Alpine Ships Its First MirrorLink Head Unit

By Joseph Palenchar On Apr 18 2013 - 2:50pm

Alpine’s mech-less ICS-X7HD with 7-inch WVGA touchscreen and MirrorLink compatibility.

Torrance, Calif. – Alpine has begun shipping its first in-dash head unit with MirrorLink, which enables control of a smartphones’ core functions from touchscreen-equipped in-dash aftermarket and OEM head units.

The head unit is the $800-suggested ICS-X7HD, a mech-less model promoted as an “in-dash app receiver” with 7-inch WVGA touchscreen.

Alpine Launches TuneIt App For Quick Sound-System Tuning

By Joseph Palenchar On Apr 8 2013 - 4:30pm

Alpine’s TuneIt app downloads recommended settings to optimize sound for a particular vehicle, then sends them to select Alpine head units via USB or Bluetooth.

Torrance, Calif. — Apple launched its TuneIt app for iPhones and plans an Android version later this month for use with a currently shipping car CD receiver and with two more CD receivers to come.

Alpine Redesigns V-Series Class D Amps

By Joseph Palenchar On Mar 1 2013 - 1:00am

V-series Class D amps, including the $230-suggested MRV-M500 amp rated at 500 watts into 2 ohms, are smaller than their predecessors but add new technologies.

Torrance, Calif. – Alpine began shipping its redesigned V series of Class D car amplifiers, which are 40 percent smaller than their predecessors and add multiple new features.

 The series, called “budget-friendly,” consists of a $230-suggested 500-watt (into 2 ohms) mono amp, a $170 250-watt (into 2 ohms) mono amp, and a $230 4/3/2-channel amp rated at 4x75 watts into 2 ohms.

Alpine’s 9-Month Sales Up, Income Down

By Joseph Palenchar On Feb 6 2013 - 2:39pm

Iwaki, Japan – Alpine posted higher sales, but lower operating and net income during the first nine months of its fiscal year which ended Dec. 31, 2012.

Alpine post a 8.5 percent increase in sales to 157.9 billion yen ($1.69 billion) during the first nine months of fiscal 2012 but a 62.7 percent decline in operating income to 1.7 billion yen ($18.2 billion) and a 61.5 percent decline in net income to 1.14 billion yen ($12.2 million).

Alpine Readies Products, Promotions

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 14 2013 - 11:58am

Las Vegas – Products and promotions were the key themes for Alpine at International CES.

Alpine announced that is teaming up with hip-hop/dance-music group Far East Movement to promote a line of Bass Line subwoofers targeted to the youth market.

Alpine First-Half Sales Up, Profits Down

By Joseph Palenchar On Nov 7 2012 - 1:00pm

Operating income fell 63.7 percent to 1.1 billion yen ($13.8 million).

Iwaki, Japan – Alpine’s net sales grew 9.4 percent in the fiscal first half ending Sept. 30, but profits were down.

Sales were 103.9 billion yen ($1.3 billion), but operating income fell 63.7 percent to 1.1 billion yen ($13.8 million), and net income declined 66.1 percent to 0.7 billion yen ($8.8 million).