inches wide and 1.18 inches thick. On the left side of the chassis are power connections, a port for an external radar sensor and the optional rear camera. The rear camera uses a USB connection, so you shouldn’t have issues with RF interference. Thinkware includes a hardwire installation kit with the camera. You can upgrade to the OBD-II power cable if you don’t want any of the wiring in your vehicle modified. This is a wise investment for leased vehicles.

Thinkware U1000 Plus
The right side of the chassis has the Micro SD memory card slot, the reset button and the microphone.

Once installed, the camera body has the manual recording button in the center and the Power, Wi-Fi and voice recording buttons in the upper left corner. LEDs across the top indicate when the unit is on, when Wi-Fi is enabled, and when the GPS receiver has locked on enough satellites to pinpoint your location.

Thinkware U1000 Plus

Thinkware Dash Camera Specifications

This camera features a Sony IMX515 STARVIS-Series image sensor that can record at up to 3840 x 2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. It can also be configured to record in 2K mode at 2560 x 1440 pixels at 60 frames per second. The viewing angle is rated at 135.6 degrees, offering a good balance of detail and field of vision.

The rear camera features a Full HD-quality image sensor that records 1920×1080 pixels at 30 frames per second. Both the front and rear cameras have a High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode that compresses the light and dark parts of the image to make objects in shadows, or that might be washed out by a bright light source more visible. Low-light performance is further enhanced with Thinkware’s Super Night Vision 3.0. This processing reduces noise when light levels are low to keep videos clear and sharp.

Thinkware U1000 Plus
The Wide Dynamic Range mode compresses bright areas and brightens dark parts of the image to make everything more visible.

Video files are stored using the HEVC format H.265 to maximize file storage. With the 64GB card included, the system can store up to 151 minutes of video in a dual-camera solution. You can increase the size of the memory card to 512 GB for an incredible 1229 minutes of storage.

You can upgrade the U1000 Plus to a five-camera system using Thinkware’s optional multiplexer and three additional cameras. This is an ideal solution for taxi, limousine and rideshare applications.

Thinkware U1000 Plus
The U1000 Plus can be upgraded with the optional multiplexer module and additional cameras for better coverage.

Parking Mode Protection

The Thinkware U1000 Plus includes several parking mode options. In energy-saving mode, the camera only stores video when the onboard accelerometer detects impacts. Motion and Impact mode allows the camera to watch for vehicles or people entering the field of vision along with impact sensing. The camera stores a 20-second video that starts 10 seconds before the event trigger. Time Lapse mode records constantly at two frames per second.

The U1000 Plus can be upgraded with Thinkware’s optional radar module. Rather than monitoring the area in front of the vehicle using the image sensor, the radar sensor detects someone or something approaching. This dramatically reduces current consumption, so there is less draw on the vehicle battery.

Thinkware U1000 Plus
The optional radar sensors can dramatically reduce current draw when using parking mode.

Wi-Fi Connectivity

You can use the Thinkware Dashcam Link app on your Android smartphone, iPhone, or tablet to view video files stored on the system. Once connected, your installer can adjust the system settings and fine-tune the viewing angle to ensure maximum coverage.

The Thinkware Connected app gives the U1000 Plus Cloud-based connectivity. If you have a mobile hotspot, or the dashcam can connect to Wi-Fi at your home, you can view what the camera sees on your phone. You’ll also get impact notifications when parked. The vehicle operator can send an emergency message to the registered contact by pressing the REC button on the chassis for three seconds. Parents or business owners can review the vehicle’s operational history to review use and driving behavior.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

Modern video processing technology allows the U1000 Plus to warn the operating. These Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) include Front Vehicle Departure Warnings (FVDW), Forward Collision Warnings (FCWS) and Lane Departure Warnings (LDWS). Notifications about approaching a vehicle too quickly or crossing the lines on the side of the road can help prevent serious accidents.

Thinkware U1000 Plus
ADAS features like Forward Collision Warning integrated with the Thinkware U1000 Plus can help prevent serious accidents.

If you are shopping for a premium dash camera with a high-resolution image sensor, the Thinkware U1000 Plus should be on your shortlist. This solution can record video in 4K resolution and is available with a secondary camera to capture what happens behind your vehicle. Let’s take a close look.

Upgrade Your Vehicle with a Thinkware Dash Camera

We all know that having a dash camera is the best way to protect yourself from fraud and false accusations. It’s also an ideal solution for capturing those “I can’t believe that just happened” moments. When upgrading your vehicle, drop by a local authorized Thinkware retailer and ask about the U1000 Plus system. They can provide you with a quote that includes expert installation.

