It's that time of year again! We select the biggest, baddest and the best-from top cars to top products. We've featured some incredible installs and reviewed amazing products. They're all worth a second look.
Consumer Cars
Chrysler 300MAugustThe winner of our first Trifecta competition, this 300M was a no-brainer for this list. Owner Justin Efkowitz loves 300M's and converted this one into a highly modified masterpiece. The audio system features expertly installed Alpine, Focal and Audison gear.
Chevy Brookwood Station WagonOctoberJames Moe has a jaw-dropper in this stunning, bright-as-a-jelly-bean wagon (which just won our third Trifecta event). Kustom Kar Audio in Santa Rosa, CA, outfitted the muscled-up "Wagonater" with Arc Audio and Alpine gear that keeps its 16-year-old owner occupied until he gets his driver's license.
Mercedes-Benz 560SECFebruaryWhen you're a veteran car audio competitor, odds are that your dream ride sounds great. When you get veteran installers like Mark Eldridge, Gary Biggs and Kent Buller to do the build, you're pretty much guaranteed audio perfection. Philip Petracca achieved that goal with his 1987 560SEC.
Shop Cars
Nissan 240SXDecemberSound Crafter's 240SX took first at our second Trifecta. It's easy to see why. Crafted from the chassis up, this super-custom demo vehicle was built to impress by one guy: Zahid "Zee" Siddiqi. We love the futuristic design and the innovative sub/steering wheel.
Tucker 48OctoberIt graces the cover of our October issue - a beautiful recreation of a classic, but with a twist. Embedded in the '40s styling, the best of modern technology adds the 21st-century punch. We wish Rob Ida would build one for us as a CA&E company car.
Chevrolet ImpalaMarchBeautiful work from Brazil, this Impala blew us away with a truly stunning center console. Offset in black paint, more Alpine gear snakes through the headliner, the top of the dash and the rear deck. Hats off to installer Carlos Martin and owner Cristiano Federico.
Manufacturer Cars
BMW 645JuneAlpine is no stranger to this list. We may not have agreed with the aesthetic choices on this year's Sinister 6, but we definitely have to admire the build. The incredible motorization, innovative positioning of gear and the fine quality of the craftsmanship make the Sinister 6 outstanding.
Honda CivicSeptemberWhat was that strange mlange of speakers, wires and more on our September cover? It wasn't a doctored image but an actual photo of Metra's Civic demo vehicle. Built by Jeremy Carlson, the wild Civic is controlled by a Sony PlayStation Portable!
Nissan 240SXDecemberScott Buwalda's Nissan was a 240 no longer after he rebuilt the car with right-hand drive, a new engine and countless modifications. Built to sound exceptional with Hybrid Technologies speakers, custom Genesis amps and rebuilt electronics, this one-of-a-kind ride is ready for competition.
Amps
Arc Audio 4200SEOctoberFrom the mind of audio guru Robert Zeff, this Signature Edition amp is "sonically excellent." It has some of the best features of any amp we've tested and an understandably high price tag to match.
Alpine PDX 4.150JulyUltra times three. The new, stylish PDX 4.150 is ultra small, powerful and efficient - a perfect amp combo. It lacked a little in low-frequency performance but stunned our tester in the low mid to high-frequencies.
Zapco DC650.6JuneZapco amps are known for their sound quality, so we weren't surprised that this one tested well. What really took us back was the advanced DSP that does almost everything we could ask for without breaking the bank.
Navigation
Pioneer AVIC-Z1AugustThis double-DIN got our attention with two words: voice commands. We wished it worked perfectly, but we could vocally input well enough to make the feature worthwhile. More appreciated was the Z1's learning capability, which suggested your preferred route to favorite destinations.
Eclipse AVN-7000JulyThe only thing this "all-in-one wonder" doesn't have is Bluetooth capability and voice activation, but with a DVD player, Memory Stick Duo input, and the ability to interface with a variety of additional devices, this single-DIN may really be all you need.
