Product Spotlight: Hertz Venezia V5

In terms of marine audio solutions, the team at Hertz has developed source units, speakers, tower speakers, subwoofers and accessories that will make any voyage more enjoyable. Their Venezia line of amplifiers is one of the most complete solutions on the market, with eleven models ranging from monoblock subwoofer amps to Hi-Res audio certified eight-channel, DSP-equipped solutions. In this product spotlight, we will look at the five-channel Venezia V5 high-power amplifier.

Specifications of the Hertz Venezia V5

As mentioned, the Venezia V5 is a five-channel amplifier. Hertz rates this beast at 130 watts per channel into four-ohm loads, plus a mono channel rated at 490 watts into four ohms. All channels are compatible with two-ohm loads, and when connected as such, power output jumps to a downright impressive 220 watts by four and 820 watts for the subwoofer. The stereo channels can be bridged to a single four-ohm load, providing 440 watts each in this three-channel configuration. This might be ideal for high-power wakeboard tower speakers and a subwoofer.

From a performance standpoint, Hertz rates the amps’ frequency response as being 10 Hz to 42 kHz, making it compliant with the JAES Hi-Res audio certification. A single distortion specification of 0.05% is provided, measured into a four-ohm load at 100 Hz. No output level is specified. The input voltage range is 0.2 to 5 volts.

The Hertz Venezia V5 is based on a cast aluminum heatsink for efficient thermal management.

Five-Channel Marine Amplifier Features

Dimensions for the amp are 13 inches long, 7.87 inches wide, and 2.12 inches tall. The amp is based on a cast-aluminum chassis with a corrosion-resistant finish. Electrical connections are made along the front edge of the amplifier, and the controls are accessed via a removable panel on top of the chassis. There is a proprietary power terminal block on the far-left side of the end panel with a pair of gold-plated terminals.

A Molex connector in the center of the panel handles the six RCA inputs – A pair, a B pair, and the subwoofer input pair. A large Molex plug on the right side of the panel is where the speaker wires connect. There is a pair of wires for each of the four main channels, and two pairs for the high-power subwoofer channel. Additionally, there is a small plug for the remote turn-on input and for the optional HRC BM2 remote level control.

Hertz claims an IPX2 water intrusion rating when the amp is mounted vertically with the connections on the bottom. Further, the amp has passed a salt-fog exposure test per ASTM B117, demonstrating corrosion resistance.

Signal Processing Features

The removable top panel reveals a set of fifteen controls and adjustments, grouped into channels A, channels B and the subwoofer channel. Each pair of the main channels can be run in full-range or with an adjustable high-pass filter. The filters are adjustable from 50 to 500 Hz, or 500 Hz to 5kHz with the x10 button pressed. The main-channel crossovers have a 12dB/octave attenuation. In bandpass mode, the channel A crossover sets the low-pass frequency, and channel B is the high-pass adjustment. Based on the block diagram on the Hertz website, only channel A inputs are used in this mode, and outputs A are high-passed, while output B is bandpass-filtered.

A pair of input switches allows your installer to use anywhere from a single pair of RCA cables to feed the amp or dedicated inputs for each channel (six in total).

The subwoofer channel has a 24 dB/octave low-pass filter that’s adjustable from 50 to 500 Hz. There is a bass boost control that will let your installer dial in up to 12 dB of boost at 50 Hz. There’s an infrasonic filter switch to apply a high-pass filter at 25 Hz with a 24dB/octave slope. Finally, a phase adjustment control will allow your installer to seamlessly blend the subwoofer output with the main speakers’ output in the system.

Hertz notes that the amplifier is protected against short circuits, overload, and thermal issues and that the protection circuitry automatically resets.

High-Power Marine Amplification Solution

If you are planning to upgrade the audio system in your boat, the Hertz Venezia V5 is a great single-chassis solution. It can easily power up to eight full-range speakers when two speakers are connected to each main channel, and with over 800 watts on tap for the mono channel, you can push a pair of subwoofers hard.

Drop by an authorized Hertz retailer to learn about all the marine audio solutions they have available. For more information on these products, visit the Hertz website. Be sure to follow Hertz on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to learn more about their extensive line of mobile audio solutions.

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: KICKER SoloXS L7XS

Recently, the folks at KICKER have given us a reason to take a look at a product that’s designed to literally shake the industry – the KICKER SoloXS L7XS subwoofers. Designed with massive continuous power handling, extreme excursion capability and some unique service features, these monster subwoofers will move air like few others. Let’s check them out!

