In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the primary benefits of installing multiple smaller subwoofers for your car audio system rather than a single larger one. While certain situations might dictate only one, there are more where using multiple will increase the quality of your sound and also improve the consistency no matter where passengers are seated.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, our car audio and speaker system installation pros will guide you toward the perfect subwoofer setup based on your vehicle and your overall needs. In today’s part two, we’ll go over how multiple subs help you achieve multiple channels, plus how they reduce localized bass issues and assist with space concerns in many vehicles.

Multiple Channel System

Using multiple subs allows you to utilize a two-channel system (or even a multi-channel system in some cases), which has the effect of “preserving” bass from your system. Imaging is increased, and the overall soundstage grows when you have multiple sources of bass. This is vital for smaller speaker types in the car, which almost always do best with multiple subs rather than a single larger option.

Space Considerations

One common concern clients ask us about when designing their car audio system: Will subwoofers take up too much space in my car? This is an especially frequent query for smaller vehicles with limited trunk space available.

And in certain cases when using a single large subwoofer, space indeed might be a concern. But with multiple smaller options, you do not have to take up entire chunks of trunk or under-seat space – rather, you can fit them into limited spaces that are generally out of the way. On top of the other sound benefits we’ve gone over here, this is often the factor that tips clients over the edge and causes them to choose multiple subs.

Reduction of Localized Bass

Finally, one issue that can arise from certain single-speaker setups is listeners being unable to hear deeper octaves of bass. Because the sound only comes from one place, the ability to hear at this lower level is sometimes compromised. Multiple subs eliminates this issue, however, even when connected to a single channel – listeners have a harder time discerning where the bass is coming from with their inner ear, and it will sound like it’s coming from all over the car. This eliminates the “localizing” effect and allows for deeper bass tones to be properly transmitted and heard by everyone in the vehicle, no matter where they sit.

For more on why multiple smaller subwoofers are often preferable to a single larger one, or to learn about any of our car audio, window tinting or automotive services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

When designing your car audio system, subwoofers will be some of the first items you have to think about. In charge of providing bass to a quality sound system, subwoofers play a major role in the entire audio experience for your vehicle.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, subwoofers are just one part of our comprehensive car audio services, which include car stereo installations and numerous other solutions as needed. One common question we get from our clients when it comes to their subs: Should I install just a single one, or multiple subwoofers? The answer depends on the precise qualities you desire, but generally speaking, multiple subs provide better sound quality. This two-part blog will dig into everything you need to know about why.

Stereo Speakers and Bass

For starters, one quick note on the importance of subwoofers overall: They take the place of stock car stereo systems that simply do not have the bass quality you need for a good sound system. Auto manufacturers have to fit their mini woofers and tweeters inside tiny spaces based on frequency needs, and this leads to significant distortion and limited Hertz for your sound. Subwoofers, however, add longer bass notes that eliminate these issues.

Resonance Reduction

So why multiple subs rather than just a single one? One of the chief reasons gets back to reducing resonance, which is what we’re talking about when we mention the tiny spaces stock vehicles use for their bass.

Subwoofers are installed in confined areas as well, producing sound waves that are reflected between the walls of the car. Using a single sub can create a situation where certain frequencies become louder than others, sometimes making the bass weaker. You can avoid this by using multiple sources of bass, which reduce interference and help balance out resonance for a smoother sound. This also makes it so sound is consistent regardless of where someone is sitting in the car.

Sharper Sound

Multiple subs, even smaller ones compared to a single larger option, provide louder sound that’s sharper and of higher quality. This is based on air displacement in a space – two speakers of a smaller size displace more air than one that’s larger.

Headroom and Smoothness

Multiple subs also create more headroom, which also leads to improved smoothness. This is through reducing compression, increasing range and limiting the distortion of sound that comes from two or more sources rather than confining them to one.

In part two of this blog series, we’ll dig into localization issues, stereo effect and other reasons why multiple subwoofers are often preferable to a single one. For more on this, or to learn about our car audio, window tinting or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the simplest tips out there for preventing your vehicle from being stolen. On top of a viable, robust alarm system, there are several techniques you can follow that will limit the risk of car thieves even considering your vehicle.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re here to help. In addition to our primary car stereo installations and window tinting services, we also offer a wide array of vehicle security options, from quality alarm systems to areas like keyless entry, remote start and power locking solutions. In today’s part two, we’ll go over a few additional themes or solutions you might consider if vehicle theft prevention is a major theme for you.

