NASHVILLE, TN (07.31.26) – Wednesday, July 29th, Alex Restrepo and the House of Sound team of 4 rolled out of Houston on the way to Nashville to extend the company’s Slingshot Experiences. House of Sound has been driving Slingshot Experiences in Houston for several years and recently have taken their activities on the road… most recently in Maggie‘s Valley North Carolina and the Fairgrounds in Toledo OH. Team members with Alex are Edwin Watson, Eber Flores and Walter Tobar.
The House of Sound crew had their tents set up on Thursday.
This stop is the SLINGFEST NASHVILLE 2026 hosted by Sloan’s Motorcycle-ATV at the Nashville Fairgrounds July 30 -August 2nd.
“We arrived in Nashville very early Thursday after the 780 mile trip. The trailer is packed with tents, inventory and Slingshot specific installation products for installations on site. We will be ready to make Slingshots shine and sound great. We are already making installations and discussing the upgrades that enthusiasts would like to do to their Slingshots with audio systems, custom LED lighting and accents, custom pods and customization with amps along with DSP tuning on site for their Slingshots” Restrepo related.
Lighting and accessories were spotlighted for enthusiast to check out.
E-bikes are also in the booth available for sale.
Continuing, Alex said “For Nashville we brought some E-bikes to sell. At these events the venues are so large attendees will buy an E-bike to ride around the parks and then enjoy it at home.”
On Thursday through Sunday Slingshot enthusiasts will continue to check out activities and have the House of Sound crew make installations on their Polaris Slingshots. The crew will pack the trailer early on Monday and start the 780 miles back to Houston. All told, there and back, the House of Sound crew will spend over a day on the highway.
Big jobs underway early.
Lots of upgrades on this Slingshot already.
“More and more Slingshot enthusiasts are upgrading their rides with aftermarket upgrades and we are looking for a great year as we drive business with our Slingshot experiences” Restrepo concluded.
This Slingshot will rock with audio upgrades also!
WASHINGTON, DC (07.31.26) – Driving Force Action is endorsing Tom Tiffany for governor of Wisconsin, the SuperPAC’s first endorsement of the 2026 election cycle. The endorsement is reflective of Tiffany’s impressive track record as a champion of the automotive and motorsports industries, along with his unwavering belief in American manufacturing, especially that borne of Wisconsin.
“Driving Force Action seeks candidates who cherish our individual freedoms, recognize the immense economic value of the automotive aftermarket industry, and understand the importance of our nation’s automotive heritage. That’s Tom Tiffany. and we’re proud to endorse his candidacy for Wisconsin governor,” said Lauren Wilbor, Driving Force Action’s national spokesperson.
Driving Force Action is a project of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) to mobilize the nation’s automotive aftermarket industry and the 70 million U.S. automotive enthusiasts in the 2026 midterm election. Candidate endorsements are based on voting records, public statements, and responses to a candidate questionnaire. Driving Force Action’s evaluations do not focus on party affiliation, but rather candidates’ efforts to:
• Strengthen American automotive manufacturing and domestic supply chains • Expand opportunities in the skilled trades • Protect local motorsports facilities and off-road access • Reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens that hinder small businesses’ ability to thrive
LIBERTYVILLE, IL (07.31.26) – ALL-NEW BRUTUS BRL amplifiers push amplifier technology and audio performance into LOUDER dimensions of powerful playback. With innovative amplification performance and a modern chassis footprint, BRUTUS BRL was engineered to maximize power efficiency while making clean output to drive subwoofers and speakers to their full potential in sound quality.
Every BRUTUS BRL amplifier is innovated with a built-in VU Meter and Intelligent Power Management System — while Ultra-Fi MOSFETS are designed for high output power and thermal dissipation through a proprietary coupling method.
In addition, BRL amplifiers feature a Class-D chipset, making them more efficient and allowing for a wide frequency range overall. Dominate the audio game with BRL PERFORMANCE.
