Mobile Electronics News October 2012

BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR THE INDUSTRY EVENT OF THE YEAR SEE INSIDE

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

DRIVE TO DIGITAL Digital Radio UK’s Laurence Harrison on the future of in-car +The best DAB aerials revealed

PLUS! SEE PARKSAFE’S LATEST PRODUCTS ON page 41 ALSO INSIDE

Demo car

Trax report

JBL & Infinity BMW M3

Silverstone sound-off

Pioneer review AppRadio explained

Budget amps Low-cost upgrades

BOOK NOW! IN-CAR ELECTRONICS AWARDS • NOVEMBER 7th • GRAND CONNAUGHT ROOMS, LONDON

w w w. m o b i l e e l e c t ro n i c s n e w s. e u

OCTOBER 2012

2 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

\\\ CONTENTS \\\ ED SPEAK

CONTENTS 10/12

EDITOR’S COMMENT Summer lovin’

Industry news

T

here’s a change in the air, or maybe there isn’t depending on where you’re based. I’m talking about the weather, and usually it’s about now that retailers will look back at the summer – traditionally the high point of the year sales-wise – and determine whether it was good or bad, with the weather often a crucial factor. If it’s sunny, the thought is that people will want to get out in their cars and look to upgrade their sound systems or gadgets, and if it’s bad… well, you get the idea.

Admittedly, this summer hasn’t been the greatest in this regard, so perhaps there are a few people feeling the pinch.

There will be plenty that did well, though, but whatever the outcome it’s no use thinking that was your one time of the year to do your absolute best, and there is still plenty on the way to give you a lift if you feel that one is needed.

For example, the MEN ICE Awards are in November, and hopefully you’ve all been online to cast your votes. But what a great sales incentive it is if you can advertise in your store an award-winning product, with a bona fide seal of approval – something you can only do from that month onwards. See page 44 for more details on how to make that happen.

Or how about the Drive 2 Digital Conference a few days before, organised by Digital Radio UK? It might be just what you need to get you thinking about all the great things surrounding digital radio – which you can then pass on to customers. Our product and install guides should also give you ideas, with lots of info on entrylevel amplifiers (p26), and camera and display kits (p40).

So maybe there is a change, and it’s about not trying to pin everything on the summer. There are plenty of reasons and incentives to generate good business in the coming months, and hopefully you can find a few in these very pages. Enjoy the issue!

Chris Anderson Managing Editor, chris@chrisandersonmedia.com

JAGUAR EXHIBITION HALL, RICOH ARENA

6

Big announcements, plus movers and shakers

Digital radio news

8

The latest developments from the world of digital radio

Meet the dealers

Waz at Audioconcepts in Cardiff tells us about his open day and more

Q&A

12

Got a business or install query?

Write to us and maybe our experts can help

Harman M3

14

We check out Car Audio & Security’s BMW M3, loaded with Infinity and JBL

IFA report

16

All the new products unveiled at the IFA Berlin show

Trax 2012

18

The last major car show of the summer – here’s what happened

Opinion

22

Andy Mills says it’s important to stay in the loop

Budget amps

26

A round-up of what is currently on offer from the entry level

Product review

32

DAB aerials

34

Adam Rayner is very impressed with Pioneer’s latest AppRadio unit Which aerial for digital radio is best?

Industry interview 38 We catch up with Digital Radio UK’s Laurence Harrison

Cameras & displays 40 So how profitable is this sector of the market?

Business focus

44

An industry awards is more than just a night out, and important for your business

Product news

48

The latest aftermarket kit, including EISA Award winners, navigation and speakers

Installer guide

52

Your complete guide to upgrading a Ford Focus

THE MEN TEAM

MEN directory

Contact all the team on: Tel: 01268 754897 Fax: 01268 754429 Charlotte Body PUBLISHER Tel: 01268 754897/07903 944666 charlotte@creativemedialtd.co.uk

Peter Johnson ART DIRECTOR Tel: 01268 754897 peter.johnson@creativemedialtd.co.uk

Chris Anderson MANAGING EDITOR Tel: 07553 564998 email: chris@chrisandersonmedia.com

Emma Bridges Production/Events Tel: 01268 754897 emma.bridges@creativemedialtd.co.uk

Loraine Winter SENIOR DESIGNER & CONCEPT DESIGN Tel: 01268 754897 loraine@creativemedialtd.co.uk

32

10

10

Kevin Hogg PUBLICATION MANAGER Tel: 01268 754897/07538 332171 kevin.hogg@creativemedialtd.co.uk

14

54

Numbers and websites for manufacturers and suppliers

Contributors: Adam Rayner: adam@talkaudio.net Martyn Williams: edunit@edunit.plus.com Andy Mills (Millsy): millsy-max@hotmail.com Creative Media Ltd. 318c High Road, Benfleet, Essex SS7 5HB. www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

If Creative Media publish any supplied text or photographs by way of contribution to the magazine, you automatically and hereby grant Creative Media a perpetual, royalty-free, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and licence to use, reproduce modify, publish, translate, create derivative works from and distribute such text or photography into any from, medium or technology now known or hereafter developed. In addition, as between you and Creative Media, you assert and waive any and all moral rights in such text or photography. The views and opinions expressed by any contributors (including advertisers) to the magazine are not necessarily those of the magazine and should not be taken as such.

18

48 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 3

VIA 130 UK  4.3" touchscreen  UK / IRE maps  Voice command / control  Bluetooth  IQ Routes

£93.15 QFC : 9995

VIA 130 EU

 4.3" EU mapping  Voice command / control  Bluetooth

QFC : 9996

£107.49

START CDX GT260 CLASSIC

 3.5" touchscreen  Western EU maps  IQ routes

WE

QFC : 9721

£59.99

XL IQ Routes Edition

2

 4.3" touchscreen  UK & IRE maps  IQ routes

VIA 135 UK

EU

UK

QFC : 8133

£69.99

 5" UK mapping  Voice command / control  Bluetooth

XL CLASSIC

4.3" touchscreen  Western EU maps  IQ routes

QFC : 9997

£107.49

WE

QFC : 9989

£74.99

START 20 UK

 4.3" touchscreen  UK & IRE maps  Integrated mount

CEL TRADE 4 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

GO 820 UK

T: 0116 2449846 E: sales@celtrade.com

 4.3" UK / IRE maps  HD Traffic / Live Services  Bluetooth

XXL CLASSIC

 5" touchscreen  Western EU maps  IQ routes

QFC : 9499

£115.99

WE

QFC : 9844

£84.99

START 25 UK

QFC : 9318

£75.02

 5” touchscreen  IQ routes  Integrated mount

QFC : 9394

£90.02

*FREE Lifetime Maps via a customer online redemption at www.tomtom.com/map-promotion From 28th September to 24th December 2012 Terms & Conditions apply

EU

GO1005 V.2 EU  5" fluid touchscreen  EU mapping  HD Traffic / Live Services  Voice command / control  Bluetooth

£261.98 QFC : 9831

GO 820 EU

 4.3" EU mapping  HD Traffic / Live Services  Bluetooth

GO 825 EU

EU

QFC : 9498

£119.99

CDX GT260 START 20 EU

EU

QFC : 9317

 4.3" touchscreen  EU maps  Integrated mount

£90.02

PRO7100 TRUCK CDX GT260

EU

 5" EU mapping  HD Traffic / Live Services  Bluetooth  Voice ctrl.

CDX GT260 START 25 EU

 5” touchscreen  IQ routes  Integrated mount

& GO CAMPER CARAVAN

EU

QFC : 9320

£157.15

EU

 5" fluid touchscreen  EU maps  IQ routes  Over 20,000 camper POIs  Vehicle specific routing

QFC : 10188

£279.99

CDX GT260 START 60 EU

QFC : 9319

£96.99

EU

 6" touchscreen  EU maps  IQ routes

EU

£109.99

Hands-free Car Kit for Smartphones Nokia, Samsung, HTC, Blackberry, etc... (Not iPhone)

 4.3" touchscreen  Truck specific routing  Avoid access restrictions  Fleet management

QFC : 9024

£244.40

 Bluetooth hands-free calling  Repositional microphone  2 watt speaker  Answer & reject calls even when phone out of holder  Dual phone connections  Dual mounting  Fast charging on the move

CEL TRADE £54.50

QFC : 10404

T: 0116 2449846 E: sales@celtrade.com www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 5

NEWS /// INDUSTRY ///

DRUK sponsors ICE Awards Digital Radio UK gets ready for the November 7 event November looks set to be a very busy month for Digital Radio UK (DRUK). Not only will it be hosting its Drive 2 Digitial Conference for everbody in the industry on Monday, November 5, but just two days later it will be attending the MEN ICE Awards as headline sponsor.

The awards mark the most prestigious night of the mobile electronics industry calendar, and this year take place at a new London venue, the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden.

The awards will be presented during a threecourse dinner, with evening entertainment from a Rat Pack tribute act and DJ. All of the awards categories have been voted for online during the past few weeks, with winners announced on the night. Also sponsoring this year are Scorpion Automotive, MESF and the FCS.

Digital Radio UK is pleased to have a presence at the event. Laurence Harrison, DRUK’s technology and market development director, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the ICE Awards this year. For us, it’s about making sure that all the people involved in those awards are aware of who we are, and of the opportunity that digital radio represents. We’ve had a presence at the last two MEN Expos, and we found them incredibly useful. The Expo is one of the best places to meet and build your network with the installation aftermarket, and because of that we felt it was important, given our role, to be supporting the preeminent industry awards.”

To book tickets to the event, call 01268 754897.

For more on DRUK, see page 38

MEN

CELSUS

Talking about Kevin

Collect ICE Points

This month, MEN welcomes Kevin Hogg as its new publication manager, handling much of the commercial side of the magazine, and will no doubt be giving you a call very soon – if he hasn’t already – to introduce himself. Having worked in publishing for many years, Kevin gained much experience in electronic design and component media before switching to a role as a roving PR man in the world of travel. Now back home in Essex, he is particularly looking forward to the challenge of doing what he knows best in such an interesting and dynamic industry.

Look out for him at the MEN Awards!

For more info on advertising in MEN, call Kevin on 07538 332171 or at the office on 01268 754897.

UK distributor and supplier of car audio accessories Celsus has launched a new web-based loyalty scheme for its dealers, called ICE Points. These are awarded when a purchase of a Celsus product is made, and can then be redeemed later on against other items from the brand. There will be special promotions too, where customers can qualify for bonus points. “At Celsus, we believe that we are a value-added supplier,” says managing director Paul Baker. “The introduction of this loyalty programme highlights our commitment to our valued customer network.

If you support us, we support you, and assist you in growing your business.”

Email icepoints@celsusice.co.uk for info.

Celsus 01202 664390, www.celsusice.co.uk

TELL US YOUR NEWS!

If you have company developments, news or thoughts to tell the trade, why not let us know? Email information and hi-res images (300dpi) to chris@chrisandersonmedia.com

6 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

FOUR MASTERS

Driving Sounds West Midlands-based car audio distributor Four has launched its own magazine, called Driving Sounds. The second issue is now available, promoted as an independentlyproduced publication, containing real-life stories from installers and customers. There is also intended to be an educational slant to the magazine, with readers able to follow the simple explanations and develop their understanding of what makes a good sound. A supporting website, www.drivingsounds.co.uk, has been launched, with one copy available free by signing up to Four’s Driving Sounds Club, or purchase from any Four Master outlet or www.fourmasterscaraudio.co.uk for £3.

Four Masters 0800 652 5125, www.fourcars.co.uk

MORE NEWS!

Our new product news setion is on p48. But don’t just skip to the back, there’s lots more in-between!

