OXNARD, CA (10.02.26) – DSP Solutions Inc. is proud to announce it will showcase Modus’ full marine product line and provide interactive technology demonstrations during the 2026 International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX), held Oct. 6-8 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. During the show, Modus will feature its largest display to date, more than 10x the size of its 2025 predecessor, in Showroom 3.

“Modus will make a major statement during IBEX, bringing our entire marine audio product lineup together in one location for the first time,” said Director of Sales, Rob Osheaski. “We will also be creating an immersive experience for boatbuilders, industry professionals, and marine audio enthusiasts with our massive new display so they can experience what Modus can do for the modern boating industry.”

During IBEX, Modus Marine will provide visitors an exclusive environment so that they may explore the company’s expanding product portfolio, experience its innovative technologies firsthand, and meet directly with the Modus team. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the company’s latest marine amplifiers, speakers, subwoofers, source units, infotainment systems, and advanced audio control technologies.

The expanded showroom will also highlight Modus’ capabilities in OEM audio system development, including custom engineering, DSP tuning, integrated infotainment, and complete audio system solutions designed specifically for boat manufacturers. “Our expanded exhibit reflects Modus Marine’s continued investment in marine audio technology and our commitment to supporting OEM boatbuilders with complete, integrated audio and infotainment solutions,” added Co-CEO, Navid Farhand.

Experience the Power of PREACT™ Technology “A centerpiece of the Modus exhibit will be an interactive boat display featuring two Mezzo MZA-8M eight-channel DSP amplifiers equipped with Modus’ patented PREACT™ current averaging technology,” explained Vice President of Marketing, Joz Wang. “Visitors will have the opportunity to experience a complete marine audio system while watching live demonstrations of amplifier current draw under real-world listening conditions.”

Unlike traditional amplifiers that require large amounts of instantaneous current from a boat’s electrical system, PREACT technology uses internal energy storage and intelligent current management to deliver powerful audio performance while limiting current demand on the vessel’s electrical system.

The Mezzo MZA-8M delivers up to 2,000 watts of total audio output while limiting maximum current draw to just 25 amps at 12 volts.

“The interactive demonstration will allow attendees to experience the system at various listening levels while observing live current consumption, providing a firsthand look at how Modus technology can reduce electrical system demands without sacrificing the listening experience,” Wang continued.

Daily Prize Giveaways for Demo Participants Attendees who visit Showroom 3 and participate in a live product demonstration will have the opportunity to enter the daily prize giveaways each day of the show. Demos will be occurring at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm daily with in-person giveaways including Modus products, swag, and more to conclude each demonstration. A grand-prize giveaway will also include an iPad Air with eligible entry for all demo attendees.

“Whether experiencing the Mezzo amplifier current draw demonstration, exploring the complete marine audio lineup, or learning about Modus’ latest technologies, visitors will have an opportunity to discover what sets the Modus approach to marine audio apart,” Osheaski concluded.

For more information about Modus products and partnership opportunities, request more information on the web at www.modusglobal.com.

KEARNEY, NE (09.30.26) – The Fuel Your Future SEMA Councils and Networks Regional Series event was a very positive success and exceeded expectations as the premier event. Friday and Saturday, September 25th & 26th were the dates.

“Norris Marshall-Blueprint Engines, Rich Butler and Kelle Oeste-V8 Speed & Resto and I planned this event to use as a prototype for SEMA Regional Networking & Education Event. We anticipate doing more of these across the country in 2027” Tim McCarthy, Founder/CEO of HushMat and ZyCoat stated. McCarthy is also on the SEMA Board of Directors and SEMA HRIA Council IPC.

This event was hosted by Blueprint Engines, in the company’s Kearney NE facility, and SEMA ARMO & HRIA Councils. There were over 80 attendees. The event started with a fantastic plant tour of Blueprint Engines on Friday afternoon and then a networking gathering at the local Kearney NE Automotive Museum. Visitors state this automotive museum features an extensive and varied collection of beautifully restored classic cars, including unique vehicles and rotating exhibits.

