Industry

Introducing Cicada Audio, a New Company for High-End Motorcycle Audio

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PHOENIX, AZ (06.17.2021) – Larry Frederick, company Founder and President, has assembled a talented team with over 40 years of design, manufacturing, and marketing experience in 12-volt audio to develop a uniquely crafted range of “Plug-n-Play” motorcycle audio amps, speakers, processors, and harnesses exclusively for Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Larry commented, “It is time for a High-End and more FOCUSED approach to motorcycle audio.”  Larry comments “Today’s motorcycle audio is like car audio circa 1990… growing, and needing nurturing, technical knowledge, training, and custom solutions.”  Larry continues “At the same time, Harley Davidson audio is creating a lot of FUN and these guys are Crazy! and I like it!!!”

Larry Frederick showing two new Cicada Audio products in his Phoenix facility.

Cicada Audio was founded on a set of core values:

  • Partner with like-minded professionals who share a passion for engineering, manufacturing, installing and enjoying great motorcycle audio.
  • Dedicate the time needed (and man power) to develop the right product for the end user, done in the right way with an eye on quality and performance.
  • Consider the physics and limitations of the motorcycle; make audio products that are designed to perform and work in that environment.
  • Tool and manufacture our own product using high quality parts and innovative designs, not outsourced or off-the-shelf products in which you have no control of the process.
  • Possess the technical knowledge to help the dealer and consumer get the most out of their Cicada-branded audio system.
  • If it cannot be done well, do not do it, only the BEST will do for a Cicada Audio System!

Cicada is introducing the following products:

Amplifiers with DSP built-in

  • DSP125.4 – 4 X 90 WRMS @ 4 ohm / 4 X 150 WRMS 2 ohm
  • DSP250.2 – 2 X 150 WRMS @ 4 ohm / 2 X 250 @ 2 ohm

Standard Amplifiers

  • CX125.4 – 4 X 90 WRMS @ 4 ohm / 4 X 150 WRMS 2 ohm
  • CX250.2 – 2 X 150 WRMS @ 4 ohm / 2 X 250 @ 2 ohm

CoAx Horns – CH Series

  • 6.5 inch / 6 X 9 Inch / 8 inch NEO Coax Horns – 2 inch VC and 1.4 Inch Ring Radiator
  • 4 ohm and 2 ohm version

Coax Speakers – CX Series

  • Waterproof 6.5 inch and 6 X 9 inch shallow Coax (Aluminum dome tweeter)
  • 4 ohm and 2 ohm version

DSP Processor –  DSP88

  • 8in/8 out DSP processor, small and BT controlled setup

Pro MidBass Drivers – CM Series

  • 6.5 inch / 6 X 9 Inch / 8 inch NEO MidBass – 2 inch VC

Ring Radiators – RR

  • 2 Ring Radiator (horn) tweeters, both shallow with one super shallow with built in grill

Accessories/Harnesses

  • 8 and 4 gauge power kits,
  • TSLink harness for HD,
  • Loaded harness input with Molex
  • Speaker output with Molex. 

All built to interface with HD directly -Plug & Play!. 

“I have been berry berry busy over the last 9 months,” commented Larry. “It is easier to just go to the website and see everything.”

Phone: 1-480-887-8699

Email: larryf@cicadaaudio.com

Website: www.cicadaaudio.com

Lucas Lighting Announces Kevin O’Donnell Has Joined the Company as Technical Support and Training Manager

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ITASCA, IL (06.17.2021) – Lucas Lighting has announced the addition of Kevin O’Donnell to their staff as the new Technical Support and Training Manager. O’Donnell is a 20-year veteran of the mobile electronics industry, having worked for a large chain, regional specialist, adding new skills by graduating from Mobile Dynamics in 2007 and then opening his own retail business in 2009.

“Kevin brings a tremendous amount of knowledge with him to Lucas Lighting. I’ve worked with him in various capacities over the last 18 years, and have always respected his troubleshooting abilities, patience and determination to find solutions.” says Steve Rogers, National Sales Manager.