RECRUITMENT PARROT

Smart phone, stupid driver The master of all things Bluetooth, Parrot, has launched a UK-wide advertising campaign called ‘smart phone, stupid driver’. The idea has been spurred on by the statistics released by roadside assistance firm the AA, which show that more than 170,000 drivers per year in England and Wales are still caught using their mobile phone while driving. This currently attracts a CU80 penalty, consisting of a £60 fine and three penalty points – but it may not end there, with insurers also taking a dim few of those who continue to use their phones. So Parrot’s message is clear – don’t do it, and get a handsfree kit installed instead.

Something you should be telling your customers also.

Parrot UK 0844 472 2360, www.parrot.com

MESF

MESF’s new study guide

The Mobile Electronics & Security Federation (MESF) has just released an updated version of its Basic Installation Study Guide. It will now include additional information to help its members pass the IMI Automotive Technician Accreditation (Radio Installation Technician) knowledge test, in preparation for the upcoming digital radio switchover. A switchover date is expected to be announced next year, and is probably still a few years away, so this will give MESF members an advantage. The updated guide will be sent out to all new registrants and MESF members during October at no extra cost. A separate advanced MESF Radio Receiver Installation Study Guide course and qualification will be made available at a later date.

MESF 01376 561040, www.mesf.org.uk

Hyde Park Corner the Uk’s leading mobile installation company are currently recruiting experienced In-car mobile engineers Successful Engineers will require a minimum of 3 years previous experience working within vehicle installations and have good customer services skills. You will be working with all types of motor vehicles and installing various types of electrical accessories including: car kits, parking sensors, tracking devices, telematic products, etc.

You will be required to carry out installations on a mobile basis at arranged time slots, install the products and complete all relevant electronic paperwork.

An excellent package awaits the successful candidate including company vehicle, uniform, company phone, basic salary & commission.

Currently recruting all over the UK including the following areas: London (north & south) • Birmingham • Leicester • Peterborough • Kent Please send a CV in the first instance to: jobs@hydeparkcorner.net Hyde Park Corner, 61-63 Dowson Road, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 1QS • Tel: 0161 368 6999

installation engineer reQUireD Dynamic Sounds based in South West London are currently looking for a experienced installation engineer to join our rapidly expanding team.

Candidates must have significant experience in In-car Entertainment systems, Alarms, Trackers, Parking Sensors, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.

Majority of the Installations are in Prestige Vehicles.

Fitting experience, Excellent Customer Service and a Proven sales ability are essential.

AUTOSOUND

Double decker installs

Lee Fergus at Autosound dropped us an email this month to tell us about a rather large and unusual installation that his company has undertaken.

Autosound is the UK agent for Blaupunkt and also Funtoro Media on Demand (MOD) systems – which is what he ended up fitting to three 68-seat double decker coaches! Now passengers can enjoy their own individual selection of TV and films, or simply follow the route, via the touch-sensitive screens, in the same way as with an airline’s in-flight entertainment. Nice work if you can get it, but just thinking of all that wiring gives us a headache.

Autosound 01274 685411, www.autosound.co.uk

Excellent salary awaits suitable candidate with salary according to age and experience.

Please send CV’s to sales@dynamicsounds.co.uk

DYNAMIC SOUNDS, UNIT 6, 118 GARRATT LANE, LONDON SW18 4DJ. www.dynamicsounds.co.uk

NEWS /// DRIVE TO DIGITAL ///

DIARY /// October Thu 18 FCS Comms Provider 12 Eversheds, London Brings together stakeholders in the competitive telecoms sector, giving providers the chance to hear from senior figures and decision-makers shaping the industry. www.fcs.org.uk Fri 30-Sun, Nov 2 SEMA Show 2012 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas This industry-only event showcases all kinds of automotive products, including audio and accessories. Over 60,000 domestic and international buyers visited last year. www.semashow.com

November Mon 5 Drive 2 Digital Conference BBC Broadcasting House,

Regent Street, London Digital Radio UK gives an all-day update to dealers and installers from around the country, with guest speakers, plus product and content workshops.

Email sam.bonham@ digitalradiouk.com Wed 7 ICE Awards The Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, 7pm Book your table for the most prestigious night of the year in the mobile electronics industry. Who will be this year’s winners?

More info on 01268 754897, www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu Fri 30-Sun, Dec 2 Gadget Show Live Christmas Excel London Packed with glorious gadget gift ideas, games and toys perfect for anybody’s Christmas list. www.gadgetshowlive.net

Digital Radio UK’s Sam Bonham tunes us in to the latest developments

BBC Broadcasting House is the chosen venue (below)

Conference UPDATE

M

ore speakers have been confirmed for this year’s Drive 2 Digital Conference, to be held on Monday, November 5 at the BBC Broadcasting House in London. The event is free to attend, providing car audio dealers and installers more information about digital radio communications, content, Maria Miller and Paul coverage and product development.

Ellis of Source Sounds The followingspeakers are now confirmed: Maria Miller MP, secretary of state, culture, media & sport; Annika Nyberg, director of media, European Broadcasting Union; Sarah Sillars, executive chair, the Institute of the Motor Industry; Clive Dickens, COO, Absolute Radio; Roger Darlington, chairman, Consumer Expert Group. This is in addition to the speakers previously announced: Anthony Ireson, marketing director at Ford of Britain; Tim Davie, director of audio and music, BBC; Ford Ennais, CEO, Digital Radio UK; Paul Everitt, CEO, SMMT; Nick Higham, BBC news correspondent and conference chairman.

Also, representing the independent in-vehicle sector, Paul Ellis from Source Sounds will be speaking at the conference about his experience converting vehicles in the aftermarket and his views on the future of digital radio. Organised by Digital Radio UK in partnership with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), attendance is free by invitation. If you would like to attend, please email drive2digital@digitalradiouk.com.

New webpage for retailers Don’t forget about Digital Radio UK’s consumer-facing webpage, to be launched shortly, that will direct users to their nearest retail stores selling and fitting digital radio for cars. Consumers will be able to enter their postcode and be provided with links and addresses for their three closest digital radio retailers for automotive.

The page will launch at the Drive 2 Digital Conference in November. To be featured, a quick email to Digital Radio UK is all that is required. Simply state your company name, full address including postcode, phone number, website, and whether or not you install digital radio. This should help drive consumers to stores and is an equitable way of listing all in-vehicle digital radio installers and retailers. Email sam.bonham@digitalradiouk.com with the above information.

For all enquiries regarding the above, please contact sam.bonham@digitalradiouk.com

MORE DIGITAL RADIO! For more DRUK see pages p34 & 38

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 9

MEET THE DEALERS /// AUDIOCONCEPTS ///

TALKING CONCEPTS

Waz (left) takes a well earned break after his open day

We catch up with Waz at the Cardiff-based Audioconcepts to talk supplementing your business and hosting open days How would you sum up business over the past couple of months?

That’s a crazy one to answer. There seems to be no pattern from week to week, and we can be really busy at some points, then it slows down and eventually picks back up. Even though we have had bad weather this year, we have still been pretty busy overall, and a lot of kit has gone through our doors

Which products are you selling a lot of at the moment?

We seem to be selling a lot of rear AV and double DIN navigation units, plus reversing camera solutions. We concentrate more on this end of the market, due to the install skills required, and high end equipment is still preferred to be bought from a local dealer than the internet. We tend not to do the entry level stuff due to the internet killing that end of the market, so if there’s no profit, why sell it?

how has your business expanded?

We have adapted our shop from being the norm, and now have vehicle wrapping and a custom paint shop added, with a trimmer and a tune-up guy, so now we are a true one-stop shop with our original skills of installing. This has helped us in a big way, 1) to keep up with trends and keep market share, and 2) we now have clients that wouldn’t have popped in – just the other week we did a refurb on some wheels, which ended up in an audio sale and then a wrap, all from one customer.

How are you promoting the store?

We are getting involved with the council, local communities and nightclubs, and anyone in the know. You can’t rely on manufacturers with advertising companies anymore, and there is so much social networking available, so we try to take advantage of that, hence our open day, which the police were happy to help out with, and we showcased some local talent with a lot

of our customers’ cars. This gets people excited and usually leads to, “I want a bit of that!”

What is the key to success in the current environment?

Success is very hard when there is a lot of doom and gloom on the news, so we try to stay positive and sell a dream, and when the customers buy, that’s when we believe we have helped to cure some of the doom.

Have you got anything special planned to give business a boost?

We are always active and keep up with trends, here, in Europe and the States. It’s all about working together to get further, and we have made very good contacts with local businesses – they promote us and we promote them, and we find this works for us.

Get featured!

If you would like to give an update on your business, drop an email to chris@chrisandersonmedia.com

l TEL 01386 554210 l FAX 01386 552461 l sales@sailesmarketing.com l www.sailesmarketing.com

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www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 11

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EXPERT HELP /// Q&A ///

& A Q

Got a problem?

For any technical, product or business queries, drop us a line.

Our panel of experts will offer their advice, based on years in the industry. Email chris@chrisandersonmedia.com Crossing over

Easy access

I need help with a passive crossover, and remember buying a car audio magazine years ago that had a table of values in it, but I can’t find it. I want to build a 50Hz crossover for a sub with about 150W power handling.

Jay

I’m in the process of designing a subwoofer enclousure that is a bandpass design. I want to be able to get into the enclosure when it’s finished, just in case the customer blows one of the drivers and it needs replacing.

What is the best way of securing the access panel to maintain an airtight seal and yet have easy access?

Paul

Normally, 50Hz is quite a low frequency to use with a subwoofer, but presumably the driver that you’re using has a very low frequency response in the enclosure you have mounted it in. For a simple low-pass filter using a single coil in series with the speaker (presumably 4 ohms) this means that you run connections from the positive output of the amplifier to one side of the coil and then from the other side of the coil to the positive connection of the woofer. The negative output of the amplifier goes straight to the negative of the woofer.

For 50Hz the value of the coil should be the nearest preferred value of 12.73 mHy. If you want to create a matching high-pass filter for the other speakers in the system you would need to install 800 microfarad bipolar capacitors, in the same way as we said for the coils in the low-pass element. Always make sure that you buy audio grade components and that they are rated sufficiently for the power they will have to handle.

This is the simplest form of passive crossover, but unlike active crossovers there is no way of just twiddling a couple of knobs to make adjustments and get the sound how you want. For what it’s going to cost you for the components we would recommend going for an amplifier that already has the crossover you need built in. You could even think about upgrading the head unit to a device that has a built-in sub crossover. Passive crossovers are better used for dividing the signal between mids and tweeters, and leaving the bass region to an active device.

When we’ve built bandpass enclosures in the past we’ve left one end of the enclosure open.

Then we formed a frame using 50x25mm timber around the inside of the edge, but leaving it recessed by 2mm to allow for some good quality sealing strip. You should screw and glue this frame to the MDF, but you can always reinforce the joint with some fibreglass matt and resin on the inside face.

Now to secure the end panel to the frame.

Clamp it in place, or drill and use a couple of contemporary screws and drill through to take some M6 countersink bolts from the front.

These should be placed about 75-100mm apart around the edge of the panel.

Obviously, when you’re fixing the panel in place you won’t be able to get to the inside to stop the nuts from turning. To sort this problem out you’ll need to get hold of some captive-type M6 Tee nuts. These are readily available from hardware shops or even mail order via Screwfix.com.

Remove the panel and then re-drill the holes in the frame to take the Tee nuts, and stick the foam sealing strip to the wooden frame. Then countersink the holes in the end panel and secure using the M6 bolts. You can use an Allen key here, which is ideal, so that you can get the bolts nice and tight without damaging the head.

It is important with bandpass enclosures to get a really good seal, as there can be very high air pressures in the chambers.

