The new Maestro AR from Automotive Data Solutions (ADS)[1], that allows easier installation of aftermarket components, will get support from several more suppliers, announced a spokesman at the recent MRI distributor show in Massachusetts.
The new suppliers will join Rockford, AudioControl, Elettromedia (Audison) and Kenwood in offering products that work with the Maestro AR (or in the case of Rockford, incorporate Maestro AR technology).
Maestro AR 
The additional suppliers are expected to announce their products in the coming months, while the Maestro AR is expected to ship in early April.
ADS said it did not name the new suppliers as they may wish to make the announcements on their own.
Many in the industry have applauded the upcoming Maestro AR and similar technology from AAMP Global and Metra as game changers that will advance the aftermarket's ability to work with complex OEM sound systems.
The Maestro AR is a palm-sized module that taps into the CAN bus on certain cars. It processes the factory audio signals BEFORE the factory amplifier and allows the radio volume control to work with aftermarket add-ons.
You can see a video on it here.[2]
Users get a clean signal, without the need for expensive channel summing.
Suggested retail price for the Maestro AR is $129.99. Harnesses will be available at launch for 2011 and up Ford vehicles with My Ford Touch and Sony amplifiers as well as 2011 and up Chrysler vehicles with 8 inch screens and factory amplifiers. Toyota/Lexus coverage will follow soon after launch.
Rockford became the first company to announce use of this technology[3] in a collaboration with ADS that lead to a new Rockford DSP with embedded Maestro technology. Rockford's DSR-1, officially announced at the SEMA Show, will be available at $249.
Kenwood's DSP/amplifier, the eXcelon XR600-6[4]DSP can work with a Maestro AR to directly replace a factory amplifier. It's due to ship around the same time as the Maestro at a suggested retail price of $799.
Audison Prima amplifiers[5] will soon work with the Maestro AR and AudioControl will offer[6] three DSP and amplifier products that are Maestro AR compatible in the future.
AudioControl's Maestro AR-ready products include the DM-608 and DM-810 processors as well as the new D6-1200 six channel amplifier announced at CES.
"It's the future of car audio," said AudioControl's Chris Bennett of the new integration technology. "It really is going to allow us to be poised for whatever comes [in integration]. It's easier to do it with software before the amplifier than to have to do it with hardware after the amplifier."
Audison explained, "The Maestro AR will convert the vehicle CAN bus messages into control messages for the bit DSP embedded in Prima amplifiers. The factory audio signals are routed directly to the Prima inputs so the unprocessed factory audio signal 'before the amplifier' can be used to generate the DSP outputs audio signals. The result is perfect integration with factory installed navigation, advanced safety systems, and voice-controlled hands-free and infotainment. The Maestro AR also maps factory controls to functions previously controlled by the Audison DRC. For example, the bass tone control can be used to control subwoofer volume."
References
- ^ Automotive Data Solutions (ADS) (www.idatalink.com)
- ^ video on it here. (youtu.be)
- ^ Rockford became the first company to announce use of this technology (www.ceoutlook.com)
- ^ eXcelon XR600-6 (www.ceoutlook.com)
- ^ Audison Prima amplifiers (www.ceoutlook.com)
- ^ AudioControl will offer (www.ceoutlook.com)
