San Diego – Sony Mobile unveiled its
first two aftermarket products intended to upgrade factory sound systems.
Both use digital signal processing
(DSP) to improve sound quality, boost power output, add iPod/iPhone docking,
and add subwoofer to factory head units and sound systems lacking those
capabilities.
The $399-suggested XDP-MU110,
shipping in early November, consists of a hideaway DSP/amplifier rated at 4×17
watts RMS (4×45 watts peak) that connects to the speaker-level outputs of a
factory head unit, a connected iPod Touch/iPhone cradle that captures the Apple
devices’ audio in digital PCM form, and a handheld IR remote. The DSP/amplifier
module also features a line output in case users want to add on a subwoofer and
subwoofer amp of their choice.
The $799-suggested XDP-PK1000,
shipping early September, adds a 330-watt (peak) Sony Class D mono block amp
and a pre-enclosed 12-inch subwoofer that can be mounted in the trunk or behind
the seats of an SUV or pickup. The amp and subwoofer are not available separately
from the package.
The subwoofer amp is rated at 1,100
watts peak, 330 watts RMS at 4 ohms and 600 watts RMS at 2 ohms.
The products will be sold by
independent 12-volt dealers; 12-volt chains such as Car Toys; CE retailers,
including Best Buy; and expediters that in turn will sell through car dealers.
In both SKUs, Sony uses DSP to raise
the sound stage to ear level from below the dash, deepen the sound stage, and time-align
all speakers. The DSP also lets user optimize equalization for small, medium or
large passenger compartments and optimize bass reproduction for front-seat or
rear-seat passengers or in between. The system with packaged subwoofer also
lets users optimize subwoofer response for trunk-mount locations.
The iPod/iPhone cradle features
suction-cup mount and buttons for on/off, volume, source and seek. The handheld
remote features master and subwoofer-volume controls, seven-step bass and
treble control, 50-step volume control and fade/balance controls.