Reacts to your voice

NEW now: Unlimited music enjoyment – thanks to the direct playback of music1 and an integrated 30 Watt digital amplifier Battery charging function for your mobile phone – guarantees unlimited talk time in your car

CC 9060 Plus = CC 9068 Voice-controlled Bluetooth® hands-free device with Touchscreen and battery charge function for your mobile phone DialogPlus voice control – extremely accurate, rapid reaction word recognition without voice training and with visual and acoustic user support Multipoint function – connect two mobile phones with the system simultaneously Text-to-speech2 – reads out text messages, Blackberry e-mails and phone book entries aloud Voice Dialling Magic word – activation of the voice control with a single voice command

Works out of the box The scope of the functions may vary according to Smartphone / mobile phone, network provider and software version.

1 2

www.bury.com/uk

DEMO CAR /// HARMAN M3 ///

Car Audio & Security’s BMW M3 is the perfect showcase for Infinity and JBL products, as Martyn Williams discovers

T

Equipment list l JBL MS-8 MS-series digital processor (8 x 30W peak power @ 2 ohms) l I nfinity Kappa Four amplifier rated at 4 x 125W RMS l I nfinity Kappa One mono amplifier rated at 800W RMS l I nfinity Kappa 120.9w SSI 12 inch DVC subwoofer, rated at 1400W peak

14 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

he Car Audio & Security (CAS) M3 has been around for a while now, but never fails to draw a crowd. CAS is the main distributor of Harman products – JBL and Infinity – and the car is an excellent shop window for consumers and dealers alike.

The M3 is running a standard Professional System with iDrive, with a JBL MS-8 processor installed to improve the sound of the OE audio. The MS-8 has too many DSP tricks to mention here, but suffice to say that it sums and conditions the input signal using Harman’s clever Logic 7 processing and acoustic equalisation. It’s a fully self-contained unit, which has the option of external amplification and offers the flexibility of on-board digital amplifier power at 8 x 30W peak into 2 ohms, plus eight pre-outs.

The demo car sends the signal from the processor into two Infinity Kappa amplifiers. An Infinity Kappa Four drives the front speakers, and an Infinity Kappa One powers a 12 inch Infinity Kappa subwoofer in the boot.

The full-range speakers are original equipment. These were retained to

demonstrate the power of the processor to ‘tune out’ any acoustic anomalies and limit comb filtering – the acoustic meshing of the two channels in a way that decreases intelligibility. The result is a much cleaner sound not thought possible from standard line-fit speakers.

The MS-8 processor will work with up to eight speaker outputs from an OE system (max 15V).

It doesn’t have a speaker-sensing turn-on, but the remote activation can be linked to an accessory supply or a current-sensing circuit.

It also has phono inputs to use with aftermarket head units.

Setting up is easy and features a microphone fixed to a headphone to ensure accurate speakerto-ear measurements. Stereo focus, when properly set up, is awesome.

4

A clean and non-flashy install for wooing customers with expensive cars looking to keep their boot space.

The sub detail (below)

1

THE DETAILS

Rino Rosato of CAS

Nearly everyone who’s serious about listening to the system in the car ends up buying the processor, which is not bad considering it retails at £599. JBL spent a lot of time developing it, which is why it is such a brilliant product Parm Panesar is the main man at CAS when it comes to demo cars, and when asked about the usefulness of the M3 as a sales tool said: “Nearly everyone who’s serious about listening to the system in the car ends up buying the processor, which is not bad considering it retails at £599 – sales have certainly exceeded our expectations. JBL spent a lot of time developing it, and it would have been disappointing had it not been a brilliant product. One of its advantages is that it’s easy to set up, all you need to do is put on

1 The LCD voltmeter provides an interesting focal point, sitting between the amps. 2 Rotiform forged three-piece wheels are expensive, but make the car stand out from the crowd. 3 The standard speakers come alive with a little help from JBL’s ingenius acoustic processing.

4 The famous JBL MS-8 processor has built-in eight-channel amplification for customers not looking for streetbroadcast sound.

5 The 12 inch Kappa subwoofer fires through the ski hatch in the back seat.

3

the headphones once the system is up and running and the calibration is no problem – the headphones have a microphone fitted and it tells the user to move their head about as instructed, and it makes acoustic readings that are fully compensated by the presence of the listener. It is the quickest set-up procedure I have ever seen.”

When asked how CAS goes about selling the idea of a processor to a customer, Parm said: “If you have a customer coming in with an expensive car, they tend not to want to change the stereo, but they still want it to sound better, and this is what the JBL MS-8 processor can do for them, with no visible changes to the original equipment and its function. It’s probably the best interface out there in our view – it irons out so many all too obvious deficiencies in a typical factory sound system. But best of all, the reliability has been fantastic.”

2

5

Contact: Car Audio & Security TEL: 0208 569 1543 www.caraudiosecurity.com

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 15

EVENT /// IFA BERLIN 2012 ///

Best in show

Graham Baskerville reports from the IFA Berlin technology show, held at the beginning of September, and reveals what is new for in-car

T

wo years ago, a visit to IFA Berlin revealed very little about digital radio, but a lot about navigation and iPhone apps. But a trip to the mammoth display halls at the Messe Berlin last month revealed that they are still prominent on the Garmin stand (who bought Navigon in the interim), and apps have now become the next must-have item for all multimedia units. Quite how you can load apps from your iOS/Android device needs working on, but it probably won’t be too long before the head unit in the dash of the car suitably replicates most of the functionality of an iPhone or Samsung handset.

But back to digital radio and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), or more correctly DAB+ in Europe. Digital radios in the UK use the DAB standard from the late ’80s, whereas DAB+ is its next stage and offers just that little bit more, but that’s a debate for another time – flip to p38 to join in.

Also launched Samsung Galaxy camera It looks like a smartphone that someone has sat on when they also had their compact camera in their pocket – in a way, that’s what it is. That’s a Google Android smartphone, with a 4.8 inch touchscreen display, and a 16MP camera with 21x zoom on the other side.

Download apps for photo editing, and off you go. www.samsung.com

Sony Xperia Tablet S Sony’s latest tablet comes with a 9.4 inch touchscreen and a choice of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB varieties. It also has a built-in infra-red transmitter, so it can be used as a universal remote control device, and it’s PlayStation certified, making it great for gaming. www.sonymobile. com

Garmin app updates

New DAB head units JVC had two single DIN units and one double DIN version with iPhone/iPod connectivity to show at the event. A multimedia unit will follow next year according to those we chatted to. Kenwood had one single DIN

16 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Garmin announced plans to roll out updates to its iOS and Android smartphone apps that will factor in public transport routes for when the user heads out on foot. It’s not a free update, though, although it will be available at a reduced price for a limited time. Everything from buses to water taxi routes could be yours. www.garmin.com

unit, a full multimedia product with navigation (improved graphics are noticeable) and the unique Volkswagen unit (available from local VW dealers) that brings DAB to the mainstream.

Blaupunkt, who were one of the original companies to champion the virtues of DAB back in the ’90s, were not displaying any compatible units. We asked and were advised that models were not expected until 2013.

But Pioneer surprised with a display of three new DABcompatible head units. The current single DIN unit is joined by a more upmarket version with iPhone connectivity, but the big news here is the double DIN multimedia unit with navigation and app mode.

Head-up displays JVC-Kenwood also had their next-generation HUD (Head Up Display) for cars on show.

Incorporating a high-performance projector, it features LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) technology, which displays a high-definition image that appears to float in front of the car’s windshield. Pioneer also offered a similar system, fitted into its own demo vehicle.

More DAB options Worth noting was a new DAB module from Frontier Silicon. Its DAB 5.0 module delivers a very comprehensive list of features without the need of Wi-Fi and colour displays. The item uses iPhones and Android smartphones, and tablets, to wirelessly control the digital radio, browse stations by name and enjoy programmerelevant information from the broadcaster, such as text or full-colour images. Wireless Bluetooth connectivity ensures that smart device integration is less dependent on platform, operating system or physical connector type.

Currently 53% of new cars have digital radio as an option; with 21% of them featuring DAB off the production line. An estimated 16 million vehicles out there will need upgrading to receive DAB, which is now so much better than its earlier incarnation.

Gentlemen, there are DAB head units, adaptors and aerials to sell!

And from Philips…

The Philips In Range is a clever device that when attached to your car keys will let you know if they are in danger of being lost. Just connect the In Range to the keys, as you would any key fob, then download the necessary app to your smartphone. The two will then become paired, and should the distance between the phone and keys become too great, a warning sound will ping.

For more news on the IFA Berlin show, go to www.ifa-berlin.com

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EVENT /// TRAX 2012 ///

Trax, held at Silverstone, is the last major performance car show of the season, with product displays, the EMMA UK finals and plenty of eager crowds. Chris Anderson reports

Making Trax

T

here are some who may tell you that shows like this are a thing of the past.

True, the number compared to those that would populate the summer a few years back has dwindled – it’s a sign of the times – but the strongest still remain, and the numbers of people attending Trax at Silverstone in early September doesn’t suggest a shrinking scene.

As ever, the show used the Silverstone track as its main attraction, this year featuring round five of the Maxxis British Drift Championship (featuring Boyzone’s Shane Lynch, said to be a

18 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

keen racer) and the showgoers in their own cars testing their skills. The number of car clubs in attendance was impressive too, lining up huge displays of their vehicles for all to see.

And in and around them were various stands for vehicle manufacturers and accessory companies, keen to lure the visitors in – that’s if the stunt shows in the Gymkhana Grid Arena didn’t distract them first.

The retail village in the pitlanes was packed all day, and it was here that Page 3 starlets Rosie Jones and Kelly Andrews could be found signing autographs on the Nuts magazine stand. Then WTCC star James Nash appeared on the Fast Car stand to talk with the show compere about his career.

The retail village also housed a dedicated car audio section, with an area occupied

by EMMA (European Mobile Media Association). Display stands set up by Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, Car Audio & Security, Four Masters, Grom Audio UK and Midbass featured a mix of demo cars and products. The biggest stand by far was Midbass’s, with its Vibe Bass Tunnel never short of attention. “It was a big hit as always,” says Midbass marketing executive Ryan Hawtin, “and we’ve seen thousands of visitor photos

of it on various social networking websites.

One person asked us it if was true that the Bass Tunnel had killed a cow – a rumour we started last year. But we had plenty of positive feedback on our product ranges too.”

Alpine had an interesting promotion on its own stand, tying in its new AV products with the release on DVD and Blu-Ray of Jason Statham movie Safe. “We had our VW Passat CC demo car with our new 8 inch navigation system, the INE-W928R, and promoted an online competition where visitors can win an IVE-W530BT unit in conjunction with the film by visiting a website, www.unlockthesafe. co.uk,” Alpine’s new marketing and business analyst Jayne Woolford reveals. “It was a great day for us, with lots of interest, and we even had a child ask how we watch the screen in the boot of the car while driving.”

Pioneer created a spectacle by loading its cars up with DJ decks and producing some serious volume. “There was a WRX STi fitted with our latest AppRadio, and a Pro-R special edition showing off a neat install along with its prized EMMA awards,” Pioneer’s Chris Walker recalls. “We also brought along our infamous Smart concept car that packs a set of Pioneer decks in the tailgate, as well as the mean sounding Project X vito van in the Gymkhana Arena, with nearly £20k worth of Pioneer audio

and DJ equipment, producing 150 dB! Our DJ cars and the van drew the largest crowds.

They’re quite unique installs, and it’s great seeing people come onto our stand and get stuck in, be it getting photos taken with them or playing on them like they’re David Guetta.”