Physical Anti-Theft Device

There are several such devices out there, from the locking steering wheel to a hidden “kill switch” that will disable the car’s ignition if it’s accessed with anything but the proper key. It’s important to note, however, that these devices serve as much as a deterrent to thieves as an actual theft prevention device.

This is because many car thieves, at least the professional ones, often know how to bypass these systems. However, simply having one that’s visible within your vehicle shows a potential thief that you take your vehicle’s security seriously – they are more likely to assume you have a robust alarm system and other security features installed, and are therefore less likely to target your vehicle.

Valuables in the Vehicle

Even if you have a good alarm system and tinted windows, it’s still possible that thieves may see valuable items in your car and view it as a greater target for this reason. If a potential thief thinks they can add some value to a theft through the items left in the car, they’re more likely to narrow in on that vehicle compared to others.

If you must keep valuables in the car, keep them in hidden and, if possible, locked areas. The trunk is the best option here in most cases.

GPS Recovery

Finally, while this isn’t actually a technology specifically designed to prevent car theft, it can be a last resort in cases where your car is actually stolen. Many vehicles have GPS systems automatically installed, and in many cases there is an ability to use this GPS to locate a stolen vehicle and attempt to recover it.

However, like with the anti-theft devices we noted above, many experienced car thieves will know how to disable such a system once they’ve stolen the car. This is why a great alarm system and other precautions are so important – so you never get to this point.

For more on automotive security, or to learn about any of our stereo or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

While it’s certainly a reality no one enjoys, the simple truth is that there are many dishonest people out there who will attempt to scam or steal their way through life. Such individuals often target high-value commodities from others, and a great example here is car thieves who attempt to steal cars.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re proud to offer a variety of vehicle security services in addition to our car audio and stereo installation solutions. From must-haves like a viable car alarm system to additional solutions such as remote start, power locks and keyless entry, we’ll supply you with high-quality security products that keep your vehicle safe from the threat of being stolen. In addition to our products, we’ll also offer you some general tips and techniques on keeping your vehicle secure – this two-part blog will offer several areas of advice.

Car Alarm

First and foremost, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the single most reliable and effective method of preventing vehicle thefts: A proper, functioning car alarm. Most of today’s newer vehicle models have a robust alarm that’s active and loud enough to draw attention, in which case you can move on to further steps.

For some older vehicles, however, or even certain newer models, the alarm system might either be badly lacking or not present at all. In these cases, our team will be happy to provide a simple installation of a quality aftermarket system. Our alarm systems are designed to be as sensitive as you desire, with loud and noticeable alerts in case someone is attempting to break into or steal your vehicle.

Securing Your Vehicle

In addition to a proper alarm system, it’s very important to take basic steps toward securing your vehicle when you aren’t in it. As obvious as it may sound, simply rolling up your windows and locking the vehicle every time you exit it will be a major deterrent to thieves, who often look for a lack of such tasks to seize an easy opportunity.

One more tip here: Perform these tasks even when you’re storing your vehicle in a private area like your garage. Even if you’re confident in the security of this area, it’s never a bad thing to add another layer of security.

Public Parking

If you regularly have to park your car in a major urban area like downtown Salt Lake City, do your best to find a public space that’s visible and regularly occupied by people. Car thieves don’t want to attempt to steal a car while people are watching, for obvious reasons, so avoiding areas like dark alleys or low-traffic streets can make a real difference.

For more on preventing any risk of your car being stolen, or to learn about any of our car audio systems or other vehicle upgrades, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we take pride in offering window tinting services that hold more than just cosmetic value. While a window tint will absolutely improve your vehicle’s aesthetics, it will also benefit you in terms of safety, privacy and even protection from potentially harmful UV rays.

They also look great, of course, and we understand that many of our clients want to get out there and strut their newly tinted windows as soon as possible. This is just fine – as long as you pay attention to just a few basic post-tinting care areas, most of which are related to the adhesive used to hold the window film in place, which need time to dry after the process is finished. Let’s go over a few basic tips here to ensure you don’t accidentally scrape or remove any of this film from the windows before it settles in permanently.

