WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP: OPPO LEAVES MARKET SPINNING
In a week that saw major announcements both in the local and global markets, the fallout from OPPO's shock market exit is still being realised as other manufacturers race to secure parts from OPPO for their own brands.
OPPO DIGITAL CALLS IT A DAY
OPPO Digital, manufacturers of arguably the most popular DVD and Blu-ray players, and more recently an outstanding range of Head-Fi products have announced they will cease manufacturing. While many hoped it was just a badly timed April Fools prank, this was not to be the case. Enthusiasts and customers have been left scratching their heads as to future 4K UHD Blu-ray options, while many tip the imminent death of the physical medium, throwing weight behind digital streaming. Read more in the forum discussion thread.
THE INDUSTRY TREADMILL CONTINUES TO CHURN
More local now, the week saw a number of key announcements relating to personnel and brand distribution. Michael Di Meglio resigned his position as National Sales Manager with Advance Audio after nine years. Chatting to StereoNET exclusively, Di Meglio denied industry rumours that KEF might set up Australian direct operations.
Audio Visual Revolution, the Sydney based distributor which distributed Wharefdale and other key brands announced their acquisition of rights to distribute legacy brand, Dual and it's turntable range in Australia.
Advance Audio picked up URC, an automation and remote control brand previously distributed by QualiFi. URC who have been clearly struggling to keep up with market trends and technologies in recent years have said they have a brand new product range which will be shown at the Integrate trade show in Sydney later this year.
Australian headphone brand, Audiofly, have appointed a distributor to handle the local sales, marketing and logistics of its brand in Australia. Aqipa employs over 300 staff and operate in several markets across Europe. With a focus on consumer electronics and lifestyle accessories, its Australian arm provides sales and logistics expertise to over 50 brands already and will now handle Audiofly locally.
4K FREE TO AIR BROADCAST TRIALS START
Free TV and Broadcast Australia have just announced trials of the next generation for broadcast technology. The centrepiece of the tests will be spanking new DVB-T2 technologies and new compression algorithms that could give Australian viewers 4K TV reception.
Broadcast Australia is holding limited trials of DVB-T2 at its site in Chatswood. But much wider trials will begin soon across three transmission sites in Sydney from April to June this year.
STEREONET TALKS EXCLUSIVELY WITH KEN ISHIWATA
StereoNET's Peter Familari asks the Marantz brand amabassador the loaded questions. What we're given is a rare insight Ken's influence has on the direction Marantz takes with any new genre of audio gear well before anyone else has thought about it. An input that relies on decades upon decades of studying and being personally immersed in the global audio industry.
BLUESOUND IS THE BRAND THAT KEEPS GIVING
One of the world’s leading multi-room high-res audio systems, Bluesound, announced the release of a new BluOS Controller for macOS and Windows. This update significantly improve the user experience with a high-resolution 4K interface, powerful new features and a seamless music experience across all devices.
Best of all, it comes at no additional cost to consumers and is yet another example of Bluesound's committment to its customer and the continued refinement and evolution of the brand.
TOSHIBA ANNOUNCES HI-RES AUDIO CASSETTE
And finally, the Toshiba hi-res audio announcement. StereoNET actually sat on this story for days after first being reports by The Japan News publication. Around are offices we still have doubts whether the whole thing is a prank, but the Japanese publication is highly respected and are geographically a lot closer to the source. For now, we'll sit on the fence.
Hipsters and other cool types though will lurve the idea of a hi-res cassette recorder/player that uses a repurposed C90 cassette.
Further reading
Cambridge Audio Celebrates 50 Years with Edge Range
Australian Vinyl Satchel Attracts Global Interest
Half Price Ticket Offer for Australia's Best Hi-Fi Show
Pioneer PD-70AE SACD Player Reviewed
Elac Announces Might Impressive Bluetooth WiFi Speaker
StereoNET Discussion Forums for all things Hi-Fi, Head-Fi and Home Cinema
Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
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