HDTV - The Missing Audio Experience:

According to the top industry professionals (CEA), three out of four consumers who buy a Flat panel TV do not hook it up to a surround sound system.  Now there could be several reasons for this lack in enjoyment of the real home theater experience including the cost of adding speakers, running wires and cables, and where to put it that prevents the consumer from turning their home into a true home theater experience.

The consumer should also know first and foremost, HDTV is a combination of two state of the art technologies: The Video Experience, and the Audio Experience.  Well, we all know about the video experience because anyone who has purchased either an LCD or Plasma Television since January of 2007 are all being sold with HDTV ready and the major networks are all broadcasting in HDTV so the video part of the new experience is being demonstrated.  That leaves us to the next item which is audio. Now the question becomes: What is the audio experience of HDTV? 

The audio experience of HDTV or should we say the "audio standard" is 5.1 Channel Surround Sound.  That means, any HDTV product whether it be LCD or Plasma all have 5.1 channel audio capabilities.  The 5.1 channel experience (or multi-channel audio) requires placed left and right speakers outside the video display. This spaced placement outside the video display is for your left and right audio separation, and your real Home Theater audio experience. 

Having all the audio and video gear including speakers, amplifiers and video players provides only half of the solution.  The other half is the proper placement of the speakers and displays which is almost always over-looked. Again, check out Dolby for speaker placement and home theater set up at www.dolby.com  so that you can see what you will need and where you should put your equipment.

Our goal is to provide two simple solutions to the consumer. A mounting solution, and an integrated solution into the very flat panel television itself.  To help the consumer with multi-channel audio started by working with Chief  Sanus Audio Visual (Chief Manufacturing or CSAV www.chiefmfg.com ) to develop the CM4S57 which is the first complete mounting solution that allows speakers to placed away from the video display to allow for the left and right channels to extend from a wall or furniture mounted video display so the consumer gets that good left and right separation.  The CM4S57 is pre-wired so going through wall beams and cutting, patching and painting exterior walls for mounting your three front speakers (left, right and center channels) is no longer necessary. The audio result of moving the left and right speakers is outstanding and brings that real surround effect to the video display.

HDTV Integration - Is Here:

Our company goal is to integrate the actual television with the same type of technology that CSAV is using to integrate directly into televisions whether they be LCD or Plasma.  The reason why Flat Panel Display (FPD) Manufacturers should consider this are as follows:

1. HDTV's all come with the 5.1 audio parts to support new audio standard.

2. HDTV's all have internal logic that can be modified to control the motorized speaker extension arms.

3. HDTV's all come with either two or three speakers.

4. HDTV's with movable speakers can be placed either on a table stand or mounted to wall.

5. HDTV's with movable speakers and rear wired or wireless speakers provide all 5 mono channels for the 5.1 experience.

6. HDTV's with movable speakers allow the consumer to place the video display where it makes sense to them.

7. HDTV's with movable speakers separate themselves from the competition where pricing pressures are abundant with these pressures continuing well into 2008 and possibly beyond.

8. HDTV's with movable speakers are no longer considered "commodities" and provide a real solution to the consumer.

9. HDTV's with movable speakers provide much improved profit margins that deeply missed in the FPD industry.

The market is changing and now with the coming of direct download movies and other content directly to the television itself, the focus will be on the display and what it can really do, rather than be just a video display that has the internal capabilities of delivering the multi-channel audio experience, but lacks the speaker separation to deliver these outstanding effects to the consumer.

CEA is working to research the consumers. This winter they teamed with Concord Records to create a Great Audio Experience campaign to educate the consumer on how quality audio can improve the home entertainment experience. It also invites the consumer to visit retailers or dealers for a compelling demonstration. 

www.greataudio.com