“I am extremely honored and excited to be a part of the Lucas Lighting family and want everyone to feel confident installing and selling LED lighting. Having embraced the lighting category in my retail operation, I have learned a tremendous amount of information on lighting application on modern vehicles. I am here to share my knowledge and assist in any way I can to help installation go as smoothly as possible!” says O’Donnell.

Kevin can be reached at support@lucas-lighting.com, or Lucas Lighting Facebook and Instagram pages. Visit www.lucas-lighting.com for more info.

Firstech Unveils New “KP2” Keyless Touchpad Accessory for Remote Start

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SEATTLE, WA (06.16.2021) – Firstech, the maker of Compustar and DroneMobile connected car solutions, has announced that it will begin shipping the KP2 Keyless Touchpad (FT-KP2) in July 2021. KP2 is a windshield-mounted touchpad that gives drivers the ability to lock, unlock, and share their vehicles without the use of a key, remote, or smartphone.

In daily use, the KP2 Touchpad functions as a convenient replacement for car keys for unlocking and locking the doors. To lock/arm the vehicle’s doors, the driver simply needs to hold the “Lock” button on the KP2. When the driver is ready to hit the road, they can unlock the doors by entering their 4-6 digit PIN code onto the windshield mounted touchpad. The KP2’s upgraded capacitive touch sensors respond quickly for drivers who are on the go.

Click here to view a product video

KP2 now supports two separate PIN codes, one reserved for the vehicle owner (“Master PIN”) and one reserved for shared drivers (“Guest PIN”). The Guest PIN code is time-sensitive and will expire on the time/date appointed by the vehicle owner via the DroneMobile smartphone app. In order to enable Guest PIN codes, the KP2 must be installed with a KL1 KeyLocker, which Firstech released in Spring 2020.

Guest PIN codes make the KP2 an ideal solution for car sharing situations. Whether a vehicle owner is hosting out-of-town guests or using car-sharing services such as Turo or Getaround, he/she could share PIN codes with other drivers without revealing his/her own Master PIN code. The KP2 will eventually be included with every Drone KL1 KeyLocker, giving car sharers an all-in-one vehicle and key management solution.

Installation of the KP2 Keyless Touchpad is simple, requiring only a single connection to a compatible Firstech remote starter, alarm, or KeyLocker. As usual, Firstech offers an array of programming methods via desktop, smartphone, or Firstech’s proprietary “OP-500” option programmer.

KP2 is Firstech’s fourth touchpad release. Previous models include the KP1 and the RPS TOUCH, one of Firstech’s best-selling accessories over the past ten years. In comparison to previous models, the KP2 features a new “OEM”-style interface, unbranded design, and two additional digits for code programming. Internally, the KP2 boasts significant upgrades to its memory and processor, improving the speed, responsiveness and reliability of the touchpad.

As a standalone accessory, KP2 will start at $49.99 MSRP.

KL1 KeyLocker systems bundled with the KP2 will retail at $199.99 MSRP. If you are interested in learning more about the KP2 Keyless Touchpad, visit www.myfirstech.com or email Firstech’s sales team at orders@myfirstech.com.

Magnadyne Intros MA-CAM3 Single Camera to 3 Camera Switching Solution

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COMPTON, CA (06.16.2021) – Magnadyne Corporation, Compton CA is excited to announce the release of the MA-CAM3 single camera to 3 camera switching solution for single camera compatible aftermarket radios. The MA-CAM3 converts any aftermarket radio that supports a backup camera to control left, right and rearview cameras. No need to overpay for this feature as the MA-CAM3 retails for only 59.99.

