The patented Class D output circuitry in the monoblocks has been enhanced to deliver 20% more power than the previous generation amplifiers. On-board signal processing includes a parametric equalizer and highly advanced crossover controls.

The companion four-channel amplifier is the 300/4v3, offering 75W x 4 from JL Audio’s patented Absolute Symmetry Class A/B output stage.

All models feature JL Audio’s R.I.P.S. (Regulated Intelligent Power Supply) technology to maintain consistent power over a wide range of load impedances and supply voltages, as well as Advanced Rollback Thermal protection to keep your music playing under the most demanding conditions.

300/4v3

Continuous Power: RMS method, 11-V – 14.4V @ <0.03% THD+N 4 x 75W @ 1.5 – 4 ohms

2 x 150W @ 3-8 ohms (Bridged)

Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 30 kHz (+0, – 1 dB)

Damping Factor: >200 @ 4 ohms

Dimensions (H x W x D): 2.36 x 9.25 x 13.4 in (60 x 235 x 340 mm)

Availability:  First Quarter 2012

Suggested Retail Price:  USD $649.95/each

600/1v3

Continuous Power: RMS method, 11-V – 14.4V @ <0.05% THD+N 600W @ 1.5 – 4 ohms

Frequency Response: 5-250 Hz (+0, – 1 dB)

Damping Factor: >500 @ 4 ohms

Dimensions (H x W x D): 2.36 x 9.25 x 13.4 in (60 x 235 x 340 mm)

Availability:  First Quarter 2012

Suggested Retail Price:  USD $699.95/each

1200/1v3

Continuous Power: RMS method, 11-V – 14.4V @ <0.05% THD+N 1200W @ 1.5 – 4 ohms

Frequency Response: 5-250 Hz (+0, – 1 dB)

Damping Factor: >500 @ 4 ohms

Dimensions (H x W x D): 2.36 x 9.25 x 19.7 in (60 x 235 x 500 mm)

Availability:  Second Quarter 2012

Suggested Retail Price:  USD $1299.95/each

About JL Audio

Founded in 1975 in Miramar, Florida, JL Audio is a privately held American company manufacturing high-end audio solutions for the home, mobile and marine audio markets. JL Audio products are sold exclusively by specialty retailers throughout the U.S.A. and are distributed in seventy-two countries around the world.  Recipient of numerous awards and accolades, JL Audio loudspeakers, amplifiers and subwoofers have been awarded fourteen U.S. patents for innovative audio technology.

Facebook: @jlaudio        Twitter @jlaudio

The technology, in both aftermarket and OEM forms, is vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications—cars “talking” to each other.

General Motors is already working on an app that links with a car radio’s video display and audio system to allow V2V communication.  The app relies on a smartphone to pick up the wireless signal for the V2V network (a special V2V network was set aside by the Fed a decade ago).

GM is also working on a stand-alone portable transponder about the size of a portable GPS navigator.

Consumer Reports announced, after testing out V2V (or V2X, as it sometimes called), that “Consumer Reports believes that the potential safety benefits of this technology make it worth pursuing…”

V2V technology could alert you if a nearby driver is running a red light, with enough time so you can hit the brakes.   And it can stop you from making a left hand turn into oncoming traffic.

Officials say it is more effective and cheaper to deploy than current safety devices such as blind spot detectors.

Two of Consumer Reports’ journalists who tested V2V were “impressed with the effectiveness and potential safety benefits of the systems,” they said.

The V2V network allows each car to transmit information up to 1,000 feet around it, and each car sends signals out about its speed and location at a rate of 10 times a second.

“The past 50 years have been about surviving vehicle crashes; the next 50 will be about preventing them,”  stated Gregory Winfree of the Dept. of Transportation.

As we noted in January, the aftermarket may play a critical role in the deployment of V2V technology as the more cars that use it, the more effective the system becomes.

“It only works if you’re equipped and everybody else around you is equipped,” says Mike Shulman, technical leader at Ford. “And how do you go from a world where nobody’s got it to a world where everybody’s got it?”

So a number of car makers and aftermarket companies are researching aftermarket options, including those from GM mentioned above.

V2V could prevent about 80 percent of crashes (other than those relating to drunk driving).

Here is the Consumer Reports article.

Source: Consumer Reports

The 4-sensor system is compatible with any in-dash video unit or monitor. It also permits a video overlay.

Steelmate says installation is simple for the device as it works over existing wiring using a separate module called the  IPWRXTX1 at $399 suggested retail price.

The camera/sensor module is called the SPTSV401 at $499.

