Car CD To Share Hot Future With New Formats

By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 1/6/2000

While car CD players are hotter than ever, they will likely share some of their future glory with a number of new formats on display here at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2000.

An alphabet soup of technologies for the car market will make a Las Vegas debut -- including MP3, CDR-W, CD-R, DVD Audio and Digital Audio Radio (DAR) -- while DVD Video is rapidly winning acceptance.

Showgoers will see MP3 head units from brands such as Aiwa, Alpine, Blaupunkt and Clarion, and the first MP3 changer from Rockford Fosgate. In DVD, Alpine, Clarion, Panasonic and Pioneer are showing new units (see story below), and several suppliers will unveil DAR prototypes.

Suppliers this year, however, are not only focusing on new formats, but on flashy cosmetics and multicolored displays to appeal the ever-growing youth market as well.

A number of companies -- including Aiwa, Clarion, Panasonic and Sony -- have gone back to the factory to emerge with new displays and new motorized full-face anti-theft systems.

In addition, 2000 will see speech-controlled CD players, new video/CD changer controllers, and the first in-dash MD recorder designed to record from a tuner or CD changer.

Among the highlights of the new lines on display at ICES:

• Alpine is focusing on a new Bass Engine system featured throughout its head unit, speaker and amplifier lineups.

• Aiwa is adding CD-R and CDR-W (CD-ReWritable) capability throughout its entire line.

• Panasonic is showing the first combination DVD Audio and DVD Video plus AM/FM in-dash receiver.

• Pioneer is showing a six-disc DVD/CD changer (see story below) as well as a prototype of a Japanese-style double-DIN car audio unit that accepts Memory Stick for MP3 and other playback formats.

• Pioneer will also show a prototype of an XM satellite radio receiver add-on module, which can connect to a car head unit through a changer controller bus line to provide reception of the 100 satellite-broadcast XM channels.

• Sony is adding record capability to the car, with a new dedicated, in-car MD recorder.

• Blaupunkt is showing an in-dash five-disc CD changer with accessible slots for each CD, as well as two MP3 prototypes and a new map-driven navigation system.

• Clarion is showing a DVD/MP3-capable AutoPC and a separate AM/FM/MP3 prototype.

The following outlines more details:

Aiwa is debuting a complete, new car audio line for 2000 that is the first to offer both CD-R (CD-Recordable) and CDR-W (CD Re-Writable) playback compatibility throughout its lineup. (CD-R discs are CDs that may be recorded one time only, and CDR-W discs may be recorded and erased thousands of times.)

In addition, all products will offer a mini-jack auxiliary input on the front panel for a portable CD, cassette or MP3 player. Aiwa's new line has also been cosmetically revamped, with blue backlit illumination on all models and an illuminated smart jog dial, formerly available only on the company's home system lines.

Aiwa said it is adding CD-R, CDR-W and MP3 capability because "we want to make sure people have the flexibility to take their discs with them," said product manager Bill Hadam. "We believe that MP3 is a growing force that will certainly become very viable, and we think the idea of taking it with you and having it in the car is a natural progression."

While every new Aiwa receiver has an input for a portable MP3 player, the top-of-the-line CD player will accept MP3-encoded CDs (CD-R and CDR-W). The CDC-MP3 is an AM/FM CD with full-detachable face and steering wheel remote control. It is expected to ship this summer at a suggested retail price of $349.

At the low end of the Aiwa lineup is the CDC-Z107 AM/FM CD player with a fixed-mount faceplate and single RCA preout, plus 35-watt x 4 built-in power. Suggested retail price for the leader model is $159.95. It will be joined by five additional CD players, most of which will ship in March.

In radio cassettes, the company's new models lead with the CT-X410, AM/FM cassette with detachable face, jog dial, and 40 watts x 4 power output, at a suggested retail price of $119.95. At the top of the lineup is the CT-FX930M with full-detachable face with four-color dot-matrix LCD display It also has a 4-volt preout, Dolby, steering wheel remote and CD text capability, at a suggested retail price of $215.95.

Alpine has completely revamped its car audio line with 56 new products as part of the company's shift in marketing focus. This year, Alpine will aim all cannons at the youth demographic, ages 16 to 24, and is debuting a new bass feature and new MP3-ready head units to achieve that end (see Alpine story, p. 167).

Clarion is debuting a line of seven new CD players with a key emphasis, included across the line, on tricolor displays, higher power and rotary volume controls.

The new Clarion products lead with the model DRB 3675 AM/FM/CD, featuring 45-watt x four-channel output, detachable face, a single set of RCA line-level outputs, and three-color LCD display.

At the top of the new line is the model DRX 8675, which adds CD and TV tuner changer controls, CD-text for CD track information, and full flip-down facepanel.

