http://www.soundandvisionmagazine.co.uk/index1.php/site/index/ en jacob.stow@aceville.co.uk Copyright 2010 2010-03-05T11:47:32+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/making_dreams_a_reality/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/making_dreams_a_reality/#When:11:47:32Z The AV & CI industries do their bit for Donna's Dream HouseIan Morrish, who's 20 years in the AV industry have seen him move from working with high street retailers such as Audio T, Practical Hi-Fi and Rayleigh Hi-Fi to working on exhibitions such as the CEDIA Expo and ISE, had become acquainted with the charity through an episode of Channel 4's The Secret Millionaire, and the experience moved him so much he felt compelled to offer his help. Ian decided that with his contacts in the industry, he could help create a dedicated home entertainment room at Donna's Dream House. After an initial approach to the house's co-founder Len Curtis was met with great enthusiasm, Ian set about making his plan a reality. With the help of an introduction from Diva Corp's Angie Curtis, he recruited installer A&H Electrical's Martin Hudson to manage the project. He also contacted several companies within the industry to secure the equipment necessary. The response was overwhelming. Now, after many months of hard work and an official opening, attended by Len Curtis, Gary Eastwood (the 'Secret Millionaire'), Ian Morrish and Martin Hudson, on February 13th, 'Luke's Den' at Donna's Dream House is complete. Packed with equipment donated by CSE Custom, Icon Distribution, Niko UK, Onkyo, PMC and Redline Distribution, the room comprises a 10-seater cinema system, with room for two wheelchairs, a stage for small shows, a dance area and all the video games a child could wish for. Job done. But, rather than rest on his laurels, Ian is now hoping to create nine more entertainment rooms at similar homes around the country over the course of the next 10 years (if you know of a worthy registered charity that could benefit from such a project, Ian would be happy to hear from you). If you would like to get involved in these future projects, please contact Ian on +44 (0)1372 454 366, or email him at . As Ian says, “I just hope the industry can pool together to make a little bit of difference. Having seen the work done at Donna’s Dream House, believe me, it’s worth it.” Visit: www.donnasdreamhouse.co.uk News 2010-03-05T11:47:32+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/acer_aces_projection_market/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/acer_aces_projection_market/#When:10:56:33Z Ranked second in latest EMEA rankingsAccording to the figures, in Q4 2009 the video projector market recorded a 13.42% growth year-on-year, but it suffered an 8.5% decline for the entire year. More importantly for Acer, said figures rank the company second in the EMEA rankings and show that it outperformed the market both in Q4 and over the course of the whole year. Following significant investment in the UK, Acer recorded a 127% growth year-on-year here, despite a 10.2% decline in the market provoked by the global recession. Q4 2009 saw the company claim 15% market share, which translates into 197% growth from the same quarter in 2008 and took the company into first place in the UK for the first time in its history. Underpinning this remarkable performance were a number of new products, including the S1200 and X1230S Ultra short-throw models, and a line of 3D-ready projectors. Pictured is the H7530D, one of the company's residential solutions. With such a strong showing in the most difficult of economic circumstances, it will be interesting to see what strides the company make as the economy improves. Contact: +44 (0)870 853 1005 www.acer-euro.com News 2010-03-05T10:56:33+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/awards_update/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/awards_update/#When:10:32:15Z Hurry – voting closes March 31st!That's right, by the time SVI issue 71 hits your doormat or desktop, we'll be tallying up the nominations and preparing to reveal which brands and products have most impressed the AV and CI industries over the last 12 months. The important date to remember is March 31st, when voting in the Domestic & General-sponsored competition will close. So, if you have products you feel strongly about, and you haven't let us know yet, now is the time to do so. As it stands, voting is tight in pretty much every one of the 40 categories, with a wide variety of products and companies garnering support. The 'Best Distributor' category, in particular, is shaping up to be a hard-fought contest, with a number of leading names within a few votes of each other. As you might expect, the same is true of the 'Best Manufacturer' category, whilst there's an almighty tussle going on for the crown of 'Best In-wall / In-ceiling Speaker'. Winners in all categories will be showcased and feted in our May