Heathrow, Fla. – Dual Electronics
began shipping its first car audio products targeted exclusively to 12-volt
specialists.
The
products, introduced at
January’s International CES, consist of four single-DIN and one double-DIN
audio head units priced from a suggested a suggested $129 to $249, or $109 to
$219. Later this year, Dual will expand the Axxera brand to include higher
price points, multimedia head units and speakers.
Dual president/CEO Jim Braun said
the line would give 12-volt specialists “something new and different that they
can use to create excitement, improve profits and build business.” The brand is
positioned as offering “rich feature sets and value price points,” and for
specialists they offer two-year warranties and a MAP policy to offer profit
opportunities, he said.
The single-DIN models features
fold-down detachable face; the face of the double-DIN model is fixed.
To connect with non-CD music
sources, all five feature SDHC memory-card slot to support memory cards up to
16GB, at least one iPod/iPhone USB port, and front-panel 3.5mm and rear-panel
RCA-type auxiliary inputs. Via USB port, memory card and data CDs, consumers
can play MP3, WMA and AAC music files. The port also enables head-unit control
of music stored on iPods and iPhones.
All models feature 4×18-watt RMS
Mosfet amps, 2-volt preamp outputs, a minimum of two pairs of preamp outputs,
and connection to an optional steering-wheel-control interface.
Starting at $139, the heads add
built-in Bluetooth with the HFP, A2DP, AVRCP and PBAP profiles for,
respectively, hands-free calling, stereo music streaming, control of select
functions of music apps on Bluetooth-equipped smartphones, and phone book
access enabling a receiver to automatically downloads contacts from a paired
cellphone to let users browse their contacts and dial a number directly from
the receiver’s front panel.
Three units starting at $169 feature
dual iPod/USB inputs (one front, one rear), RGB custom-color selection to
provide user-customizable colors of the front-panel buttons and LCD display,
and a dedicated subwoofer preamp output. In the lower-priced models, one of two
preamp output pairs can be dedicated for full-range or subwoofer use.
The top two models at $189 and $219 add
full-graphic LCD displays and control of an optional HD Radio tuner that offers
iTunes tagging and multicast reception.
