Author: 12VoltNews

Bill Turner Returns to Orion Car Audio

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PHOENIX, AZ (06.10.24) – Orion Car Audio proudly announces the return of industry legend Bill Turner as the Vice President of Dealer Success. The board of directors has chosen Bill Turner to lead Orion’s efforts and report directly to the investors. With a clear mission to revive American-made car audio and reintroduce the Original Orion experience in 2024, Bill Turner’s return to Orion marks a significant turning point for the brand.

Bill Turner brings an unparalleled level of devotion to Orion, spearheading the revival of the brand. With decades of experience in selling Orion’s products to installers, retailers, and mobile enthusiasts, Bill is reuniting the talented individuals who played a crucial role in Orion’s success.

Bill Turner, Mark Busier and Jack Cali (L to R) are pictured proudly presenting the first US Orion 2024 production Amplifier made in Phoenix, AZ.

“Our vision is to resurrect the spirit of the old Orion. We want to go beyond offering U.S.-made products and develop a symbiotic relationship with our dealers—treating them as part of our family once again,” says Bill Turner. “We are determined to support the growth of independent specialty retailers and invite them to test our commitment by engaging in our free 60-day trial. Contact family@orioncaraudio.com today and take us for a test ride.”

Bill Turner’s primary responsibilities at Orion are twofold: to revitalize American-made car audio and to foster Orion family support for independent specialty retailers. Orion is currently in the process of assembling the Original Orion family once again, and they are reaching out to those who share their passion for Orion.

“We are thrilled to be bringing back the Original Orion experience and are committed to building strong dealer relationships, just like in the early days of Orion,” adds Bill Turner. “We welcome those who share our passion for Orion to reach out to us at family@OrionCarAudio.com. We would love to speak with anyone who wants to be part of the Original Orion family.”

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Orion fans should visit the updated website OrionCarAudio.com and hear our vision directly from Bill Turner and the other Orion O.G.’s. (Old Guys).

From customers to competitors and every retailer in between, if you have a question, hit us up at family@OrionCarAudio.com

Tint World Strengthens Executive Team to Fuel Expansion Goals

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BOCA RATON, FL (06.10.24) – Tint World Automotive Styling Centers has announced that experienced industry executives J.R. Stocks and Kurt Hurley have joined the company as it continues to experience explosive growth.

Stocks has been named Tint World’s chief growth officer and Hurley has been named vice president of marketing. They lead a fast-growing Tint World corporate team that continues its investment in talent and franchisee support in 2024 with enhanced business coaching, accounting and operations departments.

“J.R. and Kurt know what it takes to thrive and excel in high-growth industries,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, president and CEO of Tint World. “They’ve demonstrated they share our vision to empower franchisees with the proven tools and systems that help them succeed, and we’re proud to have them in the Tint World family. Their leadership skills and experience will be critical as Tint World continues building the number-one franchise brand for automotive aftermarket solutions.”

Tint World Automotive Styling Centers has named J.R. Stocks (left) chief growth officer and Kurt Hurley (right) VP of marketing to help lead the fast-growing team as it continues to experience explosive growth.

Stocks has more than 25 years of experience shaping the automotive and marine electronics industries, including extensive experience as a vice president and C-level executive. In his new position, he leads Tint World’s business development and growth strategies.

“This is an incredible opportunity to be part of something special,” Stocks said. “Tint World’s innovative systems and processes are transforming the automotive franchise market. It’s exciting to be part of this groundbreaking enterprise and to be in position to accelerate Tint World’s growth while having a positive impact on the lives and careers of all our franchisees.”

Hurley brings more than 25 years of marketing and entrepreneurial experience across multiple industries to his new role. He has overseen holistic marketing operations for a range of health care, home service, finance and marketing businesses. In his new role, he supports the franchise’s continuing fast growth through innovative communications and brand consistency.

“Tint World is recognized as the most trusted franchise brand in the industry,” Hurley said. “The corporate team is talented and passionate, and our franchisees are committed to delivering world-class service to their communities. It’s a joy to develop and execute messaging and marketing efforts that continue elevating the brand and enhancing the company’s position as the industry leader.”

Visit tintworld.com for more.

Accordo, A New Groundbreaking Auto-Tuning Software From Audison, Revolutionizes In Car DSP-Tuning

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IRVINE, CA (07.10.24) – Audison has announced the release of its highly anticipated bit Drive 2.0 software, featuring the innovative ACCORDO auto-tuning. Now, at the push of a button, this cutting-edge technology offers an industry-first guarantee of audio quality configuration for DSP-equipped products.

