Old One Eye's CES Report
Pg. 2 of 23
Esoteric Audio
The biggest news in the EAU booth was the acquisition of NoiseKiller Sound Damping Technologies, Inc. They bought the worldwide rights to the patents, registrations and trademarks for the 12-volt audio industry as well as exclusive worldwide marketing and distribution rights for all Noise Killer products. Audioform AB will retain the rights to market the technology outside the 12-volt industry. The Noise Killer is the only patented spray on sound damping material in the car audio industry. Streetwire will be offering NoiseKiller black (what used to be the NoiseKiller blue) in one quart, one gallon and five gallon sizes as well as the aerosol cans. NoiseKiller Yellow (used to deaden woofer boxes) will be available in one quart, one gallon and five-gallon sizes as well. Other products available will be FlatMat, an asphalt based mass loading mat, FlexMat, a flexible, asphalt/polymer based mat for curved surfaces and HotMat, an aluminum, Mylar visco-elastic mat for high heat areas.
In other news, EAU has formed the E-Force Competition Team for the 1999 sound-off season. EAU will provide support at shows to E-Force members with Tweak-n-Tune areas and other technical assistance. Other benefits will be outlined to individual competitors once accepted to the team. After dominating the 1998 IASCA finals by winning more trophies then any other wire or component manufacturer, Esoteric wants to strengthen and expand this competition dominating tradition. Competitors who are accepted will be assigned to one of three levels- A, B or C. The level a competitor is accepted to depends on the IASCA division he/she is competing in (Expert, Pro, Amateur or Novice). Specific requirements of the competitors are outlined in the membership application. Space for the 1999 E-Force Team is limited to 5 people for every IASCA competition class for a total of 70 people. The E-Force Team will be first seen at the Spring Break Nationals in Daytona Beach, FL in March 1999. Any competitor interested in this should contact EAU.
EAU has also restructured its brand structure. In a nutshell, all car audio will be consolidated under one sales force. The end result could be that the Tiff line might be easier to find.
In other news, the 14 volt battery system is finally in production (I think anyway, the one they showed at the show looked production quality… very cool looking, but definitely not for Joe Six Pack and his 72 Monte Carlo with 6 x 9s.) Waiting to see a cool install with this thing since the regulator looks like a big amp.
Last but not least, the FX-1700 battery with integrated fuse top and power distribution was released. This is the big brother to the FX-1050 and the FX-810. This battery is still the only one in the industry with a built in distribution and fuse block (hmmm… why hasn’t anyone copied this one yet? Usually, people are pretty quick to rip Esoteric audio off.) It can deliver 1700 amps for 10 seconds and can withstand repeated complete discharge cycles (400 plus) (now think about that, running your battery dead 400 times and then charging it back up without killing the thing… a regular lead acid battery will start to have buildup on the lead plates after a few of these and will probably be useless after less then 10 complete discharges).
This battery will be a plus for those competitors in SPL competition or for the regular competitor who doesn’t want to have to find a sanitary way to mount a fuse holder under the hood. www.eau.com
Here is a picture of the X-14 7 cell, 14 volt battery. Pretty much for serious competitors only (it’s a charging system that has a 7 cell battery, a voltage regulator designed for this battery, and an alternator specially set up for 14 volts).
Directed Electronics, Inc. (DEI)
Here are some of the press releases I got (why bother writing something when I can have someone else do the job for me ahead of time?) . I walked into the booth and saw Ken Gammage (DEI’s resident PR stud). He comes over and hands me a cool press release and invites me to their press conference on the new product. Didn’t stick around for it (lots of gear to check out and so little time). John had set up a nice demo section with some of the new Neo separates running of some Mackie pro amps and some speakers using the Neo separates and some 10 subs. Sounded pretty damn fine, looked pretty nice and these will probably end up DEI owner’s possesion in the new facility they are moving to in the next few months. You can check out their homepages for more info (www.viper.com, www.directed.com, and www.dei.com)
New Competition Subwoofers - Six top-of-the-line DEI Competition Subwoofers redefine the high end of low bass. The largest and most powerful subwoofer DEI has ever made now has some company. The 15 inch/650 watt DEI Competition sub has been joined by its powerful siblings, the 12-inch/550 watt and 10-inch/450 watt models. Each comes in single and dual-voice coil configurations. This new line will redefine the high end of the subwoofer market, with super rigid cones, and custom baskets. Large magnets and voice coils power custom composite fiber resin cones, which resemble synthetic granite and yield rock solid bass. After last years CES, I got a chance to check these out in John Durbin’s skunkworks over at DEI. The look of the basket and cone are quite nice and they have gotten great reviews (except for the famous CSR screw job from a few months back). These were also in an install that I helped work on a bit before CES (there should be pictures of the buttbox (you’ll understand once you see this monster of a box created in the mind of John Lucier).
