UPDATE – 9/4/14 – The new Alpine INE-W957HD model does feature an optical output! It’s not really obvious as it doesn’t appear to be a feature they are pushing, but it does have it.
I recently received this email from a reader regarding digital output from aftermarket head units for use with digital audio processors. Joe brings up a great question!
Audison Demo Car at CES 2012 featuring a Full Digital Audio System
There are a number of audio processors promising extensive time alignment and EQ that seem to finally be close to retail availability. Alpine has the H800, Rockford Fosgate the 3sixty.3, and Arc Audio is working on the PS8. It would be ideal to run a digital signal to the processor to avoid unnecessary digital/analog conversions. I know there are a few head units that have digital output, but it’s never mentioned on marketing materials. What current or near-future head units do you know of that have this type of signal output?
Oh how true it is that it’s never mentioned in any marketing materials! I remember being so stoked when my Alpine rep told me that the INA-W910BT was going to have an optical output. I was so excited about it that I managed to sell one along with an Audison Bit One based largely on the fact that it could be an optical connection from the head unit to the processor. You can imagine how disappointed I was when my husband came back from the install bay, stereo in hand and said,
“There’s no optical out. Where is it? Can you see it?”
Sure enough, I didn’t see where you could possibly make any optical connection.
“I f***ing hate Alpine; those ***holes do the same sh** to us every year!”
After calling tech support, I found out you need an additional adapter to add an optical output pigtail. With the KWE-610A, you could run an INA-W910BT to a processor like the Audison Bit One and from there to an Audison Voce amp with digital connection. Audison calls it their AV bit IN.
I did not have a chance to check out their full digital audio system while at CES 2012. They were not at the convention center this year; they were off site at some hotel that we never had a chance to make it over to. But this video from Audison helps to fill us in on the details of what a full digital audio system is and how it will vastly improve both sound quality and ease of installation. Full digital audio is here now.
Can’t change your car stereo? Check out the Audison Bit One.
Looking for a high quality aftermarket car audio sound system while maintaining the factory appearance in your vehicle?
As car manufacturer’s design more and more complex vehicle interiors, it can become more difficult for integrating aftermarket stereo components to improve sound quality. It doesn’t have to be difficult though. Thanks to products like Audison’s Bit One, there are excellent options for integrating high fidelity audio components into an OEM system in a clean and seamless way.
In the past, it’s always been an option to upgrade speakers, add an amplifier or amplifiers along with a subwoofer to a stock system without changing the stock head unit. But this is kind of like taking 2 steps forward and one step back. You’ll always be limited to the sound quality and output of the stock stereo. Not only that, your only option for connecting these components this way are through speaker level connections, rather than RCA cables (which is the cleaner way to integrate amplifiers).
Most stock stereos are self attenuating. The manufacturer doesn’t want you to blow up the stock speakers, so internally they’ve engineered their stereos to adjust output as you crank the volume knob. This is not the case for every manufacturer, but it is especially true in most “premium” or amplified audio systems. You turn the volume up and may find that your bass and mid range levels seem to stay the same, but only treble and upper end frequencies are increased.
So the solution has always been to start with a good clean source, something with a high voltage pre-amp that will allow you to easily install an aftermarket amplifier, integrating with the pre-amp through clean, high quality RCA cables. Well, what if I told you, you could do better than that with going the OEM integration route.
First, let’s look at the traditional set up: replace head unit, replace speakers, add amplifiers and subwoofer. With this option, we have to wire up and install a new aftermarket head unit. Then, from the preamp of the new head unit, we need to run RCA cables to the location of the new amplifier. We also need to run power and ground wire for the aftermarket amplifiers as well as speaker wire from the aftermarket speakers to the aftermarket amplifiers. That’s a lot of wiring. Throughout this wiring it can be easy to pickup interference noise from things like the power wire, computers in the car or radio frequency interference emitted from the amplifiers themselves.
If we look at some of the more advanced audio systems coming from car manufacturer’s, you will see they only have one conversion and that is at the stock amplifier. Take a look, for example, at these 3 car manufacturers. Audi, BMW and Porsche. All of these manufacturers have platforms for many of their stereos that operate on the MOST bus system. MOST stands for Media Oriented Systems Transport. It’s a fiber optic network that communicates audio, video, voice and data signals to multiple components. This means there is one optical cable running from the head unit to the amp where it is then converted to analog. That’s it. No RCA’s, no speaker wire, no power wire, no chance for audio interference or audio degradation. From there it goes to speaker wire and then to the car stereo speakers.
Fiber optics in cars? You would think this would make it even more difficult to interface aftermarket car audio products. At first it was, but thanks to company’s like Mobridge, there are some pretty cool ways to add aftermarket amps and speakers that will make wiring this type of set up easier than a traditional aftermarket audio system. Mobridge makes a digital preamp for select MOST bus systems. The digital preamp allows you to remove the stock amplifier and connect an aftermarket amplifier. This preamp will the convert the fiber optic output to an analog RCA output, which can then go to aftermarket amplifiers and then, ultimately, aftermarket speakers. This means you can maintain your cars fiber optic system, maintain the stock head unit and appearance, but change the stock amp to a higher quality aftermarket amp that can then power higher quality aftermarket speakers. It’s an easy way to upgrade your audio system, but maintain the stock look. Since they’re very little wiring involved, it’s also just as easy to convert it back to original equipment.
Mobridge Digital Preamp DA1000
But wait, it gets even cooler. Throw in an Audison amplifier, like a new Voce series amp, and you gain a digital input at the amp. That means you can stay digital from the head unit to the amp. With fiber optic connections, you can eliminate the need for RCA cables which means you’ll have even cleaner sound quality and no chance of introducing any type of noise or interference into the audio system.
