'New' Cerwin-Vega Bow First Speakers, Amps Arriving Next

By Amy Gilroy On Jun 23 2003 - 6:00am

Cerwin Vega is shipping its first new speakers since being purchased last October and said it will expand next year into the car amplifier market.

According to Ken Koga, national sales manager for car audio, the company also expects to revive its Stroker brand of competition subwoofers in the future. "That market didn't exist until Cerwin Vega came out with the Stroker ten years ago. Our intent with the new product is to leapfrog ourselves back out there over our competitors," said Koga.

The new Cerwin Vega will retain the "performance heritage of the brand" but have a greater focus on marketing and advertising, said Koga. The company claims its new products afford margins in excess of 50 points "from realistic street values."

Cerwin Vega also hopes to expand from a current base of approximately 350 to 500 dealers, according to president David Rice.

New products include a V-MAG line of two-way speakers that offer the performance of separate components, according to company claims. The speakers feature new materials, such as microcellular butadiene rubber surrounds, that are lightweight but strong. New units include the V-MAG 402 4-inch two-way with 40-watt RMS power handling, the 5.25-inch two-way V-MAG 502 with 50 watt RMS power handling, and the 6.5-inch V-MAG 602 with 60 watt RMS power handling. he units carry suggested retail prices of $129, $149 and $169 per pair, respectively.

Also new are two-way speakers designed to fit into most factory cut-outs in a 2-inch mounting depth. The new models each include a pair of magnesium allow midwoofers, with ¾-inch silk dome tweeters and 12dB per octave passive crossover. The 5¼ inch V-MAG 5252 has 50-watt RMS power handling at $229 per pair. The 6.5-inch V-MAG 6502 handles 60 watts RMS at $249 per pair.