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Product Spotlight: Mosconi Pro 4|30

Mosconi Pro 4|30

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different options available when picking an amplifier for your car audio system. Some amplifiers focus on offering a diminutive footprint to simplify installation but sacrifice thermal stability. Others concentrate on producing prodigious amounts of power at the expense of audio signal purity. Mosconi’s Pro series amplifiers were designed to be reliable and sound great. Let’s look at the Pro 4|30 four-channel amp in this Product Spotlight.

Mosconi Pro 4|30 Specifications

As mentioned, the Mosconi Pro 4|30 is a four-channel amp that’s rated to produce 170 watts of power per channel when driving four-ohm loads. Output power increases to 225 watts per channel with two-ohm loads. Each pair of stereo channels can be bridged to drive a single four-ohm load and provide it with 450 watts of power. Mosconi states that the amp has a signal-to-noise ratio of -83 dBA, referencing one watt of power.

The amplifier chassis measures a robust 500 by 205 by 55 millimeters, or 19.7 inches long, 8.07 inches wide and 2.18 inches tall. The chassis design is unique in that the front and rear halves of the amp are wrapped in vertical aluminum plates. The rear third of the amp is mostly a finned heatsink with two cooling fans mounted on top. The center and bottom thirds of the amp conceal the circuit board.

Mosconi Pro 4|30
The Pro 4|30 has a unique chassis design.

Amplifier Connections and Features

All the power, signal, and speaker connections are made along the front edge of the amp using integrated terminal blocks. The hex-head set screws for the connections are accessible through openings in the top panel. An easily replaceable 150-amp mini-ANL fuse accessible from the top protects the amp from wiring mishaps.

The four sets of speaker connections are just to the left of the center of the chassis. Once again, terminal blocks with set screws accessible from the top of the amp ensure a reliable connection. Installers should pay close attention to the polarity labels, as the adjacent channels are inverted when viewed left to right.

Finally, on the left side of the amp, we find the input for the optional RTC remote level control and two sets of RCA input jacks.

Mosconi Pro 4|30
All connections are made along the front edge of the amp to keep the installation tidy.

Audio Processing Options

While the Pro 4|30 may look simple at first glance, it’s got all the features your installer will need to extract excellent performance from your speakers. The settings for Input A and Input B are once again accessible from the top panel and located at the amp’s far left end. The amp can accept audio signals from 350 millivolts up to 12 volts. The amp has a button that enables the high-level input range. When the high-level input is activated, the amp monitors the input for the presence of the BTL offset voltage and activates the amp automatically when detected. A Direct DSP (DDSP) button bypasses much of the audio processing for those instances when using a digital signal processor and locks the input sensitivity to 5.3 volts.

Concerning crossovers, Input A has a -12 dB/Octave high-pass filter that can be set between 43 and 500 hertz, or 430 Hz to 4 kHz when the x10 multiplier button is depressed. Input B has a high-pass crossover that’s adjustable from 18 to 220Hz and a low-pass crossover adjustable from 43 to 500 Hz. It would be nice if the Input B low-pass crossover had an x10 button. That said, most installations with this amp will include a digital signal processor.

Mosconi Pro 4|30
All the audio processing controls are located on the top panel just above the RCA input jacks.

High-Bias Operation

If you’d read our articles on amplifier distortion, you’ll know that crossover distortion in Class-AB designs can, when not designed or calibrated properly at the factory, result in sound quality issues, especially at low volume levels. Mosconi’s taken a novel approach to maximizing sound quality by configuring the amp to operate in what they call AAB mode. The output devices are biased to operate in full Class-A mode up to 30 watts of power. Class-A operation eliminates the crossover distortion issue. However, this operation mode means the amp will turn the output devices on halfway when no signal is played. This increases current consumption, so the amp will get quite warm. When running this beauty, you’ll want to ensure your vehicle has a robust electrical system.

Once the output level exceeds 30 watts per channel, the amp reverts to conventional, though still sonically excellent, Class-AB mode. In short, you should experience impressive clarity at low volume levels and still be able to crank things when the mood requires. Very cool!

