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(Credit:
Alpine Electronics of America, Inc.)
Adding the right external amplifier to your car audio solution not only results in higher volume levels, but also fuller, cleaner sound at moderate volume levels as a strong amplifier can operate more efficiently than the receiver alone. But adding an amp creates the small problem of find a place to mount it and then wiring it. Alpine has a solution for owners of its car audio receivers (2005 or newer), the KTP-445 Head Unit Power Pack. I had an opportunity to check the KTP-445 out at CES 2009.
The KTP-445 is a small-form-factor (6 inches by 2 inches by 1.125 inches) power upgrade that installs inline between your Alpine receiver and your vehicle's wiring harness. Depending on the vehicle, the device installs in minutes and can fit in the dash, behind the receiver. No special wiring is required.
For your trouble, the four-channel amplifier boosts power to the speakers to 45Wx4 RMS (up from an average power of 18Wx4 RMS). According to Alpine, the KTP-445 uses an advanced digital design that provides an extremely clean power output with very high efficiency, making the bass tighter and highs clearer. According to my ears, the KTP-445 produces fantastic sound for a $140 device the size of a small burrito.
I believe that the KTP-445 is boosting speaker level outputs instead of the cleaner preamp outputs that most receivers use for supplying audio to amps, so an external amp may still be the best option for audiophile sound quality. But for the rest of us who can't tell the difference between 256Kbps and 320Kbps MP3s, the KTP-445 offers a good sounding, easy to install alternative for your Alpine head unit. Just make sure you upgrade your speakers next, because stock paper cones probably won't last too long under 45 watts of continuous power.
We should be getting a KTP-445 for testing around April 2009.
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CES 2009: Car Tech wrap-up
Our heads are still spinning a bit from the onslaught that was the in-car electronics hall of CES 2009. From every direction, there were speakers the size of extralarge pizzas and flashy video displays vying for your attention. Amidst the cacophony, our (ahem) skilled Car Tech editors were able to spot a few gems and a few diamonds in the rough.
(Credit:
CBS Interactive)
As evidenced by our Car Tech ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
CES 2009: GPS wrap-up
TomTom GO Live 740
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)CES 2009 didn't dish up any major surprises in the GPS department, but that doesn't mean it was a complete snoozer. A handful of new portable navigation devices were introduced at the show, as well as a number of services for both standalone PNDs and GPS-enabled smartphones.
As expected, we saw a new connected GPS debut, this time from ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
Kenwood dropped by the CNET Car Tech booth at CES 2009 with its DNX-8120 navigation receiver. Kenwood says that it can't keep this popular model on the shelves. With navigation by Garmin, Bluetooth by Parrot, full iPod integration with video, and two 12v accessory switches, we can completely understand why.
Alpine combines its two-way encoder and a large touchscreen interface to create the iXA-W404, Alpine's first touchscreen mech-less receiver. We take a sneak peak at the new control scheme, which involves tapping and flicking in a manner similar to Apple's CoverFlow, on the floor at CES 2009.
Mio Technology intros four new Moov GPS models
(Credit:
Mio Technology)
Mio Technology unveiled four new models to its Moov line of portable navigation devices at CES 2009, along with an improved software platform called Mio Spirit.
Calling 2009 a "watershed year for Mio," the GPS manufacturer debuted the Mio Moov S300, Mio Moov S500, Mio Moov S556, and Mio Moov S700, which will all come preloaded with the Mio Spirit navigation software. The revamped interface was designed ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
This new multimedia system from Advent (Audiovox/Jensen's top-tier line of dealer installed car audio equipment) packs nearly every bell and whistle that the company offers into a clean and easy-to-use double din receiver. They've even upgraded the interface with cleaner, updated graphics. Check us out as we check it out on the floor at CES 2009.
Alpine announced an update to its line of mech-less digital media receivers with the Alpine iDA-X305. This new single din unit gets a cosmetic refresh, but there's more to it beneath the surface as this is also Alpine's first "Works with iPhone" certified unit.
Brian Cooley takes a look at new concepts for automotive interfaces from Visteon. Technologies include touch panels with proximity sensors and haptic response.
The JVC KD-HDR50 includes HD radio, a single CD slot, and a USB port on the front panel that works with iPods. The unit includes an innovative song tagging feature that lets you save song information for downloading.
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