STOCKTON, CA (07.30.26) – A rep firm website that works like a dealer tool, not a brochure
Reliable Product Marketing (RPM), the manufacturers’ rep firm covering Northern California and Northern Nevada, has launched a fully rebuilt norcalrep.com. The site moves well beyond the standard rep firm line card, packing interactive system configurators, DSP education tools, and dealer sales resources into a single destination built around one goal: taking dealers to the next level of profitability with information and tools.
What dealers will find
The site is organized around how a retail store actually works. Sales staff get configurators and product knowledge they can use mid-conversation with a customer. Installers get technical tools covering time alignment, crossover behavior, and OEM integration signal analysis. Owners get stocking guidance, margin-focused programs, and the documentation that makes carrying a new line less of a leap.
On the site at a glance
System Configurators. Guided build tools that walk a salesperson or installer through amplifier, DSP, and speaker pairings across the RPM brand portfolio, producing a coherent system spec instead of a parts list.
DSP and tuning education. Interactive tools covering time alignment, crossover modeling, and OEM signal analysis, built so a dealer can learn the concept and apply it on the bench the same day.
Learn RPM. Technical reference material, white papers, and product training that go deeper than a spec sheet, written for the counter and the install bay.
Dealer Tools. Sales support resources, margin-minded stock programs, and dealer-facing documents designed to shorten the path from customer conversation to closed ticket.
Brand coverage. Focal, ARC Audio, Gladen, Mosconi, Musway, Wet Sounds, Compustar, Momento, iDatalink Maestro, mObridge, Lucas, and Drone, all under one roof for Northern California and Northern Nevada.
Why we built it
RPM’s position is that a rep firm should make markets with its dealers, not just call on them. With roughly 30 years in the 12-volt industry, including years behind the counter and in the install bay as a retailer, principal Scott Baughman built norcalrep.com to put rep-level product knowledge in dealer hands around the clock, not just when the rep is in the store.
“A line card tells a dealer what we carry. This site shows them how to sell it, how to install it, and how to make money with it. That is the job.” – Scott Baughman, Reliable Product Marketing
The full set of configurators, dealer tools, and training resources is available now at www.norcalrep.com.
NEW YORK – July 29, 2026 – SiriusXM has announced SiriusXM Sports Pass, a new subscription plan built for sports fans whose season never ends. SiriusXM Sports Pass will keep fans connected to the teams, hometown voices and sports conversations they love by bringing together SiriusXM’s unmatched sports audio lineup into one low-priced subscription. Listeners will get every live game and event SiriusXM carries, along with local sports talk, exclusive sports channels, national sports voices, expert analysis and podcasts.
Launching September 1, as the college and NFL football seasons get underway, SiriusXM Sports Pass will be available to new subscribers in the U.S. for only $5 per month, or $49 for the year. SiriusXM’s full sports programming lineup will also continue to be available in our most popular subscription plans, including Platinum, All-Access and Music and Entertainment. This will include the recently announced 23 local Audacy sports stations, including WFAN in New York, as well as the addition of ESPN LA 710, all joining the SiriusXM lineup on September 1.
Sports remains one of SiriusXM’s strongest competitive advantages and an increasingly important driver of engagement, with more subscribers tuning in to sports than ever before. The average U.S. sports fan spends six hours and 26 minutes a day listening to audio – over two hours more than the average American[1]. SiriusXM Sports Pass is built for that always-on fan, bringing live games and the daily sports conversation together in one place, wherever they listen.
“Every new channel, artist performance, live event, and creator collaboration advances our vision for the future of audio: making SiriusXM a home for fandom, where listeners can go deeper into the things they love and feel part of a lasting community,” said Jennifer Witz, Chief Executive Officer, SiriusXM. “SiriusXM Sports Pass brings that vision to life for sports fans by putting every game and event we carry, hometown voices, national personalities and the daily sports conversation into one simple, affordable subscription. No matter who you cheer for or where you listen, it brings you closer to the teams and voices that matter most to you.”
