Dollar T
With an improving economy helping to boost sales, potential for higher profits in the speaker and subwoofer market is vast
WORDS BY RUTH E. THALER-CARTER 20 Mobile Electronics July 2014
Sound as a
he U.S. economy is starting to look up, so consumers are buying more, and bigger, vehicles. U.S. News and World Report said recently that: “The U.S. economy appears poised for its best performance since the depths of the recession in 2008 and 2009. After four years of modest recov- ery, the economy has largely mended from the injuries received during the financial panic and may post 3.5 percent real GDP growth or better,” in 2014. This positive economic trend is creating new opportunities for manufacturers of car audio speakers and subwoofers. That means more sales opportunities for mobile electronics retailers whose customers include both the do-it-yourselfers and those who prefer to let the experts handle installation. “Technology has changed and improved significantly in the area of amplifiers,” said Matt Vinson, chief technology officer (CTO) at Axxera/Dual Electronics Corporation, a subsidiary of Namsung Corporation, in Heathrow, Florida. Some of the changes were a result of design evolution in vehicles: “As trunk space became smaller, digital amps have come a long way.” As needed as they were, those technological changes came with a price. “Analog amps were large heat sinks. Digital amps ran cool, but had high sound distortion. There was a ton of
noise,” Vinson said. “They could be made with a small footprint, but poor sound quality.” Products from Axxera have responded to these factors. “The sound of our Class AB amplifiers is comparable with (the larger analog speakers of the past),” Vinson said. “Cost also has come down. Now you can add (quality speakers) at installation or at the DIY level under the seat or in an enclosed box with a Class C amp. The high level of quality comes directly from the OEM. With the high-level setup, you can still use an OEM radio. The result is not only better sound quality, lower cost, and smaller space requirements, but more flexibility for the customer,” he added. The Axxera 12-inch ALB12 subwoofer comes in a ported wood enclosure that fits under the seat. It’s usually made of metal or ABS, so “it’s rugged, durable and tough; you can still use the trunk or seat of your vehicle for golf clubs, shopping, etc.,” according to Vinson. Axxera’s new speaker lineup also includes three Axis Series coaxial speakers, two tweeters, four midrange drivers, and two subwoofers. The woofers feature coated cloth surrounds and treated paper cones for what the company says is softer, more accurate and natural-sounding audio reproduction.
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