Mobile Electronic News

Running up to Christmas you must stock a variety of affordable gifts for those looking to buy a special present. To save you looking at all your options, we’ve spoken to the manufacturers and distributors to see what you can offer the Christmas shopper all for under £100 RRP

Kenwood KDC-W313A/G CD/MP3 head unit £89

 

As it often does, Kenwood try to give the entry-level head unit customer something to get excited about before the festive period. And not to be out-done by anyone this year, the real star is this KDC-W313A/G. Tucking well under a hundred pounds this unit boasts CD / MP3 or WMA playback as well as an RDS tuner, often deleted when manufacturers try and reduce production costs. An illuminated front face aux-in socket supports external audio and music output is delivered from a switchable rear/sub pre-out. The sub output is controllable for both level and low pass filtering. Even a 24-bit DAC is included along with bass boost, System Q sound presets and a loudness control. Just what’s needed after a few Sherries…As the model name suggests, the KDC-W313A/G comes in either red or green illumination.
Add it to the Christmas list: Kenwood – 01923 816444 or kenwood-electronics.co.uk

T1 LS500.2 two-channel amplifier £99.99

As part of its newest range, TWD are keen to show what good value the new T1 line-up is. To prove that, this is one of three new amps in the T1 range, being a two-channel model delivering 2x50W or 2x100W RMS into 4ohm or 2ohm loads respectively. Both high and low-pass filtering is included to ensure the amplifier is versatile for either full-range or sub duties. The ethos of the T1 range is to deliver budget price yet high quality performance. TWD like to point out that the amp is more refined and less raw and unregulated like some budget brands can be. The end result is claimed to be a nicer sound and an easier life for speakers.
Add it to the Christmas list: TWD - 01902 867 720 or twdlimited.co.uk

Alpine SBE-1243BR £99.99

Using a Type E subwoofer has allowed Alpine to produce an enclosure deal for under the magic £100. The enclosure features neat stitched Alpine Type logo and it doesn’t look like a cheap box as you may get with some entry-level deals. The unit is even fitted with an acrylic window with blue illumination too.
The driver itself is rated at 250W RMS and 800W peak power handling. Instead of a B-brand why not encourage loved ones to treat the man in their life to something that they will be really proud of won't be broken by Boxing Day.
Add it to the Christmas list: Alpine UK - 0845 313 1650 or alpine-electronics.co.uk

Pioneer TS-A132C £69.99

As part of the aCcelerate range, these full-range components will be the perfect way to improve the sound quality from customers’ doors with a trusted brand. Being components these units look and feel expensive while delivering infinitely improved sounds over factory drivers. Carbon graphite injection moulded polypropylene cones use interlaced Aramid fibres for strength and rigidity which Pioneer claim gives light weight and superb bass reproduction.
For this price, why compromise with a budget brand?
Add it to the Christmas list: Pioneer – 01753 789789 or pioneer.co.uk

Alcosense Lite £35.99

For a full review of this new product, check out page 38 as we compare this new Lite version to the existing Elite version. For such a small amount of money, this product is literally life saving as well as protecting the owner’s license. There’s no better time than Christmas to be stocking a product like this.
Add it to the Christmas list: Alcosense - 0800 195 0088 or alcosense.co.uk/dealers

Parrot hands-free kits from: £59.99

Carrying a hands-free kit for this type of money makes it an ideal present for those who use any excuse not to buy one. The brand new Minikit Slim comes in at under sixty quid and features the latest flat panel speaker technology which means this unit slips effortlessly into a pocket or handbag, appealing to both sexes. For an extra £20 you could persuade the customer to go to the CK3000 Evolution model that is more closely linked to a fully blown hands-free system. This could attract fitting revenue for the installer too when the after-Christmas period is quiet.
Add it to the Christmas list: Parrot UK – 0121 250 3570 or parrot.com/uk

Parrot lifestyle products from: £59.99

You don’t have to stock just car audio, why not think about lifestyle products for a more wide customer audience? Parrot’s Black Edition Party speaker
uses NFC (Near Field Communication) to effortlessly pair with close devices avoiding the use of any menu or manual pairing. Wireless use with rechargeable batteries makes it the perfect gift for the iPod and mobile phone generation.
Digital photo frames could be great stocking fillers for girls and guys and need no introduction. Parrot offer two high quality, classy white surround displays, both for under the magic £100. The DF3120 is £59.99 and the DF7220, £99.99.
Add it to the Christmas list: Parrot UK – 0121 250 3570 or parrot.com/uk

CAN interfaces from: £25

If any customer is considering hardwiring a navigation unit or hands-free to a modern car or even thinking of reverse sensors, chances are they’ll have a use for a CAN interface. Again, not so much exciting, more necessary. Connects2 has a colossal range and the two most popular are the universal Igni-Gen bargain (£25) and the CAN-01 for not much more. With CAN-01 you get access to illumination, ignition, speed, parking and reverse feeds for peanuts.
Add it to the Christmas list: Connects2 - 0845 257 5588 or connects2.com

