BAJ issue 50 6.indd - Malcolm Steward

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2 We wish you only www.marantz.com | Marantz 01753 287696 www.marantz.com ‘the best’ for 2008! HI-FI CHOICE Gold: Marantz DV6001, best DVD/Universal Player under £500 Gold: Marantz PM7001, best Stereo Amplifi er up to £500 Gold: Marantz SA-7S1, best CD Player £2000 – £5000 Silver: Marantz SA7001, best CD Player up to £500 Bronze: Marantz DV9006, best DVD/Universal Player £1000 – £2000 Bronze: Marantz ST7001, best Radio Tuner under £500 Bronze: Marantz DV7001, best DVD/Universal Player £500 – £1000 WHAT HI-FI? Best CD Player under £300: Marantz CD6002 Product of the year, DVD & HD Players: Marantz DV7001 HI-FI NEWS Best Projector under £10,000: Marantz VP-11S1 The BAJ ISSUE 50 | 2008
50 Editorial Director Malcolm Steward Contributors James Clarke Paul Messenger Publisher Philippa Steward Advertising Sales Keith Burden +44 (0) 020 7871 2331 Mobile +44 (0) 07973 908870 Skype: The BAJ Diana Shepherd Mobile: +44 (0) 7979 487 510 Events / Business Development Dennis Poole +44 (0) 7872 127 054 Published by Graffix Publishing Ltd., 8 Seymour Road, Headley Down, Hampshire GU35 8JX Editorial Tel: +44 (0) 1428 717400 E-mail: enquiries@thebaj.com Printed by Scottish County Press, Edinburgh The BAJ is published on the Internet at www.TheBAJ.com. Printed copies are available bi-monthly in February, April, June, August, October & December. Subscriptions: Free to qualifying readers in the UK. Please see our website for overseas subscriptions. © The BAJ 2007. All rights reserved. Any unauthorised editing, copying, reselling or distribution of the whole or part of this publication is prohibited. The views expressed in any articles in this magazine should be taken as those of the author or the person quoted unless indicated to the contrary. While The BAJ endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and Graffix Publishing Limited accepts no liability for any use of, reliance on or the accuracy of such information. The BAJ ISSUE 50 | 2008 EDITOR’s letter THE HIGH DEFINITION FORMAT WAR SEEMS HAVE HEATED UP AND VIRTUALLY FIZZLED OUT IN VERY SHORT NOTICE. AT THE END OF LAST YEAR TOSHIBA WAS OFFERING ITS ENTRY-LEVEL HD-A2 DVD PLAYER THROUGH BEST BUY AND WAL-MART STORES IN THE USA FOR JUST $98.87 – LESS THAN £50. THIS WAS A DRAMATIC MOVE, ONE HAS TO ADMIT, ALBEIT ONE THAT DID LOOK A BIT LIKE A FIRE-SALE. THEN, AROUND THE TIME OF CES, WARNER BROTHERS ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS ABANDONING ITS SUPPORT FOR HD DVD FORMAT IN FAVOUR OF BLU-RAY, SAYING THAT AFTER MAY IT WOULD RELEASE MOVIES SOLELY IN THE BLU-RAY FORMAT. 50 In the week ending January 12, Blu-ray hardware captured 90 per cent of the market, according to data collected by market analysts, the NPD Group. Toshiba slashed the prices of its players the next day so that consumers could have one for about half the cost of a Blu-ray machine. Toshiba vice president of marketing for digital audio and video products, Jodi Salley said at CES “It is difficult to read pundits declaring HD DVD dead... but we’ve been declared dead before.” I guess we’ll know when we see whether studios who still back HD-DVD exclusively, such as Paramount and DreamWorks, will continue to do so or will follow Warner Brothers’ lead. There’s good news, however, from my wife and Dennis Poole about their Luxury Living and Home Entertainment Show. They’ve struck publicity deals with several publishers, including those of the most exclusive lifestyle magazine in Surrey, which is delivered to a strictly targeted audience around the show venue: more than 10,000 people earning in excess of £100,000 a year, with homes costing over £800,000. If you’d like to be exposed to this sort of high net worth individual make sure you book your spot at the show. The editorial was published by the title in its January 2008 issue and the magazine will continue to promote the show. In fact, its April issue will contain the show guide. The show is also being publicised in national highend journals Lusso and UPStreet, as well as in local publications. Philippa has been telling me how very different it is dealing with companies outside our industry: there’s none of the “We’ll think about it and let you know in six months” attitude evident; it’s a simple case of “That sounds like a great idea. Here’s the cheque!” One can only assume that other industries are more successful at making profits than we are and want to increase them further. And there’s something I find fascinating: what’s so much more attractive about a £4,000 garden seat or a £22,000 greenhouse than a decent hi-fi or AV system? Parts of our industry outwardly seem quite content going to hell in a hand-basket. And why should that be so? It’s a poor state of affairs if we cannot bring far more satisfaction into people’s lives than the makers of ‘designer’ garden furniture? Regardless, let me wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous and successful 2008. Malcolm Steward Editor 3
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Page 5 and 6: Sennheiser’s Dave Smith and Phil
Page 7 and 8: The BAJ ISSUE 50 | 2008 Ideas Above
Page 9 and 10: Gary Mardell Joins KEF as Marketing
Page 11 and 12: The BAJ ISSUE 50 | 2008 PMC Helps T
Page 13 and 14: Alphason Window Dressing ALPHASON H
Page 15 and 16: Fantastic Publicity for Luxury Livi
Page 17 and 18: the turntable scene was looking pos
Page 19 and 20: have nothing but praise for the com
Page 21 and 22: Monster Introduces the World’s On
Page 23 and 24: NAD’s Budget Reference CD Player
Page 25 and 26: “get off my foot” shouted into
Page 27 and 28: tuners category, the Onkyo T-4555 D
Page 29 and 30: Typically, Internet Radio stations
Page 31 and 32: acquired McIntosh, under the same s
Page 33 and 34: Need A New Job? THEN LOOK NO FURTHE
Page 35 and 36: BANG & OLUFSEN UK LTD Unit 630 Whar
Page 37 and 38: MISSION IAG House Sovereign House E
Page 39 and 40: PR & MARKETING GRAFFIX MEDIA 8 Seym
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BAJ issue 50 6.indd - Malcolm Steward

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