Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/467551
MARKET FOCUS SECTION { AUDIO } 44 | Boating Industry | March 2015 www.BoatingIndustry.com system. I think another fuel that you're going to see more and more of in the future is quality, ease of connectivity and ease of installation. That's going to be a future driver for our products – the way the dealer, the OEM and the consumer interact with the product is a big focus for our development team," said Oswell. Oswell said that skipping the head unit altogether has also been an extremely successful move. "Our CyBox eliminates the need for a head box completely in the boat. It's a little Bluetooth module with three direct line-ins to go to three different amplifiers and it's a very, very inexpensive way to direct line- in to your amplifiers and eliminates the need for a head unit. No more radio, no more receiver in most retrofit applications because everybody already has their computer in their hand," said Oswell. "We just intro- duced it last year and every time I bring it in it's sold out." Pilvelait said that he expects there to be a lot more connectivity products in the pipeline from all audio manufacturers. "We saw an awful lot of products at METS in Amsterdam that were focused on connectivity. Obviously, NMEA is driving a lot of this and making the experience seamless," said Pilvelait. "I think we're going to see a lot more of that going forward." DESIGN AND BRANDING When you plop down in the seat of a luxury automobile, it's a sensory experience. The smell of the leather, the faint warming of the seat, the striking lines and the extravagant audio console all contribute to that experience. The same experience can be had in a boat, but that sensory experience has historically come to a boring halt with the sound system. Josh Berry, special markets manager at Prospec said that the good economy and rosy outlook for the boating industry has created quite a shift in consumer's buying habits. He says people are looking to spend money on a trusted name and attractive design. "I think branding is a huge key. It used to be back in 2008, 2009 it was, 'How much money can we save with our boat?' and, 'Who can get the least expensive head unit,'" said Berry. "Now, people are appreciating that a brand name comes into play to compliment their boats." He says that since it is such a competitive segment, contenders are pushed to deliver consistent products; so differentiating a brand means rocking the proverbial boat. "You must have that user interface and ease of operation as well as reliability – but at this point I think we've established that all of us provide a reliable product," said Berry. "Then it comes down to who is making that next jump." He said Prospec is taking a design-forward approach to their new components. "We're always looking for that next step. I think that's cosmetics," said Berry. He said the segment takes many cues from the auto industry to see what buyers are looking for. "From a styling perspective, boats are very much in tune with the auto industry. So the marine industry looks to the auto industry for col- ors, lines, stuff like that," said Berry, noting that a good-looking screen is the big jump they're taking. "The transition to a better-looking screen was one of the main priorities on our list." That sleek and polished screen that consumers are used to on their phones and tablets have edged their way into the auto market, and are now taking the dip into the marine industry. "The trend now is getting away from that old-school dot-matrix kind of display and moving to a color TFT screen. It's just getting more sophisticated, more stylized now – ultra-modern I guess," said Berry. "I think with people wanting more out of their stereo system now and the looks play such a key role. I think eventually people will get into a nicer looking unit, in five to six years it will be standard that a color TFT screen will be part of the factory boat." But even a great screen doesn't make great product: ask anyone with a knockoff tablet. That's why Berry says they are working hard to create a user-friendly user interface to go along with the modern design. "I think a key element in a successful audio program is user interface – how easy is the unit to understand, does the pairing process require an owner's manual to understand or something you can understand right out of the gate," said Berry. To that end, Prospec is offering a major update to its PRV 350 face- plate under the Infinity brand. That new model will be available in 2016 model year boats. Creating a line of successful products expands the brand, as Roswell has seen in the past year. Oswell says that its 16 years in the business has positioned the brand surprisingly well. Its high-end speakers, amps and tower audio accessories have people from outside tower boats seeking out Roswell products.