Mobile Electronics News March 2013

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

IN THIS ISSUE Business focus Learning from the high street Expert help Q&A and install guide Latest news Products and industry gossip

Bass chamber Dare to look inside Rockford’s new demo van?

PLUS! SEE PARKSAFE’S LATEST PRODUCTS ON page 15 ALSO INSIDE

Phone cradles

Speaker round-up

Holders and brackets for all devices

The best new component systems

Kenwood review Android and iPhone control for £90

Industry interview

Chris Pateman of the FCS

For more industry news and features, go to www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

MARCH 2013

\\\ CONTENTS \\\ ED SPEAK

CONTENTS 03/13

EDITOR’S COMMENT Facing the challenges

Industry news

How did you find MEN Expo? Hopefully you had a productive two days.

As I write this, the event hasn’t actually taken place yet, but I’m confident we’ll see a good turnout, as it’s more important than ever these days to keep up-to-date with the latest products and be aware of industry issues.

It’s not easy out there, but events like MEN Expo could give you the edge.

Digital radio news 10

For example, what are the products popular with customers right now?

According to figures released by the NPD Group recently – a leading global provider of consumer and retail market research across a range of industries – the car audio and electronics aftermarket experienced a 14% drop in dollar volume during 2012, with overall sales at US$1.8 billion.

This figure doesn’t include portable navigation or video products, however, which some dealers now sell to supplement those that require fitting.

Examining the figures further, amplifier sales were down 1%, head units decreased 9%, and speakers actually rose 1%.

The latest developments from the world of digital radio

Q&A

Opinion

Andy Mills asks if the industry has lost the personal touch

Rockford van

Rockford Fosgate’s new US demo car houses a sit-in bass torture chamber

It’s an interesting point, but it shows how the industry is changing, highlighting the challenge of keeping up with it. There are things that can be a help and hindrance too – a recent campaign launched by ITV’s Daybreak, Phone Free Zone, pushed the importance of not using a mobile phone when driving. Distributing 50,000 window stickers to raise awareness, it could have been something dealers got behind, selling handsfree kits perhaps – unfortunately, the campaign included the use of those too, so it wasn’t to be.

A look at the latest models on the market

So use opportunities, keep up with developments and spot the changes in the market – hopefully between the magazine and MEN Expo, we can help you out there. Enjoy the issue!

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

Sophie Belcher Production/Events Tel: 01268 754897/07530 876727 sophie.belcher@creativemedialtd.co.uk

Kevin Hogg PUBLICATION MANAGER Tel: 01268 754897/07538 332171 kevin.hogg@creativemedialtd.co.uk Sean Rice SENIOR DESIGNER Tel: 01268 754897 sean.rice@creativemedialtd.co.uk

Connects2 update

34

Parrot update

36

Android and iPhone control for under £100? Adam Rayner investigates Managing director Asif Gillani on the new Asteroid products

Industry interview 38

Chris Patemen of the FCS talks new courses and technology

Business focus

Is the demise of certain high street chains anything to worry about?

40

40

Introducing the Infodapter – allowing you to fit a new AV head unit and retain your factory functions

Market analysis

THE MEN TEAM

18

20

We meet the new owners of Oxford Car Audio

Managing editor, chris@chrisandersonmedia.com

14

Product review

Component speakers 20

Meet the dealers

Chris Anderson

12

Got a business or install query? Maybe we can help

How does that compare with your own business? In analysing the data, the NPD’s Ben Arnold said that customers are clearly starting to use their own sources for music or navigation in the car, such as smartphones. This means that fewer fixed devices like head units are sold, but products that add to the experience – like amplifiers or speakers – are stable.

But some positive media coverage came from Liz Hurley, who reported her car stolen last month, with companies such as Cobra using the opportunity to say how she would have benefitted from their tracking products. That was still the case four days later, when the car was found in Mayfair covered in parking tickets – she had simply forgotten where she left it.

4

Big announcements, plus movers and shakers

28

30 32

How quickly are car makers adopting digital radio, and could it affect the aftermarket?

Phone cradles

42

Product news

46

Installer guide

48

MEN directory

50

Smartphone integration with the car made easy The latest aftermarket kit, from tiny Kenwood amps to Caliber digital radio Fit an aftermarket AV head unit to a Mitsubishi SUV Numbers and websites for manufacturers and suppliers

30

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

Stock images, unless otherwise stated, are obtained via Shutterstock.com 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.

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 3

NEWS /// INDUSTRY ///

Car makers vs aftermarket With car manufacturers boosting their OE products, where does that leave the installer?

Ever wondered what car manufacturers think of the aftermarket? One clue may have been offered recently by David McNamara, infotainment manager at Ford until 2006, and a panelist at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas for a seminar entitled ‘Are Automakers Running the Aftermarket Off the Road?’ He said: “We had a love-hate

relationship with the aftermarket. We could see they were doing things we couldn’t.

That has changed. The digital world has disrupted our lives, and customers want to use their smartphones in the car.”

The seminar had been organised in response to the fact that CES – the biggest event of its kind in the world, and where producers of aftermarket products traditionally unveil their latest offerings – had reported a record-setting presence by the auto industry for 2013, with companies such as Audi, Chrysler and Ford all wanting to show their latest OE equipment, from audio, social media and 4G items to safety and self-driving technology.

This reflected the news that car manufacturers are now spending a third of their research and

recruitment

development budgets on in-car entertainment.

So should the aftermarket industry be worried? Tom Malone of Audiovox, who also spoke at the seminar, said there was still opportunity, as with car makers including more technology as standard, it simply raises the public awareness of what is available, and after a couple of years that OE product will need to be updated anyway. Jim Braun of Dual Electronics added that car manufacturers and aftermarket brands have access to the same technology, but that the aftermarket can react a lot faster to new developments. He said there might be an increase in fragmentation in the aftermarket, in terms of products, but did not expect demand to go away. www.cesweb.org

Tracker

Tracker on Top Gear Due to continued expansion, UK’s Biggest Independent Retailers are currently looking for staff with the following experience: • Customer Services & Technical Support • Trade & Telesales • Logistics & Warehousing • Web Design & Artwork Development • Installation of Audio & Alarms

Please send a CV, with job preference, in the first instance to: support@caraudiosecurity.com Car Audio & Security Ltd, Unit 6A Bilton Way, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 3NF

Everyone enjoying the new series Tracker’s telematics technology, of BBC Two’s Top Gear? One which monitors mileage, journey company particularly pleased status, speed limits and provides about its return is Tracker, which vehicle and driver information,” had a starring role in a recent says Stephen Doran, Tracker’s episode. During the London to managing director. See the Milan race challenge, Richard episode on BBC iPlayer.

Hammond and James May took www.tracker.co.uk the train, pitted against Jeremy Clarkson in a Ford Mustang – each travelling a distance of If you have company developments, 800 miles. Tracker was news or thoughts to tell the trade, why used by Hammond and not let us know? Email information May to follow Clarkson’s and hi-res images (300dpi) to progress via a laptop. chris@chrisandersonmedia.com “This was a fun use of

TELL US YOUR NEWS!

4 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Save up to 37% of your fuel costs* NOW The Cobra Speed Limiter is saving fuel and keeping costs down across the UK right now. Join the growing fleet of operators saving money every day.

EASY TO INSTALL you’re in control PLUG AND PLAY start saving today PROVEN TECHNOLOGY developed with leading OEMs

To order now call 01932 772400

Search ‘Cobra Speed Limiter’ online or visit our website

www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk *as shown in independent testing in association with Fleet Van Magazine

NEWS /// INDUSTRY ///

DIARY ///

Vibe

IASCA

Vibe is 20

Joint US finals

It seems that car audio brand Vibe is a teenager no more, with 2013 marking its 20th anniversary. Made in the UK, Vibe celebrated recently by taking its biggest ever stand at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, launching over 50 new products. Among the new items on display were speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers and active enclosures in the extreme performance flagship BlackDeath range, three-way speakers and DSP-controlled amplifiers in its sound-qualityfocused Space line, plus new enclosures in the BlackAir and Slick series. There were also new gaming headphones and portable audio devices. Shown is the new BlackDeath CBR 12 active bass enclosure – the CBR name is one being brought back for the anniversary.

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

For the first time, all of the major sound-off organisations in the US will be joining together for a single finals event. This will be held from October 19-20 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama, with the participation of the dB Drag Racing Association (dBDRA), the International Autosound Challenge Association (IASCA), the United States Autosound Competition International (USACi) and the Mobile Electronics Competition Association (MECA). The idea is that costs for the event can be shared, competitors can participate in multiple formats at a single venue, and it will be more of an attraction for visitors and exhibitors. www.iasca.com

Pioneer

Make apps for AppRadio

Pioneer has just launched the AppRadio Development Centre (ADC) – a website that provides app developers with vital information to make their product compatible with Pioneer’s AppRadio devices. Launched last year, Pioneer’s AppRadio platform is available on certain AV head units, so that when an Apple or Android smartphone is connected, compatible apps may be operated from the dash via the touchscreen.

These include those intended for entertainment,

or specific in-vehicle use such as navigation, but it is hoped that with the website, more will become available. Girish Janday, product executive at Pioneer, says: “With the launch of the AppRadio Development Centre, we will be able to offer even more third party apps to consumers, and help developers to quickly integrate their apps with our compatible products.” www.appradiodev.com

ARMOUR

New to Parksafe

Back to Armour

6 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Tue 5-Wed 6 MEN Expo 2013 Ricoh Arena, Coventry The industry trade event of the year.

Manufacturers gather under one roof to showcase new products, with presentations and workshops. Register for your free ticket!

For more info or to book a stand, call 01268 754897 Sun 17 The Fast Show Santa Pod Raceway With huge club stand displays, Run What Ya Brung, drag racing, drifting, stunt displays, fairground rides and the Fireforce Jet Car on the track. www.thefastshow.com

April Wed 3-Sun 7 Gadget Show Live NEC Birmingham Everything from home theatre and car audio to games and simulators – all under one roof. www.gadgetshowlive.net Tue 9-Thu 11 Commercial Vehicle Show NEC Birmingham The largest and most comprehensive road freight transport event staged in the UK, with over 100 stands. www.cvshow.com

Parksafe AUTOMOTIVE

Parksafe Automotive has a new member of staff.

Joining the company is Graham Bosanquet, who has been appointed sales manager for the West Country.

Graham has a wealth of knowledge related to the car electronics industry, having previously worked at C-KO International. If you would like to contact Graham about Parksafe’s range of parking sensors, rear view cameras and accessories, give him a call on 07539 232338.

