From the September/October Issue of DUB

May 4, 2009 1:00 PM PDT
Azentek puts a GPS in your rear-view
by John Haynes aka “Mr. Mobile” posted on CNET.

In-dash navigation continues to be one of the hottest categories in the Al & Ed’s stores, and adding a Bluetooth hands-free device is almost automatic with each install. There are a number of vehicles, though, that don’t lend themselves well to radio removal, or perhaps the client wants the benefits of navigation and Bluetooth, but likes the factory radio just the way it is. A portable navigation device works, but then one has to deal with suction cups, wires, plugs and that add-on feeling. The SmartMirror from Azentek is a good solution.

The SM450 is a replacement rear-view mirror that also has built-in navigation and Bluetooth. Unlike the “behind the glass” screens available, Azentek wisely provides a separate 4-inch color touch-screen that takes up about 1/3 of the mirror’s area. The rest is a standard rear-view with very good optics. It’s not much bigger than a factory mirror, but has plenty of usable real estate. The front of the mirror is simply laid out with five buttons. There are Power and Main Menu buttons, and the rest are for the Bluetooth hands-free. Answer, Hang-Up, and Pairing buttons are all easy to use and intuitive.

The screen itself has good brightness, color, and contrast, although it can wash out in bright sunlight. My wife’s car is a convertible, so this is more of an issue for her than in most cars, where the mirror lives in relatively shaded surroundings. The touch screen operates easily and the menu system requires little getting used to. There is a built-in speaker for navigation commands and for the hands-free operations. The mirror has a flip-out antenna for acquiring GPS satellites, but also has an external antenna (included) if the vehicle has metalized tint or if the mirror is set back too far to get signal. Two nice features of the nav are a Lane Assistant view, which gives you a good idea about what’s happening in freeway merges and turns, and a Text to Speech feature usually found only on the “better” navs. This calls out street names for you, making it easier to get your turns right, especially where street blocks are close together.

The Bluetooth paired easily with her Motorola Razor, and works very well. The SM450 was a snap to pair up and can be instantly connected or disconnected with a touch of the button. Incoming and outgoing number info is displayed on the screen.

I installed the SM450 on my wife’s Chrysler Sebring in about an hour, including adding a Boyo backup camera. The mirror unit is very well made and feels very OEM. All of the necessary harnesses and plugs are included, and they even throw in an allen wrench to attach their base to the vehicle’s window mount. This is not one of those clip-over mirrors. It is a true OEM-style replacement mirror and looks like it came from the factory.

This OEM mirror uses a tombstone mount, making an easy replacement with the SM450.

The wife’s car has the standard tombstone-type mirror mount found on most cars. Azentek includes a spare mount in the kit in case the vehicle uses a hanging post-type mounting, and they can provide optional bases for other mounting types. It took about twenty seconds to remove her factory mirror and to begin the installation. The SM450 mounted up in about the same time. Then the system was wired up for power and camera connection. The harness is well thought out and is wrapped in seamless vinyl covering for a real OEM feel. I had plenty of wire to get down the A-pillar of the car and make the simple connections. The backup camera has a dedicated input, and there are two more if you want to bring in an interior camera or other video input.

I have nothing but positives to say about the Azentek SM450 so far. It has a great fit and finish, and the kit is quite complete with plenty of loomed wire, the external antenna, additional mount and more. If I have any complaint, it is that the mirror optics are not 100 percent; there is a little distortion, but nothing that would cause me not to keep the mirror, plus one has to think of what might go missing when the factory mirror disappears. On some cars, there is compass and temperature info, OnStar, security, and in some cases radio functions all wired up through the mirror. Other than that, it’s a no-brainer. The SM450 is a great solution when leaving the radio in the dash is the best choice.

John Haynes, aka Mr. Mobile of Al & Ed’s Autosound, contributes articles from the shop floor about car stereo and electronics to CNET. Al & Ed’s Autosound is a multistore professional installer of car audio systems and electronics.