Clarion is also debuting a new amplifier line that is its first in five years to be designed and engineered in the U.S. In addition, the company is showing its first custom enclosed subwoofers to include built-in amplification.

Called the Camouflage series, the subwoofer line consists of 15 models designed for SUVs and trucks. The systems come in three colors: dark gray, gray and tan.

Also on display will be a prototype AM/FM/MP3 player with removable MultiMedia Cards. (see MP3 story, p. 170). Clarion's product planning director Jack DeBiasio said the company is displaying the unit to gauge retail reaction.

Sony's focus heading into the new year is on recording capability in the car, and on new cosmetics and design.

The company is debuting the first in-dash AM/FM/MiniDisc (MD) recorder/ CD changer controller, which can record directly from its tuner section or a CD changer (see story, p. 167).

Also new from Sony is an anti-theft retractable "camouflage" faceplate that hides the head unit when it's turned off and adds a "buttonless" remote-controlled display.

The new system, called Active Black Panel (ABP), consists of a motorized facepanel that flips over to hide the unit's control buttons. When the unit is turned on for use, a full-face display appears without control buttons. The user, however, can control functions via remote or can flip the panel to reveal conventional controls.

A total of four models will offer ABP, including three Mobile ES models (two CD players and one cassette). Shipping is expected in February.

Also at CES, Sony is expanding the Xplod brand, formerly available on speakers and amplifiers, into the head unit category. All but five Mobile and Mobile ES units will fall under the Xplod logo and will bear the Xplod red cosmetics.

A total of 14 Xplod head units and two CD changers will be offered as of February, the company said. Xplod radio cassettes will lead with the XRC2300X, with 50-watt x 4 power output and CD/MD changer controls, at a suggested price $119.

Xplod CD players lead with the CDXC4000X, which features a full-face detachable, fold-down face, Dbase and 50-watt x 4 power at $179. The new top-of-the-line Xplod CD is a Mobile ES model that includes the new ABP display and is expected to carry a suggested retail price of $429.

Sony said it is extending the line due to its unexpected success in amplifiers and speakers. Said marketing manager Phil Lubell: "Our Xplod amplifiers and speakers have been a tremendous success for us. In January, and throughout Sony's history, we've had a 1.3% market share in speakers. In June, due to Xplod, it went up to 5.8%."

Eclipse will debut at ICES an updated version of the Commander with expanded voice-command capability. In addition, the company is launching a line of subwoofers called the Pro series and a 1,100-watt (maximum) amplifier.

The new Commander -- a combination navigation system and voice-control system for car audio -- offers expanded voice commands, including those that can control the car audio system's volume, radio seek and scan, and CD seek and scan.

Eclipse is also releasing a Nokia cradle, the first of several hands-free cellphone cradles that will work with the Commander. When the Commander is linked with the cellphone cradle and phone, users can "verbally" tell the cellular phone to answer the phone or dial a particular number, as well as other commands for safer driving.

The new Commander will also have two outputs to allow users to voice-control electrical car functions such as windows up/down or trunk open/close.

In head units, Eclipse will expand the number of units that are compatible with the Commander from three to five. It is also expanding the number of head units with high-voltage output and low impedance to four models -- which will offer 5-volt output and 55-ohm impedance, said national sales manager Vince DeStephano.

In speakers, Eclipse is adding a new Pro series with titanium cones and over 3.5 inches of peak-to-peak excursion. Available in 10, 12 and 15 inches, the new Pro series have triple-stacked magnets, a computer-designed dual-spider system, and a power-handling capability of over 1,000 watts. Shipping for the new Pro woofers will be in April at prices to be announced.

A new amplifier called the Beast will also join the Eclipse lineup. The 740-watt stereo amplifier is designed specifically for driving the new titanium Pro woofers and will have a suggested retail price of $750.

Pioneer will begin offering its popular high-end Organic Electro-Luminescence (OEL) display at midline price points. At CES, the company is showing the feature on three units that start at a suggested retail price under $400 and will ship in March.

"We're very, very proud of this technology at Pioneer," said marketing VP Russ Johnston. "We're still the only manufacturer that can mass product it. The first piece was $650 last year, and this year, we're introducing three models priced from under $400 to $650."

The company has also revamped the cosmetics on many year-2000 head units, disposing of the electronic volume controls in favor of a large "pop up" style rotary knob.

The rotary volume knobs are available on all new flip-down-style models in the cassette and SCD lines, and new GM/Chrysler-fit SCD models. Pioneer will also continue to incorporate the MOSFET45 amplifier chip and Easy EQ features.

Also new is the FH-P8800, a double-DIN, four-source unit (CD, cassette, AM/FM tuner and CD changer control).

