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The Signature Sound Lounge Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share you ideas and experiences. |
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Happy new year all!!! Before I head off to CES next week, I figured I'd pass along some thoughts about the year past and some wishes for the next year.2003 was full of up and downs. For the most part, it was not an easy year for many folks I know in the industry. The first half was quite good for many folks, but it was followed by a last half of 2003 which was not pleasant for many in the trade. As I see it, the economy had many folks concerned as well as many out of jobs or concerned enough to tighten thier belts which defeinelty led to a downturn in high-end audio spending. As well, a pre-occupation with things in the middle east with the war in Iraq left many folks with an unease/uncertainty which is vital to today economy.
2004 does look brighter. While I do have my concerns, the market is up, the ecnomy is showing signs of recovery, and interest (phone calls, customer visits, etc) has picked up in the past few months which has more more optimistic about things than during this last summer.
For our Hifi inudstry, this is my wish list for 2004:
1) Hi-end Audio still needs that special front end product to get a more serious buzz going through the trade and audiophiles about HiRez digital. We need the new millinium's version of the Rega Planet for SACD. When the original Rega Planet was introduced several years ago, it generaed quite a buzz in the press AND among consumers becuase of its value and performance. The industry needs another product like that for under $1,000 that plays CDs and SACDs well. It needs to be simple to use, well made (a good reliable transport that doesn't take forever to load a CD or SACD), and TWO CHANNEL ONLY. Who ever comes out with such a product is going to sell them like hotcakes.
2) A trade assocsiation truely dedicated to High-End AUDIO. The CEA, CEDIA, and other similar originzations do not truely have the specialty 2 channel HiFi only (no HT) industry at heart. I'm not talking about a trade group dominated by the big guys (Krell, Mark Levinsion (Harmon International), API (Mirage, Energy), etc) who have rather diverse interests, but a trade goup that focuses on the promotion of HiFI gear (not self promotion or giving each other awards) outside the general bounds of the hobby. Members would need to be from the core of the hobby whose focus is audio with each company form the smallest to the largest having an equal voice.
3) PRIMEDIA would wise up and realize that besides the big guys, most HiFi companies can't possibly afford to do two consumer HiFI shows each year. This is just financially not feasable. PRIMEDIA needs to get up off is corporate ass and start cross-promoting as well! Why they do not promote Stereophile magazine and thier HiFI showsin some of thier other publications (which would be perfect target audiences) is beyond me.
4) My last wish is that I hope everyone has a healhty and prosperpous new year. I hope we all focus more on what is right, fun, and great about our hobby (which there really is a great deal of) than some of the negativism that I see in some of the Asylum discusssion forums.
Best regards,
Rich Brkich
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Topic - Some wishes for 2004.... - Rich Brkich 11:38:35 01/02/04 (0)
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