Parksafe Automotive 01773 746591, www.parksafeautomotive.com

March

It’s common for us to report on new staff members at companies, although hearing of someone rejoining is a little rarer. But we’ve heard that Richard Bamford is back in the ranks of Armour Automotive, and looking forward to catching up with his old customer base. Previously, Richard’s focus was the Dension brand, but he left last year to pursue other ventures.

Returning to the company, he will be working as a regional sales manager in the north.

Armour Automotive 01420 487110, www.armourauto.com

May Thu 9 FCS Comms Installer 13 Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel, near Meriden Topics for this year’s event will include updates on the FITAS training course and its partnership with City & Guilds.

It’s at a new venue too. www.fcs.org.uk Fri 24-Sun 26 Modified Nationals Peterborough Arena & Showground One of the first major modified car shows of the year, with club stands, manufacturers and a sound-off.

Tickets available now. Weekend and VIP passes include entry to nightlife events www.modifiednationals.co.uk

JUNE Sat 15-Sun 16 The Supercar Event Dunsford Park Choose a supercar from a selection of many and then be driven around the track. A charity event, with all proceeds given to the Children’s Trust. wwww.thesupercarevent.com

JAGUAR

CEL TRADE

NEW Range for 2013

T: 0116 2449846 E: sales@celtrade.com

Bluetooth

WX GT90 BT

DPX 405BT

NEW

• Double DIN with bluetooth • Direct iPhone / iPod control • Front USB & Aux in • 3 Pre-outs • Variable illum.

Bluetooth

QFC : 10830

£117.02

NEW

• Double DIN with bluetooth • iPod & Android control • Front USB & Aux in • 2 Pre-outs • Variable illum.

QFC : 10848

£116.93

Aux in

CDX GT260MP QFC : 9924

£37.99

iPod

DEH X6500DAB

• DAB digital radio tuner (DAB aerial required) • Pause, rewind & replay DAB radio QFC : 10438 • Front USB & Aux in • iPod control

£79.00

DDX 4023BT

NEW

• iPod & Android control • Front USB & Aux in • 4 × 50w • Red illumination

QFC : 10698

£54.63

®

£216.55

Bluetooth

UTE 72 BT

• Mechless • Direct iPhone / iPod control • 2 Pre-outs • Red illumination

iPod

KD DB42 DAB

• DAB digital radio tuner (DAB aerial included) • iPod control QFC : 9819 • Front USB & 2 Aux in (F + R) • Blue illumination

£89.90

NEW

• 6.1” touchscreen with Bluetooth • iPod & Android control QFC : 10850 • Rear USB, AV & Aux in • 3 Pre-outs • Variable illum.

iPod

KDC 4057 UB

• Front Aux in • Pre-out • 4 × 45w • Red illumination

Bluetooth

NEW QFC : 10829

£63.25

iPod

KDC DAB 43U

NEW

• DAB digital radio tuner (DAB aerial included) • Front USB & Aux in QFC : 10852 • iPod & Android control • Pre-out

£97.23

Bluetooth hands-free CK3100 UK

• Pair up to 5 phones • Voice recognition • Phonebook synchronisation

MKi9100

QFC : 6407

£69.99 Dealer Net

• Pair up to 5 phones • Voice recognition • Direct iPod connection • Multipoint

MKi9200

QFC : 6491

£96.99

Live pricing and online ordering at www.celtrade.com Credit card payments will be subject to a 2% surcharge

• Multipoint dual phone pairing • Voice control • Direct iPod connection

Prices exclude VAT and delivery Errors and Omissions excepted

QFC : 6492

£119.99

DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR 2010, 2011, 2012-2013

CEL TRADE T: 0116 2449846 E: sales@celtrade.com Bluetooth Navigation

Digital Radio Navigation

• 6.1” touchscreen with DVD video • Rear USB & Aux in • Advanced App mode QFC : 10098 • Direct iPhone / iPod control • 3 Pre-outs • AV out

• 6.1” touchscreen with Navigation • Rear USB • Bluetooth • AV in / out QFC : 10227 • iPod & Android control • TMC • 3 Pre-outs

Digital Radio

AVH X3500DAB

• 6.1” touchscreen with DVD video • DAB digital radio tuner (DAB aerial required) QFC : 10685 • iPod & Android control • Rear USB & Aux in

£236.66

®

KD R741 BT

AVIC F940BT

£379.97

Bluetooth

NEW

• iPod / Android / Blackberry control • Front USB & Aux in QFC : 10860 • 4 × 50w • Remote control

£66.12

• DAB digital radio tuner (DAB aerial included) • Front USB & Aux in QFC : 10028 • iPod / iPhone control • Variable illumination

£105.30

NEW

ASTEROID Mini • 3.2” Colour screen & Wireless Remote • A2DP audio streaming • Multipont • iPod,USB, SD card in • Downloadable Apps QFC : 10581 • Internet via 3G /4G Device • 4x40 Watt Amplifier £164.99

£499.98

Bluetooth

CDE 173 BT

NEW

• iPod & Android control • Apps direct • Front USB & Aux in • 2 Pre-outs • 4 × 50w

QFC : 10778

£87.40

Bluetooth

DEH X9500BT

CDE 136 BT

• DAB digital radio tuner (DAB aerial required) • iPod / iPhone control QFC : 10163 • Rear USB & Front Aux in • 3 Pre-outs

£178.25

QFC : 10682

£127.68

Bluetooth

KDC BT73DAB

NEW

• DAB digital radio tuner (DAB aerial included) • Rear USB & front Aux in QFC : 10874 • iPod & Android control • 3 Pre-outs

£202.40

NEW

NEW

ASTEROID Smart

ASTEROID Tablet

• 5” Detachable display • A2DP audio streaming • Multipont • iPod,USB, SD card in • Downloadable Apps • Internet via 3G /4G Device • 4x40 Watt Amplifier

NEW

• Mixtrax DJ mode & App Mode • iPod & Android control • 2 Rear USB & 1 Front Aux in • 3 Pre-outs • SD card

Bluetooth

iPod

CDX DAB700 U

DNX 4210 DAB

QFC : 10582

£209.99

• 6.2” Double Din Multimedia Station • A2DP audio streaming • Multipont • Built in Navigation & GPS receiver • iPod,USB, SD card in QFC : 10583 • Downloadable Apps • Internet via 3G /4G Device £349.99 • 4x55 Watt Amplifier

NEWS /// DRIVE TO DIGITAL ///

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

Digital radio delivers one third of listening BBC 6 Music is now the No 1 digital-only station

D

igital radio has reached a new milestone and is set to be a hot topic at the MEN Expo this year. One third (33%) of all radio listening is now to a digital platform, up 14% from 29.1% last year, according to the data for the last quarter from RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research). This massive achievement coincides with the Q4 2012 data from CAP (Committee of Advertising Practice) and SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), which shows that one third of all new cars (33.3%) now have digital radio fitted as standard.

More people now have a digital radio in their home. An estimated 10 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

42% of the population now has a digital radio set – up from 40.3% in Q4 2011. This equates to 22 million adults now having a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) digital radio, up 6% year on year. We know that those people who have a digital radio love it, so with these increases in the domestic market, consumers will be looking to purchase sets for their car.

The latest RAJAR data also showed online listening to have significantly increased. Radio listening online and via apps on mobile devices grew by 43%, to 4.9% of listening hours in a quarter, which saw the successful launch of industry radio apps, including Radioplayer and the BBC Radio iPlayer.

Digital-only stations continued to show strong listening growth. BBC 6 Music grew 31% in reach, and overtook Radio 4 Extra to be the No 1 digitalonly station with almost 1.9 million listeners. BBC digital stations Radio 4 Extra, 1Xtra and Radio 5 Live all grew, as did leading commercial

digital stations Absolute ’80s, Planet Rock, Jazz FM and Absolute ’90s.

The largest commercial digital station was Smash Hits with almost 1 million listeners, while Smooth ’70s delivered another strong performance with over 700,000 listeners.

Digital listening is in a really good place, and growth is projected to continue in 2013 as we approach a positive announcement from the government towards the end of the year regarding a commitment to a switchover date. GfK is reporting the strong growth of digital radios, the industry is launching eight new local DAB multiplexes, and D Love is taking over our airwaves and television screens.

Digital Radio UK also will be presenting at the MEN Expo, from March 5-6, alongside Ofcom and the IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry), and we will be in the main Expo hall. Come and say hello.

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

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

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EXPERT HELP /// Q&A ///

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 Speedo mystery I recently installed a three–wire Tracker unit to a 2005 Clio, and the customer is saying that her speedo is now reading over the actual speed – so when it says 45, she’s only doing 25! Apparently the police pulled her over thinking she was drunk. I have no idea if I’ve caused this, and apart from disconnecting the unit and road-testing myself, is there anything else I should look at?

Stephen The forum members at Ifitstuff.com had a few ideas here. Paul Robbie and Colin Rowe both suggest calculating the real speed by a different means. “If you have a code reader that you can take with you, use it to read the live data to see how it compares to the speedo itself,” says Paul, while Colin suggests doing the same by using a portable satnav.

This will confirm if the speedo is indeed out of sync, and in terms of what could be causing the issue, Steven Warne thinks he might know. “Did you fit the Tracker near any ECUs?” he asks. “The unit that I believe you have fitted gives off RF interference, and French vehicles seem to suffer the worst. Relocate the unit and see if this resolves your issues.”

Alternator whine Just tried to upgrade the sound system in a Porsche 996, and it now has a minor case of alternator whine. All I’ve done is install a pair of dash-top speakers, with crossovers under the bonnet. It has the factory PCM2 head unit and amplifier still, and I ran new wiring from that to the crossovers, from there to the speakers. Am I right in thinking that alternator whine can only be induced pre-amp, so is it audio signal or power supply related? I changed the power and earth just in case, but the whine is still there. Any thoughts?

Dave It’s a tricky one, but Ian Mays of Ifitstuff.com chipped in with some advice, saying that it is possible to introduce interference to the crossovers. “Where have you mounted the crossovers, and how?”

he asks. “If you have them too close to a power loom, for example, that can give interference. Try moving them from where they are currently to see if that makes a difference.”

Adding TV and DVD Had a customer contact me today with a 2010 Range Rover Sport. He has a touchscreen in the dash, and wants to add DVD and TV. I think I remember hearing about an easy way to do this, with an interface that has it all pretty much built in. Can you remind me?