You can learn more about Thinkware products like the U1000 Plus by visiting their website. Their dealer locator makes it easy to find a retailer near you to help design and install a premium dash camera system.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Driver Safety, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Thinkware

Product Spotlight: Compustar Pro T13 Remote Starter

Compustar Pro T13

Only a handful of reputable companies manufacture remote car starters, but one stands out for its innovative solutions—Compustar. Their flagship Pro T13 is the industry’s longest-range radio-frequency car starter remote. Combine that with features like proximity unlocking, an LCD screen, and intuitive controls, and this is the ultimate remote control solution. Let’s explore why range is vital to making your vehicle more comfortable.

Compustar Pro T13 Remote Control

Compustar makes it easy for mobile enhancement retailers to design a car starter system tailored to your vehicle and needs. The Product Specialist you are working with can choose from several control modules, with the right one depending on your car’s specifications and desired features. For instance, the CM-X controller is ideal if your vehicle has a manual transmission. For consumers, these decisions typically happen behind the scenes as your quote is prepared.

What matters to you is the system interface. The factory remote coded to start the car when you press the lock button three times in short succession might be adequate if the range doesn’t matter much. If you want more range and features, your retailer can pair any of Compustar’s RF remote kits with the control module to meet your needs. If you want a simple one-button solution with two or three times as much range as the factory fob, they have it. Need two-way communication with trunk release? No problem! But if you want maximum range, two-way communication, security alerts, and much more, the Pro T13 remote is the ultimate option.

The Pro T13 is impressively compact at 2.84 inches tall, 1.57 inches wide, and only 0.44 inches deep. It features a vibrant color display that indicates whether your vehicle is locked, unlocked, or running.

Simple and Elegant Interface

The remote includes three buttons to access 50 commands and configuration settings. Locking, unlocking, or remotely starting your car is just a button press away. Double-tapping the lock or unlock buttons activates auxiliary outputs one and two. These outputs can control features like power sliding doors or rear defrost. The latter can even be configured to activate automatically if the interior temperature drops below a specific threshold. Your retailer can provide more details. Car Finder, trunk release, and much more are also easily accessible.

Compustar Pro T13
The T13 remote includes a charging cable, antenna, and all the wiring your installer needs to integrate with a Compustar remote start control module.

Class-Leading Range and Reliability

The key factor that sets the Pro T13 apart from other remote starters is its range. Range is the maximum distance from which the remote can communicate with your vehicle. Compustar specifies the Pro T13’s range at up to three miles under ideal conditions. We’ve measured the performance in real-world situations, which bested other remotes by more than 20%!

More importantly, the Pro T13’s powerful transceiver works excellently indoors. For instance, you can be at the far end of a shopping mall, in an apartment or office building, or inside a large factory and still communicate with your vehicle. This exceptional range ensures your car or truck has enough time to warm up in winter or cool down in summer long before you arrive at it.

Color Display and Two-Way Communication

The Pro T13’s two-way communication ensures reliability. When you press the lock button, the remote confirms the action with a beep and a visual indicator on the color LCD screen showing that the vehicle is locked. Unlike one-way remotes, which act like TV remotes, this feature gives you peace of mind, as you always know your vehicle’s status.

The color display not only tells you what the car is doing using intuitive icons but also shows the vehicle battery voltage, the temperature in the vehicle, and the battery level of the remote itself.

Compustar Pro T13
The Pro T13 remote offers two-way communications to ensure you always know what’s happening with your vehicle.

Proximity Unlocking Adds Convenience

Another standout feature of the Pro T13—and its smaller one-button counterpart, the Pro R5—is proximity unlocking. When you’re within five to six feet of your car or truck, the remote automatically communicates with the vehicle to unlock the doors—no need to press any buttons! Whether carrying groceries, holding a child, or juggling tonight’s pizza, this feature makes life easier.

Rechargeable Battery Pack and Rugged Design

Unlike most remotes, which use disposable coin-cell batteries, the Pro T13 features a built-in rechargeable battery. Connect the provided mini-USB cable to a USB outlet for a few hours to recharge it. You can even charge it while driving your vehicle.

This remote is as durable as possible, with an IPX-7 water resistance rating. This means it can survive being submerged in water, whether it’s a pool, puddle, or snowbank. Compustar backs the Pro T13 and other Pro Series remotes with a three-year warranty, giving you confidence in your investment.

