Factory-level dollar sales of home audio components and speakers fell during the first two months of the year by 5.4% to $205 million on a unit-sales gain of 11.8% to 2.19 million, CEMA statistics show.
Nonetheless, Dolby Digital receivers and high-end separates posted strong growth during that time, with DD receiver sales rising 28% to $38.8 million, power amps rising 29% to $5.1 million, and preamps rising 141% to $2.7 million, although integrated amps fell 37% to $1.73 million. Home systems were also off for the first two months, falling 6.9% in dollars to $216 million though rising 3% in units to 1.16 million.
The system star was the shelf system, whose unit sales grew 7.1% to 1.04 million on a 0.1% dollar decline to $32.1 million.