Mosconi Pro 4|30
The Pro 4|30 circuit board uses high-quality surface-mount devices, and the output MOSFETs are clamped to an extruded aluminum heatsink.

High-Quality Car Audio Amplification

Though a handful of sound-quality-focused amplifiers are still on the market, they are becoming rarer. You can find smaller, more efficient amplifiers to power your car audio system. However, we suggest formally auditioning the unique Mosconi Pro 4|30. It would be well worth the time investment if you plan on installing a truly high-end audio system in your vehicle. You can find an authorized Mosconi dealer near you using the Find a Dealer tool on the Mosconi America website.

Be sure to follow Mosconi on Facebook and YouTube to learn more about their amazing car audio 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.

Product Spotlight: Focal PS 165 SF

Focal PS 165 SF

When it comes to premium car audio speaker upgrades, most enthusiasts know that Focal offers more solutions than any other. With offerings ranging from OE replacement to benchmark quality, there’s a speaker at a price point for every budget. In this spotlight, we will look at the PS 165 SF two-way, 6.5-inch Slatefiber kit. Let’s check it out!

What is the Focal PS 165 SF kit?

The PS 165 SF speaker kit includes a pair of 6.5-inch woofers, two 20mm tweeters and a set of passive crossover networks.

The woofers are based around a cast aluminum basket. The basket has five sets of twin spokes connecting the mounting flange to the base in what they call the Rotor Effect Basket. Four large (roughly 1-inch) slots in the mounting lip secure the basket to the vehicle. The basket has a bluish-slate color that matches the woofer cone color. Electrical connections are handled by a set of quick-connect terminals housed in a custom-tooled plastic block. The tinsel leads are neither rubber-coated nor sewn to the spider, but the plastic block has dedicated routing to ensure the leads do not slap the cone or spider at high excursion levels.

Focal PS 165 SF
The wire connection terminal block includes routing for the tinsel leads to ensure they operate silently at high output levels.

Slatefiber Woofer Features

The woofer cone is made from non-woven recycled carbon fibers and uses the marketing name Slatefiber for its blueish slate stone appearance. The random design of the cone helps with damping, resulting in smoother high-frequency response. As with many Focal speakers, there’s no dust cap, which helps reduce the mass of the moving assembly to improve upper midrange performance. A large rubber surround provides cone damping and a reliable, flexible seal at the top of the cone. At the base of the cone is a 25mm voice coil former that gives the set an 80-watt continuous power rating. A single ceramic magnet powers the woofer.

A quick look at the woofers’ specifications shows a resonant frequency of 66.8 Hertz, a Qts of 0.592 and an effective surface area of 132 square centimeters. Focal has chosen a slightly lower-than-normal impedance for the woofer, with the DC resistance being 2.8 ohms. This will increase the maximum power available from whatever amplifier you choose to drive the kit.

Focal PS 165 SF
A butyl rubber surround ensures long-term reliability for the Slatefiber woofers.

Focal Aluminum Magnesium Tweeter

The kit includes a pair of Focal’s proprietary aluminum and magnesium inverted hard-dome tweeters. The tweeters have an effective radiating diameter of 20mm, a DC resistance of 4 ohms and a resonant frequency of 2.6 kHz. Their efficiency is rated at 93 dB at 2.83V at 1 Meter.

While tweeter performance is crucial to hearing all your music, installation flexibility is equally important. The Al/Mg tweeters have a flush mounting cup with a grille and integrated phase disc. The raw tweeter can also be installed without the cup in OE applications. The kit also includes surface mount pods for the tweeters when used with their cups. This will allow your installer to mount the tweeters to your dash and aim them toward the listening position.

Focal PS 165 SF
The Aluminum/Magnesium tweeters can be mounted without their cups in OE locations.