“The MA-CAM3 is the perfect solution for those wanting to eliminate left and right blind spots when their current radio only supports a rearview camera. It is an easy install and works with any aftermarket brand radio with rearview camera support. It is a perfect solution for utility trucks and RV’s that need to replace the radio and maintain 3 cameras.” Mark Hockett – VP

“I was inspired to create the MA-CAM3 while working with our high end M11 RV radio that supports 3 cameras and decided there must be a way to provided that feature to others” Mark Jones – (Tech & Sales Support)

The MA-CAM3 enables any brand aftermarket radio with rearview camera support to operate 3 cameras. The right and left cameras are triggered by turn signal input and the rear camera is triggered by the reverse light power lead. The installation is very quick and if the current cameras are Magnadyne, then the existing radio camera harness just plugs in. But no problem if the cameras are from another manufacturer, just use the supplied RCA adapters and wire as necessary.

The MA-CAM3 does not support audio as most aftermarket radios do not have this option. With the availability of the MA-CAM3 at only $59.99, numerous solutions have opened up for RV and utility vehicle headunit replacement.

Visit www.magnadyne.com for more.

Oracle Lighting Announces 2021 Ford Bronco Sport ColorSHIFT Headlight Upgrade

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METAIRIE, LA (06.15.2021) – Oracle Lighting is proud to announce the launch of the new ColorSHIFT RGB+W Headlight DRL Upgrade for the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. With an MSRP of $249.95, the new kit is now available and fits Ford Bronco Sport First Edition, Base, Outer Banks, Big Bend, and Badlands.

“Featuring our high-performance RGB+W chips, this kit allows you to use the existing DRL feature on your Ford Bronco LED Headlights and easily convert it to color-changing DRLs while maintaining a true white DRL function,” explained Justin Hartenstein, Oracle Lighting director of product development. “Upgrade your lights to any color imaginable and instantly switch over to a crisp white OEM DRL color. These 2021 Ford Bronco Sport ColorSHIFT RGB+W DRL boards can make hundreds of different colors, dozens of patterns, control the brightness, and even the speed of the functions using one of our ColorSHIFT controllers.”

Click here to visit the product page.

Features and specifications include:

  • Bright output with less power consumption
  • Fits models with the factory LED DRL option
  • Kit includes
  • ColorSHIFT RGB+W DRL PCBs for driver and passenger side headlights
  • constant current LED driver hubs with DRL trigger wire
  • heavy-duty IP67 wiring adapters
  • 1-year warranty
Ford Bronco

Headlight disassembly is required, so Oracle Lighting recommends professional installation with Oracle Lighting’s premium silicone sealant. White and amber are considered on-road legal colors…other colors not intended for on-road use so please verify all state and local driving laws.

“Give your Bronco an attitude adjustment and stand out from the crowd with the new ColorSHIFT RGB+W DRL kit from Oracle Lighting!” Hartenstein concluded.

Louisiana-based Oracle Lighting has been designing innovative lighting products and technologies for the automotive/12Volt, powersports, motorcycle, and marine markets since 1999. Oracle’s philosophy is this: in today’s world of fly-by-night vendors, we think it is important to partner with businesses that you can trust to be there for you today, tomorrow, and for years to come.

For more information, visit www.oraclelights.com, call (800) 407-5776, or email info@oraclelights.com.

DEI Sponsors Drifter Adam LZ

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AVON LAKE, OH (06.15.2021) – Design Engineering, Inc. has announced a new partnership with social media star and Formula DRIFT racer Adam LZ.

The talented driver and social media giant has nearly 3.2 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, more than 950,000 followers on Facebook and more than 1.2 million followers on Instagram.

“Partnering with racers like Adam LZ is what the DEI sponsorship program is all about,” said Will F. of Design Engineering, Inc. “Our relationship started with him using our heat and sound control products and has grown to where we are now working together to promote our brands and win races.”

DEI will offer products, tech support and service to LZ and his No. 5 LZMFG 2JZ powered Nissan Silvia S15 throughout the 2021 Formula DRIFT season.

“It’s been awesome getting to work with a company that I’ve already been using for so long,” LZ said. “We’ve found out about some pretty cool products I didn’t know existed—like their tranny tunnel shield—and have been coming up with new uses and purposes that are helping both us and our viewers.”

