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Product Spotlight: JL Audio AP600/6

JL Audio AP6006

A few decades ago, amplifiers designed for marine applications were not only huge but also inefficient and, crucially, not truly waterproof. Things have come a long way since then, and JL Audio has recently introduced a new series of products specifically for high-performance marine and powersport applications. In this spotlight, we’ll look at the new JL Audio AP600/6 amplifier.

Introducing JL Audio AP Amplifiers

Before we dive into the specifics of the AP600/6, let’s look at the features common to the entire AP Series of products. These amplifiers were designed to provide ultra-reliable performance in marine, powersport and even motorcycle applications. They are completely free of analog controls that might require removable panels or plugs. How did they accomplish this? The amplifiers use a digital signal processor for sensitivity, crossover, bass boost, infrasonic filter, and polarity adjustments. The up and down arrow and Mode/CH buttons on the front panel, combined with a simple dot-matrix display, make it easy for your installer to complete the configuration process. With the amplifier completely sealed, it has an IP67 water and dust intrusion rating.

The AP Series includes four products: the four-channel AP300/4, rated for 50W x 4 into four ohms or 150W x 2 into a pair of four-ohm bridged loads; the monoblock AP300/1, which can deliver 300 watts into a two-ohm load; and the impressive AP600/6, a staggered power six-channel amp. There is also an amp called the AP200/4BT. This amp is rated a 4 x 40 watts into four ohm and includes a BT audio streaming receiver and a controller to adjust volume, track selection or source (BT or Aux input).

JL Audio AP200/4BT
The JL Audio AP200/4BT is a four-channel amp with Bluetooth A2DP and AVRCP.

JL Audio AP600/6 Specifications

The six-channel AP600/6 is rated to deliver 50 watts per channel into four ohms for the four main outputs and 100 watts per channel to channels five and six. These last two channels can be bridged to provide 300 watts into a single four-ohm load. At 2 ohms, the main channels deliver 75 watts, and channels five and six deliver 150 watts each. The amp isn’t designed to drive a two-ohm load in mono. This is an ideal solution for marine applications with four main speakers and two tower speakers, or could be used with two towers and a subwoofer – just to name a few configurations.

Additional specifications include a CTA-2006-D-compliant signal-to-noise ratio of better than 70 dB when referenced to 1 watt of output from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Frequency response is listed as being 20 Hz to 20 kHz with a tight tolerance of 1 dB. Idle current is between 1 and 1.5 A, and dark current is specified to be under 1 mA. The six-channel amp has low- and high-voltage signal input ranges that accept 0.2 to 2 or 0.8 to 8 volts RMS.

All three pairs of channels can be run full-range or have high- or low-pass filters applied. The filters in the amp use second-order -12 dB/octave slopes and are adjustable from 20 to 500 Hz. The bass boost is centered nice and low at 37 Hz and can boost around this frequency by up to 18 dB. The AP600/6 has an adjustable infrasonic filter on channels five and six that’s adjustable from 20 to 50 hertz with a second-order slope. This amp doesn’t have a polarity reverse adjustment in the menu.

The amp has an Easy Tune mode that allows it to work with select Fusion source units with DSP and the Fusion Audio smartphone app.

JL Audio AP6006
A dot-matrix display on the front panel makes setting up the amp easy for your installer.

Connections and Installation

Electrical connections are on pigtails at either end of the amp. The left side has six pairs of 18-AWG speaker-wire connections, along with a remote turn-on connection and an 8-AWG connection. These connections are 10 inches long. The right side has three pairs of RCA jacks and a factory service USB port connection. The amp doesn’t have a built-in over-current protection device, so your installer should install a 70-amp fuse on the end of the power wire. Four-AWG should be run to the battery connections to ensure efficient operation.

Footprint-wise, the AP600/6 measures 11.81 inches (30 cm) long, 5.9 inches (15 cm) wide, and is 1.86 inches (4.7 cm) thick. These dimensions exclude the wires and their injection-molded strain reliefs. The amp mounts using the provided M4 x 35mm (approx. #8 x 1-3/8) fasteners that pass through the corners of the cast aluminum heatsink.

