Personal Audio

Personal Audio seems to be like the new Hi-Fi for the younger population. And that’s not very strange when you consider that for a fraction of the price of a large system a level can be achieved that is impossible within the traditional hi-fi. In addition, not everyone has the space for a large system. And… personal audio goes on the road! The train, the bus, the bike… holidays… works. Go ahead and say it.

New brands

It’s funny – and fun – to see that many new brands are emerging within the personal audio market. Astell & Kern is relatively new (parent company iRiver is not), but is really already an authority. It has completely opened up the market of high-end portable players.

We also see many users using a smartphone as a source. With or without a special dac in between to control their luxury headphones. A market that Monster has created with the Beats. For the Beats you would be completely crazy if you would spend 400 euros on a headphone. By now that is quite normal.

Segments

We have divided the personal audio market into: headphones, players, headphone amplifiers and portable speakers with battery. After all, they can also be taken on the road.