LZ’s YouTube channel documents his many adventures and has recently been welcoming viewers to a new Florida facility known as the LZ Compound, which he calls a “30-Acre Automotive Dream.” It includes more than 65,000 square feet of buildings that haven’t been used in more than five years.

The 25-year-old originally made a name for himself in BMX, which he used to fund his first drift car in 2015. He also enjoys Time Attack and off-road racing.

“For now, I’m pouring as many resources as I can into Formula DRIFT,” he noted. “It’s extremely fun, very challenging and very rewarding.”

For more information about DEI’s complete line of performance heat and sound control products, visit www.DesignEngineering.com.

KICKER Begins Shipping Its Mini-Enclosed Handlebar Speakers

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STILLWATER, OK (06.14.2021) – KICKER adds a new look to the versatile PSM3 Mini-Enclosed Speakers for powersports. Made for bikes, ATVs, and anything else that has a round bar or handle, the newest version of the PSM3 speaker line adds a glossy black housing to the mix, along with the durable chrome pair that KICKER has had for years. 

PSM3 weather-proof speakers are now shipping and ready for purchase at Authorized KICKER Dealers in-store and online. Introduced to the world on the KICKER UnMASKED! Live show in October, PSM3 Mini-Enclosed Speakers retail for $199.95. PSM3 Speakers are also available at www.kicker.com.

Designed specifically to deliver crystal-clear audio and last through every kind of weather, the rugged PS speaker system boasts high power handling and volume from the robust, three-inch woofers for ultra-clear music reproduction through helmets, wind noise and road noise.

New for 2021, KICKER now offers the PSM3 pairs in either 2- or 4-Ohm versions. PSM drivers advertise heavy-duty ceramic magnets, water-proof suspension, and a polymer basket for battling the elements. The lightweight, durable design of the speakers does not affect how the bike rides or handles in any way, and they fit with ease on round pipes ranging from 7/8-to-1-1/4 inches. The speakers come complete with cast-aluminum mounting hardware originating from a single-point clamp that resists vibration.

Visit www.kicker.com for more.

JL Audio Extends Relationship with 2X Supra PWT Champion Nic Rapa as Brand Ambassador

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MIRAMAR, FL (06.14.2021) – JL Audio has extended its sponsorship of two-time Supra Pro Wake Tour Champion Nic Rapa. Headed into the 2021 season, Rapa will represent the JL Audio brand as he strives for a PWT championship three-peat.

“Nic is an all-star in the wakeboarding space and has been a great partner of the JL Audio brand since we first started working with him several years ago,” said Bryatt Fischer, Marketing Director, JL Audio. “As a brand ambassador, Nic has done a great job tying his enthusiasm for wakeboarding to promoting the JL Audio brand, and its gear on his boat. We’re pleased to extend our sponsorship of Nic for the 2021 and 2022 seasons and look forward to working with him to expose the JL Audio brand to a new generation of boating and watersports enthusiasts.”

2X Supra PWT Champion Nic Rapa

Since turning pro and joining the Supra Boats Team in 2016, native Australian Nic Rapa has quickly made a name for himself in wakeboarding. After winning the Supra Boats PWT Rookie of The Year title and placing in the top three rankings at the WWA Wakeboard World Championships his first year competing as a professional, Nic won second place at the 2017 and 2018 Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tours. In 2019, Nic earned the Champion title at the 2019 Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour, as well as at the 2019 Nautique WWA National Champion, solidifying his status as a marquee rider in watersports. Rapa was also the 2019-2020 IWWF world champion and 2020 USA national champ, He won the Supra Pro Wakeboard Tours championship again in 2020, making it the second year in a row coming out on top, and was also 2020 WWA world champion, 2020 World Series overall champion, as well as the 2020 wake series champion.