Upgrade Your Marine or Powersports Application with JL Audio AP-Series Marine Amps Today!

Whether you are shopping for a small amp with a Bluetooth receiver to power a system in your fishing boat, or you want a higher-power solution like the AP600/6 for a small cruiser, the new AP Series of amplifiers from JL Audio should have what you need. Drop by a local authorized retailer today. You can find out more about the AP Series amplifiers by visiting the Garmin website.

Be sure to follow JL Audio on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube to learn more about their impressive automotive, marine, and powersport 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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Marine Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: JL Audio

Product Spotlight: ADS iDatalink Maestro APX Kits

Maestro APX

In February of 2025, Automotive Data Solutions (ADS) introduced the world to a new way of installing car radios. In their presentation, they discussed how aftermarket source unit installations evolved from under-dash to DIN and, subsequently, 2-DIN shapes. Their iDatalink Maestro APX kits, when combined with radios from JVC and Kenwood, usher in a new philosophy in radio upgrade options. Let’s check out the iDatalink Maestro APX installation kits.

The Basics of Radio Installations

Up until now, if you wanted to replace a factory-installed radio, you had a choice between DIN and 2-DIN radio chassis. An extension of these sizes includes floating-face radios with a large screen mounted on a bracket in front of the dashboard.

ADS spends significant resources cataloging vehicle information as it investigates each platform for remote car starter and vehicle interface solutions. The team noticed that many vehicles share common parts, such as screens. If a radio manufacturer could produce an aftermarket solution, ADS could provide simple installation and integration solutions to allow consumers to dramatically upgrade their cars and trucks in terms of features and performance.

ADS contacted their long-time partners at JVCKENWOOD to ask if they wanted to be the initial source unit partners for the APX Advanced Dash Integration product. ADS and JVCKENWOOD worked together on the initial Maestro RR radio data integration project. The two companies agreed, and work began several years ago on developing the APX kits and compatible radios. As a side note, JVC and Kenwood call their APX-compatible radio family Direct Replacement.

Maestro APX
A Kenwood DAX800XR radio installed in the dash of a 2017 infiniti QX60 SUV using the Maestro APX-S8-IN1 kit.

How Does Maestro APX Work?

In a conventional radio upgrade, a mobile enhancement retailer replaces the factory radio and often the trim panel with aftermarket solutions. The new dash kit has an opening for a single-DIN or, more commonly, a 2-DIN multimedia receiver. Some of these dash kits are complicated and expensive, and have to include new displays and interfaces for climate controls. Due to space limitations on the dashboard, many kits relocate the radio to a lower, less convenient location. Another drawback is that the radio display often shrinks from 8 inches to 7 inches or less. However, vehicle owners can now have state-of-the-art audio playback and smartphone integration, ready for connection to signal processors, amplifiers, and high-quality speakers.

The Maestro APX kits include two components – mounting brackets for a screen and a T-harness. The harness handles connections to the factory wiring and to a Maestro RR or RR2 interface. The brackets allow the new screen included with the Kenwood or JVC radio to mount in or in front of the dash. In short, the new radio replaces the factory screen with a premium source unit.

Maestro APX
A Maestro RR or RR2 handles integration with the factory control and allows the radio to display vehicle information from the CAN bus.

Maestro Floating and Eight-Inch Kits

There are two types of APX kits – APX-FL for floating-face radios and APX-S8 for eight-inch display solutions.

The APX-FL kit, like those for the Jeep Wrangler, allows a radio with a 10.1-inch floating face display to be integrated into the vehicle. Unlike DIN- and 2-DIN floating-face solutions, the radios compatible with the APX-FL kits are a true two-part solution. The radios are designed with a hide-away brain and a screen that attaches with a few harnesses. Depending on the kit, the radio brain may be installed in place of the factory CD mechanism or on the back of the display mounting bracket. Where possible, factory mounting brackets are used, but the Maestro kits include beautifully crafted brackets where needed. Spacer blocks and trim pieces are included so your installer can fit the screen up tight against the dash.