The cars on the Four Masters stand, meanwhile, were complemented by a group of scantily-clad promo girls – with hair and the occasional items of clothing bouncing around with the bass. “There was a collective of independent dealers on the Four Masters stand, including John Kleis, BCSS, Highdown and us,” says Paul Ellis of Source Sounds in

And while these dealers and manufacturers may have been at the show to promote and sell, for EMMA it was the fifth and final round of its 2012 sound-off season, with the winners of the Sound Quality, ESPL and EMMA Racing classes all to be decided. And for Andrew Ackerly, EMMA UK’s managing

Trax is always one of the biggest shows in the modified car calendar, and so always brings in a large, enthusiastic crowd Sheffield. “We were really just showing the skills of the Four Masters dealers, and making a lot of noise and having fun doing it. There was a great response, and we really enjoyed the looks we were getting as people stuck their heads in to listen to the cars, only to then quickly jump back out as the bass kicked in.”

director of two years, it was also about something more. “It was a fantastic day, with our biggest turnout yet,” he says. “Every event runs just that little bit smoother, and we had a good location near the pitlanes, so we got plenty of traffic and felt a part of the show. All the hard work is paying off, and we’re growing with every event we do.”

Main sponsors of the EMMA season included Fusion, DLS, Hybrid Audio, Pioneer and ZeroCake, with the winners’ trophies sponsored by Celsus brands Dynamat and Phoenix Gold. The event at Trax even welcomed a guest judge in the form of Carlo Corbin, a former competitor and UK head judge, who had not taken part for a couple of years, but on coming back was very impressed by the number of new faces and the standard of the existing enthusiasts.

“We’ve got a fantastic team at EMMA UK, willing to give time at the shows and behind the scenes,” says Ackerly. “It’s good for us and for the industry as a whole.”

Will everyone be back next year? Asking around, it looks like the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. Paul Ellis at Source Sounds calls the decision to be there a ‘no brainer’, while Ryan Hawtin from Midbass summed it up best of all: “Trax is always one of the biggest shows in the modified car calendar, it is well promoted and organised, and so always brings in a large, enthusiastic crowd. But it is also a great family day out and draws a mix of interested people, creating a friendly atmosphere.”

So are the modified car scene and shows like this a dying breed? Looking at this lot, there is definitely life in it yet. www.traxshows.co.uk www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 19

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www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 21

OPINION /// ANDY MILLS ///

Why aren’t you talking to me?

Step outside of the industry for a moment and strange things start to happen. Like realising how little you’re told about it!

I Andy MIlls is a former editor of MEN and industry journalist

don’t think there’s any shame in admitting that since I stopped editing this illustrious title my knowledge of what’s going on in the mobile electronics market has suffered. Obviously these very pages still supply me with a raft of information, but it’s still not quite the same as talking to people from the industry on the phone every day and meeting them at seminars or shows.

Being immersed in a subject, though, like all of you who are reading this are and like I was, can have a few downsides. Well, one in particular – you may not see things the same way your potential customers do. Or, to use an old adage; you can’t see the wood for the trees.

There’s the danger you forget that not everyone knows what DAB is, what coaxials are, or what the difference between audio-sounding-kind-ofmeasurements like decibels and hertz are. Your existing customers may not help either as they’ll be pretty clued up on these things, but I’m talking about those that might be interested in what you do… but just don’t know about it.

There’s people like me out there who want what you do and yet know nothing about it

Contact Andy on millsymax@hotmail.com 22 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

If you’re reading electronics magazines, using audio forums and spend most of your time at work or with work colleagues, then you may be forgetting about those ‘other people’ people, in all likelihood, like me. Let me explain further. Forgetting about any knowledge I have of the industry, I find myself as a pretty average thirty-something bloke. Monday to Friday I go to work, earn an alright wage, try to get to the gym, and then at weekends I get to cut the grass. There’s not a lot of time to indulge hobbies, but if it weren’t for the fact I was trying to save for a house deposit and essentially have three cars to run, I might actually have some left over cash every month. And I love cars.

In fact, my M3 is one of the greatest pleasures in life, an antidote to the monotony of a 9-5 existence, the thrill of chasing down B-road tarmac a medicine for any level of bad day. Like when I was 17 years old with my MkI Fiesta, I’d go to bed thinking of upgrades. And these days, I dream of the CSL seats I’d like to fit to the M3, or decent affordable coilovers

I’d like to find for my Subaru Forester. Or what the best way to get an iPhone linked to either of those or my girlfriend’s MX-5 is.

Tot that up: a bloke who loves his cars, has a few of them, is willing to do things to them, and in a different moment in time may actually have the money to act on that. So, why are none of you really entering my world?

Outside of a few companies from the industry who I’ve ‘liked’ on Facebook, I’m oblivious to what’s new in the industry. I don’t know if me, or people like me, are your target market, but we’re certainly a potential source of customers, and I can’t help feeling that the industry is missing a trick.

I’m lucky, I get to see MEN, but none of the blokes my age that I hang around with do. And none of them are on car audio forums or buy electronics magazines. Most of them don’t even get to car shows nowadays. Most of them like cars, though, and often ask me for advice on what they should do for rear seat entertainment for their kids, or whether parking sensors can actually be fitted to their new car for less money later, rather than ticking the option box at the main dealer.

I don’t think I should be the one who is giving them the answers. I don’t even think I’ve always got the right answers to give them either. Helping people like this, letting them know what you can do, is your job surely? As a stalwart of this industry often says at training seminars, “Doing the same thing every day and expecting a different result is the definition of madness.” That nugget of wisdom is as appropriate to this issue too.

Next time you get to talk to your brother-in-law, old school mate, nephew, uncle or best mate’s kid, why not ask them where they think your company – and what you do – could reach them. It might not be the quarter page ad you take out in the local paper, it might not be a Facebook page. It might be in the pages of a football magazine, it might be a poster on a train. Maybe creating a great YouTube video that goes viral would get to them eventually.

There’s people like me out there who want what you do, probably have the money to do it and yet know nothing about it… and you’re not telling them.

So here’s a challenge; in the month after this page is printed, I’ll be a guinea pig – I’m going to note every time the industry talks to me outside of my role in MEN. I’ll then report back and we may all learn something about what really works in attracting customers like me and who’s doing it right. How difficult can it be?

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www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 25

PRODUCT FOCUS /// ENTRY-LEVEL AMPS///

AMP IT UP Amplifiers are getting cheaper – but also smaller, more powerful and with better build quality. Could this be what you need to tempt your customers?

F

or some dealers, an amplifier can be one of the hardest sells.

Speakers, subwoofers or a shiny new head unit are deemed easier, because the customer is more likely to understand the benefits and knows he can show off his purchase. An amplifier might be tucked away somewhere, installed and forgotten about, simply getting on with the job it was paid for.

But amplifiers are becoming more affordable, which makes it easier for the customer to start upgrading their sounds.

And these days the entry-level is nothing to be afraid of, with models offering more power and a better build quality than ever before. The features are better too.

Years ago, when Class A/B circuitry first started to be used in amplifiers for the car, who would have thought it would eventually filter down and become a basic requirement for the entry level? And lowand high-pass filters and speaker level inputs are also becoming commonplace.

This means that not only can a customer start upgrading their system for less money, but it is easier to start building that system, and it will even guarantee better quality, and more reliability thanks to the amount of circuit protection also built in. In fact, with the benefits and features the retailer is now able to list, which is becoming quite extensive, there is no reason that selling an amplifier shouldn’t be an easier task.

Plus, with the compact size, maybe a neat, subtle boot install could also be encouraged, just so it isn’t all hidden away, as the icing on the cake.

26 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Alpine Entry level at Alpine means the PMX range, of which there are two models. The PMX-T320 two-channel is shown, but there is also the four-channel PMX-F640 at RRP £149. Both aim for high power and great value, with an output on the two-channel of 2 x 50W RMS into 4 ohms, bridgeable into 1 x 150W. It features Class A/B circuitry, Bass EQ, highand low-pass filters, speaker level inputs, and covers for the terminals to make a cleaner installation.

Alpine 02476 719620, www.alpine-uk.com

RRP £99

RRP £99

Blaupunkt According to Blaupunkt, all of its current entry level amps are 30% smaller than their predecessors. They look pretty rugged too, with their black brushed aluminium finish. The model shown is the four-channel EMA 455, which uses Class A/B circuitry, and is rated at 4 x 55W RMS or 2 x 165W RMS when bridged.

Features include an adjustable low-pass crossover (50-250Hz), a fixed crossover for high-pass and flat frequencies, and a three-step bass boost from 0-12 dB. All for £99.

Autosound 01274 685411, www.blaupunktdirect.co.uk

Clarion With a casing finished in black anodised aluminium, the XR2220 amplifier from Clarion scores very highly on the looks front.

Utilising Class A/B circuitry, this two-channel is capable of 2 x 65W RMS into 4 ohms, and is bridgeable to 1 x 190W. Other features include a selectable bass boost, at 0, 6 and 12dB, with an adjustable frequency high/low-pass filter from 50-300Hz. Speaker level input, gold plated connectors and MOSFET technology is all part of the norm.

Clarion 01793 859560, www.glarion.com/gb

RRP £99

Exclusively distributed in the UK & Ireland by:

Contact us: 020 8867 2340 Email: sales@vestatec.co.uk Rockford Fosgate UK www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 27

PRODUCT FOCUS /// ENTRY-LEVEL AMPS ///

Hertz

RRP £99

Fusion For something considered to be just an entry-level amplifier, the Fusion CA-AM20350 doesn’t exactly skimp on features. Highlights include the five-way circuitry protection, and also FLFC (Fusion Low Frequency Control).

Class A/B circuitry has been used with this two-channel, with power rated at 2 x 55W RMS into 4 ohms, although it promises 1 x 175W RMS also at 4 ohms when bridged.

There is a slightly more powerful two-channel in this range, plus three four-channels and a monoblock.

CEL Trade 0116 244 9846, www.celtrade.com

RRP9 £19

The HE4 from Hertz is a four-channel amplifier with Class A/B circuitry, all beneath a thermally optimised die-cast heatsink. This is a very flexible model, and can also be run as two or even three channels. That means an output of 4 x 70W RMS, 2 x 200W RMS, or 1 x 200W + 2 x 70W RMS, all at 4 ohms.

Or it could be run 1 x 200W at 4 ohms + 2 x 200W at 2 ohms instead. Features include a built-in crossover, plus separate front and rear high- and low-pass filters.

Four Masters 0800 652 5125, www.fourcars.co.uk

Juice The next wave of Juice’s entry level amplifiers offer a brushed aluminium heatsink, everything is now a simple black colour, and just generally they have a modern, sleeker feel. This JA491 is a great all-rounder, and very easy to set up too. Featuring Class A/B circuitry, the two-channel is said to have a maximum output of 2 x 300W into 4 ohms, or 1 x 750W when bridged. It has a high- and low-pass filters, circuitry protection and a high level input.

In-Phase International 0115 975 8600, www.inphaseinternational.co.uk

RRP £59

JVC The KS-AX3104 from JVC is a compact, bridgeable four-channel Class A/B amplifier, delivering 4 x 60W RMS into 4 ohms, but offering many other configuration options, such as two- or three-channel. Very small in size, this amplifier also features a MOSFET power supply and output stages for fast, accurate response. On-board filters allow for connection to subwoofers, and there is built-in protection for thermal, short circuit and overload, with high- and low-pass filters.

JVC 0208 450 3282, www.jvc.co.uk

RRP £89

28 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

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PRODUCT FOCUS /// ENTRY-LEVEL AMPS///

RRP £99

Pioneer Pioneer has some very serious looking entry level amplifiers out as part of its GM series. Shown is the GM-3500T, with an RRP of £129, but a GM-5500T and GM6500T are also available for £179 and £189 respectively. Highlights include a one-body heatsink and gain adjustment of up to 6.5V, helping the user to optimise the soundstage.

The amp is rated at 2 x 200W into 4 ohms maximum, or 1 x 400W when bridged.

