Hiding Away the Home Electronics – As flat-screen displays and home theater systems are becoming ubiquitous due to the dropping prices, larger numbers of consumers are beginning to want to find ways to disguise the gadgetry in their livings rooms. Some manufacturers are trying to soften the appearance of their components with decorative touches, and at least a few high-end speaker systems have become works of sculpture in themselves. But several new approaches are seeking to blend equipment into the spare lines of a modern living area.
Artcoustic makes thin speakers faced with acoustically transparent fabric on which purchasers have images of their choice printed, so the speakers look like framed artwork on the wall. The company’s sales have gone up 50% a year the past four years, and they say their typical customer has probably never even ventured into a hi-fi store. VisionArt of Costa Mesa, CA makes art prints which retract into their frames to reveal plasma TV displays. The frames are motorized and sell for as much as $18,000. They sell editions of art works signed by their own painters and photographers. Another TV-masking device is called HideandChic. A company spokesperson said “While the TVs on, that’s one thing; when it is turned off, ‘the lady of the house and the designers find it a little ugly. It’s just a big, blank, black square on the wall.'”
Other firms are turning to wood, which fits better into more traditional environments. LG Electronics has displayed a wood frame for a large plasma screen. Chief Manufacturing has pine frames for 32-t0-50-inch flat-panel TVs. They also offer a glass overlay which turns into a mirror when the TV is turned off – though it reduces the screen brightness about 5%. German maker Wood Contour Inc. even sells wooden LCD computer monitors.
Cleveland Orchestra Partnership with DGG – The Cleveland orchestra, regarded as one of the world’s preeminent ensembles, is again recording with a major record label. The orchestra originally worked with the German label in l975. Deutsche Grammophon has a long and distinguished Beethoven tradition, which is appropriate since the Cleveland’s first new recording – scheduled for release this summer – is Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, conducted by their music director now in his fifth year with the orchestra – Franz Welser-Möst.
