Category Archives: Blog

2-Way Vs. 3-Way Car Speakers: Coaxial and Component Speakers

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on whether you should choose a two-way or three-way speaker system for your new car audio upgrade. This choice, which relates to the number of drivers in your speaker and the frequencies of sound you regularly need played, is important for both the performance of the speakers and their long-term quality.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, speaker selection is just one important piece of our comprehensive car audio services, which include numerous other components as well. What are some of the other considerations to keep in mind while choosing between a two-way and three-way speaker system, and how can you go about finalizing your decision? Here are some basics.

2-way 3-way car speakers coaxial

Coaxial Speaker Considerations

For those using coaxial speakers, or speakers where individual driver units radiate sound all from the same point or axis, the standard two-way coaxial box will include a large woofer and a small tweeter – or in some cases, multiple even smaller tweeters. Both these items will be in the same box.

In other cases, however, and especially if you’re looking for a three-way system, you can add to this. A mid-range driver, sometimes simply called a super tweeter, will be placed on the woofer. The issue here, though, is that a coaxial uses a passive crossover inside the box, and this makes a two-way system more ideal than a three-way system for coaxial speakers.

Components System

Component speakers, on the other hand, involve separately-mounted speakers with a higher-quality crossover than coaxial speakers. In these cases, rather than all the components involved being located inside a single box, they will be separated into multiple boxes.

For a two-way system, the baseline setup, your woofers and tweeters will be separated into their own boxes, regardless of how many of each of them are present. However, within this realm, you have the ability to add external crossovers to the audio system without any interference or issues, and these will simply benefit sound frequency ranges. Adding a mid-range driver, for instance, is incredibly easy and will not cause any interference, like with coaxial speakers. As long as you’re using high-quality parts here, it’s possible to attain much higher-quality sound using a three-way component system.

Making Your Choice

When it comes down to it, much of the choice between a two-way and three-way speaker system is whether you’re purchasing coaxial or component speakers. For the former, the two-way system is generally preferable; if you have the budget for it, the three-way system is the optimal format for the latter.

For more on choosing between two-way and three-way speakers, or to learn about any of our car stereo upgrades, window tinting or other automotive services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

2-Way Vs. 3-Way Car Speakers: Basics and Drivers

When it comes to car audio, speakers are some of the single most important components involved. You have numerous modern speaker options available to you today and a few important decisions to make within these options, and one of the questions that may come up in your research is whether to purchase a two-way or three-way speaker system.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to offer a wide variety of car audio installations and services, including comprehensive expertise and knowledge on the best speakers on the market and which will be ideal for your setup. Have you heard about two-way and three-way speaker systems and wondered what this term really refers to, plus how each type will impact your sound quality? This two-part blog series will dig into several areas to be aware of when making this choice, plus help inform you on some of the internal components in your speakers and how they work.

2-way 3-way car speakers

Inside Your Speakers

As we dig into the differences between two-way and three-way speaker systems, it’s important to understand how speakers work to begin with. Specifically, you need to know about drivers, which refer to one or two parts found in the speaker box that are meant to vibrate as sound comes through them.

The primary purpose of these drivers is to deal with varying frequency ranges. Sounds have a whole range of different frequencies, from high to low, but no single driver can handle all of them at once – this is why most speakers tend to have two or more drivers, so they can handle the different frequencies of sound your system may be producing.

You’ve likely heard of some of these driver types, such as woofers (for low frequency), tweeters (for high frequency) or mid-range drivers (for frequencies in-between). In addition, an element known as a crossover may be used to split original sounds into multiple signals and send the frequencies to the proper driver.

2-Way Vs. 3-Way System

And when it comes to a two-way or three-way speaker system, it’s these drivers that define the decision. Speaker systems that have more than one driver will require at least a two-way split of sound signals, but there are also some frequency ranges where splitting into three separate directions is much more prudent. A two-way system will usually include a woofer and a tweeter, while a three-way system will typically feature both those same elements plus an additional mid-range driver. From a simple classification standpoint, this is the most straightforward way to define speaker systems and their splits.