Pioneer 01753 789789, www.pioneer.co.uk

Kenwood This is Kenwood’s KAC-5205 two-channel amp, which will deliver 2 x 60W RMS into 4 ohms, or 1 x 150W RMS if bridged. Within that aluminium diecast heatsink, you will also find a MOSFET power supply, a built-in low-pass filter and a speaker level input.

There are also two four-channels with the styling and features to match this one, and Class D mono and digital power amps the higher up the range you go. But for the money, this promises clean power and sound.

Kenwood 01923 816444, www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk

RRP9 £12

Pro-Plus For many years, Pro-Plus has led the way when it comes to affordable car audio products. Here it lowers the price and ups the power, weighing in with this PP1000.1 model, a mono amp utilising MOSFET circuitry. That means 1 x 300W into 4 ohms, or 1 x 500W if taken to 2 ohms. Not bad when you consider the asking price is just £69. There are other features too, such as a bass remote and bass EQ, giving you all you need to power a subwoofer for not a lot.

PPA Distribution 0207 993 8889, www.proplusaudio.com

RRP £69

30 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Vibe Small but powerful is the aim with Vibe’s Slick series of amps, available in Stereo 2 Channel, Stereo 4 Channel, Monoblock Bass and for the first time a versatile fivechannel. By utilising cutting edge Class D technology, these amps are said to be smaller than their predecessors, but not at the expense of power handling. The Stereo 4 model shown is rated at 4 x 75W RMS into 4 ohms, or 2 x 200W bridged. The amplifiers also feature low level inputs.

Midbass 0121 311 9090, www.vibeaudio.co.uk

RRP9 £15

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REVIEW /// Pioneer SPH-DA100 ///

T•

R PRODUC STA

EN GOLD R PRODUC STA

T• M

MEN GOLD

Appy days But boring is the last thing you will think the moment it fires up, thanks to its capacitive touchscreen. To translate, that means that this is the first car head unit touchscreen ever to be just like the ones on Apple products. And that, my friends, is as appealing as the Brazilian beach volleyball team covered in honey. As soon as the punters tickle one in your shop display, they will be hooked.

How well does it work?

Adam Rayner discovers what could be the easiest sell since CD superseded cassette tape

M

eet the Pioneer AppRadio. The model number is SPH-DA100 and at a not too shabby suggested £349 retail, it is the successor to the original SPH-DA01, that was suggested to be sold at £399. What it is, is a radio that runs apps, be they Apple or Android in origin. And it has a radio inside. And that’s it. No second USB, SD slot, nor disc mech. But while it may be stripped-down in concept, it is lofty in technical prowess. As such it’s a sales swan – looks gorgeous, is easy to appreciate, yet is paddling like fury under the surface.

What’s it like?

It seems a simple black screen when dark.

Desirable, as it has just a few buttons at the base, with enough of an OEM look to render any worries about it getting thieved. So no panel nor part of the unit can be removed, and it relies on being boring-looking instead.

32 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

The unit is just amazing. Okay, let’s get past the fact that Pioneer are Gods of the Display. As developers of what is now called OEL (Organic Electroluminescent Display), they were wrong about it being eventually used extensively in phones, as Apple’s retina LCDs are so bonkers good. But they were right about the awesome quality and the best TVs using the OEL system.

And now they have invested in the screen on this unit, almost as lovely as Apple’s.

But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and Apple stuff is only cool for what it does.

This unit runs software that has been approved as AppRadio apps. This means all the ‘native’ apps like Googlemaps, Calendar, Photos, Music, Video and so forth (that come on your phone), as well as Pioneer’s own paid-for NavGate Drive navigation app and a slew of others. There are other navigation apps too, like Nav Free and the posher paid-for version called MyGPS. And there is a big range of music apps, like Aupeo, Livio and RDIO, and some utterly amazing ones that with the addition of a dongle up your car’s diagnostics plughole can make the screen look like a full on race-grade telemetry screen, with all sorts of accelerations shown from the wobbler-sensor in the phone. It is an ocean up to the lips and yet you can take a gulp easily, with more possible apps than any one person could use.

The Android thing is simple. You get an Apple Connector-equipped USB lead assembly with

the unit, but if you are an Android smartphone owner, then you need to buy the appropriate Pioneer link lead – an extra sale worth £39 (still less than the cost-difference of anything versus an iPhone).

But the really cool thing is how each application is fettled for use. Like MirrorLink, they do not simply replicate the app – you get a version that is better and more appropriate for your screen. Sometimes this will be reduced in detail if the app is for use while driving, and some will simply use the phone as anchor point/client.

Googlemaps is an example of this. On the iPhone, you get a small view on your screen, as you have to by size limits. But in Advanced App Mode on the SPH-DA100, you get a full screen in a different aspect ratio to fit the unit – and it is gorgeous. Flick it to satellite (aerial photography) view and it is pure James Bondian.

But the NavGate Drive app at £89 is way cheaper than the hardware version of Pioneer navigation yet is so damn good it renders its own nav hardware obsolete. And that is a technological step-change, and relies on the

Its capacitive touchscreen is as appealing as the Brazilian beach volleyball team covered in honey unit’s supplied GPS antenna, even though there is no GPS in the unit itself. This is pure tech self-cannibalism and is doing it before anyone else does so.

Why stock it?

With no other electronics on board, you can forget any media carrier other than your smartphone. So, to recap, it works with smartphones, looks awesome, is way cheaper than a multimedia paragon, has a screen like an Appley one and did I say it looks gorgeous?

Pioneer 01753 789789, RRP £350 plus fitting (varies according to vehicle), www.pioneer.co.uk

Ratings Ease of use Installation Performance Value Overall This is one hot unit and a total flat-statement no-brainer to sell. You can use words like ‘unique’.

It doesn’t make the toast But we’re working on that.

“In-car tech that does it all via your smartphone”

AppRadio won’t make your breakfast, but it does pretty much everything else.

Using Advanced App Mode, this multi-touch in-car entertainment system simply connects to your smartphone so you can control your snaps, maps, music and more via a whole host of compatible apps.

Search ‘AppRadio’

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 33

PRODUCT FOCUS /// DAB AERIALS ///

Aerial view

1

Martyn Williams looks at the three most popular types of digital radio aerial to see which one is best

O

nce upon a time, awareness of in-car CD on the aftermarket was boosted by their line-fit appearance in ‘normal’ cars, such as the Ford Escort. The word spread that no, they didn’t skip as you drove along a bumpy road (or maybe some of the very early cheaper ones did!), and the sound quality was better than those strange, now virtually unknown things, the audio cassette tape. Over the next year your average new car will have DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), or digital radio, as standard and, like the CD scenario before it, should help to ramp up the aftermarket.

Richard Taylor who runs the only dedicated digital radio e-commerce site in the UK, DAB on Wheels (www.dabonwheels.co.uk), has already seen some movement. He said: “Despite the economic climate I have seen my turnover double in the last four months compared with last year. Selling DAB is pushing a new product just like we did in the early CD days where we had it on the stand, in the car, and we would show everybody – even the postman!”

Spending more time installing the aerial can make a huge difference to the performance Another bit of history familiar to installers who were in business in the ’90s will be the customer dissatisfaction that ensued when digital radio was first launched. That business nose-dived fairly quickly, as punters discovered how patchy the coverage was. Happily there has been a massive change in both signal strength and coverage, but there is still a risk of customers coming back complaining if antenna performance is poor. Slapping on an unamplified bit of plastic that has no ground plane in the windscreen is a quick way of

34 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

2 1 The roof aerial was probably the best all-rounder 2 This type of stick-on aerial works well, but proper fitment is essential 3 An optimum angle is usually recommended for the more familiar stick-on aerials

3 getting a customer back in a bad way – in an angry, dissatisfied mood.

Kenwood’s product manager, Mike Edwards, commenting on aerial choice, said: “Spending more time installing the aerial can make a huge difference to the performance.

It’s tempting for installers to think ‘whip the aerial on – the least important part,’ but the opposite is true. And once you’ve lost that customer, they might be gone forever.”

The types of aerial We fitted the three most common types of DAB aerial that installers are using – roofmount, the through-the-glass type, and the latest stick-on antenna. We used Connect2’s version of the latter (the AD-2), available either with a through-the-aerial-wire power supply or a separate power lead. It is also compatible with the AutoDAB tuner and other add-on tuners.

The phantom supply types can be used with some head units, which include Kenwood and JVC. Some of the head unit manufacturers offer a similar stick-on type, but don’t use stick-ons that are without a wide ground plane sticky tab, or appear to have no amplifier. We found a donor vehicle for the pics, and promptly drilled a hole in the roof after carefully marking the centre line.

Quick tips 4 With the roof lining trimmed, you can see the base of the roof aerial 4 An aerial spanner, like this one from lasertools.co.uk, is handy for tightening antennas 4 Clean the area thoroughly with an alcohol wipe before adding the stick-on antenna

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T•

THE WIN

Aerial science

NIN G PR O DU C

G PR O DU C

PRODUCT FOCUS /// DAB AERIALS ///

T•

NIN

WINNER THE WIN

And the winner is…

Our tests concluded that all three types of DAB aerial are good if they are of a recognisable quality and installed with care.

Cheap versions mean that you will probably get what you pay for!

Testing each of the aerials along our prearranged route several times within minutes of each other produced an emphatic result.

The through-the-glass product dropped out the longest (only about one second) on our worst station in the worst area.

The roof aerial is a guaranteed winner for the dealer too, as it will earn more margin The stick-on type only ‘blipped’ off for a split-second, while the roof aerial suffered a drop in audio quality without actually missing a beat. So, the roof aerial won, but the difference between this and the stick-on was sometimes almost non-existent – an impressive performance.

The roof aerial is also a guaranteed winner for the dealer too, as it will earn more margin.

The stick-on is perfect for customers who don’t want to spend a lot or have something sticking up on the car, and it’s also worth mentioning that we tested the stick-on type in a fibreglass sports car using a 3mm thick aluminium strip 25mm wide, cut to fit tightly between the ‘A’ post trim and the windscreen, which also had good performance.

It cannot be emphasised enough that performance of the stick-on type shown in this feature will be badly affected by incorrect installation, whereas the other types offer far less scope for messing up. Digital radio currently offers great potential to retailers, and knowing more about the types of aerial is becoming increasingly important.

36 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Connects2’s search for the highest quality DAB aerials led the company to create a test facility at its Tipton HQ in the West Midlands. Its test programme reveals some major differences, as shown in the test charts here. First is an example of a cheap, poor performance unamplified magmount aerial, tuned primarily for the Australian market. This is roughly centred around frequency block 5 on the chart, whereas the blue band indicates the approximate UK frequency band.

Australian users would get a low but reasonable gain of just over 20dB, but in the UK it’s a miserable 5dB. And aerials like this are sold here!

The Connects2 aerial tests for roof-mount types start with bolting them to an ample piece of roof panel, placed a set distance from a special transmitter emitting known frequencies at set power outputs. The signal picked up by the aerial being tested is checked on an spectrum analyser, which checks the gain/frequency results. The results gain from each are as follows: Graph 1 The test result of this unamplified mag-mount aerial shows that it’s not designed for the UK Graph 2 The stick-on aerial tested is an amplified ‘L’ pattern element type with ground plane tab Graph 3 This through-the-glass antenna shows no advantage over the stick-on example tested Graph 4 A high quality expensive amplified roof-fixing antenna shows an advantage over the rest More info at www.connects2.com

1

2

3

4

Tweaking times On some head units such as the Kenwood shown here, there is an engineering setting. This test mode can be set up by pressing and holding the ‘Return’ and ‘Disp’ buttons for two seconds or more. Next press the ‘Disp’ button until ‘AER’ appears. This stands for the ‘Audio bit Error Rate’, and the smaller the figure the better. In the AER range of around 0-400 it’s no problem to receive a signal. From 400-1,000, it’s possible to synchronise the DAB signal. Here, the AER figure of 1,146 is well off the audible scale. The test mode is closed by repeating the same button sequence.