Kevin There is an interface like the one described available from Media in Motion (0121 311 9011, www.media-in-motion.co.uk), and there are several members of the Ifitstuff forum who have installed one with great results.

One such contributor is Mike Wildman, who describes the job from start to finish. “We used the plug and play interface from Media in Motion,” he says. “The dash panel is clipped in, and we also removed the passenger top air vent, where there is a screw that holds in the passenger dash end panel and the glovebox – the Media in Motion interface was too big to go by the radio, so we fitted it to the left side of the dash. The interface has a built-in DVB-T tuner, and we fitted the aerials in the rear-side windows.

12 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

This interface in particular brings with it a number of other advantages. “It has an AV input,” continues Mike, “and if you use the right DVD player, and Media in Motion can advise here, then it will integrate no problem. We mounted the DVD player in the glovebox.”

Mike also reveals how easy the unit is to operate via the factory screen.

“Just select AVin1 on the touchscreen and you get the TV-tuner – this is once an autotune has been done using the supplied remote. The tuner can be operated via the touchscreen and even the steering wheel controls, with a huge choice of channels. Press AVin2 on the touchscreen to get the DVD player. The customer was very happy and is thinking about internet next.”

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OPINION /// ANDY MILLS ///

The personal touch

In an age of online communication, is the art of human interaction dying? And if it is, should we even be bothered?

Andy MIlls is a former editor of MEN and industry journalist

At first we talked to each other, then it was a letter, then a telegram, then a phone call, and now it’s an email. Gradually the ways in which we communicate with each other have brilliantly evolved to allow for almost total avoidance of meeting in the flesh.

Personally, I love an email; it allows me to more carefully get a point across rather than blurting out whatever’s in my head on a phone call or in person.

Environmentally too, I reckon there could be a case for connecting with each other electronically, rather than spending seemingly unnecessary time sat in traffic, burning expensive petrol and getting annoyed at the appalling driving on the UK’s roads, only to get an answer to a question that could have been gained by a quick call or email.

Human interaction and face-to-face communication should surely be a thing of the past, then… or should it? While I think the various ways we can communicate now are excellent (even down to tweets and status updates) in any job I’ve had there has always been advocacy for the need to meet people in person. And this advocacy often comes from management figures.

Human interaction and face-to-face communication should surely be a thing of the past… or should it?

Contact Andy on millsymax@hotmail.com 14 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

And in truth, this desire is often the right one.

As a journalist it can be very easy to get the majority of the information you need to write a feature without ever leaving your desk. But from experience I know that the really interesting stuff – the bits that you know others will find interesting even if the person you’re meeting doesn’t realise what gems of information they have – often comes out in a casual chat over a cup of tea.

Essentially, the reason I like email – you can express exactly what you need to, rather than blurting out anything – can also work against you when you’re trying to find out information. Email someone and ask them if there’s any news on a subject, and they have plenty of time to think about a response and feed one back that is polite, but ultimately fruitless. Or even not bother replying at all. Mention in passing while in a one-to-one meeting, though, and all sorts of information can spill out from a less guarded conversation.

It’s not just ears either, by visiting someone for a business meeting there are things you’ll see that may give you a better insight into that person or company and give you added information to help build a great relationship. Did they have a trophy cabinet on display? Was there a picture of their

kids on the desk? How do they take their coffee?

All these things may help you to find common interests, know what makes them tick, and ultimately build a base for trust in the relationship that emails or phone calls rarely can.

It is extra effort, and that’s the ‘problem’ with it for many, but the benefits should make the effort put into meeting people in the flesh more than worthwhile… even if that’s not apparent at first. But why am I talking about this here, when most of you are interacting in person with customers every day?

Well, it dawned on me that while most of you are great at customer service, perhaps sometimes you’re not as keen to interact on a personal level with your suppliers. Sales reps from companies will visit you, not just to try and get you to take on more product, but to get a feel for your business, how you’re doing and what they may have up their sleeves to be able to help you. But it can often seem like a bit of an annoyance; stopping your daily work to let someone try to sell you stuff.

It is, however, a two-way relationship, and dealers should try to utilise the personal link to a supplier.

Those companies who have reps who come and see you clearly have a level of care about your business, as they’re investing specifically in building relations with you. You should use this to your advantage if you’re not already, by asking them as many questions as possible. Through dialogue in these kind of informal situations, you’re likely to find out much more about what the company has planned for the future and how you can benefit. Knowledge is power, after all.

Similarly, with MEN Expo, making the effort to go and see suppliers is a potentially fruitful exercise, even if you walk away without making any new deals. Just having the time to see people that you may have only talked to on the phone or email, to look at new products with them on hand, to give you those extra bits of information that may only reveal themselves in situations like this, and to ask questions and not only hear but also see the answers, can be invaluable.

When times are hard, it can be difficult to justify time away from the shop, especially when there are no guarantees of that time away paying dividends.

But I’m sure you’ve experienced that feeling of coming away from a conversation either enthused or brimming with new information that you know will be of benefit. It’s a great feeling and can be a welcome boost with greater influence on you than you may realise. With so many companies in attendance, you could get some fantastic results.

Even if you didn’t make it to MEN Expo, perhaps in 2013 you should try and find ways to ditch a few phone calls and emails, and find a way to meet in person and build relations the old way.

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DEMO CAR /// Rockford demo van ///

Double impact Rockford Fosgate’s new demo van in the States combines sound quality in the front with a sit-in bass torture chamber in the back.

Martyn Williams takes a look

D

emo cars come in all shapes and sizes these days, and the Ford Transit Connect has all the right credentials of loads of space within compact dimensions, plus a chubby look that would respond well to signage and some fat wheels. Being a world vehicle, it’s popular in the States too and has attracted the attention of the Rockford marketers as being suitable as an active demo for show visitors to get two different sound experiences. Up front there’s a sound quality demo in the cab, and in the rear the punters are pummelled in a sound pressure chamber.

Everything about the Connect falls nicely into place, starting with the sliding side door revealing high-tech panelling. This area showcases Rockford’s new range of Punch amplifiers, starting with a 600 four-channel running the mids and tweeters in the

18 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

pressure chamber, plus three 1,000W mono amps running six 15 inch subs.

The ‘head unit’ for the pressure chamber is built into a panel alongside the amps – an iPad Mini, ideal for attracting the attention

A large prominent panic button, within easy reach, cancels the bass onslaught if it gets too intense of a young audience. At the top of the panel is a custom black brushed aluminium plate with smart LED-lit metal buttons for power on/off (red LEDs) and genre-based music programmes, seven in all, ranging from pop and hip-hop to country, with an eighth

button for muting (mainly for the whining country stuff?). Activating a music programme also starts off the lighting effects in the pressure chamber, which adds drama to the victim’s experience.

The pressure chamber speaker array includes the new Punch Pro series mid/high range units built into the rear doors. The stars of the pressure show, mounted on a full height bulkhead panel behind the bench seat, are the six 15 inch Punch P3 subwoofers.

The bass enclosure is built into the forward loadspace area behind the control panel and the cab rear bulkhead.

There’s space for two people to be shut inside the pressure area, and here Rockford is keen to stress the safety aspects to prevent hearing damage, which could so easily occur when experiencing the high

THE DETAILS Sound quality demo (front) l1 x Apple iPad Mini l 1x Rockford Fosgate Power T3 component system l 1x Rockford Fosgate Power T600.2 amplifier (mids/highs) l 1x Rockford Fosgate Power T1000.1bd amplifier (subs) l 2x Rockford Fosgate Power T0 10 inch subwoofers

Bass pressure chamber (rear)

sound pressure levels. Ear defenders are supplied, and all those going into the chamber are advised about the dangers of unprotected listening. Safety is further enhanced by a large prominent panic button either side, within easy reach, to cancel the bass onslaught if it gets too intense.

The sound quality system up front only uses a pair of audiophile-quality T3 component speakers. These have install-friendly ultra-slim diecast baskets, neodymium magnets and multi-hole surrounds. The front is also backed up with a couple of 10 inch Power subs, which feature dual 2 ohm voice coils.

The amplifiers and a separate iPad Mini source are also built into the side panel along with the rear pressure components.

To find out more, head to blog. rockfordfosgate.com/demo-cars/minisoundlab/. Rockford Fosgate is distributed in the UK by Vestatec (0208 867 2340).

See www.rockfordfosgate.com and check out the Rockford-Fosgate-UK Facebook page

l1 x Apple iPad Mini l 1x Rockford Fosgate Punch P600X4 amplifier (mids/highs) l 3x Rockford Fosgate Punch P1000X1bd amplifiers (subs) l 2x Rockford Fosgate Punch Pro 1.5 inch tweeters l 4x Rockford Fosgate Punch Pro 8 inch mid-range speakers l 6x Rockford Fosgate Punch P3 15 inch subwoofers

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 19

PRODUCT FOCUS /// Component speakers ///

Speaking up

Components systems offer the biggest improvements in the car over regular speakers, with a chance to show off your install skills.

Chris Anderson looks at the opportunity

I

t’s impressive the amount of technological development and innovation that goes into car speakers these days. Manufacturers are always looking to up the sound quality, offering deeper bass and crisper vocals, plus increased power handling and a wider frequency response. Even with car manufacturers improving what is fitted to their vehicles as standard, customers can still do better if they look to the aftermarket.

A quick look at what is available in terms of component speakers currently also shows an increase in the ease at which these aftermarket products can be fitted. Audio manufacturers are making their mounting depths smaller, with oversized cones, and including all of the adaptors and mounting brackets you will need to fit specific cars. Some have gone further, actually tailoring products for that particular vehicle’s standard locations, allowing customers to have their new speakers fitted with the minimum of install fuss, but still benefitting from greater sounds.

But if you are selling a set of component speakers, remember to push your skills as an installer. For example, does the customer have somewhere to fit the tweeter, or would they like a custom-made bracket?

Spending all that money on speakers, would they like to show them off, and maybe the crossovers, with a set of custom builds?

It certainly expands the possibilities.

It is also a chance to share your knowledge, explaining to customers what they might get at different price points, how component systems can have benefits over coaxial configurations or what their car might have as standard, and how there are ways to get even more from their purchase, with sound deadening or a complementing subwoofer.

To get you started, here are some of the component systems available right now.

20 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Alpine When it comes to component speakers, Alpine has plenty to offer with its Type E and Type R lines.

The first is a ‘custom fit’ series, said to be a great value upgrade for factory systems, powered from the head unit.