Developed by the Audison R&D team, ACCORDO acoustically tunes a car audio system to a selected target with time and phase alignment. This innovative feature not only saves time but also ensures a high-quality audio experience. In a few moments, the step-by-step wizard procedure performs output EQ, level, and time delay adjustments using a single external microphone or soundcard. Simply connect your microphone, select a target curve, or create your own. ACCORDO does the rest.

“With ACCORDO, we are the only company that can guarantee high-quality sound in a vehicle to our dealers and their customers,” said Pietro Pantaleone, President of Elettromedia Group. “Now dealers and their technical staff can spend less time tuning a car audio system and get better results for their customers guaranteed by Audison.”

Audison bit Drive continues its lead as an industry-standard DSP software platform without the need for expensive external hardware. In addition to the extensive features from previous releases, bit Drive features a range of new tools, including:

Upmixer: A proprietary algorithm that creates a wider spatial image for driver and passenger seats, significantly improving the listening experience. The algorithm reproduces monophonic music content on the center speaker while maintaining stereophonic content on the left and right channels. Upmixer offers three modes (Wide, Default, Narrow) to match your stage width preferences.

Target Curve Management: Includes an eleven-band parametric/graphic EQ, six preloaded target curves, and import/export options for target curve files.

Preferential Memories: The device automatically switches to the selected memory whenever a source change occurs, ensuring a consistent and optimal listening experience.
Import EQ Settings from REW: Allows seamless import of EQ filter settings from REW for advanced acoustic measurements.

Advanced Time Delay Management: Streamlines the entry of output time delay settings with an integrated window in the main GUI.

Shortcuts: Enhances tuning efficiency with keyboard shortcuts compatible with QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layouts.

“Audison has refined what we thought was the best system and made it better,” said Ken Ward, a car audio industry veteran with 30 years of experience. “There is no expensive equipment for the dealers, and anyone trained on bit Drive only needs to learn a few new features to offer customers a guaranteed high-quality audio experience.”

bit Drive 2.0 and the accompanying ACCORDO are available for free download now in the U.S. at Audison.com.

Summit Sound & Security Hosted A Very Successful Car Show July 5th

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TWINSBURG, OH (07.09.24) –The Summit Sound & Security Car Show packed the entire shopping center with nearly 200 cars and hundreds of enthusiast Friday July 5th from 4-8PM. All cars and motorcycles were welcomed plus the Busted Society Car Club members drew members to the event. A DJ was set up and played music during the event. A Taco truck was in the center’s parking lot and the first 100 attendees received free tacos.

The area in front of the Summit Sound location was packed throughout the event.

An added attraction at the event was a major Alpine presence with an Alpine Jeep and and multiple Alpine tents set up in front of the store. Alpine Product Specialist Chris Reavis was in the house. Steve McGaffee, with area Alpine rep firm Online Marketing, was also on site doing demos in the Jeep.

Attendees enjoying music from the DJ and experiencing exotic cars too.
Roger Buell, behind the counter, with a thank you post for Chris and Steve for Alpine‘s support.

“This was truly an amazing event. There was so much energy at the event with all enjoying the cars, listening to the DJ, checking out the Alpine Jeep and just enjoying the Friday after July 4th…tacos too. When people took a seat in the Jeep they really got an Alpine Experience” Reavis related.

Hoods were open for attendees to check out with the Alpine set up in the background.
There were no fewer than 50 demos of the Alpine loaded Jeep.

Chris Jaenky, Summit Sound GM stated “The entire area around our store, front snd back, plus across the shopping center was packed with cars and attendees. We have been in business for 28 years and this event was one of the best. We started making social media posts 3 weeks before the event and that really got the word out across the area. We had classic cars, Corvettes, SQ cars and high priced exotic cars. Attendees inside the store at the sales counter drove business too for the day.”

The Jeep demo delivered the Alpine Experience for attendees throughout the event.
The Alpine Style Center display wall stands out in the showroom.

Roger Buell, Summit Sound & Security owner, stated “it was definitely a party. Cool show cars, music and tacos will always draw a crowd. We had 5 customers with their cars at the event that were loaded with Alpine Status systems. They were happy to show their cars. In addition we had a customer with his Tesla that was loaded with Alpine’s Tesla specific gear. We extend a big thank you to Alpine for their support plus our dedicated staff and customers.”

Inside the store the showroom was very busy. Alpine specials were stacked on the floor and customers filled the sales counter area finalizing their purchases.

Visit alpine-usa.com and summitsound.net for more.

Tint World Orlando Installs First-of-its-Kind Cybertruck Audio Aftermarket System

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A Cybertruck positioned outside of the Tint World location in Orlando.