For more on any of our car audio, window tinting or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Remote Start Features: Convenience and Burglar Prevention

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on whether or not a remote start feature in your vehicle is worth the expense. For those who just want this feature as a novelty, the answer might be no – but for those who will utilize several different practical and convenience benefits of the remote starter, the answer is often an easy yes.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to offer a variety of different automotive security and upgrade services, including remote start systems, keyless entry, power lock and numerous other solutions. What are some of the other features you should be considering when determining if a remote start feature is right for you? Here are a few to keep in mind as you’re making this decision.

remote start convenience burglar prevention

Scaring Potential Burglars

We mentioned automotive security in part one of this series, and a remote start feature actually promotes this theme in more ways than one. Specifically, it can also be used to scare away anyone you think is trying to canvass your vehicle when it’s parked in public.

Say you’re in a coffee shop grabbing a drink, and you notice someone lurking suspiciously around your vehicle outside. You can simply activate the remote start feature and turn the engine on, then off again quickly – this will surprise anyone lurking, and should provoke a reaction (usually, they will leave). If they are undeterred, your suspicion level should grow and you can take further action.

Quick Exit

There are also several practical areas that make life simpler and more convenient for you when you have a remote start feature, including the ability to make a quick exit in cases where this is necessary. For those who have busy schedules and spend lots of time driving during the average day, the ability to get the car started and be ready to drive the moment you snap in your seatbelt is enormously valuable.

Convenience Factors

Finally, the starting feature isn’t the only one that speaks directly to convenience here. In addition, the remote starter allows you to lock or unlock the doors of your vehicle from much further away than you normally would be able to – this makes several areas far simpler, from carrying in groceries or unpacking the car after a long vacation to ensuring your doors are locked after an unloading, even if you aren’t sure whether you actually locked them or not. Combined with safety and security themes, you can see how remote start features are enormously beneficial and easily worth their cost of installation to many car owners.

For more on our remote start or other vehicle security solutions, or to learn about our window tinting, car audio or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Draper Remote Start Features: Temperature Control, Vehicle Security

There are a number of automotive features that provide both practical and stylistic benefits, and a great example here is the remote start feature. While some primarily consider a remote start for their vehicle because it’s novel and unique, this feature is also often selected because it holds multiple areas of practical value to the vehicle owner.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to offer a variety of automotive performance and auto security upgrades for Draper, Utah clients, including remote start systems for those interested in this capability. Is getting such a system worth the expense you’ll pay for it? That largely depends on the use you can expect to get out of several features of remote start systems, which we’ll dig into in this two-part blog series.

remote start temperature security

More than a Novelty

As we noted above, some are mostly interested in a remote start because it’s cool and unique. How many of your friends can start their car without even being inside it?

However, this is just one small piece of the broad picture when it comes to the benefits these systems bring. For most, such an installation wouldn’t be worth it just for this novelty – but in these cases, all the additional positives that come with a remote start system are the ones that help you make your decision.

Our next several sections will go over these other convenience and practical areas.

Temperature Considerations

One of the most common uses of remote start systems, especially among Utahns who have to park their cars outside during the cold winter or the hot summer, is to regulate temperature. Think about your car’s interior during the sweltering heat of a mid-July day, for instance: We all dread getting into that virtual sauna initially, especially if there are leather seats.

With a remote start, however, this is a thing of the past. Instead, you can start your car a few minutes in advance and allow the air conditioning to reach full blast before you step foot inside the car – the flip side is just as possible during the cold winter, where you can even begin the defrost cycle for your windshield and back windows in advance.

Vehicle Security

Now, it’s important to note that the above capability comes with one very important caveat: Until you actually approach the vehicle and unlock it yourself, this entire remote start process takes place with all doors locked. This limits any risk of thieves attempting to steal your running car – in fact, there are even remote start systems that will start the vehicle, but will not allow it to actually drive anywhere until the owner and their keys are inserted properly into the car.