Saturday started promptly at 8AM with a vendor hour and then the first education session at 9Am put on by Jason Noel – CEO Fat Fender Garage in Phoenix AZ. Three more vendor hours and education sessions were held and sandwiched around an excellent Midwest USA BBQ lunch. The event wrapped up at 4PM.

“This event more than proved out the concept that we developed less than 45 days ago. The value of networking among peers in the industry cannot be underestimated. The feedback from those that participated was overwhelmingly positive. Stay tuned for more in 2027” McCarthy concluded.

AUBURN HILLS, MI (09.29.26) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc., steward of the iconic ALPINE aftermarket mobile electronics brand, today announced a strategic partnership with VOXX By Gentex Corporation, a leading provider of aftermarket vehicle technology, remote start systems, driver safety solutions, commercial and fleet technology, and vehicle entertainment products.

Under the agreement, VOXX will become ALPINE’s exclusive U.S. distributor effective January 1, 2027, leading U.S. market operations including sales, distribution, marketing, support, and service. VOXX and ALPINE will also collaborate on U.S. market-driven product planning, while ALPINE remains the brand owner and continues to lead product development and production management.

The partnership is designed to strengthen ALPINE’s position in the U.S. market, expand support for dealers and consumers, and provide a strong platform for future growth while preserving the innovation, performance, and premium brand heritage that have defined ALPINE for decades.

For more than 40 years, ALPINE has earned a reputation for delivering premium audio, multimedia, navigation, and vehicle integration solutions to automotive enthusiasts and consumers alike. Through this partnership, ALPINE will leverage VOXX’s extensive distribution network, aftermarket expertise, and dealer relationships to further enhance its market presence and customer support throughout the United States.

“This partnership represents an important milestone for the future of the ALPINE brand in the United States,” said Kunihiko Sato, Executive Director, Brand Business Unit, Alps Alpine North America, Inc. “VOXX has established a strong reputation for supporting premium automotive technology brands and maintaining deep relationships throughout the aftermarket industry. By combining ALPINE’s heritage of innovation and premium audio performance with VOXX’s sales, marketing, and distribution expertise, we are creating a stronger foundation for our dealers and customers while enhancing the overall ALPINE experience in the U.S. market.”

“ALPINE is an iconic brand with tremendous history and a loyal following,” said Aron Demers, Senior Vice President of VOXX. “Our goal is to honor everything that made this brand special while providing the investment, dealer support, marketing strength, and operational capabilities needed to accelerate its future growth in the United States.”

Together, ALPINE and VOXX are committed to delivering the premium products, technologies, and support that dealers and consumers expect while combining the strengths of both organizations to further enhance the ALPINE experience in the United States.

Visit alpine-usa.com and voxxintl.com for more.

CERRITOS, CA (09.28.26) – SoundSkins Global, a leading innovator in high-performance sound dampening and insulation solutions for the 12V and automotive industries, is proud to announce DAS Companies as a national distribution partner. Effective immediately, independent 12V retailers and installers across the country can order the full SoundSkins product line through DAS.

DAS Companies is a family owned distributor that has served the automotive aftermarket since 1981. From distribution centers in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania and Franklin, Kentucky, DAS supplies mobile electronics, vehicle security, integration, and accessory products to thousands of retail storefronts nationwide.

Adding SoundSkins gives DAS dealers a single source for the brand’s complete catalog: vehicle-specific pre-cut sound deadening kits, universal sound deadening and insulation materials like SoundSkins Pro, Classic, Heat Shield, Wavy Foam and more, and vehicle-specific and universal SoundSkins enclosures. Because each kit is pre-cut for an exact vehicle, shops can stock fast-moving applications, cut install time, and reduce material waste.

“DAS has the reach, the logistics, and the dealer relationships to put SoundSkins in front of thousands of shops that want a better sound deadening option,” said Dennis Garcia, COO at SoundSkins Global. “This partnership makes it simple for those retailers to buy the full line, including our SoundSkins enclosures, from a distributor they already trust.”

For more information about SoundSkins Global and its product lineup, visit www.soundskinsglobal.com.

OCEAN CITY, MD (09.28.26) – The E-Volution Expo and TEDx events were held at the Roland E Powell Convention Center in Ocean City MD September 19th and 20th. The events showcased electric vehicles, AI, robotics, smart homes, sustainability, health and wellness along with future focused solutions.