SiriusXM Sports Pass will feature hundreds of channels and podcasts between the in-car and SiriusXM app experience, including:
Live Game and Event Broadcasts
Every home and away NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL game broadcast; every NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula 1 race; PGA TOUR events and golf’s major championships; WWE Premium Live Events including WrestleMania; soccer matches from the U.S. and abroad; tennis; college football, basketball, baseball, softball, hockey and lacrosse; and more.
Exclusive SiriusXM Sports Channels
Mad Dog Sports Radio
SiriusXM NFL Radio
MLB Network Radio
SiriusXM NBA Radio
NHL Network Radio
SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation
F1 on SiriusXM
SiriusXM College Sports Radio
SiriusXM ACC Radio
SiriusXM Big Ten Radio
SiriusXM SEC Radio
SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio
SiriusXM FC
WWE Radio
SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio
National Sports Media Brands
ESPN Radio
ESPN Xtra
ESPN Podcasts
Fox Sports on SiriusXM
NBC Sports Radio
Westwood One Sports
VSiN
Local Sports Stations
WFAN (New York)
ESPN LA 710 (Los Angeles)
97.1 The Fan (Los Angeles)
104.3 The Score (Chicago)
95.7 The Game (San Francisco)
105.3 The Fan (Dallas)
95.7 The Fan (Houston)
92.9 The Game (Atlanta)
106.7 The Fan (Washington, D.C.)
The Team 980 (Washington, D.C.)
SportsRadio 94WIP (Philadelphia)
WEEI 93.7 (Boston)
104.3 WQAM (Miami)
97.1 The Ticket (Detroit)
97.3 The Fan (San Diego)
105.1 The Fan (Portland)
105.7 The Fan (Baltimore)
ESPN 1320 (Sacramento)
93.7 The Fan (Pittsburgh)
96.5 The Fan (Kansas City)
92.3 The Fan (Cleveland)
105.7 The Fan (Milwaukee)
92.9 ESPN (Memphis)
WGR 550 Sports Radio (Buffalo)
While listeners will get access to every live game and event broadcast both in their car and on the SiriusXM app, certain channels – including some local sports stations and team-specific play-by-play channels – will only be available via the app and in vehicles with SiriusXM with 360L radios.
For more information on SiriusXM’s extensive sports programming, please visit www.siriusxm.com/sports
LIBERTYVILLE, IL (07.30.26) – Hear the difference in your audio game with an upgraded speaker soundstage through COLOSSUS Classic speaker innovation. COLOSSUS Classic speakers bring out deeper details of playback while keeping the core of high-quality sound – undistorted gains throughout your music.
A lightweight blue woven fiber cone enables every COLOSSUS Classic speaker to have a fast, midrange response, for a cleaner and more precise soundstage of listening.
Delivering highs that are more defined and consistent midsthroughout every song, your music will feel new and fresh through COLOSSUS Classic technology.
HOUSTON, TX (07.29.26) – Tuesday, July 28th, Alex Restrepo and the House of Sound team of 4 rolled out of Houston on the way to Nashville to extend the company’s Slingshot Experiences. House of Sound has been driving Slingshot Experiences in Houston for several years and recently have taken their activities on the road… most recently in Maggie‘s Valley North Carolina and the Fairgrounds in Toledo OH. Team members with Alex are Edwin Watson, Eber Flores and Walter Tobar.
The House of Sound crew heading to Nashville.
This stop will be at the SLINGFEST NASHVILLE 2026 hosted by Sloan’s Motorcycle-ATV at the Nashville Fairgrounds July 30 -August 2nd. Reflecting from behind the wheel on the 780 mile 2-Day drive Alex related “We packed the trailer with tents, inventory and Slingshot specific installation products for installations on site. Once we get there we will set everything up and be ready for Thursday. We will be ready to make Slingshots shine and sound great. Slingshot enthusiasts will arrive and we will discuss the upgrades that they would like to do to their Slingshots with audio systems, custom LED lighting and accents, custom pods and customization with amps along with DSP tuning on site for their Slingshots.”
Rudy rolled out gear from the warehouse to load on the trailer on Tuesday.
The trailer is packed with accessories for installations.
