Dual's 12V Axxera Brand Makes Connections

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 1/4/2011

Las Vegas - Dual is coming to CES with its first line of car audio products targeted exclusively to independent retailers and 12-volt specialists.

Dual's Axxera-branded 12-volt lineup includes the XDMA7800 single-DIN CD receiver at expected suggested $229.

The Axxera-branded products, appearing at North Hall booth 1818, "represent a tangible step up from the Dual core assortment in terms of industrial design, feature set, price points and overall complexity,'' said Dual sales VP Jamie Walt.

At International CES, the company is showing two Axxera-branded speakers and five CD receivers priced from a suggested $129 to $249, all with connectivity to a variety of music sources. All head units feature at least one iPod/USB input, an SDHC memory card slot and 3.5mm aux in. Three units with dual iPod/USB inputs start at $179, and stereo Bluetooth with Bluetooth's AVRCP (audio video remote control profile) appears in four units starting at $159. AVCRP combined with Bluetooth stereo (A2DP) enables head units to control select functions of music applications running on Bluetooth-connected smartphones, including Internet radio apps.

The first products will ship early this year. A broader line at prices above $249 will be introduced later in 2011 "and will include other categories, such as multimedia units with advanced technologies, to complement the salesmanship and professional installation offered by 12-volt specialists and smaller independent retailers," said marketing director Joanna Lukins.

Of the five head units on display, the top two are the XDMA7800 single-DIN CD receiver and the X2DMA500 double-DIN CD receiver at expected suggested retails of $229 and $249, respectively. The other three models are single-DIN models ranging in price from $129 to $179. More head units at price points above $249 are due later this year, said Lukins.

The top two models feature full graphic displays and RGB custom colors, enabling custom color selection for front-panel buttons and LCD. Both are HD Radio-ready to connect to an outboard HD Radio tuner, and they feature iTunes tagging. Both also play back MP3, WMA and AAC music files stored on a USB drive or SD memory card, and both support the Bluetooth PBAP profile. The single-DIN unit features fold-down faceplate; the faceplate of the double-DIN model is fixed.

Starting out the line a suggested $129 is the XDMA7100 single-DIN CD receiver with detachable face, front-panel iPod USB input, SDHC memory card slot, 3.5mm front aux in, detachable face, input for a steering-wheel interface, MP3/WMA playback from USB drives and memory cards, steering-wheel interface input and 4x60-watt amp.

At $159, the single-DIN XDMA7200 adds stereo Bluetooth and the AVRCP Bluetooth profile. And at $179, the XDMA7600 adds a rear-panel iPod/USB input, AAC playback, fold-down detachable face, Bluetooth's PBAP profile and RGB custom colors.