So that’s pretty awesome right? OEM look, aftermarket sound with minimal wiring required, but it gets even better. Hook it all up to an Audison Bit One with an optical toslink cable and you now have more control than most will know what to do with. The Bit One is an amazing piece of equipment all on its own, but using it in this type of setup means you’ll not only have a pure, clean and noise free signal, but you’ll have a completely customizable and correctable audio system.
The Bit One supplies car audio enthusiasts with an 8 channel output, a 31 band EQ per source, per channel, digital time alignment and a whole lot more. What will this do for you? Let’s say you have a stock 6 channel speaker system and you want a full audio upgrade in your BMW with a MOST system. After having your professional installer install your high quality aftermarket speakers, aftermarket amps, subwoofer, your digital preamp (if not using a Voce amp with digital in and out) and your Bit One, he’ll need to complete the Bit One tuning process.
Bit One Tuning in a BMW 3 series
The Bit One will supply your installer with a USB connection to hook up to a lap top. It also comes with tuning software. The installer can then measure, from where your head sits in your car, the distance to each speaker in the car. Using the Bit One tuning software, he can then calibrate how much to delay each speaker by milliseconds so that each speaker hits your ears at exactly the same time. This process will completely center your sound stage right to where you’re sitting. When done correctly, you can’t pin point exactly where the sound is coming from; it envelops and surrounds you. This is especially helpful in bringing the subwoofer up (acoustically) to where you’re sitting in your car.
The 31 band EQ allows a knowledgeable installer to further correct and perfect your audio system. By playing pink noise (all frequencies) and measuring the frequency response with a real time analyzer (also known as an RTA) he can see with his eyes where there is too much of one frequency, too little of another, and adjust those frequencies accordingly to provide smooth and pleasing sound reproduction.
As car manufacturers improve and create more technologically advanced systems in their vehicles, you will see more innovative solutions in the aftermarket industry to utilize and integrate with these systems. It was originally thought by many in the mobile electronics industry that these types of changes in OEM operating systems would kill the car audio industry. It’s been quite the opposite. For those willing to learn about and embrace new technology, the possibilities for expansion in the industry become limitless.
What mobile electronic innovations have you been impressed with? What do you think has been the greatest innovation in car audio in the past 10 years? I’d love to hear your feedback. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more innovations in the industry.
Hi everyone!
I received a pretty good question from a reader who wanted to know how he could increase the quality and output from his current amp and sub without upgrading or adding any additional amps or subs. Here’s his current set up: Stock stereo system and line output convertor, an Alpine Type R 12″ in a 1.7 cubic foot ported enclosure with an Alpine PDX-M6. If you’re wondering what you can do to get better output and better bass response with your current amp and sub set up, check out my response:
I’m trying to do this question of the week thing, but I haven’t received a lot of good questions! Come on guys, don’t be afraid to ask. Thanks to Google Analytics, I know there’s a lot of readers on this site and I know you all are looking for guidance or information otherwise you wouldn’t be on here. There’s gotta be something I can help you with. So ask away, I look forward to answering.
Find out what the better radar detector with laser shifting is. This post is for the consumer who is looking for the best performing installed radar detector and laser shifter. Find out the pros and cons of the Escort 9500ci with laser diffusing vs the K40 RL360 with laser from a retailer that sells and installs both.
As a successful independent mobile electronics retailer (voted Top 50 mobile electronics retailer in the country in 2011) that sells and installs both the Escort 9500ci and the K40 RL360 with laser shifters, I will give you an unbiased overview of each system. This post will go over the benefits of each radar detector/laser diffuser system assisting you in making the right decision for your unique application. Customers look to me for advice over which is the best installed radar detection system. I simply lay out the facts allowing my customers to make the decision as to which one is the better option for them and I am going to do the same for you.
UPDATE 2014 – Escort now has the 9500CI Pro which features their latest technology in laser shifting. Aside from updating the laser shifters (rumored to be supplied by Blinder), Escort also dropped the rear shifter so it is now packaged as a front only system. They also raised the retail price to $1999.95 plus installation. Escort also has the added benefit of Escort Live (additional part and subscription required) which allows users to connect to a live database of other Escort Radar users to receive up the minute alerts based on drivers connected to the network.
K40 has also updated their system from the RL360 to the RL360i (for front and rear radar protection) and the RL200 to the RL200i (front only radar protection). The remote is more user friendly and there are more options as far as settings go compared to their previous version (volume adjustment, quiet ride, turning select bands on/off). K40 still utilizes the Defuser G5 Laser Shifter. They still sell their products and package their system in an a la cart fashion to suite your driving needs and they still utilize the minimalistic and discreet LED indicator lights and a wireless remote to control the system. K40 also still offers their speeding ticket guarantee. They have excellent customer service, a very dedicated staff and committed network of dealers (more like small business customer service than big corporation customer service).
Despite these key updates mentioned above, the overall points and description in this post still accurately reflect the key differences, pros and cons of each system.
What’s the difference between an installed radar detector vs a windshield mounted radar detector?
For those of you that are not familiar with installed radar and laser detectors, let me give you a brief overview of the benefits of an installed radar and laser detector over the more common windshield mounted variety. A windshield mounted radar/laser detector is just that. It detects radar and laser emission and it’s mounted on your windshield for all to see. It will detect different bands of radar and laser that are used in the radar and laser (AKA lidar) guns commonly used by law enforcement officers.
Think you’re protected by laser with this dash mounted detector? Think again.
There are a few weaknesses and downsides to the dash mounted radar detectors. For one, they’re not very attractive sitting on your windshield with a curly cord hanging down and swinging about while you drive. You can easily buy a hard wire kit which will allow you hard wire the power for the unit for a cleaner look on your dash. The second problem with these units is mounting it on your windshield, for ideal performance, you want to mount your portable radar detector in the center of your windshield. Nearly every state has a law regarding windshield obstruction which prohibits mounting anything to your windshield that could obstruct your field of vision. How well this law is enforced varies from state to state. The biggest and most important weakness to note with the dash mounted radar and laser detection systems is the laser detection feature.