issue (issue 72), and will receive our coveted SVI Trade Awards Winners logo to use on their marketing material. Following the announcement, we'll be congratulating the victorious in person at CEDIA's Home Technology Event in June. What are you waiting for? Vote now! News 2010-03-02T10:32:15+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/andy_and_alan_launch_agency/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/andy_and_alan_launch_agency/#When:11:03:01Z Napthine Porter Ltd opens for businessWith some 40 years CE retail and marketing experience between them, working for leading brands such as Bowers & Wilkins, DALI, Denon, REL and TEAC, the duo will offer public relations, marketing and UK and International sales services as part of one-off projects, small business start-ups and multi-discipline packages for major brands. Commenting on what makes Napthine Porter unique, Alan said, “What will make a difference to our customers is our knowledge and our attitude to the industry. Having both worked in retail, area sales, sales and marketing management and PR, we understand what brands need to succeed. A brand can have a great review on a product one month but if it is not communicated internally and then through to retailers, it is missing a vital opportunity to influence the public and drive sales.” Andy continued, “The agency will be able to offer a wide range of disciplines, from the very basics of constructing a marketing plan and developing support materials through to a full PR service with contacts at all of the major technology and lifestyle publications. Combined with a full UK and international sales service, our new agency offers an unparalleled service.” Contact: Andy Napthine: +44 (0)7920 425 166 Alan Porter: +44 (0)7922 073 208 www.napthineporter.com News 2010-03-01T11:03:01+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/monitor_audio_rocks/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/monitor_audio_rocks/#When:12:37:33Z British loudspeaker brand signs up Sabbath guitarist“We were looking for a new creative to showcase some of the technological audio advances we have made at Monitor Audio since the company was formed,” explained Michael Johnson, Marketing Manager at Monitor. “We were keen to work with a musician, and who better than the inventor of some of the most recognisable guitar riffs in rock history?” For his part, Tony commented: “I’m delighted to be associated with Monitor Audio, and I’m a huge fan of their products. Monitor Audio has certainly been responsible for many great audio innovations over the last 35 years, and I’m really pleased to have helped to make this happen.” Indeed, Tony uses Monitor Audio's Platinum PL300 speaker in his studio, along with a mix of Radius HD and GS10 speakers for home cinema and studio duties respectively. “The performance of Monitor Audio products is outstanding,” added Iommi. “Each part of the range is also incredibly versatile, and they look great too.” Look out for the new Monitor Audio advertisement which shows Tony Iommi standing next to a Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 speaker beneath the words, “In 1971 Tony Iommi took rock from E to C-sharp and invented the sound of heavy metal. His de-tuned SG injected every Sabbath riff with a darker, more penetrating intensity, inspiring generations to pursue the perfect tone.” Contact: +44 (0)1268 740 580 www.monitoraudio.co.uk News 2010-02-24T12:37:33+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/showreviews/back_to_bristol/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/showreviews/back_to_bristol/#When:11:36:02Z Bristol Sound & Vision 2010 is almost here and it's going to be bigger than ever. SVI previews a few of the weekend's must-see brands... It'll be the 23rd time the show has taken place, and since it first opened its doors to the trade and buying public it's developed into one of the most important Consumer Electronics events in the UK AV calendar. Every year, the show plays host to a vast array of audio-visual equipment, including a raft of new product launches, and 2010 will be no different – at the time of writing it has just been announced that the show has sold out, with an all-time record 200 brands making the trip to the south-west. On the back of a tough 2009, that's some achievement. With so many brands exhibiting, there'll be no shortage of kit to see and assess. Already several leading names have announced what they'll be bringing to the party, so in an effort to direct you to a few of must-visit rooms we've identified a selection of the most interesting revelations to have dropped onto the editorial desk... TANNOY Tannoy’s innovative Definition series (pictured) will be on permanent demonstration throughout this year’s Bristol Sound & Vision show. With the latest Dual Concentric Drivers and cryogenically-treated crossovers encased within a sumptuous plywood cabinet, the three-strong range