For more on the value of a remote start system and why you might consider one for your vehicle, or to learn about any of our car stereos, window tinting or other automotive upgrades in Draper, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Car Alarm Variables: Sensors, Warnings and Alerts

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on why it pays to have a quality alarm system in your car, plus some of the basic factors you should be considering when considering such an upgrade. Whether your current vehicle has no alarm system or does have a system that’s outdated and limited in its effectiveness, there are several great aftermarket automotive security themes you might consider.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re here to provide a variety of automotive security features to clients, including high-quality alarm systems for any vehicle you own in addition to our wide range of car audio, window tinting and other automotive services. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll look into several features that might come with an upgraded alarm system, plus why each might be valuable for you to consider.

car alarm sensors alerts

Motion Sensors

Modern vehicles are utilizing motion sensors more than ever before within several areas, and security is at or near the top of this list. There are a number of ways you can enhance a current alarm system using motion sensing technology: Some, for instance, will install night vision cameras if they live in areas where nighttime car thefts or burglaries are common.

In other cases, you might install sensors that will help with reversing, parking or avoiding accidents. In many cases, features double as both safety and security elements within the same package.

LED Warnings

One feature your car’s stock alarm system will virtually never include is LED lighting, which can be installed aftermarket with great value. The simplest format here is a flashing light that activates anytime the car alarm is activated, drawing eyes to the vehicle and letting passers-by know that something out of the ordinary is happening. There are also others down these lines as well.

Shock Sensors

Another form of sensor often used for car alarms today is the shock sensor. These sensors are generally on areas like windows (including tinted windows), but can also be put in place for tilting or illegal tows of your vehicle. If any of these sensors are tripped, a loud alarm will sound and you will receive a notification on your smart phone, if connected.

Remotes and Alerts

Speaking of smartphone connection, it’s one great method for monitoring your vehicle’s security. There are several apps that are made to link up with your car’s security features, notifying you anytime something strange happens. In other cases, you might purchase a two-way remote that allows for similar capabilities, only without using your smartphone. For more on how to upgrade your vehicles alarm system, or to learn about any of our car stereo or other automotive performance services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Window Tint and Child Safety: Glass Protection and Safe Driving

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on how window tint provides protection and safety qualities for children within vehicles. While most tend to think of items like car seats and booster seats for child safety in a car, there are other forms of protection that benefit them as well, and window tint offers several of these.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to offer a wide range of vehicle window tinting services for any primary purpose you have in mind, whether it’s upgraded style, protective qualities or some combination therein. Here are some of the other top ways vehicle window tint protects children on a regular basis.

window tint child safety protection

Eye Protection

We went over the heat and skin risks of UV rays in part one of this series, but there’s one more sun-related item to go over here: Potential eye damage. Children’s eyes are particularly susceptible to this damage as they develop, and also to other major light sources like headlights and high-beams, traffic lights and various police or emergency lights.

Again, window tint provides a major benefit here. It limits the brightness of these lights on your child’s eyes, heavily decreasing the risk of any eye problems that result from exposure to sunlight or other dangerous forms.

Shattered Glass Protection

In case of an accident while driving, one of the major risks to both children and adults is shattered glass from windows that have broken. However, window tint protects all parties from this risk in two ways:

  1. It heavily reduces the chances of the glass breaking to begin with, due to increased strength from window tint film.
  2. If glass does break, the window tint will keep the pieces attached rather than allowing sharp shards to fly out all over the vehicle and risk injury.

This is particularly valuable for children, who might be susceptible to more serious injuries due to glass than adults.

Safer Driving

And finally, window tint also makes driving itself safer due to limiting glare, sunlight and related concerns. For those with any visual issues, especially concerns with bright lights, this theme is often very important, particularly while driving at night.

The obvious connection to children here: They are at some of the highest risk of injury during vehicle accidents due to their size and fragility. By making the entire driving experience safer, window tint benefits children as much as any other specific group who might be getting into a car on a regular basis.