Passive Crossover Networks

A crucial key to the performance of a component speaker set is to use it with either a properly configured and calibrated digital signal processor or with the right passive crossovers. Focal includes passive crossover networks with the PS 165 SF kit. Uniquely, the woofers’ low-pass filters and the tweeters’ high-pass filters are in different housings. This allows your installer to split the wiring and mounting locations if you have a dash or A-pillar tweeter location and a door location for the woofer. The tweeter crossovers include a three-position switch on the circuit board that allows your installer to reduce tweeter output by 3 or 6 dB to compensate for different mounting distances and listening preferences.

Focal PS 165 SF
The passive crossover networks for the woofers and tweeters are in separate enclosures to make installation easy.

Focal Slatefiber Speaker Design

Looking at all the features of the Focal PS 165 SF Slatefiber set, its efficiency is one of the many features that stand out. As such, these speakers can be used effectively with either a factory-installed or aftermarket radio using “deck power.” If you want more output, a small to medium-sized stand-alone amplifier will provide more output and likely improve clarity—the flexible crossover design complements the OE upgrade suitability of the kit.

If you are in the market for a set of speakers to enhance your mobile audio system, visit a local authorized Focal dealer and ask about the PS 165 SF Slatefiber set. You can find a dealer near you using the store locator tool on the Focal website. For more information on Focal products, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and on YouTube.

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: Alpine i407-WRA-JL

Alpine i407-WRA-JL

If you’ve been paying attention over the last few years, you’ll know that the folks at Alpine have been offering many different audio system upgrade solutions for Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. These offerings range from head unit replacement solutions to complete audio systems with amplifiers and subwoofers. In this Product Spotlight, we will look at the i407-WRA-JL radio upgrade kit. Let’s check it out!

What is the Alpine i407-WRA-JL Kit?

The i407-WRA-JL is a radio upgrade kit for 2018 and newer JL chassis Jeep Wranglers and 2020 and newer JT chassis Jeep Gladiators. The kit includes an Alpine iLX-407 source unit along with mounting brackets, a radio trim kit, a new auxiliary input jack, all the wiring harnesses, a camera interface module, and an iDatalink Maestro RR integration module. The concept was to provide retailers with a package with everything needed to upgrade the entertainment system and prevent surprises in the installation bay.

Alpine i407-WRA-JL
The Alpine I407-407-WRA kit includes everything your installer needs to upgrade your Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator.

Jeep Radio Upgrade Kit Features

The included dash kit and brackets take care of ensuring the radio is mounted in place of the stock source unit and looks great. The dash kit is molded to fit the complex shape of the dash for a clean, factory-like appearance.

Alpine i407-WRA-JL
The mounting brackets and radio trim are designed to make the iLX-407 radio look right at home in your Jeep.

In terms of integration, the factory-installed backup camera on these Wranglers and Gladiators uses a communication protocol called Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS). This signal isn’t directly compatible with aftermarket radios. As such, the i407-WRA-JL kit includes an interface module that converts the LVDS signal into a composite signal so the camera will work with the included iLX-407.

The kit also includes an iDatalink Maestro RR interface. This data interface and harness allows the new radio to plug into the wiring connectors from the original radio and provides access to the Jeep’s data network. Information like vehicle speed, engine RPM and much more can be displayed on the radio. The climate control settings are also adjustable from the face of the new radio.

One item worth noting is that if your Jeep is equipped with the factory amplifier, an optional interface module called the KCX-F200INT is available to let the new radio connect properly.

Alpine i407-WRA-JL
The iDatalink Maestro RR interface allows the Alpine radio to communicate with the computer data network in your vehicle.

Alpine iLX-407 Features

The double-DIN iLX-407 is the radio at the heart of the i407-WRA-JL kit. This radio features a 7-inch anti-glare touch screen with a resolution of 800×480 pixels. The hard controls are along the bottom edge of the front panel. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, as is Bluetooth for hands-free streaming or phone calls. The tuner in the unit offers support for HD Radio, which dramatically improves the quality of FM radio. There’s an HDMI input on the rear of the chassis, so you can theoretically connect a gaming system or a laptop, if you want. There are two camera inputs and support for the SiriusXM SXV300 tuner module.

Alpine i407-WRA-JL
The I407-WRA-JL kit includes an interface that allows the LVDS factory-installed camera to work with the new radio.

