KENWOOD introduces two new subwoofers in its premium eXcelon line of products

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KENWOOD eXcelon Introduces New High-Performance Subwoofers: KFC-XW1242 (12”) and KFC-XW1042 (10”)

Long Beach CA , 4-14-2026 — Kenwood proudly announces the latest additions to its premium eXcelon car audio lineup: the KFC-XW1242 12-inch and KFC-XW1042 10-inch subwoofers. Designed for audio enthusiasts seeking powerful, accurate bass. Both models feature a single 4-ohm voice coil.

Engineered for durability and high output, the KFC-XW1242 12-inch subwoofer is rated at 350 watts RMS at 4 ohms, and the KFC-XW1042 is rated at 300 watts RMS, delivering deep, controlled bass with exceptional clarity.

Both models incorporate advanced design enhancements, including a new magnet structure paired with a 6-layer voice coil, improving heat dissipation for greater power handling and long-term reliability. Additionally, a progressive spider pleat design helps prevent over-excursion.

Key features include:

• New magnet and 6-layer voice coil design for improved thermal performance

• Progressive spider pleat design for enhanced excursion control

• Durable construction for long-lasting reliability

• Optimized for both sealed and vented enclosures

“These new eXcelon subwoofers reflect our continued focus on performance, reliability, and installer-friendly design,” said Rick Noetzli KENWOOD Product manager. “With improved thermal management and enhanced excursion control, the KFC-XW1242 and KFC-XW1042 deliver the powerful, clean bass our customers expect.”

The KFC-XW1042 is available now with a MAP price of $130.00, and the KFC-XW1242 is available now with a MAP price of $150.00 through authorized Kenwood eXcelon retailers.

ZZC-SY4C Now Supports Both SYNC 3 and SYNC 4 Systems

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BIG UPDATE: MORE COMPATIBILITY-MORE OPPORTUNITY.

We’re excited to announce a major update to one of our fastest-growing products. The ZZC-SY4C now supports both Ford SYNC 3 and SYNC 4 systems. This means more vehicles, more installs and more sales potential for your shop.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The ZZC-SY4C is already a powerful solution for adding front, side and cargo camera visibility directly to the factory screen. Now, with expanded SYNC 3 compatibility, you can offer this upgrade to an even wider range of Ford vehicles.

GIVE YOUR CUSTOMERS:

WHAT THE ZZC-SY4C DELIVERS:

PERFECT FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS!

For pricing, availability, or to place an order, contact your ZZ2 sales representative or visit www.zz2.com

The Super Cat West Fest 2026 Was Livin’Loud With KICKER

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LAKE HAVASU, AZ (04.13.26) – The Super Cat West Fest 2026, with sponsor KICKER, returned to the Havasu Riviera Marina April 9th thru April 11th. The KICKER XRV was on the ground showcasing KICKER Livin’Loud Audio, Powersports and numerous ski and pontoon boats were on the water in the marina and dockside.

The KICKER XRV and side-by-sides set up for the event to begin.

Lorin Morrell, MaddDog Media, orchestrates many KICKER consumer events was one site and stated “The first 3 years were great and this year was even better…way better. The KICKER space was up front and traffic was tremendous.. The XRV is an 85’ rolling showroom that was on site, with the amazing 40,000 watt BoomRoom, was definitely Livin’Loud. No doubt the XRV always draws a crowd and enthusiasts were lined up to check out displays inside and listen to the music.”

Continuing “ KICKER’s Western Regional Tracy Focht was on site. Focht worked with area rep Riley from Murphco, area dealers and members of the crowd. Products and a decked ski rig were under the XRV awning and had eyeballs all day. The Kawasaki Ridge and Jet Ski gave enthusiasts ideas. Helicopters were flying overhead to highlight the action through the days. Jeremy Wynn and Steven Bambrough rolled the XRV from KICKER HQ in Stillwater OK…1100 miles.”

“Local retailer Elite Audio spotlighted their KICKER equipped Tri-Toon with SOLO X subs along with their deck boat. The lighting on many of the boats in the marina and harbor was out of this world at night time. The fireworks over Lake Havasu during the dock party really lit up the sky. There was so much action at the dock there was crowd control on site.” Morrell concluded.

