New Year Brings Style, Color, And A Good Outlook

By TWICE Staff -- TWICE, 1/6/2000

The new year will bring new styling, colors, product categories, and a myriad of new accessories products to a category that is looking forward to a very good year in 2000 as the industry moves to digital.

One new category that will be heard from this year is audio/video switchers designed to accommodate all of the equipment consumers are trying to add to their TV sets. Video senders and security cameras are also on the agenda for this year.

In addition, sleek new antennas are coming to market from a number of companies, including Channel Master, Terk, Jasco, Thomson and Zenith.

Headsets are also a big category now, and many new models for audio and telecommunications are being introduced. Prices range from under $10 and to about $250 for a high-end unit with surround sound from Sennheiser.

Koss is adding new models for use with MP3 players, the KSC/35 and KSC/19 at $24.99 and $14.99, respectively.

Look for new audio/video switchboxes and adapters from various companies. Zenith has a model designed to expand a TV that has only one F jack and one or two sets of RCA jacks, to six F-jacks and six sets of RCA plugs.

The device can learn remote control functions, enabling consumers to use the remote control with the switchbox. It is scheduled to ship in the second quarter at a retail price of $79.95.

Jasco's new video adapter is the model AV93299. It provides RCA plugs for those TVs that have only one F jack in the back and will sell for about $30.

Thomson's new model is the VH920 video Source Selectro. It adds six S-VHS or audio/video inputs for hooking up home entertainment products and will automatically switch between components using the original remote control. The suggested retail price is $129.95.

Recoton is featuring its ADS1000 optical switcher, which is designed to connect as many as three optical-output-equipped source components to products with single optical inputs. An illuminated LED shows which source component has been chosen. The suggested retail price is $39.99.

Recoton's SVS1000 S-Video audio/video selector switch links up to four S-Video sources to a TV or home theater system and allows switching between them. It features front-panel output to accommodate 1/8-inch mini plugs and has a suggested retail price of $39.99.

Also new from Recoton are the AD300 and AD500 universal AC adapters at suggested retail prices of $14.99 and$17.99, respectively, and three new video signal splitters -- the V340, V341 and V342 -- at $9.99, $11.99 and $14.99.

Thomson, Zenith and Terk are among the companies showing new 2.4GHz video senders at CES. The Thomson and Zenith models both carry a suggested retail price of $149.95; Terk has not priced its unit yet.

Look for a number of new security cameras to debut from accessories suppliers this year. Zenith's line includes two black & white and two color models, starting at $59.95 for the entry-level B&W unit and going up to $99.95 for the B&W with motion detection, which sets off a buzzer or starts the VCR if no one is home.

The color models are $129.95 and $199.95, for the step-up with motion detection. Each system can support up to four cameras, the company said.

Jasco is also introducing new security cameras, starting with the MicroCam B&W, which is about the size of a golf ball and will be priced at about $79.99. The line also includes the ColorCam at $99.99, the Ultra ColorCam with two-way audio, and the top-of-the-line WirelessCam, a 2.4GHz model. All four can also be connected to a VCR to record what is happening while the user is away.

Gemini is also in the 2.4GHz game with its new Magnavox-brand MobileCAM, a wireless home-security system that includes a small dome camera with separate transmitter and power supply, and a 5-inch monitor.

While antenna sales are anything but flat, a number of suppliers are introducing new almost-flat models. Jasco has a new low-profile model, the 94720 Millennium, which is only 1.5 inches high and will be priced at $39.99.

Channel Master is featuring its new line of Digital Satellite TV accessories for the do-it-yourselfer. The line includes an extensive selection of tools, hardware and electronics needed to mount dishes and connect receiving systems.

Channel Master is also featuring its new $69.95 StealthTenna, a sleek low-profile antenna that provides VHF, UHF and FM reception for both digital and analog broadcast signals.

Thomson is launching two new low-profile models, the ANT350 and ANT500, at suggested retail prices of $49.49 and $129.95.