If you want the best sound quality from your music, playing digital audio files from a USB drive is the way to go. The iLX-407 supports MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, and WAV audio formats with a maximum sampling rate of 48 kHz. The unit will also play AVI, MP4, MPG, MOV and WMV video files with H.264 or MPEG-4 video encoding. The maximum video file size is 4 gigabytes.

Audio Processing Features

The deck includes a four-channel amplifier rated at 16 watts per channel and in compliance with the ANSI/CTA-2006 standards for car audio amplifier power specifications. The triple preamp outputs are rated for up to four volts.

The iLX-407 is impressive in its audio processing features. It has a simple five-band graphic equalizer to let you fine-tune the system to your listening preferences. The more advanced crossovers offer adjustable slopes from six to 24 dB/Octave and filter frequencies from 20 to 200 Hz with high-pass filtering on the front and rear channels and a low-pass filter for the subwoofer output. There’s also a level control for each output, which many source units overlook. Oh, and the subwoofer level control can be adjusted from 0 to 15 with a polarity inversion option to potentially help the subwoofer’s output blend with the woofers in the dash and overhead sound bar.

The Time Correction setting screen allows your installer to dial in delays to each of the six outputs (which include the four built-in amplifier outputs) in 1 millisecond steps or set distances to the speakers in 3.4 centimeter steps. There are three presets available to store different Time Correction configurations. This is ideal if you want one alone in the vehicle or have a passenger, which requires different settings.

Alpine i407-WRA-JL
The equalizer in the iLX-409 includes presets along with user configurable options to let you fine-tune your audio system to your listening preference.

Jeep Radio Upgrade Kits

Alpine offers four Jeep-specific radio upgrade kits, including the i407-WRA-JL and a similar solution for older Wranglers called the i407-WRA-JK, covering 2007 through 2018 applications. If you want something fancier, the I509-WRA-JL and I509-WRA-JK kits include a 9-inch weather-resistant display, more advanced audio processing, and wireless smartphone connectivity.

If your Jeep is lacking in the audio department, visit a local authorized Alpine retailer and ask about the available Jeep-specific solutions. You can find an authorized retailer using the Store Locator tool on the Alpine website. For more information about the audio upgrade solutions available from Alpine, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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: Compustar Pro 2WG18 LTE

Compustar Pro 2WG18 LTE

At their heart, most remote car starters are the same. When you press a button on a wireless remote, a remote start controller integrated into the vehicle will start the engine. In reality, the features of the remote and the controller play a significant role in determining the usability and features of the starter system. We will look at the Compustar Pro 2WG18 LTE remote key in this Product Spotlight. Let’s check it out!

What is the Compustar Pro 2WG18 LTE Remote Car Starter?

Compustar offers its dealers several different remote kits and controller modules so that they can piece together a remote car starter solution that offers the features you want at a number of price points. The 2WG18 kit is an affordable two-way remote kit, making it a popular solution.

Two remotes offer bidirectional communication with the remote start controller. Unlike one-way remotes, a two-way unit will notify you when the doors lock or unlock or when the remote start process has begun. The 2WG18 remotes have three LEDs across the top. They also have a built-in beeper to provide audible confirmation that the command has been executed.

Compustar Pro 2WG18 LTE
The compact Pro 2WG18 remotes LEDs and integrated beeper let you know that commands from the remote have been executed.

The 2WG18 remotes have three buttons, one for lock, one for unlock and one for remote start. If you have a vehicle with a power trunk or tailgate release, the 2WG18 remotes will control up to two auxiliary outputs. Pressing the start button and the lock button twice activates auxiliary output one. Tapping the start button and then the unlock button twice will activate auxiliary output two. If you have a minivan with a power sliding door, this second output can be used to open it remotely.

Other features accessible by holding multiple buttons simultaneously include Turbo Timer activation, horn or siren chirp confirmation toggling, ignition-controlled door locks and more.

Under ideal conditions, the remotes offer up to 3000 feet of range. This means you can remote start the vehicle from the check-out at the local grocery store, from the table at your favorite restaurant, or anywhere inside your house.