The thing about laser, commonly known as lidar, is that it’s instantaneous. Just like a real gun, the officer points then shoots. If your dash mounted detector alerts you for laser, most likely it’s too late. He’s either got you or the guy right next to you. With little to no warning, the laser detection feature is kind of a moot point with these units. You have a lot more notice with radar. When law enforcement is using a radar gun, it is typically left on and emitting a much larger wave that is easier to detect. In Connecticut, I find that radar is much more commonly used on rural roads by local law enforcement. On highways it is much more common to see laser being used. So depending on your driving habits and location, your dash mounted radar detector may suit your needs.
If you are looking for better performance, a cleaner installation and true laser protection, you need an installed radar detector with laser shifting like the Escort 9500ci or the K40 RL series with laser diffusing. Both products offer laser sensors/diffusers that are installed in a stealth manner on the front and/or rear bumper which is where law enforcement are typically aiming their laser guns. The diffuser, will not only detect laser, but it will emit a signal back confusing and shifting the signal being received at the laser gun. Basically the officer will get an inaccurate reading giving you time to slow down and avoid a ticket.
Is laser shifting or diffusing legal?
Yes. In almost all of the United States, use of these detectors, in non commercial vehicles, is legal. However, where it is illegal, I recommend following the law. In Washington DC and Virginia it is illegal to use radar detectors and they are very serious about enforcing this law. If you happen to be driving through one of these areas, remove your dash mounted radar detector and hide it; turn off your installed detector. I’ve known people who have had their radar detectors confiscated and they have received court dates for simply having the detector in the car (not even powered on!). They mean business there, so don’t risk it.
Escort 9500ci vs K40 RL 360
So now that you know the basics, let’s get to the details. The Escort 9500ci is a complete system consisting of 5 sensors: a single front radar, dual front laser shifters and rear laser shifters. Inside the car you have an LED display panel and a separate control pad. The Escort 9500ci also includes their Defender GPS database which includes thousands of known locations for speed traps, speed cameras and red light cameras. If you know of a location not in the database you can mark it using your control pad.
The Escort 9500ci also includes a cool feature called Auto-learn which is designed to reduce the number of false alerts that you receive. For example, every time I drive by my local grocery store, their automatic door sensors set off my radar detector. The Escort 9500ci pays attention to repetitive alerts and will lockout a signal if it receives the same signal more than 3 times in the same location. For $1699.95, plus installation, the Escort 9500ci uses some pretty cool technology to provide its users some attractive features.
What’s the installation like? That’s probably the one thing that customers struggle with, where to mount the control pad and the display. Here are some cool mounting options for the Escort 9500ci display and control pad.
Escort 9500ci display installed inside the rear view mirror of an Audi S4.
This is an example in an Audi S4. In this particular vehicle, we removed the compass/temp display inside the rear view mirror and replaced it with the Escort 9500ci display. The result is a very clean integration of the Escort 9500ci display. Using the factory mirror is not an option for every car. Some vehicles have the auto dimming circuit board imbedded between two layers of glass without any cutout for any display. If you don’t have the type of mirror that will allow this, or have access to a professional installer who can do this for you, check out Radar-Mirror.com. For around $500, these guys can sell you a replacement rear view mirror with the display installed or they can install the display for you in your existing mirror (you will have to send in your mirror and Escort display).
Mid City Engineering offers an integration accessory for the 9500CI to display in your instrument cluster.
The lucky drivers of select Mercedes models have the unique option of interfacing their radar detector into their instrument cluster display as shown to the left. Mid City Engineering offers options for both Escort and K40 systems. Prices for the interface range from $450 – $750. For a complete list of compatible vehicles and pricing, contact Mid City Engineering.
For those of you working with what came in the box, here are a few installation pics to give you an idea of alternative display options as well as control pad mounting locations.
Some display mounting options including inside a sunglasses holder, flush mounting into the headliner or flush mounting into another panel on the dash. As you can see, the control pad is nice and small, so you can almost always find a nice mounting location for that in any car.
Escort 9500ci being mounted inside a sunglasses visor.Escort 9500ci display flush mounted into the headliner of a Porsche Cayenne.Example of Escort 9500ci Control Mounting Location in an Audi Q7
The pros of the Escort 9500ci:
It is an all inclusive system, it comes with every sensor you could possibly need.
It uses pretty advanced technology to eliminate false alerts as well as to alert you to possible speed traps, speed cameras and red light cameras.
As reported by my customers and my own personal experience with both systems, it has longer range and more sensitivity than K40 systems.
The cons of the Escort 9500ci:
Because it is all inclusive, it is pricier than other options.
Because it is so sensitive, it may be more susceptible to false alerts.
The display and control pad inside the vehicle cannot always be concealed in the most stealth manner.
The K40 offers more flexibility when it comes to pricing, options and stealth installation. K40 offers two different radar options and two different laser diffusing options. Let’s say you like the idea of a stealth radar install, but you don’t want to spend $1700 bucks on a system. Well let’s think about this for a minute. Where are officers most likely to be aiming their radar/laser guns when you see them enforcing speed limits? The front of the vehicle as you are approaching them. So if most speed traps involve officers aiming a radar or laser gun at your front bumper, why not save some cash and buy a front only system?
K40 allows you to do just that and custom tailor a radar and laser shifting kit to your specific needs. Offered a la carte, you can purchase a front only radar, also known as their RL200 and a single laser diffuser, also known as an EX. Both parts together will run you around $1100 plus installation. If you want front and rear radar, you would want to get the RL360. If you want two laser diffusers (either one for front, one for rear, or both for the front), you would need the EX-2 in addition to whichever radar system you go for.
