Tabla de contenidos para Issue 4 - 2017 en InCar Entertainment

Pioneer has introduced its largest – and most affordable – range of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto solutions in Australia. All five new AVH-Z series Pioneer head units are designed to complement the smartphone with continuous connectivity and access to a variety of entertainment options. Apple CarPlay, Dual Bluetooth connection and Spotify Connect are featured in each new model, and Android Auto is additionally supported on three of the five. This includes the first fold-out, single DIN solution to become available in Australia with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the $1000 AVH-Z7050BT (pictured left). There is also DAB+ digital radio support on two of the new models for the cities where it is available. Apple CarPlay allows smart and safe control of your iPhone in the car. It’s activated…

Navman’s new MiVue730 dash cam and MiVue800 dual cam system both feature built-in GPS tracking — so they’re able to provide you with specific details in the unfortunate event of an accident, including the location and direction in which the crash occurred, as well as the speed you were travelling at the time. This can be viewed on your computer via the MiVue Manager – Navman’s desktop software. Optimised day and night recording also means that the footage should remain bright and clear even when driving at night or in bad weather conditions. The MiVue800 Dual Cam system includes a second HD camera for the rear of your car to capture any incidents or crashes that happen from behind. Both the cameras record in 1080p video via all-glass lenses to…

There’s nothing worse than a flat car, motorbike or boat battery to spoil your fun, but you can be always ready for this eventuality with the ChargeUp Auto 12V Jump Starter from Cygnett. This is a highly compact unit suitable for vehicles with petrol engines up to 5.0 litres in size or diesels up to 2.5 litres capacity. It provides up to 20 jump starts per charge and incorporates both dual USB ports and a built-in LED torch. The USB ports mean the ChargeUp can also be used to power up a wide range of digital devices, including smartphones, cameras and loudspeakers plus outdoor equipment such as portables fridges, cookers, tools and torches. The Charge Up Auto 12V is provided in a handy, portable protective carry case which includes the…

Offering way more features than it has any right to at the price, this head unit boasts Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio streaming and handsfree calls alongside Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for easy smartphone operation. Your choice of music comes via either the DAB+ digital radio receiver or streaming using Spotify Connect. It can play your own hi-res FLAC files too. Voice control ensures the driver can keep their hands on the wheel while flicking through their favourite tracks, and with additional upgrade options including a compatible dashcam and rear camera, the DMX7017DABS has all bases covered.…

The fact that it’s specially designed for compact cabinets does little to deter this excellent subwoofer when it comes to delivering that all-important low-frequency performance. The newly developed, high-tech composite cone comes with a special coating to maintain high rigidity while keeping weight low. Combined with its large-diameter long-throw voice coil, for high power handling, and powerful magnet assembly, the result is a very pure, low distortion sound. The protection grille that seamlessly fits through specially designed slots in the basket flange delivers a final touch of elegance.…

This debut amp from Mosconi’s new PRO series suggests more good things are still to come from the brand. Boasting five independent channels of power – the first stereo pair provides 85W, the second pair 170W while the final channel uses a Class D amp to pipe a substantial 600W to the subwoofer. Maximum flexibility is ensured thanks to the inclusion of separate active crossovers in all channels or, alternatively, all crossovers can be bypassed to adapt the input parameter for use with Mosconi’s DSP.…

When I think of the term ‘VW’ I think of two cars — the “Thing” (look it up people), and the Rabbit, which I remember from my youth. Over the years I have grown to revere and respect the Golf (through several unfortunate meetings on the street if you, ahem, get my drift). In particular the Golf R stirs memories of the old-school Hot Hatch Rabbit and the passion of their owners for taking things to the extreme. So what to do when you find yourself the owner of such a fleet-footed and noble machine? I’m sure all our Incar readers will have the answer to this question — you fill it with the best car audio gear possible and then install it so well that even the cars designers…

I’m not kidding with this headline — you can actually feel, as well as hear the quality, from the very first time you play this beauty. As far as head units go, today’s necessity for a big touch-screen has meant that they’re all starting to look the same, to a degree. They all feature the latest and greatest functions, multiple connections in and out, Apple Car Play along with Android connectivity and ‘app’-style operation. So what’s left to separate one model from the next, apart from cost? In fact, that’s a simple question to answer. Quality. Quality of manufacture, quality of operation. Most importantly, quality of sound. CRYSTAL-CLEAR SCREEN So from the fascia at least, the Clarion VX807AU doesn’t appear much different to many another multimedia head unit. A large…

Given that Philips launched the Compact Disc in partnership with Sony, and the DVD alongside Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba, you might consider the company to have a good insight into what an in-vehicle Multimedia Head Unit should be. Over the years, of course, the Philips brand has become spread across multiple owners — its TVs today come from TP Vision, for example, while the Philips record label is part of Unversal Music. The incar audio division is, with the rest of Philips audio, part of Gibson Innovations (formerly WOOX), and the level of quality achieved is evident from the moment you unpack the Philips CED1910BT. It’s a nicely simple design, with a clean and elegant fascia dominated by a 6.2-inch WVGA-resolution display (800 x 480 pixels), which doubles as a…