Maestro APX
A Kenwood DAX1050XR installed in a 2014 Ford Edge using the APX-FL-FO1 kit.

The APX-S8 kits are designed for a two-part radio solution that includes an eight-inch screen that replaces the factory screen. Brackets are provided as needed to ensure the new display fits perfectly into the dash. The result, once the upgrade is complete, is that the dash looks just like it did from the factory. All the radio and climate controls continue to function with the new radio, thanks to the Maestro RR or RR2 integration module. The same goes for the radio control buttons on the steering wheel.

Maestro APX
A Kenwood DAX8000S installed in a Ford F-150 dash using an APX-S8-F01 kit.

APX Kit Applications

As of now, ADS offers kits for many Ford, GM, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Holden, and Infiniti/Nissan vehicles. You can check the ADS Maestro website to see if there’s a Maestro APX radio upgrade solution for your application. A key benefit of the design is that new kits can be created in the future if a compatible platform emerges.

Maestro APX
An example of how the radio brain is installed in place of the factory CD mechanism in a Ford F-150.

The ADS marketing team noted that there are almost five million vehicles on the road globally compatible with their Maestro APX kits, opening up new technology-upgrade opportunities for millions of vehicle owners. If you want to upgrade your car or truck, check the ADS Maestro website for a compatible Maestro APX kit, then choose a JVC or Kenwood radio that meets your needs. From there, an authorized dealer for the radio brand can bring your plan to fruition, and you can enjoy all the features of a modern vehicle in your older car, truck or SUV.

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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: iDatalink Maestro

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate P2V2-65

Rockford Fosgate P2V2-65

Rockford Fosgate revamped its entire Punch Series speaker lineup and launched it at SEMA 2025. Rather than the good, better, best arrangement of previous years, they’ve created different tiers of installation application solutions. We looked at the P1V2-65 coaxials a short while ago. Now it’s time to check out the P2V2 convertible speaker sets. Let’s dive in with a close look at the 6.5-inch P2V2-65 solution.

Punch Series Speakers

The new Punch Series starts with the P1V2, an array of three-way coaxial designs for those who want a high-performance upgrade that uses Rockford Fosgate know-how to maximize performance and value. The P2V2 series includes seven convertible component speaker sets and a set of stand-alone tweeters. Sizes include 6.5-inch, 6.75-inch, 6×8-inch, and 6×9-inch models, with many available in regular and high-output designs. We’ll check out the HO series another time. For now, let’s look at what’s likely to be one of the most popular sets – the P2V2-65.

The P2V2-65 is a 6.5-inch component speaker set that includes two woofers, two 3/4-inch tweeters, and a set of passive crossover networks. Power handling is rated at 75 watts continuous and 150 watts maximum. Efficiency is an impressive 88 dB SPL at 1 watt, measured at 1 meter.

Rockford Fosgate P2V2-65
The new P2V2 speakers can be installed in coaxial or component configurations

Punch P2V2-65 Performance-Enhancing Features

The woofers are based on a 15% glass-fiber-reinforced PA66 Nylon chassis that includes integrated terminals and cooling vents under the spider mounting plateau. The hexagonal six-spoke design carries down to the protective cap on the magnet. If mounting depth is an issue, this cap can be removed to shorten the overall height from 2.5 inches to 2.26 inches. Rockford Fosgate reports that significant work has gone into optimizing the basket to fit as many vehicles as possible.

Rockford Fosgate P2V2-65
The magnet cover can be removed to shave off almost a 1/4-inch of mounting depth.

