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| CES Show 2009 |
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Members of the SonicElectronix.com’s press and media team had the opportunity to attend the 2009 CES tradeshow in Las Vegas. CES is the Consumer Electronics Show and is produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Each year at CES, new technology and products are introduced to those in attendance. As we went from booth to booth to check out all the new stuff, we were quite impressed with all the new products that will be coming out this year. In this article, we will pass on the sights, sounds, and impressions that we received in the Las Vegas Convention Center. This is the 2009 Sonic CES report! More...
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| CES Show 2009 Event Details |
 One of the first things that blew us away were the new headunits that JVC introduced namely the KD-AVX77 and the KW-NT1. The AVX77 continues the El Kameleon line of single DIN AV head units. It features a wide touchscreen display that takes up the entire space of the unit. No buttons, but all touchscreen. It is completely customizable, meaning you can upload your own wallpapers, adjust the position of the touchscreen icons, and much much more. It deserved the CES Best of Innovations award that it was given. The NT1 is a double DIN unit that features fast navigation and clear DVD playback. The iPod connectivity on this unit was incredible. It has a simple layout that allows one to easily navigate the contents of an iPod, all at an incredibly fast speed. Great things to come from JVC this year.
 KICKER also released a few new products this year. Excited for the New Year, KICKER introduced the Solo Classic subwoofer line, two new component speaker systems, headphones, and more! The Solo Classic subs go back to an older design, but take a step forward with the technology that powers these bad boys. The motto behind the Solo-Classic is “All the bass. Half the space.” That is a motto that rings true when you hear one of these woofers in action. The new QS and RS component systems are taking KICKER to new heights and achieve optimal sound quality. The QS series of speakers are replacing the incredible SS series of component systems. Everyone that listened was blown away with KICKER’s new line of headphones. The EB101 and EB141 are incredible ear bud headphones that KICKER is making a statement with; Premium sound quality at an affordable price. KICKER is not to be overlooked this year.
Coming all the way from Sweden, DLS showed CES what clear sound really sounds like. Both show cars that were at the booth sounded incredible. In speaking with those at the DLS booth, we began to understand the care that this company has for their products. They are true audiophiles that want the best sound that they can get. Top-notch engineering puts the DLS speakers and subwoofers a head of the rest. The press team of Sonic was highly impressed with the overall quality of the DLS systems.
Introducing the new and improved line-up for 2009, MaxxSonics had their different lines with all the new products. The Hifonics amplifiers each received a facelift as well as some internal upgrades to make each amp perform more efficiently that the last year’s models. New subwoofers were introduced to the Hifonics lineup as well. The MB Quart marine line received a series of amplifiers. Based off of the Discus amplifiers, the marine amps are ready to power any boat system that can be put together. Quite impressive were the home televisions that MB Quart makes. Receiving a CES innovations award, the mirror televisions took the show by storm. With the push of a button, a mirror can transform into a television. Targeted for hotels and restaurants, the mirror televisions are made thin for a simple installation.
Over at the JL Audio booth, they showed off even more quality speakers and subwoofers. On display they had their HD amplifiers, the marine subwoofer and speaker systems, the new Evolution C2 coaxial and component system, the new evolution C3 convertible speakers, the TW5 thin line drivers, and the W0v2 subwoofers. Each product offers that JL Audio performance and quality to keep their reputation alive. Also at the booth they had a sick custom car with a full JL audio system in it. Not only did the car look like something straight out of a comic book, it sounded great. With the performance at this CES, JL Audio is getting ready for another great year!
Pioneer had a huge booth with tons of floor space. With all their home and mobile products in the same area, the presentation was impressive. The Pioneer and Premier lines from Pioneer are raising the bar and setting the standard for receiver expandability. The new DEH-P710BT is taking single DIN receivers to a new level. It comes with 2 rear USB connections, a 7-way rotary commander, built-in Bluetooth with a twin-beam microphone for optimal voice pick up, and a full dot OEL display. They are also releasing an entire line of newly designed single DIN receivers to meet the specific needs of the users. They are also bringing the Bluetooth voice control into more in-dash systems this year. The double DIN multimedia and AV receivers are featuring a sleeker interface with improved controls. We had a chance to talk with a Pioneer Rep about the AVIC-F90BT and the AVIC-F900BT. Both navigation systems are compatible MSN Direct for live updates as you drive. Pioneer is looking forward to another successful year in 2009!
Dual’s huge line up of head-units and receivers amazed those that entered the Dual booth. Most notable at the Dual Booth were the XDVDN8190 and the XHD7720. The 8190 is a single DIN flip out that has all the features that anyone could ask for. Built-in GPS navigation, Bluetooth, DVD playback, iPod playback, and the flip out 7” display are just a few of the features that this unit has. As the Sonic press team checked this unit out, we were impressed with the simplicity of the unit, while keeping many advanced features. The 7720 is a HD radio receiver with the new iTunes tagging technology. When you are listening to the radio and a song you like comes on, you can save that song information with the push of a button. That info goes straight to your iPod and iTunes. Simple as that! The folks at Dual also showed off a new portable navigation piece. It too included HD Radio, but more notably featured live traffic updates and information for free… without any subscription. This was made possible because of the HD Radio built-into the unit. With the innovation over at the Dual booth, they are sure to do great things this upcoming year.
Kenwood released many new products for both the car and the boat. The unit that they were most excited was the DNX9140. This flagship model added voice recognition to the unit that can do everything else. And by everything else we mean Bluetooth hands-free calling, iPod connectivity and direct control, DVD playback, navigation, and more. So yeah, it can do a lot. Kenwood was also able to release a new design for many of their new products. With many new head units, speakers, amplifiers, and marine products, Kenwood is ready for all that 2009 brings!
 No trade show report would be complete without MTX Audio coverage. MTX continued to show off their subs and amps, as well as showcasing the enormous square Jackhammer subwoofer. They had two show cars that drew plenty of attention at the booth and more attention outside of the booth because they were loud! Packed to the max with MTX and Streetwires, both cars exhibited class and power. When they turned it up, they could be heard from anywhere in that building! They were able to show off their collection of in-wall and in-ceiling home theater speakers, as well as their outdoor systems. From time to time, MTX would have their MMA fighter come to the booth for a quick show and signing session. Oh, and of course the MTX models were there and as photogenic as ever. Between the fighters, models, and the superior MTX products, this booth was always crowded.
CES 2009 proved to be quite a successful year for all the companies that were there. Although we tried to get around and see everything, there was just too much for us to see. We are really looking forward to the release of all these products showcased at CES. The booths were loud and the product innovations were stunning. SonicElectronix.com had a great time visiting the Las Vegas Convention Center this year for the international CES and we look forward to going again next year. There were some great new technological innovations this year at the show and who knows what next year will bring!
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