Checking the bit error rate on a weak station will allow the installer to compare aerials and positioning on the vehicle. The simplest tweak would be to check the best mast angle on a through-the-glass type. Kenwood’s experts have spent many hours comparing antennas and claim better results using their small stick-on windscreen aerial than the mast types tested.

Crucial to its performance, though, is to make sure that it’s applied with a 150mm gap between the top of the element and the metal edge of the roof. www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk

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INTERVIEW /// LAURENCE HARRISON ///

Digital Radio UK’s technology and market development director, Laurence Harrison, reveals what to expect from the Drive 2 Digital Conference

mark will be introduced, used to show that somebody has been trained and accredited, and that they are competent. Launching this scheme now means installers can start getting trained ahead of time, so they can hit the ground running when the switchover announcement comes. I’ve no doubt that most existing installers will qualify, but there may be new market entrants who see the opportunity and don’t have the same experience.

You mentioned Europe earlier, what’s happening there?

There is no single policy across Europe yet, but all countries know the future is digital and the majority have a clear strategy. For example, in Norway they already have a switchover date planned for 2017, and Germany is now building its digital coverage. Even France is now starting to licence DAB+ services.

Europe uses the DAB + format. How is that different to regular DAB ?

Our UK minimum specification requires a multi-standard chipset, so all devices cover FM, DAB and DAB+, and work in the UK and Europe. DAB+ enables more services using the same capacity, so there are potential cost savings for broadcasters and even more choice for consumers. I’m sure at some point we’ll see some DAB+ services in the UK but we’re not there yet.

So FM will still be around?

Digital dialOGUE Is Radio your first digital medium?

No it isn’t. Prior to joining Digital Radio UK, I was director of consumer electronics at Intellect, the trade body representing the UK’s technology industry, so I used to represent companies like Sony, Philips, Panasonic and Samsung, but also Roberts and Pure on the radio side. I sat on the board of Digital UK, which handled the digital TV switchover. When Digital Radio UK formed, they wanted someone working with the supply chain on the technology side, so I joined about two years ago.

in digital coverage and content over the last couple of years have really boosted the confidence of industry and consumers.

Does that mean good potential for car audio retailers?

This really should be a great sales opportunity. Over 40% of adults in the UK have a digital radio in the home, and they love it, but only 5-6% of have it in-vehicle. So in our marketing campaigns we are letting people know that they can get digital radio in their car. Retailers can take advantage of this by using our digital radio logo and being ready to talk to customers about the benefits of digital radio and what they can listen to.

Yes. All national, regional and large local stations will stop broadcasting on analogue and move to digital, while some smaller commercial and community stations will stay on FM

When do you predict a UK switchover to be? In 2017 like Norway?

It’s Government’s decision. The first step will be a switchover announcement next year and then we need to hit two criteria to set a date – National and local DAB coverage must be built out to FM equivalence, and 50% of all radio listening must be through digital platforms– currently we’re at 31.5%. To hit that 50%, cars will have a major role to play. We predict we’ll meet those targets by the end of 2015, and then it’s a matter for government.

What is the future of digital radio?

The next Drive 2 Digital Conference is in November. What’s the latest on that?

It will be a multi-platform future with DAB as the digital back-bone. There is no doubt that all vehicles will have DAB and that is where the vast majority of digital listening will be. Some vehicles will have internet connectivity as well and if they don’t there are already some good aftermarket products available. The broadcast industry is also looking at how DAB and the internet can work together as a hybrid digital radio.

Has digital radio taken longer to catch on in the car than in the home?

Last year we had 250 attendees from the industry, and this year we are already sold out with 350 registered. At the event we’ll be signaling the countdown to a switchover announcement in 2013. We’ll talk about the improvements in coverage, our upcoming marketing campaigns, and, specific to the aftermarket, the challenges and opportunities in converting the vehicle parc to digital. We’ll also be launching the new digital radio installer scheme.

One of the lessons we learned from TV is the more proactive a retailer is, aligning their marketing in store with the marketing we’re doing on-air and in print, and being a local champion for digital, the better they will do.

Those who sat back and wait for something to happen won’t do as well. Understanding and talking about the benefits of digital is vital and we’ll be helping retailers as much as we can.

It has but there is now real momentum behind digital radio. Vehicle manufacturers are now including digital as standard in 26% of new vehicles and the range and quality of aftermarket digital radio’s and antenna’s is stronger than ever. The dramatic improvements

It will help consumer protection and confidence. It will also provide useful training for installers and hopefully act as a USP for those people who get the accreditation. Once a switchover is confirmed, a digital radio tick

What is your role now?

The priority is, and will remain, digital radio in vehicles. We help manufacturers plan and launch new products, we develop marketing and communications for retailers and installers to use, and we support vehicle manufacturers digital strategies. I chair a Government Digital Radio Action Plan Working Group, developing the minimum specifications for products. I also work with colleagues across Europe to understand their digital roll-out strategies and support them where possible.

38 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

How can retailers get more out of digital radio?

Why is the Installation scheme important?

The Drive 2 Digital Conference takes place on Monday November 5 at BBC Broadcasting House in London. It is now fully booked, but those who wish to can be put on a waiting list, please email drive2digital@digitalradiouk.com

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www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 39

PRODUCT FOCUS /// CAMERAS & SCREENS ///

Lights, cameras, action Following on from last month’s parking sensors round-up, Chris Anderson discovers what happens when you add camera and screens to the equation

Alpine This is an updated version of Alpine’s ‘ALERT’ (Alpine External Recognition Technology), with the camera detecting external movement in addition to relaying images. This recognition process triggers a highlight on the screen plus a warning beep, and the camera itself can relay ultra-wide angles. Split-screen viewing is also possible, showing behind and to the left, for example. The kit includes a control switch, warning sound module and the control box for direct camera connection to an Alpine unit and also for standard RCA connectivity.

Alpine 02476 719620, www.alpine-uk.com

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ast issue we looked at parking sensors, and how for little cost they will hopefully reduce the possibility of an accident when reversing. Now it’s time to look at adding cameras and screens, and how this could reduce the risk even further.

There are cameras with an increasing array of features, and also standalone or, more commonly, rear view mirror screens.

But is one more effective than another?

In 2011, Eponent, a leading engineering and scientific consulting company in the US, concluded a two-month study, examining how drivers changed their habits when a car was fitted with reversing cameras and a screen. It tested 70 people, using three different cars – one had an 8 inch display in the console, another had a 4.3 inch display slightly higher up, and the last car had a 3.3 inch display in the rear view mirror. A sophisticated tracking system then monitored the driver’s

40 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

eye movements as they performed different reversing tasks.

The results showed that the drivers using the mirror-integrated display were the most effective. “Our conclusions revealed that mirror-integrated displays have additional, significant advantages,” said Douglas Young, who oversaw the study. “In short, by placing the rear camera display in the mirror, you can increase display usage, improve driver scan patterns, enhance productive gaze durations and minimise reaction times.”

So there could be an argument here that even if a customer’s car already has an OEM camera system with a display in the dash, they can still make efforts to enhance this by fitting a rear view mirror screen instead.

That’s in addition to helping the drivers who don’t have anything fitted at all. Here is a round-up of some of the camera and screen kits currently on the market.

Beat Connects2’s Beat brand has a wide range of OEM fit cameras, catering to specific makes of car, including Audi, Honda, Toyota, Mazda and many others, fitting easily into the rear numberplate light on each car. More are on the way, as is a new 5.6 inch monitor, but for now drivers can opt for the 3.5 inch instead, or the RVM4.3 – a reversing mirror with a 4.3 inch screen built-in, with a 16:9 display and a dedicated input for the reversing camera.

Connects2 0845 257 5588, www.connects2.com

C-KO There are a number of reversing camera systems and solutions from C-KO. Its rear light camera (C-KO-NV-RBCAM) fits easily with minor gaffer taping from behind onto Ford transits, and carries an RRP of £115. Screen-wise, the 7 inch Mirror Monitor (C-KO-7MM) remains a popular choice, and is discreet enough not to attract attention when a vehicle is parked at night.

With an RRP of £95, it has two video inputs (one dedicated to auto switch to the reverse image) and clips over existing mirrors.

C-KO 0208 863 8333, www.c-ko.co.uk

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PRODUCT FOCUS /// CAMERAS & SCREENS ///

RRP9 £46

Media in Motion Media in Motion offers a range of vehiclespecific interfaces, which activate the factory reverse camera. For Mercedes models, this consists of a programming dongle for the OBD diagnostic port, and also includes a Fakra to RCA connector for adding an aftermarket reverse camera on the back of the Comand unit. Once programmed, the monitor will switch to the reverse camera from any mode just like the factory system.

And for Land Rover and Range Rover, there is a CAN-Bus interface for the back of the radio tuner. All packages can be supplied with a dedicated reversing camera.

Media in Motion 0121 311 9011, www.media-in-motion.co.uk

Clarion Clarion has always been serious about cameras and dedicated monitors, with a very extensive range. Its CJ-7300G 7 inch LCD quad monitor (£469) is the top model here, with a camera shutter independent control function when switching from CAM1 to CAM4, and automatic video switching when putting into reverse gear. A remote is included, and there are also onscreen distance marker settings. There are many cameras, with the CC-2012 (£203) one of its compact models.

Clarion 01793 859560, www.clarion.com/gb

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Kenwood

RRP9 £19

Kenwood has two camera options, the CMOS210 (£139) and CMOS-310 (£199), both suitable for front and rear mounting, with a 0.25 inch CMOS sensor in a waterproof housing and a flexible mounting base. Where the CMOS-310 differs is that it can offer more viewing options, with up to five different configurations, such as wide, super wide, overhead and so on. It can also be controlled directly by any one of Kenwood’s high-end DNX head units.

Kenwood 01923 816444, www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk

RRPC £TB

42 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Parksafe The range of monitors and cameras at Parksafe is pretty extensive, catering to any preference. For a standalone quad monitor, the PS025 is available, for dash or windscreen mount, and has a four-channel input. Or the PS5006 is a reversing mirror with a 4.3 inch screen built in, plus speaker and two video inputs, that just clips over the existing mirror. In terms of cameras, the PSC20 models are only slightly bigger than a £1 coin, while the PSC23 can be secured over a numberplate.

Parksafe 01773 746591, www.parksafeautomotive.com

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FEATURE /// INDUSTRY AWARDS ///

The Business of Winning Ahead of the MEN ICE Awards, Andy Mills says that winning is not just about vanity, it can be good for business too

W

ith the Olympics now over, Great Britain can reflect on a golden summer.

Unlike our national football teams, the performance of Team GB athletes helped make winning a part of the nation’s psyche for a few short weeks… and it felt good.

In fact, winning feels so good, those athletes who had gold hung around their necks can now expect their palms to be crossed with the same stuff, as companies look to capitalise on the ‘feel good factor’ of victory with lucrative sponsorship deals.

This simply reflects an age old truth; people love a winner. Acknowledge that in the same way those athlete-chasing marketing departments do and you may start seeing new opportunities for your business.

Aside from cases of ironic hero-worship – as seen in the 1988 Winter Olympics where Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards’ brilliant ability to be the worst ski-jumper endeared him to the world – winners are normally the most popular. And they’re most popular because winning generally means that they’re the best, or that there’s something to gain by being associated with them. This is why, when people look to buy, they look for award-winning products, as it suggests that they are the top choice. Even if the product has won on the basis of being the cheapest, that’s still winning and still indicates to customers a lot of things that can’t easily be conveyed in any other way quite so simply.