ORLANDO, FL (07.09.24) – Tint World Automotive Styling Centers has achieved a major milestone in the automotive aftermarket industry by completing one of the first audio and lighting system upgrades for a Tesla Cybertruck at its location in Orlando, Florida.

Tint World Orlando has been driving business with Cybertrucks.

“This is a real breakthrough and demonstrates why Tint World is the leading installation center for automotive accessories and aftermarket service,” said Pete Muller, owner of Tint World Orlando. “I’m incredibly proud of the innovation and expertise our team has shown. We were able to deliver something unique that many people in the industry have never tried. This successful Cybertruck upgrade proves Tint World’s value and unlocks amazing new opportunities for us and for the industry as a whole.”

Vehicle lighting and paint protection are also Cybertruck upgrades being completed at Tint World Orlando.

The popular Cybertruck is one of the first vehicles to run on a 48-volt battery. Until now, car stereo professionals had not been able to power a conventional 12-volt audio system through Tesla’s proprietary power source.

Click above to view this video

Technicians at Tint World Orlando identified multiple 48-volt sources inside the Cybertruck and installed an auxiliary 12-volt battery with 48-volt converters to power a full transformation of the factory sound and lighting systems. The innovative system includes 16 top-of-the-line Arc Audio Reference Series speakers and an Arc Audio amplifier powering two Arc Audio subwoofers in a custom enclosure. The wiring, accessories, and lighting feature products from Metra Electronics, including an underglow system and custom-designed backlit Cybertruck emblem.

“We have seen some workarounds that have allowed other teams to develop major modifications on the Cybertruck, such as tapping into the Cybertruck’s 110-volt AC outlets to power aftermarket products,” Muller said. “But we wanted to use the 48-volt system rather than circumvent it. That makes this much more like a traditional car stereo install, and it represents a huge step forward for potential aftermarket upgrades on one of the most exciting and in-demand vehicles on the market.”

Visit tintworld.com for more.

Kelvin Rivera Hired as the East Coast Product Specialist at JVCKENWOOD USA

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LONG BEACH, CA (07.09.24) – JVCKENWOOD announced they have hired Kelvin Rivera as the East Coast Product Specialist for the company’s car electronics division. This new position will provide enhanced support to JVC and KENWOOD retailers, reps, and distributors through training, advanced technical assistance, and event support.

Kelvin Rivera brings six years of installation bay experience, offering hands-on expertise and in-depth knowledge of product installation and technical support. His prior role in installation positions him perfectly to deliver exceptional technical support to all dealers east of the Mississippi River.

“Kelvin is the perfect addition to the team, being able to relate and communicate seamlessly with dealers through his installation experience,” said Josh Bowen, Digital Content & Marketing Manager for JVCKENWOOD USA. “Excellent technical support is vital to our operations, and we believe that Kelvin will perform exceptionally in this role.”

Kelvin will focus on both JVC and KENWOOD dealers east of the Mississippi. He will report directly to Josh Bowen, Digital Content & Marketing Manager, who will work closely with Kelvin to create training materials, including online materials and video content.

“I couldn’t be happier to be a part of such an amazing organization that is focused on providing solutions that meet the needs of sales, installers, and consumers,” Kelvin commented.

Kelvin can be reached at krivera@us.jvckenwood.com.

Visit us.jvckenwood.com for more.

The 2024 Steel Valley Regional Set For July 19-21

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WHEELING VA (07.08.24) The Steel Valley Regional XIII will be held at Wes Banco Arena in Wheeling WV July 19, 20, 21 2024. This year will feature Top 48 Sound Quality Showdown with 6 Judges from all over the country evaluating and ranking the Cars from 48 to 1st Place. The Top 10 will be eligible for 3000 Cash Payout. There is a SQOLOGY (Klifton Keplinger) Format using ICA Music. Also there will be IASCA 3X, MECA4X, EMMA 3X and MASQ 3X Formats available. The Top 48 Format is SOLD OUT but competitors can get on the waiting list.

The WesBanco Arena will once again host the Steel Valley Regional.

The Organizations will be posting if they have openings and will be taking care of their own trophies and judges accordingly. You can contact them to see if their is openings during the weekend as many have preregistered already.
Also a Tune Off with approx 8 Teams of 2 that will have 90 minutes to tune a vehicle featuring the ARC AUDIO PS8PRO and will be evaluated by multiple judges on Sunday and winner gets 1000 CASH.

Trophies and Prizes will be given out by the Organizations as well as the SQ Showdown.

