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PRESS RELEASE: HOLIDAY SHOPPING PREVIEW
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Product links in this release take you directly to the Crutchfield product pages. For reproduction-quality downloadable images of these products, click here.
For Immediate Release
Crutchfield Releases 1999 Holiday Shopping Preview
Charlottesville, VA -- October 4, 1999 -- What’s going to be hot in consumer electronics this holiday season? Here’s what -- according to the marketers and merchandisers at Crutchfield, America’s premier catalog and Internet retailer of consumer electronics.
The Crutchfield list differs from most in that it represents the interests and buying patterns of the more than 5 million recipients of the Crutchfield catalog.
The categories covered are:
- DVD Players
- Home Theater
- Home Loudspeakers
- Desktop Stereo
- Camcorders
- Car CD Players and Changers
Hyperlinks to additional information on each category, as well as to the highlighted products are provided within the text that follows.
All products cited are available from Crutchfield by calling toll-free 1-800-955-3000, or by going online to www.crutchfield.com.
Reproduction-quality images of the highlighted products can be found in the Media Relations section of the Crutchfield Web site: www.crutchfield.com/mediarelations/holidaypreview.html.
Interviews with Crutchfield’s merchandisers and e-commerce directors can be scheduled through Susan J. McCulley.
DVD
DVD puts movies and their soundtracks on a disc the size of a CD. With picture quality that’s twice as sharp as videotape (plus CD quality audio), DVD is the new standard for home theater realism. Add to that the fact that DVD players can also play audio CDs, and it’s easy to see why DVD gained acceptance faster than any other new format ever. There are already more than 3,000 DVD titles available, and well over a million players already sold.
Better Pictures and Sound. Once you’ve seen a movie on DVD everything else looks second-rate. It’s no small difference: DVDs are noticeably sharper, cleaner, and more colorful. The audio is superior, too, and gives you so many options, from stereo sound coming straight from your TV all the way up to theater-quality digital surround sound. It’s up to you, based on the type of A/V system you have. Best of all, you get superior sound and picture in even the most affordable models, like the Pioneer DV-525.
CD/DVD Changers. Because DVD players also play the familiar audio-only CD, it’s just a short step to creating machines that can hold DVDs and CDs at the same time. Models like the 5-disc Sony DVP-C650D hold any combination of CDs and DVDs. That means you can watch a movie, then easily switch over to music while taking a break to pop more popcorn.
Portable DVD. If you’ve traveled with kids, you can imagine how much smoother things go if they can pass the time watching a movie. Portable DVD players with built-in screens, like the Panasonic DVD-L50, provide video on the go without the bulk and hassle of a VCR. Plus, it’s another way others in the family can listen to their CDs privately. Portable players without a built-in screen, such as the Sony PB-DV30 are an easy way to watch DVDs on a second TV at home (great for hotels and vacation homes, too).
Home Theater
Thinking of treating your family to a home theater system this holiday season? Don’t know where to begin? Here are three easy-to-understand approaches.
Mix and Match System. Creating a home theater does not require junking your present system. Often, all it takes is replacing your present receiver with one suited for home theater, and adding a few new speakers. The mix and match system gives you the opportunity to select each new component individually, and even create your home theater step-by-step. Good values in full-featured home theater receivers this season include the Sony STR-DB930, the JVC RX-888V and the Onkyo TX-DS575.
Integrated Component Package. This is the easy one-step buying decision and assures you of a perfectly matched set of speakers mated to the appropriate decoder and power source. This is often the best way to go if you’re starting from scratch, or want to keep your present stereo in a different room. Both the Bose Lifestyle 25 Series II and the Polk Audio RMDS-1 are integrated packages so slim and sleek as to practically disappear in the room.
Shelf Systems. As the name suggests, shelf systems are compact enough to fit on a bookshelf or dresser top. That makes them ideal for apartments, bedrooms or vacation homes. They’re also low in cost and easy to use: you simply add your existing TV and a VCR or DVD player. Be aware that few shelf systems are capable of delivering the most advanced form of surround sound (Dolby Digital). If you want to keep open the option of moving up to Dolby Digital surround, look for Dolby Digital "ready" models, such as the Sony MHC-RXD10AV and the Aiwa NSX-MA845, that give you the option of adding a separate Dolby Digital decoder.
