Examples of Sony Audio's Marketing BS

[IAtaman]

And I guess that HiFi in particular is no longer as high a priority as before due to the fact that the market has shrunk to a more or less purely enthusiast market.

I don't think the market has shrunk. I think the market has grown significantly actually, and is expected grow quite fast according to this website.

The global consumer audio market size was valued at USD 99.58 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 303.21 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.17% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

They also bought Audeze recently you'd recall, so they are not totally not interested either. I suspect ANC headphones are also doing well for them.

 

[Ricardus]

I was always a big fan of Sony's consumer electronics growing up. I still have 4 of their CD/DVD/BR players, and use them regularly.

 

[DonR]

For the last 10-15 years their receivers and AVRs have measured pretty poor compared to the competition. I feel they have shifted a little down market and rellied on the brand name.

 

[Palladium]

I don't think the market has shrunk. I think the market has grown significantly actually, and is expected grow quite fast according to this website.

The global consumer audio market size was valued at USD 99.58 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 303.21 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.17% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

They also bought Audeze recently you'd recall, so they are not totally not interested either. I suspect ANC headphones are also doing well for them.

I will be very surprised if traditional hi-fi of all sorts combined even hits 1% of the market.

 

[IAtaman]

I will be very surprised if traditional hi-fi of all sorts combined even hits 1% of the market.

You think the global traditional HiFi market is less than $1B? What do you consider traditional HiFi?

 

[Palladium]

You think the global traditional HiFi market is less than $1B? What do you consider traditional HiFi?

You sure you are in 2023 if you think "global consumer audio market" isn't almost fully consisting of TWS earphones, soundbars and portable BT speakers?

Last stat I heard Sennheiser's total sales was almost a rounding error of Apple Airpods.

 

[Mulder]

I don't think the market has shrunk. I think the market has grown significantly actually, and is expected grow quite fast according to this website.

The global consumer audio market size was valued at USD 99.58 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 303.21 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.17% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

They also bought Audeze recently you'd recall, so they are not totally not interested either. I suspect ANC headphones are also doing well for them.

I feel like I need to be a bit picky here, but I was writing about HiFi specifically. I do not equate HiFi with the audio market in general. If you include all forms of products intended for listening to music, the proportion of actual HiFi is probably quite marginal. The text you refer to also does not say anything about what the HiFi market looked like 20 or 30 years ago, but I am quite convinced that that market was considered more important then than it is today. Despite everything, SONY produced really good HiFi products, and they helped develop the CD and thus the digital breakthrough in audio. But how many really good HiFi products does SONY make today?

 

[IAtaman]

I feel like I need to be a bit picky here, but I was writing about HiFi specifically. I do not equate HiFi with the audio market in general. If you include all forms of products intended for listening to music, the proportion of actual HiFi is probably quite marginal. The text you refer to also does not say anything about what the HiFi market looked like 20 or 30 years ago, but I am quite convinced that that market was considered more important then than it is today. Despite everything, SONY produced really good HiFi products, and they helped develop the CD and thus the digital breakthrough in audio. But how many really good HiFi products does SONY make today?

I hear you.

I am not sure how we would define HiFi or filter it out from rest of consumer audio market. I have a feeling it is a bit of an arbitrary line in the sand, but to make it simpler, maybe I can interpret what you say in this way : although the consumer audio market is growing, it is mostly growing at the bottom with high volume, low margin products, and not so much at the top where Sony used to be a strong player. - is this right?

 

[raif71]

I have some sony audio products. Couple of A44/A55/A101 DAPs and dac/amp pha-2a and pha-3. The DAPs are a bit weak and I only use them as transport players but the 2 dac/amp imho are great sounding.

 

[egellings]

it has nano bumblebubs in it.

Ahem! Audiophile-grade solder, I'll have you know.

 

[Descartes]

Sony TVs are also arguably very good to top notch.

Sponsored by a retail store and paid reviewers all receiving free products and major discounts when buying audio and video gear!

 

[Mulder]

I hear you.

I am not sure how we would define HiFi or filter it out from rest of consumer audio market. I have a feeling it is a bit of an arbitrary line in the sand, but to make it simpler, maybe I can interpret what you say in this way : although the consumer audio market is growing, it is mostly growing at the bottom with high volume, low margin products, and not so much at the top where Sony used to be a strong player. - is this right

Yes, that's a very good interpretation of what I mean.

 

[mhardy6647]

A few Sony audio components 'round here...