Import Car Aftermarket Electronics - Consumer Electronics Show

Harman Kardon Drive+Play 2
The Drive+Play has been on the market for over a year, but this updated unit features full browsing capability for various portable music devices including iPod and Microsoft's new Zune, with its own screen and joystick. Drive+Play 2 also includes Harman Net, an expandable port and software package for Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone communications and Sirius satellite radio. In addition, Drive+Play 2 is expandable to support future devices and functions.

Cobra XRS R9G
Combining radar/laser detector technology with a GPS locator, the XRS R9G includes a database of red light and speed camera locations. The driver can also add to that by inputting up to 1000 location-based alerts.

Pyle PLM4135BT
Combining a 4.2" TFT LCD monitor with Bluetooth capability, this is one heck of a rearview mirror. On the communication side, it offers caller ID, while on the video side it has a reverse control switch and remote control.

Bushnell ONIX 400
This is the first portable device to combine 170 channels of XM radio, GPS navigation and XM's new personalized weather tracking service.

Pioneer AVIC-D3
The latest AVIC double-DIN unit is a big departure from previous products in the D-line. Although still a disc-driven nav unit, Pioneer added DVD entertainment capability as well as Bluetooth. The D3 also received an appealing cosmetic facelift, but the most attractive aspect is the price. At under $1000, it's sure to be one of the most popular nav units on the market.

JVC KD-NX5000
As the electronics industry moves toward double-DIN head units, JVC makes a bold statement with the single-DIN KD-NX5000. The unit boasts HDD nav and 40GB of capacity with 16GB for navigation and 24GB for music storage. The music server can store about 5000 songs in MP3, WAV or WMA format and you can navigate and play CDs at the same time. With additional devices, the KD-NX5000 is also compatible with Bluetooth, a rear-view camera and an iPod. The unit is expected to cost a little over $1000.

JL Audio TW5
The new TW5 subwoofer promises groundbreaking performance in tight spaces. The patented thin-line woofer compresses the conventional sound elements to create high driver performance in the tightest spaces. Its "concentric tube" structure supports the voice coil and suspension attachments, permitting the motor to be placed much further forward in the speaker than conventional designs, thus requiring a mounting depth of only 2.5".

Eclipse AVN2210p
Here is another ingenious two-piece unit. The in-dash part of the AVN2210p is a double-DIN CD head unit from Eclipse. The clever part is the docking station for a TomTom portable nav unit that can be transferred from car to car. When docked, the TomTom fits flush in the double-DIN unit for a factory look. When the navigation module is removed, the head unit's audio functions can still be used with separate controls on the front panel. The AVN2210p will work with Sirius and XM satellite and has standard Bluetooth capability. In addition, the unit is equipped with 5v preamp outputs for enhanced sound quality.

Clarion FB275BT
One day we may no longer need CDs. If so, Clarion's FB275BT head unit is quite possibly the wave of the future. It has no moving parts and plays digital music files stored on an SD card. The FB275BT also has built-in Bluetooth technology with streaming audio capability and hands-free calling profiles, so you can listen to music or answer calls. It includes an FM tuner, LCD letter display and rear auxiliary input. The FB275BT offers a 50Wx4 built-in amp, two-channel RCA output, z-enhancer and magna bass equalizer.

Blaupunkt THA-475
As car sound systems become increasingly difficult to upgrade, electronics manufacturers need to work harder to create simple aftermarket solutions. An excellent example is Blaupunkt's new plug-n-play amplifier. Connect it to your factory head unit via one of Blaupunkt's 40 vehicle-specific harness adapters (covering over 2000 cars) and within minutes you'll have more thumping power. The amp has an aux input to allow the addition of portable music players or other sources. In addition, you can use it in a full aftermarket audio setup. Not surprisingly, this item won an Innovations Award at the show.

Alpine Imprint
A car's interior is a challenging environment for sound reproduction. The variety of materials, shapes and size impact how the sound reaches the occupants. The PXE-H650, now with Imprint Sound Manager software, is the first automotive processor that automatically corrects the sound output to overcome any acoustical problems inside the vehicle, using sophisticated DSP and FIR filter technology. With its supplied microphone, the MultEQ collects vehicle interior measurements, plots more than 500 control points, and then automatically adjusts the signal to the chosen curve for the perfect sound balance. Multiple inputs allow it to work with both factory and aftermarket head units.

Alpine Dock 'n Roll
Here, Alpine pairs its second-generation Blackbird portable nav with the IVA-W205 head unit. How they are paired is the real story, as the Blackbird is placed inside the IVA-W205, behind its screen. The head unit is a double-DIN DVD/CD/MP3/WMA player with a faceplate that slides down, revealing the CD/DVD tray and a separate slot for the Blackbird. When docked, the Blackbird serves as a dedicated nav processor but all its controls are transferred to the head unit's 6.5" PulseTouch LCD screen. Music stored in the Blackbird can be played through the car's system and the Blackbird has a built-in Bluetooth receiver that works with the IVA-W205 external mic for hands-free calling.