KICKER will remain in the area for the Anderson Powersports Desert Storm running April 22-25. The premier boating event will feature a street party, parade of power and a poker run showcasing high performance boats.

Visit kicker.com for more.

Amplified Sales And Marketing On The Road In Northern California and Northern Nevada.

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PORTERVILLE CA (04.13.26) Amplified Sales and Marketing was built with a hands-on approach to representation. In addition to representing manufacturing partners, Micah Boren works directly with the stores the company serves by providing product knowledge, technical support, training, and ongoing assistance. “Our philosophy is simple: we represent each storefront as if it were our own—ensuring products are properly supported, positioned, and successful at the retail level” Principal Micah Boren stated.

Amplified Sales and Marketing represents the following product lines within the territory Wavtech, Linkswell, Rydeen Mobile Electronics, Morel America, PCA Enclosures, Pedal Commander and Crux Interfacing Solutions.

“Our goal is to bridge the gap between manufacturer and retailer through strong communication, reliable support, and consistent follow-through. We look forward to building long-term partnerships and driving growth for both our manufacturing partners and the stores we support” Boren added.

“I have represented the Northern California and Northern Nevada territory for the past eight years and have been active in the industry for 26 years. My focus has always been on relationship-driven representation, hands-on support, and accountability in the market” Boren concluded.

For more email Micah@amplifiedsales.com

GOVERNOR EVERS’ VETO OF RIGHT-TO-RACE BILL STALLS WISCONSIN’S ECONOMIC ENGINE

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 13, 2026) – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and its Performance Racing Industry (PRI) subsidiary issued the following statement following Gov. Tony Evers’ veto of AB 880:

Governor Tony Evers claims to have fond childhood memories growing up near a Wisconsin racetrack, but just vetoed AB 880, the Right-to-Race bill, just so his trial-lawyer buddies can keep suing tracks out of business.

Evers acted despite overwhelming support from lawmakers from across the state who know the value of small businesses and the cultural importance of motorsports. There was no registered opposition to this bill, and for good reason: motorsports matter.

Wisconsin’s racetracks foster an industry that is the soul of Wisconsin’s small, multi-generational business community and the engine of the state’s economic viability, including:

  • $2.46 billion in total economic impact
  • 10,601 jobs
  • $697.92 million in wages and benefits
  • $271.60 million in tax revenue.

Motorsports is an industry that has enlivened life in Wisconsin for nearly a century. Instead of protecting Wisconsin’s economy and network of family-owned dirt ovals, drag strips, and every motorsports facility in between, and instead of fostering American manufacturing, STEM education, and engineering innovation, Evers made it crystal clear whose side he’s on: lawyers and NIMBYs.

SEMA and PRI instead will continue to stand with the working families, racers, mechanics, concession workers, and fans who lose when tracks close. This race isn’t finished. In fact, our coalition is stronger than ever, and we’re just getting started.

BACKGROUND
AB 880, which was passed in the Wisconsin State Legislature with strong support in the Assembly and Senate, would protect long-standing racetracks from nuisance-based lawsuits brought by nearby property owners who moved into the area after the tracks were already established.
SEMA and PRI support “Right-to-Race” laws like AB 880 that protect legally compliant, long-standing tracks from nuisance claims. These protections ensure facilities that follow all laws and permits can operate without constant legal threats, preserving racing heritage, jobs, and revenue generated by motorsports.
The automotive aftermarket and motorsports industries annually contribute a combined $406 billion to the national economy, including $69 billion by the motorsports industry alone, and support millions of jobs nationwide. Lawmakers should champion commonsense policies to protect racetrack operations, prosperity, and longevity.
SEMA and PRI work with lawmakers, track operators, sanctioning bodies, and parts manufacturers to advance these protections through advocacy, coalition building, and grassroots engagement. Tracks have operated for decades and deserve stability. This commonsense legislation ensures facilities that predate neighbors are legally protected, preserving both urban and rural jobs, tourism, and community tradition.
Motorsports venues are vital to local economies, small businesses, tourism, and heritage. Still, many face lawsuits from neighbors who moved in after the track was established and seek to limit operations or shut down the venue entirely.

