Audio News for January 29, 2013

by | Jan 29, 2013 | Audio News

Auto Stereo is the theme this time.

Bose Celebrates 30 Years in Autosound – Bose’s first OEM system appeared in some 1983 Cadillacs, Bucks and Oldsmobiles. They were the first sound systems to carry an aftermarket bran name and the first OEM systems tuned to a particular vehicle’s acoustics. Before 1983 systems were typically installed in the final assembly stages, with no thought given to custom design or equalization. The success of these models changed the way manufacturers an drivers viewed car audio. In 1993 Bose introduced their Acoustic Waveguide technology for the first time in a 1994 Mazda RX-7, which deepened bass response. In 1998 they introduced AudioPilot noise-compensation technology to adjust the music signal in response to vehicle speed and external noise.

Rockford Fosgate Steps Up Car-Audio Awareness in Youth –  Rockford Corp. claims that 12-to-18-year-olds are not aware of car audio and have launched a program in which their reps will take super-decked-out Ford Transit Connect vans to high school and college football games, car shows and other local events to demonstrate the Rockford Fosgate gear. Seven different music tracks, each representing a different genre, can be selected for playback, and passengers are given hearing-protection earmuffs. Each show lasts 40 to 60 seconds.

Alpine Readies New Products – Still on auto sound, Alpine is offering firmware upgrades for its current AV and AV-navigation head units to offer app mode, enabling basic head-unit control of the iPhone 4 and 4S music apps and viewing of music-app metadata. The app mode also allows basic control when viewing video on large-screen AV units. Before the year is over, their will be an app mode for connection of iPhone 5s, whose Lightning connectors spit out digital video. Alpine is also promoting its new Bass Line subwoofers which are targeted to the youth market. Their all-new single-DIN head units offer hands-free Bluetooth to handle voice-control functions of both iPhone and Android smartphones.

History of Car Stereo – We’ve been listening to music in our cars for nearly 80 years now. Back in the ‘20s the engine and other noises was the only accompaniment for driving, In the ‘30s, the car radio slowly became part of the American drive. First, of course, they were just AM and mono, then came FM, then stereo. A recorded format that we’d like to forget was eight-track tape; the cassette wasn’t so bad though. Then came the CD. In the early ‘70s better speakers began to be promoted, but nearly everything was full range until we began to get two- and three-way driver systems. There’s an absurd interest in poorly-matched, huge thumping subwoofers in some quarters. There were only sporadic attempts at surround sound (Circle Surround and Dolby Surround), and now everything is going digital with iPods, smartphones, streaming, satellite radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth etc.

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