General Drying

Generally speaking, you want to give the window film some time to dry before you do anything that might damage it. This often just means leaving the vehicle out in the Utah sun for a day or two, though this depends on the season: You’ll only need 24 to 48 during the hot summer, but the wait time might be a bit longer during the winter months or cloudy periods of time.

If you aren’t sure here, ask our pros well in advance. We’ll be happy to let you know how long you should allow curing and drying for before assuming that your tint is now permanent.

Moisture and Car Washes

During the drying period, we generally recommend avoiding the car wash. While tinted window film is applied inside the vehicle, not outside it, it’s important to note that washing the windows can add enough condensed moisture to slow or even stop the drying process, meaning you’ll just have to wait longer for drying once you’re done.

Be Patient With Bubbles

One vital note here: Any bubbles that show up in your window tint in the immediate aftermath are not the same as air bubbles from a cheap window film commonly found in previous generations. Rather, they are likely to be caused by moisture, and will evaporate within a few days as the curing process continues. Expect these for a few days and do not worry about them.

Rolling Down Windows

We also generally recommend keeping your windows rolled up during the curing period to keep the film in as good a shape as possible. When this process is finished, you’re fine to open and close windows as needed.

For more on caring for your window tint in the days following the process, or to learn about any of our window tinting or car audio installation services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re proud to serve as your comprehensive vehicle entertainment, aesthetics and performance specialists. Not only do we provide the highest quality in car audio installation and window tinting, we also offer a number of automotive accessories and upgrades to add value to the vehicle while making it more enjoyable to drive.

One such minor upgrade is to your vehicle’s headlights, which are important for not only safety and driving quality but also your vehicle’s appearance and aesthetics. Despite modern technology available today, most vehicles come with stock headlight options that are still relatively limited – here are some basics on these stock types plus a couple options you have if you want to upgrade to a more natural color, better brightness and a longer lifespan.

Standard Halogens

Standard halogen headlamps remain the cheapest option for vehicle manufacturers, both in terms of installation and replacement, so they continue to be the most commonly-used options in new vehicles. Sadly, though, these need to be replaced often – they use a thin tungsten filament that burns inside a sealed bulb, with halogen gas for brightness. This is not a durable setup, and it’s one that is likely to break several times during your car’s full lifespan.

If you’re looking to upgrade from these stock options, there are generally two primary choices available:

High Intensity Discharge (HID)

The first option here is a High Intensity Discharge upgrade, abbreviated HID. These lights emit brightness form a quartz bulb that’s filled completely with gas, meaning there is no filament in place. The top models use xenon gas for the brightest possible light, a tone that mimics natural sunlight and is kind to the eyes.

If you’re talking about performance only, HID lights are likely the top option available. They will last for decades and will provide consistent performance no matter what.

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

Now, that doesn’t mean HID is the only choice. LED lights, short for light emitting diode options, utilize no filament and don’t even need a traditional light bulb – rather, they are actually a dense accumulation of diodes that conduct electricity. LED lights, therefore, produce light by power that’s pushed through the diodes.

The primary advantage LED lights hold over HID lights is their efficiency. LED headlamps will last roughly 10 times longer than HID lights, producing beams roughly 2.5 times as bright as older halogen lamps while using 250% less energy. In addition, HID bulbs take five to ten seconds to warm up and cool down between uses – there is no such waiting period for LED lights.

For more on headlight upgrades to your vehicle, or to learn about any of our car subwoofers or car stereo installations, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we take pride in the automotive security services we offer in addition to our quality car audio and stereo installation solutions. Motor vehicle thefts have gone down by a significant amount over the last couple decades, and technology like our keyless entry, power locking and other security elements play a big role in this trend.

One of the modern pieces of technology we offer when it comes to car security is the remote start operation feature. Many people associate this feature with comfort as well – it can be used to start the car and warm it up during the cold winter, or to get the AC humming with cool air during the sweltering summer. Some may mistakenly worry about a remote start feature as a security concern, but in reality it’s the precise opposite – let’s look at the safety precautions built into this technology that keep your vehicle safe while also improving your day-to-day convenience.