The SXE-1750S two-way set is rated at 45W RMS, 280W peak, with an RRP of £49. For better clarity, bigger power handling and more bass, try the SPR-60C set from the Type R range. Rated at 110W RMS, 330W peak, they retail at £199.

Alpine 02476 719620, www.alpine-uk.com

RRP9 £19

RRP £49

Blaupunkt

RRP £69

Clarion There are a lot of selling points to help recommend Clarion’s SRP1722S component system. Hailing from the brand’s Platinum series, these 6.5 inch models feature a cone that mixes titanium with glass-fibre for stiffness and lightness, plus a new phase plug design to enhance vocals.

The promised peak power handling is 350W, with custom-fit mounting brackets provided for the tweeters, to help them fit specific makes of car. Die-cast aluminium baskets and mesh grilles complete the package.

Clarion 01793 859560, www.clarion.com/gb

From its CX range, UK distributor Autosound recommends Blaupunkt’s CX 170 speakers.

These feature adjustable tweeters with neodymium magnets, injected PP membranes, a unique surface structure and a rather striking ‘Blue Magic’ cone colour. The CX 170 models, with 6.6 inch cones, are rated at 62W RMS, or 260W peak, with 3 ohm impedance for high power handling. Other sizes available include the 5.4 inch CX 130s and 6.5 inch CX 160s.

Autosound 01274 685411, www.blaupunktdirect.co.uk

RRP9 £10

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720 pixel HD 120° wide-angle Event recording camera recording capability mode

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Built-in 2” (5.1cm) display screen

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PRODUCT FOCUS /// Component speakers ///

RRP9 £44

RRP9 £34

RRP £2,499

RRPC £TB

Focal Check out Focal’s dedicated Integration Series, built for specific cars – the IFVWGOLF6 set at £349 fits the housings of a VW Golf MkVI, with adaptors and tools included. The P165V30 system, meanwhile, was designed for Focal’s 30th anniversary, costs £199, and is suitable for any car, while the 165KRX2 system at £449 increases the power handling and build quality. Finally, at £2,499, the Utopia three-way set, with its own Crossblock crossover, provides the ultimate in flexibility.

Armour Automotive 01420 487110, www.focal.uk.com

Hertz Hertz has just updated its Energy line of coaxials and components – now up to version five. As with previous editions, these are said to bring technology from higher end speakers to a much lower price bracket, with increased reliability and performance, even from factory positions. Compact baskets and motor assemblies, improved frequency responses, and both two-way and three-way component systems – with prices ranging from £54-£269 – are promised.

RRPC £TB

Four 0121 451 4930, www.fourcaraudio.co.uk

RRP £89

JL Audio As a simple factory upgrade, the JL Audio Evolution TR range is affordable, with good performance for the money – this TR650-CSi set, at 225W peak, costs £89.

Next up, the C2 series from £199-£249 uses some of the technology found in the higher-priced systems.

That means the C3 (£279-£299) and C5 (£399-£599) line-ups, with a range of sizes available – the C3s offer a coaxial set-up as well as the separate mid and tweeter arrangement, while the C5s are the most advanced performers.

Celsus 01202 664390, www.celsusice.co.uk

Kenwood Kenwood’s latest component speakers are the XR-1800P set, featuring an oversized 7 inch cone that will still fit into a standard 6.5 inch provision, but deliver more bass. The cones are made from an advanced hybrid pulp, comprising hemp, glass-fibre and paper – stiffer than polypropylene, but more acoustically neutral than carbon-fibre. Rated at 110W RMS, 330W peak, the system also includes mounting adaptors to help the speakers fit both 6.75 inch and 6x9 holes.

Kenwood 01923 816444, www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk 22 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

RRP9 £14

News and Offers For more information visit www.c-ko.co.uk Bumper Camera

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• Carbon filament • Universal fitting • Cuttable design without heat loss • Fits underneath upholstery • Fast warming time • Self adhesive edges • Suitable for cloth, leather or vinyl • OEM Quality • Equal heat distribution • Supplied with cabling • Detachable switch from wiring loom

Gold Quality DVD Headrest

Exclusive specification of C-KO Category Gold Place Winner, MEN ICE Awards 7" DVD Leatherette Headrest Sold in pairs each with DVD and games Plays Disney discs with no problems Enhanced amplified Infra Red sound output External antenna for superior FM modulation reception Dual cables for shielding against vehicle electronic noise Additional poles available, 12mm, 12.7mm & 14mm Colour match service available In the event of product replacement the headrest pillow remains in place with all essential wiring 2 AV inputs, 1 AV output Dual Channel IR transmitter FM Modulator, SD & USB Support Zipped headrest cover 110 - 180 mm pole adjustability Additional Poles Available 10mm diameter pole as standard 12mm, 12.7mm & 14mm Quick response, easy to use buttons Two child friendly games controllers provided Includes remote controls

Choice of 3 different headphone styles - 2 sets provided

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Price for a set including two headphones and games controllers

Prices are Nett and Exclude VAT - Prices cannot be used in conjunction with other offers. IE applies to those already getting discounts

CKO International Limited - t. 0208 863 8333 f. 0208 863 0633 w. www.c-ko.co.uk

£149 E&OE

PRODUCT FOCUS /// Component speakers ///

RRPC £TB

Kicker Kicker’s components cost from £89 to £349, with four ranges to choose from.

The CS line is the most affordable, all under £100, and designed for easy installation, thanks to small crossovers and shallow mounting depths. The KS speakers, around £150, offer more flexibility, with coaxial configuration also a possibility. RS at £220-£269 gives the same, but pushes the materials and sound quality. The ultimate is the QS system, with woven carbon-poly cones for outstanding results.

Armour Automotive 01420 487110, www.kicker.uk.com

MB Quart PPA Distribution reports that these particular MB Quart speakers have been selling very well over the last few months, designed for direct fit to BMW and VW models. There are a number of two-way and three-way sets, depending on the requirements of the vehicle, with RRP prices for VW ranging from £109-£419, and £149-£429 for BMW. In either case, expect improved power handling and frequency response figures, with all adaptors and mounting brackets included.

RRP9 £14

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

RRP9 £16

RRP9 £34

Phoenix Gold Phoenix Gold’s component speakers kick off with the R Series, with a high-performance mid-bass and Mylar dome tweeters. The PHGR65CS models are priced at RRP £109, with 150W peak handling. Just above that, with prices of £169, the Ti range introduces aluminium-plated grained polypropylene cones, with a peak of 250W. More aluminium, a complex motor structure, and less resonance and vibration, is promised with the Elite.65cs system, retailing at £349.

Celsus 01202 664390, www.celsusice.co.uk

Rockford Fosgate In Rockford’s T2 range, you’ll find the T252-s and T2652-s systems, in 5.25 and 6.5 inches, with power handling figures of 75W and 100W RMS – both with carbon-fibre and polypropylene cones. Look to the T3652-s models, though, and you’ll get LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) cones and 125W RMS handling, while the T5652-s speakers extend the same technology to the tweeter, adding a copper phase plug to the mid for a wider frequency range and bigger power handling.

Vestatec 0208 867 2340, www.vestatec.co.uk

24 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

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ADVERTORIAL /// Connects2 ///

The Infodapter in action It’s the latest product from Connects2 – allowing information that would previously have only been featured on a factory head unit to now be displayed on an aftermarket model This is the time of year that manufacturers in the aftermarket start to reveal their new ranges. Just look at the new products launched at this year’s MEN Expo – with AV head units that feature internet and social networking capabilities, or new ways to integrate your smartphone and make use of apps or voice and gesture control. It definitely widens the scope, not just in terms of entertainment, but communication, navigation and more.

It’s definitely tempting to upgrade and make use of the new technology, but what happens if you have a factory AV head unit in the dash already, and fitting one of these new aftermarket models means that you lose a few of your

28 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

current capabilities at the expense of gaining new ones? A larger touchscreen might be on offer with a new unit, but you’ll lose the visual confirmation that used to appear on the screen when you adjusted the climate control or the temperature of your heated seats, and you’ll also lose the graphics that accompanied the use of your parking sensors.

That’s the problem with factory head units – manufacturers are making them more integral to the car, which makes sense if they are putting it all together themselves. If they are plumbing in an AV head unit, then why shouldn’t a few of the car’s electrical functions be worked into it too, along with the

steering wheels controls? Swap for a new head unit, though, and you lose out.

Until now, that is, as Connects2 has come up with the Infodapter – a way to adapt the factory connections that allow this information to be displayed, and present it on your brand new head unit.

It works on a long list of car makes too, such as Audi, BMW, Ford, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Opel/Vauxhall, Seat, Skoda and VW. And the list of aftermarket brands it is compatible with is just as long – as long as the unit has a reverse camera input, the Infodapter will work with it.

For more info call Connects2 on 0845 257 5588, or visit www.connects2.co.uk

Adapt your info The Infodapter is simple little box that is compatible with any aftermarket AV head unit with a reverse camera input. That includes models made

by Alpine, Blaupunkt, Sony, Clarion, Kenwood, JVC, Pioneer, Beat, Zenec and more. Just plug the connections for the factory head unit into it, then plug the box into your new in-dash device.

It even has inputs for the reversing camera itself and also the standard steering wheel controls, retaining the functions you had before.

Here’s how it works Getting too hot? Then you’ll want to tweak the climate controls. With the new AV head unit fitted, and the Infodapter connected, just hit the control buttons as normal. Graphical confirmation, displaying temperature and other settings, now appears on-screen, making use of the Infodapter’s own unique graphical style.*

The graphics make it easier to keep an eye on your settings – a handy function to retain, which without the Infodapter would have been lost when fitting the new head unit.

The temperature-controlled seats work the same way. Just press the buttons as normal, and the graphics appearing on-screen will keep you up-to-date with their settings.

To try the other main function retained by the Infodapter, just put the car into reverse as shown. With the car’s original head unit, the driver will be used to checking a graphical interpretation of the vehicle on-screen, and its distance from objects and other cars also shown. This is used to help him park the car in addition to the beeps.

With the Infodapter fitted, there is nothing to worry about.

Up pops the relevent screen, and the driver is able to see the car and work out how far he is from different obstacles. Safe parking is guaranteed with the new AV head unit, simply by fitting the Infodapter. Slipping the car out of reverse returns the screen to the radio, film or navigation functions. * Note that graphics shown are not final version, support for features dependent on vehicle www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 29

MEET THE DEALERS /// Oxford Car Audio ///

Oxford education Oxford Car Audio is a name people may know, but they might not know you guys – how did you end up running things?