Hotel Rooms are up to individuals but there is a block of rooms at the Hampton at the Highlands Triadelphia WV. There are about 8 hotels in this area 10 minutes via highway to the WesBanco Arena. The website for the Highlands area is hitthehighlands.com.There is Shopping, multiple restaurant’s, gas and anything you would need all in this area. See Wesbancoarena.com for more.

Participating Sponsors to date include

ARC AUDIO-TITLE SPONSOR …Brian Mitchell , Brad , Fred

ZAPCO /ESB..Diamond Level..Enzo / George, Chris / Ernie

KARMA AUDIO ..GOLD Level…@Adam Schlepphorst

Aegis ADi – Aegis Distribution Inc. ..GOLD Level .Scott Welch, John Borges
Audiowave, Goldhorn, Eton, Dynaudio USA

STINGER..GOLD Level..Jeff Smith

JL Audio/Garmin..SILVER Level..@Manville Smith, Bryatt Fischer,
Steve Lovell/Garmin

ResoNix Sound Solutions/Accuton. Silver Level..Nick Apicella Auto Sound

ORCA Design…Silver Level.Focal, Raven, Mosconi..Nick Wingate, Nick Wingate@Nalaka Adikari

Hybrid Audio..Bronze Level
Klifton Keplinger

Creative Products Design,,Bronze Level Mike Buononato

Stereo Installs .Gold Level
Awards…David Wright, Bryan Huston

Davis Distribution..Silver Level..Chuck Fauser

Italia Hi-Fi..Gold Level Sponsor .. Dan Merritt
Greg Thompson

Anyone else looking to participate, please contact Larry Chijner at lchijner@gmail.com. If I missed anyone I apologize and will add accordingly.

As usual Keith Turner will help run the show along with Klifton, Lori Wallace and the judging staff! Autosound Showcase is Keiths new show sq company and will help me once again!

Friday the venue will be open from 12 til 9 for Tweak n Tune all day. Competition will resume Saturday and Sunday mornings with Awards to follow Sunday around 5pm.

This is a indoor Air Conditioned Venue so weather will not be a problem and POWER Available to everyone inside the Arena. As we get closer i will keep you up to date if there are any changes or anything you need to know.

Fuel Required And Team Nutz Driving Business

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MT LEBANON, PA (07.08.24) Business partners Fuel Required and Team Nutz were on site at the 27th Annual Classic Car Show and Street Festival in Mt Lebanon on Sunday July 7h under a sunny sky. Enthusiasts started arrivng early and there was a stong crowd before noon. Classic and show cars lined the main street for all to check out. Food, vendors and live music added to the day’s enjoyment for all. The first 150 cars on display received dash plaques. Additional awards were presented to the top 60 cars.

Main Street in downtown MT Lebanon was busy busy on Sunday.
The classic car show filled areas downtown.

Team Nutz is a proactive 12volt retailer based in Pittsburg that also markets other automotive products. Sister company Fuel Required offers sales, service and consignment services for classic automobiles.

Ed Nuttall offered for Team Nutz “The Classic Car Show was a great opportunity for our retail store to connect with a large crowd of people interested in cars. The crowd had a lot of families who spent their time checking out all the vehicles. When they checked out the new Team Nutz Jeep and Excursion they experienced the wide variety of upgrades available for their rides.The kids were really drawn to the new Jeep and lots of folks were snapping images with the Team Nutz Jeep.”

The new Team Nutz Jeep stood out at the event.

Many attendees spent time checking out all of the new Team Nutz Jeep upgrades.

At the event there were Team Nutz stickers for attendees to pick up in addition to cards with special offers at the store. Nina and Ed Nuttall were on site along with Team Nutz crew member Rob Gratton.

Team Nutz gave out hundreds of stickers during the event.
Custom cards and special offers will continue to drive business after the event.

The new Team Nutz Jeep was unveiled at the recent Bantam Jeep Featival a month ago. Since that time it has been drawing attention out front on the busy in front of the Team Nutz location and every time it hits the streets.

Ed Nuttall pictured between the new Team Nutz Jeep and Excursion vehicles at the event.

For more see teamnutz.com

Race Sport Lighting Introduces NOVAlm Series LED Kits for Off-Road Enthusiasts

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RINGWOOD IL (07.08.24) Race Sport Lighting, a leader in advanced automotive lighting solutions, is proud to announce the launch of the NOVAlm Series LED Kits, designed specifically for off-road enthusiasts seeking superior high performance, rugged durability, and putting the light where they need it on the trails. Also known as the NOVA-Lumen, this kit defies the lumen output of all other light bulbs on the market.