For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com or visit www.sema.org

Mike Beyersdoerfer Connected For 56 Years

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SHREVEPORT LA (04.12.26) Mike Beyersdoerfer retired on March 31, 2026, capping a 56 year career that included time spent in 4 industries… Consumer Electronics, Motorcycle, Automotive Aftermarket and RV. The 56 years included time beginning on the retail sales floor, retail manager, territory manager for Pioneer Electronics in the Ohio Valley, VP of Rex TV retail chain, field manager for Phillips consumer electronics in the Ohio Valley plus National Sales manager for TEAC America before his company BEI.

As President and Founder of BEI and Just In Time distributing Mike transitioned to marketing across the four industries. BEI served as a consultant, sales representative and brand manager during that time. BEI also participated in the launch of new companies like TOM TOM, CRUX Interfacing and directed companies into automotive channels of distribution.

Forefront in time spent during that 56 years was the personal connection that Mike established with people across those four industries.

12volt Central Studios staff members contacted a group of people that worked with Mike through those years and this article continues with some images and comments from those people and companies.

Each of the above companies thanked Mike for his ongoing support to provide information for the brands he represented and
trends across the 12volt industry.

Amp’d Up in the Ozarks Wraps Up it’s Third Annual Event

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Springfield, MO., April 11, 2026– The third annual Amp’d Up in the Ozarks Car Show, had a wonderful turnout this year for 2026, reinforcing its position as one of the premier automotive audio and lifestyle events in the Midwest. Held at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, the event brought together enthusiasts, industry leaders, and families for a full day of high energy demonstrations, cutting-edge technology, and community engagement.


The event’s continued success reflects the strength and passion of the car audio community throughout the region. Attendees traveled from across the Midwest to experience live demonstrations and explore custom builds. The atmosphere throughout the day was marked by high energy, strong engagement, and a shared enthusiasm for performance audio and automotive customization.

As the third year concludes, we are already looking ahead with optimism and ambition. The continued growth in attendance, vendor participation, and overall engagement signals a bright future for Amp’d Up, with plans to expand the show even further.


With a solid foundation now in place, plans are already underway to make next year’s event even bigger and better. Attendees can expect an even more immersive experience as Amp’d Up in the Ozarks continues to push the boundaries of what a modern car show can be.

Modus Announces Select New Amplifiers and Source Unit Now Shipping

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Additional Units Scheduled to Ship Q2 and Q3 2026

Oxnard, Calif., April 10, 2026 – Modus is proud to announce that select new amplifiers (PTA-1.1000; PTA-4.600) and source unit (AIM-10) are now shipping to authorized dealers.

The AIM-10 automotive 10.1-inch receiver (MSRP: $1,499) features a modular chassis design with an optional detachable button cluster, giving installers more flexibility when working with a variety of dash configurations.

“The AIM-10 solves a real problem that installers deal with every day: how to fit a large-format display in vehicles with tricky dash layouts,” said Matthew Delgado, Director of Sales. “Its display can be installed with or without the optional button cluster. Want physical controls? Attach them. Prefer a clean, touch-only look? Leave them off. The height-adjustable, rotatable, and pivoting screen mount gives you even more positioning options depending on the vehicle.”

Additional AIM-10 features include:

  • Single Din Chassis
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay
  • Wireless Android Auto
  • SXM Ready
  • iData Link Maestro Compatible
  • 8 RCA Pre-amp Outputs
  • TOSLINK Optical Output
  • 25W RMS x 4 Power Output
  • 8 Channel 5V RCA Pre-Amp Output
  • TOSLINK Digital Optical Output
  • Built-In DSP with 15-Band EQ, 8-CH Crossover Settings and Time Alignment
  • 2x USB-C 1xUSB-A
  • Four Camera Inputs

“The monoblock PTA-1.1000 (MSRP: $649.99) and 4-channel PTA-4.600 (MSRP: $549.99) Class D amplifiers are workhorses in a compact chassis design,” Delgado continued. “Highly efficient, plus they use Modus’ exclusive ACTEQ™ Audio Clipping & Thermal Equalization technology which continuously monitors and adjusts power delivery based on real-world conditions, making them the ideal, reliable amps for any installation.”

PTA-1.1000 and PTA-4.600 include an extruded aluminum heat sink, variable 24dB low pass filter, variable 12dB infrasonic filter, low level RCA and high level input 350 mV-32V, low level input 350mV – 5V, and high level input 5V – 32V.

