Sundown Audio SA-6.5CSv3 2-way Component and SA-6.5CX Coaxial Premium Factory Speaker System Upgrade Review

We all like our tunes, especially in our rides. Unfortunately, those factory speakers in most cars, are lacking. It’s basically planned obsolescence. So whether the days of your factory speakers are over, or you just want a serious upgrade, it’s time to replace them. There’s lots of options for you. You could go basic, high quality, or premium. We previously covered a high quality upgrade system from Harmon Kardan. This is part two of our upgrade review, and features Sundown Audio. It’s their SA-6.5CSv3 2-way components for the front, and SA-6.5CXv2 co-axial for the rear. MSRP is $399 and $199.

 

Features and specs:

SA-6.5CXv2:

120 watts RMS

Silk dome tweeter

Hybrid fiber cone

Adjustable crossover - midrange and tweeter

Cast aluminum frame

Magnet ID shorting ring (midrange)

Machined aluminum tweeter housing 

High-compliance rubber surround

2.75" DEPTH

 

SA-6.5CSv3:

6.5" Component Speakers System

125 Watts / Side

Silk Dome Tweeter

Machine Aluminum Tweeter Housing

Case Aluminum Frame

Magnet ID Shorting Ring (Midrange)

Carbon Fiber Cone

Rubber Surround

24dB/Octave Crossover

Adjustable Tweeter Level (-3, 0, +3)

Mounting Depth: 2.87"

Cutout: 5.63"

 

 

Both the Sundown Audio SA-6.5CXv2 and SA-6.5CSv3 came in a nice color printed box with specs printed on the box. Opening the box revealed a well-protected speaker held in place by custom molded foam. Materials used in the construction was mostly metal with some plastic, rubber, and hybrid fiber cone. Quality of materials used as well as fit and finish, was excellent. Included was woofer with built-in tweeter for the coaxial, separate woofer and tweeter and passive crossovers, for the component system, as well as wiring and screws for mounting.

 

As I mentioned before, most factory speakers are less desirable. They sound just ok and are usually made with thin paper cones and thin surround that won’t last long term. Hence the planned obsolescence. Most aftermarket speakers tend to be cheap, using a lot of plastic and stamped baskets. Some companies spend a lot of time developing a better-quality speaker with better sound, yet still cut some corners to save costs, such as using stamped baskets. With premium speakers you get superior build quality as well as superior sound.

 

I love the design of the Sundown Audio SA series speakers. Having been in business for almost 20 years, most of it building premium subwoofers. They used this experience for premium coaxial and component speakers, such as using an extended pole piece to allow for more excursion. For cooling there is a vented voice coil collar and vented magnetic gap. Having 6mm of linear one-way excursion and the extra venting translates into higher power handling. The employment of the blend of paper and wool fibers assist in damping any unwanted resonances, as does the rubber surround. Depending on where you cross over the midrange, they can handle 60-125+ watts RMS.

 

To mate well with the midrange, they paid a lot of attention on the tweeter. A silk dome is used for similar smoothness of sound. Then there’s the passive crossover. To maintain the high sound quality goal, they used high quality air core inductors and mylar capacitors. The end result yields a very well-made product for great SQ. And the crossover even allows for CPF slope as well as tweeter slope. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth, Wind & Fire: September – shaker sounded really crisp, wood block had really nice woodiness to the tone. Trumpet was really clean with excellent harmonics. Cymbal was equally really crisp and clean. Vocals had excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre. Drums were really dynamic with nice low-end extension.

Disturbed: Sound of Silance – Piano sounded really natural with very nice harmonics. Vocals were extremely crisp with excellent texture of the timbre. Strings were equally as crisp with nice resolution of the decay of the strings.

Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – cymbals and high-hat were really crisp and clean, piano sounded very natural with good resolution of the strings. Strings also were silky smooth with very nice resolution of the bass. Trumpet was not only equally smooth, but also extremely dynamic with excellent harmonics. Vocals were smooth like honey with equally excellent resolution of the timbre. Soundstage was also very deep and wide, with imaging on a dime.

 

In contrast during the installation, I inspected the stock speakers in the older 2004 Toyota Rav4 when they were taken out.  I was shocked that they weren’t blown, especially with their thin cones and surrounds. The person I got it from must have never used the stereo. And their magnet was so so small, I’m surprised the speakers sounded as good as they did.  But don’t take that the wrong way.  Out of 10 I would give them a 4, but with the magnet as small as it was, I’m surprised they weren’t a 3.  And the plastic tweeter was equally unimpressive.  While you could hear the music, that’s the best I could give them. It was like listening to qood speakers with thick earmuffs on. You could hear the music, but it sounded extremely thin, flat, hardly any resolution or highs.   The Sundown Audio was a night and day difference, like a revelation.

