Lack of recent innovation in car audio?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=79013
Printed Date: May 12, 2024 at 2:37 PM

Topic: Lack of recent innovation in car audio?

Posted By: luckydevil
Subject: Lack of recent innovation in car audio?
Date Posted: June 12, 2006 at 5:04 AM

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?

Replies:

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: June 12, 2006 at 8:30 AM

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

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: June 12, 2006 at 8:49 AM

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

Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: June 12, 2006 at 12:20 PM

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.

Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: June 12, 2006 at 12:26 PM

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.

Posted By: dwarren
Date Posted: June 12, 2006 at 12:27 PM

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

-------------