MECHANICSVILLE, VA (01.12.26) – Specialty Marketing, a Custom Home, and Mobile Electronics Distributor, with over six decades of distribution experience, formally announces the hiring of Scott Campbell.
Scott Campbell
Scott, a 12-volt Industry veteran with decades of experience, will help to better support dealers throughout the West Florida and South Georgia markets. “I have previously worked with Scott Campbell for many years and have always respected the way he interacts and supports his customers, building exceptional relationships for both the Dealer and Vendor. We are excited to have him to join our sales team!”
Specialty Marketing, with distribution centers in Virginia, New Jesey, and Florida currently provide next-day delivery to 95% of their East Coast retailers. They can be reached at 800-446-9820 and offer a best-in-class website www.specialtymarketing.com, with real-time inventory, pricing, invoices and more. Contact them to become a dealer at Specialty: Become a Dealer (specialtymarketing.com)
SHREVEPORT, LA (01.09.2026) – In today’s AI driven and social media world it is more important than ever for members of the 12volt industry to connect with industry members and consumers. These activities are more important than ever to drive in-vehicle automotive upgrades awareness and business into brick and mortar retailers. Consumers can’t feel the bass in their chest or appreciate the separation of mids and highs on a smartphone or laptop.
Many 12volt industry members only use a QR Code to scan a restaurant menu. QR Codes have so many positive ways for 12volt industry members to utilize this positive technology.
This custom Nevada Auto Sound custom QR Code was utilized by Thomas Wing at an AMA Arena Cross event in Reno Nevada.
The 12volt Central Studios staff has created a new tool that works across the board. A high-quality glasses and screen cleaning microfiber cloth, with a custom QR Code, is the answer. Screens on mobile devices tend to collect smudges of all kinds. With this cleaning cloth a custom QR Code linking to a company’s website can be created and printed on the cloth to be seen by users several times a day as they clean their screens. The 6” by 6” cloth fits in a pocket or rests on an office desk. Even used by an installer in the install bay during a head unit installation.
300 custom QR Code glasses/screen cleaners don’t take much space when you’re headed to a show!
Trade shows and consumer events are terrific venues to hand out the cleaning cloth to attendees. Driving pre-event attention to an exhibitor’s booth is also an option. The cloth is also much less expensive, and easier to ship, than T-Shirts. Reps on the road could give a dealer his cleaning cloth to continue visibility for his company’s website.
ANAHEIM, CA (1.09.26) – AIM EXPO is North America’s largest Powersports Trade Show showcasing the latest Motorcycle, ATV, UTV, SxS and E Powersports plus parts, accessories and related business services. January 7-9 are the dates in the Anaheim Convention Center.
Scott Hochmuth-RPM, Shawn Spedding and Fred Isensee (LtoR) ready to kick off Day 2.
JBL Audio has a large presence on the AIM EXPO event floor in Booth 679. Shawn Spedding and Fred Isensee are working in the booth providing live demos and daring attendees to listen to JBL Audio. Scott Hochmuth, Real Performance Marketing Rep Principal traveled from the Southeast to engage with the Powersports community.
Shawn Spedding related “The Polaris 2-Door Ranger is loaded with factory JBL Audio and spotlights 8 RallytBars. The new GEN2 RallyBar is now available in White and features Auracast. Demos really bring smiles and WOW! We have a loaded Benda bobber motorcycle outfitted with Cruise speakers too. It’s been super to spend time with Powersport’s community members.”
The AIM EXPO puts attendees in front of the right people at the right time of the year. Dealers that attend the AIM EXPO know it is best to get in front of aftermarket manufacturers, distributors, service providers and OEMs to learn about new products plus capitalize on show specials. The AIM EXPO puts attendees in front of the right people at the right time of the year. The face-to-face meetings are still the most meaningful and valuable way to do business. THE AIM Expo gathers the North American motorcycling and Powersports industry so that attendees can connect.
LIBERTYVILLE, IL (01.09.26) – Get ready to bring out the best in power with ALL-NEW CRA!
Whether you’re building your first car audio system or upgrading to pro-level performance, the CRA amplifier series delivers the power and precision your music demands. Designed with modern Class D technology and engineered for efficient, distortion-free performance, CRA amps are ready to drive your speakers and subs with confidence.