blends performance, accuracy and style in equal measure. You'll be able to see and hear why Definition is Tannoy’s best-selling mid-range loudspeaker since the Hi-Fi industry’s 80s heyday by heading along to rooms 306 and 308 (Icon Distribution UK Ltd) and Stand Bristol 15 on the Ground Floor. Contact: +44 (0)1236 420 199 www.tannoy.com CYRUS AUDIO / AUDYUS DISTRIBUTION Hi-Fi retailers visiting the Bristol Show will be interested to hear that the parent company of Cyrus Audio, Audyus, has formed a new operation to import two luxury audio brands – Audyus Distribution. The first brand of said brands is Vienna Acoustics, an Austrian high-performance loudspeaker manufacturer. The new distribution business will operate separately from the well-respected Cyrus team, ensuring Cyrus retailers continue to receive the very best service from the Cyrus Audio team. Peter Bartlett, Audyus MD, explained: “Audyus Distribution will concentrate on just two brands, as our business model is to provide retailers with extensive training and marketing support. Both brands complement each other and, of course, fit well with Cyrus. Although Cyrus has grown steadily, we don’t want to expand its UK distribution too fast as we highly value its specialist DNA. Growth for us will come as we build two highly regarded and professional European brands in the UK.” Roy Alvalle, Audyus’s Sales Manager, added: “The new distribution team will operate alongside Cyrus as a sister business to Cyrus Audio and will operate with its own staff and retailer network. The first brand to be launched is Vienna Acoustics who make stunning loudspeakers for audiophile customers. Unlike so many imported speaker brands, Vienna Acoustics has a form factor that fits easily with British homes. Link the attractive styling with outstanding performance and we are very excited about the potential for sales. A second brand will be added to Audyus Distribution’s stable very soon – an announcement is anticipated at The Bristol Show!” Speaking about the company's first new brand, Jon Burcham, Audyus’s Marketing Manager, said: “Vienna Acoustics will challenge your perception of speaker technology by combining selected components with intelligent crossover design. The Concert Grand Series is just one example from this exemplary range. Scale, power and grandeur are all inferred by its name. But the Concert Grand delivers far more than just power and scale. The careful listener will delight in the lucidity and clarity of the all-important middle range where virtually all instrument tones originate.” The Vienna Acoustics range will officially be unveiled at the Bristol Show (head to the Loudspeakers feature in SVI issue 70 for a closer look). Contact: +44 (0)1480 270 550 www.va-speakers.co.uk KEF CONCEPT BLADE KEF has a real treat for loudspeaker fans planned. The company will be showing off its Concept Blade for the first time in the UK – head to the Oslo Suite 1 and 2 for a closer look. The speakers utilise state-of-the-art Single Apparent Source technology in combination with KEF's Uni-Q midrange driver/tweeter, resulting in audio reproduction of “unrivalled” coherence. Other features include four newly developed 10-inch bass drivers and a curvaceous cabinet constructed from a carbon fibre/balsa wood composite, as utilised in high-performance sports cars. Contact: +44 (0)1622 672 261 www.kef.com PMC The PMC room will play hosts to a varied selection of cutting edge products. The company will be launching its DS-001 – an audiophile-grade Class-D power amplifier. Despite its diminutive stature, the model can produce an astonishing 200W into 8 ohms with a flat frequency curve under all loads courtesy of its intelligent single feedback loop circuit; because of it, it can be rack-, wall- or speaker-mounted, as well as freestanding. Both the amp and its complementary (and equally compact) power supply are highly efficient into the bargain. Other attractions will include the launch of wafer-art – a bespoke grille-painting service that enables consumers to customise their wafer1 and wafer2 on-wall speakers. The acoustically-transparent grilles can be covered in a wide variety of solid colours, library images or any high-resolution image of a customer’s choosing. Contact: +44 (0)870 444 1044 www.pmc-speakers.com VOGEL'S PRODUCTS UK Vogel's offering at Sound & Vision will comprise a range of innovative mounting solutions designed to make life easy for consumers. Technologies on show will include Screen Protection, which stops a TV hitting the wall, and Smart Movement Mechanism, which enables a user to move large screens with just a fingertip. For those who consider even that too much effort, there'll be Vogel's EFWE6455RC, a remote controlled motorised wall mount. The clever device will move a screen up to 45° in a smooth, fluent motion, or move to a preset point when the screen is switched on before returning to the wall when it is switched off. Finally, for