Automatic Locking

The first and most vital piece of information to understand here: When you initiate a remote start of your vehicle, whether from inside your home or any other location, the vehicle’s doors will automatically lock – if they weren’t already locked in the first place, that is. A would-be thief can’t simply get in the car while it’s running and drive away.

Rather, such an individual would have to actively break into the car to access it, which will attract attention, including your alarm going off. You have to separately unlock the door with your key or remote before it will open.

Key Still Required

And even if you happen to run into a thief who is able to break into your running car without attracting too much attention, guess what? They still can’t go anywhere with your car. This is because the remote start feature still requires the actual key to be inserted into the ignition and turned on before the car can drive.

Until this point, the car’s gearshift will remain stuck in Park no matter what. The car can run and warm itself up, but as soon as someone presses the brake without the key in the ignition, it will shut down. In addition, modern vehicles have chips in their keys that serve as anti-theft protection through data that’s sent to the car’s computer.

Timing Range

Finally, a remote start will not allow the car to run indefinitely once it’s fired up. It comes with a timer, generally set to somewhere between 10 and 20 minutes, after which the car will shut down automatically if the key is not inserted.

For more on how remote start technology improves both your convenience and your vehicle security, or to learn about any of our car audio, window tinting or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Boating season can last virtually the entire year if you’re willing to travel a bit, and those who are serious about their boating vacations want the comprehensive experience. That means not only a high-performance boat and other comfort amenities, but also a sound system that can handle all your needs.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we offer a wide range of boat and RV audio in addition to our car audio and stereo system installations. If you’re looking into upgrading your boat’s audio system, where should you start and what are some of the primary areas to consider? Here’s a basic primer on the steps to go through when leveling up your boat’s audio system.

Speaker Quality

Generally speaking, the first area to take a look at when it comes to upgrading the boat’s sound system is the kind of speakers currently being used. Boating is a practice that introduces plenty of noise pollution, plus some significant movement and wear-and-tear – you need speakers that can handle this kind of pressure without wearing down.

Not only do we offer high-quality speakers that will provide clear sound to cut through interference, we also offer protective elements for our marine speakers that keep them safe and functioning properly. These protective pieces do not impact the sound quality whatsoever, so don’t be concerned here. In addition, we also offer numerous additional speaker options that can be placed throughout the boat to provide the precise sound quality you’re looking for.

Subs and Amplifiers

Once you’ve ensured your system is being powered by the right kind of speakers, you can move to the power elements involved, namely your subwoofers and amplifiers. Subs provide the kind of bass power you need to be able to pick up lower notes on the water, while amps allow for higher volumes to be attained without stressing your other pieces of audio equipment. These are the elements you need to help your system achieve peak performance rather than topping out at levels below what you need.

Connectivity Features

Finally, in today’s modern world, what good is a boating sound system that can’t hook up to your devices? Luckily that’s not a concern either, as we offer several options when it comes to connecting your smartphone, tablet or other devices to the boat’s audio system. Bluetooth, satellite radio, AM and FM tuners, and even auxiliary inputs are standard features with our marine receivers and speaker systems. We’ll also help you understand any additional battery needs needed for your stereo system so you don’t overtax the boat’s battery.

For more on the stages of upgrading your boat’s audio system, or to learn about any of our car audio or window tinting services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

Suspension and body lift kits are the perfect automotive upgrades for anyone who enjoys off-roading – or if you simply want to customize the look of your truck or SUV.

To determine what type of suspension upgrade is right for you, start by considering your goals and your budget. Finding an automotive performance upgrade expert to help you will ensure that you get the results you want at a price that won’t break the bank.

Suspension Lift Kits vs. Body Lift Kits

Although body lifts and suspension lifts create results that can appear much the same, that’s where the similarities end.

As the name suggests, body lift kits are designed to lift your vehicle’s body as much as 3” while leaving the frame unaffected. This upgrade gives your vehicle the appearance of having been lifted with less hassle and cost than a suspension lift. It also allows you to upgrade to slightly larger wheels and tires but doesn’t have a profound effect on the way your truck handles or performs.