New Neodymium Component Speakers - DEI Studio has taken performance to another level with three new Neodymium Components, redesigning the midbass drivers with fiberglass reinforced, injection-molded baskets, and stacked neodymium magnets inside the voice coil. The new design of the Studio components is shallower, and the small magnet diameter makes the driver much easier to fit into today's compact car doors or kick panel installations. The much more powerful neodymium magnet design, using a stack of three neodymium magnets, reduces distortion significantly, and power handling is increased as well. Comes in 4, 5.25 and 6.5 inch models. $235 to $300. I also got a chance to see these. You have to see them to believe them. They kinda remind you of the aura stuff with the neo magnets only smaller. This allows you to mount these in a shallow door (or even let you angle these much easier then the old regular magnet ones). It also allows you to have extremely shallow kickpanels or buildouts. The ones that got great reviews in CarSound are even more improved with the addition of the neo magnets. They just got reviewed in Auto Sound and Security and did just as well as the CarSound test.
Product Description(s): Valet CarŪCom - Calling All Cars! Valet CARŪCOM is the ultimate in automotive remote control convenience. From any telephone, airline phone or cellular phone in the world, simply dial a number, enter your PIN, and you're in complete control of your vehicle. And Valet CarŪCom is designed to directly interface with DEI's sophisticated ESP security systems, as well as offering connectivity with a whole host of DEI conveniences -- remote engine start in particular. Never lock your keys in the car again! Turn off your headlights from 35,000 feet! Start warming up your car in the snowy parking lot before you even get to baggage claim!
DEI Remote Starters - DEI is the industry remote start leader, and remote starts more vehicles each day than anyone else on the planet! Powerful new processors and intensely validated software are truly state-of-the-art. Here are just some of the upgraded features: Automatic configuration of transmitter buttons, improved diesel mode, with dedicated glow plug input, complete engine monitoring: off, voltage, or tach.
555L Remote Start OEM Anti-Theft Bypass - The next generation of factory anti-theft bypass devices is here, just in time for remote start season. DEI's new 555L takes it to the next level with: no testing, no programming, no dipswitches, learns the correct security code and re-broadcasts it relearns the code each time the customer uses his key, learning temperature and time variations. Best of all, the 555L includes an Ignition 2 relay on-board! The 555L will work on all GM vehicles with Passlock 1 & 2.
ESP systems for Viper, Python and Sidewinder - What is ESP? It means your security system knows you. It recognizes the unique programming of your transmitter, and configures itself accordingly. Each system can have up to 4 transmitters programmed with customized settings, like passive or active arming, chirps or light flash only, one button arm/disarm or OEM mode. Now two more series of PC- and Bitwriter-programmable ESP systems are making their debut at CES. The 429 series (Viper 300 ESP, Python 625 ESP and Sidewinder 4500 ESP), plus the new Viper 600 ESP with on-board relays.
Auto-Mate Line (re-design) - DEI continually works with customers to improve ease of installation and provide new products that support sales growth. After soliciting dealer input, DEI's ISO 9001 product development and validation process resulted in the development of a brand new Auto-Mate line for 1999. Auto-Mate for '99 has new remotes, new models, new micro-controllers, new software, and new programming that are Bitwriter compatible. You will also notice new logo, new packaging and new presentation materials. AutoMate is dialed-in: a great new program based on rock-solid product!
Hornet 748T Security System - What's so great about the 748? Listen up: The Hornet 748T is the embodiment of DEI's ISO-9001 quality statement, particularly in regard to listening to customers. They requested a piece with relays on board, and DEI delivers. The 748T includes on-board relays for Power Door Locks, Parking Light Flash, Domelight Supervision, and Power Trunk/Channel 2. Suggested retail for the Hornet 748T is $249.
The bitwriter. Instead of having to program by deciphering the blinking LED or messing with the brain, you have a hand held device that lets you set up everything in a logical, way using plain English. Your installer walks out to the car, plugs this bad boy in and in a few minutes has it programmed to your specifications.