Jamie White and TEDx partners aligned the two groups for the dynamic event that concluded with a huge TESLA Light Show in the Convention Center parking lot Saturday night.

“We used the TEDx Butterfish Cove event to bring on the demographic we wanted at the E-Volution Expo event. The idea was to bring “like minded” people together. We had 19 speakers from around the world, the furthest speaker came from India. Speakers spoke about wellness, sustainability, smart home, EV lifestyle and AI robotics. The demographic TEDx brings to the table is the exact demographic that ALL businesses want…52% female, college educated with an income 100K plus per year. TEDx is the number one storytelling platform in the world” White related.

With the EV focus of the event there was a booth setup with 2 Tesla vehicles present to spotlight Alpine’s position with TESLA specific products at the event. Alpine was one of the sponsors in the EV lifestyle pillar. Alpine’s Dan Sparks, Roy Meyer and Colin Vargo were managing the Alpine booth. One of the TESLA demos was Chuck Ottati’s OPUS Marketing TESLA. Opus Marketing’ Team members Ottati, Todd Ess and Greg Boylan were on the front line.

White also enlisted the support of Audioworks of Delaware. Darren Thomas assembled a great selection Alpine Tesla products and other accessories under a large tent booth with the help of the OPUS Team members.

Darren Thomas commented “There was a lot of traffic at our booth and we showed people the Alpine TESLA specific products plus accessories and more. It was very positive for me to get a better idea of what upgrades TESLA owners are interested in for their rides.”

The 2-Day event wrapped with the TESLA Light Show that had a huge turn out in the convention center parking lot. They created the shape of a light bulb to look like the E-Volution Expo logo that was spotlighted in the amazing light show.

Seeing organizations along with vendors, reps and retailers working to connect with enthusiasts and consumers is very positive and encouraging for the 12volt industry.

LightShow courtesy of Simon Pollock

MONTICHIARI, ITALY (09.24.26) – The 2026 dB Drag Racing Euro Finals brought two days of intense car audio competition to Montichiari, Italy. Some of the loudest and largest builds were in the lanes at Centro Fiera del Garda, in conjunction with Festival dei Motori car show. For those unfamiliar with dB Drag Racing, it is a competition where competitors compete against one another with their car stereo systems.

Attendees traveled from across Europe to push their systems to the ultimate test in pursuit of being becoming the 2026 Euro Finals champion. With 78 entries across five formats of competition, the exhibit hall was jam packed with activity all weekend long.

And the scores were impressive. Team GZ Pezi Frank of Germany recorded the highest score of the weekend with an incredible 184.3 dB in the Extreme division of competition. Several World Records were also set during the event, making this year’s Euro Finals a memorable weekend for competitors, spectators and car audio enthusiasts.

2026 EURO FINALS CHAMPIONS

dB DRAG RACING

Street Stock 1K
Nemanja Veselinovic — North Macedonia

Pro Stock 2K
Team LW Audio Nymans — Sweden

Pro Stock 5K
Team Livin Loud – Pavel — Czech Republic

Pro Stock Wall 5K
Team Legend — Italy

Pro Stock NL
Team Raf — Italy

Super Street NW
dB Team Praskaton Rozy — Slovenia

Super Street 1-2
Team Koukakis Terra — Greece

Super Street 3-4
Team Ground Zero – Chris — Germany

Super Street 5+
Team Nikolaidis — Greece

Super Street X
Team Ground Zero Gregory — France

Extreme NL
Team GZ Pezi Frank — Germany

BASS RACE

120.0–129.9 dB
Riddler Autoshow Dvc — Italy

130.0–139.9 dB
Alessio Barrovecchio — Italy

140.0–149.9 dB
Team Performance – Gavras — Greece

150.0–159.9 dB
Team Ground Zero – Gregory — France

TOP DOG

Gabriele Boccolucci Hifi Car — Italy

PSYCHLONE

Demo No Wall
Squalo Autoshow Dvc — Italy

Demo Wall
Team Takers – Kingpin — USA

Demo Extreme
Team Ivo Pennacchi — Italy

FREESTYLE

1K NW
Nemanja Veselinovic — North Macedonia

5K NW
Team LW Audio Nymans — Sweden

5K Wall
Team Baudio Gasper — Slovenia

NL
Team Powermusic – Junior — Greece

NW
Giorgio Martelli — Italy

Wall
Cristian Gradassi

INTERNATIONAL JUDGES & STAFF

The Euro Finals brought together an international team of judges and staff representing several countries, adding experience from across the global dB Drag Racing community.

