Rosa Sophia
April 12, 2017, EDMOND, Okla. — Petra Industries has partnered with ANTOP Antenna to bring their quality HDTV antenna products and accessories, and more than 35 years of experience to the Petra team.
Long before the term “cable cutting” entered the TV viewer’s lexicon, ANTOP was designing and manufacturing quality indoor and outdoor antennas. This legacy of quality has continued as the world of antennas has changed and transformed into the growing product category that is still very much in demand today. As the first antenna manufacturer to include a built in 4G LTE filter, blocking out 3G and 4G signals, these antennas offer the noise-free digital reception needed in today’s world of smartphones and mobile devices using cellular radio signals. Selected models feature ANTOP’s exclusive Smartpass amplifier technology, an all-in-one design allowing for easier connection and corrected balance between short and long range reception.
Petra has added 24 ANTOP SKUs to their home theater product category. Added products include indoor and outdoor HDTV antennas, including multiple paper thin options that measure a mere .02 inch, amplifiers, splitters and more. With so many options available, ANTOP products can suit the antenna usage need of any customer whether it is home, business, RV or marine.
“ANTOP has been on top of the antenna game for a very long time and the versatility of their products is great for our dealers,” said Tate Morgan, Petra President. “Whether a consumer is a member of the cord cutter or cord never club, ANTOP antennas provides them with free access to local over-the-air broadcast digital TV reception.”
To see all the ANTOP products Petra has to offer, or to see any of their other 20,000 plus products, visit www.petra.com
Word was received this week, that Helmut Richard Leo Stieglitz, founder of the iconic Hifonics car audio brand passed away.
Libertyville, Illinois - April 10, 2017 - Maxxsonics USA is saddened by the passing of Helmut Richard Leo Stieglitz the visionary founder of Hifonics.
From a small 10’ x 10’ booth at the 1984 Consumer Electronics Show (pictured on the left) in Las Vegas Stieglitz (under the Hifonics brand) launched the company's first amplifier called Series II (with Series I built in South Africa previously).
Maxxsonics USA purchased the Hifonics brand name in 2001. Alden Stiefel, President and CEO of Maxxsonics said, “Helmut was a very smart, friendly and warm person. He often called me to check up on his brand. He loved the Hifonics brand and the people who had come to be passionate about the music it produced. Helmut will be missed. His vision and marketing acumen still drives the strategy of Hifonics today.”
Seattle, WA, April 12th, 2017 – AudioControl has appointed CMA Sales as their independent sales representation for mobile audio products in the southeast region. CMA president Mark Barber and his team will be covering Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia as well as both North and South Carolina on behalf of AudioControl. CMA Sales is based in Marietta, GA.
Barber, who took over CMA Sales in 2011, is excited about the prospects of working with AudioControl. “This is a brand with a tremendous history, a leader in the 12-volt category known for quality and innovation,” said Barber. “The 12-volt shops in my region are embracing opportunities to integrate with and improve the sound of OEM audio systems in today’s vehicles, and AudioControl provides a premium solution to make that happen. This line is incredibly valuable—a necessity for aftermarket car audio dealers. From their legendary crossovers and EQs to the newest DSP-enabled processors and amplifiers with patented AccuBASS® technology, AudioControl is a best-in-class brand and proudly made in USA! Everyone at CMA Sales is excited to become part of the AudioControl family.”
“We are thrilled for the opportunity to work with CMA Sales in the Southeast region and anticipate working with top 12-volt retailers and installers through the territory,” said Chris Bennett, National Sales Director, Mobile Audio for AudioControl. “We are confident that our product lineup will enable dealers to be creative in their system designs, turn the challenges of OEM interface into sales opportunities and differentiate themselves from competitors by delivering the finest sounding cars tailored to the preferences of each client.”
4-12-2017 -- Resonance Auto Craft and the Resonance Live Program has announced the launch of the Resonance Live Tour; a series of comprehensive educational seminars presented by Mobile Electronics Magazine's 2015 Trusted Tech of the Year, Bryan Piper.
