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Product Spotlight: iDatastart VWX Remote Starter for Volkswagen and Audi

Volkswagen Car Starter

Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley vehicle owners are in luck! The VWX remote car starter from iDatastart was specifically designed for your vehicle. Starting your car a few minutes before leaving for work or the drive home will let the engine warm up in the winter or allow the air conditioning to cool things off in the summer. Either way, your drive will be much more enjoyable. Let’s take a close look at the features and some of the options available from this unique remote car starter.

iDatastart VWX Features and Compatibility

The VWX includes all the inputs and outputs necessary to allow it to start Volkswagen and Audi vehicles reliably. Aside from starting your Golf, Jetta, A3 or A4, you have complete remote control over door locking, unlocking and trunk or hatch release control on compatible models. The system includes a dedicated output for the vehicle horn, and an optional siren can be added to provide enhanced security and protection. The system can monitor the hood, trunk and door status to let you know if someone is trying to break in.

Depending on the specific year, make, and model of the Volkswagen or Audi vehicle you own, the VWX can automatically activate the rear window defroster and factory-installed heated or cooled seats after the vehicle is started.

Volkswagen Car Starter
The IDatastart VWX is a remote car starter controller specifically designed to work with Audi, Volkswagen and Bentley vehicles.

Remote Control Options

The VWX can be used with current Compustar remote control kits, including the fantastic 3-mile-range, two-way T13 LCD unit or the one-button R5. The new Q9 remote is an excellent option for a price-conscious two-way remote with an LCD screen. Two-way communication lets you know that a lock, unlock or remote start request sent from the remote has been received by the VWX controller in the vehicle.

Volkswagen Car Starter
Compustar offers a variety of remotes like the Q9, T13, R5 or R3 that work with the VWX controller.

For the ultimate convenience, you can pair the VWX with the DroneMobile smartphone telematic control system. You can send commands over the cellular data network to your vehicle using an app on your Apple or Android-based smartphone and a communication module connected to the VWX in the vehicle. You can check to ensure that the doors are locked when the car is parked at the airport and you’re sitting at the pool bar at a resort in the Bahamas.

Using one of the Premium service plans for DroneMobile adds GPS locating and alert options. You will get a notification any time your vehicle moves or an alert if someone drives off after bedtime. If you share your car or SUV with a family member, a quick tap on the smartphone app will let you know exactly where your vehicle is and how fast it’s traveling.

If your vehicle comes with a keyless entry fob, the iDatastart VWX can be programmed to work with that remote. Pressing unlock will not only open the doors but deactivate the security features of the VWX. The VWX can be configured to remote start the vehicle if you press the lock button on the factory remotes three times in quick succession. This feature is called 3X Lock Start and is handy if you want to use the factory key fob to keep your keychain uncluttered, along with DroneMobile for those times when you are too far away from the RF remote.

Volkswagen Car Starter
DroneMobile is an easy way to remote start or unlock your Volkswagen or Audi from almost anywhere using your smartphone.

Upgrade Your Comfort with a Volkswagen or Audi Remote Starter

If you are shopping for a remote car starter for a 2006 or newer Volkswagen or Audi (or a Bentley Bentayga), drop by a local authorized retailer and ask about the iDatastart VWX system. They can explain exactly which features and functions are compatible with your vehicle’s specific year, model and trim level. The dealer will also help you choose the best remote control solution based on where you park the vehicle at home, at work and out on the town. Ensuring that you have the right control options and range is crucial to warming up or cooling the vehicle long before it’s time to drive off.

For more information on the iDatastart VWX, you can visit the iData website. In the United States, iDatastart products are distributed by Firstech, the parent company of Compustar. Most Compustar retailers have access to this unique Volkswagen and Audi-specific car starter solution.

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: Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP 2,500-Watt Subwoofer Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP

When it comes to subwoofer amplifiers from Rockford Fosgate, a few models stand out in the annals of car audio history: the Power 1000, the Power T15kW and the T2500-1bdCP. The latter is currently the flagship of the Power Series and is the most powerful subwoofer amplifier available from our friends in Tempe, Arizona. It’s a workhorse capable of impressive performance, so let’s check it out!