The major attractor for K40 is the installation, it can be truly stealth. Controlled via a wireless remote control, with visual alerts from one or two LED’s (depending on if you do front only or front and rear), and audible alerts from a speaker hidden under the dash, you really can’t see any evidence of a radar/laser detection/shifting system being installed. Take a peak at a recent install we did in a brand new Mercedes SLS AMG.
I swear there is a radar sensor and laser diffuser mounted under there. Scroll down for more images.
Only the best will do for our local Mercedes Dealership. This picture was taken post install. The laser diffuser can be seen if you really look for it on the bottom, center section of the mesh grill. The radar sensor in the front was hidden behind the upper plastic portion of the front bumper, see below.
Hidden radar detector mid-install in the front bumper of a Mercedes SLS AMG
In this particular Mercedes, we did a front and rear radar. Check out the stealth radar sensor installation in the rear.
Mid-install of rear radar sensor in trunk lid of Mercedes SLS AMG
All of our radar detection and laser shifting installations are tested with our own radar gun and laser tester to insure reliability and accuracy.
The install of Escort sensors is basically the same. The real stealthiness is in the interior of this vehicle. For the minimalistic K40 display, you have to mount your front and rear indicator LED’s and under dash audible alert speaker. One of my husband John’s favorite places to hide these LED’s is inside the grills of dash speakers. When the LED’s light up, they reflect off the windshield, similar to that of a heads up display. It’s very cool looking. Here’s a picture of him mounting the LED’s inside the driver’s side dash speaker grill assembly.
K40 LED light install underneath dash speaker grill in SLS AMG
K40 also has their own GPS feature. You can mark your own known locations where you’re likely to get tagged. This is a great feature for things like known speed traps, speed cameras and red light cameras. K40 is definitely less sensitive, but this leads to less false alerts. I remember the 1st two months I had my system, I didn’t think the sensors were working properly because it NEVER went enough. Then one day it finally did, and it was accurate and surely saved me a ticket. So being less sensitive than Escort is not necessarily a bad thing, it leads to less false alerts. Less false alerts means when your detector/shifter finally goes off, you pay attention and respond promptly. A quick response and correction of your speed is the best way to avoid a ticket. With fewer false alerts, your response time is likely to be better with the K40 than with the Escort 9500ci.
The pro’s of the K40:
Very clean display installation, wireless remote to control the system i.e. minimal display
Less sensitive which means you should have less false alerts which means you’ll probably make a quicker correction when it does alert you
Can purchase and install systems a la carte which helps keep costs down
K40 will reimburse you if you get a speeding ticket!
Allows you to mark your own known locations for speed traps, red light cameras, speed cameras, etc.
The Con’s of the K40:
Less sensitive
Lacks GPS database built in for known locations of speed traps, speed cameras, red light cameras
Lacks technology built in to block out repetitive false alerts
As you can see, both systems have their own unique benefits. It’s really up to you as a consumer to decide what features are more important to you. Please remember, having one of these systems installed does not give you a license to speed. You still have to pay attention to your surroundings and have some common sense. Your radar detector and laser shifter can’t always save you from a ticket. If you are cruising along at 110 mph in a 65 mph speed zone, don’t expect your laser shifter to bail you out as you approach that state trooper with his laser gun. How quickly do you think you can respond to the alert and slow down? Probably not quick enough to avoid a ticket.
What’s your experience with the Escort 9500ci? K40? What system do you prefer? Thanks for reading and drive safely.
Looking for an easy OEM upgrade? Take a look at JL Audio’s all new Stealthmod.
JL Audio Stealthmod for Chevy Camaro includes a Stealthbox with two 10″ W1 Subwoofers
In my last JL Audio post, I briefly mentioned a new product from JL Audio, called the Stealthmod. For all you car audio enthusiasts out there that own a Kia Soul, Chevy Camaro Convertible or a BMW X5, read on. Don’t own one of these cars? That’s okay, keep reading, JL will be adding more models soon.
JL Audio is no stranger to OEM system upgrades. They’ve been offering easy OEM sound upgrades for over 15 years. Their first Stealthbox hit the market in 1996. 9 years later, JL Audio released the CleanSweep, a sophisticated DSP processor that eliminates frequency errors that occur in factory audio systems. This brings us to the newest integration breakthrough from JL Audio, the Stealthmod.
The Stealthmod is what lies between simply adding a Stealthbox to an OEM audio system and doing a complete overhaul with the CleanSweep. Currently the Stealthmod is available for the Chevy Camaro Convertible, Kia Soul and (very soon) the BMW X5. JL Audio has taken the guess work out of upgrading your stock system.
JL Audio Stealth Mod Camaro Convertible
After months of research and development, JL Audio is proud to offer a complete OEM upgrade kit that will include:
-Component speaker upgrades
-System amplifier with remote level control
-Wiring (power, speaker and signal)
-Brackets, adaptors and hardware
-Detailed installation and setup instructions
JL Audio has thought of everything with these kits. I was shocked at CES to see that these kits are shipped with every wire you need for the installation, pre-cut, down to the exact length of wire required for the application. They also include every nut, bolt, screw, fastener and bracket you will need. JL Audio has always offered excellent quality products at extremely reasonable prices and I think you will agree that these Stealthmods, like most JL Audio products, are a great value.
Prices and equipment will range from vehicle to vehicle. The Kia Soul Stealthmod includes a pair of C2-650x’s, the 3 channel XD 500/3 and a vehicle specific Stealthbox housing a 12″ W0. This system can be yours for $1449.95.
If you own a Chevy Camaro Convertble, your Stealthmod will include a pair of C3-650 convertible speakers, the 5 channel XD 700/5 and a custom Stealthbox enclosure housing two 10″ W1 subwoofers for only $2399.95.