Each two-day seminar will be hosted by various specialist facilities around the country will encompass an initiate understanding of amplifier integration and setup; along with novice fabrication techniques that include enclosure design and panel layout and design. The Resonance Live Tour is designed for early professionals and enthusiast, to be a "stepping stone" to the more advanced training facilities already available.
"I felt there was a lack of training offered that targeted early professionals. We developed this syllabus to really cater to these technicians to help get them on the right track as they progress and grow as 12-volt specialists."
The cost per student per class is 250.00. This will cover the two-daycourse. All class material and lunch will be provided each day. There are currently two seminars that are accepting students, with more coming soon.The first class will be held April22-23 at Absolute Electronix in Rockville Maryland, with the next course scheduled for May20-21 at The Car Audio Shop in High Ridge, Missouri (suburb of St. Louis). For more information visit live.resonanceautocraft.com. If you have questions or would like to registerforaclasspleaseemailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bryan Piper is a 30-year industry veteran; he has been ranked one of Mobile Electronics Magazine's Top Installers since 2010, including a Top 12 Installer in 2014 and 2016. Along with being a session presenter at multiple Knowledgefest events he has also been a guest instructor at other training facilities in the US. Bryan also developed and hosts the "Resonance Live" program, a Facebook Live series that showcases in progress client builds where the team shows some of how the builds are created, the tooling and various tips and techniques used.
4-10-2017 -- During the town hall presentation at KnowledgeFest Spring Training in Indianapolis, Ind., Mobile Electronics Association President Chris Cook announced the upcoming dates for the next three KnowledgeFest events, including the first ever California KnowledgeFest event in Feb. 2018.
4-9-2017 -- Audiofrog’s new USB Measurement Interface, the UMI-1, is a complete microphone kit designed to work with most PCs, Macs and tablets that include a USB port. The UMI-1, the first product to be released in the company's new Test Gear category, is suitable for use with most acoustic measurement and analysis software including Room EQ Wizard (REW), True RTA, Holm Impulse, ARTA and others.
The adjustable microphone stand is designed to mount easily to the car’s headrest using a Velcro® strap and places the microphone in the ideal location for real time frequency response measurement and analysis. The TM-1 omnidirectional microphone provides response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. A separate calibration file for each serialized microphone is available from Audiofrog. MSRP is currently set at $199 with shipping to begin in May 2017.
The UMI-1 Kit Includes:
6 mm Omnidirectional Measurement Microphone with Calibration File
USB Sound Card with Mic Input and Stereo Line Output
Microphone Stand with Integrated Extension Cable
Velcro Headrest Strap
Extension Cable
3.5mm Stereo to RCA Adapter
3.5mm Male to Male Adapter
Test CD
Carrying Case
Retailers can add their names to the preorder list at www.testgear.audiofrog.com.
4-9-2017 -- MEA (Mobile Electronics Association) has partnered with HR Consulting firm, The SAMMAX GROUP to bring retailers the perfect tool to help them when hiring new employees.
By utilizing employment assessments to test past Mobile Electronics Industry Award winners and other top performers in our industry, SAMMAX has created a baseline for store managers, installers and salespeople that measures traits such as organization, flexibility, imagination, assertiveness, recognition and competitiveness, just to name a few. These traits often define a person’s behavior towards doing a job and are considered important in determining success in any organization, according to SAMMAX. The tool can also be used to evaluate current employees and indentify areas of opportunty to gain greater productivity. "When making a hiring decision, it is of great importance to find the right person. This new tool will provide the information needed to make the right decision the first time." said Chris Cook, president of Mobile Electronics.
