Audio News for January 17, 2007

Is It a Bargain Because It’s Already Obsolete? – Consumer electronics products keep coming down in price – especially the video displays and DVD players. But things come down in price after Christmas as well, stimulating many to go out and make their purchase. It’s now taken for granted that you will be paying less in the future for a device than can do more. I just sold my top-of-line CRT display that cost $6000 in 2000 for least than $700. The approach of the last century was planned obsolescence – products were built which would quickly wear out and have to be replaced. Now consumer electronics normally do not wear out before they are replaced. Instead, the consumer is ready to buy because the newer device does more things, does them faster or better, and for less money than the original. People used to think a product would last ten years, but now many upgrade their cell phones every year.

Concern about making a buying decision because the product might be even cheaper tomorrow halts many consumers now. It is as important to know when to buy as what to buy. The home computer world moves at blinding speed today. The best advice is to future proof yourself by buying the PC with the most memory, the largest hard drive and the fastest processor. It’s next to impossible to stay ahead of the technology curve. In TV displays, the best deal currently is flat screens at the 720p level, and not plasmas. With normal viewing distance of RPTVs of 60 inches and under, it is difficult to tell the different between 720p and 1080p – the new ultimate resolution. Most users don’t sit any closer than nine or ten feet. So there is no overriding need to go for the highest-end model as yet.

SRS TruSurround HD4 Expands in the TV Market – SRS, a leading provider of surround sound solutions, has announced that their SRS TruSurround HD4 virtual surround technology is now featured in the latest  generation of single-chip TV solutions from Micronas – to be used in both digital TVs as well as analog audio systems. TruSurround HD4 accepts up to 6.1 input channels and renders virtual surround sound from two speakers in front of the viewer. Proprietary algorithms enhance signal clarity and dialog intelligibility, plus perceived bass response is maximize with psychoacoustic techniques. Phantom speakers appear to extend all around the listener, creating an immersive surround effect. A control is provided to adjust the mix of center information for any source.

Passing of Two Jazz Artists – Renowned tenor saxist and composer Michael Brecker died of Leukemia January 13 at age 57.  Brecker had made many harmonic and stylistic innovations as well as many recordings – one just two weeks before his death. He was an 11-time Grammy Award winner. Alice Coltrane, the widow of John Coltrane, died January 12th at age 69.  She was a musical innovator with her spiritually-oriented improvisations on concert harp and B-3 organ.