Blaupunkt Slashes Installation Time with Plug and Play Car Audio Amplifier Line

Complete line of amplifiers and plug-in harness adapters connects directly into factory wiring on over 2000 car models without cutting, crimping, stripping, or soldering

Typical Blaupunkt plug-and-play amplifier installation (from top left): 1: Remove head unit. 2: Replace wiring harness with car-specific Blaupunkt PnP adapter. 3: Add PnP amplifier harness. 4: Replace head unit in dash, 5: Plug PnP harness into THA amplifier, 6: Stow compact amplifier under seat or dash, and go!

LAS VEGAS (1/07/08) -- Blaupunkt will display its full line of Plug and Play (PnP) amplifiers and vehicle-specific wiring harnesses at the 2008 CES here today. The company's exclusive PnP technology allows consumers and installers to add aftermarket amplification to nearly any vehicle in under fifteen minutes with no cutting, crimping, stripping, or soldering whatsoever. The PnP line consists of four amplifier models, and a selection of 40 car wiring harnesses that accommodate over 2000 US market car models.

"These amplifiers are redefining the installation, and sales, of upgrade audio systems," comments Blaupunkt USA's General Manager, Andy Oswick. "The biggest barrier in aftermarket car audio to upselling past a new radio has always been the steep increase in labor required for anything beyond a simple head-unit swap. With our PnP amps, the install time has been reduced to under 15 minutes so dealers can upsell customers to add-on amplification with minimal labor time and cost. Plus they can be removed as quickly as they went in, so leased vehicles are no problem. All this adds up to better audio system performance for consumers, along with increased sales profit margins for the dealer - everybody wins."

The THA amplifier line consists of four remarkably small and cool-running car amplifiers that work with Blaupunkt's car-specific wiring harnesses to dramatically reduce the time and effort needed to upgrade stock car audio systems. Additionally, each amplifier includes an auxiliary input to allow the addition of portable music players or other sources, even with stock radios that lack this capability.

When combined with one of Blaupunkt's 40 car-specific harness adapters, the THA plug and play amplifiers integrate directly with the OEM radio in any of over 2000 vehicles with no destructive alteration to the car's wiring. The units can be removed as easily as they are installed, making them ideal for leased vehicles whose original wiring and systems must be completely restored at the lease's end. They are approximately 65% smaller than similarly rated conventional amplifiers and run at extremely cool temperatures, allowing them to be installed in nearly any space, including behind the dash, under the front seats, or behind interior panels.

Blaupunkt THA 275

Blaupunkt's THA plug-and-play car amplifier line consists of four models that accommodate nearly any car audio system. The THA 555, which is designed to power a complete high-end car audio system, features a total of five amplifier channels - four cannels at 55 watts RMS for full range speakers, and a single 200 watt RMS channel for a high power subwoofer. The THA 555 is currently available at a suggested retail price of $549.95.

Blaupunkt THA 475

The THA 475 delivers four channels of power at 75 watts RMS, with each channel pair bridgeable for 180 watts RMS when used with two speakers. The THA 275 delivers 2 x 75 watts RMS into 4 Ohms, and can be bridged to provide 190 watts to a single speaker with transient power capacity of up to 400 watts. The THA 475 and THA 275 are currently available at suggested retail prices of $399.95 and $299.95 each, respectively.

Finally, the THA 1250 is a single channel amplifier that provides 250 watts RMS of amplification, ideal for powering a high quality subwoofer. The high-current amplifier module is capable of delivering as much as 600 watts of power during transients for extremely detailed and high-output bass in any vehicle. The THA 1250 is currently available at a suggested retail price of $399.95 each.

Blaupunkt, the mobile electronics division of The Robert Bosch Corporation, designs and manufactures high quality and high performance car audio, video and navigation products for sale worldwide. For Blaupunkt dealer locations and product information, call 1(800) 950-BLAU [2528] or visit the company's web site at <www.blaupunktusa.com>.

Blaupunkt, a company belonging to the Bosch Group, is an internationally leading manufacturer of driver information systems, car radios, car speakers and vehicle antennas. Blaupunkt has its main headquarters in Hildesheim, Germany, and maintains other production sites in Portugal, Hungary, Tunisia and Malaysia. The company posted sales of more than Euro 1.4 billion in fiscal year 2006 and employs approximately 8,700 people worldwide. For more information, visit: http://www.blaupunktusa.com

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