Product Spotlight: Momento M4

Firstech, the well-known manufacturer of the Compustar brand of remote vehicle starters and security systems, recently introduced the new Momento series of dash cameras. Having a dash cam in your vehicle is an inexpensive way to protect yourself against fraud because it can assist in settling disputes in the event of an accident. Read on to delve into the features and functions of the Momento M4.

Platform and Application

The M4 is a high-resolution dash cam system designed to be installed at the top of your windshield, using the included adhesive-backed mounting bracket. The M4 includes a 1 megapixel CMOS image sensor that records at a resolution of 1,280×720 pixels at 30 frames per second. The M4 kit includes a second camera that is suitable for installation on the rear window to monitor driver behavior behind your vehicle, or on the windshield to record movement within the vehicle. Recording the driver if there is an incident can provide evidence to verify you were not talking on the phone, texting or adjusting the radio at the time. The rear camera features a 0.3 megapixel sensor that records at 720×480 resolution at up to 30 fps.

On the rear panel of the M4 is a 3.5-inch TFT LCD touchscreen that displays the camera image and provides an easy interface to set up and configuration the system. The right side of the unit is home to a mechanical on/off switch, a speaker and the microSD card slot. On the top are connections for power, the rear camera and an optional GPS receiver. A microphone on the bottom of the chassis records audio whenever the system is capturing video.

Momento packages the M4 as a complete recording solution. They include both front and rear cameras, all the cables and mounting hardware, and even a 16 GB microSD card. Some companies sell their dash camera systems a la carte. Momento believes that what happens behind the vehicle is as important as what happens in front of it.

Features and Functions

A hard-wire kit that your installer can connect to your choice of constant or switch power points powers the camera system. If connected to a switched power source, the M4 wakes up and starts recording right away when you start your car. When connected to a constant power source and with the parking function activated, the M4 monitors motion within the camera image and only stores information when it senses action. The onboard three-axis accelerometer can also trigger the recording function.

The M4 stores video while you’re driving in a folder on the provided 16 GB microSD card called Driving. It stores motion detected while in parking mode in a folder called Motion. The onboard accelerometer can trigger the M4 to store a video file in the Event folder if motion exceeds a user-selectable threshold. Finally, pressing an icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen will trigger the manual recording mode and store those images in a separate folder. Once the Motion folder is full, the system will overwrite old files.

The M4 stores recordings from 10–15 seconds before any trigger. Even if something has already happened, you can trigger the M4 to store a video of the event. The M4 includes a feature called Forward Vehicle Movement Alert that uses advanced image processing to alert you when the car in front of you drives away.

Parking Mode

As mentioned, the M4 can monitor activity around your vehicle after you stop driving. Once the system detects a lack of activity for about 10 minutes, it stops storing video. Motion within the camera’s field of vision or activity detected by the accelerometer will trigger the system to record video. Parking mode can capture vandalism and the behavior of people or pets around your vehicle. The M4 can be set to turn off parking mode after a preset amount of time, or if the vehicle battery voltage decreases past an adjustable level. The automatic shut-down system will prevent the M4 from killing your battery.

Why You Need a Momento M4

A video recording system like the M4 is inexpensive insurance against someone taking advantage of you. It is not at all uncommon for people to jump on the hoods of cars and fake injuries. Likewise, many scammers will back into stopped vehicles and claim they were rear-ended. The M4 is your indisputable witness to their behavior and can help prevent dramatic insurance rate hikes. Visit your local Momento dealer for more information.

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.

Product Spotlight: Hertz HMX 6.5 Marine Speakers

Hertz is proud to introduce a new line of marine and powersports products to their family of premium mobile electronic solutions. Four new amplifiers, seven new speakers and a subwoofer will provide marine and off-road enthusiasts with the same impressive performance that has made Hertz speakers, amplifiers and subwoofers a revered name in cars and trucks for decades. In this product spotlight, we take a closer look at the HMX 6.5 marine and powersport series coaxial speaker products.

HMX 6.5 Design Features

The HMX 6.5 is a 6.5-inch coaxially mounted component speaker system. The system uses a polypropylene woofer cone that has been co-molded to a Santoprene rubber surround. The motor and suspension of the woofer feature a 1-inch voice coil that is centered by an aramid fiber spider. The voice coil is vented to help control heat and pressure build-up under the dust cap. Hertz has optimized the suspension for infinite-baffle applications. Silicone-encased tinsel leads offer excellent durability and reliability.

Hertz has provided an over-sized magnet for the woofer for topnotch efficiency. A marine-grade polymer injected basket encases the motor assembly for protection from the elements. There are no protrusions from the basket that could cause life jackets or fishing rods to get hung up as they are pulled past the rear of the speaker.

The speaker has a mounting depth of 3.76 inches. A soft rubber gasket on the back of the mounting flange ensures a tight seal against the boat hull to prevent leaks.

The 1.4-inch tweeter PEI dome tweeter is powered by a neodymium magnet and suspended above the woofer in the grille. An acoustically transparent stainless steel mesh insert protects the tweeter from physical damage.

An acoustic lens is incorporated into the tweeter mount to increase off-axis performance. This lens helps to ensure that every seating position has great sound, even if the speakers are mounted down low in the boat. Hertz has integrated a passive crossover network into the side of the speaker chassis. The crossover system includes solid-state tweeter protection circuitry.