Review by Al & Ed’s Autosound’s Mr. Mobile, John Haynes. Posted on CNET’s CarTech Blog

Alpine Electronics broke from the pack a couple of years ago and launched a new series of in-dash radios designed specifically for the iPod user. Their studies had shown that iPod listeners rarely listened to CD format in their vehicles, and almost exclusively used their iPods for listening to their favorite artists. Alpine reasoned that, if they dispensed with the CD mechanism and focused on features that iPod users would appreciate, they would have a hit. They were partially right, but momentum is gaining.

These “mechless” head units were a real break from tradition, and many of the Alpine dealers ran into a mental stumbling block selling radios that could not play CD format. Their iPod customers didn’t care, though and soon the “IDAX” series of products were some of Alpine’s best sellers. They keep getting better and better each year, and recently I had the opportunity to test drive their newest unit, the IXAW404.

The Alpine IXAW404 is their first double-DiN offering in the iPod lineup. Most cars built today use this size radio, and it offers a lot of advantages over the aftermarket’s standard single-DIN design. Besides looking more factory-like when installed, the double-DIN format provides more physical real estate for the designers to work with, so the consumer gets the benefit of a larger display screen, larger and easier-to-use knobs and buttons and a generally less-cluttered appearance.

My overall impression of the IXAW404 was very favorable. The unit is dominated by a 4.3″ QGVA color monitor and large control knob. The screen is used to inform the driver of the functions being performed by the deck. When in iPod mode, it will show artist, song and title information, as well as cover art, if loaded onto the iPod. The resolution is very good, and the smallest detail on the cover art is well represented. It’s not necessary, but it’s a nice touch that ties the user to his or her iPod experience. The screen also has an input for an optional navigation system and also a dedicated backup camera input. The IXAW404 has typical Alpine fit-and-finish. Everything looks well made and it “feels right” when you twist knobs or push buttons. The large center button is plastic, but it looks good. I would have preferred something in aluminum for a knob this large, but it comes off OK.

Alpine was one of the first manufacturers to work directly with Apple instead of “reverse engineering” their iPod interface. The result is an Apple-certified “Made for iPod” and “Works with iPhone” rating. All iPod and iPhone functions are supported, including video file search and playback, and you won’t get the annoying “Airplane Mode?” warning with iPhones. The connection to the unit is through a supplied iPod/iPhone dock to USB, and it is super fast.

The rest of the unit is AM/FM and … well that’s it. AM/FM/iPod is all you really need, but it is fully upgradable with optional HD Radio tuners, Sirius/XM satellite radio, Bluetooth, navigation and even a DVD/CD Changer for the die-hards that still need some plastic in their playback. One interesting feature on the HD tuner this year is iTunes Tagging. If you are listening to HD and hear a song you like, one touch on the main control knob tags that song and stores it in your iPod. The next time you hook up with iTunes, you will be asked if you want to download the song from the iTunes store. I definitely liked this unit. If you are an iPod user, and can’t remember the last time you played an actual CD in your car, don’t even think twice. Good fit and finish, easy to use, great song search features and an easy-to -see screen make this piece a winner.

Author note:
John Haynes, aka Mr. Mobile of Al & Ed’s Autosound, contributes articles from the shop floor about car stereo and electronics to CNET. Al & Ed’s Autosound is a multi-store professional installer of car audio systems and electronics.

Al & Ed’s Autosound was covered in the February 2009 edition of Mobile Electronics in this article about the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Ryan Porter at CarDomain posted about our calendar last week.

I knew one would come in if I blogged it! I got my first 2009 calendar in the mail yesterday from the guys over at Al & Ed’s Autosound in Southern California.  Check out some of their crazy rides after the jump!

Thanks Gabi and Elie!
Project Tattoo which has a dope ride page!

DUB Jan-Feb Issue
Al & Ed’s Autosound met with DUB Magazine for the Breakdown section of the Jan-Feb Issue to discuss how to customize and use the automotive safety device Azentek SmartMirror. This feature-rich rearview mirror integrates GPS navigation, Bluetooth and PDA and can be used as a back-up camera. The SmartMirror is available for purchase and installation at any Al & Ed’s Autosound locations.

(more…)

Al & Ed’s Autosound - Audio R8

(more…)