Oxford Car Audio in its previous state had been going for over 20 years, but the original owner decided to close its doors in December 2011. Myself and Mark Watson, who have both been employed by the store at some point, negotiated the purchase of the old company’s building lease and the trading name. After a six-week shop and workshop re-fit with the help of some friends, Oxford Car Audio & Performance Works opened on March 24, 2012. Two members of the old team were re-hired, and things are moving forwards with the new look and three-bay workshop.

Is now a good time to be running a dealer business?

There is constant talk of doom and gloom and poor sales throughout the UK, especially within our industry, but we have heard time and time again that if you can make a business successful at the worst of times, then the possibilities to thrive are almost guaranteed.

With fewer car audio dealers accessible to consumers, they are having to travel to find the specialists with the skill and knowledge to integrate equipment with the latest and more complicated vehicles, and this can only be good for the car audio companies that are left, and who have the required skills.

How big is your operation?

Our current staff level quota has three full-time installers, including myself and Mark. We also have two Saturday staff, and a part time installer/IT specialist.

30 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Steve Le Masurier tells us about the new incarnation of Oxford Car Audio, which celebrates its first anniversary this month

How do you feel it’s gone so far?

With a constant flow of passing retail trade, internet enquiries and trade work, we have well and truly exceeded our first year expectations!

We could not have asked for anything more.

Where would you say the growth markets are at the moment?

Digital radio is a growth area, as is smartphone integration. We also supplement our audio and electronics with performance upgrades such as wheels, suspension, brakes and vehicle lighting, and also cleaning and detailing products.

Which products are you selling a lot of?

The sales of digital radio have doubled in the past year, and iPod/iPhone connectivity devices have continued at a steady pace.

Our mainstay in the workshop is DVD and double DIN screens, with a lot of Bluetooth and iPod system upgrades. We complete speaker and amplifier upgrades regularly.

How do you promote your business and generate sales?

Any way we can. We’ve used our VW Beetle demo car to great effect since we re-opened, and even designed the store around it, making it a mini attraction. We try to visit shows with it too.

Online promotions, social media and networking sites are something else we are involved in.

What do you think the challenges are facing the industry as a whole?

We have many of the same challenges as in previous years, keeping up to date with the

latest technology, integrating products to more complicated vehicles, and so on. The negativity circulating in our industry is another challenge, as we all tend to look back at the more profitable times, complaining about the way the internet and eBay have ruined store sales, or that vehicle manufactures have taken away possible upgrades from us. These things cannot be altered, but we are specialists, and that means we can adapt.

How do you see your business growing?

Digital radio is a huge potential growth area, and we fully intend to take advantage of it – we even have a dedicated section of our store for it!

Mobile media apps and integrating them into the structure and workings of the vehicles will be a valuable source of industry growth too. Our core installations, meanwhile, are favouring a subtle, factory look, with compact subwoofers and hidden amplifiers, and we have a section on our website dedicated to it. Then we are looking to increase our customer exposure via online media, network sites and YouTube. Working with the rest of the industry is important too, and we are in touch with a number of other car audio dealers, using our shared knowledge to a combined advantage.

But our most important plan is to continue working in an industry we love and enjoy, and to give our customers the best possible experience.

Contact Oxford Car Audio & Performance Works (01865 769911), or visit www.oxfordcaraudio.co.uk

Get featured!

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

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 31

Rise of digital radio

Radio times

With BMW making digital radio standard-fit across its range, will other carmakers follow suit, and how will this affect the opportunity for the aftermarket?

I

t’s hard to escape the hype surrounding digital radio at the moment, whether it’s another breakthrough in terms of coverage or listening figures announced in the press, or colourful character D Love informing us of its merits in the current advertising campaign.

For car audio dealers, this is no bad thing, as part of its promotion includes the message to the public that if you want to enjoy digital radio in your car, you should head to your nearest specialist and look for one of the

32 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

many products enabling you to do this. Or, if you look at it another way, this is a national campaign worth millions of pounds that gives people a valid reason to visit their nearest car audio dealer, which they may not previously have considered – the aftermarket hasn’t had this much luck in years.

So it’s easy to see why so many dealers are getting behind digital radio, keen to feature it in their stores. While audio or even navigation at times may be considered niche, digital

radio has mass appeal with real momentum behind it, and if what Digital Radio UK (DRUK), the governing body behind the promotion and imminent switchover of digital radio, tells us is true, there will soon be a lot of people asking for it. “Over 40% of adults in the UK have a digital radio in the home, and they love it, but only 5-6% have it in-vehicle,” Laurence Harrison, DRUK’s technology and market development director, told us recently. “We estimate that for opportunity in the aftermarket, about 20 million cars will need converting to digital radio – that’s where you guys come in.”

Dealers such as Oxford Car Audio, featured this issue (see p30), are already reporting a doubling of digital radio sales in the past 12 months as public awareness grows. This is likely to increase more sharply towards the end of the year when the government is expected to commit to a switchover, announcing a potential date. As experienced with the digital TV switchover, there are expected to be a number of opportunists and start-up companies, who do not have the same level of experience as dedicated car audio installers, but who are looking to make the most of the increased interest. Any dealers who have not yet become involved in digital radio, waiting for the switchover announcement, are sure to lose out, finding it hard to get noticed as the market floods.

But there is another reason not to sit back, which until now has not been considered as much of a problem – and that is the increase in the number of cars arriving on the roads with digital radio as standard. Every customer that leaves a showroom with a device already in the vehicle is one less walking into a car audio dealer and asking for it to be fitted to their existing car, in theory at least. So how much of a problem is it? According to the latest info from DRUK, factory-fit digital radios have now hit an all-time high – with one third of all new cars (33.3%) now having it included as standard in Q4 2012. This compares to 25.5% in Q3, so a big leap in just three months.

Go back further to previous figures, and it is easy to see how this is gathering pace. Just two years earlier, in Q4 2010, only 7.5% of cars had digital radio as standard, which jumped to 20.8% in 2011. There was a 76% increase in the number of cars registered with digital radio as standard in Q4 2012 compared with Q4 the previous year. Last year was actually strong for UK car sales too, up 5.3% overall, with eight out of the top 10 sold all featuring digital radio.

“Over the past two years, the number of cars being fitted with digital radio as standard has been increasing at a tremendous rate,” confirms communications minister Ed Vaizey. “This means more and more motorists enjoying the benefits that digital radio has to offer.”

Of course, the benefits for car audio dealers are slightly different, and while there may be

“Over the past two years, the number of cars being fitted with digital radio as standard has been increasing at a tremendous rate,”

manager at CAP, who supplied the above data along with the SMMT, admits that car companies can still take very different views when including it in their vehicles. “Certain brands have really taken it on, but others are lagging behind,” he says. “There is no industry standard, and actually a lot of misunderstanding with regards the benefits. Some have really taken to it, others don’t want it, and then you have the ones in between who will only offer it as part of a huge upgrade package with better speakers or satnav, and actually Penetration of digital radio in the new those brands that want it but can’t car market Q1 2010-Q3 2012 fit it because something in the car already causes interference or the kit just isn’t compatible.

I would say that on digital radio as standard-fit, the industry is surprisingly diverse.”

Looking at a breakdown of manufacturers provided by CAP, it’s possible to see which brands offer digital radio as standard, those that have it as Source: CAP New Vehicle Data an option, their overall market more motorists on the road with digital radio, share, and the brands not involved. Ford leads the ways they are getting it into the car haven’t the way, with a 13.8% market share for 2012, necessarily been provided by the aftermarket. plus 73.2% of cars featuring it as standard fit And these figures only concern standard fit – and 23.7% as an option – just 3.1% of Ford there are those customers who may be selecting cars leave the factory with no chance of digital radio as an option, although according to digital radio being fitted whatsoever. Vauxhall, most car manufacturers, when there are leather VW and BMW also had sizeable market seats or bigger wheels on the list competing for shares, with 80.9% of VWs featuring digital attention, the chances of this are actually rare. radio as standard fit and 98.8% for BMW. And while the data surrounding digital radio The year actually ended with BMW announcing as standard fit may seem encouraging at first that digital radio will come as standard glance, Martin Ward, manufacturer relationship across its entire range from 2013. There are

a number of zeros on the chart for certain brands, making the figures balance out.

With all of this information, where does that leave the car audio dealer? We know that cars featuring digital radio as standard is rising – and quickly – and that the customers least likely to walk into your showroom will own a Ford, and quite possibly a VW or BMW. But while these are statistics, we know that there are success stories still out there, like those reported by Oxford Car Audio.

Chris Pateman, CEO of the FCS (Federation of Communication Services) made a good point when we met up with him this month (see p38).

FCS works closely with DRUK on a number of projects. “I get annoyed when people say, ‘Well, when we’ve got a switchover date, we’ll be able to sell it,’” he says of certain dealers talking about digital radio. “No, when you’ve got a switchover date, you’ll be able to sell it differently. The marketplace will be different – but if you can’t sell it now, there is something wrong with your pitch.”

The message seems to be to act now, and to get involved as early as possible. What is being provided through DRUK and the promotion of digital radio is an opportunity – it may be one that carries certain challenges, with competition from car manufacturers among them, but it is quite possibly one of the biggest opportunities this industry has seen for a while. It needs to be taken advantage of, as when all of those 20 million cars finally have digital radio we’ll be looking for another to come along. And there is no telling how long that might take.

For more information on digital radio, visit www.getdigitalradio.com

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 33

REVIEW /// Kenwood KDC-4057UR ///

N RECOMM

EN

• ME

DED PRODUCT EN

DED PRODUCT

Control Freak N RECOMM • ME

This issue, Adam Rayner is amazed that a head unit with both Android and iPod control costs under £90

M

y first introduction to the KDC-4057UR was politically incorrect, basically making a lads’ mag-style comment about the multiple places you could stick music into it. But how else are you meant to talk about a head unit with a CD slot, a front USB socket and a 3.5mm micro jack Aux input? The USB slot is where users can plug in their Apple iPods or iPhones, or even their Android smartphone – just download and install the free Kenwood app to the Android device to make it work. With the 1A output, it’ll charge it for you too, and the fact that you can get both iPod and Android compatibility into the car for less than £90 has to be a major sell. Control the music on either handset from the head unit.

What’s it like?