Navigon 1210 £99

This would make a great ‘first navigation’ present for the occasional user who doesn’t demand the latest in high-spec features and the latest gizmos. Coming pre-installed are UK and Ireland maps and for this price, a surprisingly large features list. Lane Assist will help avoid confusion approaching junctions, roundabouts or even one-way or motorways intersections. To make on-screen guidance even more understandable, Navigon use Reality View to represent what you will see around you, on screen, in almost photo quality. Speed Assistant and radar info will help save points, especially in strange areas where you’re not always fully aware of the local restrictions.
Maybe a good product not just for the boys; try it for the female map readers too!
Add it to the Christmas list: Navigon – 0871 2880154 or navigon.com

Viper Thatcham-approved CAT 2 immobiliser £99.99

There are still a good number of cars, especially older vehicles, that aren’t properly protected. For under a hundred quid you could encourage customers to buy a Viper 106V and it even comes Thatcham-approved, which is superb at this price. The unit arms/disarms with an electronic touch key and cuts out two circuits. An emergency PIN override is there for emergencies and the system auto arms for maximum convenience. The great news for you is, the caring family member of friend buys the unit; you get paid to fit it in the New Year.
Add it to the Christmas list: ??????????????

Veba AV58MB headrest monitor £90
Getting movies and AV gear doesn’t have to be expensive and who wouldn’t want an LCD screen for Christmas? The perception is of a high budget product so at this price, anyone buying will become a saint over-night! The slimline screen features infrared headphone output for wireless headphones (another present idea there) and has been made easy for the installer with just a single compact plug connection. The screen comes with its own mounting cradle for headrest or install mounting. As the model name suggests, this is a 5.8in TFT monitor with auto format switching. The unit takes one video input and two audio lines.
Add it to the Christmas list: Armour Automotive – 01420 476767 or veba.uk.com

Fusion EN-AT110 bass kit £79.99

There isn't another name on the market associated with affordable bass solutions like Fusion. And just before Christmas they’ve come up trumps again for those hoping for a green Christmas. This package comprises of a 10in subwoofer in a bass reflex tube designed to handle 300W of power. As it’s active and comes with a wiring kit, there’s nothing stopping this being unwrapped and installed straight away. The built-in amplifier has adjustable bass boost up to 18dB and a low pass filter to enable it to work well with factory full-range speakers if this is being used as an add-on. The system comes with a dash-mount adjustable bass controller and can accept both line and high-level inputs, again making it easy to add to a factory speaker and head unit set-up.
Add it to the Christmas list: Fusion - 01268 889580 or fusionelectronics.com

MB Quart FSA216 components £59
Like the Alpine enclosure here, wouldn’t it be nice to give the caring customer the chance to buy something from a quality brand? TWD has come up trumps and you can offer the customer a pair of 16cm components from MB Quart’s Formula line for under sixty pounds. You're getting a titanium tweeter combined with a polypropylene coned woofer unit that are rated at 40W RMS so could easily be driven from a head unit.
Add it to the Christmas list: TWD - 01902 867 720 or twdlimited.co.uk

T1-Kit5 wiring kit £80

While not the sexiest present, it’s certainly useful and when someone gets a load of audio for Christmas, they will need something to get it running when the shops are closed. The new range of T1 wiring kits are undeniably good value for money. Just look at this example. For £80 your customer gets a 4-gauge kit but also a 1.5farad power cap too. Not so long back they’d have paid £80 just for a cap.
Add it to the Christmas list: TWD - 01902 867 720 or twdlimited.co.uk

BEAT 250 and 500 £55 / £99

Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last eighteen months, BEAT from Connects2 has been ruling the budget end of the market in affordable head units. Designed originally as a no frills option, very quickly the units have developed into highly spec’d models with features lists as long as a spoilt kid’s Christmas list. Yet amazingly, C2 has kept prices low. Two units well worth a look for the budget conscious buyer are the BEAT250 (shown here) and the 500 model above it. The 250 takes it all: CD, MP3, SD card and USB as well as having amplifier outputs and facia that belies the sub-£60 price tag. If the customer can stretch a little more, the BEAT 500 is another league again in value for money. With a 2.5in TFT screen on the front face, the 500 supports DVD as well as the other formats of the 250 model all packaged in a single DIN format. Not bad for under £100.
Add it to the Christmas list: Connects2 - 0845 257 5588 or connects2.com

Mutant 4 Channel Amp £99.99

Thanks to huge show season presence and massive marketing Mutant has really grown in status in the eyes of the end user, especially at the younger end of the market. Several incarnations has seen the range grow and now for less than three figures you can offer this four-channel MT2404R. Power output is a respectable 4x60W RMS (4ohm), 4x90W (2ohm) or 2x150W (bridged) and with built-in high and low crossovers, it’s versatile so will appeal to any ICE fan looking to build their first system. It’s as good as sold on the ability to run full-range to boost a factory set-up or just to add a sub. Job done.
Add it to the Christmas list: Armour Automotive – 01420 476767 or mutant.uk.com

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