Compustar Pro T13
The durable design of the T13 is backed by a three-year warranty.

Security System Ready for Added Protection

Are you concerned about theft or vandalism? Most Compustar remote car starters with the Pro T13 can be upgraded with advanced security features. Compustar’s alarm enhancements include a starter kill, a high-output siren, an optional horn-honk output, and a robust digital security sensor.

This sensor monitors impacts, motion, glass breakage, or vehicle tilting. If triggered, the Pro T13 remote alerts you with a loud beep and a display notification. This lets you take immediate action if needed.

Drone Smartphone Control Included

The T13 Remote kit includes the Drone smartphone control interface. Drone allows you to use the DroneMobile app on your smartphone to control your vehicle. You can lock or unlock the doors, remote start the engine, or even pop the trunk with a tap on your phone screen. You can even log into the dronemobile.com website and send commands from your desk at home or work.

The Drone can be upgraded with GPS-based location and geofence alerts. Tracking service plans are ideal if you let your kids drive the family car or want to monitor how your staff uses a company vehicle. Your local authorized Compustar retailer can explain the different service plans available.

Compustar Pro T13
The Drone smartphone control system provides effectively unlimited range and advanced tracking options to protect your vehicle.

Why Is Remote Starter Range Important

Let’s say you work in a large building like a hospital, warehouse, or factory. When you finish your shift, you can remote start your car or truck while packing up to leave. Your vehicle will have several minutes for the climate control to start making the interior more comfortable. In the winter, the rear window defroster can be activated automatically, so cleaning the car off is easier.

If the remotes that come with your car or low-cost car starters don’t have enough signal transmission power, you’ll have to wait until you are at the door or even outside in the parking lot to activate the starter. Now, you’ll have less than a minute for the engine to warm up. Inadequate range negates the benefit of having the starter.

The Ultimate Remote Starter Solution

If these features sound like the ultimate remote car starter recipe, you’re right. With industry-leading range capabilities, two-way communication, a color display, rugged durability, a rechargeable battery, and advanced security options, the Compustar Pro T13 is in a class of its own.

Visit an authorized Compustar Pro retailer today to learn how they can configure a system for maximum comfort and security. Use the Dealer Locator on Compustar’s website to find a retailer near you. Also, follow Compustar on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for updates on their amazing products.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Compustar

Rockford Fosgate TMS65: Premium Sound for the Ultimate Harley Davidson Experience

Rockford Fosgate TMS65

There are a lot of companies offering speakers designed as upgrades for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Picking the best speaker for your situation can be a daunting task. That said, knowing you’re dealing with a manufacturer that has more than 50 years of experience creating products for music fanatics makes that choice easier. Let’s take a close look at the Rockford Fosgate TMS65 6.5-inch speaker for Harley bikes and trikes.

Features of the Rockford Fosgate TMS65

The TMS65 is a coaxial full-range speaker designed as a direct drop-in replacement for 2014 and newer Harley-Davidson upper fairing, non-cooled lower fairing, and TourPak locations.

The TMS65 is built on a Glass Reinforced Polymer frame, with mounting provisions that match the original locations. Your installer can drop this speaker in without cutting or drilling. Even the factory wire harness will plug in without an adapter or modifications to it or the speaker.

Rockford Fosgate TMS65
The rigid cast aluminum frame and lightweight neodymium magnets deliver great sound without upsetting the balance of the bike.

The speaker features a low-mass carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene woofer cone, offering a balance of efficiency, thermal stability, and accuracy. The primary spider at the outer edge of the cone is made of a synthetic rubber called Santoprene. The surround attaches to the basket using Rockford Fosgate’s Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) to optimize the cone area. The beauty of this balanced design is the frequency response specifically tuned for what Rockford Fosgate calls “open air” acoustics. Typical “flat response” or car audio speakers sound great in cars, where there are reflective surfaces like glass and door panels, but on a motorcycle, there are few reflective surfaces. This specially tuned response allows riders to hear their music while riding on the highway, overcoming wind, tire, and engine noise.

Rockford Fosgate TMS65
TMS65 speakers installed in the fairing of a Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycle.

Element Ready™ Reliability

Unlike many coaxial designs, there is a second surround at the base of the woofer cone to keep water and debris out of the voice coil gap. This second surround is crucial to the driver’s Element Ready™ Design. Element Ready refers to Rockford Fosgate’s suite of features that help their products perform reliably in motorcycle, motorsport, and marine applications. Aside from being dust, dirt, and water-resistant, the TMS65 speakers are constructed using materials that won’t dry out, fade, chalk, or crack due to prolonged UV exposure.

