Car Audio & Tech News, Guides & Advice
Expert buying advice, product launches and how-to guides from the CEN team in Nottingham.
Expert Advice, Straight From the CEN Team
Welcome to the CEN blog — your home for expert advice, product launches and buying guides from one of the UK's leading car audio, dash cam and tech specialists. Based in Nottingham and trading for over a decade, CEN is an authorised UK retailer for over 80 brands including Alpine, Pioneer, Focal, JL Audio, VIOFO and Thinkware.
Here you'll find in-depth product reviews, installation and setup guides, comparisons between the latest car stereos and dash cams, and news on Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, home AV, photography gear and off-grid power. Every post is written by our in-house team — the same people who answer your questions and hand-pick our range — so the advice you read here is the advice we'd give you in person.
Looking for something specific? Browse by category above, or get in touch — we're always happy to help before you buy.
Upgrading Car Audio Without Replacing the Factory Stereo
Modern cars increasingly make the stereo part of the dashboard — replacing it isn't an option. The good news: you...
Amplifier Wiring Kits Explained: Gauge, Fuses and Earths
The wiring kit is the least exciting part of an amplifier install and the one most likely to ruin it:...
New at CEN: Option Audio Drive-10Flat — Golf Mk8 Bass, Zero Boot Space Lost
If you drive a VW Golf Mk8 and want real bass without sacrificing the boot, Option Audio built the answer:...
Car Speaker Sizes Explained: What Fits Your Car
Most car speakers come in a handful of standard sizes — 6.5-inch (165mm) rounds dominate front doors, 6x9s live on...
Alpine iLX-F905D Halo9 Review: The Big-Screen Upgrade for Almost Any Car
The Alpine iLX-F905D Halo9 solves the biggest problem in car stereo upgrades: wanting a big screen in a car with...
Audison Prima APBX 10 AS2 Review: Compact Active Bass Done Properly
The Audison Prima APBX 10 AS2 answers the most common bass request we get: proper low-end from a factory-looking system,...
What Is a DSP? In-Car Sound Processing Explained
A DSP (digital sound processor) is the component that makes a good car system sound like a great one: it...
New at CEN: Focal Slatefiber SF — Recycled Carbon Cones, Proper French Sound
Focal's Slatefiber SF range has landed at CEN — French-built speakers with recycled carbon-fibre cones, spanning coaxials, component kits, a...
The Essential Read
Hand-picked by the CEN team — worth ten minutes of your time.
Best Dash Cam UK 2026: Which Should You Buy?
For most UK drivers in 2026, the best dash cam is the VIOFO A229 series — 2K recording front and rear, excellent night footage from Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, and...