KICKER SoloXS Specifications

The first thing you’ll notice about the KICKER SoloXS series subwoofers is that they are part of the L7 series, which means they are square drivers. KICKER specifies that the 12-inch drivers have an effective surface area of 625 square centimeters. Typical round 12-inch subwoofers are in the 450 to 550 square centimeter range, so this is a LOT more cone area per subwoofer. More cone area means more efficiency, which is king in the game of producing as much bass as possible.

Moving on, the Solo XS drivers are available in 12- and 15-inch sizes with your choice of one- or two-ohm voice coil impedance.

With respect to general specifications, the subwoofers are rated for 1,500 to 3,000 watts continuous power. While the power-handling numbers are impressive, the Xmax specification is otherworldly at 43.1 mm (1.71 inches). Frequency response is specified as 18 to 100 Hz for the 15-inch and 20 to 100 Hz for the 12-inch.

KICKER makes it clear that these subwoofers aren’t just one-note wonders. Despite their competition-level output capability, the SoloXS drivers are designed to deliver musical bass when installed in a properly designed enclosure.

KICKER SoloXS — Rated to handle up to 3000 watts of power, the SoloXS woofers are serious about bass.

Design Features

The SoloXS subwoofers are based on eight-spoke cast-aluminum frames with extensive cooling openings beneath the spider mounting ledge. At the base of the chassis is a massive triple-stacked 705-ounce ferrite magnet assembly. The T-Yoke beneath the magnets includes eight vents directly under the voice coil to allow hot air to escape from the motor assembly. KICKER calls this Forced-Air Cooling.

Knowing that these drivers might see as much as 55 amps of current through the voice coil, the electrical connections are appropriately beefy. The spring-loaded terminals can handle 8-AWG cables, but there is also a terminal block that accepts dual 4-AWG leads. This makes daisy-chaining multiple drivers together in parallel easy.

The voice coil windings in the SoloXS subwoofers have a diameter of 3.4 inches and are made of aluminum. Aluminum weighs about one-third as much as copper, so the mass savings are significant. The drivers use an oversized Nomex dual-spider design that purportedly allows up to 5 inches of peak-to-peak cone excursion. The cones are made from 4 mm-thick fiberglass-reinforced pulp paper and feature a carbon-fiber dust cap. The surround is made from nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and includes proprietary vertical ribs at the corners to ensure unobstructed excursion. There are two rows of stitching to help keep the surround firmly attached to the cone.

Replaceable Cone Assembly

If you’ve attended an SPL contest, then you have likely seen a blown subwoofer or two. When competitors are trying to eke out every tenth or hundredth of a decibel of output from their systems, sometimes parts fail. KICKER knows that a blown subwoofer is a fast way to end your day. To that end, they offer recone kits for all four subwoofers. The assemblies include the cone, voice coil former, surround, spider and leads. The kits cost about 25% as much as a new subwoofer, so they are quite affordable in the grand scheme of things.

The key feature here is that no adhesives are required to perform the repair. The recone kits bolt into the basket using 16 hex-head fasteners in an aluminum ring around the top edge of the driver. There is another dozen fasteners under the spider plateau. Not having to worry about aligning the voice coil, how much glue to apply or waiting for things to set up is a massive time-saver and ensures the geometry of everything is perfect.

Lastly, the engineering team went to great lengths to ensure the users could choose either impedance of recone kits. If you want to switch from 2-ohm subwoofers to a 1-ohm impedance, just buy the appropriate part number.

Massive Bass for Your Ride

KICKER hasn’t left bass heads wanting for power. Their Warhorse WXA3600.1 amplifier is rated at 3600 watts of continuous power into a one-ohm load, ensuring the SoloXS subwoofers have the juice they need to perform.

If you are in the market for a subwoofer capable of serious output, then it’s time to drop into a local authorized KICKER retailer and ask about the SoloXS series of drivers. You can find a retailer near you using the locator tool on the KICKER website.

Be sure to follow our friends from Stillwater on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to learn about the amazing products they offer and events they attend.

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.

The Importance of GPS Tracking

Automobile theft has been a major concern over the last few years. Vehicles from Lexus, Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai have been key targets for criminals. Aside from a premium security system, GPS tracking is the best investment if you hope to get a stolen vehicle returned. Let’s look at the automotive theft process and explain how a locating device can help get your car or truck back into your driveway.

