Tabla de contenidos para Issue 6 - 2017 en InCar Entertainment

Processors are ever more important to the incar audio equation, preparing the variety of input signals, including those from factory-install units, but then delivering the highest of quality outputs to your amplifiers and speakers. And Hertz, along with its sister company Audison under the Elletromedia umbrella, undoubtedly leads the way. Indeed our fellow EISA members voted the Audison bit HD as the EISA Incar Processor of the Year for 2016-7, and those who read our last issue will have seen not one but two stunning installations which put the Audison very much centre of their systems. But for 2017-8 EISA recognised the Hertz H8 DSP in the category of Incar Integration, calling it “the DSP to beat all rivals”. And we’re delighted to agree with them in these, our own…

While we don’t believe we’ve ever found such a thing as a ‘bad’ Helix product in any of the types it offers — speakers, subwoofers, processors — the speciality of this audacious yet modest company is certainly amplification, and it’s a pleasure that the pricing doesn’t put these products out of reach. Indeed given that this awards category has no price ceiling, it’s doubly impressive that this wonderful amplifier came to the market only a ton above the price break from the lower category. We love the look, with its tech all on display, and the eye-popping specs are an immediate stand-out for this unit. Of course, you can’t rely on specs alone — some companies publish specifications, others offer what might be better called ‘specifiction’. But the performance here…

The X-factor of Alpine’s X Series takes out the award in the lower of our two price breaks for speakers. The X-S69C is the top model in the company’s X Series range of speakers, and use oval-shaped woofers, a handy device for incar use since they can allow a larger driver to fit into a space which is wider than it is high. You don’t often see them in hi-fi, since if you want a bigger woofer in a home speaker, you just make a bigger box. The exception is in slim soundbar designs, where space is again at a premium, and a row of oval speakers along the bar can meet just the goal Alpine is aiming at here in the auto world, where the speakers have to conform,…

Enhance your Amarok with the ultimate work tool, creating a whole new driving experience. Alpine’s Navigation Station’s effortlessly navigate you to work and holiday destinations. Complete control is provided without taking you’re your eyes off the road via the steering wheel controls, complemented by the multi-function display which indicates song and phone information. Built-in Bluetooth for phone and audio streaming further increases driver comfort, while a comprehensive database of 4WD off-road maps ensures you get to your leisure destination safely, taking the best route possible. Driving enjoyment is boosted with a multitude of sources on hand such as, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB+ and HDMI input all displayed via the capacitive touch display. Premium navigation, ultimate connectivity and audiophile sound quality — Alpine engages and excites your senses. CAN-UART /…

Surely no audio enthusiast living on God’s earth needs an introduction to French speaker virtuoso Focal — especially after reading the list of our award-winners this issue. Yet some may not appreciate the reputation this audacious company has for working with difficult materials. And when I say difficult I mean really, really difficult materials — such as its penchant for beryllium, which is one of the ultimate tweeter materials, but toxic as hell during manufacture (though perfectly inert, we should emphasise, once in your car). Rather less toxic is Focal’s most recent innovation in cone material — flax. Focal’s award-winning Flax range began its migration from Focal’s hi-fi speakers to its incar ranges just under a year ago with a triplet of component sets. Soon after, especially once enthusiasts got…

When talking about audio-visual manufacturers, biggest doesn’t always correlate to best. Proof positive of this is a phenomenon I like to colloquially call ‘corporate small man syndrome’, whereby various companies’ marketing machines rather outstrip their actual abilities. On the flipside, however, there exist companies of another ilk — a small cadre of boutique operations that, although comparatively smaller in size, nonetheless achieve staggering performance heights though careful research and development (rather than overinflated and unsubstantiated boasts). They’re often brands that chainstores and Facebook pages never feature, and likely won’t anytime soon. I’m sure you can see where I’m headed with this, so no prize for guessing which side of the marketing divide the German-bred Brax belongs. Founded in 1990 as a subsidiary of Audiotec-Fischer, this modest yet tenacious company chooses…

