Dolby, Soho Square, London
Clarity, the UK Hi Fi trade association, held their annual trade event at Dolby Soho Square, with a packed set of presentations including a brief introduction to Dolby Vision (HDR), an upcoming video standard delivering higher contrast, 4,000:1 and said to be a greater performance gain visually than current 4k is over 720p. There is a higher contrast high def format already, HDR 10, which ideally is a tasty 10-bit resolution at up to 1,000 nits. Dolby Vision will do up to 4k nits (and it really is really bright with a good laser projector!) at a 12 bit dynamic range. In addition, like the Atmos sound standard optimising the playback sound channels, this video format adapts and scales the incoming data to best match the video playback you are using. Seen at 2016 CES several manufacturers have adopted it including Vizio and LG.
With a very good member attendance, a key event was GFK’s Nick Simon’s presentation of market data, noting that inflation was very low, wages were increasing and that consumer spending was on the rise. While sales of separates hi fi, smaller TVs and iPods and similar players, clock radios and home theatre had declined, large TV, sound bars and streaming docks and players had greatly increased. Turntable sales had risen by 60% - admittedly the bulk of this is low end consumer all-in-ones, but component designs are also gaining ground and attracting new customers for separates audio to go with. Some 500 million music streams a week are reported for the UK, double the previous year, and an astonishing 25 billion a year for the world market as a whole. Nonetheless, UK vinyl sales jumped 65% year on year and the vinyl album chart has been reinstated.
Richard Hartigan of Google UK discussed how searches work and how to make best use of web behaviour and data to help potential customers. When there is too much choice, visitors often give up in frustration.
Clarity are backing the new vinyl show Stylus 2016 Heathrow Park Inn 23rd-24th April. The aim is to get a wider audience for records, record players and music, with spin off to the separates audio sector, namely hi fi.
Richard Hartigan of Google UK discussed how searches work and how to make best use of web behaviour and data to help potential customers. When there is too much choice, visitors often give up in frustration.
Clarity are backing the new vinyl show Stylus 2016 Heathrow Park Inn 23rd-24th April. The aim is to get a wider audience for records, record players and music, with spin off to the separates audio sector, namely hi fi.
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