Whether you need to entertain the kids on a long drive, want to impress your business clients, or are looking to add safety features to your vehicle, mobile video is the answer!

One of the hottest trends in mobile electronics today is in-car DVD players: a few years ago it was practically beyond the realm of imagination, but now car video is readily available as both a factory and aftermarket option. Many states are now regulating car video installation for safety by limiting it to backseat passengers, but there are legal options for front seat monitors, including GPS navigation and back-up cameras. In car video has a number of unique applications, including entertainment, safety, and display; keep reading to learn what mobile video can do for you!

Mobile Video for Entertainment

The most common use for in car video is entertainment. With fold-down ceiling screens or headrest mounted monitors, backseat passengers can watch movies en route to their destination. These car DVD systems are frequently part of AM/FM/CD/DVD decks, so you get the hassle-free simplicity of an integrated unit. With infrared headphones and dual zone listening, the kids can watch cartoons in the back while you listen to the radio up front. Video game inputs are also an option with mobile video, meaning the kids can play games as well as watch movies all from the comfort of your car! In some states, sun visor monitors are allowed, so front seat passengers aren’t necessarily excluded from mobile video entertainment either!

Mobile Video for Safety

Many people don’t realize that car video actually has a number of practical applications beyond entertainment. However, the catch-all of “mobile video” also includes GPS navigation and back-up cameras. Displayed on video screens on the dashboard or in the center console (also available in a pop-up version), back-up video is supplied from a camera in the rear of the vehicle. Especially important in larger vehicles and trucks with limited visibility, this specialized form of mobile video allows you to see behind you. With the increasing number of vehicle-child collisions (and fatalities) in recent years, back-up cameras are a great way to avoid accidents! GPS navigation is also sometimes considered in car video because of the LCD display. These systems offer mapping and directional guidance, meaning no more fumbling with maps while driving and fewer wrong turns.

Mobile Video for Display

Car video systems are also frequently used for display, that is a nice way to say “showing off.” In trunk monitors don’t have much practical use, but they sure look awesome at car shows. And they’re a great way to make everyone envious of your vehicle! This type of mobile video installation has a huge number of options: bigger screens, more flexible legal parameters (since the system isn’t necessarily designed to be used while the car is moving), and flashy custom installations. If you’re looking for a fun, creative way to impress friends, family, or business clients, consider installing an in-trunk mobile video system. It’s sure to get their attention!

For entertainment, safety, and display, in car video is your number one vehicle customization option. Even if you’ve never previously considered mobile video before, with all of the great reasons to upgrade to this exciting, dynamic feature, now is the time to install video in your car!

You spend hours every week in your car driving to and from work, bussing your kids from one activity to the next, and running errands. Given all the time you spend in the driver’s seat, there’s no reason not to invest in a premium car audio system. Whether you’re tired of your factory-installed system’s lackluster sound or just looking to upgrade to higher-quality speakers, there is a lot you need to know about car stereos before you shell out the cash.

Read on for a quick overview about the basic components of a great mobile audio system. Of course, you can always visit your local car electronics showroom for more information, but here’s some information to get you started! Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it’s important to point out that no matter what the experts may claim, the system that sounds best to you is the system that’s best for you. There’s no reason to spend a cool grand on a top-of-the-line component if you prefer the sound of the $300 mid-grade unit. Let your ears decide what you like best!

Decks

The deck is the source of your audio signal, so this is the most important component of your car stereo. Keep in mind that if the signal from your deck isn’t top-notch, the rest of your audio system is going to sound inferior-regardless of how great your speakers are. Today you have a huge number of options when it comes to decks: while your alternatives used to be cassette or CD, now it seems like your choices are unlimited. You can opt for a simple CD deck or multi-disc changer, or you can select something fancier like a satellite radio system, integrated iPod and mp3 players, or CD/DVD/GPS combination units.

Speakers

For a quick and relatively easy way to upgrade your mobile audio system’s sound quality, replace your OEM speakers. Even so-called “premium” factory speakers are poor when compared with aftermarket speaker sound quality. Most high-end audio component systems have separate speakers for treble and bass: tweeters and woofers. For truly premium sound, your system needs to include both. Look for speakers with magnets made of strontium and neodymium for small size and lots of oomph: when it comes to speakers bigger doesn’t actually mean better anymore! And be sure to take construction into mind, as the extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity in your vehicle can damage delicate audio equipment. You’ll want to select speakers with coated paper or nonporous (polypropylene, etc.) cones and surrounds made of treated foam or rubber. But don’t forget, as with all car audio components, how the speakers sound to you is the most important factor.

Amplifiers

In the simplest terms, an amp is designed to make the speakers play louder. However, you need to remember than an amp shouldn’t change the quality of the speaker’s sound output in any way. Distortion is frequently caused by an underpowered amp, so you’ll need to match the power rating on your amp with your desired output. Keep in mind, though, that the power rating listed on an amp is its maximum peak performance. When evaluating amps for your car audio system, the number you really need is the RMS rating: this is the output the amp is capable of on a regular basis and is more representative of the performance you’ll actually get from your amp.

Subwoofers

Although some people think subwoofers are just for the bass-booming crowd, every high-quality sound system should have a subwoofer. Normal speakers-even premium speakers-aren’t able to replicate the bass as it was originally recorded. This causes your speakers to strain, compromising their performance. With a subwoofer as part of the system, your speakers will be free to function optimally; you’ll hear clear crisp music, with undistorted bass. One important thing to know about car audio electronics is that an amp is necessary to power your subwoofer. And, again, it’s important to match the energy output of your amp to the energy needs of your sub for the best results and sound quality.

Decks, speakers, amps, and subwoofers are just the basic components of all high-quality sound systems. If you’re looking to upgrade even more than just your stereo system, you’ll want to visit your local car audio video specialist to learn more about car DVD players, GPS navigation, video screens, car alarms, and all of the other mobile electronics options available today. Once you venture into the exciting realm of car customization, you won’t want to stop!