2008 Audio Buyer's Guide

Connectivity was the buzzword at this year's Consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Being able to connect an iPod, cell phone and other accessories is all the rage in car audio. years ago, it was about the record player mounted under the dash. Then it progressed to the eighttrack players that clicked and whirled out your favorite oldies. Then we moved on to the cassette players and the venerable pullout head unit that went into the mall with you to show that you were rockin' a system in your car. After that, the in-dash removablefaceplate Cd player connected to the six-disc changer in the trunk ruled and you played them until you got sick of those six discs and changed them out. A 10-band eQ under the dash shaped the sound and was a familiar sight, and 18-inch subs along with an Audio- Control epicenter were required for respect in the bass department.

Fast forward to 2008 and shallow-mount subs, in-dash computers, navigation and iPod integration are all what's happening. The iPod especially has totally revolutionized the car audio world in more ways than one. No longer is it necessary to carry a big portfolio of Cds that might get stolen. An iPod can hold countless tunes and videos, giving you access to both audio and visual stimuli. Connectivity with the head units of today are a must, and usB and sd cards are just some of the latest ways to get your digital information transferred.

Quite a few people introduced shallowmount subwoofers this year and many of them can shake things up quite nicely considering the lack of airspace that they take up. This gives you quite a few more options for mounting them like in the package tray of a "trey." Coupled with some of the small amps they're building to accompany them, there's more room for batteries and hydraulics in the trunk. it's certainly hip to be square as Kicker proved with the introduction of their solo Baric sub some years ago. Today, many manufacturers have followed suit and introduced their own variations on the square sub.

With the advent of the compressed music found in iPods and the like, sound quality has taken somewhat of a backseat over convenience. AudioControl, Pioneer, MiTek and others have been making an effort to bring great sound quality back to the listening environment via digital technology. if you doubt what we're saying, do a listening test in your own car using the original Cd and your MP3 player and you'll probably notice a difference depending on what you're ripping your digital files at. even at "Cd quality," there's a noticeable difference.

Look for things to continue to get smaller and Hd to make its way to the car audio environment also. it's an exciting time however you look at it, and here are some of the many things to check out.

Head Units/MonitorsAlpine's CdA-9987 single-diN touts "full speed" connection for your iPod, making quick searches of large libraries quick and easy. Bluetooth and a usB connection keep you connected, and Hd radio and sirius are also available. imprint sound with "MultieQ Acoustic Correction" is another plus.www.alpine.com	Clarion's FB275BTB pushes the design envelope. Leave the Cds at home with the Bluetooth receiver built in and an sd card slot that allows for both wireless connection to an iPod and loaded sd cards for playback of music files. The unit also connects to cellular phones and other Bluetooth devices. The metal shark design is backlit and makes the button seem to float.www.clarion.com	JVC's KdAVX44 has an innovative stealth black-out faceplate receiver that appears black when not in use to deter thieves. it also features a 3.5- inch wide monitor with built-in Bluetooth and usB connection for iPod and video playback. it also features dolby 5.1, seven-band eQ, 5-volt line and subwoofer outs.www.jvc.com
Kenwood's KdC-BT838u is a Bluetooth-enabled Cd head unit that connects with mobile phones and is capable of supporting streaming wireless MP3s and media from other Bluetooth devices. High-speed usB connectivity allows for control and integration of iPod, usB mass storage and many other portable media devices.www.kenwoodusa.com	Get hip to the eclipse Cd7200 MKii. don't even think about running your 6x9s directly from this head unit, no ampli- fier section here. With 8 volts outs, 24-bit dsP for signal processing and a copperplated chassis to help isolate electrical interference and noise, this is one high-end unit. Add to that your usual Bluetooth and usB connectivity and you're living large.www.eclipse-web.com	Pioneer's deH-P300iB singlediN head unit brings back the sound that you've been missing with its Asr or Advanced sound retriever. Compressed music from your iPod or other digital media device gets a well-needed restoration bringing the sound closer to your original Cd.www.pioneerusa.com
Sony's Xplod MeX-BT5100 continues to stay relevant with joystick control interface, Bluetooth handsfree with built-in microphone and audio streaming. it also has Hd and sAT, and is iPod ready with a 4x52-watt amplifier section and a wireless card remote included.www.sony/xplod.com	Alpine V series amps like the MrP-F600 are the best selling family of amps in the us. The MrP-F600 and its counterparts have rugged heat sinks combined with a digital processor that ensures non-stop and reliable output.www.alpine.com	Pioneer's F500BT LiNC combines the power of in-dash navigation with the convenience of a portable device. Combining some of the latest voice recognitions, it can understand conversational commands and intent recognition, and it has the ability to handle noisy situations. designed to integrate with most factory systems, it lets you move from car to home seamlessly.www.pioneerusa.com
Kenwood's KAC-9104d is a monaural amp putting out 500 watts continuous at 4 ohms (900@ 1 and 2 ohms) and is 33-percent smaller than the amp it replaces. running two in a dual mono configuration would give you 1,800 watts of affordable power.www.kenwoodusa.com	Pioneer's Ts-d1320C has a basalt fiber cone made from natural rock interwoven with aramid fiber, a speaker first. rear chamber tweeters extends midrange frequencies and highquality crossovers contain audiophile quality capacitors for superior sound quality.www.pioneerusa.com	Think you need 10,000 watts to power those subs? Well, look not further. At nearly 67 pounds, almost 3 feet long and 11.2 feet wide, the Kicker Warhorse requires eight batteries and two 200-amp alternators to keep it fed. And with a $9,999.95 price tag, Kicker's ZX line might be slightly more practical.www.kicker.com
Pioneer's Prs-d4200F is a bridgeable 4/3/2- channel full-range class d amplifier. The amp's built with superior channel separation, and an energy saving design that puts less strain on your alternator and in turn can save gas. It also has speaker level inputs for connecting to an oeM head unit.www.pioneerusa.com	Rockford Fosgate's P19692C is a 6x9 twoway full-range speaker ideal for placing in the package tray of your trey. A dome tweeter, foam surround, polypropylene cone and steel basket round out the features.www.rockfordfosgate.com	Kenwood's Xr-s17P is an ultra-slim component set that received a 35-percent reduction in mounting depth and a 50-percent reduction in weight. A fraction of an inch mounting depth make mounting in the tightest fits a snap. included are 5x7, 6x8 and 6-inch mounting plates and crossover.www.kenwoodusa.com