has any one heard more about the new alpine vehicle hub? all i saw was a picture with a cool new remote-possibly wired? model is VPA-B222.....

 

Supposedly it has a tuner and 50x4 power built in. I should know more in a week or so after CES.

 

Vehicle Hub Pro: Best of Innovations Winner, Vehicle Audio Category
The Vehicle Hub Pro (VPA-B222) product allows consumers to add things like iPod®, satellite radio, HD Radio™, DVD players and navigation to the factory system. The VPA-B222 consists of two parts: a hide-away brain and a wired rotary commander, called the "orb." The Vehicle Hub Pro's brain is a sleek aluminum chassis, with silk screening on the face that clearly labels all of the connector jacks on both sides of the piece. The connector jacks include a dedicated Ai-NET input, a dedicated navigation input, one video output, two video inputs and a remote eye. It has a built-in radio tuner and a computer-controlled fan to cool the internal 18W RMS x 4 amplifier (at CEA-2006 power ratings). The brain connects to the OEM system with the use of a vehicle-specific third party adapter, sold separately.


The orb uses Alpine's unique force-feedback technology that provides tactile feedback to the user. It works as a multi-functioned wired remote control that can be mounted in a convenient place for the driver, like the center console. The orb has system volume control, source selection, song search option, navigation controls, play/pause control and menu access. Its backlit buttons emit a gentle blue pulsating glow, which changes to magenta to indicate different operations cues. When operating the orb, it provides a gentle, tactile feedback from its internal motors, to indicate the confirmation of the user's commands. Likewise, the orb will respond with a tactile feedback if an unallowable command is attempted. The orb is used to control the added audio, video or navigation sources, whose menus then can be viewed on the vehicle's in-dash OEM monitor.

Now, a custom Alpine audio/video/navigation system can be created - without having to cut into the dash or alter its functionality. Add-on Alpine audio options include all of today's popular media formats - iPod, XM or SIRIUS satellite radio, HD Radio, or USB-based MP3 players. The VPA-B222 has a built-in processor control, making it ready to act as the base for a 5.1 multi-channel system. Bluetooth connectivity for cell phones can also be added. Video options include Alpine's DVD player and TV tuner. And for consumers who didn't buy the navigation option when they purchased their vehicle, Alpine's NVE-N872A DVD-based navigation system or Blackbird portable navigation device can now be added. Basically, Vehicle Hub Pro has all of the functionality of an aftermarket head unit, minus the hardware for the actual unit.

The Vehicle Hub Pro was named a "Best of Innovations" winner for the Vehicle Audio Electronics category at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

PXE-H650: OEM Audio Processor
The PXE-H650 can make any factory radio sound like a high-quality Alpine unit. It is an audio processor that is designed to allow consumers to upgrade from factory sound systems. The product is a sophisticated audio processor that allows for advanced sound tuning of factory equipment by correcting the acoustical problems in any vehicle. The PXE-H650 is equipped with AntEQ™, to remove the factory equalization, and Audyssey SoundEQ XT™, to optimize the sound quality of the system.

AntEQ works by removing all factory equalization, bringing the factory system's EQ to a flat response. It balances all sound levels using DSP power, and flattens the output signals so that Alpine amplifier and speaker upgrades can be added to the factory system.

After AntEQ has flattened the factory EQ, Audyssey SoundEQ XT then tunes the vehicle's system for optimum performance. The PXE-H650 uses an active feedback microphone to collect measurements from the vehicle's cabin. The unit then tunes itself, making automatic adjustments for the in-cabin acoustics. Audyssey SoundEQ XT adjusts time correction, frequency and phase in relation to each other. At this point, Alpine amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers could be added for a simple upgrade of the factory system, or a more complex system can be made if a full multi-channel set-up is desired. A powerful DSP processor allows for acoustic correction all the way down to 20 Hz on all channels. SoundEQ XT analyzes the entire frequency spectrum, unlike most competitors' analysis of 1/3-octave solutions.

VPA-B222
Vehicle Hub Pro
Availability - April
Suggested retail index - $500 PXE-H650
OEM Audio Processor
Availability - March
Suggested retail index - $TBA

 

I bet they don't ship until the 3rd or 4th quarter...

 

My local Alpine dealer said that they could have one for me by the end of this month.

Dunno if that's true or not, but they called their Alpine rep, he told them not to sell me the current Vehicle Hub because the new one would be much better.

 

still has to be spliced into the nav system with a video adapter right?