As more mechanism-free decks appear on the market, and with the likes of music 34 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

vendors HMV going bust (I so hope that the one in Watford is amongst the ‘saved’), I was told recently by Mike Edwards of Kenwood Electronics, “Not many people use those any more…” when discussing CD capability. But in a world where my old accountant is still wanting to use Compact Cassettes of Ella Fitzgerald and has a CD changer in his car, many folks are simply unfamiliar with anything but downloads.

For this is a simple CD radio. Or at least it looks like it and at a mooted £89 (almost certainly less by the time it hits the streets), it is not a costly item. But what it has is massively impressive at the price, and so cool that you really may not even want to use all the detail on your customer for fear of putting off the technophobic!

The deck is just that, it has a sweet and rapid-spit-out-and-grab CD player mechanism, and behind a really pretty little, totally clear plastic window that snaps back, there are the front USB and Aux sockets. A knob with a few buttons around it and the classic six-buttons of presets for radio stations is all else you get. But that knob is a rotate and press job, so it can scroll through stuff on screen and ‘go’ with a push. It has a proper three-band parametric EQ, as well as regular tone controls and even a multi preset-plus-user option of equalisation curves you can set up. The RCA outputs are a whopping 2.5 volts. Lit in red, it looks pretty.

– the one with a load of corrupted files and all locked-in, as I removed it without powering-down the PC’s USB port that time (infuriating, but a brilliant test as a result).

The CD interrupted, and a few seconds later I was looking at an error message for a file nothing will read any more except my PC, and with a brief twist and shove, I was on a track it would play. This, of course, was only as good as the music files I had on the bean, and so was belting out some Bob Marley. Not bad at all, I admitted…

Then, I reached for a Sony digital MP3 player – one of their Walkman family – and plugged a 3.5mm wire into it and the deck’s orifice beneath the USB. You have to switch the Aux manually via the source button. I found the signal a bit weedy, then tried the BlackBerry 9300’s headphone socket on the other end of the wire rather than the Walkman and cranked it. Finally, I socketedup my iPod Touch fourth-generation and whipped out the bean and placed the iPod wire into the USB. Once again, the deck took the USB as daddy, read my iPod in around 20 seconds (it is a 64GB), and played me some Thomas Dolby.

I was unimpressed with a perceived softness in the sound quality, and then flipped over to Kraftwerk’s AeroDynamique from the Tour De France album, and that was revelatory. Gorgeous and rich, fat and crisp, the bloody iPod was sounding all but as good as CD, and even I, when being my most snotty and pernickety, could not fault it.

Why stock it?

It is a pretty deck, and simple to show off and operate, yet can do an awful lot of everything.

It is not a Bluetooth machine, but that would have made it a very much more expensive proposition. The price is going to be a tad less than the suggested, as ever, and with the cloth-bagged removable face and those high power RCA outputs, this is a lovely deck to look after and easy to make sound immense with an amplifier or two. And now that Kenwood have got car amplifiers literally 35mm thick, but with some real muscle on board, this deck represents a delicious upgrade path ‘opener’ with the Kenwood brand to proffer to your punters.

Kenwood 01932 816444, RRP £89 plus fitting (varies according to vehicle), www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk

How well does it work?

First, I grabbed an old CD. Stanton Warriors – some mad kicking dance music item that starts with the soundscape of a bloke getting into a car and starting up his radio.

The DJ says, “You wanna turn this one up,” and the sound crescendos 20dB to kicking tuff level with great clarity in an instant.

It had dynamics, snap and attack, and through the old Genesis SM100 reference amplifier and into a set of B&W LM1 Monitor loudspeakers, it sounded bloody wonderful. I do so love CD… I gripped my Sandisk 8GB ‘bean’ USB

Ratings Ease of use Installation Performance Value Overall Lots of features, great sound, and that all important Apple and Android compatibility at a price you wouldn’t expect

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Advertorial /// Parrot ///

Parrot fashion

Managing director Asif Gillani explains why Parrot’s new Asteroid range is different to anything that has gone before This year’s MEN Expo will give visitors a chance to see Parrot’s latest Asteroid products. The range now includes four units, each offering handsfree calls, music functionality and apps – there are the dash-mountable Asteroid Mini and Tablet, with 3.2 inch and 5 inch screens respectively, or opt for something in-dash with the double DIN Asteroid Smart, or the original Parrot Asteroid single DIN, now renamed the Asteroid Classic. Both the Smart and Classic have a slimmer depth than standard head units, making installation easier.

There is another Asteroid release too – a newly launched app store known as Asteroid Market. “The reason behind Asteroid as a range is to bring the smartphone experience to an in-car product,” says Parrot managing director Asif Gillani. “What we did with Asteroid is build it on the Android platform, to be able to have apps developed for it. Asteroid Market has some key apps already, and that market will continue to grow, with more provided by us

or third parties. We’ve invested 10 million Euros in the platform so far, and it is something we are very committed to.”

This means that it will be possible to add new functions to your chosen Parrot Asteroid device. “Among the apps we have currently, for music we’ve got Spotify and Deezer, and it’s like having a personalised radio station,” reveals Asif. “That means your choice of music wherever you are, and you can search by voice control as well.”

But if naming a favourite song seems like too much effort, there are of course specific radio apps too. “We have TuneIn and Orange Liveradio apps,” says Asif. “That means access to over 10,000 radio stations from around the world – and you can even listen to podcasts. All of the Asteroid products enable you to listen to digital radio stations too, and we work quite closely with Digital Radio UK, carrying their logo on our advertising.”

Radio is another function where you can

search for stations by voice, and you can search by genre and country too. Favourite stations can also be stored, and if you like the idea of being talked back to as well, then there are always the navigation apps. “The Mini and the Classic units use Waze, while the Smart has iGo navigation embedded. Users who wish to have iGo on their Tablet can download via the Asteroid Market.”

As well as the technological benefits, Asif believes the new Asteroid products are a good incentive for dealers. “There is increased competition from car manufacturers, who have Bluetooth installed as standard,” he says. “But that’s just for handsfree, and what these units do is more than handle calls. So even if you have a Bluetooth car kit already, you can add functionality with the Asteroid range. It should give the installers lots of opportunities.”

For more info, call Parrot on 0844 472 2360, or visit www.parrot.com

Meet the range Asteroid Classic

Asteroid Smart

Asteroid Mini

Asteroid Tablet

“This is a single DIN unit, it has FM and AM, and using the apps you can add Orange Liveradio, TuneIn and Spotify.

It’s an ideal unit for someone who wants a Parrot handsfree kit, but also our expertise in Asteroid and the benefits that come with it, all in a simple DIN replacement.”

“The Smart has a 6.2 inch touchscreen, with satnav included.

It can also take a video feed from your reversing cameras, DVD player or PlayStation, or watch films via an SD card. There are outputs for other screens too, with a MOSFET 4 x 55W amp. And it has a Wi-Fi receiver, so park on the drive or in a Wi-Fi hotspot, then use the browser to get on the web, download apps or watch YouTube.”

“The Mini is essentially the same product as the Classic, but in a car kit format rather than a single DIN. It even uses the same apps, with the same processor inside.

Even the controls are similar, everything displayed via a 3.2 inch screen. It’s easy to fit too, and is ideal for someone who wants the benefits of Asteroid while retaining their existing head unit.”

“The Tablet is to the Smart what the Mini is to the Classic, so essentially the same unit but in a car kit format, and with a 5 inch touchscreen. The amp is 4 x 40W, like the other Asteroid models, and it’s a great, very capable unit. I actually have one in my car, and I love listening to radio stations from around the world via the apps.”

36 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Drive Connected

E TO L B A L AVAI Y NOW! BU

Apps + Navigation + Music hands-free systems

Discover the fantastic range of Apps on the ASTEROID Market

Parrot Approved Partners: T: 01206 500 848

T: 0161 494 4200

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T: +353 1 448 1288

T: +353 45 407000

www.parrotasteroid.com/asteroidmarket The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Parrot S.A. is under license. The Parrot Trademarks appearing on this document are the sole and exclusive property of Parrot S.A. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All Rights reserved. Visual, description and specifications are not contractual. Product specifications may change without prior notice. Parrot S.A. - RCS PARIS 394 149 496.

INTERVIEW /// Chris Pateman ///

Straight talking We meet the CEO of the FCS, Chris Pateman, to talk about installer training, course improvements and the upcoming Comms Installer event So how are things with FITAS, your training programme for in-car?

FITAS is actually setting a best practice benchmark that we are using elsewhere, which I didn’t expect. It is the seal of approval from a third party that shows you know what you’re doing, which we’ve worked on with the MESF (Mobile Electronics & Training Federation), and says you meet the FCS1362 code of practice. The industry needs it – police fleet managers definitely need it, so that they’ve got a due diligence defence in the event that anything goes wrong.

There have been some changes to FITAS recently – what were those?

Chris Pateman joined the FCS (Federation of Communication Services) as its new CEO last June, previously working as managing director of the BMF (Builders Merchants Federation). The FCS serves every sector of the communications industry, from business radio to blue light installation, supporting the in-car market through FITAS (FCS Industry Training & Accreditation Scheme). Now that Chris has settled in, what does he think of the mobile electronics industry, and what is being planned for this year’s Comms Installer – a networking event that brings this sector together?

Are you enjoying your role at FCS? It’s the most incredibly absorbing industry.

The previous CEO, Jacqui Brookes, said to me: “Communications is the fifth utility” – and that’s a powerful thought. Without it, businesses cannot trade. With FCS we have the installer side, the person-to-person business radio side, and it’s got the fixed telephony, broadband rollout and IP sides as well. Wherever there is something happening in the marketplace, FCS has got a finger in the pie.

Is it a challenge to be CEO and look after all these areas?

I’m very fortunate in that I’ve got individuals who are experts in their specific fields. What I do is look for opportunities, then help our members align their business to make the most of them.

38 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

We realised that the distance learning approach didn’t suit everybody, so we created a two-day course, with all the revision and exams included. Arqiva was the first company to try it, and really bought into it, with 15 passes, two distinctions and three merits.

We’re doing another for Arqiva in March, and I’ve got five open courses up and down the country.

And you’re incorporating the IMI digital radio course too?

The IMI (Institute of the Motoring Industry) qualification is the benchmark for everyone who wants to fit digital radio. You answer some questions, satisfy an audit, and that’s fine. It’s not a problem for our guys, frankly, but we’re including it to add value to our own audit – when people renew after three years, it’s good to add something extra. We’re also working on a new blue light module – not just installing on police fleets, but ambulances and fire engines as well. Also, installing on petroleum tankers will be an annex to FCS1362. It’s very niche stuff.