 

Not only does the Sundown Audio SA-6.5CXv2 and SA6.5CSv3 designed to handle a lot of power, they also sound great doing it. And thanks to the excellent build quality, they should have you rocking for years. If you want to take the sound in your ride to a whole new level, the Sundown SA6.5CXv2 and SA6.5CSv3 should be on your short list. Based on their design, features, quality and performance, they have earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.sundownaudio.com.

Lexar Introduces 1TB Capacities of its ARMOR GOLD SDXC™ Card and ARMOR SILVER PRO SDXC™ Card

Lexar Introduces 1TB Capacities of its ARMOR GOLD SDXC™ Card and ARMOR SILVER PRO SDXC™ Card

Lexar’s latest SD cards provide expansive capacity and use a stainless-steel construction for extreme durability

Key Features

●        Stainless steel construction is 37X stronger than typical SD cards

●        Rated IP68 for dust- and water-resistance, drop-resistant to 5 meters

●        Simplified designs make a sturdier card with no ribs and no write-protection switch

●        Read speeds up to 280MB/s¹ to quickly transfer content

●        Video Speed Class 60 (V60) to seamlessly capture 6K footage

●        Pairs with a USB 3.2 card reader to quickly transfer photos and videos at up to 280MB/s¹

San Jose, CA, USA, October 1, 2025—Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce the 1TB capacity point for its stainless-steel SD cards, the ARMOR GOLD SDXC™ Card and the ARMOR SILVER PRO SDXC™ Card.  

Now available in 1TB, the Lexar® ARMOR GOLD SDXC™ Card and the Lexar® ARMOR SILVER PRO SDXC™ Card can store more photos and footage on a single card. 1TB capacity also provides the room for multiple burst photo collections and 6K video files.

The 1TB Lexar® ARMOR GOLD SDXC™ Card and the 1TB Lexar® ARMOR SILVER PRO SDXC™ Card are classified with a V60 recording speed, to seamlessly capture video in up to 6K without missing a frame. Combined with a read speed of 280MB/s¹, users can quickly offload photos and videos and get back into the field.

Built using an extremely durable stainless-steel construction (37x higher than standard memory cards), the 1TB Lexar® ARMOR GOLD SDXC™ Card and the 1TB Lexar® ARMOR SILVER PRO SDXC™ Card are both rated IP68 and are designed to take the hits while users explore the wild.

“Designed for maximum durability, ARMOR SD Cards are built tough to withstand harsh conditions without sacrificing performance,” said Joey Lopez, Director of Brand Marketing. “With the new 1TB capacity, the ARMOR SD cards allow creators to stay in the field longer, record more footage, and capture the right moment without the need of constantly switching cards.”

The 1TB Lexar® ARMOR GOLD SDXC™ Card is compatible with UHS-II and UHS-I devices and will be available late Q3 2025 at an MSRP of $369.99. The 1TB Lexar® ARMOR SILVER PRO SDXC™ Card is compatible with UHS-II and UHS-I devices and will be available Q4 2025 at an MSRP of $364.99.

Availability

Lexar® ARMOR GOLD SDXC™ Card

·        B&H

Lexar® ARMOR SILVER PRO SDXC™ Card

·        Amazon

About Lexar

For more than 25 years, Lexar has been trusted as a leading global brand of memory solutions. Our award-winning lineup includes memory cards, USB Flash Drives, card readers, solid-state drives, and DRAM. With so many options, it’s easy to find the right Lexar solution to fit your needs.

Disclosures

¹      Up to 280MB/s read transfer, write speeds lower. Highest transfer speeds achieved when paired with an SD UHS-II reader. Speeds based on internal testing. Actual performance may vary. X=150KB/s.

²     Limited lifetime warranty is limited to 10 years from purchase in Germany and regions not recognizing lifetime warranty.

 

Social Media

Instagram: instagram.com/lexarmemory

X (Twitter): twitter.com/lexarmemory

Facebook: facebook.com/lexarmemory

YouTube: youtube.com/c/LexarMemoryOfficial

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/lexarmemory

Threads: threads.net/@lexarmemory

 

Lexar. 1737 N First Street, Suite 680, San Jose, CA USA

Meet the DAC Backpack for Your Phone & the Fits-Anything, Futureproof Headphone Cable

New Campfire Audio DAC Wallet & Time Link cable are the must-have accessories for portable audio listening

 

Portland, Oregon, September 23rd–– Campfire Audio has announced two new accessories to enhance your portable listening life: the Portable DAC Wallet to keep things looking neat and sounding great, and the Time Link cable to quickly adapt your earphones to suit a range of devices (and provide an in-line USB DAC, too).