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP Features

The T2500-1bdCP is a 2,500-watt subwoofer amplifier. It’s based on a large cast aluminum heatsink with a footprint of 8.14 inches in depth, 21.875 inches in width and a total height of 2.14 inches. All the power, signal and subwoofer connections are made along the front edge of the amplifier. A pair of massive 0-AWG terminals on the right side connect the amp to your battery bank, and two pair of speaker terminals on the left side will accept up to 8-AWG speaker wires.

The center panel on top of the amplifier is home to a pair of LED-based level meters. The left-hand meter shows output power in 11 steps from idle to +2 dB (well into clipping). The right-hand meter displays battery voltage from 9 to 16 volts in 11 steps.

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP
Top-panel mounted LED level meters allow you to monitor power output and battery levels.

In the center of the side panel are the configuration controls. The amp will accept up to 4 volts of input on the RCA terminals. Of course, Rockford Fosgate has included balanced differential inputs on the RCA jacks to eliminate noise that might have been picked up by the RCA interconnects. The low-pass crossover is non-defeatable and offers -24 dB/octave attenuation with frequencies adjustable between 35 and 250 hertz. A selectable infrasonic filter applies a high-pass filter to the audio signal with a 12 dB/octave filter set to 28 hertz.

Of course, the amp includes the famous Punch EQ circuit that allows your installer to dial in up to 18 dB of boost at 45 hertz. An optional Remote PEQ module can be added to let the driver adjust the Punch EQ circuit from the front of the vehicle.

The amp features Rockford Fosgate’s BD output configuration that delivers excellent efficiency and sound quality. The Constant Power design helps ensure that the amp makes as much power as possible into various load impedances.

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP
All connections and controls for the T2500-1bdCP are along the side panel of the amp to make installation easy and reliable.

T2500-1bdCP Power Ratings

In terms of power production capabilities, the T2500-1bdCP is rated to produce 1,500 watts of output into a 4-ohm load and 2,500 watts into 2- and 1-ohm loads. Given our lab experience with Rockford Fosgate products, these numbers are likely underrated by about 10%.

If that’s not enough, two of these amps can be strapped together using the optional bdSYNC2 cable to deliver 5,000 watts of power into a 4- or 2-ohm load. Voice coils, be warned! The amp also has a MasterSync mode that allows a single unit to drive an array of similar amplifiers with the same configuration settings. The RCA output jacks on the right side of the side panel are fundamental to making these features function. Uniquely, your installer can combine the bdSync and Master Sync modes to drive two subwoofers with 5,000 watts each using four amplifiers.

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP
If you need 5,000 watts into 2- or 4-ohm loads, the bdSYNC mode with two T2500-1bdCP can deliver!

Smart car audio system designers will know that all amplifiers decrease in efficiency with decreases in load impedance. Rockford Fosgate rates the T2500-1bdCP as being 81.9% efficient at 4 ohms, 77.7% efficient at 2 ohms and 64.5% efficient when connected to a 1-ohm load. If you want to get the most bang for your buck in terms of battery and alternator capacity, a 2-ohm load makes these amps the happiest.

By way of sound quality specifications, Rockford Fosgate rates the amp as having a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 70 dB at a 1-watt output level. This is impressive for an amplifier with this much signal gain and capable of so much power. As with all amplifiers from Rockford Fosgate, all specifications comply with the ANSI/CTA-2006-C standard for car audio amplifier specifications.

Rockford Fosgate T2500-1bdCP

Experience Bass Like Never Before with Rockford Fosgate

If you are after the ultimate high-end subwoofer system, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about an amplifier like the amazing Power Series T2500-1bdCP. You can match it with a few of the Power Series subwoofers or one of the outrageously cool T3S1-19 superwoofers. For more information about Rockford Fosgate’s Power Series products, visit their website. You can find an authorized retailer near you using their Dealer Locator. Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to learn about their latest solutions for cars, boats, motorcycles and powersports applications.