The woofer cone is molded from mica-reinforced polypropylene. The addition of the mica mineral improves thermal stability and rigidity and helps control resonance. A Santoprene rubber surround is chemically bonded to the cone for reliability. As you would expect from a premium Rockford Fosgate transducer, the surrounds feature the Vertical Attached Surround Technique (VAST) 2.0 geometry to increase the driver’s effective cone area dramatically. Rather than the surround lying flat on top of the mounting flange, it’s bonded vertically to the basket’s inner edge. The result is a cone area increase over typical woofers of more than 20%, improving efficiency and bass output.

At the base of the cone is a 1.25-inch-diameter vented Kapton voice-coil former. The winding has a nominal impedance of four ohms. A fatigue and tear-resistant Nomex spider serves as the woofer’s primary source of compliance. The tinsel leads are sewn to the spider to ensure silent, reliable operation.

Convertible Speaker Design

The tweeters included in the kit have an inverted 3/4-inch design with a Tetolon synthetic fiber dome. The tweeters can be flush-mounted using a 1.5-inch hole saw in a panel as thin as 3/8-inch. External -12 dB/octave passive crossovers with -3 dB attenuation are included for component installations. If you choose, you can convert the P2V2-65 set into a three-way system by adding the P3V2-25 2.5-inch midrange speaker set.

Rockford Fosgate P2V2-65
The provided crossovers are for use when the tweeter is mounted outside of the basket.

What makes the Punch P2V2-65 and its brethren unique is the ability to install the system as a component with the tweeter up in the door, dash, or A-pillar. Alternatively, the phase plug in the center of the woofer can be removed using the provided tool, and the tweeter can be locked in place. Copper spring contacts integrated into the basket ensure a reliable connection.

Rockford Fosgate P2V2-65
Spring-loaded copper tabs on the basket make contact with the tweeter’s traces for a hassle-free electrical connection.

Rockford Fosgate’s Interchangeable Locking Mechanism (I.L.M.) ensures the tweeter, or phase plug, stays securely in place. Now, you can run one set of P2V2-65 in the doors and dash, and a second set as rear speakers in the back doors or parcel shelf, all from the same part number.

Rockford Fosgate P2V2-65
Rockford Fosgate includes a tweeter or phase plug removal tool to make converting the speakers easy.

A few extra notes. The P2V2-65 kit is designed to be hidden behind factory speaker grilles. However, Rockford Fosgate offers the GF-65 flush-mount or GS-65 surface-mount grille sets if your installer needs to protect the woofers. Rockford Fosgate is so confident about the durability of these new speakers, they upgraded their standard warranty up to a two-year warranty that backs the kit against manufacturing defects.

Upgrade Your Car or Truck with Punch V2 Convertible Speakers Today!

If you are looking for a speaker set with impressive features and fantastic value, drop into a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer today and audition the new P2V2-65 or its 6.75, 6×8 or 6×9 cousins. You can find an authorized retailer near you using the locator tool on the Rockford Fosgate website.

Be sure to stay connected to Rockford Fosgate as they continue to roll out new products over the next little while by following them on Facebook, Instagram and, of course, YouTube. We know there’s much more to come!

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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate Punch P1V2-65

Punch P1V2-65

If there is a single word that car audio enthusiasts associate with the brand Rockford Fosgate, that would be “Punch”. From the early Punch amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers, this legendary name invokes music that hits hard with a signature sound that fanatics have grown to love. Fans have been waiting for the next generation of car audio gear from Rockford Fosgate and since the company recently announced a complete redesign of their famous Punch Speaker line, we wanted to check it out. In particular, we’ll look at the P1V2-65, better known as the Punch P1 6.5” coaxial.

Design of the Punch P1V2-65 Speakers

The new Punch speakers are grouped differently from the outgoing models. The P1 series that we’ll examine first is a series of coaxial three-way speakers available in sizes ranging from 2.5 to 6.75 inches, including 3.5, 4, 5.25, 6.0, 6.5, 6×8, and 6×9. Yep, that’s something for almost any door, dash, pillar or parcel shelf on the road. The P1V2-65 is a 6.5-inch three-way coaxial set that includes a pair of drivers, mounting screws and spade terminals.