Auto Thefts

There are a few ways that thieves steal modern vehicles. Some use a relay attack to capture signals from your key fob in your home and unlock the doors. From there, thieves connect to the vehicle’s computer systems, add a new key fob, and drive away in near silence. Top tip: Don’t keep your keys near the front door of your house.

When the bad guys can’t relay the unlock codes from your keys to the vehicle, they have to resort to more invasive processes. They may smash a window and climb through. They are smart enough to know not to open a door, as that will trigger most factory-installed security systems. Once in, they program a new key fob and are on their way. The entire process takes only a few minutes, and brazen thieves commit their dastardly deeds even in broad daylight.

GPS Tracking — YouTube star Tom Bailey inspecting the interior of his stolen and recovered Dodge Ram TRX.

What Happens to a Stolen Vehicle?

Most thieves follow a simple process once the vehicle is stolen. They drive it out of the city it was stolen from and park it in a public place for a day or so. Why? They are checking whether there is a tracking system that will lead the police to the vehicle. One of our team members who listens to police scanners has heard law enforcement follow a stolen vehicle about 40 miles, only to find it parked at a recreation center a few cities away. This process is called “cooling off.”

If, after a day or so, the vehicle hasn’t moved, the thieves either drive it to a chop shop or place it in a container for shipment out of the country.

What About Factory-Installed Tracking?

Most new cars, trucks and SUVs have some form of smartphone-based keyless entry and vehicle-locating system. Aren’t these enough to get your car back? The short answer is no. Thieves know exactly how these systems work and where components like the antenna are located. They disable these either before the vehicle is stolen or when it’s parked to wait. Don’t underestimate the effort bad guys put into preparing to steal a vehicle.

Aftermarket Vehicle Tracking Solutions

It’s safest to assume that criminals know everything about the cars they want to steal. As such, the only way to get your car back is to use an aftermarket tracking device. Firstech, the manufacturer of the Drone telematics system, has recently launched a product designed specifically to track new cars, trucks, SUVs, boats, personal watercraft and powersports equipment – the Drone XT. Drone XT is a smart tracking solution that works with the DroneMobile smartphone app and website to let you keep tabs on your belongings.

Having a Drone XT installed in your car or truck lets you check your vehicle’s location in seconds. Just open the app or visit the website, and you’ll know where the vehicle is located. You can even see a breadcrumb trail of where it’s been, had it been moving.

What sets Drone XT apart from other options? First, it will alert you when the vehicle moves. There’s a small geofence around the parked location, so you won’t be annoyed by small variances caused by GPS signal strength variations. If the system is hardwired to the vehicle via the included USB-C cable, you’ll receive a notification when the engine starts or shuts off.

The system incorporates several environmental sensors that will also trigger alerts on the owner’s smartphone. There’s temperature, humidity and even a light sensor. When any of these detect an abrupt change, you’ll know about it seconds later.

While we are focusing on auto theft, the Drone XT is a perfect solution for motorcycles, boats or a trailer, thanks to its built-in 2,200 mAh battery pack. The system can operate for up to three weeks in Energy Saving mode. It lasts for up to 10 months in Deep Sleep mode. If you are worried about someone stealing a motorcycle while you are on a road trip, Drone XT is a perfect solution.

The Importance of Proper Installation

You may recall that we emphasized how well thieves know the wiring in the cars and trucks they steal. If you have a tracking solution installed, it’s only as effective if the bad guys don’t find it. For example, power wires tapped into the fuse panel will lead criminals to the tracking device’s location, making it easy to defeat.

As with any automotive accessory upgrade, you need to be picky about who works on your vehicle. You want to choose a shop that will take the time to integrate all the wiring into the factory harnesses, using the same cloth or vinyl tapes the vehicle manufacturer uses. You’ll want to ensure that a mounting location is chosen that conceals the unit from view, even if access panels are removed, or major components like the radio are removed from the dash. Skimping on a high-quality installation can render the solution useless.

Protect Your Vehicle with a GPS-Based Tracking System

If you are worried about someone stealing your vehicle or weekend toys, then visit a local authorized Drone retailer and ask about having a Drone XT installed. You can find a retailer near you using the locator tool on the Dronemobile.com website.

Be sure to follow the DroneMobile team on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to learn more about the vehicle security and convenience solutions they offer.

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: Audison Voce II Speakers

We’ve said dozens of times that speakers are by a long way the most important part of any audio system, be it for a home or car. The team at Audison in Italy went to great lengths to create a truly carte blanche set of speaker solutions when they developed the Voce II series of speakers. Sharing design concepts from the premier Thesis line, Voce II speaker solutions deliver value and excellent performance for music lovers. Let’s check them out!