Sergio De Oliveira of SAMMAX will present a seminar on Monday, 4/10/2017, discussing the assessments in the context of how they can impact car audio retail managers, installers and sales staff. The details are as follows:
THE HIRING PROCESS: NEW TOOLS TO MAKE BETTER HIRING DECISIONS
Instructor(s): Sergio De Oliveira - SAMMAX Group
John Schwartz - Perfectionist
Track: Owner - Manager
Start Time: 9:30 am
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Location: room 105-106
Description: Learn how to use a new human resources tool to help you make the right hiring decision while avoiding the trap of "gut feelings" and the applicant's "spinning" of abilities. In this session, you will learn how to use a complete employment testing system featuring stand-alone personality tests, honesty tests, and aptitude tests. It even has an assessment for team building! The Hiring Suite® is the online system that that will make the difference between a good and bad new hire. Learn how MEA and SAMMAX GROUP created benchmark profiles specifically for the Mobile Electronics industry that you can use to make better hiring decisions and to evaluate your current team to gain greater productivity.
For the complete schedule, visit KFest.me.
4-9-2017 -- KnowledgeFest Spring Training in Indianapolis, Ind. officially opened today. Events included the mobile electronics show, nine different educational seminars and 14 manufacturer trainings.
"KnowledgeFest Spring Training is the kickoff event for all the new products introduced this year. Manufacturers will be featured in training opportunities each day developed to educate on features, benefits and installation techniques of their new products," said Chris Cook, president of the Mobile Electronics Group on the knowledgefest.org home page. "The three-day event is complete with top-notch educational workshops, great networking opportunities, manufacturer training sessions, and an exhibit floor packed with your favorite brands. Completing the educational workshops and manufacturer trainings will give you the tools and knowledge to deliver exceptional customer experiences and grow your business."
The event runs from April 9-11 at the Indianapolis Convention Center.
Study Shows Entrepreneurs Really Do Love Their Businesses Like Their Children
4-6-2017, Entrepreneur.com -- When talking about your business, it’s likely that at some point you’ve referred to it as your baby. But do you really love your business as if it were your own child? Researchers from Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, decided to put this question to the test in a recent study.
When examining the brain activity of the study participants, the scientists found that “entrepreneurial love is strikingly similar to paternal love,” and that the parts of the brain that come alive when processing emotions, rewards and social understanding occurred with both.
The researchers scanned the brains of 42 men divided into two groups. Twenty-one participants were fathers ranging in age from 27 to 43 and 21 were entrepreneurs ranging in age from 24 to 45.
Read the rest of the story HERE.
HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK – APRIL 6, 2017 -–VOXX Electronics Corporation announced it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement with AAMP of America to acquire all inventory and intellectual property, including patents and trademarks of Rosen Electronics products.
“The acquisition of Rosen Electronics complements and expands our current RSE leadership position in the industry, as well as adds to our extensive portfolio of RSE patents. With the announcement of the acquisition we look forward to servicing our current VOXX and newly acquired Rosen customers,” said Aron Demers, Senior Vice President, VOXX Electronics Corporation. During the next two weeks, VOXX will be moving all operations from AAMP’s Ontario, CA warehouse to VOXX’s facilities in Nevada, Virginia and Orlando. Integrating the Rosen products into these three touch points will provide the Rosen customers with a high level of confidence in expedited deliveries to all reaches of the country.
For more information about please visit: www.voxxelectronics.com. For more information on becoming a VOXX Electronics Dealer in the US, please visit: www.voxxelectronics.com/become-dealer
April 04, 2017 -- EDMOND, Okla. — Petra Industries is partnering with Fire Service Plus to distribute FireAde®—a powerful, personal fire suppression system in an easy-to-use aerosol can. FireAde® won the Gold Award for Best in Class when introduced at the 2015 National Hardware Show.
Traditional fire extinguishers use a dry powder that leaves a messy residue, leading to costly cleanup. FireAde® is environmentally friendly, noncorrosive and cleans up with water. Its targeted spray quickly knocks down fires from 10 feet away as well as instantly cools objects. And because FireAde® is a one-piece can, it can be used multiple times. Designed to put out Class A/B fires, it can also be used on Class C fires after the power source has been turned off.
"We are pleased to distribute this potentially life-saving product," said Tate Morgan, Petra President. "FireAde® with its user-friendly, point-and-spray design is a must-have for every home, car, boat, camper and tool box."