CRA amplifiers bring clean, efficient power to every installation — from 2-channel amp setups to monster monoblocks. Fully adjustable crossovers, MOSFET efficiency, and an electronic equalizer help tune your sound to deliver crisp highs, rich mids, and thumping bass. Every CRA amplifier features high sound quality connection with strong RCA materials. Feel the difference in sound and upgrade to Crunch CRA!
LAS VEGAS, NV (01.07.26) – Building on decades of audio innovation, Pioneer introduces SPHERA, the world’s first aftermarket spatial audio in-dash receiver to feature Dolby Atmos® playback in Apple CarPlay. To date, in-vehicle Dolby Atmos has been available only in models equipped with Dolby Atmos-enabled sound systems. With SPHERA, Pioneer expands access to Dolby Atmos through an aftermarket solution that can be installed in millions of existing vehicles, delivering an immersive sound experience leveraging speakers already in the vehicle.
The Pioneer Booth 3527 in the LVCC West Hall rolled early on Day 1 of CES 2026.
Following last year’s CES prototype demonstration of in-vehicle spatial audio, Pioneer now brings that vision to life with SPHERA, an Apple CarPlay in-dash receiver featuring Dolby Atmos playback capability. With SPHERA, drivers can stream their favorite music, audiobooks, and podcasts in Dolby Atmos from many popular streaming services1 for a richer in-car entertainment experience with added depth, clarity, and detail.
Live SPHERA demos showed that drivers can stream their favorite music, audiobooks and podcasts in Dolby Atmos from many popular streaming services for a richer in-car entertainment experience with added depth, clarity and detail.
“For over 80 years, Pioneer has achieved many technological ‘firsts’—from the world’s first car CD player to the first aftermarket CarPlay integration,” said Chris Ono, CEO & Chairman of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “SPHERA is the next bold chapter in that legacy. Guided by our corporate mission, ‘Move the Heart and Touch the Soul’, we developed a product that brings the rich, detailed sound of Dolby Atmos that moves the soul, to a solution that can be installed in many vehicles on the road today. With SPHERA, we are expanding access to immersive sound, allowing more drivers than ever to enjoy music with the clarity and emotion its creators intended.”
OPTIMIZED 4-CHANNEL SOLUTION
Pioneer’s SPHERA features technology from Dolby that enables a rich Dolby Atmos experience delivered over 4-channels. SPHERA leverages a vehicle’s existing front and rear speaker locations to create a rich, immersive listening experience powered by Dolby Atmos. The combination of Dolby Atmos playback technology and Pioneer processing precisely manages sound reproduction to provide a practical, installation-ready upgrade path and the ability to add a spatial audio experience in many consumers’ existing vehicles.
POWERED BY PURE AUTOTUNING TECHNOLOGY
SPHERA integrates Pioneer’s PURE Autotuning technology, a proprietary in-vehicle calibration system engineered specifically for the acoustic challenges of the automobile interior. Vehicle cabins vary widely in size, shape, and materials, and aftermarket upgrades can further influence acoustical variables. To account for and adapt to these differences, PURE Autotuning technology precisely adjusts time alignment, frequency response, and channel levels to optimize performance and place the listener at the acoustical center position. This level of accuracy is essential for delivering a Dolby Atmos experience that is true to the creative intent of musicians and content creators.
MODERN INTERFACE AND INSTALLATION-READY DESIGN
SPHERA pairs its audio innovations with a refined hardware and interface platform engineered for real-world automotive use. A vibrant 10.1” HD capacitive display delivers crisp visibility and responsive control, supported by Pioneer’s Quick Swipe interface for fast, intuitive adjustments on the road. Leveraging the large screen size, a split-screen mode reserves a portion of the screen for easy access to key features and controls. The integrated Pioneer Luminous Bar adds a subtle visual signature to the dash, featuring an Enhanced Visual Mode for navigation support and Music Synchronization Mode to sync lighting with your audio. Wireless connectivity keeps the experience streamlined through wireless CarPlay, wireless Android Auto™, and Bluetooth®. Designed for universal aftermarket installation, SPHERA fits a wide variety of vehicles with minimal modification, ensuring that immersive audio reaches drivers without an overly complicated upgrade process.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Launching at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, SPHERA will be showcased at Pepcom at Paris Las Vegas as well as Pioneer’s booth located in LVCC, West Hall — 3527, where on-site demos will be available.