Our first winner fulfills all the promise of Apple’s CarPlay software, which overlays Alpine’s own infotainment system to deliver almost everything you could want to do with your iPhone while driving, right there on your car’s built-in display. You can select and listen to music, get directions, make calls, send and receive messages, and much more. And the latest innovation with Alpine’s iLX-107 is that the connection no longer needs a cable. PICKING THE PLATFORM Indeed, this is the first ever aftermarket wireless Apple CarPlay receiver. Of course, it’s worth noting that it’s so devoted to hte Apple system that apart from the built-in AM/FM radio, it is pretty much CarPlay and nothing but CarPlay all the way. To be precise, beyond CarPlay (to which we shall, of course, return)…

Diamond Audio (or simply Diamond as it is colloquially known) arrived on the scene a quarter-century ago, back then offering only component speakers and without any reputation to recommend them to customers. It didn’t take long for word to get around, however, as it went around decimating the competition scene with its wares. Diamond struck while the iron was hot, expanding its stable to subwoofers and ultimately power amplifiers. The performance and build standard remained impressive throughout, and today Diamond showcases these traits with its flagship components, the acclaimed Hex series, incorporating everything from component speakers and subwoofers through to amplifiers among which this mighty HX600.4 amplifier proved itself on our test benches as worthy of taking our crown in this category. An astute performer, it successfully blends impressive power,…

It’s the monobloc subwoofer amp from Focal’s Performance FPX series, which also took out a Highly Commended award (on page 18) with the full five-channel FPX 5.1200. Here the French company takes the win for an amazingly compact yet powerful Class-D monobloc — the FPX1.1000 proves that not all subwoofer power packs need resemble an apartment block in order to achieve their goal. Focal makes ultra-compact models too, but this is hardly a beast at three kilograms, and indeed this latest model delivers thrice the power output of its predecessor, yet with a footprint that’s scarily similar. Such is the tenacious nature of this French marque. MONO, NEW BLACK Forming part of the esteemed FPX range of amplifiers, the FPX1.1000 is head monobloc of the stable, and is the quintessential…

What to call these speakers? We’ve called them the Vibe CVEN 62C-V4 2-way component speakers, partly to tie in with our colleagues at EISA who also recently gonged these classy component speakers. It’s more or less the name used by Vibe in the rather swish 20-page manual. But on the box they are called the CVEN Series 7 6.5” (165mm) component speaker kit. More importantly, the box explains that Vibe has seven speaker ranges, and that the Series 7 of this model doesn’t mean that they’re the seventh version, but that they are the top of the heap of Vibe’s offerings in quality terms. EQUIPMENT In a way that didn’t come as a surprise. Even before removing the black plastic covering the box, this was a weighty package. As the…

It’s all too easy to get caught up in a whirl of nostalgia. But really, sometimes it really does seem that everything was better ‘way back when’. No? Hear me out. Way back when… life was simpler. There was a close-tozero chance that your Friday night drinkinggame shenanigans would make it onto every computer in the world by morning. Our video games back then didn’t need an uberfast internet connection that Australia couldn’t get organised. And it was harder to get booked for speeding. [Though our Editor interjects that this last could be considered an improvement, in safety terms at least.] Your own list would no doubt add personal-preference items similarly removed or reshaped by Old Father Time. Sometimes we miss those old-school ways of doing things. That’s why I…

In so many aspects of modern life you have to make a choice. Case in point: Apple or Android? In practice, the skills you learn with one are largely applicable to the other. You can do pretty much with one system what you can do with the other. Yet we choose camps. And the problem is that the Apple system and the Android system don’t often play well together. Which brings us to your car audio system. Traditionally, even smart car head units are largely standalone systems. You can plug in your phone, or connect by Bluetooth for hands-free calls and music playback. Apple? Android? Doesn’t matter. But with the rise of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, some newer systems merge with a smartphone to become an integrated system, allowing…