AV 1.1 II Tweeters

Let’s look at the AV 1.1 II tweeters first. Designed with a 1.1-inch Tetolon fiber soft dome, these are among the very few tweeters that offer good upper-midrange performance while delivering high-frequency extension to 40 kHz. They have a resonant frequency under 900 Hz, making them an ideal partner for the three-inch AV 3.0 II mids or the 6.5-inch AV 6.5 P II woofers. They can be filtered at 1.8 kHz with a fourth-order active filter.

Another key feature of the AV 1.1 II tweeters is the Any Install Faceplate (A.I.F.) installation parts included in the kit. The A.I.F. component gives your installer several choices for grilles or OE-style mounting rings available to simplify and add elegance to any installation.

Audison Voce II — The AV 1.1 II tweeters include a selection of grilles and mounting adapters to give your installer options during installation.

AV 3.0 II Midrange

The 3.5-inch AV 3.0 II midrange speakers have been designed to offer excellent clarity, detail and output from a relatively shallow design. In fact, it’s almost 20% shallower than the driver it replaces. The speakers use a rubber surround for reliability. The cone is semi-pressed paper that offers an excellent balance of strength, rigidity and damping.

At the heart of the driver is a large 26mm glass fiber voice coil to help dissipate heat. This contributes significantly to the 50-watt continuous and 100-watt peak power rating. Crucially, Audison implemented a copper shorting ring in the motor assembly to reduce inductance and improve upper midrange output. These midrange speakers have a 3.2-ohm impedance that balances efficiency and sound quality from your chosen amplifier. The AV 3.0 II speakers have a resonant frequency of 150 hertz, allowing your installer to cross them over low enough to create a stable soundstage across the vehicle.

AV 6.5 P II Woofers

The AV 6.5 P II Woofers can serve as dedicated midbass speakers with the AV 3.0 II midrange, or as midwoofers when paired with the AV 1.1 II tweeters in a two-way system. The woofers are based on a cast-aluminum chassis and use semi-pressed pulp paper cones with an IIR rubber surround. An aluminum shorting ring in the motor assembly reduces inductance and improves upper midrange performance. The woofers feature a 40mm voice coil, which helps them handle 150 watts of power.

The AV 6.5 II and the AV 3.0 II component drivers include both the classic Faston spade terminals and a set of OEM-style automotive connectors with pigtails to make electrical connections.

AVX 6.5 II Coaxial Speakers

Audison has combined the Voce II woofer and tweeter technologies into a single point-source coaxial called the AVX 6.5 II. This 6.5-inch driver features the same semi-pressed paper cone and IIR rubber surround concepts as the dedicated woofer. In the center of the driver is a 25 millimeter Tetolon-dome tweeter. The driver components can be actively filtered with a crossover point at 3 kHz. The kit includes four passive crossover modules, two for the tweeters and two for the woofers. The tweeter crossover includes a 0 or -1.5 dB attenuation switch, and the woofer filter networks offer a selectable mid contour control.

Component Sets

Audison offers three component sets in the Voce II line. The AVK 6 P II and the AVK 6A P II include the 1.1-inch tweeters and 6.5-inch woofers. The A designation in the latter kit denotes that passive crossovers are not included as the system is intended for active filtering with a DSP-equipped amplifier.

There is another component set called the AVK 6 S II, which features a shallower 6.5-inch woofer, a 1-inch tweeter, and a passive crossover network. Power handling is reduced to 125 watts on this kit because the woofer has a smaller (but still relatively large) 36 mm voice-coil diameter.

Upgrade Your Driving Experience with Audison Voce II

The new Audison Voce II speakers combine premium technologies that genuinely improve performance. They have been crafted with installer-friendly features that save time. When it’s time for a premium speaker upgrade for your car, truck or SUV, visit an authorized Audison retailer and ask for a demonstration of the new Voce II speakers. You can find an authorized dealer using the locator tool on the Audison website. Be sure to follow Audison on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to learn about the amazing mobile audio solutions they offer.

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: Drone XT GPS Tracker

Protecting your vehicles or equipment has never been more important, and a GPS tracking system is one of the smartest upgrades you can make. The new Drone XT from Firstech gives owners a simple and effective way to monitor the location of their car, truck or powersports vehicle in real time. Whether you want added security against theft or want to keep tabs on valuable equipment, a professional-grade tracking solution can improve your chances of quickly recovering your property. Let’s take a closer look at the new Drone XT tracking system.