Pioneer SPHERA will be available in Spring 2026 through Pioneer’s network of authorized retailers, both in-store and online, including Best Buy, Crutchfield, and others. Pricing will begin at$1,300.
For more information about Pioneer SPHERA, as well as other products launched at CES 2026, go to usa.pioneer.
LONG BEACH, CA (01.08.26) — JVCKENWOOD announced expanded compatibility for its innovative Direct Replacement receivers, which now support select 2009–2017 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles with the shipment of ADS Maestro’s new APX-S8-IN1 installation kit.
Introduced in spring of last year, JVCKENWOOD’s Direct Replacement receivers offer a new approach to radio replacement. Unlike conventional installations that often require extensive dash kits—sometimes replacing entire dash panels or climate controls—Direct Replacement receivers are designed to replace the factory display directly.
These receivers feature high-resolution touchscreen displays that match the original 8-inch factory screen size, or in some applications offer a 10-inch floating display solution. Installation is simplified using basic mounting brackets, the Maestro RR1 or RR2 interface, and vehicle-specific wiring harnesses. Factory dash functions such as volume, climate controls, and other integrated features are retained capabilities that are often lost with traditional aftermarket installations.
The APX-S8-IN1 kit is particularly significant, as it provides a radio replacement solution for vehicles that previously had limited or no aftermarket upgrade options.
The launch of the APX-S8-IN1 marks the latest expansion of the Direct Replacement ecosystem, with additional vehicle-specific kits planned for release in the near future.
“We feel that Direct Replacement receivers are the future of car audio,” said Rick Noetzli, Product Manager at KENWOOD. “As we move forward, this approach allows us to support vehicles that previously could not accommodate a receiver replacement.”
The APX-S8-IN1 installation kit is available now from iDatalink.
TEMPE, AZ (01.08.26) – Automotive audio pioneer Wayne Harris will feature his world-famous Terminator vehicle during a special live interview during MasterTech Expo 2026, held March 12-15, 2026 at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, Ariz., offering attendees a rare look into one of the most iconic builds in car audio history.
Open to all MasterTech attendees and exhibitors, the Terminator will be on hand and the featured session will take place March 12 from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM in the Delta AZ Ballroom.
Harris has been a driving force in the 12-volt automotive audio industry since the early 1980s. A designer, engineer, entrepreneur, and innovator, he has earned multiple Design & Engineering awards, he holds several patents for audio technology innovations, and was named one of the Top Ten Most Influential People in Car Audio from 1987–1992.
Originally built in the mid-1980s – well ahead of its time – the Terminator featured groundbreaking concepts including one of the first true symmetry-based system layouts, including six Power 1000 amplifiers and a rotating amplifier rack that redefined what was possible in mobile audio design. The vehicle pushed extreme power levels for its era and became a benchmark for competitive audio builds.
The Terminator Vehicle The Terminator began life as a 1960 Cadillac hearse before Harris transformed it into one of the most legendary show vehicles in automotive audio history. Packed with massive subwoofers, multiple drivers, and staggering power output for the time, it helped shape early competition culture and left a lasting impression on anyone who experienced it in person.
Today, Harris has been carefully modernizing, refurbishing, and rewiring the Terminator, preserving its original spirit while ensuring it remains period-correct. Decades later, the vehicle remains a cultural icon, still talked about by competitors and enthusiasts who remember seeing – and hearing – it dominate early car audio events.
Live Interview & Walk-Through Attendees will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear directly from Harris as he walks through the history, design philosophy, and technical innovation behind the Terminator.
The session will be hosted by Matt Schaefer and Gary Bell of the Old Fashion Podcast.
For anyone passionate about car audio history, innovation, and legendary builds, this is a moment not to be missed.
WASHINGTON, DC (01.07.26) – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is mourning the passing of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., a lifelong automotive enthusiast and champion of the aftermarket industry and the millions of Americans who love to modify and customize their vehicles. As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, LaMalfa fought on behalf of those who rely on their vehicles as a means for personal liberty, prosperity, and economic freedom.
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“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, Rep. Doug LaMalfa,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. “His boundless enthusiasm for American car culture was matched only by his deep desire to ensure the prosperity of the people whose work fuels the automotive aftermarket. We will miss hearing about his latest missions to procure hard-to-source parts for one of his restoration projects, and future SEMA Shows won’t be the same without him walking the floors and talking with excitement about the builds he witnessed.”
