Autoblog

Chevy Sonic Boom concept headed for production?

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Specialty

Chevrolet took a brace of Sonic concepts to the 2011 SEMA show, among them four variations on themes from the Z-Spec parts bin, the Super 4 Racer for the track, and a brazen red hatch called the Sonic Boom. Based entirely around a 4,000-watt Kicker sound system, the Sonic Boom contains a high-tech head unit controlling components designed with a jet theme, and a report on the Chevrolet Sonic forum indicates it's headed for production.

There aren't many details to share, other than that Chevy has reportedly applied for a "Sonic Boom" trademark, but ChevroletSonicForum.com says their GM sources tell them that a planned retail version will take a step down from its 4,000-watt progenitor. Chevrolet has already admitted it wants to create a model selection that puts the Sonic into niche markets, and with a deep trough of Z-Spec add-ons, even as a concept the Sonic Boom doesn't appear to be too far from production-ready.

Chevy Sonic Boom concept headed for production? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Custom car audio system shreds phone books with sound

Aaron Richardson — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Etc., Technology, Videos, Chevrolet

Steve Meade Designs' phone book-shredding Chevrolet Tahoe - Click above to view videos after the jump

There's ridiculous bass, and then there's this madness. Steve Meade Designs is a custom car audio shop that specializes in the kind of audio systems that require 10 batteries and three alternators to run. This clip features Meade's own 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe, and its compliment of four 18-inch subwoofers, backed by a total of 13 amps and 26 smaller speakers, including 10 6.5-inch mids, and 10 one-inch tweeters.

The result of all that firepower directed at four 18-inch woofers is a phone book-shredding bass attack. We don't mean phone book-shredding in the figurative sense, either. As the videos after the jump clearly show (hint: fast-forward first video to 3:00), Steve Meade Designs has built a stereo system so powerful it can shred your average metropolitan phone book to bits in minutes. Just think about what it'll do to your ear drums.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Custom car audio system shreds phone books with sound

Video: Custom car audio system shreds phone books with sound originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2009 Preview: Internet radio in the car

Chris Tutor — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:16:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, CES

At next week's Consumer Electronics Show, Blaupunkt and miRoamer will announce the first in-dash Internet radio receiver. The press release we received says the radios will be offered as "built-in original equipment" but doesn't go into detail about what automakers will offer the system or even how the radios receive the data.

"The beauty of Internet car radio is the customized user experience," said George Parthimos, Founder and CEO of miRoamer said in a press release. "Today, users want to jump in their car and go - no pulling out third-party devices or plugging in cords to access their music and information. miRoamer's development with Blaupunkt is the first seamless Internet radio solution. Now, with the simple push of a button, users can access AM/FM stations or Internet radio's thousands of music, entertainment, news and talk stations from around the world, all from the same car stereo."

Users of the new head units will be able to tune into Internet radio stations offered by miRoamer as well as add stations of their choosing by simply inputting the URL. The photo above is of Blaupunkt's prototype New Jersey head unit.

We're looking forward to getitng the details on this next week, and will put up a post as soon as we do.

CES 2009 Preview: Internet radio in the car originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Protect your sound system with smarts

Chris Tutor — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: Audio, Gadgets, Tuners, Etc., Technology

One of the easiest ways to customize a car is to yank out that factory radio and stick in something with more snazzy looks and more jazzy sound. Unfortunately, thieves know how easily your new stereo can be yanked out.

There have been many variations on the concealment method of stereo protection through the years. One of the most popular being to hide the newer unit behind a nest of wires to fool would-be crooks into thinking someone had beaten them to the prize. But over at Instructables, there's a new twist to the trick.

The key to the hack is to conceal your upgraded stereo behind what looks like your car's OEM unit. There are step-by-step instructions showing you how its done, from mounting the old radio's faceplate on a removable fascia, to making the fakery look even more unappealing by halving a cassette tape for added realism. They used "Christmas With the Brady Bunch," which might work in a Geo Metro in December, but would be probably guarantee your G35 getting busted open in July.

[Source: Instructables via Gizmag]

Protect your sound system with smarts originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The mobile audio equivalent of a Howitzer: Subwoofer Truck

Dan Roth — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:13:00 EST

Filed under: Audio, Etc.

The naming is appropriate for a low-frequency addicted BAMF - Sub Mofo. If you're looking to jiggle the teacups in Aunt Millie's breakfast nook over in the next county, this is the vehicle for you! It appears to be some sort of promotional vehicle for mobile audio manufacturer Power Acoustik. In fact, Mofo is a particular model line of extremely beefy subwoofers from the California-based electronics manufacturer. The Mofo-10s appear to be part of what this truck's equipped with. From the specs, these woofers require serious current, so we hope that's a generator truck underneath all the line arrays, crossovers and electro-shock graphics. With a motor structure that weighs 270 ounces, a couple of these babies in the trunk of an RWD car, with the supporting cast of amps, active crossovers, stiffening capacitors, and a battery for good measure, you'd have plenty of snow traction. Subtle it's not, but it is an impressive way to go deaf. What?

[Source: techeblog]

Continue reading The mobile audio equivalent of a Howitzer: Subwoofer Truck

The mobile audio equivalent of a Howitzer: Subwoofer Truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi developing audible news reader for your auto

John Neff — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:56:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, I.C.E., Technology, Audi

Audi is pushing the envelope in audio entertainment with a new research project that aims to deliver news reports audibly that are custom configured by the driver. Audi says the system, known as MACS My News, allows the driver to become "editor-in-chief" by choosing what type of content to hear and for how long. World news, sports and weather are a few types of content the system will be able to deliver, and it will all be controlled via spoken commands or Audi's MMI (Multi Media Interface).

Foursprung has what appears to be an official release, though it doesn't touch on what type of voice will be "reading" the content to be delivered. We assume it will be digital and synthetic, which we fear would be entirely too annoying to listen to at length. That is, unless it's a cool digital voice like that of Johnny 5 or the supercomputer named Joshua from War Games.

[Source: Foursprung]

Audi developing audible news reader for your auto originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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