How do you market FITAS to the mobile industry?

We’ve got to sell FITAS a bit more aggressively, but something that will help is that we’ve got FCS1362 incorporated in the Government Procurement Service framework. Everyone from the Post Office, to the MoD white fleet, to the charity sector,

can buy on this framework, and within it there’s a section on vehicle modifications, insisting they are done to FCS1362. It covers the whole public sector, where a lot of our guys operate, but even if you’re private sector, there is a document you can put in front of fleet buyers to say what you’re about. It’s a game-changer.

Is there anything that works in the other sectors that could be applied to mobile?

The biggest thing we have elsewhere that maybe isn’t influencing FITAS is that we don’t capture direct feedback from vehicle installers, but there is a lot we can learn from them. Something that came up recently was an installer asking me how we police companies who market themselves as FITAS-accredited – FITAS is about the individual installer, not the business, and they may have one guy who has passed the exams, but there is no guarantee he will be working on your car. We need to get input from our members to see what we can do to protect the integrity of this scheme.

The FCS Comms Installer is soon – what are you planning?

It’s at a new location, in the Forest of Arden, a bit more rural and with a great golf course. We’ll be announcing the involvement of City & Guilds with FITAS, with their logo on our certificates. It’s a brand people recognise, and it means something to everyone, not just the motoring industry. We are revisiting FCS1362 this year as well, updating it with things like working on hybrid vehicles. We’ll talk about other things too, and that’s why people should come. If you’re running a business, you can be quite isolated, focusing on customers and not seeing the big picture issues – but that’s why we have a trade association, to take that burden and offer advice.

FCS Comms Installer 13 will be held at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel, near Meriden, on Thursday, May 9. More info on this and FITAS at www.fcs.org.uk

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www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 39

Business focus /// Recession blues ///

Panic on the High Street Is the recent demise of some large high street retail chains something you should be concerned about?

Andy MIlls is a former editor of MEN and industry journalist

Woolworths, Blockbuster, HMV, Jessops, Comet, Clinton Cards, La Senza, Blacks, Game… just some of the big names that have run into difficulty or disappeared completely in recent times.

Clearly the high street is dead. Or is it?

Rather than jumping to conclusions that out-of-town retail parks and online shopping have rendered shops on the high street redundant, perhaps it’s worth taking a more rational view, and looking in more detail at why certain chains have struggled.

Woolworths, for example, had no real unique selling point, didn’t offer a great retail experience and couldn’t compete against cheaper offerings from both online and traditional retail stores.

Blockbuster, meanwhile, is based on mail order rental, where online downloads are easier, quicker and often cheaper.

In the case of the latest to be reported, HMV, it’s a known fact that people prefer to download music now (99.6% of singles were digital in UK in 2012, CD sales were down 17.6% compared to 2011). And Jessops is trying to do business in an age where photography has grown in popularity, meaning there are more places to buy product, often at cheaper prices.

Comet and Clinton Cards probably are victims of online competition, and La Senza and Blacks likewise trying to compete with supermarkets and out-of-town retailers. Game is another facing competition online, and also its 40 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

customer preferring to buy for less at supermarkets or via downloads.

There are of course other casualties, but these are some of the most high profile, and, broadly speaking, all of them fall into one or both of the following categories for failure; uncompetitive or unfocused on customers.

By examining each aspect, perhaps businesses in the mobile electronics industry can take a look at themselves and assess whether they could be in danger too. These questions could help: Uncompetitive: what products do you sell that larger chains also sell and can you compete on price? Are people still interested in the products you sell, even when money is tight?

Are there alternatives to what you do that use new (potentially better) technologies?

Unfocused on customers: are you and your staff able to offer great advice to customers?

Do you do what you say you will do for the price you say you will do it for in the agreed timescale? Is your service to online sales as good as your service to customers who come to your shop?

The traditional high street may be suffering, but there are still some businesses doing well and no doubt they’ve asked themselves these questions and acted upon the answers.

Even if you can’t compete on one thing – price perhaps – then you can make sure you are the best at something else like customer service. As Jo Causon, chief executive of the Institute of Customer Service, says of the recession: “With less disposable income, consumers are far more discerning.

In this environment, service will be the key differentiator, helping to deliver a tangible impact on customer retention, loyalty, and ultimately the bottom line.”

Some local high streets are also seeing a rise in certain types of shops, not selling essentials (the online companies and supermarkets have much of that wrapped up), but selling the more unique. You might almost call them ‘specialists’ – companies who trade on their individualism or the knowledge and ability they have. In other words, they are selling things that people still want and are doing it in the right way, with good staff and a helpful attitude.

Sound familiar? Well, it should do, because as mobile electronics retailers those attributes are what you should be displaying.

And if you think that people don’t want your products, then diversify and survive – the mobile electronics market has rarely before had such scope, with smartphones, MP3 players, satnav, tracking systems, USB adaptors, parking sensors, security (a sector some have claimed is booming during recession in domestic solutions like safes and alarms) and audio upgrades are just the obvious. What about GoPro cameras for track enthusiasts or even cameras – they are mobile and electronic after all?

So forget the headlines about doom and gloom on the high street, they’re not helpful for anyone. Instead, realise that businesses fail through bad decisions and a lack of foresight… so make sure you don’t fall into those traps, keep plugging away and you’ll be around to survive another recession further down the line.

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info@synergy-automotive.com Technical: Nick Oakland 07584 485189

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 41

PRODUCT FOCUS /// Phone cradles ///

Rock the cradle With smartphone integration in the car rising, there is a growing market for handset mounts and cradles.

Chris Anderson looks at the options on offer

I

t’s been said that 40% of the population now owns a smartphone, and this figure is expected to rise to 60% by 2015. As well as ownership increasing, so is the integration potential in the car. Music collections can now be carried around by users in their pocket, while technologies such as MirrorLink or

Pioneer’s AppRadio mean that when a smartphone is connected to a head unit, navigation and apps can be relayed to the touchscreen in the dash.

With the smartphone playing an increasingly important role in the in-car experience, it makes sense to give it a more permanent housing. These range

from a simple budget cradle that can stick to the windscreen or another flat surface, to something that can add functionality, with features built-in to aid navigation or handsfree phone calling. The right option for the customer will depend on their needs, and also their type of smartphone, but there are plenty available.

Autoleads Autoleads has created a range of smartphonemounting solutions, with the latest including device-specific cradles for the iPhone 5, Galaxy S3 and HTC One. There is also a universal range that can accomodate PDAs and satnav devices. Mounts are available for air-vent, dash-top or screen-mount, depending on the application required, and there are even anti-vibration models, and screen mounts made from clear materials for a less obtrusive appearance. The range is supported by the TechConnect cable range and tailored dash brackets.

RRPC £TB

Armour Automotive 01420 487110, www.armourauto.com

Dension

RAM Mount

This custom cradle is designed specifically for the iPhone 3, 4 and 4S models. It connects to the car audio system via a 3.5mm Aux cable, or wirelessly via the FM modulator, relaying music, phone calls or navigation instructions.

A built-in microphone for handsfree use keeps cabling to a minimum, and users can download the ‘Car Dock’ app to turn their Apple device into a control centre for all of their in-car communication and entertainment needs, easy to use with its big touchscreen icons.

Connecting the cradle to the car via a 12 volt adaptor will keep the phone charged.

Armour Automotive 01420 487110, www.armourauto.com

Maker of all kinds of mounting brackets and in-car accessories RAM Mount has recently released a solution for the iPhone 5.

Built from durable composite plastics with a sleek form-fitting design, the RAM iPhone 5 Holder comes with a variety of interchangeable bases, such as U-bolt, screw-on or yoke, plus a manoeuvrable ball and socket mechanism, to help suit any car interior. It even has built-in shock and vibration dampening too, helping to secure the device at any angle. The brand offers a number of similar form-fitting custom holders, for satnavs, tablets and laptops. www.ram-mount.co.uk

RRP £89

42 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

RRP £39

Garmin This Garmin cradle combines with an iPhone 5 and its popular StreetPilot app for Western Europe to turn the phone into a handy in-car navigation system.

The software is very easy to use, with ultra-fast map-drawing, panning and zooming, and the preloaded maps and Points of Interest mean there is coverage even when little or no mobile signal is available. Other features include PhotoReal junction view, a trip computer, iCloud support, PhotoLive speed camera info, and 3D traffic updates with an in-app purchase. The £89 RRP includes the cradle and the app download.

RRP £89

CEL Trade 0116 244 9846, www.celtrade.com

TomTom TomTom’s new Hands Free Car Kit for smartphones features an advanced noise and echo cancellation system, said to dramatically reduce background noise for the caller and removes ambient noise for the driver. Features include an adjustable grip and an extendable microphone, with two versions available – supporting iPhone and micro USB compatible smartphones such as Android models. When connected via Bluetooth, voice recognition can be activated, allowing drivers to navigate and dial without taking their hands off the wheel.

RRP £79

www.tomtom.com

Kondor For a budget phone cradle solution, look no further than this offering from Kondor. Its Kit Premium Suction Holder carries an RRP of just £12, and features a long, adjustable arm that will attach easily to the windscreen or any flat surface in the car, and can be angled so that the phone sits in either portrait or landscape view.

Designed to hold a wide range of handsets, model sizes of 10.4cm up to 15cm are catered for. Stocking these could also be a good excuse to look into other Kondor products, such as headphones and mini speakers – good for counter tops?

RRP £12

www.kondor.co.uk

www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu 43

NEWS /// PRODUCT /// Armour

Big changes for Kicker Head to the Armour stand at MEN Expo to see the exciting new range There are going to be some great products on display at MEN Expo, including many never seen in the UK before. Distributors Armour Automotive will have plenty to shout about, including the latest from Kicker. “Over 50% of the Kicker range has changed for 2013, but with a difference,” says marketing manager Mike Smith. “All new products are ground-up redevelopments with massive increases in specification and features, including the new CompS, CompD, CompR and CompRT subwoofers, and also the KX and CX amplifier ranges. There is also a new way of product matching for the consumer.”

We covered the KX amplifiers briefly in our CES (Consumer Electronics Show) report last issue, with their compact size and huge power set to be a major selling point. For example, the largest model in the range is only 15.5 inches long, and the KX-Series is also where you will find Kicker’s most powerful amp – a monoblock rated at 2,400W. We’ve heard that the new CompR subs are designed to give more bass for less power, with an impedance switch that allows it to flip from 4 ohm to either a 2 or 8 ohm load, increasing the set-up potential.