those looking for the perfect finish, Vogel's cable columns will doubtless appeal (options for four, eight and 10 cables are available). The company's EFA8835/40 comes with AV mounts to support satellite boxes and games consoles – users can add EFA8825 AV mounts to meet their specific requirements. Contact: +44 (0)330 2020 980 www.vogels.com TEAC TEAC will have a strong product line-up on display at the Marriott. Amongst the components on show will be the CR-H258i – a compact CD Micro Component Receiver with iPod docking functionality, an SD card slot and USB connectivity. Also included is a Tri-band digital tuner with preset station memory, clock and timer function, enabling the model to meet consumers' every music-playing need. The associated iPod dock (sold as an optional extra) also brings S-Video and composite video outputs to the party, whilst a fully-featured remote provides convenient control of the entire device (and any docked iPod) from the comfort of the sofa. Contact: +44 (0)845 130 2511 www.teac.co.uk ONKYO The Marriott is the venue for the public début of Onkyo's flagship THX-certified Blu-ray system. Comprising the Profile 2.0-compliant BD-SP807 Blu-ray player, PA-MC5500 9-channel power amplifier and PR-SC5507 AV network controller, the system promises consumers excellent HD playback, 1080p upscaling, Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio compatibility, BD-Live functionality and a mighty 220W of audio. The system also benefits from excellent connectivity, thanks to the presence of seven HDMI, three component video and six S-Video/composite inputs, plus two HDMI outputs. It also offers DLNA connectivity, allowing it to replay streaming audio files and access internet radio stations. You'll find it, and the rest of Onkyo's offering, in the Berlin 1 Suite on the Ground Floor. Contact: +44 (0)1628 473 350 www.onkyo.co.uk OFF THE WALL Yorkshire-based Off The Wall is using the platform afforded by Sound & Vision to exhibit its new Skyline and Profile AV furniture, plus its successful Origin range. Skyline features a cantilever design without pole legs, and offers a generous amount of shelf space while taking up a minimum of floorspace. Two sizes are available to suits screens up to 37- and 52-inches respectively, and consumers can choose from two finish options. Profile has a stylish cabinet design that fuses traditional and modern aesthetics. It comes in a single, 900mm version, will support screens of up to 52-inches in size and can be selected in any one of four finish options. Both ranges benefit from Off The Wall's 'No More Wires' cable management system as standard. Contact: +44 (0)1274 302 830 www.off-the-wall.tv YAMAHA 2009 was a busy year for Yamaha, which will have a host of its latest solutions on show. These will include the MCR-640, a micro component system comprising a receiver, CD-player and two speakers, which manages to output a quality of audio worthy of a much larger and more expensive system. Noteworthy features include iPod direct docking, USB connectivity and a 30-station preset FM/DAB tuner. Also in attendance will be the firm's two new Digital Sound Projectors – the YSP-5100 and YSP-4100. Contact: +44 (0)1908 366 700 www.yamaha-uk.com REGA RESEARCH LTD With vinyl back in fashion to some degree, why not head along to Rega's rooms. The company's product offering will include the P2, a completely British-made solution equipped with a new RB251 tonearm and stabilised 22mm platter, as well as an optional fitted Bias 2 cartridge. Rega will also be running a turntable clinic for visitors, with all turntables serviced for free by Rega staff and discounts available on upgrade parts. Most exciting though, is Rega's new flagship CD-player, the Valve Isis, and Osiris integrated amplifier, which will be proving their worth in the company's demonstration room. The former is Rega's seventh generation CD-player and looks set to wow the discerning crowd throughout the three-day show. Visit: www.rega.co.uk SIM2 Head to the Executive Lounge and you'll happen upon Italian projector brand SIM2. The company will be showing off the latest addition to its Grand Cinema range, the MICO 50. The new model combines 3LED illumination with 1080p DLP technology, and serves up impressively clear and vibrant pictures. Look inside and you'll notice that the standard UHP lamp and colour wheel assembly of single-chip DLP is absent – in its place, three high-power Phlatlight LEDs, which are capable of generating incredible levels of brightness from a smallpoint source, and have a median lifetime in excess of 100,000 hours. It's a solution that effectively puts pay to annoying sequential colour artefact or 'rainbow' effect. Despite a weighty price tag of MSRP £14,995, expect the MICO 50 to attract plenty of attention in Bristol. Contact: +44 (0)1825 750 850 www.sim2.co.uk For further information visit: www.bristolshow.co.uk Show News 