Steelmate claims a similar system found on S Class Mercedes AMG sedans is in a $3,500 option.

Source: Steelmate USA

The patent No. 8,078,120 is notable because it can allow a CB to serve as a loudspeaker for smartphones, which typically have insufficient speakers for use in a truck.

The patent includes 101 claims for different scenarios involving CB radios and cell phones and other mobile devices. It is entitled “Citizens Band Radio With Wireless Cellular Telephone Connectivity.”

Cobra said that after 50 years, CB radios are still an important tool for truckers.  And many truckers also carry cellphones “which opens up a whole new world of possibilities for communication and application interoperability between CBs and mobile devices,” said Sally Washlow, Cobra Senior VP of Marketing and Sales.

The patent “holds the very real potential to dramatically alter the future path of the CB radio market while enhancing the safety, convenience and comfort of professional drivers,” said Ramon Sandoval Category Manager for Cobra

Specifically the patent abstract is as follows:

A wireless communication device for use in connection with a cellular telephone is disclosed and a transceiver radio such as a citizens band radio. The wireless communication device of the present invention provides enhanced audio broadcasting capabilities for an operator of the device by providing a larger, more powerful speaker than that typically found in a cellular telephone. Thus, the apparatus of the present invention improves cellular telephone usage in a noisy environment such as the cab of a tractor trailer or other vehicle. In another embodiment, the wireless communication device of the present invention is connectable to multiple external devices and is capable of operating the external devices and providing access to a cellular telephone network for such external devices.

Source: Cobra Electronics

Sales should accelerate even more rapidly in a few years, as a law is expected to go into effect around 2014 mandating that back up cameras be included in new all new cars.

iSuppli adjusted its estimates favorably for the category since last year.  It now expects aftermarket backup camera sales should rise from approximately 260,000 units in 2011 to 880,000 units in 2015.   On the OEM side, back up sales should multiply from 1.4 million units in 2011 to 16.4 million in 2015

In recent months, several new suppliers have entered the category including Metra, Escort and Scytek.

Metra is shipping a Third Eye budget line of back up cameras and will add an OE Direct Fit line of cameras customized for various car makes to ship in late Spring. The cameras range in price from $59 to $79.

Scytek is entering the market with 5 universal back up cameras it showed at CES last month.  The line starts below $50 and includes bullet type cameras with 170 angle viewing, distance grids, extreme low light sensitivity and waterproof cases.

Escort recently announced a new Smart Site mirror and back up camera system.

Boyo which has a market share it estimates at about 40 percent in backup cameras, introduced its first commercial HD camera, offering a superior quality picture at CES in January.  It mounts on the license plate holder.  Called the model VTL375HD it is shipping now at $259 suggested retail price.

Source: CEoutlook

The company, which also distributes Pioneer as well as JVC, JBL, Infinity, Audiovox, Viper and other brands, will handle Sony car audio for the areas of Trenton, NJ, Rochester, NY, Westchester/ Rockland, NY, and all of New England and upstate NY.

Source: M. Rothman

“We are excited to have this new amplifier series in stock and shipping”, said National Sales Manager Jason Fickas.  “The response that we got at the CES show for these amplifiers was outstanding and our dealers have been looking foward to getting the product into their stores.”

Features include an anodized aluminum heat sink, class D topology mono blocks, class A/B 4-channel design, surface mount dual layer fiberglass PCB design, and variable crossovers.

The TD Series includes:

       Model             RMS Power                 MSRP             Dimensions

TD500.1D        500W x 1 @ 2Ω            $249.95            5.5″ x 2.13″ x 7.25″

TD1000.1D      1000W x 1 @ 1Ω           $449.95           5.5″ x 2.13″ x 10.3″

TD75.4            75W x 4 @ 4Ω              $299.95            5.5″ x 2.13″ x 10.0″

For more information about TD Series amplifiers or other MTX products visit www.mtx.com, call 1-800-CALL-MTX, or email dealersupport@mtx.com.

The Orion brand and product rights were sold for an undisclosed sum.

As of February 10, MD Audio, based in Miami, handles all Orion orders and warranties.  MD Audio is an arm of Mobile Sound out of Venezuela, which sells Lanzar Pro car audio amplifiers and speakers in the Latin and Central American markets as well as the Caribbean.  It has been in the car audio business for about 25 years .

For its part, Directed divested Orion in order to focus its energy on “car security and control” products and window film, said VP marketing Jim Jardin.

Directed’s parent company, DEI Holdings, continues to own Polk Audio.

