Tune in to Hometech Middle East for the latest audio hits and plenty of news making sounds

And today this revolution continues, as the digital audio is becoming one of the most prevailing, exciting technologies in consumer electronics.

There are several factors that enable this continuous transformation. Consumer electronics experts say it's the new types of digital audio content, widespread network connectivity, availability of music online, and technological advances in electronic components.

But what's central to all is the continuous demand from consumers for products that deliver high quality audio, because the sound experience is essential to entertainment.

And anybody that had even a passing interest for hi fi sound applications twenty years ago, or has recently got converted to the all pervaiding iPod has a pretty good idea of how the future home will sound like.

As for those who are pathologically sound perceptive and receptive - the audiophiles, their dreams have come true, the audio revolution is imminent and immediate, it is surrounding us through the myriad of audio applications, from portables, to homes and cars.

Portable audio, home theatre and cinema set the pace

Evidence of undeniable audio growth has been registered by consumer electronics retailers. "Audio is booming everywhere", says Nisreen Shocair, General Manager, Virgin Megastore, Middle East and North Africa, the leading retailer in consumer entertainment products.

"And the iPod is the major contributor to the return of audio. There have been over 30 million iPods sold in the world. People love it, because it invites them to revisit their music, and they have now a way of keeping it accessible, by storing it all on the iPod".

In the beginning the iPod was limiting us to listening through headphones only, which was a drawback. As a result many companies started designing and marketing source devices that plug directly into audio systems. Now the iPod is neatly put in a dock while we're able to listen to music anywhere in the house. This is a viable system not only for iPods but for most of the stand alone audio equipment.

And this is how the multi room audio system is shaping up!

Home theatre is another big contributor to the audio boom. "People have got in their houses high definition tvs, projectors, plasmas and LCDs - they have a good picture, so they're looking for the right sound system to match it". This is how Aamir Anwar, CEO of Dubai Audio Center describes the home audio revival, as a natural consequence.

He's also of the opinion that there are two defined segments within the audio systems: the convenience and the high end.

Listed not long ago, by Arena, as one of the 5 best hi fi shops in the world, Dubai Audio Center is home to the world's most upscale, performant and technologically advanced home theatre and audio systems that have revolutionized the home entertainment. High performance, versatile multi room systems from Linn (that allow up to 16 sound sources and up to 128 room distribution), hand built sub base systems from REL, loud speaker range from Kef, Arcam's extensive audio range of amplifiers and tuners and Loewe's sculpturesque home theatre systems, are just a few of the the high end offerings.

The audio developments are inherent to the ones in the entertainment industry, and the ones in the cinema environment in particular. This is the conclusion John Dahl, Senior Consultant and Senior Fellow, Director of Education at THX Ltd., came to. "Audio didn't come out of a box, it came from thoughtful, informed integration of the box and the theatre itself" that were conducive to providing consumers with an experience "as the director intended". And THX (the company name is a tribute to George Lucas' first movie THX 1138!) provide products and services that are in the pursuit of delivering this experience, from exclusive technologies and quality control services, such as the THX Certification, the aim is to perfect the cinema sound experience to the same level of the professional mixing room, where the directors' vision was born.

THX client database is formed of companies that cover all aspects of the creation and presentation of entertainment content: Hollywood studios, professional mixing facilities, video game developers, software duplication companies, theater owners, consumer electronics manufacturers, automobile manufacturers and home theater equipment manufacturers.

Home Audio Expectations

The audio arena at Hometech is equally diverse: Audiovox, Jensen, Acoustic Research, Terk, Vogel's, Mitek, TeleDynamics and Basco are just few of the brands that will showcase their range of amplifiers, speakers, home theatre systems, and sound systems for vehicles and satellite radio.

Chris Hudson, COO of Messe Frankfurt, the organizer of Hometech Middle East, assures us that the show brings to Dubai the latest applications in audio systems, and this is expected to score high: "consumers here are early adopters of new technology, they are aware of cutting edge products and upscale brands in the audio segment, and as a norm they want the best and the latest".

The high performance AR WHT6024 Wireless Home Theatre System from Acoustic Research, recently unveiled at the Las Vegas CES is not only the best and the latest, it's considered already an industry breakthrough and an audiophile's dream. The Subwoofer is a high output 10-inch, 125-watt amplifier designed to deliver the full impact of any performance. The wireless system employs highly advanced digital spread spectrum that avoids any potential interference. The sound quality is outstanding, thanks to a superior wireless design that delivers uncompressed, 20Hz to 20KHz wide separation CD performance, and a 50-watt RMS power amplifier into the rear channel. And to top it off the WHT6024 is really easy to install, just plug and play!

Audiovox takes new product development very seriously.

From ultra high resolution HD flat panel LCD TVs to speakers, from multimedia and CD headunits to mobile video headrests for vehicles, from XM desktop radios and media centers to XM Mini Tuner Channel Home Theater System, all applications are designed and engineered to perfectly match their users needs.
Their line of multimedia and CD head units (models such as VM9412, VM512 and VM9022) have core MediaPlex processors that enable smooth, fast and efficient response to user's comands, touch screens, satellite audio-ready, they are compatible with the majority of the storage devices, such as DVD, MP3, WMA, and also with the iPod.

Mirroring trends in home audio, MP3 and other internet audio formats are invading the auto audio systems. And we're not just talking about MP3 add-ons to the CD players, but performance gizmos such as the HR9000D mobile headrest model, specifically designed by Audiovox for Mercedes-Benz; it features dual 16:9/4:3 switchable 7-inch screens that allow the user to switch from standard size to wide screen, OSD for easy to view control directions, FM modulation for sound broadcasting and a wired game controller with 30 built in games.

All audio applications, be it in homes, automotives or portables are subject to continuous change, as new audio formats enable new delivery mechanisms, and new network connections dictate new products, and all these point out to the fact that the uprising of the consumer audio digital market has just begun.