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: Rockford Fosgate T1650 and T1693 Power Series Speakers

Power Series Speaker

You’ll find thousands of options when choosing upgraded speakers for your car audio system. Rockford Fosgate’s Power Series fits the bill perfectly for those looking for a solution that delivers great sound quality with impressive efficiency and output capability. In this spotlight, we’ll look at the T1650 and the T1693 speakers – two of the most popular sizes in the series.

Rockford Fosgate Power Series Features

The T1650 is a two-way 6.5-inch class speaker optimized for installation in North American, European and Asian vehicles, thanks to its FlexFit 2 basket design. The T1693 is a three-way 6×9 speaker that works in almost any application with at least 3.43 inches of mounting depth.

Both drivers are based on a sturdy stamp-cast aluminum frame. The woofer cones are made of carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene to deliver excellent rigidity and thermal stability balance. The outer edge of the woofer cone is attached to the basket using a Santoprene rubber surround. The T1650 features Rockford Fosgate’s Vertical Attach Surround Technique design that optimizes the effective cone area of the woofer to increase bass output and efficiency.

At the base of the woofer cones are aluminum voice coil formers that help to draw heat away from the winding. The T1650 has a 1.1-inch voice coil former, and the T1693 features a 1.2-inch diameter former design for added power handling. Vents in the basket under the spider mounting ledge allow hot air to escape from the voice coil. These vents also improve linearity at high excursion levels. Finally, fatigue- and tear-resistant poly-cotton spiders return the woofer cones to rest once the audio signal stops.

The tweeters in the speakers feature a treated aluminum dome design for excellent power handling and high-frequency extension. The tweeter on the T1650 is mounted on a bridge that suspends it above the woofer. This design eliminates the need for a pole piece through the center of the woofer and further increases the radiating area of the woofer. Both drivers feature Rockford Fosgate’s Integrated Concealed Crossover design that hides the filter network within the basket to protect the components and simplify the installation process.

Both systems include a pair of speakers, a set of steel mesh protective grilles and mounting hardware.

Power Series Speaker
The bridge-mounted tweeter on the T1650 increases the effective woofer cone area for more bass.
Power Series Speaker
The three-way design of the T1693 delivers impressive clarity and detail to ensure that your music is loud and clear.

Rockford Fosgate T1650 Specifications

The T1650 has a continuous power handling rating of 75 watts and can handle up to 150 watts of peak power. The driver has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, and its efficiency is specified as 88 dB when powered with 1 watt and measured at 1 meter. A moderately high Qts specification of 0.73 will give the driver a little extra warmth in the lower midrange, making it a perfect solution as a stand-alone option or for use in an audio system with a subwoofer.

Power Series Speaker

Rockford Fosgate T1693 Specifications

The T1693 is a three-way 6×9 speaker with a 1-inch aluminum-dome tweeter and a ½-inch super tweeter. The driver has a nominal 4-ohm impedance and a rated efficiency of 91 dB at 1 watt/1 meter. Power handling is specified as 100 watts continuous and 200 watts peak. The Qts value of 0.6 still delivers a slightly warm sound but emphasizes the focus on excellent dynamics in the lower midrange.

Power Series Speaker
Rockford Fosgate T1693 Dimensions

All the dimensional and performance specifications provided for these speakers are compliant with the ANSI/CTA-2031-A standard for the Testing and Measurement of In-Vehicle Loudspeaker Systems. This means you can trust the provided information to be accurate and truthful. It’s also worth noting that Rockford Fosgate uses Klippel speaker analysis equipment to optimize the design of their loudspeakers and subwoofers to ensure that they operate linearly and deliver excellent sound quality.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Rockford Fosgate Power Series Speakers

While we’ve highlighted the T1650 and the T1693 in this spotlight, the Power Series includes 4-, 5.25- and 6.75-inch options, along with 4×6, 5×7, 6×8 and two-way 6×9-inch speaker systems for a solution for almost any application. Drop by your local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer to find out what size is perfect for the upgrade in your car, truck or SUV. You can find a local dealer by using the locator on their website. Be sure to follow the Rockford Fosgate team on Facebook and Instagram to learn about their latest product releases. Also, check out the fantastic videos they post 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: Compustar Q9 with LTE Remote Starter

Compustar Q9

Two-way remote car starters and security systems help to ensure that you always know what’s happening with your car or truck. Remote controls that include an LCD screen make it quick and easy to know whether the doors are locked or the engine is running. Compustar’s Q9 remote kit consists of a two-way LCD remote and their DroneMobile X1-LTE telematics interface to provide a complete control-from-anywhere remote starter or security solution for your vehicle.