LaMalfa was always there to help address the challenges facing the American car community and was a leading voice in Congress to preserve vehicle choice in the U.S., as well as Americans’ right to modify their vehicles and access public lands for motorized recreational use. He will forever be remembered by SEMA and its members for his public service, passion for his cars, and devotion to his constituents.
Scott Dilbeck, Sky-High Audio and Chris Jack (R) SKILLSUSA flank the winners.
Dear Mobile Electronics Industry Professional:
The 2026 SkillsUSA Competition season has already begun, and we are excited for this opportunity to inspire the careers of young people. The students that achieve the chance to compete at the National Level have shown their ability and desire to work within the mobile electronics industry. They represent our future integrators, fabricators, salespeople, engineers, and business owners.
KICKER’s Jacob Lucky and Aaron Malin flank Chris Jack (LtoR) on the floor at an industry event.
We are grateful for the support that has been previously provided by several manufacturers and individual members of our industry, and we request your assistance again for our 2026 efforts. Our operating expenses for this competition season are estimated to be around $15,000. To achieve this fund-raising goal, we urgently request that all donations be made before April 30, 2026. This ensures all things will be ready for the NLSC in June. A GoFundMe site has been setup to make donating simple, as well as a QR code to make direct contributions. (In addition to spending $20 a week on the tool truck, why not make a one-time donation for our future workforce.) We also encourage business owners to get involved by matching the donations made by their employees. (150 stores each contributing $100 will be enough to reach our goal.)
We also welcome products, tools, and P.O.P. materials in addition to your monetary contribution. Some of these will be used for testing and demonstration purposes. Other miscellaneous marketing items, such as t-shirts, hats, key chains, and lanyards, will be presented as a gift package for all contestants. The competitors that finish in the top 3 places of their division each receive a prize package including products, tools, and scholarships
SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for school-aged students, empowering high school and secondary school students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible industry contributors. The 2026 National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) will take place in Atlanta June 1-5 and is one of the largest hands-on workforce development events in the world. North America’s highest achieving skilled career and technical education students participate in the premier showcase SkillsUSA Competition.
The Mobile Electronics Installation competition category is the ultimate career preparation experience at the NLSC. The contestants will be evaluated according to the proven professional standards of the MECP by soldering, working with relays, using a multimeter to measure electrical components, troubleshooting electronic circuits, and installing consumer electronics in simulated vehicle setups. In addition to these tests, they also take a written exam based on the MECP Apprentice Installation Technician certification. And to further prepare them to enter the workforce, they experience a professional job interview and receive instant feedback on how to improve their performance.
SkillsUSA (formerly VICA/Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) is a 501(c3) not for profit organization. A W-9 form for your contribution is available upon request.
We appreciate your consideration to help strengthen and grow the resource pool of qualified candidates in our industry and look forward to answering any questions you may have.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (01.07.26) – SEMA has issued a call for speakers for the 2026 SEMA Show, taking place Nov. 3-6, 2026, in Las Vegas. Organizers are seeking experts who can present new ideas, trends, technologies, and expertise at sessions that will help industry members take their businesses and careers to the next level. The Show will host education days Tuesday, Nov. 3, through Thursday, Nov. 5.
Innovative thought leaders and dynamic presenters who can share new skills and ideas targeted to the automotive aftermarket are invited to apply at www.semashow.com/speakers.
The educational sessions are a key pillar of the SEMA Show, where thousands of industry professionals gather to learn new business strategies and best practices. The SEMA Show education program provides relevant, engaging, and inspiring information on the industry’s complex issues and topics.
Topics of focus for 2026 include:
Aftermarket updates and future trends
Emerging and executive leadership
Legislative and regulatory
Sales and marketing
Small-business strategy
Talent management
Vehicle technology
Industry segment-specific topics
Speaker proposals for the 2026 SEMA Show must be submitted by Friday, Feb. 13, at www.semashow.com/speakers.
For more details, contact SEMA Senior Manager of Professional Development Gary Vigil at garyv@sema.org or 909-978-6738.
The 2026 SEMA Show is set for Nov. 3-6 in Las Vegas. Interested exhibitors can buy a booth and learn more at http://www.semashow.com/exhibitor. Attendee and buyer registration opens on May 4; to sign up for notifications, visit here.
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