LAS VEGAS —
Multimedia A/V head units, marine audio
products, and stereo Bluetooth connectivity to smartphones
are among the key features that car audio manufacturer
Dual Electronics is promoting here at ICES.
At the show, the company:
• is adding the first A/V head unit and first in-dash navigation
system to its Axxera-brand series of aftermarket
products sold exclusively to 12-volt specialists;
• expanding its marine audio selection with a completely
new line of products offering new features;
• stepping up the feature set in two new Dual-brand A/V
head units; and
• expanding its selection of head units that connect to the
SiriusXM SXV100 universal tuner from one to four.
The company is maintaining a wide assortment of head
units with stereo Bluetooth and Bluetooth’s AVRCP (audio
video remote control profile), letting users stream
music from Internet radio apps from most smartphones
and control key functions such as track up/down and play/
pause wirelessly from the head unit.
Under the Axxera brand sold exclusively to 12-volt independent
specialists, the company is launching the
$399-suggested AVX820 double-DIN multimedia DVD
receiver and the $549-suggested double-DIN AXVN825
multimedia DVD receiver with built-in navigation.
Both Axxera units feature 6.2-inch digital LED back-lit
1.15-megapixel touchscreen displays, Bluetooth stereo with
AVRCP, direct USB control of iPods/iPhones, USB control
of the track skip and play/pause functions of select Internet
radio apps on an iPhone, display of iPod-stored video
through rear USB and composite video inputs, front SD
card slot, rear USB input (two in the nav system) and more.
Under the Dual brand, two new multimedia DVD receivers
(one single-DIN and one double-DIN) offer multiple
new features compared to current models, including digital
LED-backlit, 1.15-megapixel touchscreens, ability to
play iPod-stored video through rear USB and composite
video inputs, and direct USB control of iPods/iPhones.
One of the new Dual multimedia receivers is the double-
DIN $349-suggested XDVD3201 with 6.2-inch,
high-resolution touchscreen. The other is the single-DIN
$329-suggested XDVD3101 with a larger, motorized
7-inch, high-resolution touchscreen.
Other features common to both include DVD/CD/
MP3/WMA/JPG playback, direct USB control for iPods/
iPhones, front 3.5mm A/V input, front SD card slot, 24-bit
DACs, 240-watt MOSFET power amp, three-band EQ,
one rear RCA A/V input, one rear USB, one rear camera
input, and steering-wheel-interface input.
Three new Dual-branded single-DIN CD receivers at a
suggested $129 to $199, plus a $149 double-DIN CD
receiver, round out the new Dual head units. All but the
double-DIN model comes with a mounting device accessory
that connects to the side of the receiver to hold a
portable device within the driver’s view.
The four start with the $129 single-DIN XDMA5280 with
direct USB control of iPod/iPhone and detachable faces.
The $139 XDMA6510 adds a new faceplate design
with an unusual red-arrow mode indicator for ease of use,
and the $149 double-DIN X2DMA400 adds front SD card
slot and connection to the SiriusXM universal tuner. The
$199 single-DIN XDMA6540 adds stereo Bluetooth with
AVRCP and is HD Radio- ready.
In expanding its marine selection, Dual is offering such
new features as stereo Bluetooth with AVRCP, direct USB
control of iPods/iPhones, 7-channel NOAA weather band
tuner and SiriusXM-ready capability. In all, the company
is launching two CD receivers, six receiver/speaker packages
and five speaker pairs.
