Rockford Announces First Production Vehicle for New Rockford Acoustic Design(TM) System

Mitsubishi Motors to Install System in 2007 Galant Ralliart

TEMPE, Ariz., Feb. 9 -- Rockford Corporation today announced that Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. will factory install the new Rockford Acoustic Design system in the 2007 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart vehicle. Mitsubishi announced details at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show, February 8, 2006. The show is open to the public February 10-19, 2006.

"We are extremely pleased to partner with Rockford to offer the next generation of factory-installed audio systems as a standard feature on the Galant Ralliart," said Mike Krebs, Vice President of Product Management for Mitsubishi Motors North America. "It is an option for the 2007 Galant ES and GTS models as well, so it will be available to satisfy our many Galant customers desire for a unique, premium audio system in a total driving package."

"We are proud to debut the sophisticated, high-definition Rockford Acoustic Design audio brand, which has been designed for the OEM market, in the Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart," said W. Gary Suttle, president and CEO, Rockford Corporation. "This high-end audio system -- one of the most advanced on the market -- is highly customizable so it's very easy to get exactly the sound you want. The technology of the system is second to none and continues the Mitsubishi partnership that began with the Rockford Fosgate(R) audio system featured as an option in the new-generation Eclipse coupe models and standard in the 2007 Eclipse Spyder," concluded Suttle.

  The Rockford Acoustic Design system features:

  The Amplifier

Built on more than 25-years of acoustic engineering expertise and using industry-leading technologies, the linear 8-channel Rockford Acoustic Design amplifier delivers 360 watts of continuous power with less than 1% THD (total harmonic distortion). A dedicated channel drives each loudspeaker for the ultimate in sonic control. Ample headroom provides high-impact dynamics and enables the Rockford Acoustic Design system to offer user-adjustable subwoofer gain from -8 dB to +4 dB.

The Loudspeakers

The ultimate goal of Rockford loudspeaker engineering is to minimize distortion while generating high sound pressure levels. Rockford Acoustic Design systems utilize proprietary diaphragms, rigid composite frames and computer-optimized motor circuits to carefully balance the suspension components and drive components. This results in very predictable and linear loudspeakers, which are then inherently clear and accurate.

The loudspeaker system selected for the 2007 Galant Ralliart features the following components:

  *  25 mm silk dome tweeters mounted in a point-source configuration on the
     leading surface of the dash to produce a natural multi-dimensional
     soundstage

  *  160 mm composite cone mid-woofers mounted forward in the front doors to
     minimize path-length differences

  *  50 mm tuned-cavity surrounds in the rear package tray

  *  A pair of 6"x 9" low frequency transducers mounted in infinite-baffle
     configuration in the rear package tray for optimum coupling with the
     vehicle cabin to render pure and natural extension

  The Signal Processing

Frequency response and arrival time correction complement the audiophile-grade components and optimized loudspeaker locations. Filters are carefully designed to correct the spectrum and maintain the loudspeaker's linear operating range. Precise alignment of the loudspeakers to within 1/100th of a millisecond create a cohesive sound stage and detailed imaging as found in reference home and studio monitoring systems.

The signal processing incorporated in the 2007 Galant Ralliart features user selectable control modes in addition to the standard bass, midrange and treble adjustments.

  *  Subwoofer gain

  *  Overlay equalizer types

  *  Sound field venues

  The Sound Field Venues

In addition to a reference mobile audio experience, the Rockford Acoustic Design system in the 2007 Galant Ralliart transports the listener to distinct performance venues:

  *  NORMAL:  The reference mobile audio experience places the listener in a
     high-end home audio setting.  Accurate instrument timbre with a front
     image and feel of envelopment.

  *  STUDIO:  The listener is seated in the recording studio control room.
     The reproduction is clear and open, with no extraneous information due
     to reflections, and a tightly focused sound field image in front of the
     listener.

  *  CLUB:  The performance in a dance or jazz club is alive with
     information from all directions. Places the listener in the club, part
     of the music with abundant ambience and dynamics.

  *  CONCERT:  Utilizing early and late reflections carefully added to the
     signal, the concert mode recreates the warmth and edge of a medium
     sized concert hall.

  About Rockford Corporation (www.rockfordcorp.com)

Rockford is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of high-performance audio systems for the mobile audio aftermarket and for the OEM market. Rockford's mobile audio products are marketed primarily under the Rockford Fosgate, Rockford Acoustic Design, Lightning Audio and Q-Logic brand names.

Brand websites include: rockfordfosgate.com, www.rockfordacousticdesign.com, www.lightningaudio.com, www.qlogic.ws and www.installedge.com.