For the BMW X5 drivers out there, your Stealthmod (with stock premium audio system) will include a set of C5 tweeters and passive crossovers, the 5 channel XD 700/5 and a Stealthbox housing a 10″ W3. The BMW X5 Stealthmod is offered for X5’s with the Harman Kardon Logic 7 system and will be sold for only $1899.95. JL Audio Black BMW X5 Stealthmod Subwoofer Upgrade – 94518/ Contains One 10W3v3-2 Subwoofer/ Five-Channel Amplifier To Power The Front Speaker System And Filter Its Frequency Ranges For Increased Performance/ Stealthbox Installs Beneath The Cargo Area Floor In The Passenger-Side Rear Corner Of The Spare Tire Well/ Offers Dramatic Improvements In Low-Frequency Extension And Quality/ Black Finish
Due to the nature of these all inclusive kits, the installation will take a fraction of the time that a traditional custom OEM audio upgrade would take. Without the need to plan and/or fabricate anything, the installation of these kits will be a breeze and thus cut down on installation costs as well.
Always thinking ahead, JL Audio is making great strides in OEM integration. For more information on your Stealthmod, along with specific application details, visit JL Audio’s website. Have you installed a JL Audio Stealthmod yet? If so, please tell us your experience.
During CES 2012, the Car Stereo Chick had a chance to visit the Alpine booth. Amazingly, Alpine has redesigned and revamped almost everything they offer in car audio. Check out the new Alpine products arriving in 2012.
New Alpine head units to be released in 2012
Typically, most brands will redesign and reveal a new line of head units each year and showcase the new models at CES. Often times the changes are minor over last years model. Sometimes they only upgrade or change a few models in their line up. Every 3 years or so, you usually see a speaker and amp redesign. This year, Alpine has made aggressive changes across the board in their car audio products. After a few years of dismal head unit offerings, including quirky and disappointing navigation systems, it’s good to see Alpine has taken this year as an opportunity to grow and excel. Remember the ever annoying adapter upon adapters that were necessary for adding basic features that other manufacturer offered built in? Thankfully, that is now a thing of the past. The only add on I found this year for Alpine head units was for adding SiriusXM. No longer is it necessary to add on a separate Bluetooth module or HD module, just pick the head unit with the features you want built in.
Alpine’s new CDE-134HD includes builtin HD Radio
Take a look at all the choices we have here for single din Alpine head units in 2012. Starting with the CDE-133BT at $159.95, you will get features like built in bluetooth handsfree and audio streaming along with being steering wheel remote ready. Next up would be the CDE-135BT at $189.95. The CDE-135BT will add additional features like Pandora control with iPhone, Blackberry and Android using their Bluetooth Plus technology. Bluetooth Plus eliminates the need for entering a pass code upon pairing. It also allows for control over Pandora when paired with devices like Android and Blackberry. For $10 more, the CDE-136BT will give you a little more flexibility with expansion as it includes 3 pre-outs. Both units have a front USB/Aux with an optional USB mass storage mode.
What about HD radio you ask? The CDE-HD137BT adds HD radio to the list of features for only $219.95. If you’re looking for a no frills HD radio, the CDE-134HD for only $179.95 will get the job done. For those that want all the features in a single din option, you’ll want to check out the CDE-HD138BT. The CDE-HD138BT includes Bluetooth Plus with Pandora control on iPhone, Android or Blackberry, built in HD Radio, three 4 volt preouts, and it’s SiriusXM ready.
Other offerings in the line up this year include a nice, easy to use, basic, double din head unit. The CDE-W235BT features large easy to use controls, front USB/Aux and built in bluetooth for only $199.95.
Speaking of double din, Alpine is proud to offer 4 different double din AV units in 2012 starting with the IVE-W530 at $449.95. The IVE-W530 has a 6.1″ touch screen, 3 band EQ, 3 preouts, rear USB port, built in Bluetooth, along with being steering wheel remote ready and including an optional app mode for iPhone.
Step it up to the IVE-W535 for $699.95 and you’ll add a 4 volt pre-amp section, HD Radio, Bluetooth Plus and you’ll have the option to add SiriusXM. With the app mode, you’ll have the option of accessing the navigation app from your iPhone. It’s unclear to me whether or not you’ll have control over the navigation from the screen using the app mode. The app mode cable feature will not be available until August 2012, even though the compatible double din A/V units are expected the ship in April or May 2012.
The technology to be able to control your phone from your screen is called Mirror Link. Currently, there aren’t even any phones on the market capable of Mirror Link. Alpine is testing prototype phones and Sony had their own prototype head unit on display with a prototype Mirror Link cell phone. When Mirror Link does make it to the market, it will completely change (once again) the way aftermarket car audio manufacturer’s design their head units. The only downside to this technology is you are still relying on your data plan, which may not be unlimited and you are still relying on your cell service. Drive through a dead zone and you’ll lose your navigation signal. For those looking for a more reliable navigation option, Alpine is offering the INE-S920HD.
The INE-S920HD will feature the same 6.1″ touch screen offered in their IVE-W530 and IVE-W535, but it includes an on board navigation system. Unlike Alpine’s previous navigation systems, the navigation screen on the INE-S920HD has a nice high resolution picture with recognizable graphics and large, easy to use icons. A clear favorite buttons allows users to customize their home screen with 8 different selections. Program your favorite source, favorite channel, favorite contacts, favorite addresses and easily access them with the touch of a button. A nice large volume knob adds to the ease of use on this Alpine navigation system.
As well as being SiriusXM ready, the INE-S920HD also includes HD Radio built in. For those looking for better control over their audio system, the INE-S920HD features a 9 band parametric EQ along with easy to program digital time alignment. Access the audio menu and simply select your cabin style, the number of speakers in your cabin, speaker size, speaker location and listener position. The Alpine double din navigation system will automatically customize, adjust and implement individual speaker delays to create a balanced and centered sound stage. With an expected release date of March 2012 and a sale price of only $999.95, I expect this to be one of Alpine’s best selling navigation systems of all times. I know that sounds drastic, but they really haven’t had a competitively priced, full featured, quality navigation system in well over 6 years.
