Kenwood has begun shipping the first five-channel amp in its Excelon Reference Fit series of compact car audio amplifiers intended for installation in small spaces.
The series expands to three models with the launch of the $600-suggested XR-5S, which is Kenwood’s only five-channel amp and is promoted as the industry’s most powerful five-channel amp for its size. The amp delivers 4×80 watts RMS into 4 ohms plus 1×350 watts from its 2.2-inch by 9.25-inch by 7.56-inch chassis. It also features continuously variable low-pass filter (50Hz to 200Hz) and continuously variable high-pass filter (50Hz to 200Hz).
The other two amps in the series, both at $600, include the XR-1S, which is Kenwood’s smallest mono-block amplifier ever. It delivers 600 watts (RMS) at 4 ohms and 700 watts (RMS) at 2 ohms, with a peak power rating of 1,600 watts. The other amp in the series is the four-channel XR-4S, rated at 4×120 watts (RMS) at 4 ohms, 4×150 watts (RMS) at 2 ohms, and 2×300 watts (RMS) bridged at 4 ohms.
TXR-5S shipments follow last month’s shipments of Kenwood’s first two mech-less head units, the $500-suggested KIV-BT900 and $450-suggested KIV-700. They lack CD or DVD transports but play back audio and video content stored on connected iPods, iPhones, other-brand MP3 players, and USB sticks. Their 3-inch color TFT displays show full song, artist and album text as well as large-format, full-color album art. The displays also show video, which also appears on optional connected rear-seat monitors.
The head units come with 512MB of embedded flash memory to store content transferred through its USB input. Both are satellite radio- and HD Radio-ready, and they come with remotes.
Both models deliver the same performance and features, but the $500 models comes with built-in Bluetooth for hands-free dialing, and the $450 model requires a $180 hideaway Bluetooth module for hands-free dialing. And both play MP3, WMA, AAC and WAV audio. They play MPEG4, WMV and H.264 video, and they display JPEG and BMP images.