Compustar Pro Remote Features and Components

The Pro 2WG17 LTE kit comes with a pair of remotes. There’s the main two-way three-button remote, and a secondary one-way companion remote. They look the same, but the second remote doesn’t have the two-way communication.

The kit also includes the antenna to connect to the controller and an FT-TEMP temperature sensor. This sensor lets the controller know the temperature inside the vehicle. Your installer can program the remote starter to activate optional outputs for the rear window defroster, heated seats or heated steering wheel if it’s below freezing when you start the vehicle.

All Compustar remotes are weather-resistant. Should you drop your keys in a puddle or a slushy snowbank, they will be OK. Further, because this is a Pro-Series solution, the remotes are backed by a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

Compustar Pro 2WG18 LTE
The companion remote included in the Pro 2WG18 kit has the same features, but doesn’t include two-way communication.

DroneMobile Smartphone Control Solution

The kit also includes a DroneMobile X2-LTE smartphone control interface module. This computerized communication device allows you to send commands from the DroneMobile app on your smartphone to the vehicle over the cellular data network. The vehicle will confirm the command has been executed on the app, just like a two-way radio-frequency remote.

The DroneMobile system has additional features like GPS-based locating and tracking that are unlocked with more premium service plans. If your kids borrow your vehicle and you want to know where they are, a quick tap on your smartphone screen shows their location and speed if they are moving. You can configure location-based alerts as well. This is an excellent feature for commercial tracking applications. Geofences are an ideal solution if you want to know when a specific vehicle leaves the office. Your authorized DroneMobile retailer can explain all the options and the cost of the service plans.

Compustar Pro 2WG18 LTE
The Pro 2WG18 kit includes a DroneMoble X2-LTE smartphone interface to provide effectively infinite range and convenience.

The Industry’s Best Remote Car Starter Solutions

If you want an affordable two-way remote starter for the family SUV, a Compustar system with the Pro 2WG18 remotes is a perfect solution. Drop into a local Compustar retailer today to find out what options will make your vehicle more comfortable on a cold winter or hot summer day.

Compustar remote starters are designed to work with most vehicles equipped with a key or push-to-start ignition system. Likewise, they offer industry-leading safety interfaces for vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. Finally, they work with most gasoline, diesel and even hybrid vehicles.

You can find a retailer near you by visiting the Compustar website and using their dealer locator tool.

Follow Compustar on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to stay up to date with all their new product releases and educational videos.

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 LX1200.5

ICKER LX1200.5

If you’ve been paying attention, then you’ll know that DSP-equipped car audio amplifiers are pretty common these days. KICKER introduced a new series of amplifiers called LX. These beasts are not only packed with serious power production capabilities, but they include digital signal processing and a unique configuration solution that separates them from everything else on the market. We’ll focus on the five-channel LX1200.5 in this Product Spotlight.

What is the KICKER LX1200.5 Amplifier?

The KICKER LX1200.5 is a five-channel amp with an integrated digital signal processor. The amp is based on a cast aluminum chassis that measures 12.625 inches in length, 8.875 inches in width and stands 2.375 inches tall. All the connections are hidden under a removable panel along the long edge of the amp. The panel is held in place with magnets for a clean and tidy appearance. Wire connections are made via terminal blocks with heavy-duty set screws. Interestingly, there are only three controls on the amp, which are gains for the subwoofer, AMP1 and AMP2 channels.

Power-wise, KICKER rates the output of AMP1 and AMP2 at 125 watts per channel into four-ohm loads and 175 watts per channel when driving two-ohm loads. The channel pairs can be bridged to provide 350 watts into a single four-ohm load. The subwoofer channel produces 300 watts into a four-ohm load, 550 watts into two ohms and an impressive 700 watts when driving a one-ohm load. All specifications include the 14.4-volt, less than 1% THD+N qualifications, so you know they are comparable to other quality brands. The amplifier’s signal-to-noise ratio is greater than 75 dB, referencing one watt of output into a four-ohm load.