2010-02-24T11:36:02+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/comment/net_profit/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/comment/net_profit/#When:11:18:42Z PHIL HANSEN discusses the benefits of embracing a connected future, with a little help from BADA's Netcraft training course...I consider myself pretty tech savvy and am definitely an early adopter. I have to have the latest Apple product, I bought a plasma TV when they really were too expensive to be considered a sensible purchase and my first digital SLR was bought when 6-megapixels was cutting edge! Nothing unusual there in our industry – I’m sure there are many of you who can associate with that kind of buyer behaviour. But, I have to admit it, I am a secret luddite, and I’m sure I’m not the only one out there. The age of the download is well and truly with us, I know that, and yet I still can’t bring myself to stop buying and listening to CDs and vinyl. True, I have ripped all my CDs to my iTunes software and I do stream them wirelessly to my Apple TV, so I can listen to them through the home cinema system, and I transfer them to my iPod. But, it’s unthinkable that I would connect the computer to the Hi-Fi system and listen to the digital copies of my CDs rather than the real thing. I know I could buy a Sooloos, a HDX or a DS and have bit-perfect copies of my CDs, with all the album artwork and artist information I could ever want. Then I could start buying High Definition downloads, and I know the music would sound fabulous, as I’ve heard all these products and others and they’re great. But, and here’s where the contradiction in my character comes in, I’m not ready to make the leap away from tangible media. However, many people are and I’ve no doubt that one day I will do so; meanwhile, I’ll keep doing my bit to help the CD industry. downloads on the up It was reported by the BPI this week that total album sales have hit an all-time low, with a 3.5% drop in 2009, the fifth year running that they have declined. In fact, CD album sales are down a fifth since 2004, which is an awful lot – approximately 30-million less CDs sold last year than just five years ago. However, there has been a massive 56% rise in album downloads, which helped, somewhat, to mitigate the overall reduction. Just a couple of days earlier, the BPI also released the figures for singles sales for 2009. A record number of 152-million singles were purchased during the year (up from 115-million in 2008), and so we can safely say that interest in recorded music is definitely not in decline. The staggering statistic here is that a massive 98% of these single sales were digital downloads. The odd thing, though, is the love affair with the album that still seems to exist, despite the reduction in sales. The National Portrait Gallery is holding an exhibition on album photography from the 60s and 70s, and the Royal Mail has just published its classic album covers stamps – and very nice they look too. But it is telling that the average age of the albums chosen is 21 years, with the oldest being the 1969 Rolling Stones album, Let it Bleed, and the youngest being Coldplay's, decidedly middle-of-the-road (you're being kind – Ed.), Rush of Blood album from 2002. They are clearly aimed at the kind of people who still buy CDs and not the download generation, who probably don’t post that many letters anyway, preferring to communicate by email, MSN and Twitter. new to networks? “Is it progress if a cannibal uses a knife and fork?” wrote Stanislaw Lem, author of Solaris. Progress cannot be stopped; it’s not always better, but it will happen and we must be ready for it. That is why BADA has developed a suite of courses that helps equip members of our profession with the skills needed to prosper in a quickly developing market. One such course is the newly launched Netcraft, which teaches the basics of networking to Hi-Fi retailers. As album and single downloads continue to replace physical media and the audiophile market embraces High Definition audio downloads, bit-perfect CD rippers and the like, the ability to integrate such products into Hi-Fi systems is going to be an essential skill set. Netcraft starts with an assumption of zero knowledge about networks and takes the candidates through the basics. The course outline states: Netcraft has been created to develop key computer networking skills for those who specify, install or configure networking devices in customers' homes. Audio and video devices are now regularly connected to computer networks for internet radio, file streaming and control. Adding network devices without fully understanding how networks function often leads to installation nightmares, unhappy customers and considerable loss of profit. Netcraft provides the knowledge and understanding needed to ensure installations go smoothly and customers are delighted. It may sound a long way from the Hi-Fi systems that we are all familiar and comfortable with, but