November 2021 ertonline.co.uk


The Roksan Attessa turntable


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The vinyl revival According to the British Phonographic Industry, vinyl record sales will likely top five million in 2020, accounting for 18 per cent of all albums sold. The number of handsome looking record players to cater for this interest similarly grows. Austrian Hi-Fi company, Pro-Ject Audio Systems,


from Henley Audio, celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year with the launch of the Debut PRO. Finished in satin black, this special edition has plenty to tempt the reborn music enthusiast this Christmas, including a pre-adjusted Pick-IT PRO cartridge, 8.6- inch one-piece carbon-aluminium tonearm and precision aluminium platter. It retails for £699. Selling up, the Roksan Attessa turntable is fully


developed in-house in the UK, and offers a contemporary take on vinyl playback, with a smart minimalist design. Selling points include a lightweight Unipivot tonearm with a composite construction, digital speed controller and unique isolation transports. Priced at £995, buyers will be audiophiles and Hi-Fi upgraders, the company suggests. Futuresource analyst Alex Jornod is convinced that


the festive season will once again be dominated by soundbars and Dolby Atmos-enabled home audio products. “All the leading soundbar manufacturers such as Samsung, Sonos, Bose, Philips have released new tech ready for this festive season.” Mr Jornod tells ERT that the appeal for premium


audio products is stronger than ever – “we anticipate that consumers are going to spend more on audio products than they used to,” – and flags- up Bowers & Wilkins, which has just launched a new version of its high-end wireless speaker the Zeppelin, after a six-year hiatus. The new Zeppelin now includes support for Amazon Alexa and streaming services.


Big on Bluetooth Bluetooth speakers remain a hot category. Demand is expected to be high for new models from Sonos (Roam), Bose (SoundLink Flex) and JBL (Flip 6). “The trade will be well aware of renewed


interest in active bookshelf loudspeakers. Wireless speakers offering great sound and high levels of connectivity, such as the KEF LS 50 Wireless, are helping to drive a new dynamic within the loudspeaker market and appeal to younger demographics,” says Mr Jornod. “DSP technology, which helps improve sound


quality, is now filtering through more affordable speakers, bridging the performance gap with more expensive models.” Looking forward, the market watcher predicts


that 2022 will see the home audio market consolidate the growth seen in 2021 – but there are caveats. While major investments in chip fabrication on a government level in Europe and America will help normalise supply issues for key components, shipping container shortages and labour shortages are expected to constrict the potential for double-digit growth over the next three years. Headphones traditionally see their largest share


of annual sales when the Christmas tree goes up, supported by discounting and gift-giving. “Apple’s recent launch of the AirPods 3 in


particular will prove to be a popular stocking-filler among consumers, who have long-awaited a refresh to the product,” suggests Analyst Arian Bassari. “An updated iteration of the AirPods Pro is expected to arrive in 2022, catering to an increasing demographic who seek noise- cancelling solutions in their headphones.” >>


B&W Zeppelin


Philips Fidelio T1


Sonos Beam


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