Directed Launches Lower Cost WCC, Enters Nav

LAS VEGAS — Directed Electronics, fresh from its initial public offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange on Dec. 16, introduced at International CES a new lower-priced line of West Coast Customs (WCC)-branded car stereo.

The company also entered the portable navigation market and is introducing a new Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) adapter for upscale European cars.

While the initial WCC line was based on high-end Orion products, the new line is based on the Xtreme line and is designed to reach a broader audience.

The WCC line now includes amplifiers from $249 to $329 suggested retail price and speakers from $69 to $159. Also new are WCC Powerbox powered subwoofer boxes with dual 10-inch or 12-inch subwoofers plus amplifier at $399 and $469, respectively. The line is slated to ship in the first quarter.

Directed is also entering the portable navigation market with the model NAV350. It ships with full U.S. map coverage on a 1GB SD card, has a 3-inch screen and uses a lithium-ion battery for a five to seven hour charge. The unit also has a picture viewer and MP3 playback and will ship in limited quantities in February, with a full rollout to follow at a suggested retail price of $699.

Also from Directed is a MOST adapter that allows users to add an amplifier to cars such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porche and Audi that use the MOST fiber-optic system for all their multimedia components. According to Directed, the adapter “grabs the signal” before it is modified and brings it into the adapter which converts it to six channels for use with an after-market amplifer. The adapter will ship in the first quarter at a suggested retail price of $499, plus $199 for a data link to each specific car make.