On Thursday through Sunday Slingshot enthusiasts will continue to check out activities and have the House of Sound crew make installations on their Polaris Slingshots. The crew will pack the trailer early on Monday and start the 780 miles back to Houston. All told, rhere and back, the House of Sound crew will spend almost a day and a half on the highway.
“More and more Slingshot enthusiasts are upgrading their rides with aftermarket upgrades and we are looking for a great year as we drive business with our Slingshot experiences” Restrepo concluded.
QUEENS, NY (07.29.26) – For municipal fleet managers, upgrading safety lighting isn’t just about choosing the right solution—it’s about keeping vehicles on the road, minimizing labor costs, and reducing downtime.
When you’re responsible for dozens of trucks, every installation hour matters.
That’s why more fleet professionals are choosing ZWAGZ.
Equipping your municipal fleet with safety lighting doesn’t have to take days.
At the Government Fleet Expo (GFX), we showcased a 2025 Ford F-350, equipped with ZWAGZ, installed by Audiolab for the owner of a construction company.
The truck is used every day to tow trailers, transport equipment, and perform roadside work. The owner wanted a safety lighting solution that looked factory-installed, could be activated whenever needed, and didn’t require permanent modifications to the vehicle.
After installing ZWAGZ, Audiolab Owner, Sam Cervantes, had this to say:
“It’s a 20-minute install. He loved that nothing got cut and everything could go back to the original.”
That means no drilling, no cutting factory wiring, and no bulky aftermarket lighting—just a clean installation using the vehicle’s existing OEM lights.
Why Municipal Fleets Are Choosing ZWAGZ Whether you’re equipping 20 vehicles or 200, ZWAGZ helps simplify fleet upgrades while reducing installation time and long-term maintenance.
With ZWAGZ, your fleet benefits from:
Fast installation
No drilling into OEM headlights or taillights
No wire cutting
Uses the vehicle’s existing OEM lighting
Multiple selectable flash patterns for increased visibility
Clean, concealed factory appearance
Reduced labor costs and vehicle downtime
Lower maintenance than traditional aftermarket lighting systems
Easy purchasing with a P-card, helping avoid the RFP process and other administrative hurdles
Built for Fleets That Can’t Afford Downtime
The same features that made ZWAGZ the right solution for this hardworking F-350 make it an ideal choice for municipalities, public works departments, utilities, and other fleet operations.
When every hour in the shop means one less vehicle on the road, faster installation can have a significant impact across your entire fleet.
If you’re planning your next fleet upgrade, we’d love to show you how ZWAGZ can help.
SASKATOON, SK (07.29.26) – Firstech Canada is proud to announce its appointment as the Master Distributor for ELAC premium home audio products across Canada. The partnership marks another important milestone in the continued expansion of Firstech Canada’s Residential and Commercial division, bringing one of the industry’s most respected audio brands to dealers and integrators nationwide.
As Master Distributor, Firstech Canada will provide Canadian dealers with broad access to ELAC’s award-winning lineup of speakers, subwoofers, and high-performance audio solutions, backed by comprehensive inventory, technical expertise, sales support. As ELAC celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, the company stands as one of the world’s most respected names in premium audio. Founded in Germany in 1926, ELAC has spent a century advancing loudspeaker technology through precision engineering, industry-leading innovation, and uncompromising craftsmanship. From pioneering breakthroughs in transducer design to today’s award-winning home audio systems, ELAC has earned the trust of audiophiles, custom integrators, and music enthusiasts around the world. Whether it’s a dedicated two-channel listening room or an immersive home theatre, ELAC products deliver the exceptional performance, reliability, and value that today’s dealers and their customer’s demand.
“Becoming ELAC’s Master Distributor in Canada is much more than adding another premium brand to our portfolio, it’s a long-term commitment,” said Phil Maczuga, Director of Brands and Supply Chain at Firstech Canada. “We’ve made a significant investment in inventory to ensure our dealers have the products they need, when they need them, backed by the level of service and availability they expect from Firstech Canada. Combined with a strategic channel management approach focused on supporting authorized partners, driving sustainable growth, and protecting the value of the ELAC brand, we’re excited to build on ELAC’s outstanding reputation for performance, quality, and innovation across the Canadian market.”