New prototype displays at the Pioneer booth include a Japanese-style double-DIN car audio unit that accepts Memory Stick. According to Pioneer, similar units from several suppliers should be on the market in a year.

Pioneer is also showing a prototype of an XM satellite radio receiver add-on module. It can connect to a car head unit through a changer controller bus line to provide reception of the 100 satellite broadcast XM channels. XM satellite radio is scheduled to begin broadcasting in 2001. It will be a subscription-based service delivering up to 100 channels of CD-quality audio.

Blaupunkt is debuting a high-end line called the Skyline series. Among the new Skyline units are the industry's first in-dash five-CD changer with separate loading slots for each CD. Also new are an in-dash MiniDisc receiver called the Dallas and the first "world compatible" head unit, the Munchen.

The Skyline five-disc changer, model IDC-A09, is a DIN-size unit with five front-panel loading slots so it eliminates the need to preload CD magazines. Users can load, play and eject each CD independently, even while another CD is playing.

The Skyline can be mounted in the dash or at an angle in the glove compartment, vertically in a center console, or angled in an overhead console.

CD playback features include Mix Play 1&2, Cue/Review, Track/Disc Up/Down, Track/Disc Scan, and Track/disc Repeat.

The IDC-A09 supports all the changer control functions of Blaupunkt's current Skyline, FunLine and X-Line changer-control CD receivers. It will be available in January at a suggested retail price of $359.

All of the new Skyline units incorporate DigiCeiver digital signal processing (DSP).

At the top of the line is the Munchen, which Blaupunkt claims is the first world-standard head unit that doesn't require circuit modifications for different AM and FM broadcasting standards. The Munchen is aimed particularly at corporation-owned aircraft and yachts.

The Munchen is also the first car stereo head unit with a user-selectable amplifier turn-on delay. Other features on the Munchen include flip-down panel and a two-band digital parametric equalizer -- plus steering wheel remote, DigiCeiver tuning, built-in 4 x 40-watt power amplifier, RDS Radio Data System capability, and a high-voltage four-channel preamp output and subwoofer output. Suggested retail price is $479.95.

As part of the Skyline Series, Blaupunkt will introduce a similar model for North America only, called the Tokyo, to ship in January at a suggested retail price of $429.95.

Also new is Blaupunkt's first MiniDisc receiver, called Dallas (see MD story, p. 167) and a prototype of a Skyline MP3 unit (see MP3 story, p. 170).

Blaupunkt will also debut a new version of its RNS 149 voice-driven, turn-by-turn navigation system introduced late in November. The new version will add a 5-inch color monitor and provide map displays as well as voice cues, the company said. The unit is expected to ship in the spring at an estimated street price of $1,999.

JVC is showing three new El Kameleon car audio models, led by the AM/FM CD changer controller, which is among the first to incorporate voice recognition. Called the KD-LX50, it recognizes 13 "operational" voice commands, including "power off," "up," or "down" for tuner skip functions, "eject" for CD Eject, and "changer" for switch to CD changer.

The KD-LX50 also offers 12 access commands that can be used to "train" the unit to access select radio stations or CD disc selections. The operational commands are voice-independent, so any driver of the vehicle (or any floor salesman demonstrating the unit) will be recognized, but the 12 access commands are voice-dependent to the individual.

The KD-LX50 also has voice support and voice confirmations, such as "Please repeat" and "OK," as well as visual confirmations. It controls a VCR and a CD player.

The top-of the-line model has the same retractable face in previous Kameleon head units, allowing it to camouflage with the dash. It also offers a 45 x 4-watt power output, 4-volt preouts, a bright CFL (cathode fluorescent lamp) backlit display -- and a second-generation sound-enhancement chip from Barcus Berry called BBE I. Shipping is scheduled for April at a suggested retail price of $429.95.

In amplifiers, JVC is debuting a new line of class A amplifiers featuring new cosmetics. The three new models include a two-channel, three-way amplifier with MOSFET output stage and built-in variable crossover, with power output of 150 watts x 2.

Called the KS-AX6700, it ships in April at a suggested retail price of $429. It is joined by two four-channel, five-way amplifiers: model KS-AX6500, rated at 70 watts x 4, with a suggested retail price of $379; and the KS-AX6300, rated at 50 watts x 4, with a suggested retail price of $329.

JVC is backing up the launch of the new amplifier line with an advertising campaign featuring the rock band Megadeth. Band members will be on hand at JVC's booth to sign autographs on Thursday and Friday during CES.

In addition, JVC is sponsoring the group's current tour and another tour next summer. Said national product manager Chad Vogelsong, "We wanted an aggressive, hard image, which fit well with Megadeth. This is a very unique promotion for a Japanese manufacturer."