More than 35 home and car HD Radio products were available by the end of 2006, according to the HD Digital Radio Alliance and more are due in 2007. The alliance said it has also received commitments from nine automakers for 49 vehicle models, although a time frame wasn’t specified.
Here at International CES, new home and car products include models from the following companies:
Alpine: All Alpine Ai-Net head units will now display HD Radio multicast stations when used with Alpine’s current outboard HD Radio tuner, whose price drops this month to $199 from $299.
DICE Electronics: In the fall of last year, the company finally began shipping its $199-suggested HD DICE tuner/adapter, which works with select vehicles from Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Mini Cooper, Scion, Toyota and Volkswagen. Compatibility with more vehicles is planned.
The unit plugs into the satellite radio or CD changer control port of a car’s head unit.
Directed Electronics: An add-on HD Radio tuner for car stereo systems receives multicast stations and displays artist and song names. It shipped in December at a suggested $249. At the same time, the company also shipped a tabletop HD Radio with detachable speakers at $299.
Jensen: The company said it plans to offer several car head units with built-in HD Radio in 2007 but has not announced specifics.
Kenwood: The company is reducing the price of its KTC-HR100TR HD Radio adapter for the car to $199, down almost 50 percent since the unit’s introduction in 2005. The adapter works with head units as low as $119-suggested retail price in this year’s lineup.
Peripheral: First-quarter shipments are planned of a $199-suggested tuner/adapter package dubbed HDR2Car. The tuner, which receives multicast stations, connects through a satellite radio-ready head unit’s satellite radio port.
Metra Electronics: Its suggested $199 car tuner/adapter connects to a factory radio through either the CD changer or satellite radio port. It displays HD radio information such as artist and song titles on the radio screen and allows control through the CD changer or satellite-radio controls. The unit comes in a version for import cars including Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen and Honda and a version for domestic vehicles from GM, Ford and Chrysler. It is expected to ship Feb. 15.
Visteon: The new HD Jump loosely resembles an XM or Sirius plug-and-play tuner that can be docked with a car or home kit. It receives multicast stations and displays song titles and artist names. It ships in January at a suggested $199 with car kit that must be professionally installed to the car radio’s antenna. An optional home kit will also be available so that the HD Jump can be shuttled from car to home.