Alpine’s INE-Z928HD features an over sized 8″ touch screen for $1499.95
Even more innovative than the INE-S920HD is the over sized 8″ navigation system, the INE-Z928HD. The INE-Z928HD does something that Kenwood and Pioneer haven’t even thought of. It provides a larger than double din, OEM style screen for the newer vehicles on the market that can accommodate larger than double din navigation systems.
Working with Scosche Industries, Alpine will be releasing specialized dash kits just for these over sized 8″ navigation systems along with true plug and play wiring harnesses that will make installation a breeze. For example, let’s say you have a new Chevy Tahoe, equipped with Onstar and steering controls, and you want to install the INE-Z928HD. Alpine will not only be offering the dash kit you need, they will also be offering an all inclusive wiring harness. This true plug and play wire harness will be pre-wired and will include a preprogrammed steering wheel control module as well as your Onstar retention module.
Prototype Double Din Dash made by Alpine and Scosche Industries for the INE-Z928HD on display at CES 2012.
Now that you’ve picked out the right AVN unit for your vehicle, which back up camera would you like to select? There have been many recent advancements in OEM back up cameras and it looks like Alpine has taken notice. This year they are offering a competitive aftermarket back up camera with moving object sensing technology. Take a peak at the HCE-C305R. With a 180 degree viewing angle, park assist lines, moving object detection and four optional view modes, this back up camera has the most features out of all the back up cameras Alpine has ever offered. With a retail price of $499.95, this back up camera is expected to ship in May 2012.
The HCE-C305R back up camera from Alpine detects and highlights moving objects on screen.
Moving right along, next up in the Alpine CES booth was the amplifier section. Last year Alpine came out with the new X power series amps which were a welcome addition to the limited choices of V Power or PDX series amplifiers. Boasting similar sound quality and the same Class D technology that is used in the PDX series, the X Power series amps provide consumers a more cost effective alternative to the PDX series without the fancy cosmetics. This years X Power amps have been given a power boost. Introducing the all new line of X Power amps from Alpine:
The MRX-V70 is the new X power 5 channel amp from Alpine featuring 60 watts x 4 at 4 ohms and 350 x 1 at 2 ohms. Retail price $399.95
Alpine is including a redesigned 5 channel amp within their X Power amplifier line up. The MRX-V70 will put out 60 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms and 350 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms for only $399.95. Not shown are the new 4 channels including the new MRX-F35 rated at 55 watts x 4 RMS at 4ohms for $299.95 and the more powerful MRX-F65 rated at 110 watts x 4 RMS at 4 ohms for $399.95.
The all new MRX-M55 puts out 550 watts RMS at 2 ohms. What if you need more power than that? Like enough power for the all new Alpine Type R subwoofer? Take a look at the MRX-M110 boasting 1100 watts RMS for only $399.95.
The new Alpine MRX-M110 will put out 1100 watts RMS at 2 ohms.
Maybe you need enough power for two of the new Alpine Type R subs. Like 2400 watts RMS.
Alpine’s monsterous new Class D X power amp featuring 2400 watts RMS for $699.95
Alpine has quite a few space saving solutions in their amp line up. One of my favorites is the KTP-445 which is an inline amp, specific to Alpine head units, which provide 45 watts X 4 RMS and is small enough to hide behind a dash,all for $129.95. Alpine has improved upon this model by offering a universal power pack with RCA connections and more tuning adjustments for only $150.
Alpine’s new KTP-445U is an efficient, space saving, 4 channel amp for only $149.95..
If you need a powerful 5 channel amp, but don’t want to sacrifice sound quality or space, Alpine’s all new PDX-V9 may be the right amp for you. The PDX-V9 will give you 100 watts x 4 RMS for your interior speakers and 500 watts RMS x 1 for your sub channel. An incredibly compact, clean sounding and efficient option for only $699.95. Compared to JL Audio’s HD 900/5 for $1199.95, the PDX-V9 is far easier on the wallet. Not only that, I personally believe the PDX line of amps from Alpine have superior sound quality over JL Audio’s HD series amplifiers.
Alpine’s new 5 channel PDX-V9 features 100 watts x 4 plus 500 watts x 1 RMS
One of the more drastic changes in the Alpine line up for 2012 is within their revamped subwoofer line up. For starters, the all new Type E, Type S and Type R were all designed to perform optimally in the same exact enclosure specifications. So whether you buy a Type E 12″, Type S 12″ or Type R 12″, they will all require the same enclosure size. Both the Type S and the Type R subs have almost doubled in power handling. The all new Type S is now rated at 500 watts RMS and the all new Type R is rated at an impressive 1000 watts RMS.
The all new Alpine Type R released in 2012 handles an impressive 1000 watts RMS.
Still relatively new in the line up is the flat Type R Alpine SWR-T12. The flat Type R subs are one of the best sounding flat line subs I have heard.
The one area of Alpine’s lineup that has not changed this year is their interior speaker line up. Aside from the price of the raw material neodymium skyrocketing and bringing the price of the Type X components up to $1000, there have not been any changes in their already recently redesigned interior speaker line up.
Overall, I was very impressed with the improvements and changes they’ve made with their 2012 line up. The one question I had for Alpine, and I couldn’t really get a straight answer on this, is why blue? I wish they would provide consumers a little more flexibility by providing a multicolor illumination feature like so many other manufacturer’s offer.