You can record any incidents — front or rear —or simply document the joy of the journey with the latest Axis DVR1768K kit. The DVR1768K comprises a large 6.8-inch (17.2 cm) LCD display screen with a 1080p front camera which gives an expansive 150-degrees angle-of-view. The kit also includes a 480p rear camera, so you can have equal peace of mind with any unexpected rear action. The system supports microSD memory cards up to 30GB in capacity, and can even be set to stay recording even when your vehicle is unattended. AXIS DVR1768K DUAL DVR MIRROR/ CAMERA KIT PRICE: KIT SYSTEM $129 CONTACT: AUDIOXTRA AUSTRALIA LINK: WWW.AXISAUSTRALIA.COM.AU…

Less clutter on your car windscreen is always a good thing, and for those wanting to add a dash-cam but not yet having the delights of built-in navigation, Navman has created the Drive Duo. It combines both GPS navigation and a dash cam in the one compact device. The Drive Duo has a 5.0-inch (12.7 cm) touchscreen, with Australian and New Zealand ‘lifetime’ maps, and also pre-loaded with a selection of languages including Greek, Turkish, Italian and Chinese. There is also a mileage reporter (especially handy for parents teaching children to drive), while multi-stop trip optimisation can make it easier to plan side-trips during a journey. In addition, the Zomato Restaurant Guide provides reviews and recommendations of dining options, pubs and bars around. Other GPS features include 3D junction views…

Taking pride of place at the top of Clarion’s range, this HD player is streets ahead of the competition when it comes to in-car entertainment. Compatibility with Apple’s CarPlay enables integration with your phone, so you can make calls, get directions, send and receive messages and access music. It boasts a 15-band graphic equaliser and provides a 96kHz/24-bit optical digital output to feed an offboard digital audio processor of your choice. You can also partner those sounds with pictures, thanks to the NX807E’s compatibility with an optional digital tuner for TV.…

It’s easy to produce a subwoofer that shakes a car to its core, but ensuring it retains the purity of your music is an art, and one at which Pioneer excels. The fact this active sub achieves such performance from an ultra-slim chassis (just 97mm high) is impressive, and it can be slotted in the car boot with minimal loss of space. This is all possible thanks to its two 6.5in speakers and Class D amplifier with Digital Bass Control. Sound modes include the rich bass of ‘Deep’ for modern music and accurate, clear ‘Dynamic’ bass for jazz and classical.…

The DSP to beat all rivals, the H8 will automatically re-equalise any OEM system to transform the in-car audio experience from the mundane to the fabulous, creating the most highly-spec’d and flexible entertainment system, with single high-level inputs, that money can buy. The H8 DSP includes a logic-switched User Control Set that allows for a highly personalised entertainment setup – it can even be automated using the seat belt sensors if desired. The processor accepts hi-res audio files up to 96kHz/24-bit via its optical digital input and is also perfectly suited for integration with OEM systems fitted with high-level inputs.…

Be thrilled from the moment you start your car with Alpine’s premium solutions, seamlessly integrated into your factory dashboard. The 9” premium infotainment system for the all-new 200 Series LandCruiser lets you experience a whole new level of entertainment with premium sound quality and a built-in state-of-the-art navigation system. The massive 9” high-resolution display allows for outstanding picture clarity, contrast and resolution from DVD and HDMI, while the touch-screen prov ides seamless control of the system and sources such as Bluetooth and USB connected smartphones. Additionally, the navigation features 3D off-road maps, 3D landmarks and a comprehensive map database with fixed camera alerts, live traffic and 3 years of free map updates. 4WD OFF-ROAD MAPS The off-road and exploration capabilities of Alpine’s Navigation Station admirably compliments your Toyota 200 Series.…

any which way you look at it, the Italians have given us some thrilling cars. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati — hushed tones of admiration and glances of envy they inspire. But also at the other end of the scale, where mere mortals live, there are interesting options. Think Lancia, Alfa and the diminutive yet eye-catching Fiat brand, with its colourful and noteworthy history. Here we have Julian Gligorov’s Fiat 500 — Julian approached us asking us whether his pride-and-joy was featureworthy. Our answer? A resounding si! So here we’re bringing it back for a second look-see. TECH SPECS owner: Julian Gligorov vehicle: 2008 Fiat 500 engine: 1.4L Multi-Jet induction: BMC Air transmission: 6-speed manual exhaust: Custom Exhaust with stainless tips suspension: Eibach Pro-Kit brakes: EBC Rotors, front slotted, EBC red stuff…

Not that I like talking about age, but over my many years of reviewing electronic equipment hitherto, the vast bulk of it has been primarily straightforward audiovisual gear — the likes of receivers, amplifiers and speakers. But every so often fate sends me something that departs from this norm. Which is always interesting, though seldom earth-shattering. It is a rarity indeed when a new design lands on my desk which is not only practical but borders on downright ingenious. Well, friends, we have one such right here — Navdy’s NVD100-EN interactive display module. It is engineering acumen personified. In brief, then, the Navdy NVD100-EN is an interactive information system which is centred on a head-up display module — i.e. the display is projected onto the windscreen so you can keep…

