The big car audio companies chose to sit this round out. Fortunately, there was still a lot of cool tech at the 2009 SEMA Show.
(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)With the absence of the major car audio OEMs at the 2009 SEMA Show, it would be easy to assume that car tech has taken a backseat to tuning and muscle. However, the more compact electronics section allowed smaller companies with truly innovative products to shine. We found ourselves spending more time learning about cool products like the PowerSafe jumper cable, instead of rushing from booth to booth looking at amplifier after amplifier.
For example, On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) interfaces were a major part of the tech scene at SEMA. From add-on modules for your GPS device to standalone OBD-II devices to Wi-Fi dongles that transform your iPhone into a handheld diagnostics station, there were dozens of different devices that allowed users to listen in on what their vehicle used to only share with a mechanic. These devices allow tuners to search for more power, greenies to eke more miles out of a gallon, and regular consumers to feel more confident when they take their cars in for maintenance.
Other cool technologies that picked up awards were rearview camera interfaces, off-road iPod cradles, and a funny little device that actually makes all of those cupholders useful.
Check out our gallery of award-winning new products at the 2009 SEMA Show for more details and pics.
Rolls-Royce cars now sport Lexicon sound systems.
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)I went to the New York International Auto Show to listen. Weird yes, but I'm the audio guy, and nowadays high-end cars all have high-end audio systems. These cars go for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and I was hoping to hear some decent sound. That didn't happen.
Naim's car audio system for Bentley didn't wow us.
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)The nice folks at the Bentley Motors display put me in a spectacular Flying Spur Speed ($252,000). The car has a 6-liter W-12 engine with twin turbochargers, 6-speed automatic transmission, and a claimed top speed of 200 mph. The interior was lavish beyond belief, with truly gorgeous wood and leather that puts your average Mercedes to shame. Rock stars and sports heroes know how to live!
The sound? I'm sure the engine sounds fabulous, but they wouldn't allow me the honor of blipping the throttle. Ah, there was a Naim audio system in the car, and I'm a fan of Nain's home gear, but the Bentley's sound system was nothing to get jazzed about.
The $6,900 Naim audio system sports 15 speakers, including dual subwoofers. Just don't kid yourself, it's not remotely on par with a credible home system. I thought the in-dash display was sort of tacky. Naim would never put such a thing in its home systems.
The Mini Cooper sound system was one of the best per dollar, that's for sure.
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)Next, Rolls-Royce cars, like this awesome Phantom Coupe pictured at the top of this blog ($437,000), now have Lexicon audio systems. Too bad I didn't get to hear it. (Maybe the Bentley guys told them about me, just kidding.)
The Mini Cooper people were a lot friendlier, so I checked out the sound in their 10 speaker MINI Hi-Fi Sound System. Considering it adds just $500 to the car's bottom line, it was pretty good.
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The Panamera
(Credit: Porsche)The Panamera is a different kind of Porsche.
It's a four-door sedan, a really fast sedan. The Panamera S at $89,800 comes with a 400hp 4.8-liter V8, capable of punching out 0-to-60 mph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 175 mph. Not quick enough for you? Move up to the Panamera Turbo, with a twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8, 0-to-60 mph in 4 seconds, and a top speed of 188. That bad boy will retail for $132,600.
So why is the Audiophiliac filling space with upcoming German super sedans? 'Cause they're going to have totally awesome ultra-high-end audio systems from Berlin manufacturer Burmester Audiosysteme. I love of the idea of matching super-performance luxury cars with bona-fide high-end audio systems. Hey, if Porsche buyers happily pay an extra $42,000 (!) to go a little faster, why not also spring for a sweet sound system?
For Panamera, Burmester crafted a 16 channel amplifier system that drives, you guessed it, 16 loudspeakers. The speaker system was designed specifically for the Panamera. In keeping with the Panamera's spirit as a true sports car, the sound system's weight was a key concern.
Specially developed software-supported menu functions allow for precise sound contouring for each individual seating position. They can also compensate for cabin and engine noise, and use proprietary sound algorithms developed exclusively for Porsche. Funny, the press release didn't mention an iPod dock, but I'm sure it's in there.
The Panamera is set to go on sale in the U.S. on October 17.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)
The Fusion CA-IP500 is the latest in a wave of mechanical-free iPod receivers that we've seen, but it's the only one we've seen that features an internal dock. Just open the faceplate, pop in your iPod, and you're off. It seems easy and we were intrigued by its simplicity.
However, upon closer study, we found that while the CA-IP500's internal dock eliminates the need for USB or dock connector cables, it creates a new problem of dealing with multiple iPod sizes and designs with bulky adapter sleeves.
Read the full Fusion CA-IP500 iPod receiver review.
(Credit:
Fusion Electronics)
Most aftermarket receivers with iPod capabilities include a USB or dock connector dongle, but they leave it to you to figure out where to stow your MP3 player while driving. Fusion Electronics thinks it has solved the problem with the announcement of an internal docking CA-IP500 iPod Receiver. Essentially, what Fusion has done is put an iPod-size slot behind the faceplate that will allow you to slide the digital audio player inside of the receiver.