April 4, 2017 (Houston, TX) – Wet Sounds Inc. has announced the promotion of Richard R. Young to Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Richard’s previous role with Wet Sounds was National Sales Manager, and as VP of Sales & Marketing, he is now responsible for sales team leadership and contributing to marketing and business strategy. Richard comes to Wet Sounds Inc. with over 25 years of sales and marketing experience in the Marine and Power Sports audio industry.
Tim White, Wet Sounds Inc. President, states “Richard has done an absolutely fine job growing our aftermarket sales with our premier dealers and manufacturers representative through our retail channels”.
4-5-2017, Mobile Electronics -- For any retailer, knowing the ins and outs of product can be the difference between making a large sale and watching their revenue walk out the door. Since its inception, KnowledgeFest has been an event that offers retailers a chance to brush up on product and service knowledge, for both the novice and veteran.
Aside from the workshops, networking and Mobile Electronics Show booth reveals, anyone's 12-volt IQ can be enhanced even further with manufacturer trainings, which are taught by some of the biggest names in the industry. Not to mention, there are plenty of goodie bags handed out.
Companies offering training this year include Voxx Electronics, DD Audio, Omega Research & Development, Compustar and Alpine Electronics, among others. While most of the companies maintain a focus on specific products, there are some surprises mixed in, such as how products work with different vehicle models, bettering the customer experience with specific products or how to make installing certain products easier on the installer.
New Innovations
In an effort to promote the latest and greatest products that 12-volt has to offer, vendors will be going in-depth on the inner workings of their 2017 offerings. One such company is Omega Research & Development, which will be discussing the Excalibur 70-series, the most advanced remote start line the company has yet released. It contains built-in accelerometers and other high-end features, according to the company.
"We focused on refining the installer experience by adding a very comprehensive vehicle learn routine, and on the user experience by adding a BUILT-IN 3D accelerometer for manual transmission, starting without the complicated exit routine, as well as a cold-temperature start included in the 'entry units,'" a spokesman for the company said. "Every single remote start has a built-in Alarm Suite, so let us show you how easy it is to upsell your customer with little or no additional install."
Remote start manufacturer Firstech will have a similar offering at its training by discussing the latest additions to the Firstech product lineup, including the new in-car dash camera systems, the Momento M4 and M5. "Two new online resources for Firstech dealers are FirstechData.com, an installation resource website, and myFirstech.com, an e-commerce platform where dealers can place, track, and manage their orders for Firstech products," said Justin Lee, Marketing Manager for Firstech. "We will open the floor for discussion and review the challenges faced during the 2016 remote start season, followed by our team’s proposed solutions for 2017."
To compliment the brand launch of the Momento dash camera systems, Firstech will reveal an in-store display concept. In addition, the company will discuss its myFirstech Rewards program, which pays owners, installers and salespeople for every DroneMobile activation. "Entering 2017, Firstech remains the only company that is offering every dealer this type of revenue-share opportunity," Lee said. "To further promote awareness for myFirstech Rewards, dealers will be able to register their business and employees for the revenue-share program at Firstech’s booth so that they can get paid for every DroneMobile activation."
American Road Products hopes to educate its retailers on how best to sell the safety category during its training. Its latest product, the omniDRIVE 2.0, which began shipping in April, is a CES Innovations Award winner that provides great opportunity to tap into the safety category, according to the company.
"Retailers will take away knowledge that will help them 1) increase their gross margin per ticket, 2) build a new category business foundation that will expand sales and 3) learn new business and installation skills that will help them in the overall Active Safety category," said Steve Witt, president and Chief Technology Executive at American Road Products. The ARP Dealer Training will focus on why a retailer should sell active safety products, how to sell omniDRIVE and what to sell that is relevant to both commercial and consumer customers, according to Witt.
Ease of Installation
Finding the balance between installation knowledge and product knowledge for installation techs is a strong focus for DD Audio this year as they offer a tech vs. product session. "Our goal with the training we’ve developed is to demystify the dark art of subwoofer enclosure design for DD Audio's products. Our customer service department receives several requests daily for subwoofer enclosure design assistance," said Kevin Doyle, service, sales and support representative for DD Audio. "These requests not only come from inexperienced end users but from seasoned dealers and installers as well. Many of the enclosure design questions we get could easily be answered by using our tried-and-true DD Box system."
