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This makes sense. One would at least plan what do do in case components suddenly become unavailable due to unexpected events. E.g. when the AKM plant recently

This makes sense. One would at least plan what do do in case components suddenly become unavailable due to unexpected events. E.g. when the AKM plant recently burned down this already was havoc for a lot of audio applications. I'd guess that at least 15% of all cars in the >35kUS$ range use one or more AKM ICs. Unless car manufacturers (or their suppliers) have enough stock of AKM ADCs and DACs (or assembled ECUs), they have to either stop delivering they're more expensive cars - or adapt their hard- & software to use other ICs (or get questionable stock at inflated prices, which might be an expensive option if you're building millions of cars, and expensive again if those IC have a higher failure rate due to bad storage/being recycled/...). With the tendency to do as much as possible as jit, I doubt they can bridge the duration until the production ramped up again.

Scoundreller 6y ago
I wish cars came without stereo systems, just a DIN/2x DIN slot and you slip in your preferred system. But that kind of thinking is too modular for regulators and manufacturers.
- archi42 6y ago
  Probably depends on the use case. On a budget car I can see where you're coming from and I agree. However, in the more expensive range I was thinking about, not so much. These can have pretty good audio systems (some even come with DIRAC these days). The "infotainment" display also usually integrates things like cameras and allowing you to control various settings*. On a 80.000US$ car you don't swap the radio and let some shop do magic adjustments - you just get the 2000US$ "high end" audio package if you care for that. *) Regarding settings, I'm a opponent to "control every little thing with the touch screen" and don't buy cars with this safety hazard. However, I can adjust the a lot of "offline" settings in mine. Toggle adaptive head lights, lane departure warning sensitivity, registered keys, and a many more features one does NOT change during driving.

Scoundreller 6y ago

I wish cars came without stereo systems, just a DIN/2x DIN slot and you slip in your preferred system. But that kind of thinking is too modular for regulators and manufacturers.

archi42 6y ago
Probably depends on the use case. On a budget car I can see where you're coming from and I agree. However, in the more expensive range I was thinking about, not so much. These can have pretty good audio systems (some even come with DIRAC these days). The "infotainment" display also usually integrates things like cameras and allowing you to control various settings*. On a 80.000US$ car you don't swap the radio and let some shop do magic adjustments - you just get the 2000US$ "high end" audio package if you care for that. *) Regarding settings, I'm a opponent to "control every little thing with the touch screen" and don't buy cars with this safety hazard. However, I can adjust the a lot of "offline" settings in mine. Toggle adaptive head lights, lane departure warning sensitivity, registered keys, and a many more features one does NOT change during driving.