Business Briefs: ASA Electronics

ASA Electronics and their marine electronics brand JENSEN Marine has been a leading provider in the marine industry for the past 15 years. Today, the company brings both the audio and video amenities to the water that many have grown accustomed to at home.

Boating Industry sat down with Monica Pletcher, who is a marketing manager with the company, to check in on the latest offerings from Elkhart, Ind.-based ASA Electronics.

What are some of the newest features offered with JENSEN Marine products?

As a manufacturer that actually designs their products from the ground up, we have been able to implement many marine specific features. To stay on the cutting-edge of technology, we feature Bluetooth connectivity, iPod/iPhone control and charging, along with Sirius and SiriusXM ready stereos.

For boaters using our stereos while docked, we have an audible low-battery alert that tells them when they should either turn on the engine or turn off the electronics to make sure their battery does not drain. Our two-wire power ensures station presets remain even when the product is in storage for long periods of time.

Also, our products feature conformal-coated circuit boards, one-piece molded button overlay, rubber gasket seals, grommeted wire and harness enter points, as well as a multitude of other marine grade features.

You mentioned Bluetooth technology. Why is this an important feature for boaters?

The technological age is ever changing, and it is important that we stay on top of these advancements. Bluetooth technology is one of the newest technologies, and consumers expect to see this in their electronics.

With Bluetooth, boaters can use their own music devices to easily stream their personal music library to the stereo. Once connected, users can hide their device and control the music using the boat’s stereo. This makes the boating experience easier and more enjoyable.

How does keeping all design and testing in-house help you be cutting edge, as well as ensure you are creating a marine-grade product?

We are unique, in that we are not a “box” company.  We actually design the product, have it built and then test it in our in-house $2.1 million dollar facility.  We test against marine-type conditions, such as humidity, vibration, salt in the air, waterproofing and more. We feel this is what makes us a true marine company.

Furthermore, we are able to control our own inventory, and we make the decision of when we are going to switch a product to a newer model. Customers know that we are not going to run them out.  We are able to give them plenty of notice when we are going to switch models.

Many boaters are aware of JENSEN marine stereos, but what other boating-specific products do you manufacture?

We build LCD TVs that are built rugged for life on a boat. Our televisions are 12-volt DC meaning they have a low-energy power draw and are Energy Star compliant. They have an ultra-thin profile making them lightweight, and they range from 15 to 32 inches so we have models that are able to fit in nearly any location within the boat cabin. We also have a full line of speakers, amplifiers, housings, and other accessories.