The DD Box system has been developed over several years of subwoofer and enclosure design, according to the company. One of the major things that the enclosure design system different from what other manufacturers offer is that they started off by engineering a high-efficiency type of ported enclosure, then they set about engineering their subwoofers to optimize the box energy.
"This order of design is the reverse of most manufacturers' TS parameter driven, speaker then box, design approach. Our subwoofer designs are intended to handle much more than 1w so we keep the moving mass low, energy high and add a suspension with high restoring force to help control cone motion. This means that our subs will not have to rely on the box for their loading," Doyle said. "The DD Box training will explain why our no-nonsense approach to enclosure design works in real world applications allowing installers to consistently and efficiently design great sounding subwoofer enclosures. We will also be expanding on the basic DD Box system to help designers tailor enclosures to their customer's specific needs."
Read the rest of the story HERE.
Montebello, CA (April 5, 2017) – The 2017 SoundStream lineup continues to arrive at dealer showrooms. Several products are already shipping and many more are due to ship by the end of this month.
“We are excited for our 2017 product lineup to hit dealer showrooms,” said Paul Goldberg, Epsilon vice-president sales and marketing. “We believe that this is our strongest product offering yet.”
The following SoundStream products are due to ship by the end of this month:
Source Units:
Dual-Screen Source Unit – VRN-DD7HB This patent-pending unit has dual display screens, allowing for the top screen to be used for GPS while the lower screen can be used for other functions such as an AM/FM receiver.
SoundStream Marine Line:
Marine Line Coaxial Speakers – MCS.65 and MCS.80 and MCS-10 – Marine Line Speakers are available in both black and white in 6.5”, 8” and 10” versions.
Marine Line Subwoofers - MSW.102/104 – The SoundStream Marine Line Subwoofers are also available in gloss white and black and feature 600w MAX Power, 300w RMS Power and 4.50” mounting depth.
Amplifiers:
Tarantula Nano Amplifiers – TN4-1200D, TN1-2000D, TN1-3000D – New for 2017 are the Tarantula NANO amplifiers. This series is available in 1200W, 2000W and 3000W Max Power.
New additions to the Stealth Amplifier Series – ST11000D, ST2.1000D, ST3.1000D and ST4.1200D – New for 2017 the stealth family welcomes a 550w 2-channel, 500w 3-channel, 600w 4-channel and a 500w mono-block.
Subwoofers:
New additions to the Tarantula Series Subwoofers – T5.102, T5.104, T5.124 and T5.154 - These new Tarantula series subwoofers range from 1800w – 2600w MAX power and 900-1300w RMS power. Mounting depth ranges from 6.25 – 9.25”.
Reference Series Subwoofers – R.122 and R.124 – These next generation Reference Series subwoofers are a worthy successor to the Reference heritage and name. These subwoofers have been redesigned to reflect a more streamlined, classic design.
VOXX Electronics Attends KnowledgeFest Spring Training with All New Installer Certification Program
HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK – APRIL 5, 2017 -–VOXX Electronics Corporation announced it will be attending the 2017 KnowledgeFest Spring Training in Indianapolis on April 9-11 to showcase its extensive 12-volt retail and car dealer-specific products across its numerous brands. The company will also be hosting a completely new installer remote start certification program on Sunday, April 9th from 12:45PM – 3:00PM presented by VOXX Electronics product managers and technical support team members.
“KnowledgeFest is dedicated to educating and increasing retailer awareness on some of the new and exciting products available today, setting the perfect stage for us to display our broad lineup for 12 Volt products to a group of specialty retailers and reps,” said Aron Demers, Senior Vice President of VOXX Electronics Corporation. “This event brings together a group eager to learn and interact with the many different mobile electronics suppliers in attendance providing us with the opportunity to connect one-on-one with our loyal customers.”