The NOVAlm Series LED Kits represent the pinnacle of LED lighting technology, combining cutting-edge engineering with the rugged reliability required for off-road adventures. These LED kits are engineered to deliver exceptional brightness, enhanced visibility, and long-lasting durability, ensuring that off-road enthusiasts can tackle the toughest terrains with confidence.

Key Features of the NOVAlm Series LED Kits:

Unmatched Brightness: Utilizing the latest in LED technology, the NOVAlm Series provides unparalleled brightness, illuminating the path ahead with a crisp, clear light that mimics natural daylight. The NOVAlm measured up to 21,640lx per kit, which is more than most high-power light bars used off-road.
Robust Durability: Built to withstand the harshest conditions, these LED kits feature a rugged, waterproof design that can endure mud, water, and extreme temperatures. This kit is equipped with a 3-year manufacturer warranty for years of enjoyment.
Easy Installation: The NOVAlm Series LED Kits are designed for easy installation, allowing off-road enthusiasts to quickly upgrade their vehicles and hit the trails without delay. The main feature that installers will love is the waterproof BNC between the bulb and driver that will allow for easy installation on vehicles with seal caps behind the bulbs.
Energy Efficiency: With low power consumption and a long lifespan, these LED kits are not only powerful but also energy efficiently designed. Never has a bulb with so high of a lumen output ever run so efficiently, measuring temperatures at the base and tower body of less than 120 degrees.


“We are thrilled to bring the NOVAlm Series LED Kits to the off-road enthusiast community,” said Steven Jergensen, President of Race Sport Lighting. “These LED kits are a game-changer for off-road enthusiasts who demand the best in LED high performance and reliability. Having the ability for your High beam or Fog Light forward driving bulbs to put out Lux outputs that match your off-road lighting bars and auxiliary lights adds another dimension of projection lighting where the driver most needs the lighting in front of them.”

Race Sport Lighting has a long-standing reputation for innovation and quality in the automotive lighting industry. The introduction of the NOVAlm Series LED Kits underscores the company’s commitment to providing top-of-the-line products that meet the evolving needs of their customers. It is important to note that this high-power LED kit is made and designed only to go in low beams in lenses in off-road only vehicles, and never in on-road vehicles. If installed in on-road vehicles, only install inside fog lamps or high beam applications that can be switched on and off to be used only when the driver needs them.

For more information about the NOVAlm Series LED Kits and other products from Race Sport Lighting, please visit www.racesportinc.com.

The Vintage Air Road Tour Rolled Into The KICKER International HQ July 2nd

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STILLWATER, USA (July 5,2024)– KICKER® played host to the Vintage Air® Road Tour at its international headquarters on Tuesday, July 2.

Members of the tour entering the KICKER HQ lobby

The KICKER parking lot was teeming with more than 80 custom cars, trucks and hot rods making their way from San Antonio, TX to Des Moines, IA for Vintage Air’s annual summer tour of the country. As two leading pioneers in the aftermarket automotive industry, KICKER was proud to team with Vintage Air so consumers, professionals and hobbyists could learn how to have all their in-car climate and audio needs met and exceeded.

A group of the Vintage Air Road Tour rides.
These Vintage Air Road Tour vehicles are projects in the works.

The Vintage Air vehicles, from street rods to trucks to custom classics, arrived in the morning on Tuesday. They were on display till the afternoon when the Tour continued its northward journey, with a destination of Goodguys Heartland Nationals in Des Moines on July 5. The KICKER south parking lot was dedicated to showcasing these custom vehicles sporting the latest innovation and technology from Vintage Air.

Tour members check out displays in the show area.

The KICKER Visitors Center and Museum were also open to the public. This presented a great opportunity to learn about the latest aftermarket solutions for any vehicle, covering the two most important factors when it comes to a vehicle’s cabin: air and sound!

Tour members check out KICKER’s square woofer history.

For more details, readers can visit vintageair.com. For those who could not come see these incredible custom cars in-person at KICKER HQ they can visit KICKER’s social media platforms for photos, videos and interviews of the tour.

KICKER Performance Audio products, a division of Stillwater Designs and Audio, Inc.®, are available for the mobile and home audio aftermarket at authorized retailers worldwide, and also as Original Equipment for boat and automobile manufacturers. Consumers seeking more information on KICKER or Livin’ Loud® may call the Consumer Information Line at 1-800-256-5425 or visit the brand website at http://www.kicker.com. Consumers can follow KICKER socially at Facebook.com/kickeraudio, X.com/kickeraudio, Instagram.com/kickeraudio, or Pinterest.com/kickeraudio, and use the hashtags #kickeraudio and #livinloud.