More from CES 2009

TomTom bags "Best of CES" Awards from U.S. Press
-- TomTom, one of the leading providers of navigation systems both in Europe and the U.S., has received industry recognition from two leading publications for its GO 740 LIVE portable Sat Nav. CNET gave their thumbs up by honouring TomTom’s first connected device with its "Best of CES” award in the GPS category, and the TomTom GO 740 LIVE was also singled out by LAPTOP Magazine for its “Best of CES 2009” award.

The GO 740 LIVE is TomTom’s first so-called 'connected' portable Sat Nav device in the U.S. As well as TomTom’s usual reliable routing, it helps drivers by automatically pulling in a stream of useful information, including real-time traffic and weather information, a TomTom Fuel Price Service, and a Local Search function powered by Google. The GO 740 LIVE had its debut at CES and is expected to be available in the USA in May '09 at around $500.

Pioneer adds true grit to new subwoofer series
-- Pioneer has launched new improved lines of subwoofers under the series names of Champion Pro, ib-Flat Shallow and Champion.  Each of the new models is claimed to have been reinforced with an application of basalt rock in the cone production process - the result is said to be a new sophisticated cone design that not only looks sleek, but also reinforces the structure to handle increased power. 

The Champion Pro Series Subwoofers are claimed to have been 'designed for audiophiles' and use technologies derived from Pioneer's SPL subwoofers, enhanced with increased power and performance thanks to the Interlaced Basalt & Aramid Fiber Reinforced IMPP Cone. Pioneer's blurb goes on to say that the Champion Pro "boasts a new three-prong swirl cone design that is further enforced using basalt fibers made from volcanic rock, infused with aramid fibers", at which point my eyes started to glaze over... Come on guys, a certain amount of marketing hype I can take, but really, it's beginning to sound like an M&S Food Store advert... infused with aramid fibers, mmm tasty. Not sure about the volcanic rock though, sounds a bit gritty - might be OK with a bit of pasta...

Anyway... basically it's designed to provide a cone that is both extremely rigid and very lightweight, and helps to prevent the cone from flexing unevenly when reproducing high sound pressure levels. A specially shaped reinforcement ring behind the cone, connecting the voice coil and the centre cap, is used to keep the entire cone moving in unison.  This method is claimed to help eliminate phase differences. There's a high-temperature aluminium voice coil and wide-roll, 3-Layer Fiber Woven Radial Surround. The surround is a critical part in high performance woofers. Pioneer have gone with two layers of urethane and one of  an interwoven hexagonal cloth, together designed to move the cone evenly at all excursion levels.

Perhaps the most interesting feature though is Pioneer's patent-pending "Air Suspension" system. This technology replaces the conventional spider construction found in most subwoofers, with a second cone that traps or "sandwiches" air between the front (upper) and secondary (drive) cone. It's claimed to decrease the required enclosure size by 70 percent.  In approximately half the space needed for conventional drivers of the same size, Pioneer's subwoofers are claimed to give you similar output levels and with higher sound quality.

Pioneer is without question one of the leading designers and manufacturers of automotive speakers and have been for almost 30 years, but while their big brand name assures a good level of sales, their subwoofers have never been amongst the truly fashionable select few with the car audio cognoscenti. It'll be interesting to see if the new Champion Pro Series prove good enough, and deliver the power and reliability, to earn Pioneer their place at that higher table. The TS-W3002D4/2 (12-inch) and TS-W2502D4/2 (10-inch) are available in both dual 2-Ohm and 4-Ohm versions and start at around $280 in the U.S. [Kevin O'Byrne]