I hope you enjoyed this review on the hot new products Alpine will be releasing in 2012. What product do you see yourself purchasing this year from Alpine? What features would you like to see that were not included in Alpine’s 2012 line up? I’d love to get your feedback. If you enjoyed this article, please share it! Tweet it, like it, stumble it, whatever as long as you’re spreading the love. Thanks for reading.
During CES 2012, I had a chance to check out some of the great improvements and new additions JL Audio made to their car audio line up. Some of these additions include 10″ and 12″ W3 shallow mount subwoofers, a new line of Slash series amps as well as redesigns of their W1, W3 and W6 line of subwoofers.
JL Audio has always been a tried and true American car audio company. In fact, they’re the only car audio company I’m aware of that still manufacturers products in the USA. Their quality is reminiscent of the days of great American car audio. While other brands like Rockford, ADS, Orion, PPI, Phoenix Gold and others sold out and shipped manufacturing overseas, JL did what they could to stay as close to their values as possible, despite changing economies and market shifts. That’s why I have a W6 in my car; it’s the best sounding subwoofer I’ve heard and it’s part of the line of subwoofers JL Audio offers that are made in the USA.
JL’s 13TW5 was our first introduction to JL’s family of flat line subwoofers.
During 2008, while other companies were implementing layoffs and cutting costs, JL Audio was busy at work engineering new products and spending their time and money redesigning their future line of car audio equipment. When the market your business operates in changes and business drops as a result of that, you may see your competition struggling, cutting back costs or they may fail and bow out (unless you’re lucky enough to be a bank, insurance company or automobile manufacturer, instead of bowing out, you get bailed out). For the rest of us, that’s the best time to reinvest in your company and JL Audio knows this. They assumed the economy and market would turn around eventually, and that when it did, they were going to be years ahead of their competitors. Based on the record breaking attendance at CES 2012 (153,000 and still tallying), I’d say the economy is turning around and JL Audio is now poised to own their market.
JL Audio TW3, new shallow mount sub revealed at CES 2012
One of the revolutionary products JL Audio developed during that time, was their shallow mount subwoofer. We all know, or should know by now, the 13-TW5. JL Audio owns the patents on this fantastic subwoofer design Let me just say this. There are a lot of shallow subs on the market these days. Pioneer has one, Alpine has one, Kenwood has one too. I’ve tried those brands and I believe, this is, by far, the best sounding shallow mount subwoofer out of all of them.
JL Audio knows that space is an issue in all vehicles, probably more so than any other car audio company on the market. JL Audio introduced their line of space saving Stealth Boxes 15 years ago. Even back in 1997, these guys were well aware of space constraints in vehicle subwoofer applications. They were creating effective solutions way ahead of their competitors and they continue to do so to this day. By the way, have you seen their line of powersports audio equipment? Talk about an audio system in a tight space; try doing it in a Can-AM or a Polaris.
Magnet view of the new JL Audio Shallow mount W3
Expanding on their strength of creating high fidelity with substantial bass response in tight spaces, JL introduces two new shallow mount subwoofers within their W3 line up.
With a mounting depth of just 3.25″ for the 10″ TW3, only 3.5″ for the 12″ TW3, the TW3 lineup is poised for various tight space vehicle applications. Enclosure requirements are only .5 cubic feet for the 10″ and .75 cubic feet for the 12″.
Don’t let the shallow look fool you, unlike other manufacturer’s making shallow mount subwoofers simply by utilizing smaller magnets, these subs have a real magnet and some serious weight to them (about 18 lbs on the 13-TW5). Leave it to the resourceful engineers at JL Audio, using their patented concentric tube suspension design and floating cone attach method, they’ve been able to produce 3 different shallow mount subwoofers with excursion ratings exceeding that of their traditional W3.
Available in 10″ and 12″ with a dual 4 ohm voice coil and rated at 400 watts RMS, the TW3 shallow mount subwoofers will be reasonably priced at $299.95 for the 10″ and $349.95 for the 12″.
JL Audio’s newly designed W6 revealed at CES 2012
Other subwoofers that got a face lift include the W1 and the W6. The W6 had it’s last redesign in 2002. For a car audio subwoofer to go 10 years without a redesign is pretty unheard of, but the W6 is just that good. Did I mention I have one in my car? The newly redesigned W6 boasts a larger, more powerful motor system with the 12W6v3 motor system being 20% larger. Also improved is the linear excursion capability, 14% more than W6v2. More obvious improvements to the naked eye include an improved cooling circuit design (patented) and a more attractive satin black basket. I know, I know…..You’re thinking “Who actually looks at that anyways, it’s going to be in a box?”. Even so, you know it’s there and you know it’s cooler looking than your buddy’s classic 12W6V2.
We always knew JL Audio was great at manufacturing subwoofers that not only sounded good, but looked good. Perhaps you’re wondering what can we use to power these awesome new subwoofers? Especially for those tight space applications?
JL Audio’s new JX 500/1D shown with an iPhone for size reference
Check out the newly redesigned JX 500/1D. The new 500 watt RMS mono amplifier is 43% smaller over last year’s model. Moving away from the class A/B amplifier design, the new JX 500/1D utilizes the far more efficient Class D amplifier technology. Consistent with their line of space saving subwoofers, once again, JL Audio was able to pack a mighty punch in a tiny package. Measuring at only 2.09″ x 7.68″ x 7.83″, you will have no excuse as to why you can’t fit a subwoofer in your car.
Not digging the size? Maybe small just isn’t your thing. Don’t worry, JL Audio has revamped their classic Slash series amplifiers. The striking new look features an all-black finish that is a drastic change from their signature silver/titanium finished amps. The distinct appearance of the new Slash series amps is reflective of the fact that the Slash series ARE distinctively different from JL’s JX, XD and HD amplifiers. Underneath the attractive new cover you will find on-board signal processing that includes a parametric equalizer along with very adjustable and tweakable crossovers, making this amp an installer’s dream choice.
