As sales of notebooks and TVs slide, retailers in Australia are set to make up for lost sales with new networked home audio devices and headphones.According to new research sales of audio products are expected to rocket through to 2016 and beyond, with dedicated speaker docks and networked speakers leading the charge according to Futuresource Consulting.
In recent weeks mass retailers, including JB Hi Fi, The Good Guys and Harvey Norman, have taken delivery of new networked audio products from the likes of Sony, Yamaha, Denon, Marantz and Harman Kardon.
An early leader in this market, Sonos recently launched a new sub-woofer that is now getting rave reviews around the world.
Sonos who originally only sold through specialist dealers in Australia is now sold at JB Hi Fi.
“Driving demand for networked audio devices are the significant benefits that streaming to and from audio devices can bring, including multi-room audio and music streaming from smartphones and the internet, powered predominantly by Apple’s Airplay and Bluetooth,” says Jack Wetherill, Futuresource Consulting.
The researchers also predict that attach home theatre kits and AV Receivers will also see dramatic growth with networked devices taking an 85% and 81% share of the segment respectively, both up from 36% in 2011.”
Global trade value in the total home audio market rose by 7% in 2011 to hit $9.7 billion. Prospects for 2012 look positive with Futuresource forecasts predicting a further 2% growth in both shipments and value.
The research Company said that while the market for traditional dedicated docks is now reaching maturity, the arrival of networked devices is expected to reinvigorate this sector, both in terms of volume and trade. These new devices have the power to replace physical docking, though it is likely that this feature will remain for the purpose of battery charging.
The adoption of networking features in dedicated speaker docks will revive this segment right up until 2016 following a slight drop in shipments since 2010. Demand is expected to reach almost 40 million units in 2012 and nearly 48 million units in 2016 to hit $3.8 billion in trade value.
As the market transitions to dedicated digital audio products, demand for integrated audio systems (micro, midi and mini systems featuring CD playback capability) will fall. However, trade value will be maintained at $2.4 billion in 2012 due to the inclusion of networking features and integrated docks, retaining the relevance of CD playback devices in the digital music world.
The global soundbar (a single unit that contains two or more speakers for use with the TV) market more than doubled in size to reach 2.2 million units in 2011. Demand in 2012 is expected to grow by 54% to reach 3.4 million units. This period of healthy growth is expected to continue through to 2016 to hit 7 million units.