Being associated with winning or ‘best’ products is also becoming increasingly important for consumers. In an online, hightechnolgy world where everybody seems to know everybody else’s business through social media and the like, people are becoming more aware of themselves. To look good amongst peers, there’s a constant striving amongst many to be seen with the best – go on the best holidays, have the best phone etc.

By being associated with winning products, it makes them look smart – there’s a benefit

44 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

beyond the actual functionality of the thing that they’ve bought. It’s shallow, but it’s true.

For businesses in the mobile electronics market, winning awards should be more than just a trophy that’s stuck in the corner of an office or used to prop a door open.

Achieving recognition in your industry should be something to shout about and promote at every opportunity, as it not only helps to raise the profile of your company or product, it can also be a useful tool for customers.

Look at it this way; if you knew very little about car audio but wanted an install, would you go to the local dealer that had ‘2012 Audio Centre of the Year’ splashed across its window, or the one with a sign saying ‘New 10 inch subwoofer packages’? Or, if you were looking for a portable navigation device and one on the shelf had a sticker saying ‘Navigation Device of

them, aside from the advice of the dealer (which, like it or not, may be treated with an element of suspicion) that ‘award-winning’ sticker on a box may just be the thing that clinches the deal.

You only have to look at large multi-national companies to see how much importance they put on winning awards to realise how big the benefits are. It brings great marketing power, and essentially the bigger the trophy cabinet, the bigger the bank balance.

So, if your company or the products you produce are lacking in award-winning accolades then it’s either time to search out some awards to try and win, even if they’re just local or regional ones, or it’s time to re-assess what you’re doing wrong and ask why nobody sees your company or products as good enough to vote for.

And to spin that on its head a little, think for a moment about the importance of voting for

If the best really do win, then consumers swayed by award-winning products will end up with one that doesn’t let them down the Year 2012’, don’t you think that might get more pick-up than others?

We’ve all seen awards given that we don’t agree with, perhaps because we’re experts on the subject, or at least profess to be. Did the Vauxhall Ampera really deserve to win Car of the Year? Was Iniesta really the best choice for European Footballer of the Year? However, for the majority of customers who look in on the specialist market of in-car electronics with the intention of buying something, they don’t assume to have much knowledge of the subject and need help to reach a decision.

The recognition by others of a product’s excellence is a point of trust that can sway them into a decision. With very little else to persuade

awards when given the chance. If a company that sells a product you don’t rate highly wins an award and can then market it as ‘award-winning’, are you going to be happy about that?

In essence it’s a responsibility to the industry you’re in to use your knowledge effectively and help the best products to secure the top accolades. If the best really do win, then those consumers who are swayed by award-winning products will end up with one that doesn’t let them down and won’t put them off from buying within the industry again. And surely that’s something which benefits everyone, including dealers, and not just the customer. Strive for success and celebrate awards, because everyone loves a winner.

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NEWS /// PRODUCT /// EISA

EISA Award winners

KENWOOD EISA WINNER

The best car audio products, according to Euro experts In the days when the UK had a dedicated car audio magazine, the editor would be flown every summer to a location somewhere in Europe to meet with other members of EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association).

Specialists in the fields of home theatre, audio, mobile devices, photography and of course car audio, the members would be split into groups based on their magazine and area of expertise, and discuss the best products of the year.

It’s a tradition that continues, with the 201213 award winners just announced. Chosen as Best Amplifier was the Alpine PDX-V9 Class D five-channel, mainly due to its outstanding sound quality and power from such a small package. Best Subwoofer was the Audison Voce AV10 for its effectiveness in small enclosures,

while the Gladen Aerospace 165.2 Active components were named Best Speakers.

There was also a Best High-End category, won by the Ground Zero GZPW Reference series speakers, and The Helix C-DSP was named Best Processor.

Moving on to in-dash devices, the award for Best Smart Connectivity went to the JVC KWNSX1 double DIN, which impressed everyone with its MirrorLink capabilities, replicating the display of a smartphone on its 6.1 inch touchscreen. The Kenwood DNX4210DAB was named Best Head Unit, packing everything including navigation and digital radio into a single box, while the Pioneer AVIC-F40BT claimed Best Navigation Unit. The Mosconi Gladen DSP6to8 won Best In-Car Integration. www.eisa.eu

COBRA

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TELL US YOUR NEWS!

If you have company developments or product news, email information and hi-res images (300dpi) to: chris@chrisandersonmedia.com

Pay as you go electric COBRA

Cobra on the rally circuit

Perhaps not the first sales tool to use when talking about Cobra technology, but it does show how durable its products are. The company recently fitted a number of its devices to Marshall Clarke and Keith Cronin’s race-winning Citroën DS3 at Rally Northern Ireland – withstanding G forces of up to 13G, and speeds in excess of 110mph, as the car tore around the track. Inside the car was Global Live real time video data streaming and also a UBI (Usage Based Insurance) telematics system, normally used to present insurance companies with accurate information on how a road car is driven – in this case its crash alert was activated 38 times. www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk

48 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

POD Point, the UK’s leading electric vehicle charging company, has just introduced a pay as you go scheme for owners of electric cars. As long as there is money in the driver’s account, SMS texting can be used to access a charging point, and to start or stop charging, rather than the card-based system. The scheme is free to join, with no monthly fee, just a refundable £10 balance is needed for account activation. POD Point currently has 200 charging bays nationwide, and by the end of the year the scheme will incorporate those of Sourced East and Plugged-in Midlands, taking numbers to 750. www.pod-point.com/payg

Motorists like speed cameras?

It may seem like an unusual fact to have been discovered as the result of a motoring survey, but according to IAM, the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, 82% of people say speed cameras are now acceptable. But 45% think raising income is still the main reason for their use, while 72% think speed

awareness courses would be a good idea. It seems that overall, though, people are glad of speed cameras, with 85% saying they have contributed to the fall in road deaths. Only 16% found speed cameras unacceptable – but in 2007, that figure was 30%. www.iam.org.uk

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NEWS /// PRODUCT /// TOMTOM

TomTom for trucks TomTom has just launched its new Pro 5150 Truck Live navigation system, said to make journeys for truck drivers across Europe safer, and more time- and cost-effective.

This is helped by the one year’s free LIVE Services, including TomTom HD Traffic, planning routes around congestion or other traffic problems. Drivers can then plan rest periods accordingly, saving time and fuel, and reducing stress. The system is also upgradeable to TomTom WebFleet, with additional features used to help manage whole fleets brought into play. Price is £269. www.tomtom.com

Future traffic control

PPA

New Soundstream amps A choice of different Soundstream amplifiers has just arrived in the UK, courtesy of PPA Distribution. Shown is the PN4.520D four-channel model, hailing from the brand’s Picasso Nano line, with each promising big power from a small case – this particular amp is just 4.75 inches wide. Then there are the Stealth amplifiers, compact and using Class A/B circuitry rather than the Class D favoured elsewhere, and these are designed to be stackable, with a sleek Midnight Blue finish. Finally, the D-Tower amplifiers are also here, so-called as they can

be stacked vertically. Worth checking out.

PPA Distribution 0207 993 8889, email info@proplusaudio.co.uk

HEXEN AD

Old new speaker brand Our friends at UK distributor Hexen AD call Bravox “the best sounding speakers you’ve never heard of”. What is meant by this is that while the brand may be new to the UK in terms of being an aftermarket product, the Brazilian company has actually been supplying its speakers to car manufacturers like General Motors, Ford, VW, Fiat and Renault for decades. It is said to be the first speaker company to use Kevlar cones, and can even be found in use at Heathrow Airport and on the London Underground. RRP starts at a reasonable £49.

Hexen AD 0208 904 7099, www.hexenad.com

RAM MOUNT

Camera mount Here’s a great idea from Ram Mount UK, makers of industrial-strength camera brackets. The new RAM GoPro adaptor can be attached to any vehicle, then just sit a camera on top and capture all of your driving and off-roading antics. The bracket is said to be particularly suitable for HD video recording, with a maneuverable, shock-proof solution offering the best possible results. There is a built-in 1 inch rubber ball, allowing the adaptor to be connected to the GoPro Hero and a

50 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

The University of Southampton is currently looking into new ways of improving traffic control, using the different technology now being fitted to cars. The idea is to transmit information about the car’s speed and location to signalised junctions, using Wi-Fi and GPS, with a computer building up a detailed picture of traffic in a particular area, controlling the lights as needed, and even improving on its strategies through experience. The system, called innovITS Advance, was even featured on The One Show in August. The aim is to create a better flow of traffic, avoiding accidents and delays. www.mediatechnical.com

TELL US YOUR NEWS! number of compatible RAM base kits, for mounting to any surface. A lifetime guarantee is included. www.ram-mount.co.uk

If you have company developments or product news, email information and hi-res images (300dpi) to: chris@chrisandersonmedia.com

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 51 51 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

INSTALL GUIDE /// FORD FOCUS 2011 RANGE ///

NEW FOCUS Martyn Williams steers through the install challenges from the inside out

REMOVING THE HEAD UNIT

1

T

he new Ford Focus offers plenty of scope for the aftermarket.

While a DAB option from the manufacturer costs £250, most installers should be able to offer a fully integrated hideaway tuner with full graphics for less, and if using the Pure Highway 300Di from Connects2 it also gives the user instant iTunes or MP3 playback and a high contrast OLED display showing DAB subtext. Focus owners can also get rear cam action for aftermarket head units with a numberplate light integration unit from Connects2 also, with part number CAM-FD3.

Phone Connectivity The phone kit fitting just needs one of the many SOT leads available. Ford has moved the interior light on this model to the centre of the roof, but luckily there is a handy alarm sensor panel for location of the microphone. This is just clipped in. The microphone cable can be routed behind the air bag on the passenger ‘A’ pillar without too much hassle.

The Connects2 replacement panel has everything required for a change-over to a double DIN slot

2

It’s a slightly fiddly operation to remove the small panel covering two Torx 20 screws retaining the fascia

3

Vent clips are simple to release for transfer to the new panel

4

There’s loads of space to stash interfaces, and for nonDAB aftermarket head units there’s plenty of room for a universal DAB tuner box

5 Dashmount item number 711299 is used here with a Brodit cradle 521164.

As well as the plug, there is an additional chime speaker with the C2 phone interface kit which needs to be fitted once the OE unit is disconnected

Speaker Upgrades The trickiest part of removing the front door cards for a speaker upgrade is having to carefully lever out the window switch panel, which proved to be very stiff. The plastic door panel is held by clips in the usual way, but is also fastened by five screws, two behind the switch panel, one retaining the door release moulding and two in the trailing edge with one hidden by the red lens/cover.

It should be easy to fit a 165mm speaker, and the mirror pad tweeter space is quite generous, as it caters for a 1 inch Sony dome type for the premium factory system.

The sponge packing probably stops a rattle, so worth making sure it goes back

Parking Sensors The inner sensors on the rear are mounted on the lower sub panel, and they are positioned 23cm from the centre line of the car. Mount the outer sensors 64cm from the centre and 6cm above the reflector.

Run the cables to the nearside and use the existing blank grommet below the fuse box for entry into the vehicle.

Remove the near side rear ‘D’ pillar trim, and the reverse light feed can be found on the green/brown wire going to the tailgate. You can also mount the buzzer here for good audio.

The control box can be fitted on the back panel above the fuse box/rear light area.

