The MEX-BT5000 is Sony’s first car CD player with built-in Bluetooth technology, and it’s all about making your life simpler. No more searching for the ringing cell phone while you’re driving down a busy street, or trying to talk on your phone while it’s connected to the charger’s too-short cord.

Instead, when the phone rings, you just push a button on the stereo to answer it. The music mutes and the call comes over your car’s front speakers. And your phone remains in your pocket, purse, or under the seat.

The Sony MEX-BT5000 is packed with useful entertainment and communications features, although it suffers from some fiddly controls. Advanced Bluetooth audio streaming may be its star feature, but its built-in sound optimization for digital audio playback means that it is more than a one-trick pony…

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JVC Mobile Entertainment has added five CD receivers with enhanced connectivity to its product line for 2008: JVC KD-G140 / JVC KD-G340 / JVC KD-PDR80 / JVC KD-BT11 / JVC KD-PDR40

The KD-BT11 features built-in Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling and audio streaming, and is updatable for pairing with new cell phones. The unit is equipped for readiness with CD changer, HD radio, Satellite radio, and is MP3/WMA compatible. The JVC KD-BT11 also features a 3-Band Parametric iEQ, MOS-FET 50W x 4, variable color display, and front AUX Input. A wireless remote is included. The receiver is available in February with an MSRP of $219.95.

The KD-PDR80 CD Receiver features a direct USB 2.0 connection for iPod providing high speed song selection, charging, and digital audio transfer. The unit is also equipped for readiness with Bluetooth, HD Radio, Satellite Radio, and CD changer. The receiver is MP3/WMA compatible and has a front auxiliary input, loudness control, dual color illumination, variable color display, and wireless remote. The JVC KD-PDR80 also features MOS-FET 50W x 4 and 3-band iEQ. The receiver is available in February with an MSRP of $209.95.

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Blaupunkt Debuts World’s First Portable Speaker System that Doubles as a Powered Car Subwoofer

Blaupunkt has introduced Velocity 2Go, the world’s first headphone-jack portable stereo speaker systems that can also be quickly converted into car audio subwoofers. Ideal for active music lovers, Blaupunkt Velocity 2Go powered speakers generate room-filling full-range sound when connected to any device with headphone output jacks. When used in a car, it delivers deep, clean bass to add weight to the sound of a basic four-speaker car stereo system.

Blaupunkt Velocity 2Go is available in two sizes, each with powerful high-efficiency amplifiers, two long-throw polypropylene woofers and two silk-dome tweeters in a sturdy, attractive ported aluminum enclosure. Power for the four bi-amp configured amplifiers and active crossovers is supplied by a car’s 12-volt electrical system, an AC adapter, or rechargeable AA batteries sustained by a built-in charger. A defeatable auto-turn-on function activates whenever an audio signal is detected.

The Blaupunkt Velocity 2Go 5 features dual 5-1/4-inch woofers, and a pair of 3⁄4-inch tweeters in an 8 liter enclosure, and is capable of linear frequency response from 50 Hz to 25000 kHz. The larger Velocity 2Go 6 employs 6-1/2-inch woofers and 1-inch tweeters in a 15-liter enclosure, making it capable of higher output, and linear response down to 40 Hz…

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The Sony XAV-W1 is its first stab at the aftermarket in-car ents game and it’s a beauty, dominated by a 7in 800×480 touchscreen.

The oversized head unit is designed to slot neatly into newer double DIN bays that are twice the height of your standard car stereo – hence the large screen.

• Plays most popular music and video formats. CD, DVD, SACD, Windows Media Audio, mp3 and JPEG
• Supports Dolby Digital surround sound and DTS Digital Surround Processing playback
• iPod ready. Just plug it in to enjoy your personal audio collection on the road
• Supports satellite radio and connects to Sony’s HD Radio tuner to deliver additional HD radio channels and rich information like artist, song name and more
• Command your digital music from behind the wheel or the back seat with the supplied remote card
• Customisable display and sound settings. Set your favourite photo as the background wallpaper
• Delivers 52 watts across 4 channels ensuring rich, clear sound. Zone by Zone capability allows you to set separate audio zones for the front and rear seats
• Camera input connects with a rear-monitor camera and displays the image on the player’s screen - makes parking a breeze!

It’ll play your DVDs, DivX movies, WMAs, MP3s and CDs, as well as your doubtless huge collection of SACDs. 5.1-channel surround sound is supported with Dolby Digital Surround and DTS Digital Surround Processing.

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Do more with Pioneer “uBus” USB Control - not just iPod® direct control*, “uBus” also controls many MP3 players** and USB memory devices (”Jump Drives”) as well. Access, control and high-resolution playback are supremely fast and straightforward. Simply plug in USB-compatible equipment (such as an iPod® nano, iPod® Video, or another portable digital player or USB memory device) into the included USB connector. This direct, high-speed (USB 2.0), adapter-free connection plus built-in 24-bit Delta Sigma D/A Converter assures extraordinary sound quality as well as convenience.

Control and operation is extremely intuitive and responsive with the 7-Way Rotary Commander, which works similar in all respects to an actual iPod. You can easily select from Artists, Albums, Genres, Playlists and more, and then quickly use the rotary action to sort through the selections. MP3 CD’s, MP3 portable players and USB memory devices are all also very similar and easy to use.

Pioneer “uBus” USB Direct Control is available on the following models:

Pioneer DEH-P6900UB, Pioneer DEH-P690UB, Add-on USB capability to many additional headunits using the CD-UB100 USB Adapter. Compatible with the following 2007 models: Pioneer DEH-P4900IB, Premier DEH-P490IB, Pioneer DEH-P5900IB, Premier DEH-P590IB, DEH-P7900BT, and Premier DEH-P790BT.

More information: PioneerElectronics.com

Developed by NextGen Venturi, the Venturi Mini is specifically designed to work with music phones and Bluetooth-equipped MP3 players. Boasting full support for Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and A2DP, the Venturi Mini can relay this sound information - both in terms of voice calls and streaming music - through its integrated digital FM transmitter. The transmitter also has RDBS technology for displaying information on your car’s radio screen, including contacts, device menus, and other pertinent data.

The Venturi Mini is a new and unique product combining Bluetooth® Music streaming with Hands-Free calling and USB style charging. The integrated FM RDS Transmitter streams stereo audio through the in-car sound system for music playback and hands-free. The Venturi Mini requires ZERO INSTALL and simply connects to the cigarette lighter socket in the vehicle making it easily transportable.

The integrated OLED display and high performance microphone enables high quality crystal clear hands-free with the received audio coming through the in car speakers.

• Music Streaming

Music can be streamed from a mobile phone using the Bluetooth A2DP profile or a portable music player can be connected via Bluetooth A2DP or directly through the audio in stereo jack.

• Hands-Free Bluetooth Audio and Phonebook

Providing high quality audio via the car speakers and crystal clear voice via built-in microphone as well as remote control of your phonebook with dialing activation from the smart interface on the Venturi Mini.

• Bluetooth® Wireless Technology

Featuring Bluetooth v2.0 & state of the art DSP technology for clear hands-free audio and advanced music streaming from your Bluetooth enabled phone or portable music player via smart interface on the Venturi Mini…

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