Digital Power Station

Stereo, security systems, vehicle electronics, and electrical-related discussions
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Herb
Posts: 1406
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2003 6:14 am

Digital Power Station

Post by Herb »

Here's an article to an interesting option for new Toyotas, a device called a digital power station which enhances a stock sound system. I wonder if something like this would fit in our Vibe?http://autos.sympatico.ca/feat...-partSound move: How Canadians invented a Toyota partA Canadian firm is behind a new Toyota audio upgrade accessory — one that re-mixes each song for each Toyota's specific acoustical environment.January 6th 2011, by Michael GoetzAs a record producer and sound engineer, Tony Bongiovi, has supplied his services to many flamboyant clients — Jimi Hendrix, Freddy Fender, Gloria Gaynor, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Shirley Bassey, The Scorpions, and (cousin) Jon Bon Jovi.Now add Toyota to the list. In case you’re wondering, the Japanese automaker did not reinvent itself as a punk rock ensemble, with company president, Akio Toyoda, fronting the band on lead vocals (and tambourine). Instead, Toyota teamed up with Bongiovi to offer an extremely unique automotive accessory. The Bongiovi Acoustics Digital Power Station (DPS) is the world’s first 100 percent digital sound processor that is certified for automotive use.And the kicker is that this “sound expanding” device is geared toward the low-end of the market. No soup for you today Mr. Lexus! This tasty product is for Yaris, Corolla, Camry, etc.Yet another kicker, for us Canadians at least, is that this device evolved from concept to become a worldwide Toyota part in a nondescript industrial mall in the outskirts of Scarborough, Ontario. More on that later. DPS, semi-explainedWe must first get deeper into what the DPS is and how it works. Unfortunately it’s easier to hear what it does, than explain what it does. But at least we have its inventor to help us. I joined Tony Bongiovi in a Tundra truck, to listen to Rihanna, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson.“The DPS is not an equalizer. It is an active and dynamic device. It’s looking for a certain amount of sound. When it doesn’t see that, it looks inside and tries to pull up what’s already there, to get a certain volume and a certain consistency.”The unit itself is about the size of a 250-page hardcover book, and connects easily to any Toyota stock radio. Toyota Canada mounts the device under the dash, but it could really go anywhere (glove box, under the seat, trunk, etc.). To help demonstrate the product, the Tundra was equipped with an A-B switch that could flip the DPS on and off. We listened to non DPS-enabled music from the above trio. Then he flipped the switch. All versions sounded fuller, louder, better. (Although I have a disclaimer: my ears have never been the same since I sat front-row for a Blue Oyster Cult concert back in 1977.)He flipped it back again and we listened to the same recordings. “Where’s Frank?” Bongiovi asked me. He had a point. Sinatra’s voice seemed further away. “Basically this device is looking for bandwidth,” says Bongiovi, adding that the amount of sound information on a recording is sometimes limited by the format of the media it’s released on.“The DPS is not an equalizer. It is an active and dynamic device. It’s looking for a certain amount of sound. When it doesn’t see that, it looks inside and tries to pull up what’s already there, to get a certain volume and a certain consistency.”Armed with more sound information, the next thing it does, according to Bongiovi, is “digitally re-master the content” so it sounds awesome in your particular model of Toyota. The DPS is able to adjust for speaker placement and specification, interior acoustics and materials, etc.“You couldn’t do this five years ago,” says Bongiovi. “There wasn’t enough (computer) power. There are 16 different dynamic adjustments going on at once in this car. For example, what we do to the front speakers is not the same thing we a do to the rear speakers. Sometimes we don’t touch anything. For example, any speaker can faithfully reproduce sound in that narrow band between 800 and 1,200 hertz. In that case, a $10,000 speaker wouldn’t sound any better.”Bongiovi personally “profiled” each Toyota nameplate. Each vehicle took him two days to do so, plus many sessions after that to program and fine tune.The DPS is comprised of over 400 components, including four tiny — but powerful — digital amplifiers. Prices start at $280, not including installation.The Canadian ConnectionBongiovi Acoustics’ global licensing and product development