A final consideration that many competitors overlook is vibration and impact testing. The TMS65 is subjected to what can only be described as violent physical abuse to ensure the product remains intact. The result of all this is a speaker solution that will perform reliably for years on your motorcycle.

Premium Power Handling

Returning to the design features, you’ll find a 35 mm voice coil wrapped around an anodized aluminum former at the base of the cone. The anodized former helps wick heat away from the copper winding, allowing the speaker to reach its 75-watt continuous, 150-watt maximum power handling rating.

The speaker’s center features a 25 mm proprietary film dome tweeter. The grille integrated into the speaker above the tweeter includes a phase plug to improve accuracy and off-axis performance, which is critical when the speakers are installed in lower enclosures on either side of the engine.

The speaker is powered by a compact neodymium ring magnet motor with integrated cooling. This is vastly different from competitors in the market that use large, heavy ferrite magnets. The neodymium motor allows the speaker to drop into upper fairing locations without cutting or heat-molding the inner pods. Further, neodymium weighs significantly less than ferrite for a given magnetic strength. As such, you can add great sound without added weight that might affect the bike’s balance.

Rockford Fosgate TMS65
This Street Glide looks good and sounds stunning thanks to TMS65 coaxial speakers in the front fairing.

TMS65 Speaker Specifications

The TMS65 has a nominal impedance of four ohms and a sensitivity of 94 dB SPL measured at 2.83 volts at a distance of one meter from the cone. The frequency response is specified as 56 Hz to 20 kHz. As always, Rockford Fosgate’s specifications for its speakers comply with the CTA-2031 standard.

When purchased independently and not as part of a vehicle-specific audio upgrade kit, the TMS65 speakers include grilles for 2015 and up Road Glide front fairings, 2014 and up Street Glide front fairings, and 2014 and newer TourPak applications. The speakers also work with Ultra Classic, Electra Glide, Tri Glide, and Road Glide Ultra applications. Your Rockford Fosgate retailer can confirm if the speakers fit your specific situation.

Rockford Fosgate TMS65
The TMS65 set includes grilles for Road Glide, Street Glide, and TourPak locations when sold as a stand-alone kit.

Balanced Sound Profile

Shopping for speakers without hearing them is like buying a paint color for your car without looking at the options. When it comes to motorcycle speakers, the engineer who designed them must balance two criteria: efficiency and midbass performance. The TMS65 speakers are a great combination of both. They play low enough to allow bass guitars and drums to be felt in your chest while minimizing amplifier current draw.

More efficient speakers are on the market, but they lack midbass performance. If screechy midrange and no midbass are your goals, those are a better choice for your situation. One additional thing to remember is that the TMS65 speakers blend perfectly with Rockford Fosgate’s saddlebag subwoofer systems. Those ultra-high-efficiency midrange drivers will leave a frequency response gap to the subwoofers unless you add dedicated midbass drivers.

Upgrade Your Harley-Davidson Motorcycle with Rockford Fosgate

When it’s time for your Harley-Davidson’s stereo system to sound better and play louder, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the TMS65 speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers they have available. You can find an authorized retailer by visiting their website and using the locator tool. Be sure to check out their Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube feeds and channel to stay up to date with their latest product releases.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Motorcycle Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: Thinkware Q200 Dash Camera

Thinkware Q200

Consumers typically have two schools of thought when it comes to dash cameras. Some want the most advanced technology and highest-resolution image sensors available. Others believe that any dash camera system is exponentially better than none. Sadly, the latter concept often leads to people buying low-quality, unreliable solutions. Sitting between these philosophies is the Thinkware Q200 dash camera system. With 2K QHD image quality on the front, 1080P FHD image quality on the rear, intelligent parking modes, and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, this affordable system is anything but run-of-the-mill. It even includes a 32 GB microSD card! Let’s check it out!

Thinkware Q200 Front and Rear Camera System

The Thinkware Q200 dash camera system is based around the compact (3.9 x 0.9 x 1.3 inches) forward-facing camera with its Quad-HD (2506 x 1440-pixel) image sensor. The camera has a 125-degree field of view, offering a good balance of forward focus and side-approach monitoring. Videos are recorded in HEVC format using the H.264 codec to keep the file sizes manageable. As mentioned, the system includes a UHS-1 32 GB memory card but can accept cards up to 256 GB in capacity for over 800 minutes of storage.