Starting from the top down, we find a glass-fiber-reinforced nylon basket with a unique hexagonal, six-spoke design. Those who pay attention to performance-enhancing features will note that the design is open under the spider mounting plateau, allowing for linear cone travel and enhanced cooling. The P1V2-65’s power handling is rated at 75 watts continuous and 150 watts peak.

The mounting flange features what Rockford Fosgate calls their Auto Fit Architecture, which features a Factory Location Woofer Ring (F.L.W.R.) for easy fitment in OEM mounting locations. The goal here is to ensure the woofer bolts into your doors with no need to drill new holes. The drivers are 2.5 inches deep, but the magnet cover can be removed to reduce the depth to 2.22 inches when required.

Punch P1V2-65
The new Punch P1V2-65 speakers are based around glass-fiber-reinforced Nylon baskets.

Woofer Design Features

The woofer cone is attached to the basket with VAST 2.0 technology. The Santoprene rubber surround is as large as possible, resulting in these drivers having about 25% more effective cone area than competing solutions. This means more bass and improved efficiency. The cone is made from mica-reinforced polypropylene. The mica mineral enhances damping and thermal stability. The cones have a curvilinear shape for additional rigidity and resistance to resonance. The curvilinear design isn’t just for looks, as this feature significantly improves the dispersion of the audio for better sound quality. Interestingly, the surround is injection-molded (chemically bonded) directly onto the cone to ensure a reliable connection and predictable mass. The elimination of glue at this joint dramatically improves driver-to-driver consistency.

At the base of the woofer cone is a vented Kapton former. The driver has a nominal impedance of four ohms, making it compatible with all factory and aftermarket source units and amplifiers. A linear Nomex spider handles compliance. The tinsel leads are sewn to the spider to ensure they don’t add noise at high power levels.

Punch P1V2-65
VAST 2.0 dramatically increases the effective cone area of the woofer compared to conventional speaker designs.

Tweeters Bring the Details

As we mentioned, the Punch P1V2-65 is a three-way speaker. As such, it has a pair of tweeters. The main tweeter has a diameter of 0.75 inches and features an inverted 0.75-inch Tetolon® dome design. The super-tweeter has a diameter of 0.375 inches and sits near the edge of the main tweeter in a configuration called Tru-Sight™, similar to the eye-sight configuration of a hunting rifle. The super-tweeter uses a polypropylene dome design.

So, why add a super-tweeter? As we’ve explained many times, all speakers become directional at high frequencies. That frequency depends on the cone diameter. With a 0.75-inch tweeter, sounds above about 13 kHz will be quieter off-axis to the speaker. Since most car audio installations have us listening to the speaker’s output (as you’d find in a door) at 60 degrees, adding a super-tweeter to fill in those upper frequencies will ensure you can always hear your music.

The crossovers for the tweeters are integrated into the basket. Rockford Fosgate refers to this as their Internal Concealed Crossover (ICC+) design. They use a cap for each tweeter to provide a 6 dB/octave roll-off.

Punch P1V2-65
The tweeter doesn’t protrude above the surround, so stock speaker grilles should fit in place without modification.

Premium Features Deliver Big Sound

The features of the new Rockford Fosgate Punch P1V2 drivers are truly impressive. Excellent materials, intelligent design and thoughtful execution should combine to make these an affordable high-performance solution. Not to mention, Rockford Fosgate spent considerable time ensuring the sonic signature lives up to the PUNCH legacy. To learn more about P1V2 speakers, visit a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer. You can find a shop near you using the locator tool on the Rockford Fosgate website.

Be sure to follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to keep up with all new product releases coming this year.

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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

Choosing the Best Car Starter Remote

Best Car Starter

Under the hood, most remote car starters are very similar. Most brands offer two or three different controllers and allow the shop you work with to bundle those units with different remotes, providing varying levels of range and features. In this article, we partnered with the industry-leading remote starter manufacturer Compustar to explain the different options available to consumers. Here’s a simple guide to make choosing the best remote car starter easy.