 

The DAC backpack for your phone
​Crafted from leather, the Campfire Audio Portable DAC Wallet magnetically attaches to your smartphone and snugly holds your choice of sound-boosting DAC. A custom USB-C cable allows you to further reduce the tangle of tech in your pocket and avoids ‘dongle DACs’ dangling precariously on an overlong lead.

 

Portable DAC Wallet

 

As well as being compact, the Portable DAC Wallet’s custom USB-C cable aligns connection points for a lower-profile, reduced-tension fit – minimising the risk of port-wear on either your phone or portable DAC device.

 

The Campfire Audio Portable DAC Wallet is the ideal match for the Campfire Audio Relay DAC but also happily houses a wide range of alternatives. For phones or other portable devices without built-in magnetic support, an optional adhesive magnetic ring is supplied.

 

One cable to rule them all
​Quickly and easily adapt your earphones to suit a range of devices ​ - ​ from smartphone to laptop to digital audio player and more - with the ​ Campfire Audio Time Link cable. Six conductors of high-purity copper and silver-plated copper channel your signal into the swappable termination of your choice, including a powerful, Cirrus Logic, USB-C DAC.

 

Time Link Cable

 

Time Link comes with six conductors (3 x copper; 3 x silver-plated copper) and these swappable terminations: 3.5mm single-ended; 4.4mm balanced; USB-C DAC.

 

Pricing and availability
​The Campfire Audio DAC Wallet + Custom USB-C cable is available now from Amazon and a range of specialist audio retailers, with a suggested retail price of $59.

 

The Campfire Audio Time Link cable is also available now from Amazon and specialist stockists, with an SRP of $299.

 

For more information about Campfire Audio, please visit: www.campfireaudio.com

 

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JBL BoomBox 3 Bluetooth Speaker Review by Jeff Roy

We all like our music. It’s also fun to take our music on the go. To allow us to take our music on the go, the boombox became popular several decades ago in the 70’s. JBL has re-invented the boombox with their BoomBox. Up for review is their BoomBox 3 with a $499 MSRP.

 

Features and specs:

 

General Specifications

Output power (W): 1x80W RMS-subwoofer + 2x40W RMS-midrange + 2x10W RMS-tweeter (AC mode) 1x60W RMS-subwoofer + 2x30W RMS-midrange + 2x8W RMS-tweeter (Battery mode)

Audio Specifications

Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 40 Hz - 20k Hz

Dimensions

Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth) (cm): 48.2 x 25.7 x 20.0

Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth) (in): 19.0 x 10.1 x 7.9

Weight (kgs): 6.7

Weight (lbs): 14.7

Control and Connection Specifications

Bluetooth profiles: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6

Bluetooth frequency: 2.402GHz - 2.480GHz

Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK

Bluetooth transmitter power: ≤ 9 dBm (EIRP)

Bluetooth version: 5.3

Battery

Charging time (hrs): 6.5

Maximum music playing time (hrs): 24

Features

JBL PartyBoost: Yes

3.5 mm audio cable Input: Yes

Bluetooth: Yes

Charging cable: Yes

Powerbank: Yes

Waterproof: Yes

Wireless: Yes

Rechargable battery: Yes

IP Code: IP67

 

The JBL BoomBox 3 came in a nice-looking color printed box. Opening the box revealed a well-protected product held in place by custom cardboard. Materials used in construction were mostly plastic with some metal, rubber and cloth. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was excellent. Also included was the quick start guide and power cord.

 

As a child of the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s, before talking about the design of the JBL BoomBox 3, I feel I need to first talk about boomboxes in general and its evolution. I have owned my share of boomboxes. And they were designed to bring our music on the go. This was the radio and cassette tapes, add later included CD.s. They also improved on the sound by going from a single full range speaker to also include a separate tweeter. And to custom tailor the sound to our performance, many also included a graphic equalizer. I was the life of the party with my boombox.

 

Through the next few decades, our music has changed. Cassette tapes are gone, and CD’s are rarely used. Regular radio is also not used nearly as often. Born on physical media like cassette tapes, CD’s and radio listened to a large percentage of the time, I have even succumbed to the evolution of how we listen to our music. JBL BoomBox 3 is a result of this evolution. After all, why include a radio turner and CD player as well as the cost for them, when they may not be used?