Thinkware Q200
The included GPS receiver captures both location and speed information.

The camera includes several video processing technologies to help improve image quality. First, Super Night Vision 2.0 helps ensure clear, low-noise images in low-light situations, capturing details like license plates or street signs when it’s dark. Advanced Video Clear Technology includes High Dynamic Range (HDR) capture technology that compresses washed-out highlights while boosting information usually lost in the shadows. Smart focusing and intelligent auto exposure enhance the system’s ability to store clear, sharp videos. Finally, de-warping technology reduces barrel distortion so objects at the extreme edges of the video don’t look misshapen.

Thinkware Q200
Features like Super Night Vision 2.0 dramatically improve performance in low light levels.

The camera body has three connection ports: one connection is on top of the chassis for the power source, while one on the side is for the rear camera and one for the GPS receiver. The buttons on the rear panel activate the manual recording mode, and another provides control options for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. You can use Wi-Fi with the free Thinkware Dash Cam Link application to download videos directly from the camera. Alternatively, you can remove the microSD card from the bottom of the chassis and use the PC viewer software to view video files.

Thinkware Q200
The compact Q200 dash camera fits neatly beside your rear-view mirror and captures everything that happens in front of the vehicle while you drive.

Rear and Optional Cameras

The rear camera included with the Q200 Front and Rear kit is even more compact (2.40 x 1.20 x 0.98 inches) and captures video in full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels). It shares the same 125-degree field of vision as the front camera and records at 30 frames per second. A 19.7-foot cable lets your installer connect the rear camera to the front camera.

Thinkware Q200
Your installer can mount the included rear camera in the back window to monitor drivers approaching from behind.

Another option is the infrared interior camera from Thinkware. This compact camera (part number TWA-NIFR) is ideal for taxi, limousine, and rideshare applications where recording what happens and what’s said inside the vehicle is important. The camera includes two compact infrared transmitters so it can effectively see in the dark.

Thinkware Q200
The optional infrared interior camera is ideal for taxis, limousines, Uber and Lyft drivers.

The Q200 is compatible with the optional multiplexer box. With this option, your installer can add three additional cameras to the system, bringing the total to five. The four cameras connected to the multiplexer combine their images into a single video feed that records on the rear channel of the Q200. Side-view and infrared interior cameras are just some options available for additional cameras.

Thinkware Q200
Thinkware offers several multiplexer bundles to add three cameras to the Q200.

Parking Mode

For those not up-to-date with dash camera lingo, the parking mode feature allows the camera to continue capturing what’s happening around your car when it’s parked. Depending on where you park, you can work with your installer to choose between two frame-per-second Time Lapse, Energy Saving, and Motion/Impact Detection options. In Motion and Impact mode, the camera monitors the image sensor for changes that indicate something or someone has entered the field of vision. When this happens, it stores a video file with 10 seconds of footage before and after the trigger. The built-in three-axis accelerometer also monitors the vehicle for motion from an impact, which triggers a similar recording.

Energy-saving mode foregoes image sensing, dramatically reducing the electrical energy required to maintain camera operation. This mode is ideal for longer-term parking recording.

Thinkware Q200
Parking mode will monitor what happens around your vehicle in the driveway or a garage.

Built-In ADAS Features

The Q200 is no slouch when it comes to bonus features. The camera includes Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in the form of Lane Departure Warning (LDWS), Forward Collision Warning (FCWS), and Front Vehicle Departure Warning (FVDW). These systems use artificial intelligence and advanced image processing to detect potential hazards and provide a warning to the driver. The GPS antenna must be installed for these features to function.

Protect Yourself with the Thinkware Q200

As is evident, the Thinkware Q200 dash camera system is exponentially more capable than most solutions you’ll find outside a professional mobile enhancement retailer. If you want premium image quality in the videos, advanced ADAS warnings, and easy Wi-Fi downloading, drop by your local Thinkware retailer and ask about the Q200 system. They can provide a package price for the dual camera system with expert installation to ensure reliable operation.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Backup Safety, Driver Safety, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Thinkware

Revisiting Sealed Subwoofer Enclosure Stuffing with SPL Measurements

Sealed Enclosure

A while back, we looked at how adding stuffing to a sealed enclosure affects its performance. It was clear from our measurements that the addition of Dacron lowered the system’s Qtc (Total Q). The original theory was that adding stuffing made the enclosure seem larger and let the driver play louder at low frequencies. Let’s revisit this test and add several acoustic measurements to quantify any changes in efficiency and output.

