Lack of recent innovation in car audio?

It seems like these last few years there really hasn't been anything groundbreaking, just companies rebadging and changing the look of their products. What is there on the horizon that has the potential to be groundbreaking? Any good alternatives to typical subwoofers?

Nothing new?  There's been a radical shift to using DVD as a playback medium and toward LCD (and other color display) screens in dash, a continuing emergence of "digital" amplifiers for all applications, a slow push toward using surround sound schemes in the car, auto-EQ and other automatic setup DSPs are becoming more common, power is cheaper than ever, important companies like Eclipse are trying the big-box mainstream consumer market, prices for high quality gear and speakers continue to fall largely because of improved quality from Chinese and other Asian manufacturers, corporate consolidation continues and companies like Phoenix Gold continue to die, etc.  As far as new innovations in subwoofers, the Tympany LAT system may be a significant new invention if it works as advertised at a competitive price point.  So there's been plenty happening, and I'm sure I forgot something.Support the12volt.com

luckydevil wrote: What is there on the horizon that has the potential to be groundbreaking?

The new 42 volt systems will be ground breaking enough for most people to not want to install their own equipment into their vehicles.

Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

I've got to add Adire's XBL^2 motor as an innovative new design as well.  Adire also showed a prototype ionic speaker at CES this year that has some pretty cool abilities (no moving parts).  JL Audio's Clean Sweep was a very innovative product IMO as many people don't want to give up their factory head units, but do want to upgrade the sound.

And we can't forget all the groundbreaking new remanufactured and rebadged products that continue to fall apart due to really really really shatty design and manufacturing. Is it just me or is this getting to be a larger growth category everyday?Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

Bluetooth technology is pretty cool, and it's now being built into head units like Pioneer.