Speaker Specifications

Hertz rates the HMX 6.5 series of speakers as having a continuous power handling capability of 75 watts, with a 150-watt peak power rating. Each driver has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, so they are compatible with every source unit and amplifier on the market. An efficiency rating of 90dB ensures that every watt of power sent to the speaker is used efficiently.

Nature Proof Design

Hertz calls their environment design features Nature-proof. The cone, surround, chassis and grille are all made from UV-, salt-, fog- and thermal-shock–resistant marine-grade polymer materials. The design is water- and dust-resistant so it can be used in any outdoor application. The speaker terminals are gold-plated to improve the system’s overall corrosion-resistance characteristics.

Four Options for Any Application

Your choice of white or black HMX 6.5 speakers is also available to be purchased with integrated RGB LED lighting. With the LED option, the optional HM RGB 1 BK wireless LED lighting controller can be purchased to further enhance your experience. The wireless control included with the HM RGB 1 BK uses radio frequency communication to allow the user to select from 256 different red, green and blue intensities. The range on the remote is specified as 65 feet.

The HM RGB 1 BK Controller includes options for color-changing patterns. It also has a built-in microphone and 3.5 mm aux input. The controller can change the lighting to the beat and tempo of your music, if you wish.

Hertz HMX 6.5 Series Speakers

As we mentioned, the HMX 6.5 series speakers are just part of the new family of marine and powersports products from Hertz. The line includes marine and powersports trim 8-inch coaxial speakers (only the black version will have the optional LED lighting) and a 10-inch subwoofer in the marine series. Two series of amplifiers round out the offerings – a four-channel and a monoblock in the compact HMP series and a four-channel and two-channel amp in the HCP series.

If your boat, ATV, motorcycle, motorhome or race trailer needs amazing sound, then look into the new marine and powersports offerings from Hertz. Your local authorized Hertz retailer can provide you with installation and pricing details.

For more information about all of the Hertz amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers, visit their website.

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

Product Spotlight: Sony XM-S400D

One of the most popular upgrades to a car audio system is to add an amplifier to the speakers. Providing your speakers with extra power allows them to play louder without fear of damage from harmonic distortion. Over the years, Sony has offered many different amplifier solutions that sound good and offer excellent value. Recently, Sony introduced a cool little amp that is a perfect upgrade to a factory or aftermarket radio. In this product spotlight, we are going to look at the Sony XM-S400D Class D four-channel amplifier.

Size and Specifications

Sony has used the industry-reference CEA-2006 Car Amplifier Standard for the power ratings, as well as the signal to noise ratio specification. Sony rates the XM-S400D as being able to produce 45 watts per channel into a 4 ohm load and a signal to noise ratio of -83 dBA when referenced to 1 watt of output into a 4 ohm load. Lastly, the frequency response of the amp is stated to be 20 Hz to 20 kHz with a tolerance of the -3dB to +0.5 dB.

As you can see from the images, the XM-S400D is in the ultra-compact class of amplifiers. The amplifier measures a diminutive 7-1/4 inches long, 1-1/2 inches tall and 2-1/2 inches wide, excluding any wiring. If you are looking for an amplifier that will fit in a dashboard or center console, then the XM-S400D is one of the smallest on the market.

Features and Connections

Sony built the XM-S400 around an anodized aluminum extrusion with stamped-steel end panels. As simple as it is, it is quite handsome. There is a set of quick connect terminals on each end of the amp. On the right side is a connector for power and remote turn-on input wiring, as well as the eight output speaker wires. Built into the connector is a 15 amp fuse to protect the amp. On the left side is a plug that will accept the included four-channel RCA signal input harness or a different plug with eight wires for speaker-level input signal connections. The amplifier features smart turn-on when using the speaker-level input connections, so there is no need to run a remote turn-on wire in this type of installation.

The left side of the amp also has three signal processing switches. Directly adjacent to the input connection plug is an input select switch. Your installer has the choice of using four channels of input, each routed to the four output channels. Alternatively, if the input select switch is set to the 2-channel mode, the left front input signal is fed to both the left front and left rear output. The right front input feeds both right channels.

Sony has included crossovers on each pair of channels. The front channels have an optional high-pass filter, and the rear channels have an optional low-pass filter. Sony specifies the crossover frequency for both filters at 120 Hz with a slope of -12 dB per octave.

There are no sensitivity controls on the XM-S400D. Sony has designed the amp to produce full power when 1 volt of signal is present at the RCA input jacks or when 8 volts of signal is present on the speaker-level inputs.

Installation Design Features

Sony has included a pair of removable mounting tabs with the amplifier. If you need to secure it to a panel, simply insert the tabs into the slots on each end of the amplifier, secure them with the provided hardware and screw down the tabs. With that said, many installations will find this compact amplifier strapped, tied or taped to a factory wiring harness.

To the left of the signal input terminal is a Power/Protect LED. This LED will illuminate when the amp is on and functioning normally. If the LED is flashing quickly, then the amp has detected a short circuit or the speaker-level input or power connectors may not be inserted into the amp completely. If the LED flashes slowly, it means the amplifier has overheated.

Sony XM-S400D – Big Power in a Small Package

If you are looking for a little amp that can add some big power to your system, then it is well worth checking out the Sony XM-S400D. It offers at least double the power that most premium head units can produce, and it will work with either a factory or an aftermarket head unit. Visit your local authorized Sony retailer for more information, pricing or scheduling an installation.