Results from Our Original Testing

Our original article determined that adding different amounts of stuffing to our 1.358-cubic-foot enclosure lowered the system Qtc. Without stuffing, the Qtc with our audiophile-grade 12-inch subwoofer was 0.9532. That’s a bit high for our liking but offers good efficiency. With 0.25 pound of Dacron added to the enclosure, the Qtc dropped to 0.9148. That’s still on the high side but getting better.

Moving up to a half-pound of stuffing had minimal effect on the driver, and the system stayed roughly the same at 0.919. Cramming another quarter-pound of stuffing into the enclosure made a truly beneficial change. The Qtc was now down at 0.8397. The lower Qtc measurement is better as it results in less resonance and a tighter, more controlled bass perception. In this capacity, stuffing with Dacron does have the same effect as installing the subwoofer in a larger enclosure.

The driver’s resonant frequency in the enclosure barely changed throughout the test. Empty, the system had an F3 of 43.35 hertz. With all the stuffing in place (0.75 pound), the resonant frequency dropped to 41.68 hertz. The difference would be negligible and doesn’t support the claims of stuffed enclosures playing lower.

Sealed Enclosure
The results from our original article on adding stuffing to a sealed subwoofer enclosure.

Round Two of Subwoofer Enclosure Testing

In this test, we’ll use the same enclosure and subwoofer and take several acoustic measurements under strictly controlled conditions. We’ve set the enclosure up in the middle of our lab and placed the Clio Pocket calibrated mic on the floor 50 centimeters in front of the enclosure. This configuration is similar to a typical ground-plane measurement, except the closer proximity to the enclosure will help to reduce the effect the room has on the measurements. A “normal” ground-plane measurement would have the microphone 2 meters from the enclosure. We will continue buying lottery tickets in hopes of financing our own anechoic chamber, but that might take a while!

All measurements are at the same output level. We’ll use 4 volts representing 2 watts of power into the subwoofer’s nominal 4-ohm load. With a drive level any lower than this, the background noise from the HVAC system starts to mess with the very low frequency measurements. Again – anechoic chamber, please!

Sealed Enclosure Stuffing Findings

If you look at the graph below, you’ll see the SPL measurements from the four test conditions. The red trace is the enclosure without any stuffing. The violet trace represents 0.25 pound of stuffing. The black trace represents a half-pound of filling. Finally, the amber trace is 0.75 pound.

As expected, the more stuffing there is, the smaller the bump at the top of the response curve. Why does this happen? Because polyester fiberfill reduces the resonance of the system. With less resonance, the driver returns to rest faster after the signal stops, and less distortion is added to the output.

Sealed Enclosure
Measurements of a sealed subwoofer enclosure with four different amounts of Dacron stuffing.

You’ll notice the difference between no stuffing and the tightly packed enclosure is relatively tiny. Indeed, the maximum difference is a total of 1.4 dB SPL, with the unstuffed enclosure being louder.

I generated a second graph referencing the first three measurements to the fully stuffed measurement. This analysis shows you how much louder the subwoofer is as there is less and less stuffing. While it might be noticeable, the difference is minute.

Sealed Enclosure
Some quick math to show you the difference between enclosure stuffing levels.

Sealed Enclosure Stuffing Summary

Unlike what many “old timers” will tell you, adding a large amount of Dacron (or similar) stuffing doesn’t significantly affect output, especially at lower frequencies. It certainly doesn’t cause the same improvement of the low-frequency production that you’d get from a larger enclosure. One consideration, though: If the crossover point for our subwoofer systems is, or should be, around 80 Hz, then a system with a flatter response will seem to be a bit louder at lower frequencies. With that said, we are talking about less than 1.5 dB SPL, so the whole thing regarding output amplitude is effectively irrelevant.

So, is it worth asking the shop building your sealed subwoofer enclosure to add stuffing? Don’t add anything if you’re a bass head and want the system to play as loudly as possible. If you’re into sound quality and want to reduce distortion around the resonant frequency of the subwoofer system a bit, then go for it. It’s not like the cost of some stuffing is significant.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, Driver Safety, New Category Name, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY, UTV Audio, Vehicle Security, Vinyl Graphics, Vinyl Wraps, Wheels and Tires, Window Tint

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Quakertown Showroom and Installation Facility


Get Directions to Clear Vibrations

Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

Services

  • Car Audio
  • Custom Installation
  • Fleet Services
  • Driver Safety
  • Remote Car Starters

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