Additional PTA-1.1000 features include:

  • 350W x 1 RMS @ 4Ω
  • 600W x 1 RMS @ 2Ω
  • 1000W x 1 RMS @ 1Ω

Additional PTA-4.600 features include:

  • 100W x 4 RMS @ 4Ω
  • 150W x 4 RMS @ 2Ω
  • 300W x 2 RMS @ 4Ω Bridged

Modus ACTEQ™ features also include:

  • Ultra-Precise Gain Control: Makes virtually inaudible 0.8dB per step gain adjustments through an intelligent feedback loop.
  • Zero Audio Compromise: Unlike traditional limiters, prevents clipping without compressing music or distorting waveforms
  • Active Investment Protection: Proactive clipping prevention protects speakers and amplifiers from damage before it occurs
  • Seamless Performance: Smooth transitions between vintage recordings and modern tracks without performance inconsistencies

Additional Modus marine models are also shipping now, with additional automotive and marine units scheduled to roll out throughout Q2 and Q3 2026.

For more information and product-specific features, please visit modusglobal.com or contact your authorized Modus dealer.

Prodigy Audio Announces Strategic Manufacturing Partnership with Proline X to Launch Premium USA-Made Loaded Subwoofer Enclosures

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TULLAHOMA, TN – April 10, 2026 – Prodigy Audio (www.prodigyaudio.com), a leader in high-performance mobile audio solutions, is proud to announce a new manufacturing partnership with Proline X Enclosures of Tullahoma, Tennessee (proline-x.com). This collaboration marks a significant milestone for both brands, bringing together Prodigy’s high-output drivers and Proline X’s world-class, American-made craftsmanship.

Through this partnership, Prodigy Audio will introduce a line of “preloaded” enclosures, featuring their most popular subwoofers mounted in cabinets engineered specifically to the drivers’ Thiele/Small (TS) parameters. By matching the internal airspace and port geometry to the exact specifications of the Prodigy drivers, the partnership ensures maximum efficiency, power handling, and acoustic accuracy.

“We are thrilled to partner with the experts at Proline X,” said Brett Barnes for Prodigy Audio. “By moving our enclosure manufacturing to their Tennessee facility, we are providing our customers with a truly ‘plug-and-play’ solution that doesn’t sacrifice quality. These aren’t just generic boxes; they are precision-tuned instruments made right here in the USA.”

The initial product rollout will include a versatile range of solutions designed to fit the most popular vehicle applications on the market:

  • 10-inch and 12-inch Ported Enclosures: Optimized for maximum output and deep low-frequency extension.

  • 10-inch and 12-inch Sealed Enclosures: Engineered for tight, accurate bass reproduction and space-saving footprints.

  • Specialty Shallow Down-Firing Enclosures: Specifically designed to fit under truck seats and in compact sedan trunks, utilizing Prodigy’s shallow-mount driver technology.

Proline X is renowned in the industry for using premium materials, including CNC-cut Langboard Elite MDF and advanced joinery techniques, ensuring that every enclosure can withstand the high-pressure environments created by Prodigy Audio’s robust driver lines.

The new preloaded enclosures will be available through authorized Prodigy Audio retailers and online starting this month. For more information on the new product line, visit www.prodigyaudio.com.

Jason Digos Promoted to Modus Senior Product Testing and Validation Manager

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Oxnard, Calif., April 10, 2026 – Modus is proud to announce that Jason Digos has been promoted to Senior Product Testing and Validation Manager. Previously, Digos was Senior Sales Trainer at Modus.

In his new role, Digos will lead a four-person team and oversee the development and rollout of a comprehensive testing and validation framework, ensuring every new audio product meets strict performance, reliability, and real-world use standards before launch.

“Jason has been an instrumental part in Modus’ development,” said Navid Farhand, Co-CEO at AVA Enterprises, Inc. “His leadership will help establish a structured, data-driven approach to product development, bridging engineering, product management, and field performance.”

Digos has been an aftermarket audio development, installation, fabrication, and sales, training, and marketing professional with a wealth of expertise for more than 30 years, working with some of the industry’s top brands.

“Modus has already taken the industry by storm, and with our technology-dominant products now shipping and ready for installation, I look forward to ensuring that Modus remains at the forefront of the industry,” said Digos.