“SmartStart and connectivity of your phone is just taking off.  We lead that category and we want to continue to lead….we have plans to aggressively grow it and we just want to focus on our core again,” said Jardin.

MD Audio’s financial officer Willy Lopez said the company plans to improve the product quality of Orion and take the brand global.  “Our intent is to restore Orion to the position it held in its glory days in the late 80’s and early 90’s, when it was the premier high power, dollar for power product you could buy.”

The company plans to improve componentry and “step it up to more power for the dollar,” Lopez said.

MD Audio acquired all global rights to Orion, as well as proprietary designs, existing inventory, show cars, marketing materials and web domains.

The company plans to keep the Lanzar Pro and Orion brands separate, with Lanzar Pro aimed at the Latin and Central American markets and the Caribbean while Orion is initially aimed at the U.S.

MD Audio Engineering may be reached at info@mdaudio.net.

Source:  CEoutlook

Petra partnered with Pioneer to host this two-day event, which brought in more than 100 dealers from the 5-state area surrounding Petra. Pioneer’s Bob Coyle, District Sales Manager of the Mobile Business Group, showcased all of Pioneer’s new 2012 models and provided Petra’s dealers with training and selling tips to demonstrate and promote the value of all the models to end-user consumers.

“Petra always represents the 12-volt industry with a level of quality that puts them in a class of their own,” said Bob Coyle, District Sales Manager with Pioneer. “Petra was able to get more than 100 installers, salespeople and principles to come to their headquarters for a “Pioneer Only” training. This quality time spent with Petra’s dealers is invaluable from Pioneer’s point of view.”

“Pioneer always does a first class job for our dealers at these trainings,” said Paul Mattes, Director of Merchandising at Petra. “The information, strategy and suggestions they provide are sure to deliver another successful 12-volt season for 2012. We value our partnership with them tremendously.”

Petra’s Pioneer line-up features more than 130 products that include navigation receivers, mobile video a/v receivers, in-dash DVD players, CD head units, amplifiers, subwoofers and enclosures, speakers, component speakers, marineaudio speakers and a large selection of mobile accessories and the full line-up can be found at www.petra.com.

About Petra

Petra is a leading national wholesale distributor of consumer electronics, custom installation products, mobile audio/video accessories and appliance connection supplies. Headquartered in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area for more than 27 years, Petra carries more than 20,000 products from more than 500 manufacturers. Petra’s mission is to provide the highest level of service, integrity and product value to ensure customer satisfaction. Petra’s full-color catalog is mailed twice annually to more than 110,000 retailers nationwide.Additionally, Petra offers same-day shipping for orders placed before 6:00 p.m. CDT, a lowest-price guarantee to beat any competitive distributor’s price on an identical item, expert sales support, a no minimum order policy and 24-hourordering from its website or mobile website using a smartphone or Internet-enabled mobile device. Petra is a member of CEA, CEDIA and PARA. For more information on Petra, visit www.petra.com or call 1-800-443-6975.

An exception is voice activated use of any of the above functions, which would not require the car be in park.

A second set of guidelines on aftermarket car products will follow, said the Department of Transportation.

The edict is the first-ever “federally proposed guidelines to encourage automobile manufacturers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic devices,” said the agency.

These are voluntary guidelines, but the agency expects that auto makers will fully comply, and in fact, many car makers already follow the guidelines.

The aftermarket is not excluded from the DOT’s radar.  A second phase of guidelines  will affect aftermarket products such as portable navigation systems as well as “smart phones, electronic tablets and pads, and other mobile communications devices,” said the DOT.

A third set of guidelines may address voice-activated controls to further minimize distraction in factory-installed, aftermarket, and portable devices, said the agency.

As for phase one of the guidelines for auto makers, public comments are invited over the next 60 days and public hearings will be held in March in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C

The phase one guidelines apply specifically to any infotainment/navigation functions “that are not required to safely operate the vehicle.”

“We recognize that vehicle manufacturers want to build vehicles that include the tools and conveniences expected by today’s American drivers,” said David Strickland, Administrator for NHTSA  (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), the arm of the DOT responsible for the guidelines. “The guidelines we’re proposing would offer real-world guidance to automakers to help them develop electronic devices that provide features consumers want-without disrupting a driver’s attention or sacrificing safety.”

He also noted that data shows that “the vast majority of crashes occur because of dangerous behavior, including driving drunk, driving while distracted, and driving too fast.”

You can view the full guidelines and DOT press release here.

Source: DOT via The Wall Street Journal