we need to be prepared for the future. The music buying public are not being discouraged by the move from physical media to downloads – far from it, as the BPI sales stats show – and neither should we. Some of our customers may well be more keen to embrace a server based future than some of us, but that’s no reason why we shouldn’t be as knowledgeable as we can be about the new technologies. If you want to be recognised as the expert by your customers, then you owe it to yourself and your business to get up-to-speed with the future. Why not drop us a line and find out more about Netcraft and how it could give you and your staff a real advantage. And if you want to come to the inaugural Luddites Anonymous meeting... Contact: +44 (0)20 8150 6741 www.bada.co.uk Comments 2010-02-24T11:18:42+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/new_sales_manager_at_crestron/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/new_sales_manager_at_crestron/#When:10:40:34Z Jamie Blakemore promotedJamie, who has been at company for seven years, said of the appointment: “Crestron is successful in the AV industry as our products are simple and intuitive to operate, and there is such a wide range of solutions to specify from. This is something which is especially important in today’s market, and being able to offer technical training and programming support and advice is also a great asset. My focus will be to look at ways to improve all aspects of our service to the end user, and help to really add value to each installation.” MD, Robin van Meeuwen, added: “Jamie has demonstrated a flair for technical sales that has seen him shine in both the commercial and residential markets. His leadership qualities make him ideally suited to this role, and I look forward to the business growing successfully under Jamie’s stewardship.” Contact: +44 (0)845 873 8787 www.crestron.co.uk News 2010-02-24T10:40:34+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/single_station_list_planned/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/single_station_list_planned/#When:10:24:44Z Radio industry aims to integrate DAB and FM for listeners' convenienceCurrently, to listen to an FM station on a digital radio, listeners must navigate between digital and analogue through a button or switch, raising concerns that those stations not on digital may lose audience as listeners fail to switch between platforms. The development of an integrated station list will allow future radios to display both digital and analogue stations together in one list, allowing listeners to choose by name and tune seamlessly from station to station. Digital Radio UK, the company responsible for preparing the UK for digital radio upgrade, is working with leading receiver manufacturers and technology suppliers such as Sony, Roberts and chip manufacturer Frontier Silicon. Over the next few months an industry working group will be developing a specification to be introduced well ahead of digital radio switchover.   Ford Ennals, Chief Executive, Digital Radio UK, said: “This is a hugely significant development on the road to switchover and crucial to our objective of ensuring a bright future for the entire radio industry, from the most popular national brand to the smallest community station.”   Leslie Burrage, Chief Executive, Roberts Radio, agreed, commenting: “The joined-up message is exactly what the industry requires, benefiting listeners, broadcasters and manufacturers alike:  common sense prevails.”   Steve Dowdle, Managing Director, Sony UK, added: “We believe that this initiative will be of great benefit to our customers and make digital radios even easier to use. Listeners just want to hear their favourites stations, regardless of the technology used to deliver them.” Visit: www.drdb.org News 2010-02-24T10:24:44+00:00 http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/association_adds_associates/http://www.svimag.com/index.php/content/news/association_adds_associates/#When:10:07:16Z Retra celebrates record yearThe association has announced that it welcomed a record number of associate members to its ranks over the 12 months, from an array of sectors, including distribution and digital services. The new associate members include: Big Red Sales Ltd, D.A.D, Digital Radio Development Bureau, Midwich Ltd, Euro Digital Services, Humax Electronics Co. Ltd, LG Electronics UK Ltd, Philex Electronic Ltd and Technisat Digital UK Ltd. Of the achievement, retra Chief Executive, Bryan Lovewell, said: “We both welcome and thank all those that have joined us last year. To see such strong support from associate members of the independent retail sector really is gratifying, and we hope that this will continue. During these difficult and challenging times, the increase of these new members and partnerships is encouraging and provides solidarity for everyone.” Contact: +44 (0)1234 269 110 www.retra.co.uk News 2010-02-24T10:07:16+00:00