 

I love the design of the JBL BoomBox 3. It has a similar form factor as the boomboxes of old, yet includes the features we need. Gone are the CD and radio turner replaced with Bluetooth. Most of what we listen to is accessed on our phones, be it downloaded music tracks or music services like Amazon, or Spotify, to name a couple. So all you really need is Bluetooth to connect to your phone. You can even connect 2 phones, to allow friends in on the action.

 

For it to be really easy to use, JBL went with a simple design. There are buttons for power, Bluetooth, play, volume up and down and link to link other JBL wireless speakers. At the bottom of the front is an LED to show the battery charge level. Connections on the back are for power cord, audio in for an external audio device, and USB port to access the internal power bank. This simplistic design also yields a clean look, and it looks great! The JBL app is also really simplistic, but gives good features with the 3-way equalizer, streaming to multiple JBL wireless speakers, and the quick start guide.

 

Unlike boomboxes of old, JBL also has upped its game in the sound quality of the BoomBox 3. JBL employs a 3-way system. There’s a .75” tweeter, 2.75”midrange, and 4.5”x7.4” subwoofer. But there’s also a passive radiator on each end. It’s a sophisticated subwoofer system that uses a single active subwoofer that is similar in cone area as a 6-inch round driver, and dual 5-inch passive radiators. I’m a fan of passive radiators.  And while use of a passive radiator is rare, this one uses two. Very rare, and very impressive! You get a separate tweeter and midrange for crisp and clean sound, with an active subwoofer with dual passive radiators to maximize the amount of bass from a small package. Add the IP67 dustproof and 1-meter waterproof feature, and you can get great sound anywhere. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth Wind & Fire: September – Wood blocks had really good resolution of the woodiness tone of the block, tambourine was crisp and clean as were the cymbals. Vocals were silky smooth with great texture of the timbre. Shaker block also had nice texture. Snare was nice and dynamic.  Kick drum was also dynamic with really good low-end extension and played with authority. Trumpet was also really dynamic, super clean, with great harmonics.

Disturbed: Sound of Silance – piano sounded natural with very good harmonics. Vocals were smooth like honey with excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre. Acoustic guitar had really nice resolution of the strings. Strings were also smooth with excellent harmonics of the strings. Tympani had nice dynamics and low-end extension and authority with good resolution of the pad.

Tiesto @ Sevenn: Boom – Holy *#@*! I was not expecting this from a little boombox! Some of the bass beats were not as deep, but were nice and tight, super clean, and hit hard. Thers were deeper bass beats that also hit really hard with great low-end extension. And then others were really deep, really clean as well, but shook the room! I knew the single subwoofer with two passive radiators had high potential, but wow!

 

If you want to take your music with you outdoors, you’ll want great sound and a speaker that can handle any outdoor environment. The JBL BoomBox 3 handles both. It’s also well made to provide years of use. If you’re looking for an outdoor wireless speaker that sounds REALLY good, especially if you like a lot of bass, the JBL BoomBox 3 is unique in that aspect and deserves to be on your short list. Based on its design, features, quality and performance, the JBL Boombox 3 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info check out their website at www.jbl.com.

SAMA Launches Complete P and G Series Power Supplies with ATX 3.1 and 12V-2x6 Support for High-Performance PC Builds

SAMA Launches Complete P and G Series Power Supplies with ATX 3.1 and 12V-2x6 Support for High-Performance PC Builds

 

Engineered for power-intensive GPUs, SAMA’s latest modular PSUs deliver ultra-quiet cooling, peak efficiency, and full NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 Series and AMD Radeon™ RX 9000 Series compatibility.

 

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., August 19, 2025 ---- SAMA, a global leader in performance PC hardware, today announced the launch of its complete lineup of fully modular power supply units, ranging from 650W to 1200W to meet the needs of entry-level to high-performance gaming systems. The new P Series includes the P850, P1000, and flagship P1200 Platinum, while the G Series spans the G650, G750, G850, and flagship G1000 Gold. All models are 80 PLUS certified, with the P Series delivering Platinum-level efficiency and the G Series meeting Gold-level standards, ensuring reliable power delivery, improved energy efficiency, and reduced thermal output under load.

 

Built to exceed the power and efficiency demands of modern PC builds; all models are fully compliant with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards and support the latest NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 Series and AMD Radeon™ RX 9000 Series graphics cards with 12V-2x6 connectors. The SAMA P1200 Platinum and SAMA G1000 Gold are optimized for enthusiast systems, overclocked CPUs, and multi-GPU configurations, delivering reliable, ultra-quiet performance with clean, modular design.

