Las Vegas – Dual is coming to CES with its first line of car
audio products targeted exclusively to independent retailers and 12-volt
specialists.
The Axxera-branded products, appearing at North Hall booth 1818, “represent
a tangible step up from the Dual core assortment in terms of industrial design,
feature set, price points and overall complexity,” said Dual sales VP Jamie
Walt.
At International CES, the company is showing two Axxera-branded speakers
and five CD receivers priced from a suggested $129 to $249, all with
connectivity to a variety of music sources. All head units feature at least one
iPod/USB input, an SDHC memory card slot and 3.5mm aux in. Three units with
dual iPod/USB inputs start at $179, and stereo Bluetooth with Bluetooth’s AVRCP
(audio video remote control profile) appears in four units starting at $159.
AVCRP combined with Bluetooth stereo (A2DP) enables head units to control
select functions of music applications running on Bluetooth-connected smartphones,
including Internet radio apps.
The first products will ship early this year. A broader line at
prices above $249 will be introduced later in 2011 “and will include other
categories, such as multimedia units with advanced technologies, to complement
the salesmanship and professional installation offered by 12-volt specialists
and smaller independent retailers,” said marketing director Joanna Lukins.
Of the five head units on display, the top two are the XDMA7800
single-DIN CD receiver and the X2DMA500 double-DIN CD receiver at expected
suggested retails of $229 and $249, respectively. The other three models are
single-DIN models ranging in price from $129 to $179. More head units at price
points above $249 are due later this year, said Lukins.
The top two models feature full graphic displays and RGB custom
colors, enabling custom color selection for front-panel buttons and LCD. Both
are HD Radio-ready to connect to an outboard HD Radio tuner, and they feature
iTunes tagging. Both also play back MP3, WMA and AAC music files stored on a
USB drive or SD memory card, and both support the Bluetooth PBAP profile. The single-DIN
unit features fold-down faceplate; the faceplate of the double-DIN model is
fixed.
Starting out the line a suggested $129 is the XDMA7100 single-DIN
CD receiver with detachable face, front-panel iPod USB input, SDHC memory card
slot, 3.5mm front aux in, detachable face, input for a steering-wheel
interface, MP3/WMA playback from USB drives and memory cards, steering-wheel
interface input and 4×60-watt amp.
At $159, the single-DIN XDMA7200 adds stereo Bluetooth and the
AVRCP Bluetooth profile. And at $179, the XDMA7600 adds a rear-panel iPod/USB
input, AAC playback, fold-down detachable face, Bluetooth’s PBAP profile and
RGB custom colors.
