Brooklyn Audio Caters To East Coast Stores

BY AMY GILROY

Brooklyn, N.Y. — Brooklyn Audio, a new car audio brand launched last month, offering near-rock bottom pricing for East Coast retailers.

Supplied by Manndia Distributors, which has sold a line of DJ speakers called Exit Pro for 30 years, the Brooklyn Audio brand includes low- to mid-end amplifiers, speakers and overhead video screens at near market-bottom prices as the company capitalizes on its East Coast location.

“We saw an opportunity. A lot of the [low-end] car audio manufacturer are located on the West Coast,” said Manddia Distributors owner Victor Elmann. After a product travels from China to California it then must incur shipping charges to the East, which can cause a 30 percent mark-up in price, said Elmann.

“We're saving that extra 30 percent. Instead of going to California, we're importing directly to New York.”

Elmann said his company is also able to fill a gap in service caused by the recession. As banks have tightened credit, some of the importers are left with limited quantities of products creating shortages, Elmann said.

Brooklyn Audio claims 70 retail outlets thus far. It carries overhead flip-down monitors with 10-inch or 12-inch screens at suggested retails of $100 and $139, respectively. The monitors include TFT swivel-screens, support optional IR headphones and video games, and include an overhead dome light.

Subwoofers are available in 10- and 12-inch sizes at $49.99 and $59.99 suggested retails. Amplifiers include four two-channel models with up to 1,400 watts peak power and four four-channel models with up to 1,600 watts peak. All products have a one-year warranty for parts and labor.