What Is the Compustar Q9 with LTE Kit?

The Q9 remote and DroneMobile kit is known formally as the RFX-2WQ9-FM. It includes a two-way LCD remote and the DroneMobile X1-LTE interface. The remote features five control buttons to make locking, unlocking, remote start and trunk release functions instantly and intuitively accessible. The centrally located Engine Start/Stop button on the Q9 mimics the lock, unlock and remote start functions of a Compustar one-button remote. You can also access two auxiliary outputs to control power sliding doors on a minivan or hatch release on an SUV. The LCD screen has dedicated icons that display the door lock status and indicate whether the doors are open or the engine is running. If you opt for a temperature sensor when the Q9 is installed, you can also check the temperature in the vehicle.

Compustar sells its remote packages separate from its control modules, so the retailer you’re working with can pair the Q9 kit with a remote starter, security system or a hybrid unit that offers all the features you want. The Q9 remote is bundled in the CSX2WQ900-A security system with DroneMobile and the CS2WQ900-AS remote starter and security system.

 

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The RF transceiver in the Q9 remote provides up to 3,000 feet of range to let you control your vehicle from inside a small apartment or a medium-sized office building. This is enough communication range to let you keep tabs on your vehicle and remote start it without going outside. Factory-installed keyless entry systems don’t provide this much range.

Compustar Q9
The Compustar Q9 remote features a color display that lets you know the status of your vehicle.

Security System Alerts

The Q9 remote will notify you if a Compustar alarm system has been triggered. The remote will beep and buzz when this happens. If someone has bumped into your car or is trying to cut the catalytic converter off your truck or SUV, these alerts will let you know it’s time to call the authorities.

 

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Control from Anywhere with DroneMobile

The Q9 remote kit includes the DroneMobile X1-LTE telematics system. DroneMobile consists of a communication interface that connects to your vehicle’s Compustar remote starter or security controller. The interface uses cell phone communication towers to relay commands from your smartphone to the vehicle and back. If you want to remote start your car or truck, launch the app on your phone and press the start button for a few seconds. The starting message from the app will travel through the internet and the cellular provider to the vehicle in a few seconds. Best of all, once the vehicle is running, you’ll get confirmation on your phone. There are no range limitations with Drone. You can be at home, at work or on vacation in Mexico – as long as you have internet access, you have control. If you have the FT-DAS-II sensor in your vehicle, the DroneMobile system also relays security alerts to your smartphone.

With a DroneMobile Premium service plan, you can also use the X1-LTE’s built-in GPS receiver to pinpoint the location of your car or truck. You can set location-based geofence or time-based alerts to keep tabs on your vehicle.

Compustar Q9
The Q9 remote kit includes the DroneMobile smartphone control system that provides vehicle control from almost anywhere.

Add Convenience and Security with the Compustar Q9 Remote

If you’re shopping for a remote car starter or car alarm with a high-performance two-way remote that includes an LCD screen and the state-of-the-art DroneMobile telematics solution, drop by your local Compustar retailer and ask about the Q9 remote kit. You can find a retailer near you using their Dealer Locator. Be sure to follow Compustar on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube 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.

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate P1/P2/P3-2X12 Loaded Subwoofer Enclosures

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures

Few upgrades make a more noticeable change or add more fun to your car audio system than adding a subwoofer system. The car audio fanatics at Rockford Fosgate have made it easy to choose a performance level with their P1, P2 and P3 dual 12-inch 2X12 Loaded Punch Series subwoofer enclosures. Let’s dig into what makes these bass upgrades deliver some of the best bang for the buck on the market.

