ANALYSIS: AUDIO Home Entertainment
Audio brands look to Millennials and Gen Z to drive sales
Funky form factors, wireless connectivity and celebrity endorsements are crucial when it comes to engaging consumers. Steve May reports on the latest trends topping the Hi-Fi sales chart…
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says Dave Tovissi, Vice President and General Manager, Luxury Audio at Harman International. Mr Tovissi is speaking at the Hollywood launch
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of JBL’s first AV receiver range, designated Modern Audio, and he knows the demographic well. Having sold over two million headphones and one million loudspeakers, JBL now aims to make waves in the home theatre space with a comprehensive line up of AV receivers and partnering loudspeakers, designed for younger consumers. “We’ve endeavoured to reimagine a home cinema experience,” explains Mr Tovissi. “With a younger customer in mind, we researched what prevents them from buying component audio. This has led to a fresh new design approach.” Crafted by Harman’s Luxury Audio Group,
and designed and tuned at the JBL Center of Acoustics Excellence in Northridge, California, you can be sure there’s some high-end DNA in there somewhere. Innovations include patented HDI waveguides for
room-filling sound, and
he audio industry is betting on Millennials and Gen Z to reinvigorate the Hi-Fi business. “They’re the new consumers. They are the ones with disposable income,”
anodised tweeters. But the selling proposition is ease of use. I had an early preview of the range and they’re very impressive indeed! “These receivers are for the next generation of customers,” I’m told. “Luxury home theatre for Gen Z and Millennials, who appreciate and aspire to premium audio, but have been put off by confusing setup, complicated interfaces, and the dated style of AVRs.” The JBL MA AV Receivers and matching Stage 2 loudspeakers can be configured for stereo duties, 5.1 or full Dolby Atmos, and they’re intended to be easy to install, connect and upgrade.
In addition to ‘Works with SmartThings’ integration, they are compatible with a wide variety of audio platforms, including Apple AirPlay and Chromecast. Prices range from £499 for the 60W MA310 5.2-channel through to the £1,899 range-topping MA9100HP, a 9.2 channel, 140W Dolby Atmos model. The partnering Stage 2 loudspeakers, available
in Latte and Espresso colourways, comprise floorstanders, bookshelf models, centre channel, Dolby Atmos height modules and subwoofers, at prices that span £329 up to £1,050.
Rival Denon is also hoping to change the Hi-Fi paradigm with its new Denon Home Amp. This cute compact (at just 86.2 × 217 × 234mm) stereo amplifier has a 2x100W power plant and Heos hi-res whole home audio built in. Able to supply up to 64 zones of multiroom audio, it’s interoperable with the wider Heos- enabled ecosystem of Denon and Marantz AV components and loudspeakers. Very much a home entertainment hub, there’s HDMI with eARC connectivity, as well as a digital optical audio input, analogue stereo and USB-A. The Denon Home Amp is dual-band Wi-Fi enabled, and compatible with AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth. Hi-Res audio support extends to 24-bit/192kHz.
Three-dimensional sound
Denon stablemate brand Marantz hopes to tempt buyers with a similar proposition, the Model M1. This stereo amp, distinguished by a warmer sonic signature, also has a HDMI eARC input to partner a TV, and packs comparable amplification. Just add bookshelf speakers, floor standers, or in-wall speakers and you’re good to go.
The JBL launch in Hollywood
JBL’s first AV receiver range
The new Denon Home Amp
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