A suspension lift kit elevates the entire chassis of the vehicle – body and frame. You will notice a significant difference in how your vehicle handles (on and off the road) and, depending on how much life you want, you can upgrade to significantly larger wheels and tires. This upgrade costs more than a body lift but the results will be a beefier stance and customized appearance.

Why Add a Suspension or Body Lift Kit to Your Vehicle?

Body lift kits are typically done for more aesthetic reasons, like being able to upgrade to larger wheels. It’s ideal, too, if you simply want to increase the height of your ride. You can also use this type of suspension upgrade to level the factory stance of your pickup – which typically are designed with a slightly elevated bed and lower front end.

You may want to choose a suspension lift if you want to take on more challenging off-road conditions, as this increases the ground clearance of your vehicle and allows you to scale larger objects and climb steeper hills. This is also the upgrade to select if you want to improve the way your truck, jeep or SUV handles and performs off-road.

Choosing a Utah Automotive Performance Upgrade Professional

Upgrading your vehicles body or suspension isn’t complex or costly. However, these automotive upgrades should be left to professionals who understand the implications and safety factors involved. Otherwise, you could experience a variety of problems. At best, you might not get the results you envisioned. At worst, you could experience expensive damage to your or even void the manufacturer’s warranty.

In northern Utah, Laketown Speed and Sound is the automotive performance upgrade expert you can trust for installing lift kits, leveling kits and lowering kits. We are based in Draper but we assist customers from throughout the Salt Lake City metro area and all along the Wasatch Front. Contact us today to learn more about how our expert team can help you achieve your body lifting and suspension upgrade goals.

Even in this age of advanced technology and security, thieves continue to target car audio equipment.

Having your car stereo stolen can be costly in several ways. Not only do you lose your investment in an automotive audio upgrade, but thieves rarely care how much damage they do to your vehicle as they hurry to get away with their spoils before getting caught. You’ll have to spend time reporting the crime and making an insurance claim, which will likely cause your premium to increase. Your carrier could even choose not to provide coverage when your policy renewal date rolls around.

Today, the Laketown Speed and Sound team have some pro tips for avoiding theft and damage to your vehicle.

Simple & Cost-Effective Ways to Avoid Car Audio Theft

You can start by using some commonsense techniques to safeguard your vehicle and its contents – including your car audio equipment.

Although it might sound obvious, keep your vehicle locked at all times, even when it’s parked at your home and inside the garage. Because time is of the essence when it comes to criminal activity, thieves tend to prefer the low-hanging fruit. As a result, they may move on in search of unlocked vehicles to plunder, if they can’t access yours right away.

Also take care about where you park and leave your vehicle unattended. In parking lots and garages, look for well-lit areas with lots of other cars around. Thieves tend to target those cars parked in dark, remote locations, as they have a better chance of breaking in undetected.

Finally, don’t leave anything of value within plain view through your car windows. Stow your belongings in the trunk, console, glove box or under the seats.

Window Tinting Helps Provide Vehicle Security

The problem with visibility is that, in most cases, you can’t exactly hide your car audio equipment from view by placing it in the trunk or under the seats.

One way to make it less obvious that you’ve got a high-quality head unit or upgraded car speakers is to get your car windows tinted. Although it may not totally obscure a would-be thief’s view into your vehicle, it might be enough to slow them down or draw attention. Choosing shatterproof automotive window tint will also make it more difficult to break the glass itself.

Not to mention, professional window tinting keeps your vehicle cooler and helps reduce the damage that UV rays can cause to your car’s interior.

Consider an Automotive Security System to Prevent Car Stereo Theft

Installing a state-of-the-art automotive security system is the best way to protect your car from all types of criminal activity, including vehicle theft.

Today’s car alarm systems offer a wide variety of high-tech solutions for preventing theft and break-ins. In addition to the loud alarm that will sound if someone forcefully gains access to your vehicle, you can choose an alarm system with remote alerts. This means you’ll be alerted on your smartphone or tablet if someone tries to break in or steal your car audio system.

In Draper, Utah, Laketown Speed and Sound can help you with all types of car stereo upgrades, window tinting and automotive security systems. Our experienced installers can also recommend other ways to secure your amp, speakers and receiver, to give you the best chance of avoiding the theft of your car audio system. Contact us today to learn more.