partner for all things automotive is a Canadian company — AVG Group, an auto parts developer and supplier, based in the fore-mentioned nondescript building in Scarborough, Ontario. Together, AVG and Bongiovi created the automotive DPS for Toyota, a process that took three years start to finish.AVG’s main product lines are original equipment “certified” accessories, which are installed at dealerships and/or at several ports. It also supplies some parts directly to the factories. While AVG creates and builds all manner of accessories, it specializes in leather seating kits, seat heaters, and cosmetic upgrades, such as spoilers, bug protectors, and LED-equipped doorsills. A desire to expand its audio offerings, and its intelligence in the “post factory” accessory space, made it keenly aware of an under-serviced niche.“If you’re buying a car at the lower end of the market, say Corolla or Yaris, chances are you don’t want to spend another $1,000 or more, to upgrade the audio system,” says Karim Suleman, president of AVG. He adds that while consumers in that space might be budget conscious, that doesn’t mean they don’t crave awesome sound.The traditional way of improving sound entails expensive and heavy amplifiers and speakers. Digital changes all that, says Suleman, adding that the product essentially changes from “hardware to software.”And by the way, the market potential for improving sound in less expensive vehicles is not a niche. It’s too big for a niche. Over 60 percent of Toyota’s sales are midsize or lower.“When we were first exposed to DPS we clearly saw its potential for an automotive application,” says Suleman. “It is AVG that introduced DPS to Toyota…”Getting CertifiedTogether, AVG and Bongiovi created the automotive DPS for Toyota, a process that took three years start to finish. Notes Suleman: “We crossed from producing an accessory to Toyota spec, to inventing an accessory.”Not only did they have to invent, develop, and manufacture the product, it had to meet Toyota’s most stringent approval standards.“There are two layers of approval at Toyota,” says Ayaz Somani, AVG’s CEO. “First there is Technical Approval (TA) by Toyota Japan, which validates the part globally. Then you need part approval by the targeted Toyota purchasing entity, be it a Toyota distributor like Toyota Canada or a Toyota manufacturer, like Toyota Manufacturing Cambridge.”We should also mention, that a prerequisite for supplying an OEM-branded part is that the supplier company itself, must be certified as a Tier 1 supplier, which is obviously the case with AVG.In the end, the DPS required a 17-month product development process, which included much discussion with Toyota engineering in Japan, and many stages: concept, styling, design, pre-prototype, fitment testing, validation testing, etc.To illustrate the extent of the validation testing, Suleman brings to our meeting table the stack of binders that contains the validation documents. Future Bongiovi DPS productsObviously a longer process than bringing a static part, like a spoiler, to fruition. But that’s okay with AVG. This is only the start of what AVG and Bongiovi hope to bring to the automotive space in the years ahead. DPS is a software solution that can be implemented into any virtually product that reproduces sound. I
f fact, if you want a free trial version for your computer, check out http://www.dpsplugin.com.“Eventually the DPS will get ‘flashed’ into the head unit,” says Somani. “We have already started working with a lot of them. Just as you see the Dolby icon on head units, you’ll see the Bongiovi Acoustics DPS icon there as well.”If you want to check out the Toyota DPS system, just head out to any dealership; each has a DPS-equipped vehicle also equipped with an A-B switch, to allow for easy back-to-back audio testing.Somani is positive people will be amazed at the difference, just as a Detroit automaker parts company was, after the team lent it a DPS equipped vehicle to check out: “When we came back to pick up the car, they said, ‘okay, where did you hide the subwoofer and the amplifier?’”

Attached files
Would you agree to debris acceptance? 2003 Vibe GTMods installed GM Top and Mid-Gate Spoilers, Cosmo CAI, TWM Short Shifter with Desert Eagle weighted shift knob, TWM Bronzoil Shifter Cable Bushings, Magnaflow Cat Back Exhaust, Unichip, Injen Billet Aluminum Engine/Sparkplug covers and oil cap, Optima RedTop Battery, Lineage Ground Wire KitAwaiting install: Energy Suspension Motor Mounts, DC Sports Header
epcIII
Posts: 685
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:00 pm

Re: Digital Power Station (Herb)

Post by epcIII »

Wow, that's pretty interesting.
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