BMW power direct-fitment speakers by Rockford Fosgate
and SUVs is their lifestyles. We’re all about developing products and applica- tions for trucks and SUVs.”
About half the vehicle sales in the U.S. these days are such vehicles, Brown said, and “truck buyers tend to be more willing to modify their vehicles,” making that segment of the consumer market a great opportunity. Because trucks and SUVs are more expensive than passenger cars, owners tend to keep them for longer, and people who want these vehicles don’t lease. “We think there is a solid market for truck and SUV applications.” One of the ironies of manufacturing is that, “while a truck is big, it doesn’t
have space for traditional subwoofers,” Brown said. “It requires a subwoofer that is smaller.” In response, Alpine’s SWT subwoofer series is designed to be mounted in trucks under the back seat. “They provide good power but are slim,” he said.
Made in Germany, the power direct-fit- ment speakers for BMWs from 2004 onward are designed to either modify or replace factory models. Te 4-inch, 2-way component system for all models is Klip- pel-verified, 2013 CEA-Compliant, with 50/100 Watt power performance. MSRP for the Prime R1, a dual 12-inch speaker, is $249.99.
PWE S8 by Alpine Tis
compact powered subwoofer
for SUVs, trucks, and
cars features an
8-inch subwoofer and 120-Watt amplifier in a cast metal housing. Te design is 9 inches high, 13 inches wide, and 3 inches deep.
SA12S4 Loaded Self Powered Enclosure, by Memphis Car Audio
Te SA12S4 brings Memphis sound to small spaces. Tis unit is ready to rock right out of the box boast- ing a single 12-inch special application 250/500(w) sub
which pairs perfectly with the enclosed 100w RMS amp to achieve optimal output, according to the company. MSRP is set at $299.
22 Mobile Electronics July 2014
Alpine also has developed an enclosure appropriate for truck and SUV designs. “We sell our product as a bare woofer that is ready to be installed and is in a
wedge-shaped enclosure. We have a lot of dealers who prefer to sell a pre-en- closed product as a simple solution. It’s the best of both worlds.” Alpine’s PWE S8 is for trucks, but also can be used in SUVs and even in cars, Brown said. “This product allows the woofer to go under the middle-row seat, which is perfect, because it’s hidden, is a bass boost for the system and uses space that isn’t large enough for storage. It’s all-in-one and easy to wire with OEM or custom systems. It’s a versatile product.” The Alpine SWT line responds to the truck and SUV owner’s interest in
aftermarket parts—lift kits, wheels, and more—that created a $2.2-billion expenditure in the USA in 2013 alone. “This indicates the willingness of owners to add to their vehicles,” said Brown. Alpine aims to make its products affordable—“around $150 seems to be the
sweet spot”—but also has a high-end item at $500 for what Brown said is a “very niche, small subset of the market.” New from Elettromedia USA in Irvine, Calif., is the Audios AP8.9 software and Digital BIT ONE mobile sound processor. According to the company, Audi- son retailers can install using “this advanced software to tune the vehicle’s interior audio characteristics and program the Audison car stereo system for maximum performance.” This May, the company’s Hertz HCP 5D amplifier won the title of “European In-Car Amplifier 2013-2014” award of the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA).
Facing the Competition It isn’t surprising that colleagues see their products as the best of the best,
but it’s still interesting to see how they feel those products stand out from the competition. “There are things we see our competitors doing as well,” said Axxera Dual’s Vinson. “Everybody in the market has recognized that the new Class C amps offer a lot of flexibility. This is where we’re innovating. Auto manufacturers now include that form with their new vehicles to replace doors with subwoof- ers. I like seeing that other companies are thinking more car-specific.” At Alpine, “whenever we develop a new product, we look at the market sales
data to see what’s popular,” said Brown. “There is a definite market for shal- low- or thin-mount woofers.” That comes with a trade-off, though: “By making it shallow, you lose quality. It has to be shallow enough to fit (current vehicle designs) but not so much that it compromises the quality of the sound. We think we have the best balance between performance and space at the target price.” Vinson also sees some unexpected new approaches in speakers. “Speakers seem like such a simple thing, but the terminals are all different,” he explained.
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