ICKER LX1200.5
To keep the installation tidy, signal, speaker and power connections are all made along one side of the amp.

OEM Audio Integration

The KICKER team knows that many amplifier installations in modern vehicles use factory-installed source units. This means the amplifiers need to accept speaker-level signals. The LX1200.5, like other models in the LX Series includes fully differential speaker inputs that can take up to 40 volts of signal without needing an external interface. In low-level mode, the preamp inputs accept up to 5 volts.

The amplifier also has two turn-on modes. The amp can be activated with the typical 12-volt signal from an aftermarket source unit or switched to DC offset detection to monitor the speaker wires for a voltage from a factory radio. KICKER calls this their FIT+ technology.

Speaking of integration, the LX amplifiers have input gain matching LEDs that illuminate when you have reached the maximum output capabilities of the amplifier.

Integrated Digital Signal Processing

Unlike most DSP-equipped amplifiers on the market that require a laptop or tablet to set up, KICKER includes a controller with the amp called the LX Control Center. This compact controller features a two-line LCD screen, four rotary encoders and buttons to access different amp channels and functions.

ICKER LX1200.5
Each amplifier includes an LX Control Center (LXCC) to let your installer configure the amp quickly and easily.

In terms of signal processing, your installer can apply high-pass, low-pass or band-pass crossover to each of the three channels on the amp. The high-pass filters are adjustable from 20 Hz to 5 kHz and the low-pass from 40 Hz to 5 kHz. Slopes can be set to 12 or 24 dB Linkwitz-Riley alignments or 12, 18 or 24 dB/octave Butterworth. You’ll want to use the Linkwitz alignment so you can set the crossover points at the same frequencies. The subwoofer channel low-pass filter is adjustable from 20 to 160 hertz and there is an infrasonic filter that can be set from 10 to 80 Hz to control subwoofer cone excursion.

KICKER includes a signal delay for the left channels on both AMP1 and AMP2. Your installer can delay the output of the left channels, which correlate to the speakers closest to the listening position in 0.1 millisecond steps, up to a maximum of 10 milliseconds. When set properly, adding delays to the closer speakers can help improve imaging and staging.

The subwoofer channel has a parametric equalizer that can be set between 20 and 80 hertz with a Q factor between 1 and 5 and a maximum gain of 6 dB. If you want to add a little Kick, no pun intended, this is the perfect solution. The LX amps also include SHOCwave 2.0. This feature analyzes audio information and creates a harmonic one octave below the fundamental to restore audio information lost by many factory-installed amplifiers. If you want to rumble, SHOCwave 2.0 can do it!

Once your installer is done setting up the amp, the LXCC (LX Control Center) can be disconnected from the RJ45 port, and the included LX Remote Control (LXRC) can be plugged in. This multifunction remote controls the subwoofer level and SHOCwave 2.0 functionality and even shows battery voltage using the LEDs around the perimeter.

ICKER LX1200.5
The included LX Remote Control (LXRC) is much more than just subwoofer level control.

Full Amplifier Family

The new LX series from KICKER includes the LX1200.5 five-channel we’ve discussed, a seven-channel LX1300.7 and the monster LX3000.1 3000-watt monoblock in the same chassis size. The LX series includes a four-channel LX500.4 and LX850.1, LX1250.1 and LX1300.7 in a smaller 9.625-inch long chassis. The width and height of all the amps are the same, so mixing and matching models is easy.

Speaking of design flexibility, the little illuminated badge in the center of the amp can be rotated 180 degrees to align with however your installer configures the amps in your vehicle.

Upgrade Your Car Audio Experience with KICKER LX-Series Amplifiers

If you are shopping for an impressively featured, high-performance amplifier for your car audio system, drop by a local authorized KICKER retailer and ask about the new LX series models, like the LX1200.5. They can design a system around these products, integrate it into your vehicle and configure it to sound amazing.

You can find an authorized retailer using the locator tool on the KICKER website. Be sure to follow the KICKER on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Check out the KICKER Unmasked LIVE show for weekly updates on new products and their unique technologies.

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.