Send us Fan Mail

You can buy great speakers and still end up with a system that sounds wrong, and Cal Cundiff proves it the hard way. We sit down with a dedicated DIY builder in the Tampa Bay area who turned a 2022 Ford F-150 into a legit sound quality truck using mostly OEM locations, a three-way front stage, and a DSP workflow built around MiniDSP and Dirac Live. The conversation starts with his current setup, then quickly moves to the real question: why do some builds image with a locked center vocal while others never get there?

We walk through the messy part of the hobby that nobody posts on social media: missing power kits, learning wire gauge, reinstalling panels for the fifth time, and realizing that swapping midbass drivers won’t erase cabin nulls or fix phase issues. Cal breaks down how he learned crossovers, time alignment, and tuning basics, why Dirac Live is not “auto-tune,” and how careful measurements can make or break your final result. We also talk OEM-friendly F-150 opportunities like dash speaker locations and why simple system design often beats complexity.

Then we get into the fun and the pressure: IASCA and MECA competitions, meetups as a tuning reference, and what it feels like to park next to cars you’ve only seen on YouTube. Along the way we hit common car audio myths, amp brand drama, and the beginner path that actually works: sound treatment first, install fundamentals, then learn to tune with tools like REW before you spend more money. If you’re building a DIY car audio system for sound quality, this is the roadmap we wish we had earlier.

Subscribe for more SQ conversations, share this with a friend building their first system, and leave a review if it helps. What part of tuning or installation are you stuck on right now?

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Tired of the “one is better” noise around source gear for car audio? We take a clear, real‑world look at using a DAP versus an iPhone as your primary source, and why the right choice depends on how you drive, how you listen, and how simple you want your chain to be. From clean digital paths and cable choices to safety, convenience, and battery reality, we map the tradeoffs without the hype.

We start with the iPhone path many of us already use: a straightforward USB connection into an SMSL PO100 a compact digital transport feeding your DSP. It’s rugged, lives in your pocket, and unlocks CarPlay for safer calls, maps, and voice control. Then we pivot to the dedicated player route: direct coaxial or optical output via slim adapters, LDAC and aptX Bluetooth options, and microSD storage that makes multi‑terabyte libraries affordable. Along the way, we explain how to verify bit‑perfect, high‑resolution output from Apple Music and Qobuz, and why mastering quality usually matters more than file format bragging rights.

The heart of the conversation tackles a sacred cow: EQ. In a car’s chaotic acoustics, tiny, smart EQ moves in a 24‑ or 32‑bit chain can deliver more musical satisfaction than untouched streams that sound thin or harsh. We also share a clever hybrid: run wireless CarPlay for the interface while routing music output directly to your DSP for a focused, high‑quality path. No dogma—just practical setups, honest pros and cons, and a reminder that your favorite system is the one that makes you linger in the driveway to finish the track.

If this helped you rethink your source, tap follow, share with a friend who obsesses over “bit perfect,” and leave a quick review telling us your pick—DAP, iPhone, or both.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Sticker shock pushed me to rethink Hi Res car audio Bluetooth. Legacy receivers from Mosconi and Audison look polished but outdated Bluetooth and questionable value made me search for modern alternatives that cost less and deliver more. That search led to two compact boxes: the FiiO BR13 and a lesser-known BDC-U unit sometimes sold as the “BerryBak.” Both promise high‑res wireless, both lean on the same ESS ES9018K2M DAC, and both come in at a fraction of the boutique price tags. The question isn’t whether they work; it’s which one fits your habits, hardware, and expectations about codecs, control, and long‑term support.

The first surprise is how far Bluetooth has come. The BDC-U arrives with Bluetooth 5.3, USB‑C power and data, optical and coaxial digital outputs, and a harness for permanent installs. It even advertises aptX Lossless, a codec aiming at true 16‑bit/44.1 kHz transmission when the phone supports it. That last part matters: most Android devices today can do LDAC reliably, while aptX Lossless support is still thin and iPhones stick to AAC. In practice, the BDC-U pairs fast, locks into LDAC without drama, and delivers a subjectively lively output that measures slightly hotter than the FiiO. It also includes two antenna options, which helps if your glove box or center console buries radio range. If you want simple, modern, and cheap, this little brick does the job and feels sturdier than some pricier names.

FiiO’s BR13 takes a different angle: flexibility. While it runs on Bluetooth 5.1, it supports LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC, and SBC, and then adds serious I/O: optical in and out plus coaxial in and out, allowing digital passthrough inside a car or home rig. The companion app offers seven EQ presets and custom tuning, useful when your car’s DSP is locked behind menus or your factory head unit is limited. This isn’t about chasing mythical “wireless perfection” so much as giving you more routing options and smarter control. You can tuck the small chassis into a console and tailor the sound to taste. If you like to tweak, the BR13 is a better daily driver, even if its Bluetooth version trails the BDC-U on paper.

Codecs are where expectations need calibration. LDAC at 990 kbps is already excellent for most listeners and systems; it demands stable signal and proper settings, and some devices default to lower rates until you toggle them. AptX Lossless is promising, but only if both ends support it; otherwise you’ll fall back to LDAC, aptX HD, or Adaptive. iPhone users will ride AAC, which is fine but not “high‑res.” The biggest audible win often comes from clean digital output into a competent downstream DAC or DSP, good gain staging, and avoiding needless resampling. Both receivers share the same ESS chip, so differences you hear may come from implementation, output level, antenna placement, and your car’s acoustics more than from headline specs.

Day to day, both units are easy to live with. The BDC-U feels plug‑and‑play and pairs quickly, but some users will need to reselect LDAC in their phone or DAP after reconnecting. The FiiO trades a bit of setup for an app, better routing, and EQ that can fix a sagging midrange or tame a bright tweeter. Either will run from a USB port or adapter, and either can feed optical into a processor if you want to bypass analog paths. Compared with the pricey Mosconi and Audison units, you’re not giving up fidelity; you’re gaining modern connectivity without the “car audio tax.” If you crave simplicity and future‑proofed codecs, grab the BDCU. If you value features, app control, and digital passthrough, the BR13 is the smarter pick. And if true maximum fidelity is the goal, wired still wins—these boxes just make the wireless moments painless & fun

Support the show