AudioControl, the car audio processor/interface company of 40 years, ventured into the amplifier market two years ago. While it began this year with only two models, it expects to offer 14 to 18 car audio amplifiers by the end of 2018, effectively becoming a full line amplifier supplier.
CEO Alex Camara estimates that by the end of next year, amplifiers will represent about 30 percent of the company’s car audio sales. It now sells 6 models, with amplifiers currently accounting for 10 percent of car audio sales.
At CES in January, AudioControl will enter the mini amp segment for the first time, with Camara claiming that the mini amps “are going to be unique and have stuff no other amplifiers in the market have.”
AudioControl’s strategy has been to leverage its processor/interface technology by including it in its amplifiers; so its LC line embeds its LC2i line output converter technology. Camara says the LC2i remains the company’s best selling product by a wide margin.
In total, about half of AudioControl sales are from its home audio processors and amplifiers and new commercial audio sales and half from car audio. Car audio sales are growing by high double digits, it said, while home audio is now growing faster than that due to strong growth in commercial audio.
As for car audio speakers, Camara says entering the speaker market is not out of the question. “We do get asked a lot about speakers. We think our skill is in electronics but nothing is off the table.”
Just now shipping is the LC-1.800 mono amp rated at 800 watts at 2 ohms at $399. It includes LC2i inputs and processing and Accubass to compensate for factory bass roll off with a 5 year warranty.It will be followed next spring by the LC-1.1500 with 1500 watt power output.
AudioControl sells through about 700 to 1000 dealers.
Don’t be so sure about your claims on that mini-amp Audiocontrol. Everyone is unveiling new ones this year.