The new partnership reinforces Firstech Canada’s commitment to offering premium Residential and Commercial solutions that meet the evolving needs of custom integrators, retailers, and installation professionals throughout Canada.
“ELAC has always been committed to delivering exceptional audio experiences through products that combine innovative engineering with outstanding performance,” said Joe Riggi, President, ELAC Americas Inc. “Appointing Firstech Canada as our Master Distributor reflects our confidence in their ability to represent the ELAC brand and provide the level of support, inventory, and market expertise our Canadian dealers expect. We’re excited to work together to grow the brand and make ELAC’s premium audio solutions more accessible across Canada.”
ELAC products are available immediately through Firstech Canada’s network of authorized dealers and integration partners across Canada.
Explore ELAC at Firstech Canada
Canadian dealers can now browse and order the complete lineup of ELAC premium audio products through Firstech Canada.
Interested in carrying ELAC and Firstech Canada’s complete portfolio of leading technology brands? Apply today to become an authorized Firstech Canada dealer.
Join Firstech Canada and Chris Walker VP of Product Development at ELAC for an upcoming webinar introducing the ELAC product lineup, including product highlights, application opportunities, and sales insights.
SANFORD, ME (07.28.26) – “This year’s Show N’ Shine was the sixth at our new location and the weather was terrific….72 and clear. We were packed and had 225 cars registered….up from 160. We had to open an hour to let everyone in. It seemed almost every square foot of our property was filled with Show N’ Shine cars and activities. Vehicles and tents even lined the ground along Highway 4 in both directions” owner Jack Bogard related.
Alongside of the building, enthusiast stretched for almost a football field.
A portion of the crowd out front at Sanford Sound.
Out front, Christine and Jack are flanked by vendor members at the event. (L/R) Ben Rodnick from Alpine, Chad Boone from Memphis, Christine, Jack, Matt Herald from KENWOOD and Jacob Gromovsky from SONY.
Continuing “Saturday the Sanford Sound Team spent the day getting everything ready for the Show N’ Shine. On site we had Jacob from SONY, Chad from Memphis, Ben from Alpine and Rockford plus Matt from Kenwood. Local business owners said they had never seen Route 4 so busy on Sunday” Bogard offered.
“Nearly 20 area businesses were on site showing their products that 12volt enthusiasts could utilize. Vehicle restoration, lift modifications, stickers and more were offered. Food trucks were on site. We also had several clubs attend the Show N’ Shine in big numbers. Plus we had a number of cars with out of state license plates… including Connecticut, Vermont, New York and Rhode Island” Bogard added.
Memphis Audio had a big booth set up out front.
Local vendors were set up to show their products to enthusiasts.
Jack and his wife Christine(center) are pictured with daughters Ashley and Alissa
Bogard concluded “A really big thing for us at a Sanford Sound Show N’ Shine event is seeing all the happy, smiling faces. Members of the crowd were showing their rides and checking out other’s rides.The level of customization of the vehicles in the show this year was amazing. Long term this will lead to residual business for us at Sanford Sound. A huge shout out to all, especially family and staff who participated in, and contributed to, the very successful 30th Annual Sanford Sound Show N’ Shine. Sanford Sound Team members on site included Jason, Adam, Bill, Justin, Connor, Cullen, Steve, Indigo, Jesse, Alissa, Nakia, Stefanie andTonya along with Christine and myself.”
The Sanford Sound crew wrapped the day with delicious with a delicious dinner catered by Beckers Barbecue. Beckers Barbecue food truck was also on site during the day.
The Stanford Sound events are terrific for early enthusiast.
Sanford, ME is a town of just over 20,000. Sanford Sound is a responsible business member of the community and hires local police to be on site to help with the increased traffic for the event which packed Route 4 on Sunday afternoon.
12VoltNews.com 