“KnowledgeFest’s dedication to improving education and increasing retailer awareness sets the perfect stage for us to display our broad lineup of 12 Volt products to a group of passionate specialty retailers and reps as well as give us the opportunity to introduce our brand-new Remote Start Certification program,” said Aron Demers, Senior Vice President of VOXX Electronics Corporation. “On Sunday afternoon, attendees will have the opportunity to be one of the first to attend this program at KnowledgeFest that will then continue throughout the year across the country. Technicians and Mobile Electronics Specialist are the backbone of our industry and we understand the importance of knowledge and training and plan on doing everything possible to support them.”
The Remote Start training and certification program is designed to give everyone attending the knowledge they need to install remote start systems on today’s most challenging vehicles and a lot more. Those that successfully pass the program will receive a VOXX Factory Certified Remote Start Technician Certificate and their store will receive priority listing on our Dealer Locator, indicating a Factory Certified Remote Start Technician is on staff.
The first 50 attendees to arrive to the introduction will receive a VOXX Electronics Swag Bag, plus there will be a drawing to win a first, second and third place prize package! Prize packages feature Klipsch Over Ear Headphones, a Code Alarm CA6554 Remote Start and Security System and a $100 Snap-on Gift Card.
At the VOXX Electronics Booth the Company will be showcasing the latest offerings across all of their product categories including; Advent/Audiovox Mobile Video, Vehicle Security and Tracking, Remote Start Systems, Telematics, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Navigation and OE Integration.
Visit VOXX Electronics at the 2017 KnowledgeFest – Spring Training on Sunday, April 9th, through Tuesday, April 11th at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN.
For more information about VOXX Electronics please visit: www.voxxelectronics.com. For more information on becoming a VOXX Electronics Dealer in the US, please visit: www.voxxelectronics.com/become-dealer
Featuring ultra-clean high-level inputs for OEM interface as well as line level and digital inputs, the DM-608 is a versatile DSP processor enabling dealers to deliver precisely tailored sound for each customer
Seattle, WA, April 5th, 2017 – AudioControl (audiocontrol.com) introduces the DM-608 DSP matrix processor for automotive sound systems. The DM-608 gives installers a versatile processor with both high and low-level inputs for use in OEM interface applications as well as with an aftermarket head unit. The 6-input/8-output configuration along with a revolutionary user interface makes the DM-608 an intuitive and effective path to optimizing system performance and delivering the finest automotive sound to consumers.
Using the DM-608, dealers can optimize the performance of any audio system, regardless of whether they are using a factory or aftermarket source. Key features include a vast array of analog and digital inputs and up to 8-channels of output. The easy-to-navigate smart user interface gives installers the power of AudioControl DSP processing through a flexible, highly intuitive PC interface packed full of features. Configure signal summing, 30-bands of equalization, signal time-alignment, input delay and phase correction, plus proprietary AudioControl innovations such as AccuBASS®, GTO™ Signal Sense, and MILC™ as well as integrated input and output RTA’s. The digital audio input on the DM-608 will allow hi-res streaming directly into the DSP, while an option port is included to be used for future inputs, controllers and interface solutions.
Available now, the AudioControl DM-608 is designed, engineered and manufactured in the USA and features a 5-year warranty. Suggested selling price is $599.
4-5-2017 -- Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. will be participating in the 2017 MEA KnowledgeFest on April 9-11 at the Indiana Convention Center.
Alpine will be in booth #436 on the main floor and will show its expanded line of universal fit AVN/AV systems, Alpine Restyle dash systems for the Jeep Wrangler, and the PWD-CB1 Alpine ICE (In-Cooler Entertainment). Alpine’s new “Alpine ID” sound system philosophy, based on the new X-Series speakers, amps and subs, will also be displayed.
Alpine is bringing two demo vehicles to KnowledgeFest, a Jeep Wrangler and Volkswagen Passat. The Wrangler will be equipped with the i209-WRA 9-inch Alpine Restyle dash system with Apple CarPlay and the PSS-21WRA Wrangler packaged sound system. The Passat will showcase the iLX-207 7-inch Mech-less AV Receiver along with a complete Alpine sound system.