The new lineup of Slash series amps also includes the warm and sweet sounding, class A/B, four channel, the 300/4v3, rated at 75 x 4 RMS.
Look at the wide range of tuning adjustments on the new 300/4v3
With so many tuning options, make sure you read their detailed instruction manual. If you don’t know what the adjustments do, you can really screw up your sound, or worse, damage your speakers or the amp.
One of the features that makes the Slash series amps so versatile is their R.I.P.S. (Regulated Intelligent Power Supply) technology. The regulated intelligent power supply provides consistent power whether you have a 1.5 ohm load or a 4 ohm load, or anything in between. In addition to the regulated power supply, the Slash series amps are equipped with Advanced Rollback Thermal protection which helps to maintain consistent playback even in demanding conditions.
The JL Audio Slash 1000/1v2 mono amp received a makeover along with a 200 watt upgrade
In the monoblock models you will find the output has been increased 20% over the previous Slash series amplifiers. The 1200/1 v3 is replacing the classic 1000/1v2 mono amp from JL Audio, packing an extra 200 watts over it’s previous version. Following a similar upgrade is the 600/1v3, replacing the 500/1 v2 with an extra 100 watts RMS power.
But wait, there’s more! JL Audio is also releasing all new OEM upgrade packages. Looking for an upgrade over your stock audio system, but don’t feel like overhauling and tearing out everything? Introducing the Stealthmod. The Stealthmod is sort of a spinoff from their line of stealthboxes. JL is making it easier to do an upgrade one step above the basic amp and sub upgrade. Currently available for the Kia Soul, the Chevy Camaro Convertible and the BMW X5 (with premium audio), JL has designed packages that will not only include a stealthbox, an amplifier and speaker upgrade, these kits will include everything you need to install it all. And I mean EVERYTHING, including subwoofer control knob, all brackets, fasteners, adapters and every wire you will need pre-cut to the precise length you will need for your application. These systems are designed to make an OEM upgrade easy and highly effective. JL Audio will be expanding their list of vehicle applications for Stealthmods throughout 2012.
With so many innovative quality products to offer, it’s no wonder this company has stood the test of time. I look forward to sharing the new line up with my customers in 2012. I hope you enjoyed this preview of new products from JL Audio as much as I did. To find a JL Audio dealer near you, click here.
Yesterday I had a chance to meet with Harry from Pioneer at their booth during CES 2012. Here is the interview I did with him. I asked him tough questions about Pioneer’s questionable design/layout choices as well as gained some insight into what kind of consumer product testing Pioneer goes through before releasing a new model to the market. A big thanks goes out to my husband John, for his wonderful camera work. Thanks babe, I couldn’t have done it without you.
The all new Pioneer AVIC-X940BT with advanced App mode
Alpine’s new oversized double din navigation system
Alpine has unveiled a fantastic new line of head units at CES 2012. Probably the most eye catching and unique of these new products would be the INE-Z928HD. With an oversized 8″ touch screen, this Alpine navigation system is unlike any other aftermarket double din navigation systems. Alpine is supporting this new model by producing and distributing a line of installation kits that will accommodate this head unit in larger stereo dash openings. The image shown here is from a Chevy Tahoe utilizing one of Alpine’s new installation kits.
The other groundbreaking feature, which I did not see from Kenwood or Pioneer is not only does this baby interface with iPhone and Android for Pandora control, but also Blackberry. Users will be able to plug in their smart phone and access their channels on Pandora radio on screen as well as utilize the thumbs up/thumbs down feature and skip tracks. Alpine was the 1st company I’m aware of to interface with Pandora and it seems they have a little bit of an edge on other manufacturers by also offering this great feature for the Blackberry.
New Alpine INE-Z928HD on display at CES 2012
Alpine will also be offering a standard sized double din navigation system with the same technology. Other great features these new double din navigation systems will include are a 9 band EQ, 4 volt preout section and built in HD radio. I’m also happy to report that the quality of their navigation screen has vastly improved with more detail and clarity than was seen with the INA-W910BT. Expected release date on the INE-Z928HD will be May 2012 with an estimated retail price of $1499 and for your standard double din, the INE-Z920HD, expect to see those shipping in March 2012 with an estimated retail price of $999.
Besides innovative navigation systems, Alpine will be offering two other double din head units with app features in the $600 range and a full line of single din head units with some great features. I was pleased to see Alpine is finally offering a single din head unit that includes technology that most consumers want, without having to add additional modules. One to look out for will be the CDE-HD138BT.
New full featured Alpine single Din head unit unveiled at CES 2012
The CDE-HD138BT will feature Pandora control for iPhone, Android and Blackberry and will come with 3 4 volt preouts, built in crossovers, a USB mass storage mode for external hard drives, built in HD radio (yay no add ons), built in Bluetooth (one less component to install!) and has a steering wheel remote connection.
One thing I haven’t seen yet is multicolor illumination. Does Alpine think that everyone has blue interior dash lights? I guess we can’t always have it all. I’ll be visiting Alpine’s booth today to interview a product specialist, maybe I can gain some insight to their illumination color choice. Regardless of color, the 2012 line up from Alpine appears to be a vast improvement over their 2011 offerings. Check back soon for more details.
There are a few weaknesses and downsides to the dash mounted radar detectors. For one, they’re not very attractive sitting on your windshield with a curly cord hanging down and swinging about while you drive. You can easily buy a hard wire kit which will allow you hard wire the power for the unit for a cleaner look on your dash. The second problem with these units is mounting it on your windshield, for ideal performance, you want to mount your portable radar detector in the center of your windshield. Nearly every state has a law regarding windshield obstruction which prohibits mounting anything to your windshield that could obstruct your field of vision. How well this law is enforced varies from state to state. The biggest and most important weakness to note with the dash mounted radar and laser detection systems is the laser detection feature.