Australian car audio fans will now be able to enjoy the pinnacle of Kenwood’s automotive speaker range, the XS Series, which aims at “Studio Master” quality reproduction, including reaching to the frequencies required to deliver high-res audio. “These are conventionally only sold in the Japanese domestic market,” Jason Johnson from JVCKenwood Australia tells Australian Incar. “But with the high-res support on the DMX7, DDX9, DNX5 and DNX9 units, we’ve decided that these would prove to be a perfect companion for our Kenwood Android Auto and CarPlay flagship units.” Yet the incoming KFC-XS1703 package is no bank breaker, going to retail here in Australia at $549. This includes two tweeter pods using 25mm soft-dome tweeters, and the two bass drivers with 17cm high-rigidity glass-fibre cones mounted in high rigidity aluminum frames.…

Alpine has introduced its first premium AV head unit equipped with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new iLX-702D provides dash-displayed smartphone apps such as navigation, phone calls, messages and a near-infinite choice of music, all commanded with Siri and voice control. With its smartphone-like user interface, the iLX-702D allows you to play DAB+ digital radio when within range of these urban broadcasts, plus USB video and music, iPod or iPhone sources, HDMI-connected devices and even 192kHz/24-bit high-resolution FLAC music. Apple CarPlay enables the display of iPhone functions via the Alpine unit’s 7.0-inch (17.8cm) touchscreen display which obviously include Apple Maps. Android Auto provides Google Maps, various apps and voice control. The iLX- 702D includes a precision GPS antenna which ensures accurate navigation when using either Apple CarPlay and…

When it comes to being in control, few systems can compare to this – putting operation of your Mosconi GLADEN DSP with the original OEM system controls at your fingertips. Thanks to its CAN-BUS integration, the volume of different DSP sources is accessible via the original headunit knob and steering wheel controls, while the original ‘Aux’ button is also on hand for switching sources. The result is that there’s no need for any additional external controls if the music needs to be reduced or muted before receiving incoming calls, or if audible parking sensors need to be heard.…

Beating at the heart of this processor, Helix’s latest core boasts a cutting-edge 32-bit audio DSP with breath-taking processing power. The result is a beast that’s capable of controlling an eight-channel system without breaking into a sweat, while its wide input voltage range ensures excellent flexibility for integration into even the most complex of OEM systems. But the fun doesn’t stop there, for the DSP.2 also accommodates optional extension cards supporting Bluetooth audio, hi-res music streaming via USB and real-time frequency analysis with an external microphone.…

If the goal of a decent speaker system is to reproduce music with clarity and punch, then Vibe Audio ticks every box, providing a coherent and clear performance that comes into its own with vocals, pop and electronic music. The combination of high-quality materials and smart engineering starts with the 165mm woofer that includes a 90mm-diameter magnet, Conex spider and linear butyl rubber suspension. This driver blends beautifully with the high excursion tweeter whose response extends right down into the midrange. One further benefit is that a complex, power-sapping crossover is not required inside the CVEN62C-V4 which is supplied with a single Mundorf capacitor.…

aphilosophy of antiquity extolls the virtue of picking one thing and then mastering that one thing absolutely, before attempting anything else. This mindset shines through in Callum’s Commodore. Serious attention has been lavished on every part of this car from the ground up, through some very special tweeter treatment, all the way up to sound deadening the roof. As a style, it might be described as ‘Subtle Awesome’. Because there is nothing pretentious or ‘look-at-me’ with this car. There is no one thing that stands out — and it’s meant to be that way. Yet when one inspects the car and the system closely, the hours of planning and dedication are clear to see. Every facet of the car, system and build are testament to getting that one thing perfect…

One of the original pillars of car audio worldwide, rising predominantly to fame during the 1980s and 1990s, Americanborn Cerwin Vega is a vastly experienced company with an extensive heritage spanning well over half a century. The company has grown synonymous with good quality but affordable equipment, and although its amplifier stable includes some of the mightiest components the car audio arena has ever seen, the Company also produces a range of smaller amplifiers,which cater for those of us not wanting or able to set either the world or their bank account on fire. Monoblocks don’t always need to resemble office blocks in order to achieve their goal. Of course there will be reaers keen to retort that smaller monoblocks inevitably yield smaller power output and hence “less control”. But…

Oval speakers, eh? They take me way back. You don’t see too many of them around, but here is a set from Alpine. Indeed, the X-S69C is the top model in the company’s X Series range of speakers. So, why oval? Basically, it’s one way to make a big speaker fit in a small, oddly shaped space. And cars are full of small, oddly shaped spaces. If you want a bigger woofer in a home speaker, you just make the box bigger. Not an option with cars. In the auto world, the speakers have to conform, not their enclosures. EQUIPMENT The speaker cone is rated at 9 inches by 6 inches (speaker drivers are traditionally measured from their screw holes, not the size of the cone itself) — thus the…