Shopping for a Remote Car Starter

The shop you choose to install a remote starter is just as important as the hardware and remote you select. Working on modern cars and trucks isn’t as easy as it was decades ago. A modern starter needs to communicate with the engine management system, vehicle body control modules, and factory-installed security systems to function correctly. Making the proper connections and executing the correct programming are tasks best handled by an expert.

If you shop for the lowest-priced remote starter, the chances of issues down the road are exponentially higher than if you choose an expert shop that takes pride in professional installation.

Forego the urge to shop over the phone—visit retailers in your area instead. You’ll quickly get a sense of who is professional and who you should avoid.

1. Remote Start Range

The most significant difference between car starter key fobs is their range. Most modern factory-issued key fobs have a range of a few hundred feet. This means you can likely start your car from across a small parking lot, but you might not be able to start it from inside a store.

Aftermarket fobs range from 1,500 feet to three miles under ideal conditions. It’s better to think of these offerings as power levels. For example, the Compustar CS-925S starter system remote is rated to provide up to 1,500 feet of range. This remote provides two to three times as much power as a factory remote, often doubling or tripling the effective range.

Best Car Starter
The affordable Compustar CS925-S remote starter includes remotes rated for up to 1,500 feet of range.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, some remotes are rated for two to three miles. If you work in a large building, you’ll want the added power of these solutions.

2. Number of Buttons

Remote car starter fobs are available in two styles based on the number of buttons: one-button and multi-function.

One-button remotes are a good choice if you will continue to carry a factory remote that includes a trunk release button. The factory remote often serves as the vehicle’s key and is required to start the car or truck.

Multi-function remotes have four or five buttons that provide dedicated access to locking/arming, unlocking/disarming, trunk release, remote start, and auxiliary functions. The number of buttons on a remote doesn’t define its quality or range—only the number of functions you have access to.

Best Car Starter
The Pro 1WG18 remote provides up to 1,500 feet of range and is backed by a three-year warranty as part of the PRO Series.

3. One-Way and Two-Way Remotes

Another key feature to consider is whether you want a one-way or two-way remote.

With a one-way remote, you send a command to the vehicle by pressing a button. If the car is in range, the command will be executed. If you are too far away, nothing happens.

With a two-way remote, any command sent by the remote and executed by the vehicle is confirmed back to the remote. The remote will beep and flash an LED or icon to notify you. You’ll get confirmations for locking, unlocking, remote starting, and other features.

As a subset of two-way remote options, you can pick from LED or LCD visual indicators. An LED remote will have at least one, often three LEDs that flash to indicate when a command has been executed.

Best Car Starter
The Prime 2WG17 remote includes three LEDs that flash to let you know when the vehicle is locked, unlocked, or the remote starter has been activated.

An LCD remote is considered the highest-end option. These remotes use a small LCD screen with icons to show what commands have been executed and the status of your vehicle. For example, a lock symbol on the remote confirms that the vehicle executed a lock/arm command.

Best Car Starter
The five-button two-way 2WQ9 remote has a two-color LCD that indicates vehicle status.

4. Battery Type

All remotes require a battery to function. The most common type is the CR2032 coin cell. These three-volt batteries are compact, inexpensive, and typically provide more than a year of service in one-way remotes and many months in two-way remotes. It’s a good idea to purchase an extra battery when you buy the remote so you’re prepared when it wears out.

Best Car Starter
The Prime 1WR3 one-button remote uses a CR2032 coin cell as a power source.

Many premium remotes have a built-in lithium-polymer or lithium-ion rechargeable battery. These remotes include a Micro-USB or USB-C port for charging. Under normal use, these two-way LCD units last three to five months between charges. Charging only takes a couple of hours and can be done from any powered USB port—even in your vehicle while driving. One tip: it’s best to limit the charge current to these cells. Using a 500 mA wall charger will maximize battery life.

Best Car Starter
The impressively durable Compustar T12 remote features up to 3 miles of range, an LCD screen, and a rechargeable battery.

