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Harman announces easy-to-install car stereo amp

Harman brands JBL and Infinity previewed new products for the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. JBL will show off a user installable amp, while Infinity demonstrates a new range of aftermarket car speakers.

Wayne Cunningham Managing Editor / Roadshow
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
JBL GTO amp
JBL's GTO amp is designed for easy installation. Harman

JBL and Infinity, both brands of Harman International, will show aftermarket amps and speakers to enhance car audio.

JBL detailed its GTO series of amps in a press release, highlighting the amps ease of installation. The amps come with RCA-to-bare-wire adapters along with a CD to explain installation.

Once installed, the audio output can be fine-tuned. JBL fits the amps with color-coded knobs and LEDs to tell an amateur installer when the configuration is optimized.

The amps range from 640- to 1,935-watt maximum power output, and include multichannel and mono blocks among the GTO range. Prices run from $199.95 to $399.95.

Sister brand Infinity also announced a new speaker series under the Reference X name. These aftermarket speakers come in 10 configurations, ranging from a single 3/4-inch tweeter to a three-way 6-inch-by-9-inch, with prices from $99.95 to $189.95.

 
Infinity Reference X speaker
Infinity is showing its new Reference X car speakers in Las Vegas. Harman

The speakers include adjustable tweeter levels, and Infinity's UniPivot system, which lets installers point tweeters for optimum soundstage placement.

The JBL GTO amps and Infinity Reference X speakers will be shown in the Harman booth at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week.