 

Designed for Modern Gaming and Performance Builds

The flagship SAMA P1200 Platinum 1200W and G1000 Gold 1000W fully modular power supplies are engineered to deliver precision power, GPU stability, and ultra-quiet operation for high-performance gaming PCs, creator workstations, and enthusiast-level systems. Featuring native 12V-2x6 (PCIe 5.1) connectors, both units provide seamless compatibility for the latest flagship GPUs, including the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090/5080 and AMD® Radeon™ 9070 XT Series. With full compliance to the ATX 3.1 specification, these PSUs support power excursion events up to 235%, making them ideal for demanding overclocking, intense gaming loads, and future-proof system upgrades.

 

Designed in a compact 150mm ATX form factor, both units maximize internal case airflow and fit easily into modern mid- and full-tower chassis. For noise-conscious users, an intelligent Zero RPM fan mode paired with a Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) cooling system ensures silent operation during low to moderate workloads. Builders will also appreciate the clean look and ease of use offered by fully modular flat cables, optimized for tight spaces and high visibility showcase builds. Both the P1200 and G1000 are fully compatible with Intel® Core™ Ultra and AMD Ryzen™ 9800/9900 Series processors and are optimized to power NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 and RTX™ 40 Series GPUs with stable, efficient delivery. They are engineered for drop-in integration with premium graphics cards from trusted partners, including NVIDIA® Founders Edition, ASUS ROG, GIGABYTE AORUS, MSI, Sapphire, ZOTAC, and more.

 

Key Features

P1200 Platinum – 1200W Fully Modular PSU | 80 PLUS Platinum | MSRP: $189.99 USD

·       Dual native 12V-2x6 connectors and 600W cable for next-gen GPU compatibility

·       Up to 93.12% efficiency, exceeding 80+ Platinum certification standards

·       All Japanese 105°C capacitors and <30mV ripple for clean, stable power

·       235% power excursion support for transient GPU loads

·       140mm FDB fan with fanless ECO mode below 60% load / 55°C

·       10-year warranty with global support coverage

·       Ideal for enthusiast builds, high-end workstations, and overclocked systems

 

G1000 Gold – 1000W Fully Modular PSU | 80 PLUS Gold | MSRP: $119.99 USD

·       Native 12V-2x6 connector and 450W cable with ATX 3.1 + PCIe 5.1 support

·       91.15% efficiency, ideal for mainstream to performance-grade gaming PCs

·       Main Japanese 105°C capacitor for long-term durability

·       200% power excursion compliance

·       140mm FDB fan with ECO mode (fanless below 40% load / 55°C)

·       Optimized for GeForce RTX 50/40 Series GPUs and high-core-count Intel® and AMD® processors

·       5-year warranty

 

“SAMA’s new power supplies are built with today’s most demanding PC users in mind—from gamers to creators to system integrators,” said Frank Wang, VP of SAMA. “The P1200 and G1000 are more than just compatible—they’re engineered to maximize GPU performance, ensure power stability, and meet the standards of tomorrow’s high-end PC builds.”

 

 

Where to Buy on Amazon

·       SAMA P1200 – Black & White | MSRP: $189.99

o   Black: B0F996CYT2

o   White: B0F99BFKL1

·       SAMA P1000 – Black & White | MSRP: $179.99

o   Black: B0F998PDN3

o   White: B0F9963V9X

·       SAMA P850 – Black & White | MSRP: $169.99

o   Black: B0F9941HQL

·       SAMA G1000 – Black & White | MSRP: $119.99

o   Black: B0F998XFMY

o   White: B0F998GTVN

·       SAMA G850 – Black & White | MSRP: $109.99

o   Black: B0F9995K43

o   White: B0F997VW66

·       SAMA G750 – Black & White | MSRP: $104.99

o   Black: B0F998CPJ9

o   White: B0F998FFK9

·       SAMA G650 – Black & White | MSRP: $99.99

o   Black: B0F99631LJ

o   White: B0F9LBSFHC

 

 

About SAMA

Founded in 2003, SAMA is a trusted global manufacturer of PC cases, cooling solutions, and power supplies for gaming, creative, and performance computing markets. With a reputation for reliability, thermal innovation, and industry-first support for emerging standards, SAMA products are used by gamers, system builders, and integrators in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Website: www.samagears.com
Instagram: @samagears
Facebook: facebook.com/samagear
X: @samagears_020
YouTube: youtube.com/@samagears-020
Amazon Storefront: SAMA on Amazon

Newegg Storefront: SAMA on Newegg