| For years audiophiles reveled at the new line of | | | | yesterday - high performance sound at reasonable |
| speakers, pre-amps and amplifiers and source | | | | prices. |
| components that continued to get better and better. | | | | With literally millions of new audiophiles born of MP3, |
| Today, in terms of capable audiophile-grade | | | | and high-definition television sales and programming |
| technology, we are literally light years beyond where | | | | increasing by the day, the industry suddenly became |
| we were - even a decade ago. | | | | quite polarized. Effectively we have two consumers, |
| It has always been this love and passion for audio that | | | | the Audiophile and the Videophile. How ironic that while |
| PSB and a few others were built on. And these | | | | many readily credit the home theater industry (and big |
| factors have all played a major role in the | | | | screens) as being spawned by the popularity of audio, |
| development of our speaker line. Our lineup of | | | | now in many cases takes at back seat at the retail |
| speakers in the Alpha thru the Platinum series all insure | | | | level. |
| that our customers old and new will find something | | | | High Definition Home Theater |
| that meets there needs while accommodating their | | | | Before the days of the "big screen" it was always |
| budget and listening preferences. | | | | audio systems that made those little television screens |
| We simply cannot afford to discard the foundation this | | | | seem so much larger. Sadly, many who are buying |
| company was built on. And in part, helped to create in | | | | plasmas and DLP TVs and anything high-definition |
| the world of high-fidelity home theater through our | | | | capable spend thousands on the size of the screen |
| passion - through our products. It was high | | | | and, yet, invest little into the audio support that it |
| performance audio that transformed 20-inch televisions | | | | warrants. Effectively, the videophile defeats itself by |
| into big screens. It was audio that gave birth to home | | | | not matching the sound performance to the picture |
| theater and yet, in recent years has been left out by | | | | performance. |
| many with the advent of high definition television and | | | | Let me put it more plainly. You can have high definition |
| home-theater-in-a-box. | | | | video. And you can have high definition audio. But you |
| The Road to a New Consumer | | | | can never have high definition home theater without a |
| During the late '90s, the consumer electronics industry | | | | balanced marriage between the two. The demands |
| was booming, literally with the sounds of multiple | | | | placed on the industry by audiophiles and videophiles |
| speakers pouring out the doors of retailers. ProLogic | | | | have helped to shape and improve both audio and |
| became 5.1, and grew into 6.1, 7.1 and beyond. | | | | video. In fact, the new trend in flat-panel displays as |
| Consumers had more disposable income and audio | | | | well as significantly lower prices on single-gun |
| seemed to be an appropriate place to dispose of it. | | | | projectors has created a new set of challenges in |
| Then, an interesting thing happened. As consumers | | | | application specific installs. For example, PSB got into |
| became more-and-more obsessed with "everything | | | | the market to build in-cabinet speakers early on, and |
| high resolution;" DVD players, displays, cameras, | | | | yet waited to see how the emerging markets would |
| printers, etc., the world of high fidelity took a backseat | | | | expand before introducing our in-wall and most |
| as a new format of audio became the craze - MP3. | | | | recently on-wall speakers. So in essence video buying |
| MP3 is probably the best and worst thing to ever | | | | trends have created new demands by savvy |
| happen to the consumer electronics industry. It was | | | | consumers, and today PSB offers speakers for literally |
| the low-resolution MP3 format that stunted the growth | | | | every installation application.Challenge Yourself |
| of the audiophile and literally placed speaker | | | | It will take a strong commitment from manufacturers |
| companies on "pause." | | | | like PSB Speakers to continue to offer high |
| With a low-resolution format sweeping the globe in | | | | performance loudspeakers at reasonable price points, |
| popularity - aimed at the more, faster, cheaper (free | | | | and from dealers who are willing to stand firm in |
| downloads anyone?) consumer, who would bother | | | | teaching consumers the benefits of a solid audio |
| with paying money for high fidelity? | | | | system. Remember home-theater products are built to |
| The consumer electronics industry responded by | | | | meet your needs. So with products built for you and |
| wielding a gun and shooting itself in the foot. Yes, I'm | | | | dealers who are waiting to welcome you into the |
| talking about "home theater in-a-box." Ah yes, a new | | | | showroom to demonstrate what has been built for |
| category aimed at the more, cheaper, faster animal. | | | | you. What an exciting time this is for consumers! |
| Companies once known for televisions began to | | | | Invariably your audio or video purchase will help to |
| manufacture speakers that looked like electric shavers, | | | | shape your needs. One experiment that we |
| and sounded like electric shavers, but nobody knew | | | | recommend you try (and you can try this at many of |
| the difference, because everything sounded horrible | | | | our dealers) is to audition a larger display, say |
| anyway. | | | | 50-inches or bigger with a smaller, entry level speaker |
| High Fidelity Back on Track...Almost | | | | package. If it's an entry-level PSB ensemble then you'll |
| Then another interesting thing happened, the consumer | | | | probably be quite satisfied. However, now watch the |
| began to demand improved compression-format audio. | | | | same demo with the same screen and a larger (higher |
| And it wasn't long after that a couple of companies, | | | | priced) speaker package. If you're really brave, try to |
| armed with marketing budgets and new compression | | | | find a similar demo on a smaller screen. Again, you will |
| algorithms created a new form of "lossless" | | | | see the effects for yourself audio makes or breaks |
| compressed audio formats. | | | | the home theater experience and vice versa. Our |
| All at once there were literally millions of music-thirsty | | | | network of dealers is eager to demonstrate the |
| consumers born into a new generation of audiophile. | | | | excitement of true high definition home theater without |
| And all at once we were faced with a new customer | | | | expectation because we're all committed to sharing |
| - with the same wants and needs of the customers of | | | | our passion for what we do. |