5. Weather-Proof Designs

Some remotes, like Compustar’s flagship models, have a full IPX-7 waterproof rating. Basic remotes are typically water-resistant. If you’re prone to dropping your keys or leaving them in your pocket on laundry day, consider a waterproof solution.

Best Car Starter
The Pro T13 remote features an IPX-7 waterproof design and an industry-leading range of three miles.

6. Warranty

When shopping for a remote starter, it’s essential to understand the warranty coverage offered by your retailer and the hardware manufacturer. In most cases, the brain or controller is backed by a lifetime warranty. Additionally, these components should be reprogrammable if you plan to use the hardware in another vehicle with a new harness.

Remotes typically come with a one-year warranty, but premium options, such as Compustar’s PRO Series, offer a three-year warranty for added peace of mind.

Finally, don’t forget to ask about the warranty on labor or workmanship. Many reputable shops provide a lifetime warranty on their installation work, ensuring your remote starter continues to function reliably for years to come.

7. Smartphone Control Options

Another option is a smartphone control solution such as Drone. Drone works with an app on your phone that communicates with a small transceiver in the vehicle via the local cellular network. The app allows you to lock, unlock, remote-start, and control auxiliary features, and confirm commands within seconds.

There is a small monthly charge for the cellular service. Retailers can explain available features and service plans, including vehicle tracking and geofencing.

Note: Because Drone and similar services rely on the internet and cellular networks, always carry a regular key fob as a backup in case these services go down. You don’t want to be locked out.

Best Car Starter
The Drone smartphone control system allows you to use your phone to send commands to your remote car starter.

Pick the Best Remote for Your Use Case

When shopping for a remote car starter, your Product Specialist should ask where you park your vehicle relative to where you’ll be when you want to remote start it. If you work in a large manufacturing plant, hospital, or warehouse, you’ll want a long-range remote. If you only start your car in the driveway, range is less critical.

The discussion should also cover features such as trunk/hatch/tailgate releases and power-sliding doors on minivans. Multi-function remotes are ideal for applications that require more than just locking, unlocking, and starting.

Giving your car or truck a few extra minutes to warm up not only makes your commute more comfortable but also allows the engine to operate with warmer coolant and oil, reducing friction and fuel consumption. A remote car starter also makes a great holiday gift—just make sure you pick the best remote for the recipient’s needs.

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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY

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Nice staff and honor their work

Audio Crew did some work for me about 2yrs ago. A speaker they installed wasn't working properly. They checked it out and problem was a corroded wire. They fixed the problem and told me no charge for the repair. Very nice of them to do that as problem wasn't their fault in the first place. Audio Crew have a nice staff and honor their work.

VERY HONEST and PROFESSIONAL company

I purchased a 2019 used car for my wife and she wanted a remote started installed. I went to Audio Crew, who I had dealt with before, got a price and made an appointment. We dropped the car off the night before, for the appointment with a request that they call us when ready. Early the next morning, I received a call telling me that there was good news!! The car already had a remote starter which was programmed into the factory remote. We only need to press the "lock" button three times to star the car!! The dealer who sold us the car was not aware of that, it was a pleasant surprise to us and a $350 savings. THANK YOU to a VERY HONEST and PROFESSIONAL company.

Absolutely the best service

Absolutely the best service you will get anywhere. They go above and beyond! Can’t recommend them more! They fixed our issue quickly. Super friendly and helpful. Will not buy anywhere else.

Great Service

Great service, huge demo room with great prices. Very knowledgeable and professional service from the owner and will work within your budget to help you achieve your goals in the sound system your looking for. Extremely great experience dealing with them, also pricing was excellent competitive prices.

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Location


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Address

Audio Crew

624 Salisbury Rd
Moncton, NB E1E 1B8
506-858-2739

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Services

  • Car Audio
  • Marine Audio
  • Motorcycle Audio
  • Remote Starters
  • UTV and Side-by-Side Upgrades

Store Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday8:30 am – 5:00 pm

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