This is the second year Kenwood has taken our award for the higher price category of head units. Bitter pill though it may be for our esteemed European and American colleagues to swallow, when talking high-end receivers, the Japanese brands continue to perform brilliantly, though it’s fair to say Kenwood hasn’t always been the crown bearer. It was last year when the tenacious company hit the ground running with a range of receivers that were approaching flawlessness, and judging from this year’s DNX9170DABS receiver, it seems Kenwood has no plans to vacate said throne anytime soon. KING KEN Literally designed to be king of receivers, the DNX9170DABS is an impressive number to behold. Capable of handling everything audio and visual it inherently has a feature and ability repertoire nothing short…

The silver rather than gold on this page indicates this to be a Highly Commended award — indeed the only such award in our incar categories of the Sound+Image Awards this year. It’s no indication of second-class status, rather that after the winner had been chosen, the judges simply weren’t prepared to let this superb amplifier pass by without recognition of some sort, and it’s for just such occasions that our Highly Commended status is reserved. Focal’s FPX stable boasts many a configuration, and on page 22 you’ll see the subwoofer amplifier from this range take out our Mono Amplifier of the Year. But if it’s a full four-channel plus sub system you’re looking to power, the FPX5.1200 combines all the important facets, boasting superb power and efficiency, a small…

Through a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Boston-based company Waylens created the next big thing in automotive technology. Introducing, the Waylens Horizon performance camera system. More than 1600 backers pledged more than US$600,000 for development, and the final product has now moved in to production and has distribution throughout Australia. Not just a dashcam, the Waylens Horizon is a state-of-the-art vehicle performance logger, lap timer and premium video camera for driver and engine performance analysis for automotive, 4WD and motorsport enthusiasts. Some performance loggers on the market need to be professionally installed and can cost thousands of dollars. The Waylens Horizon can deliver most if not all of the functionality of the higher priced units at a fraction of the price. And no professional installation required, as it is a simple…

Alpine’s extensive range of navigation stations ensure there is a perfect fit solution for the all-new Amarok. State of the art navigation features 3D landmarks and lane guidance which informs you what lane to be in allowing you to always make the correct turn. Live traffic updates, school zone, red light camera and fixed speed camera alerts help provide a safer and quicker journey. 4WD off road maps come standard with this system and includes intuitive turn-byturn navigation with 3D terrain. Three years of free map updates allow your navigation system to stay up to date. The X208AU and INE-W977A will bring the latest in car technology to the Volkswagen Amarok. Equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto it delivers smartphone apps into the dashboard, such as phone calls, messages…

an outstandingly iconic American car — a 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS — decked with the glories of a high-ranked Aztec Warrior carrying all the top honours of his tribe. So just as the Aztec Empire gained tribute from conquered enemies, we pay tribute to the astounding quality, extent and time invested in this eye-popping flame-filled Impala. BATTLE CRY Owner Matt Dearing had a few key requirements for his 65 Impala after he liberated it from the seller, the first being that it needed to have a massive audio system set-up. But he also wanted to create a spectacular home for the music, and in that regard, the battle has been well and truly won. Let your eyes drift to the colours and materials of the car’s interior, in two-tone maroon…

“German who?” was a response received recently when I included these speaker designers on a list of companies widely perceived as the world’s best. “Maestro” I replied, with perhaps a little more haughtiness than I ought, given that some years back I asked the exact same question. Insofar as top-shelf audio is concerned, the name German Maestro is synonymous with high quality equipment, and although nowadays it has very few rivals the company didn’t just hit these lofty heights straight out of the gate. One of the few remaining companies where the design HQ still operates its own production plant (located upon the outskirts of Obrigheim, Germany), German Maestro began its work several decades ago under the moniker MB Quart. Since then it’s not only designed but also produced (proud…