Mobile Electronics Australia

In my 20 years within the car audio industry I have seen a lot of change. Car audio is a dymanic industry that is purely at the mercy of vehicle designers. OE Manufacturers are making it more and more difficult to upgrade systems in new vehicles, and in a lot of cases the consumer believes they don’t have to change any of the components because they are quite happy with the sound. We as car audio enthusiasts have to adapt at every level to keep the industry alive. Importantly, we need to keep new customers coming through the doors of car audio stores.

The industry has been hit hard in the last couple of years. Cars are becoming more sophisticated and have higher levels of standard equipment, especially in the in-car entertainment department. Combine this with the worldwide financial crash that almost put a halt to actual vehicle sales all around the world it really comes as no surprise. However, it seems now that our industry is coming back to life and at every level we need to stay up to date with these changes.

Major car audio manufacturers are adapting quickly with new and exciting items that allow aftermarket amplifiers and speakers to be added to almost any vehicle purchased, no matter what the system. Most new vehicles now have some sort of integrated set-up, be it for communication items such as Bluetooth or for entertainment items such as iPods and other MP3 devices. Of course there is Navigation, available as an option in a lot of new vehicles, and not just expensive Euro’s. If the customer thinks these systems can't, or don’t need to be changed, they may not shop for car audio at all. These systems can of course still be improved on though by adding one of the many integration devices available that will then allow amplifiers and speakers to be added, all while leaving the factory system intact.

All is not lost for headunit buyers. General headunit sales are diminishing at a rate of knots. CD headunits have become so cheap that the store has to charge more for the install than the actual unit itself. Major companies have hit back by offering powerhouse double DIN headunits that include Navigation, Bluetooth and DVD along with all the great things aftermarket units can offer, things like RCA outputs and EQ processing that allow for a high quality source unit. We now have a larger selection of dash kits, loom adapters and interface devices so we can get these units mounted into a lot of vehicles and still maintain things like steering wheel controls.

Ten years ago the level of rear seat entertainment offered would have been unheard of; a lot of SUV’s now have overhead monitors included as standard equipment. Overhead and headrest systems are now a thriving segment of the market.  

When it comes to amplifiers, big is better, big = power – that was the old days. Now small is the trend, and with class D technology we can all fit loads of power into small spaces like under seats and hidden inside panels. With four and even five channel stereo amplifiers that are small enough for these applications and in some cases combine technologies so a whole system can be ran from a single hidden amplifier system. There are still the customers that have the boot full of amps; the long time enthusiasts who like to update regularly. They are the backbone of the industry and keep the stores ticking over however it is the new customer that we still need to attract to the industry.

Don’t forget the speakers, after all this is what our ears are actually listening to. At least car manufacturers are thinking and now provide half decent factory speaker locations; easily upgradable with aftermarket components. There are so many models and price range options today that a lot of care must be taken in choosing the front speakers. The ability for consumers to audition as many 6.5” speakers as possible is a must for the modern store.  Make the sale for the front speakers and the rest will follow. Speaker companies aren’t sitting on their hands either; they offer more choice and sizes that will now fit factory locations in most cars. Who had ever heard of a 6 x 8 speaker? Not too long ago an installer spent half of their time making door panels to fit front speakers.

Bass is no longer the domain of a 15” subwoofer that takes up half of your bootspace. All high end subwoofer manufacturers now offer slim, or shallow woofers that fit in small enclosures that can be mounted under seats, in rear quarter panels etc. Of course there is nothing wrong with a pair of 15" woofers in the boot as these subs have also evolved into power hungry monsters with a raft of new technologies and space age materials to match.

Now that we know all is not lost and most cars can still be upgraded in some form it is up to the industry to let the consumer know. Today’s customers are different, they are tech savvy and do a lot of research, remember the days before the internet? The customer had to come through the front door to purchase. The retail world has been hit hard by internet sales, storefronts now need up to date websites and to stay in touch via websites such as Facebook and MEA, letting the buying public know what they are capable of.

The amount of product being purchased overseas online is a major concern to the industry; with the dollar at parity with the US it has become a feeding frenzy for dodgy US deals. Be careful and try to buy local to support the industry and receive the service and installation expertise, and most of all keep your warranty intact.

One sure thing is that the industry will continue to change, there will be even smaller amplifiers, more sophisticated integration devices and even better sounding speakers. Bring on the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2011. This is where we will see the technology and products of tomorrow.