Tabletop Speaker Systems Display Diversity

By Joseph Palenchar On Nov 7 2011 - 6:02am

NEW YORK – Audio suppliers are filling up the fourthquarter pipeline with a variety of products that fill niches from the low to high ends and stray from the traditional component-audio, HTiB and shelf-system categories.

Single-chassis iPod/iPhone/iPad speaker systems, stereo-Bluetooth speaker systems and an AirPlay speaker system are among the new products designed to play back audio stored on hand-held devices such as iPods, smartphones, and tablets.

 

McIntosh Outlines Experience Center Goals

By Joseph Palenchar On Nov 7 2011 - 6:02am

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – McIntosh is rolling out Mc- Intosh-dedicated Experience Center rooms in dealer stores “to elevate the entire experience that consumers have with our brand” and “broaden the customer base to consumers who can appreciate anything that is at the top of their class,” said Linda Passaro, sales and marketing global VP.

The first Experience Center opened Friday, Nov. 4, at Century Stereo in San Jose, Calif., and the second will open Thursday, Nov. 10, at IQ Home Entertainment in Fairfax, Va.

PC Audio, Wireless Audio Options Grow

By Joseph Palenchar On Nov 21 2011 - 6:01am

NEW YORK – Wireless audio and the growing popularity of computers and portable devices as primary music sources were common themes infusing a series of audio products launched this month.

Many of the new products use wireless technologies such as stereo Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Apple’s AirPlay to stream music from PCs, smartphones or tablets, but two brands — NHT and Energy — launched their first active speakers designed expressly for wired analog connection to a PC or portable device.

Home Audio Briefs

By TWICE Staff On Nov 21 2011 - 6:01am

NuForce Adds DAC/Amplifier

MILPITAS, CALIF. — NuForce introduced the $299-suggested Dia, a 192kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with built-in stereo amplifier designed to improve the audio performance of multiple home A/V devices, including TVs, game consoles, and settop boxes.

Vizio Prices HDMI Soundbar

IRVINE, CALIF. – Vizio priced its first HDMI-switching soundbar, the VHT215, at a suggested $319.99.

Component Audio Sales On The Rise: CEA

By Joseph Palenchar On Dec 5 2011 - 6:01am

ARLINGTON, VA. — Factory-level sales of audio components, including speakers, rose 10.9 percent during the first nine months of the year to $902.3 million, driven by a 14.3 percent gain in speaker sales and a 6.5 percent gain in component electronics, statistics from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) showed.

Home Audio Briefs

By TWICE Staff On Dec 5 2011 - 6:01am

NRSC Seeks End Of Radio Display Text Cutoff

ARLINGTON, VA. – Home and car radios whose text displays cut off the names of artists and songs broadcast by radio stations could become less common, thanks to an NRSC (National Radio Systems Committee) initiative.

Home Audio: What's Coming At CES 2012

By Joseph Palenchar On Dec 19 2011 - 6:01am

NEW YORK — Home audio dealers will find plenty of new products to audition at next month’s International CES, where suppliers will offer up a growing selection of products with Apple AirPlay and stereo Bluetooth to connect to hand-held music sources.

Dealers will also find a growing selection of soundbars, 2.1-speaker home theater in a box (HTiB) system with virtual surround, iPad-docking speaker systems, and networked tabletop speakers.

Where's The Growth?

By TWICE Staff On Dec 19 2011 - 6:01am

TWICE: What were the growth categories in component electronics and speakers in 2011? And what do you expect the growth categories will be in 2012?

Johnston: With technology continuing to trickle down, there will be significant growth in the entrylevel receiver category. We are trending up over $600 from 2010, but we believe that the market will end up on the decline. Our growth has come from a strengthened product line and stronger relationships we are building with specialty retailers through our Elite brand.

Harman Group Adding Audio Under Four Brands

By Joseph Palenchar On Dec 19 2011 - 6:01am

ELKHART, IND. – Harman’s luxury audio group, formerly known as the high performance audio video (HPAV) group, will turn up at International CES with new products bearing the Mark Levinson, Revel, JBL Synthesis and Lexicon brands.

Mark Levinson will celebrate its 40th anniversary with four new products available at various times during the year. Some products mark the brand’s reentry into product segments that it left awhile back, said marketing manager Jim Garrett. The brand will also launch an ad campaign to support the anniversary, he added.

Features In Demand

By TWICE Staff On Dec 19 2011 - 6:01am

TWICE: What particular features are driving component sales in 2011, and what will drive sales in 2012?