Kicker announces two new Zune stereos

[Zunerama Ed.]

At CES 2009 today, I learned from Kicker Audio that they are releasing two new Zune docking stereos.

Previously unannounced, the ZK150 is a clock radio dock for Zune. To be released 'early third quarter' of 2009, the ZK150 has dual alarms, AM/FM radio, bass/treble adjustments, and is compatible with all models of Zune players.

The ZK150 has 3-inch full-range speakers, with ported enclosures - meaning, as the Kicker Audio rep explained to me, they give superior audio to other speakers that come with sealed enclosures.

(See Zune Kicker Audio gear on Amazon.)

 

I played with a prototype unit, configured for iPod. (The iPod and the Zune versions of the dock will be released at the same time, and sport the same feature set.)

Also in the works: the Kicker ZK350 - a lower-end alternative to Kicker's ZK500 Zune stereo dock. The ZK350 will be released late in the third quarter of 2009. It will have a smaller footprint, smaller speakers, and - no doubt - a smaller price than the highly-regarded ZK500.

It's great to see Kicker's commitment to the Zune platform! Kicker's first Zune dock, the ZK500, has been one of our most popular accessory reviews on Zunerama.

I spoke with Jay Tonsfeldt, Kicker's business unit director for Home and Portables. Jay commented that they are really pleased with working with Microsoft's Zune team, and that the response they got to the ZK500 made it an easy decision to go forward with the addition of these new Zune docks to their lineup.



Some other shots of the Kicker booth:

Display of the iK500 and zk500. Some had vinyl skins on them. This is the player I use in our living room at home. Love it.



Kicker's footprint at CES is huge. This section of their booth is done up like an urban graffiti-strewn culvert.



I *really* wanted to hook up my Zune 120 to this woofer - - the largest in Kicker's product offering!



Kicker also makes headphones and earbuds, some of which are shown here.



Kicker didn't ignore the marine audio demographic. This thing looked amazing and was loaded with audio components.

[Mockers]

Yes! Good news. Now, Harv, your job is to convince them to give you some. So, in turn, you can give them away!

[Zunerama Ed.]

I'm working on that!

(Updated OP with new photos.)

[tbird]

Prices.....What does this stuff cost?
Is it just me or has my $250 dollar investment into a device that I wanted so I could just copy my cd's and a few movies into (honestly that's what I bought the 30 for in the first place) turned into a never ending money pit!!!
It has gotten to the point that my wife has a line in our monthly budget for my Zune stuff.
And I might add there have been a couple of months where I have gotten that look from her when its all been added up.

[Mockers]

Why does part of the Kicker booth look like a kitchen?

[Zunerama Ed.]

Prices.....What does this stuff cost?
Is it just me or has my $250 dollar investment into a device that I wanted so I could just copy my cd's and a few movies into (honestly that's what I bought the 30 for in the first place) turned into a never ending money pit!!!
It has gotten to the point that my wife has a line in our monthly budget for my Zune stuff.
And I might add there have been a couple of months where I have gotten that look from her when its all been added up.

I know the feeling, tbird! I don't have pricing info from Kicker yet on these. It seems that both will be significantly lower in price than the zK500, which MSRPs for $349 but generally goes for $249. And is worth every penny IMO.

Or actually it's $215 on Amazon right now.

Note: the Kicker rep also said that the new ZK150 will have more conventional styling than the ZK500. I think that means it will have less of a wedge shape than the 500.

[Mockers]

Note: the Kicker rep also said that the new ZK150 will have more conventional styling than the ZK500. I think that means it will have less of a wedge shape than the 500.

That's good. I wasn't too keen on getting a batmobile for my family room.

[Zunerama Ed.]

That's good. I wasn't too keen on getting a batmobile for my family room.

Yes, the way the Kicker guy put it is that the new design will have a higher 'spouse acceptance factor'.

[1shado1]

That's good. I wasn't too keen on getting a batmobile for my family room.

Good one!   I knew it reminded me of something, just couldn't put my finger on it.

[Zunerama Ed.]

By the way, this boat and its impressive speaker setup was connected a flash Zune player, through a Soundgate CORE audio connection. (Soundgate is a subsidiary of Kicker.)

I loved that they picked a Zune player to demonstrate the power of this marine audio setup!

[gljvd]

this is the problem with the zune. You walk into bestbuy and there are dozens of docks for the ipod. There are none for the zune. The ones online are also extremely expensive .

I wish kicker would make a $50 dock. I don't understand why i'd buy a dock that costs as much as my  zune did to start with

[pod-098]

Man I really want a ZK500, then i wouldn't have to put on headphones.

[ZuneCaser]

Wow Kicker is just great!