Today, John Thomson, Associate Publisher of Marketnews and here's how!, will be guest blogging. Thomson is a passionate outdoorsman, but he's also passionate about consumer electronics, and is floored by the lack of decent audio equipment in what appears to be a highly untapped market in Canada (or at least Ontario!) Read his story below.
Where has all the music gone?
Over the past six weeks, I have had the pleasure of being a guest in about eight beautiful ski chalets. One is a log monster with five bedrooms, another has cathedral ceilings with majestic views of the Valley, and all are decorated to the nines and owned by well-heeled professionals. But what they all have in common is an iPod in a dock with 2" speakers as their exclusive sound system.
How is it that well-educated individuals who all love to entertain have uniformly decided to forego a nice two-channel audio system, and have determined that an iPod dock will do the trick? Think about it: Here you are in a 1,500 sq' living room with 30' ceilings and you are trying to entertain 20 guests by pushing out as much volume as the little dock can muster. What am I missing? The steaks alone cost close to a sound system so it can't be a money issue.
Does music play a greater role in my life such that I'm wiling to invest in an appropriate sound delivery system? I don't think so. All of these people love their tunes, but somewhere along the way, an $11,000 hot tub has taken precedent over a $2,000 sound system.
Seeing that we are in the business of promoting and reviewing beautiful sound, such an observation is extremely disconcerting. Is it that since the properties are recreational, there is a fear of theft by installing a sound system? Maybe, but then again, what about the gazillion other things that a would-be thief could swipe while the owner is away?
After a few glasses of wine, I always try to subtly (OK not so subtly) steer the conversation over to the music and ask the owner where the real sound system is to complement such a beautiful chalet? The answer is always the same: We haven't gotten around to it yet. Hmm. I set up a sound system before we had a 'fridge in our place, so I just politely nod and pour another glass.
Retailers: there's a lost opportunity here. All those chalets scattering the nation with crappy sound! Two book shelf speakers, a small sub and an integrated amp/CD player...and sure, why not throw in an iPod dock. Call it the vacation system, call it anything, just do something because my alcohol consumption is going through the roof trying to drown out the dock. Please bring back warm, ambient sound to ski country.
Over the past six weeks, I have had the pleasure of being a guest in about eight beautiful ski chalets. One is a log monster with five bedrooms, another has cathedral ceilings with majestic views of the Valley, and all are decorated to the nines and owned by well-heeled professionals. But what they all have in common is an iPod in a dock with 2" speakers as their exclusive sound system.
How is it that well-educated individuals who all love to entertain have uniformly decided to forego a nice two-channel audio system, and have determined that an iPod dock will do the trick? Think about it: Here you are in a 1,500 sq' living room with 30' ceilings and you are trying to entertain 20 guests by pushing out as much volume as the little dock can muster. What am I missing? The steaks alone cost close to a sound system so it can't be a money issue.
Does music play a greater role in my life such that I'm wiling to invest in an appropriate sound delivery system? I don't think so. All of these people love their tunes, but somewhere along the way, an $11,000 hot tub has taken precedent over a $2,000 sound system.
Seeing that we are in the business of promoting and reviewing beautiful sound, such an observation is extremely disconcerting. Is it that since the properties are recreational, there is a fear of theft by installing a sound system? Maybe, but then again, what about the gazillion other things that a would-be thief could swipe while the owner is away?
After a few glasses of wine, I always try to subtly (OK not so subtly) steer the conversation over to the music and ask the owner where the real sound system is to complement such a beautiful chalet? The answer is always the same: We haven't gotten around to it yet. Hmm. I set up a sound system before we had a 'fridge in our place, so I just politely nod and pour another glass.
Retailers: there's a lost opportunity here. All those chalets scattering the nation with crappy sound! Two book shelf speakers, a small sub and an integrated amp/CD player...and sure, why not throw in an iPod dock. Call it the vacation system, call it anything, just do something because my alcohol consumption is going through the roof trying to drown out the dock. Please bring back warm, ambient sound to ski country.