Custom Enclosure Designed for Car Audio Systems

If you look back at our Test Drive Review of the P500-12P, you might remember that the folks at Rockford Fosgate have a unique approach to car audio subwoofer enclosure design. While most companies perform simulations exclusively in software, the product development team at Rockford Fosgate designs their enclosures to work with the acoustics of the vehicle. This results in physically smaller enclosure designs that offer impressive efficiency and extension without taking up vast amounts of space.

The footprint of the 2X12 series enclosures measures 33.875 by 15.75 inches. To optimize space, the angled rear panel fits up snugly against the rear seats in a coupe, hatchback or SUV. The enclosures are 15.125 inches tall, so they won’t block the view out of the back of your vehicle.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
Robust MDF construction with reinforced corner joints ensures reliable performance.

The cabinets are constructed from 5/8-inch MDF with inset side panels. They are finished in a durable high-density black carpet. The front panel features a large-surface-area vent optimized to prevent noise at high volume levels. A custom-tooled trim panel over the vent looks cool and keeps loose objects from entering the enclosure. A set of chromed spring-loaded binding posts on the left side end panel will accept 10-AWG wiring and make it easy to connect the subwoofer system to your amplifier.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
A terminal cup on the left-side end panel makes it easy for your installer to connect the enclosure to your amplifier.

Given that the Thiele/Small parameters of the P1, P2 and P3 Punch Series subwoofers are similar, the enclosure options offer similar overall tonal balance but with ever-increasing output capabilities.

Pick Your Poison: Mild to Wild Bass

Rockford Fosgate offers their 2X12-Series enclosures with your choice of Punch Series P1, P2 or P3 drivers. The P1-2X12 includes a pair of P1S4-12 subwoofers, each rated to handle 250 watts of power continuously and 500 watts maximum. Each driver has an Xmax spec of 9 mm, which is good for an affordable subwoofer solution. The system has a net load impedance of 2 ohms and weighs 70.9 pounds. Rockford Fosgate recommends the P300X1 as a great power solution for this enclosure.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
The P1-2X12 enclosure features a pair of 250-watt P1S4-12 12-inch subwoofers.

If you want more output, step up to the P2-2X12, with its pair of P2D4-12 subwoofers. These subs can handle 300 watts continuously or 600 watts each. The P2 subwoofers have a one-way Xmax spec of 13.3 mm, so this will play louder if you feed it more power. The pair of dual-voice-coil drivers is wired to a net 1-ohm load. The P2-2X12 enclosure weighs in at 77.35 pounds. The P500X1 is suggested as a perfect match for this enclosure. The Punch P2 subwoofers use Rockford Fosgate Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) to optimize cone area. The P2 and P3 12-inch subs have 4% more effective cone area than the P1 drivers.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
The P2-2X12 enclosure features a pair of 300-watt P2D4-12 12-inch subwoofers.

Rockford Fosgate offers the P3-2X12, which includes a pair of P3D4-12 12-inch subs for the most jam from this enclosure design. These drivers are rated to handle 600 watts continuously or 1,200 watts maximum power per driver. They have an Xmax specification of 15.9 millimeters and are wired to present a 1-ohm load. Paired with an amplifier like the P1000X1bd, this enclosure will shake your behind and rattle your fillings. The P3-2X13 weighs a hefty 89.65 pounds, so you’ll want to get some help if you have to remove it from your vehicle.

Rockford Fosgate Enclosures
The P3-2X12 enclosure features a pair of 600-watt P3D4-12 12-inch subwoofers.

You can pair these enclosures with Prime series amplifiers if you’re on a budget or Power series amplifiers if you want improved clarity and detail. Your local Rockford Fosgate retailer can help you create a package that will deliver the performance you want. Use the dealer locator on their website to find a shop near you. Of course, follow the Rockford Fosgate team on Facebook and Instagram to learn about their latest product releases. Also, check out the videos they post on YouTube; they are truly impressive!

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.