Thanks to Connects2 (www.connects2.com), VCE’s Vernon Craig (07813 303398), VCE members Mick Walmsley (Communications Network) and Andrew Rossall (Blackpool Communications), and Steve Taylor of Dashmount (01883 741460)

E E E E E E E E E E E E E SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL S R O O O O O O O O O O O O F F F F F F F F F F F F FO FOR E E E E E E E E E E E E E L L L L L L L L L L L L E L A A A A A A A A A A A A L R S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S OR SA R SA F FO

CAR AUDIO BUSINESS FOR SALE Reluctant sale due to change in personal circumstances Based in Warwickshire, within a high income town where property prices are still high. The business is established over 12 years, with no competition for 20 miles (unless you call Halfords competition). The town has a population of 60,000 with towns and cities within a 10 mile radius having total population of 500,000

THE OFFER: I have run this successful business since 2000 but due to sudden a change in my personal circumstances, I no longer have the time to commit to the business fully. I am offering 2 options: 1) Sale of the whole business as a going concern 2) Sale of 50% of the business and I would remain a partner

THE BUSINESS: • Excellent High Street Location • 1200 sq. ft. Modern showroom (refitted in 2011) • Double workshop • Separate office and kitchen in large basement • Private off road parking for 4 cars plus 2 in workshop.

• Stock valued at over £40K • Website and top on google searches • Secure building with monitored alarm • Town CCTV covers shop from all angles • Reasonable Rent, very low rates and insurance.

Contact 07970 170177 or email enquiries@audiotab.co.uk For full details visit: www.audiotab.co.uk

E E E E E E E E E E E E E SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL R SAL SA R O O O O O O O O O O O O R O E F ALE F ALE F ALE F ALE F ALE F ALE F ALE F ALE F ALE F ALE F ALE F LE F LE FO L A A SA R S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S FOR S OR S F FOR

T H E O N LY F R E E O F C H A R G E A F T E R M A R K E T T R A D E E V E N T

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For as little as £17 per month, you can list your company details here. For more information, contact 01268 754 897 or e-mail kevin.hogg@creativemedialtd.co.uk

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Cobra UK Contact: Cobra Sales T: 01932 772 400 E: salesuk@cobra-at.com W: www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk Brands: Cobra has been providing tried and tested vehicle security, safety and electronic systems since the 1970s.

Our products include: Cobra Alarms and Immobilisers, Cobra ParkMaster Parking Sensors, CobraTrak Stolen Vehicle Tracking, NSV Bluetooth® Handsfree Systems (compatible with all Bluetooth® enabled handsets), VizualogicTM In-car DVD Systems, Rear View Reversing Cameras and Monitors, Cruise Control and Speed Limiters.

Aftermarket Vehicle Solutions Ltd Contact: Peter Hughes T: +44 (0)1255 434353 E: sales@avs-ltd.co.uk W: www.avs-ltd.co.uk Brands: Distributor of Speed Limiters, Cruise Control, Parking Sensors, Security Products, CAN interfaces and Carbon Fibre Heated Seat Kits to the Aftermarket and the OEM Industries.

Alpine Electronics of UK Ltd Contact: Keith Holness T: +44 (0) 2476 719623 E: keith.holness@alpine-electronics.co.uk W: www.alpine-electronics.co.uk Brands: Alpine

Commercial Electronics Contact: Salim Ali T: +44 208 404 7105 F: +44 208 404 7104 E: sales@hawkcaralarm.com W: www.hawkcaralarm.com, www.demonalarm.com Brands: Designed & Engineered in UK, Est. over 25 years.

OEM service available. Hawk Car Alarm, Hawk Reversing Angel, Hawk Motorcycle Alarm, Hawk GPS, Demon Car Alarm, Demon Motorcycle Alarm, Demon Reversing Angle, Demon Tracking, Cyclone Car Alarm, Cyclone Motorcycle Alarm, Cyclone Parking Sensors Kit, Cyclone Central Locking Kit, Cyclone GPS and much more...

Armour Automotive Limited Contact: Sales T: 01420 487110 E: sales@armourauto.com W: www.armourauto.com Brands: Autoleads, CTi, iO, Mutant, Radiomobile, Veba, VI, Avital, Clifford, Focal, Hornet, Kicker, Orion, Viper, Oxygen, Dension, Kinetik, Hushmat, Sony Antennentechnik Antennentechnik Bad Blankenburg AG, Hermann – Petersilge – Srasse 10, 07422 Bad Blankenburg, Germany T: +49(36741)3690 F: + 49(36741)36963 Email: Liane.Marter@antenne-ag.de

Connects2 Contact: Andrew Simner T: 0845 257 5588 F: 0121 522 5589 E: sales@connects2.com W: www.connects2.com Brands: Connects2 – Interface solutions for OEM and aftermarket systems, Including interfaces for iPod, USB, MP3, Aux, Steering wheel controls inc CAN-Bus, Stalk & Display, Telemute, Parrot, and MOST fibre optic iPod & Bluetooth hands free interfaces.

BEAT, Ground Zero, Tsunami, Shuriken, Balistic, Raptor, Zenec, Metra, LG, MAC Audio

Audiovox Incaar Systems GmbH Contact: Damian Trybuszewski T: 01483 722 531 E: info@audiovoxincaarsystems.com W: www.audiovoxincaarsystems.com Brands: Audiovox, Audiovox Incaar Systems, AIS Automonitor Mobile Multimedia Ltd Contact: Hugh J McTernan T: +44 (0) 116 275 2020 E: hugh@automonitor.co.uk W: www.automonitor.co.uk Brands: Automonitor, SAVV, Necvox, Baton, Rosen, Visteon, Britax and Westfalia

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Autosound Limited Contact: Lee Fergus T: 01274 688990 E: lee.fergus@autosound.co.uk W: www.autosound.co.uk, www.blaupunktdirect.co.uk Brands: Blaupunkt, Bosch Car Multimedia, Funkwerk, Funtoro Mod Systems

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Canm8 Ltd Contact: Colin Palmer T: 0845 226 6283 E: SALES@CANM8.COM Brands: Canm8 range of can bus interfaces can bus custom design Celsus UK Limited Contact: Sales T: +44 (0) 1202 664 390 E: sales@celsusice.co.uk W: www.celsusice.co.uk Brands: Celsus Accessories, Calearo, Antennas, Caliber, Dynamat Europe, iSimple, Jehnert, JL Audio, MediaDAB, MTX, PAC Audio, Paser, Phoenix Gold and Stinger.

Dashmount Contact: Steve Taylor T: 01883741460 E: sales@dashmount.co.uk W: www.dashmount Brands: Dashmount, Bury, Nokia, Parrot, Adapt, Brodit, Autoleads, Elan, Kram, Park Control, Steelmate.

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CKO International Limited Contact: Tony Rook T: 020 8863 8333 M: 07751 726 598 E: enquiries@c-ko.co.uk W: www.c-ko.co.uk Brands: C-KO, Eurologics, Nesa/VST, Necvox, Rosen Area of business: In Car Multimedia, Interfaces, Rear View Camera Systems, Parking Sensors, Heated Seats, HID/Day Running Lights, Digital Video Recorders, Digital TV, Digital Radio Clarion (GB) Limited Contact: Sales at Clarion T: +44 (0) 1793 859563 F: +44 (0) 1793 859598 E: info@clarion.co.uk W: www.clarion.co.uk Brands: Clarion

Daltec AI Ltd Contact: Jiten Patel T: 0208 515 7820 F: 020 8515 7820 E: sales@dal-tec.com W: www.dal-tec.com Brands: Distributors for Dice Ipod, Dension, Fiscon, Steelmate, Bluetooth Car Kits Including novero, THB, Bury and Nokia, Brodit, Tow-Trust, and many more. Get your full range of workshop supplies and lighting

FLYAUDIO UK Contact: John Pedlow T: 0333 4560236 F: 0333 7007120 E: sales@flyaudio.co.uk W: www.flyaudio.co.uk Brands: FlyAudio – In car advanced replacement media head units.

Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Kia, Hyundai, Jeep, Subaru, Toyota, Vauxhall, VW iGRIP® / Herbert Richter GmbH Contact: Scott Bouquet Email: s.b@igrip.eu T: +44 (0) 208 144 7413 E: www.igrip.eu Brands: iGRIP, Herbet Richter.

Exclusively Available at Strax (UK) LTD

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In Car Technologies Contact: Steve Patient T: 01392 829435 E: sales@incartec.co.uk W: www.incartec.co.uk

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Kenwood Electronics UK Limited T: +44 (0) 1923 816444 E: enquiries@kenwood-electronics.co.uk W: www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk Brands: Kenwood

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Navman Contact: Andrew Marsden T: 01162 449846 E: sales@celtrade.com W: www.celtrade.com Brands: Navman

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Panorama Antennas Ltd Contact: John Thomson T: +44 (0) 20 8877 4444 E: sales@panorama-antennas.com W: www.panorama-antennas.com Brands: Manufacturer of antennas for DAB, Mobile Radio, Tetra, 3G Broadband and other wireless technologies.

Parksafe UK Contact: Mick Barber T: 01773 746591 F: 01773 743251 E: Sales@Park-safe.co.uk W: www.park-safe.co.uk Brands: Parking and Rear View camera systems Parrot UK Limited T: 0844 472 2360 E: sales.uk@parrot.com W: www.parrot.com Brands: Parrot

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Radio World Contact: Dale Johnson T: 01132 578932 E: sales@radioworld-online.co.uk W: www.rw-online.co.uk Brands: Accessories importers

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Sailes Marketing Ltd Contact: Matthew Sailes T: +44 (0) 1386 554210 E: info@sailesmarketing.com W: www.sailesmarketing.com Brands: Manufacturer and Distributor of CAN Bus interfaces, Electronic Interfaces, Parking Sensors, Speed Pulse Generators & Installation tools.

Scorpion Automotive Ltd Contact: Dianne or Philly T: 01257 249928 E: info@scorpionauto.com W: www.scorpionauto.com Brands: Scorpion Security, Toad Security, Sigma Security, Stirling Security, Scorpion Parking sensors, Scorpion Track Stolen vehicle and fleet management tracking Soundmasterscotland Contact: Gordon Ballantyne T: 0141 876 1819 or 876 1919 F: 0141 881 1515 E: gordonb@soundmasterscotland.com W: soundmasterscotland.com Brands: All original OE fit car audio. Ford, BMW, Nissan-Merc. Sat Nav discs, Auto Electrics. Repairs, Decodes, Faces, Looms, Sat Nav, DVD, Amps, Subs, iPod, USB, Alarms, Alloys, Installs. Parrot approved installer. Mobile service Steelmate Automotive (UK) Ltd Contact: Kevin Kay T: 01582 475677 E: sales@steel-mate.co.uk W: www.steel-mate.co.uk Brands: TPMS, DVR. Promata – DRL, High level brake light warning device, Reverse Alarm.

For less than £17 per month, you can list your company details here. For more information, contact 01268 754897 or email kevin.hogg@creativemedialtd.co.uk 54 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

“...The UK’s First Choice Distributor...”

5+ Price

£45.00

CDX-GT260MP  

CD/MP3 4 x 45W

Connect ALL your digital music devices Search Hundreds of tracks in seconds Steering Wheel Remote Adaptor ready

CDX-GT40U

 Front Aux In  1 Pre-out

 

Please call for Pricing

Front USB + Aux In 1 Pre-out

CDX-GT564UI

 4 x 45W  CD/MP3

 

Please call for Pricing

MEX-BT3000    

  

Bluetooth Built-in Phonebook Front Aux In Digital Clarity Tuner

Please call for Pricing

iPod Control Front USB + Aux In

 ZappinTM  1 Pre-out

Please call for Pricing

XAV-63    

6.1” Touchscreen 5.1ch Surround Sound iPod/iPhone Control ZappinTM

Prices & Specifications all correct at time of press.

 MP3/CD compatible  Front USB & Aux In  Quick-BrowZerTM  ZappinTM  Advanced Sound Engine

CDX-GT450U

Please call for Pricing

***Increased Range, Large Stocks available*** Also - don’t forget...

When you buy from Armour all normal credit & trading terms still apply

T: 01420 487110 - E: sales@armourauto.com

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