For more on the child safety and protection benefits of window tint, or to learn about any of our window tinting, car sound systems or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Window Tint and Child Safety: Heat and UV Ray Reduction

For any parent with children of varying ages, child car safety is a vital consideration. And while the top items mentioned here are typically seatbelts and other protective elements like car seats and booster seats, there’s another area here some parents don’t consider in this realm: Window tint.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re here to offer robust window tinting services for a variety of clients, from those installing them primarily for aesthetic and style reasons to those with safety and vehicle protection themes top of mind. This two-part blog series will go over the various important areas where window tint provides basic protection for children within a vehicle.

window tint child safety heat

Issues With Window Shading

As you’ll see in our subsequent sections, a primary area of protection offered to children by window tint is heat and temperature reduction. We’re often asked whether a window shade might serve as a similar item to window tint – the answer is no, and there are a couple reasons why.

For starters, these options simply don’t provide the same quality of protection as window tint film. For another, they are not custom-designed and are often either too small or too large for a given window, meaning they don’t block all the heat and they also must be installed and removed regularly, which can be a big hassle. For true protection in this area, window tinting is the way to go.

Now on to some of the child safety and protection benefits offered by window tint.

Seats and Heat

For those who own vehicles with leather interiors especially, seats can become quite hot when the car has been sitting in the sun for some time. And for children who have graduated from the car seat and are old enough to be sitting on the actual seat material, this heat risks burns among children who often won’t be prepared for this added heat on their seat.

Child skin is more sensitive than adult skin, as well, making this a heightened risk. Luckily, window tint reflects the sun’s rays and significantly reduces the amount of heat that makes its way inside the car and onto seats, limiting this risk.

UV Ray Protection

In addition, window tint protects you and your children from both UVA and UVB rays – the former, especially, are often not blocked by typical car windows. UVA rays can penetrate the skin deeply and increase both aging and cancer risks down the line. However, a window tint blocks 99% of these rays, giving you an early jump on keeping your child safe from not only the UVB rays that cause sunburn, but also other harmful rays your car’s glass isn’t protecting them from.

For more on how window tint helps protect your child in the car, or to learn about any of our window tint, car audio or other automotive upgrades, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Car Speaker Cleaning: Materials and Formats

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on cleaning your car stereo’s speakers and grill equipment. This task, which should be done regularly to prevent dust and other debris from impacting the speakers, is simple enough as long as you have the basic know-how.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to help with all your car audio needs, from car stereo installation to basic upkeep and maintenance of any of our automotive upgrades. Much of part one in our series went over the basic materials you need on-hand and how you can go about removing the grill that holds your speakers and protects them – today’s part two of our series will dig into the different grill materials out there and how they are cleaned, plus how to deal with grills that can’t be removed during this process.

car speaker cleaning materials

Grill Materials and Cleaning

Speaker grills in vehicles may be made of a few different materials, including hard plastic, metal and even fabric in some cases. How you clean the grill will depend largely on the material it’s made from:

  • Plastic or metal: These options allow for the use of a sponge and water to scrub dirt or any debris from surfaces. You must be careful, however, to avoid bending any plastic parts during rinsing, plus to allow for enough time for the grill to dry completely before you put it back in its designated location.
  • Fabric: For these kinds of speaker grills, use a vacuum with an attached dust brush, plus a dry-cleaning powder spray. In cases where the grill has not been cleaned in some time, you may have to use a mild detergent to assist with this process.

As for the speaker itself, only the cloth will be necessary – do not spray any liquid cleaners or related items into the speaker, as this may ruin it. Simply use the cloth to remove any dust or debris, plus to wipe off any spills or buildups on the exterior of the speaker’s surface.

Grills That Won’t Remove

What if your grill is not removable, either by hand or by using a screwdriver? Don’t worry, you can still clean it, but just with a different method. You’ll need a lint roller for this, allowing you to clean up basic debris without risking damage or interference. Most other cases will require compressed air or a vacuum, which should be used just as gently as you would in a removable situation. We do not recommend any moisture coming into contact with a non-removable grill, as this risks it seeping into the speaker and damaging or ruining it.

For more on cleaning car stereo speakers, or to learn about any of our car audio, window tinting or other automotive upgrades, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Car Speaker Cleaning: Equipment and Grill Removal

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to serve as your comprehensive car audio experts. From basic car stereo installation to numerous advanced setup themes involving speakers, car subwoofers and numerous other accessories, we’ll help you achieve all your sound needs for an affordable price.