What is the Drone XT?

Drone XT is a self-contained GPS tracking solution that features an integrated battery for stand-alone operation. Unlike Bluetooth devices like AirTags, the Drone XT operates completely independently from other devices like a smartphone, so you can always check its location from the app or website.

The Drone XT includes a USB-C hardwire power cable that your installer can integrate with the vehicle to power the system and indicate when the ignition is on. There’s also a dual-ended USB-C cable for charging the unit in stand-alone mode. For convenience, four high-strength neodymium magnets are integrated into the base of the unit. If you have heavy equipment to monitor, you can simply attach the Drone XT, and you are good to go.

Full-Time GPS Tracking System

The Drone XT works with the Dronemobile.com website and smartphone app. You can locate your vehicle anytime you want, as long as you have access to the Internet. You don’t need to involve the police or call a phone number. You’ll know the solution is working as soon as you power it up. If you can’t check the location of your GPS tracking system, do you even know if it’s working?

When the unit is moving, the Drone system tracks location with a breadcrumb trail that updates every minute or 30 seconds, depending on the service plan you’ve chosen. Not only can you see where the device is, but where it’s been. This is great as a tracking solution for company-owned service or delivery vehicles.

Low-Power Operation

Firstech engineers have gone to great lengths to maximize the built-in battery’s longevity. The system combines a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with a state-of-the-art LTE Cat M1 cellular radio. Unlike conventional cellular radios, the LTE Cat M1 is designed specifically for low-power IoT devices like the Drone XT.

The Drone XT has power-saving modes to further extend the battery’s life. The unit doesn’t update GPS location or communicate with the DroneMobile server unless it detects motion. The “Wake on Movement” feature has a five-meter buffer, so even shifts in GPS location due to signal strength variations won’t trigger communication. If someone moves the vehicle or piece of equipment, you will be notified immediately.

The 2,200 mAh battery will last up to 3 weeks in Energy-Saving mode and up to 10 months in Deep Sleep mode.

Integrated Environment Monitoring

The Drone XT GPS tracker includes three additional sensors that can be configured to provide alerts to the owner. There’s a temperature sensor that provides notifications for changes by a user-configurable number of degrees. Likewise, a humidity sensor monitors moisture in the air and sends an alert if that changes by a certain percentage. Finally, there’s a light sensor that’ll tell you if someone is snooping around with a flashlight. These alerts show up almost instantly as notifications on your smartphone.

Protection For Unique Applications

The Drone XT GPS tracker is an affordable, convenient way to monitor your car or truck. However, its applications extend much farther. If you have a side-by-side, ATV or motorcycle you want to monitor, the Drone XT is perfect. Your boat, personal watercraft or trailer is also a great application for the compact tracking solution. Did we mention the unit has an IP67 rating for water and dust intrusion?

If you have a service or delivery vehicle and need to monitor its location, Drone XT is a perfect solution. You’ll know when the ignition turns on or off, where it’s located and what stops it has made throughout the day. If the vehicle is used after hours, you’ll be alerted instantly.

Heavy equipment theft is a major issue. Protect your dozers, graders, excavators, compact track loaders and skid steers with this reliable and affordable solution.

For more information on the Drone XT GPS tracker, or to schedule an installation, contact your local authorized Drone retailer by visiting the dealer locator on the Drone website. Be sure to follow the Drone team on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to stay up-to-date with new 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.

Product Spotlight: Hertz Venezia V5

Specifications of the Hertz Venezia V5

Five-Channel Marine Amplifier Features

Signal Processing Features

High-Power Marine Amplification Solution

Product Spotlight: KICKER SoloXS L7XS

KICKER SoloXS Specifications

Design Features

Replaceable Cone Assembly

Massive Bass for Your Ride

The Importance of GPS Tracking

Auto Thefts

What Happens to a Stolen Vehicle?

What About Factory-Installed Tracking?

Aftermarket Vehicle Tracking Solutions

The Importance of Proper Installation

Protect Your Vehicle with a GPS-Based Tracking System

Product Spotlight: Audison Voce II Speakers

AV 1.1 II Tweeters

AV 3.0 II Midrange

AV 6.5 P II Woofers

AVX 6.5 II Coaxial Speakers

Component Sets

Upgrade Your Driving Experience with Audison Voce II

Product Spotlight: Drone XT GPS Tracker

What is the Drone XT?

Full-Time GPS Tracking System

Low-Power Operation

Integrated Environment Monitoring

Protection For Unique Applications

Testimonials

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