Dual is displaying at CES, its first car radios aimed at the car electronics specialist in a line called Axxera.
Five models will ship early this month and additional higher end models will follow next year, said Dual. A campaign is planned to help drive traffic to retailers as well.
“The first products are just the beginning. Next year we’re looking to announce a more comprehensive line at higher price points with a lot more advanced features,” said Joanna Lukins, marketing director.
The company also announced a new on-dash GPS “mini box,” that’s smaller than a deck of cards, which adds GPS capability to an iPad, iPod Touch and other devices. (see below).
In head units, the new Axxera line caps in a double DIN CD radio with a $249 suggested price with built-in stereo Bluetooth. The X2DMA500 also has dual USB inputs (front and rear), an SD card slot and steering wheel interface. It is HD radio compatible and offers iPod/iPhone radio control or manual control. An XDMA 7800CD at $229 is the single DIN version.
Next down the line is the XDMA7600 at $179—you get the same Bluetooth and dual USB but you lose the HD Radio compatibility. Then there’s an XDMA7200 at $159 and an XDMA7100 at $129. The leader model gives you direct control for an iPod with a front panel USB input and SD card slot.
Dual’s new on-dash-mountable “mini box” is a universal GPS receiver with built in Bluetooth. It can fix on the dash with its supplied cradle. Basically any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet (or iPod Touch) that lacks a GPS receiver can now have navigation if you download one of the many GPS apps available.
Called the XGPS150, Dual’s GPS/Bluetooth receiver works wirelessly as long as the smartphone or portable device is within 65 feet of the module. The module provides about 8 hours of use and recharges via a USB connection within 2.5 hours.
It comes with a non-slip pad to hold the XGPS150 in place on the dash. It also comes with a USB cable and 12 volt adapter and will ship in early 2011 at a suggested $119.
Source: Dual Electronics
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