We’re also here to help with the long-term upkeep and maintenance of any of our car audio equipment, whether in our shop or by providing expertise to clients for basic care. One of the most common questions we get here: How should you properly clean your car’s speakers and speaker grills when this need arises, both to ensure dust and other debris aren’t a concern and to leave the entire setup as aesthetically pleasing as possible? This two-part blog series will go over several basic tips in this area.

car speaker cleaning equipment

Equipment On-Hand

Assuming your speakers come in standard speaker grills that hold and protect them, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment for cleaning these items:

  • Two flat-blade screwdrivers
  • A vacuum cleaner with attached upholstery
  • A dry-cleaning powder spray in a compressed air can
  • A face mask and dust brush
  • Mild detergent and warm waster
  • A microfiber cloth and lint roller

Power Down

The first step here is one most will remember, but you’d be surprised how often this is glossed over: Turn off the stereo completely. If there are visible cables connected to the stereo and speakers, be sure these are disconnected before any cleaning begins – and before you attempt to remove the speaker grills.

Removing Grills

In certain cases, speaker grills for your car audio system may come in a format where they can be removed by hand. If this is the case, you can remove the screwdrivers we listed above from your equipment needs.

In most cases, though, speaker grills require a screwdriver for removal. Using a flat-blade screwdriver, remove all the screws holding the grill in place – be as gentle as you can while doing this. From here, begin gently pulling at the ends of the grill to remove it, taking care to avoid any sudden movements or jerking that might cause damage. In some cases, if the grill is stuck due to dirt and any kind of sticky buildup that’s formed over a period of time, you may have to insert the screwdriver head into the gap to wedge it open; again, do this as carefully as you can and try to avoid any sudden jerking or pushing motions. Once one side protrudes enough to be gripped and pulled, you can switch to this format.

For more on how to clean and maintain car speakers and their grills, or to learn about any of our car audio, window tinting or other automotive upgrades, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Advantages of Bluetooth Technology in a Vehicle, Part 2

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the standard benefits of Bluetooth for car stereos and related systems. Bluetooth is known as a convenience item, but is also ideal for areas like car safety and several other practical themes.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to offer a wide variety of car audio installation options, including Bluetooth technology for those who don’t already have it installed in their vehicle. Beyond the most well-known benefits of Bluetooth systems we went over in part one, what are some of the other top reasons to consider this installation for both music and other car audio needs? Here are some other common benefits.

advantages Bluetooth technology vehicle

Sound Quality and Music

Especially compared to some of the older alternatives for playing music in a car, the quality level of Bluetooth will be a major upgrade. Some of these older methods include auxiliary connections or even radio-partnered pieces that plug into the car’s lighter function – not only are these often difficult to connect and deal with, the sound quality they offer just doesn’t compare.

Bluetooth, on the other hand, offers clear, high-quality sound. It’s designed with noise resistance and other qualities that mark modern audio, ensuring that everything from music to podcasts, radio and more is perfectly toned and pitched.

Devices, Apps and Data

For starters, Bluetooth is compatible with a huge variety of devices and apps. There’s virtually no modern smartphone that comes without Bluetooth, and the same goes for various apps that might be used to control car audio.

In addition, if your Bluetooth phone has data tethering capabilities, these can be transferred to the devices connected to it. This allows for greater connectivity even while you’re on the go, including occasions where you may even need to utilize your laptop while parked.

Health Benefits

Finally, one area that isn’t talked about as often here but is very real: Potential health benefits from Bluetooth usage. While there isn’t necessarily precise research directly linking phone usage with future health risks, there’s no question that radiation and other emissions from the phone have had negative effects to human health in the past – and it simply stands to reason that carrying out your phone calls using Bluetooth, whether in the car or using wireless headphones, will limit these risks because your phone is not as close to your head.

Again, more research is needed to confirm this. But combined with the safety improvement of a hands-free talking capability, there’s no question Bluetooth plays a real role in driver well-being.

For more on Bluetooth and why it’s so beneficial for your car stereo system and other vehicle areas, or to learn about any of our automotive accessories, window tint or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.