Yiannis Lekkas — Greece
Bine Zupan — Slovenia
Maxx Grassi — Italy
Ray Choy — Canada
Vlad Vana — Romania
Lorena — Italy
Alessandro Murabito — Italy
Feiyunn Choy — Canada
Wayne Harris — USA
Celise Harris — USA

A huge thank you to everyone who traveled to Montichiari and put in the time and effort required to run a Finals event. From judging to event operations and everything happening behind the scenes, the staff played a critical role in making the weekend happen.

THANK YOU TO THE 2026 EURO FINALS SPONSORS

The 2026 Euro Finals would not be possible without the companies that continue to support the competitors and the sport.

FOR-X
Ground Zero
B² Audio
GS Audio
Term-LAB
TRF Audio
DSZ Sound of Emotion

Thank you for supporting dB Drag Racing and the competitors who put their time, money and countless hours into their builds.

A special thank you also goes to Festival dei Motori and Centro Fiera del Garda for providing an outstanding facility and giving us the opportunity to bring the Euro Finals to Montichiari, Italy.

COMPLETE EVENT RESULTS:

https://www.termpro.com/asp/officialevent.asp?EventID=22258&Method=1

COSTA MESA, CA (09.23.26) – The Sand Sport Super Show 2026 by all accounts was a record setter with a wide range of products showcased in vendor booths and nonstop activity from enthusiast. KICKER had a very large presence at the SSSS and the Elite Car Stereo CHUG BUS was spotlighted in the large KICKER booth area.

The Elite Car Stereo CHUG BUS in reality was a traditional yellow school bus now with so many upgrades from body wrap to aftermarket upgrades in the interior and exterior that made the CHUG BUS and experience to remember. A large array of KICKER Car Audio products were placed inside, outside and underneath the CHUG BUS.

Elite CarStereo owner JT Pina has been working on the school bus project for 10 years. In the beginning, the school bus was a project of a friend who attended a lot of the events around the area and utilized it to take friends to concerts and events. Through the years that friend wanted to do all kinds of upgrades from sound to lighting and much more. Each year JT would be making upgrades that his friend was looking to make… more speakers, more amplifiers, more batteries and battery chargers that would allow the CHUG BUS rock for a full day.

A few years ago, JT actually acquired the bus from his friend and then the upgrades went into high gear and the school bus became the CHUG BUS that is utilized for store promotions including community parades and events along with store events.

Recently, KICKER’s Steve Irby was in the territory for meetings and making dealer stops. When Steve saw the CHUG BUS it was an instant decision to invite the CHUG BUS to be a part of the KICKER set up at the Sand Sport Super Show. The plan was set for that to happen.

JT related, “Once we set up on one side of the KICKER booth and when the gates opened the CHUG BUS was an instant magnet. People stopping at the KICKER booth to check out demos and the XRV migrated to the CHUG BUS. When families were walking through the area, their children all of a sudden started running to the CHUG BUS and were followed by their parents. Traffic inside the CHUG BUS was non-stop!”

The first two days of this week, following the SSSS event, our phones have been ringing off the hook and customers stopping at our store to make arrangements for system conversations we had at the event” JT concluded.

KICKER participates in many consumer events across the country that engage with enthusiast for car, bike, powersports and marine enthusiast. Over the next 10 years young people at this year‘s SSSS will be running into Elite Car Stereo in Redlands CA.

For more see kicker.com and elitecarstereo.com

SHREVEPORT, LA (09.22.26) – Our custom Whiskey Biz build that was on display at the SDI booth at the Sand Sports Super Show, was stolen from our semi trailer while it was headed home from the show.