“Music and watersports go perfectly with one another, which is why I am grateful to JL Audio for continuing to be an excellent partner,” said Nic Rapa. “As an athlete, I’m not only dedicated to my personal growth, I’m also fueled by leading companies like JL Audio seeing value in working with me to enhance their brand. I am confident that 2021 is going to be a solid season, and I look forward to rocking the JL logo and creating awesome content as we win more championships together.

JL Audio has been working indirectly with Rapa since 2016 when he first joined the Supra Boats Team. As the exclusive audio supplier for Supra Boats, Rapa has first-hand experience with JL Audio products. JL Audio has been entrenched in the professional wakeboarding circuit with their sponsorship of the Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour since 2014. The PWT has served as the stage for JL Audio to connect directly with watersports and boating enthusiasts alike to demonstrating the latest and greatest in marine audio technology. The partnership with Nic allows JL Audio to continue to support and inspire the next generation of watersport athletes.

Visit www.jlaudio.com for more.

Registration Now Open for SEMA Battle of the Builders

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DIAMOND BAR, CA (06.11.2021) – Applications are now available for SEMA Battle of the Builders, the coveted competition that unites and recognizes SEMA Show vehicle builders. Open exclusively to those with a car or truck displayed at the annual trade show taking place in November, the competition celebrates and honors top builders for reaching what many consider to be the pinnacle of automotive events. The competition, now in its eighth year, tells the stories behind the builds, and it provides builders with additional exposure and a chance to be recognized and named as the industry’s top builder.

With vehicle space available only to qualified exhibitors, SEMA Show vehicle builders represent an elite group of individuals who have the distinction of superior craftsmanship and proven excellence. Exhibitors are highly selective on the vehicles and builders they choose to showcase their products, capture attention, and drive traffic to their booths.

Registration for SEMA Battle of the Builders, the coveted competition that unites and recognizes SEMA Show vehicle builders, is now open at www.semabotb.com.

“Exhibitors rely on vehicles at the SEMA Show to optimally showcase their products in use and generate buzz,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “When an exhibitor chooses to showcase a vehicle, whether it’s in their booth or elsewhere in the Show, that exhibitor is investing in the build and the builder. They’re choosing the best builders to represent their brands and tell their stories.”

The SEMA Battle of the Builders competition will award one winner in four different categories—Hot Rod, Truck/Off-Road, Import/Sport Compact, and Young Guns—before crowning an overall top builder during SEMA Ignited, the official SEMA Show after-party that takes place on Friday after the weeklong trade show ends.

Click here for the online application

As part of SEMA’s initiative to support and encourage the younger generation in the industry, the association will continue its SEMA Young Guns Regional Qualifiers. Applications for the Young Guns Regional Qualifiers are also available online, making the program open to builders who may not already have a vehicle displayed at the SEMA Show, provided they are 27 years and younger. Young Guns Regional Qualifier winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2021 SEMA Show, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature vehicle spot at the Show, and entry into the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, where they will compete alongside established vehicle builders from the industry.

“Each year, we meet amazing young builders through the Young Guns Program,” said Gattuso. “It’s inspiring to witness the passion they have for all things car-related, and to see the industry embrace them as they build a network of contacts and connections that will fuel a lifelong career.”

To register, or for more information on the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, log on to www.semabotb.com. The deadline to register is October 15.

ASA Electronics Expands Call Center Hours

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ELKHART, IN (06.11.2021) – ASA Electronics is kicking off the summer by expanding our call center hours. Our award-winning customer support team will now be available from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. The change in operating hours comes just in time for the customer service department’s busiest season.

“By staying open a little later, we will be able to assist so many more customers each day. Summer is peak camping and boating season, so our call and email volume go up this time of year.”

-Customer Service Supervisor Josie Caban

The new hours also allow our knowledgeable and highly-trained staff to be more available to our customers in other times zones. Call our customer service line directly at (877) 845-8750 or email us at inquiry@asaelectronics.com for assistance.

Visit www.ASAElectronics.com for more.