Looking at the specifications on the company Web site and the images supplied, it looks like making room for the iPod slot meant sacrificing the CD player, which will be a turn off to some. For users with most of their music library ripped to MP3 format, the omission of optical media probably won't be a big deal. Fusion also makes no mention of whether the faceplate is motorized or not.
(Credit:
Fusion Electronics)
Once the iPod is safely stowed behind the OLED, songs will be chosen with a dual-function rotary knob/joystick meant to replicate the function of an iPod click-wheel. Fusion claims the navigation will be "effortless," but if there's one thing we've learned about receivers and iPods, it's that speed is king. Many great interfaces have been rendered almost useless by intolerable load times for song browsing.
FUSION's CA-IP500 is compatible with the iPod Classic (fifth-generation and sixth-generation), the iPod Touch, and the iPod Nano (second-generation and third-generation). Fusion didn't state how the unit would accommodate these iPods of varying size.
Victor and Kenwood said Monday that they plan to become one company by October 1 this year.
The two Japanese audio equipment makers will combine to form JVC Kenwood Holdings, which will be based in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Victor, a subsidiary of electronics giant Matsushita, is best known for its JVC brand. Under the agreement, Kenwood Chairman Haruho Kawahara will become the holding company's chairman, while Victor President Kunihiko Sato will become the new company's president.
It came in fits and starts, but the two have finally settled on a merger agreement. It was first discussed last year, and since then the two have agreed to develop future car and home audio systems together.
The new business will focus on car electronics, home electronics, and professional wireless systems, and will also explore new product segments. The two companies are combining in hopes of reducing costs and scaling their distribution in the already-crowded Japanese consumer electronics market. For the same reason, Victor said last month it would no longer make flat-panel TVs for the Japanese market.
The new Jag will pounce in 2008.
(Credit: Jaguar Cars LTD)Premium car audio systems from Bose and Mark Levinson are all too commonplace, so it's about time one of the world's leading high-end speaker manufacturers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) joined the fray with its all-new system for Jaguar's gorgeous XF sedan. At a joint press event last week in New York City Jaguar and Bowers & Wilkins showed an advance prototype of the 2008 XF model.
Unlike most car audio/auto manufacturer relationships where the audio supplier is forced to work with the "leftover" spaces to place its speakers and electronics, Bower & Wilkins engineers began their collaboration with Jaguar before the new car was conceived. The engineers were given free reign to place the system's fourteen speakers in acoustically optimized locations. The 7.1 channel array utilizes four metal dome tweeters, nine Kevlar mid/bass drivers, and one subwoofer.
The view from the inside of this right hand drive model.
(Credit: Jaguar Cars LTD)Furthermore, each tweeter, mid/bass driver and the sub is powered by its own amplifier (total power is spec-ed at 440 watts). The system employs digital signal processing to monitor the vehicle's interior ambient noise levels and adjust its sound quality to compensate for changing road conditions.
Unfortunately, the Jag did not have a working audio system, so I stood there ogling the interior, imagining the system's state of the art sonics. I also spent a little time fantasizing about how much all this beauty would cost, but the car and audio system's prices have yet to be determined, the debut is expected by the spring/summer of 2008.
Sony XDR-S3HD HD Radio
(Credit: Sony)Today, Sony announced two new HD radio products: one for the home and one for the car. Now, if you gave up on terrestrial radio ages ago--either for the iPod, Internet radio, and/or satellite radio--you're probably not all that concerned about new developments in that area. But for those who still enjoy AM/FM radio programming, HD Radio offers some compelling developments. Namely, it allows for a wider selection of channels via substations, and it provides better quality audio than standard AM/FM radio--"crystal-clear digital sound" by some accounts. We ain't talking CD-quality here, but even MP3-quality is better than traditional broadcast. For more information about HD Radio in general, visit HDRadio.com. On with the products.
First up is a tabletop radio, the XDR-S3HD, which offers a cherry wood finish, an onboard alarm clock, and a blue backlit LCD. The unit has dual speakers integrated and also features a simulated stereo surround function to help widen the sound. There are also separate bass and treble controls for fine-tuning sound to your liking, and the AM and FM bands offer 20 presets apiece. Additionally, Sony has included an auxiliary line input, which allows you to hook up an external audio device such as an MP3 player. This is a nice touch, adding to the functionality of the unit. The XDR-S3HD will cost about $200 and will ship with a wireless remote. Start looking for it in July.
Next, we have a digital tuner box for the car, the XT-100HD. This simple black box is a hideaway module that can connect to any Sony head unit that has come out in 2007. It's also compatible with select models dating as far back as 2005. The XT-100HD is capable of feeding HD Radio info, such as artist and song names, to the stereo's display. It may also port radio station names and genres (a la RDS) where available. This tuner will also be available in July and will sell for about $100.
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