Chris Teguh, Alpine’s Product and Marketing Strategy Specialist, will conduct two product training sessions at KnoweledgeFest:
Monday, April 10:
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm, Product training in the Alpine booth, #436
5:45 pm – 6:45 pm, Product training in the Alpine booth, #436
All attendees are invited to attend either of these Alpine training sessions, or are welcome to visit the Alpine booth at any time during KnowledgeFest. Please contact your Alpine sales rep for more details, or send questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
4-5-2017, STILLWATER, USA – KICKER® will feature several technologies at KnowledgeFest Spring Training, April 9-11 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Dealers attending this event can find KICKER in Booth 202.
KICKER will present its Q-Class, KX- and KS-Series, and Marine product lines on an interactive display for attendees to explore. Also featured will be the PS-Series speaker and PX-Series amplifier lines, both of which made specifically for the Powersports market.
March 31, 2017 - Daytona Beach, Florida – The IASCA Competitions held at the spacious Daytona International Speedway (DIS) during the Spring Break Nationals were held on March 24-26th. This was the first time that SBN joined the Spring Turkey Run, a long term Car Show, to maximize car audio exposure to its newest consumer demographic. There was more than an ample amount of space for IASCA and the other Soundoff Organizations in attendance, to hold their competitions without concern for noise problems interfering with competitions and neighborhood complaints for excessive sound.
The four factions of IASCA competition were served; Sound Quality, the Tuner Jam Car Show, SPL which includes Bass Boxing and IdBL and the most recently popular Phenom, “DEMOZ”. DEMOZ is the recent wave of competition which really isn’t a regulated competition as much as it’s a competition of Sound Rivals. There are no judges, there is no scoresheet. DEMOZ is merely a place where participants stretch the envelope of sound, creating mobile audio beasts, pitting against each other for recognition as the loudest, most insane vehicle sound systems anywhere.
Each competition area was located far enough apart from each other as not to cause interference with each other or the Turkey Run Car Show that the IASCA had joined forces with. IASCA Director of Worldwide Operations Moe Sabourin said: “We’ve learned a lot from this first year and are exploring forward movement for 2018. The Speedway is huge and we monitored the sound levels across all fields that proved that we can bring the action in these four segments closer together”.
Notable awards in honor of members of the IASCA family that had recently have passed on were presented; the Darrell Bell and Harold Jaffe Awards. In the ‘90’s Darrell was an outstanding employee of the IASCA office and had produced IASCA finals events for several years. Darrell made a friend in everyone he met. Harold had a great sense of humor and was a Manufacturer’s Representative in the Pacific Northwest. He served as President of IASCA in early days and remained a loyal proponent involved in the IASCA board of Directors. Harold also conducted excellent Judges’ trainings worldwide. The Darrell Bell and Harold Jaffe Awards were issued to IASCA veteran competitor and educator Mark Eldridge and IASCA Judge and Trainer Travis Chin respectively, for their commitments to IASCA and industry.
In competition awards, the pinnacle of IASCA Competition is the Triple Crown. Triple Crown competitors are judged for Sound Quality (SQC) and Installation Quality (IQC) with a judging team as opposed to one Judge. The 2017 IASCA TC winners at SBN were Paul Pirro of Tint World in One-Seat Judging, Brian Mitchell of Arc Audio in Two-Seat Judging, and Matt Hall, a consumer and military pilot serving our Country in Afghanistan, in the Expert Class. All of the competitions progressed smoothly and awards were handed out in the NASCAR / Gatorade Victory Lane. While no one shook and sprayed a Champagne bottle or did a backflip off their car, receiving awards at in Victory Lane was only topped by a couple of Police and Pace Truck Escorted Victory Laps around the Speedway that all competitors were treated to. Likewise, no Burnouts or Victory Donuts were reported either.
For results of the IASCA competition please visit http://events.iasca.com/US_/00000573.html
4-3-2017 -- Pioneer Electronics has partnered with Specialty Marketing for distribution services on the East Coast.
Pioneer has awarded Specialty the authorized territory of Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Upstate New York, Metro New York and Long Island.