What to look for: 2026 Polaris Ranger XD1500 with a chopped custom cage and custom paint

Where: Empty lot next to the Chevron station in Newberry Springs, CA

When: Early morning of Monday, 9/21, between roughly midnight and 8 AM while the driver was asleep in the cab.

This is a one-of-a-kind build, so it should be easy to spot. If you’ve seen it, or hear anything about it on the road, in the dunes, online, or anywhere else, please reach out.

Barstow Sheriff’s Department: (760) 256-4838
Or contact SuperATV or Whiskey Biz directly

Please SHARE this post far and wide. The UTV community looks out for each other, and every share gets us closer to bringing it home.

Shreveport office 800-699-0947

For more see hilifter.com

COSTA MESA, CA (09.21.26) – KICKER Performance Audio showcased multiple UTVs and vehicles at the world’s biggest sand show – the Sand Sports Super Show. The Orange County Fair & Event Center hosted the colossal event September 18-20 on the Center’s 150-acre grounds. KICKER’s display area was by the East entrance of the event grounds, anchored by the KICKER XRV and its Boom Room, which blasted 40,000 watts of epic sound all weekend long.

The Sand Sports Super Show opened to the public Friday afternoon, and all was set in the expansive KICKER booth that stretched more than a football field. Enthusiasts stopped throughout the weekend to check out a wide selection of vehicles available for live demos.

Lorin Morrell rolled in from Lake Havasu with the KICKER pickup and trailer. “There is nothing that compares to the Sand Sports Super Show to showcase the latest for UTV enthusiasts. From aftermarket mobile electronics upgrades, to lift kits, to wheels, to graphics… it’s all here. Once again this year KICKER led the pack with audio upgrades and eye appeal” Morrell relayed.

Jeremy Wynn, KICKER Events & Promotions Manager, added, “It was another great year at the Sand Sports Super Show. Traffic in the booth was up from previous years, which resulted in a lot of good consumer interactions. The temp was in the 70s, making the show days very enjoyable under a blue sky. Overall, it was truly a great event as we continue to grow the KICKER brand in the Powersports community.”

For more information, visit kicker.com and sandsportssupershow.com.

FLOWER MOUND, TX (09.18.26) – SSR Distributors and DOW Technologies teamed up for a successful Compustar dealer training event Wednesday evening at the Firstech facility in Flower Mound TX drawing more than 70 dealers for an evening of education, product knowledge, and industry networking. Dealers came from as far away as Houston and Austin.

The joint training came together through Tracy Farr, VP of Sales and Operations for SSR Distributors, and Justin Roberts, Territory Manager for DOW Technologies. Both companies are members of the Elite Distributor Alliance (EDA). Farr and Roberts saw an opportunity to partner to provide dealers with valuable training and direct access to the Compustar team.

The event was held inside Firstech’s impressive 61,000-square-foot facility, which features the latest technology supporting research and development, new-product planning, technical support, and customer service operations.

Leading the evening’s training was Josh Woodie, Firstech’s head training manager, who oversees a team of approximately 10 technical staff members. Dealers remained highly engaged throughout the presentation, asking numerous questions and discussing real-world applications they could take back to their businesses.
“The goal was for every dealer in the room to walk away having learned something new that they could take back to their store and apply—whether that’s with the consumer, on the sales floor, or in the installation bay” said Farr. “Based on the engagement and the number of questions throughout the evening, I believe we accomplished the goals.”

Also in attendance was Jimmy Bradfield of Momentum Marketing, the area manufacturer’s representative, along with Justin Roberts and Taylor from DOW Technologies. Representing SSR Distributors were Tracy Farr, Rostom, Arturo, and Mike.

The evening concluded with numerous prize giveaways and every attendee left with a Firstech hat.
For SSR and DOW, the turnout demonstrated what can be accomplished when two EDA distributors work together to support and educate their dealer base.

“This was truly a joint effort between DOW and SSR,” Farr added. “We’re both EDA members, we’re both committed to supporting our dealers and partnering on an event like this simply made sense. More than 70 dealers showed up ready to learn and the night went off without a hitch. There is power in numbers.”

The successful Flower Mound event reinforced the companies’ shared commitment to dealer education, technical training and continued investment in the 12-volt industry.

For more see ssrdistributors.com and dowtechnologoes.com