Terk is also debuting new antennas, including a line of Log Period (LP) UHF/VHF models, along with other new models such as the TV55 indoor/outdoor omnidirectional unit that measures 40 x 2 x 3 inches.

Gemini is featuring its Magnavox MANT500, which it calls the B52 because of its sleek, low-profile design. It measures only 1.5 inches at its highest point and is 19.75 inches wide.

The cable category is also coming alive this year as everyone gets ready for the digital age.

Monster Cable is featuring many new products at CES, including the $79.95 Digital Interlink LightSpeed 200, a high bandwidth fiber optic cable for digital signal transfer from DVD, CD, MiniDisc, outboard digital-to-analog converters, S/PDIF and Dolby Digital audio applications. It also has the MonsterBass 300 at $39.95, a precision powered subwoofer cable, and many others.

Zenith is also announcing a premier line of digital cables for home entertainment systems with DSS, DVD, laser disc players and other digital technologies. The line will include IEEE 1394 cables, optical cables, digital coax cables, and high-performance A/V interconnect cables.

Recoton is offering its new ADS900 series digital optical cables that include Toslink-to-mini adapters, so retailers can offer the same SKU to customers who need to make Toslink-to-Toslink, Toslink-to-mini, or mini-to-mini optical connections.

In remote controls, new styling and colors are adding excitement to the category.

Thomson has a three-device model in purple, yellow and blue translucent cases at a suggested retail price of $19.95, as well as a five-device model with "rugged" styling and new colors at $29.95.

Zenith is in the color game, with a four-device model at $14.95 that is available in five translucent colors. Zenith is also adding two big-button three-device models at $19.99, an RF/IR model at $29, and a learning remote at about $39.

Gemini is adding new Magnavox and Philips Magnavox remote controls at prices ranging from $13.99 to $24.99, including one model at $19.99, in three popular translucent colors.

Also on the color front, Koss is featuring a line of headsets in bright, translucent colors, and Maxell is introducing its new "ice blue" earbuds at $9.99. Maxell is also featuring its new HB-375 Digital headsets with a wraparound-the-ear design at $14.99 and the NB-900 Digital headphones with neck-band design at $16.99.

Look for many other new headsets at CES, including the new cellphone sets from Fellowes that are the result of a joint effort between Fellowes and Jabra.

Recoton also has two universal telephone headsets, the T940 and T950, which are compatible with cordless and cellphones. The suggested retail prices are $19.99 for T940 and $14.99 for T950.

In cases and bags, color and styling is the name of the game, and companies such as Case Logic and Roundhouse are featuring new models for the new year.

Case Logic is kicking off the year with new packaging designed to act as a "silent salesperson" for the company's audio line, with bright new colors and graphics.

While updating its wallet nylon and koskin wallet line, Case Logic is also launching the CDY line targeting Generation Y, in a combination of new colors -- purple, yellow and blue with gray accents. They also feature a raised rubberized logo for a more sporty look and easy-grip zipper pulls.

Typical products include the CDY-24 at a suggested retail price of $11.99 to hold either 24 CDs or 12 CDs with liner notes in the company's patented ProSleeve pockets. It is available in yellow, blue and purple.

Also available is the CDY-48 at $16.99 to hold up to 48 CDs, and the DMY-1 at $16.99 to hold CD players and CDs.

The company is also adding a player case for MP3 players and new bags for point-and-shoot cameras. Another new product is the PDV-1 bag for a portable DVD player at $34.99.

Roundhouse's new line also features new styles and colors. It is launching three new CD storage cases in its CDProjects line: Genuine Leather, Cargo and Color Line, along with the Animal Print Collection featuring cow, zebra and leopard prints.

Maintenance and storage also continue to be big categories. Some products in this area include Maxell's CD accessories and Fellowes' DVD storage towers.

Maxell's CD line includes products such as a Disc Shield Kit (CD-250) at $12.99 and $12.99 for a disc shield refill. A Wet Disc Cleaner (CD-320) is also $12.99.

Fellowes is offering 25- and 50-DVD capacity storage towers at $11.99 and $19.99, respectively.