DVDs, Home Theater Options Perk Up Market for Stereo Systems

摘要

For audiophiles, now is a period of exciting change. Many are moving beyond equipment for sound alone and are seeking products that offer fully coordinated top-quality sound and images. Among the audio units gaining popularity are minicomponent stereos provided with DVD players or receivers and home theater systems. Such products are highlights in a market that has been difficult. Overall the audio industry has suffered from cuts in unit prices as demand has wavered. The lackluster market for mini-component stereo systems is representative of this problem for manufacturers. However, manufacturers see a new business frontier opening with the addition of image-related technologies or functions to conventional audio systems. Some manufacturers and retailers are embarking on new sales offensives to take advantage of this emerging market. The evolution of audio equipment has followed a path from cassette recorders to CD players to MiniDisc (MD) receivers. This path has run parallel to the development of new recording media.