Just one example of the many brands on display. If you haven’t got your free MEN Expo ticket yet, register at www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu, and be sure to visit the Armour stand.

Armour Automotive 01420 487110, www.armourauto.com

Connects2

Mechless Beat Three new Beat head units were featured here last month, so we weren’t expecting any others for a while – but the brand is keeping us on our toes by introducing its first mechless double DIN, the Beat 650, with a 6.2 inch touchscreen. There are SD card and USB slots on the front, along with an Aux in, where you can feed the unit a choice of MP4, MP3, WMA or DIVX files, among others. It also has an RDS tuner with 30 presets, video output, input for a rear view camera, a subwoofer output, an RCA output and more. An infra-red remote is supplied too.

Connects2 0845 257 5588, www.connects2.com

44 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

Kenwood

Teeny weeny We’re often told to think big in business, but Kenwood is bucking the trend, coming up with its most compact products yet. First is the XR400-4 amplifier, which is claimed to be the smallest multi-channel in the world, yet still packs in 4 x 75W RMS and will take up to four-gauge cable. The KSC-SW11 active sub enclosure continues the small theme, measuring just 11 inches wide and with a 150W maximum output. It comes with a wired remote too, offering controls for the volume, frequency (50-125Hz) and phase.

Perfect for tucking away somewhere.

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

Vestatec

Prime replacements Rockford Fosgate’s 2013 range is starting to make its way over to the UK. Just off the boat are the latest Prime coaxial speakers, said to be a perfect factory replacement for any vehicle, offering Rockford Fosgate sound quality at a bargain price. With seven sizes on offer, from 4 inch two-way models up to three-way 6x9s, these improve on the previous line with increased power handling, a shallower tweeter mounting, and a cleaner cosmetic finish.

Grilles, speaker wires and all necessary connectors are included. Call Vestatec for availability and pricing.

Vestatec 0208 867 2340, www.vestatec.co.uk

Celsus

Easy digital radio This is the Caliber CALPMT700D – a plug and play device that allows you to listen to digital radio via an existing head unit, through either the FM tuner or an Aux input. It receives DAB and DAB+, with a 1.44 inch colour TFT display to show all the broadcast info. There are 99 station presets and an auto memory store, with a wire antenna included and an SMB connection. It even has its own Aux in, plus a USB socket for charging a smartphone.

The RRP is £119, and for the extra content it could give a customer, with no complicated installation, it could be an easy sell.

Celsus 01202 664390, www.celsusice.co.uk

TELL US YOUR NEWS! If you have new products and you want the trade to know, why not tell us about it?

Email information and hi-res images (300dpi) to chris@chrisandersonmedia.com

NEWS /// PRODUCT /// Alpine

Celsus

More budget Alpine

If you picked up last month’s issue, you’ll have seen our review of the Alpine UTE-72BT – a mechless single DIN with both Bluetooth and iPod control for under £100.

Well, there’s more. For £85, customers can grab the CDE-170R, with CD deck and front USB/Aux in. Or £99 gets the CDE-171R, which adds iPod/iPhone control and App

Direct, allowing you to control your apps still when the iPhone is plugged in and hear the sound through the car speakers. At £139, the CDE-173BT offers all of the above plus Bluetooth – like the UTE-72BT, but retaining the CD slot.

Alpine 02476 719620, www.alpine.uk.com

pro-plus audio

Active Pro-Plus An amplifier and 12 inch subwoofer, built into a single product, easily slotted into the car and costing just £129 is sure to be very tempting for some car owners.

The PPA112-149a active enclosure is just that, featuring a 12 inch cone in a ported box, rated at 500W RMS

or 1,000W maximum. The frequency response ranges from 25-250Hz, while the cabinet size measures 43x38.5cm.

All necessary wiring is included too, giving quite a few incentives to push the sale.

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

On the case

Big results from a relatively small enclosure is the promise from Phoenix Gold, with its all new Bass Case 8. This is a loaded 8 inch vented sub enclosure, rated at 200W RMS or 400W maximum. The compact size should make it easy to install, while the heavy duty MDF construction means it will be pretty rugged too. Other features include a high air flow slot vent, a high temperature OFC copper voice coil, and a one-piece polypropylene dustcap and butyl rubber surround on the sub, covered with a powder-coated protective metal grille. The RRP is £239.

Celsus 01202 664390, www.celsusice.co.uk

RE Audio

Return of RE The RE Audio brand is returning to the UK through RAAMaudio UK Ltd. Made in the States, RE Audio is a division of US Amps, and promises a new wave of powerful, reliable amplifiers and brutal low frequency subs. This includes the line-up from the recent CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, which saw the launch of 16 amplifier models – including the USX range, designed for the most RMS possible from the least current draw – four subwoofers and a single component speaker system.

All RE Audio products are designed and engineered at the US Amps factory. www.raamaudio.co.uk, www.reaudio.co.uk

46 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

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INSTALL GUIDE /// Mitsubishi SUV ///

Outlander upgrade

The current Outlander models have very basic sound systems, catered for by new upgrade kits from Connects2. Martyn Williams reports

T

he fairly bulky Mitsubishi Outlander has good presence, and would not look too out of place on the average Chelsea school run. This means that owners with the lower trim line-up without satnav, Bluetooth, parking sensors and the like are possible candidates for raising the interior standards of this type of vehicle.

In fact, the current entry-level models only have a basic CD-tuner, while top models come with a Rockford amplified system. The Mitsubishi ASX Attivo is also covered in the upgrades outlined here, with interfaces available for these models.

Connects2 has just introduced some handy kits for the Outlander and Attivo, which are compatible with the Rockford-amplified upper range GX4 and GX5 models. The CTKMT06

The CTSMT007.2 interface will transmit Rockford control features onto an aftermarket display via a head unit’s reversing cam input.

kit comprises a double DIN fascia panel and a steering wheel control interface and harness.

The interface supplied with the kit is the CTSMT007.2, which is the Video Menu User Interface version.

The CTSMT007.2 works by triggering the rear view cam screen. Rockford amplifier set-up displays are brought up on the screen using the steering wheel controls. Firstly there is a choice between ‘SWC OLD’ and ‘SWC NEW’, which allows the installer to choose between pre-2010 and post-2010 models. The interface also has two control options – Option 1 is a full-featured menu, and the Option 2 version is a less complicated customer menu.

There is also a non-video Rockford system

interface, CTSMT002.2, available with fascia kit CTKMT01. This uses a pattern of beeps activated by the steering wheel controls. The beep menu is fully explained in the tech info sheet supplied with the kit.

The mass of wiring behind the Rockford Fosgate system head unit is mainly related to the amplification, and such complexity won’t be seen on the lower-spec models. Also worth a mention is the fascia kit for the non-amplified models, part number CTKMT03. Conversion pockets are available for fitting single DIN units.

More good news for installers is that there is loads of space behind the head unit, possibly allowing a half-DIN DVB-T tuner to be fitted, or a full set of phono leads for external amplification.

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

Central air vents should be gently levered from the top to force them from their clips.

The fascia panel also needs gentle levering at the top to free the clips, and there’s only one multi-pin plug connection.

There are only two retaining screws holding the fascia panel, which is clipped in at the top.

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

The head unit retaining brackets are held by four screws, which are all plainly in view.

This is the back of the Rockford unit, which has extra data cabling for amplification control.

The C2 harness adaptor is compatible with these connections.

A couple of items need to be transferred to the new fascia panel – the switch panel printed circuit is retained by small self-tappers, and the hazard switch also needs to be removed.

Fitting the mounting brackets to an aftermarket head unit will usually require some trial and error adjustment involving temporary fastening into place and checking the fit when the fascia is clipped into position.

More info from Connects2 on 0845 257 5588, and visit www.connects2.co.uk 48 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

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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 Car Audio & Security Limited Contact: Rino T: 020 8569 1543 E: rino@caraudiosecurity.com W: www.caraudiosecurity.com Brands: Clifford, Viper, JBL, Infinity, Orion, Kenwood, JVC, Alpine, Pioneer, Sony, SmarTrack, Parrot Celsus UK Limited Contact: Sales T: +44 (0) 1202 664390 E: sales@celsusice.co.uk W: www.celsusice.co.uk Description: Exclusive distributors for AAMP of America (iSimple, PAC, Stinger, Phoenix Gold), Celsus, Calearo, Caliber, DABmotion Digital Radio, Dynamat Europe, Jehnert, JL Audio, MTX & Paser.

CKO International Limited Contact: Tony Rook T: 0208 863 8333 M: 07751 726598 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

Daltec AI Ltd Contact: Jiten Patel T: 0208 515 7820 F: 0208 515 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 Dashmount Contact: Steve Taylor T: 01883 741460 E: sales@dashmount.co.uk W: www.dashmount.co.uk Brands: Dashmount, Bury, Nokia, Parrot, Adapt, Brodit, Autoleads, Elan, Kram, Park Control, Steelmate

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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 Cobra UK Contact: Cobra sales T: 01932 772400 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

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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

Antennentechnik Bad Blankenburg GmbH Antennentechnik Bad Blankenburg GmbH, Hermann – Petersilge – Srasse 10, 07422 Bad Blankenburg, Germany T: +49 (36741) 3690 F: +49 (36741) 36963 Email: liane.marter@antenne-ag.de Audiovox Incaar Systems GmbH Contact: Damian Trybuszewski T: 01483 722531 E: info@audiovoxincaarsystems.com W: www.audiovoxincaarsystems.com Brands: Audiovox, Audiovox Incaar Systems, AIS

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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 W: www.igrip.eu Brands: iGRIP, Herbet Richter.

Exclusively Available at Strax (UK) LTD 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

Navman Contact: Andrew Marsden T: 01162 449846 E: sales@celtrade.com W: www.celtrade.com Brands: Navman Panorama Antennas Ltd Contact: John Thomson T: +44 (0) 208 877 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 Automotive Contact: Mick Barber T: 01773 746591 F: 01773 743251 E: sales@parksafeautomotive.com W: www.parksafeautomotive.com 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 importer

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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: Sales 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 50 www.mobileelectronicsnews.eu

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53 D N STA LATEST 2013 RANGE including:  Elite, Performance & Integration Product Categories  NEW - Dedicated Vehicle-Specific Component Kits  NEW - DSA500RT - Active Digital Subwoofer

LATEST 2013 RANGE including:  Drive, Shift & Start Product Categories  NEW - CompS Sub, CX Amplifiers & CS Series Speakers  NEW - CompRT Sub & KX Amplifiers

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