Alpine BlackbirdAugustWith an innovative docking system that lets this portable nav be controlled through an Alpine A/V head unit, the Blackbird really caught our eye. It's easy to use, has a highly responsive touchscreen and a clean, simple design.
Magellan Roadmate 800AprilSuper portable yet still fully functional, the Roadmate 800 has saved our lost butts in North America and Europe. We applaud its intuitive interface, logical routing, and bright, easy-to-read display.
Head Units
Pontus PAC-7002(B)FebruaryIncredible features. That about sums it up. The PAC-7002(B) has a removable MP3 player that serves as part of the faceplate. Needless to say, the HU plays a multitude of digital media formats plus your good old CDs.
Eclipse CD7000SeptemberThis attractive single-DIN has a feature that could certainly come in handy: Area Shot. You go online, download route information onto a Memory Stick and load it onto the HU. The mapping information scrolls with you as you drive.
Alpine CDA-9857OctoberA "really versatile unit with plenty of options for the tech-savvy individual," this receiver has almost everything you need from a single-DIN. With additional pieces, it interfaces with iPods, works with Bluetooth devices, and plays either XM or Sirius Satellite Radio.
Video
Soundstream VCMM-122DAprilIt looks good when it's closed. It looks even better with the screen down and powered up. Our reviewer was reluctant to part with the 12-inch, all-in-one monitor due to the great picture quality and motorized screen.
Component Speakers
Pioneer TS-C720PRSDecemberThese comps look impressive, with high-quality materials and beautiful designs. But in aftermarket audio, you can't judge a speaker by its styling. In this case, the exterior did not lead us astray. These truly sound incredible, and without breaking the bank.
Hertz HSK 165JulyGreat sound and great value, these Italian components should make most people happy. Our reviewer says they "stand tall against speakers costing two and three times as much!" We love a good deal.
Genesis Audiophile 16.03AugustLow in listener fatigue and high in sound quality, these components excel at acoustical recordings (think classical and jazz) yet still perform well on non-acoustical rock, R&B and pop. For a combination of SQ and design, they deserve a spot on this list.
Subwoofers
Critical Mass Ul12JulyExpert tester Vance Dickason calls it a "tour-de-force in high-SPL loudspeaker engineering." And our Casey Thorson says, "It's surely the best subwoofer I've had the pleasure of auditioning." The only fault: the two grand you have to fork over to get one.
JL Audio 13W3V3-4OctoberComing from a line of well-known subs, this woofer did not disappoint. It sounds good (coming in at 76 out of 100 possible points in our subjective listening test) and has a build-quality JL Audio can be proud of.
iPOD Interface
Ipod interfaceHarman-Kardon Drive + PlayMayBuilt exclusively to bring iPod connectivity to any vehicle, Drive + Play consists of three components: a box that connects to FM input of any HU, an intuitive control, and a bright display. You have to mount these various components, but the results are worth it.
Kenwood KOS-A200DecemberA simple black box, this interface lets you keep your existing factory HU and easily plug in peripheral devices, including the ubiquitous iPod. Hide the box in the dash, hook it up to the HU's FM input, and you're basically ready to go.
Interface & Processors
Rockford Fosgate 360.2DecemberSolving the OEM dilemma, this interactive processor goes beyond the call of duty. It handles six channels, providing a 31-band EQ and flexible crossover controls for each channel; signal delay; auxiliary inputs with their own EQ; and complete wireless control.
JL Audio Cleansweep CL441DSPFebruaryAddressing imbedded equalization in OEM vehicles, this processor is a boon (or as our reviewer puts it, "superhero") for installers who have to work with today's super-integrated source units. As the name suggests, it extracts a quality signal, giving the factory output a clean sweep.
Data-Bus Engineering Most PreampFebruaryBreaking through into "The Ring" that is MOST technology, this preamp will let anyone add aftermarket components vehicles that utilize MOST. For now, that's late-model luxury cars, but with technologies spreading, MOST could soon be a problem for more of us.