Home Loudspeakers
The home theater boom has brought to the forefront some terms and designs that may not be immediately familiar to many shoppers. But don’t worry! Here’s a handy guide to the current "buzz" about speakers.
Satellite/Subwoofer Systems for Home Theater. In one package you get all the speakers you need for a home theater system. In a satellite/sub system, the job of producing deep bass is handed off to a subwoofer, so the main speakers themselves can be very small. In fact, most satellite speakers can sit in the palm of your hand, making satellite/sub systems among the most versatile, non-intrusive options around. Bose makes a variety of satellite/sub systems ranging from their stereo Acoustimass 5 model up to top-of-the-line home theater Acoustimass 15.
Powered Subwoofers and Powered Towers. Those who believe no audio experience is complete without the deep bass that’s felt more than heard will love the current crop of offerings. In the past, achieving incredible lows required a separate subwoofer and an incredible amount of power. Now, subwoofers such as the Infinity BU-120 come with their own amps built in, so you can easily add deep bass to your existing system without putting any additional strain on your receiver.
In the same vein, if you’re looking to replace your current speakers, and want that deep bass without giving up space to a separate subwoofer, Polk Audio’s RT2000p could be just the ticket. These and other "powered towers" are able to reach lower than ordinary speakers by including a powered subwoofer within their main cabinet.
Center Channel Speakers. The center channel speaker does the lion’s share of the work in a home theater system, reproducing all on-screen dialog as well as on-screen effects. The Bose VCS-10 houses four 2.5" speakers inside an exceptionally low-profile enclosure that fits nicely on top of your TV.
Surround Speakers. In a movie theater, the surround sound actually comes from multiple speakers lined up in a row along each side wall to create a diffuse, wraparound soundfield. Infinity’s QPS-1 creates a similar effect through a "quadrapole" design that ensures everyone in the room will hear all the surround effects regardless of where they are sitting.
Desktop Stereos
With space at a premium, both at home and at work, ultra-compact desktop stereos are finding their way into dens, bedrooms, office cubicles and executive suites. While America is far from giving up its love affair with full-size components as the primary entertainment system, desktop systems are popular as a second system for the home, and as a way to enhance your environment at work.
Styling. Breaking away from the "any color you want as long as it’s black" aesthetic of their full-size cousins, desktop stereos come in a refreshingly diverse array of styles and colors. The cherry wood speakers and champagne gold component block of JVC’s FS-7000 look right at home on an executive credenza, while those who prefer their accessories a little quirkier will find the Kenwood VH-600 more to their taste.
Features. At their most basic, virtually every tabletop stereo comes with a CD player and a radio. Want to have more than one CD available at a time? Look for models with a built-in CD changer. But don’t expect to have a jukebox on your desk. Models like the Onkyo EX-1850, which hold 3 discs at a time are about the most you can expect without giving up a lot more space. If you’re interested in a more versatile system (one that can also play and record cassettes or MiniDiscs), check out the Aiwa XR-MD100 or the Sony DHC-MD333.
Impact. One-piece stereos such as the Bose Wave Radio/CD can fill a room with sound. They’re a great choice as a second system in the den or in the bedroom in place of the usual clock radio. But what if you’re working in a space where you have to be careful not to disturb your co-worker in the next cubicle? That’s where you’ll appreciate a system like the Sony CMT-ED2; its speakers are specifically designed for low volume and close quarters.
Camcorders
The good news is that camcorders are slimmer and lighter than ever, making it easier to take them with you practically everywhere you go. The better news is there’s a whole new crop of camcorders that record pictures and sound digitally for the sharpest, clearest videos you’ve ever seen. For example, JVC’s GR-DVM70 is small enough to slip into your coat pocket, records video that looks as sharp as a DVD, and includes a flip-out screen you can use as a viewfinder or for instant playback.
If you have a library of 8mm tapes you’ve shot over the years, you’re sure to appreciate the Sony DCR-TRV510. It, and the other models from Sony’s new Digital 8 line of camcorders, not only records digital video and sound on standard 8mm tapes, but can also play back any of your existing 8mm or Hi8 videos!
Car CD Players
Put a CD player in your dash and you've a new reason to love a car you’ve had for a while. Just bought a used car? Putting in a CD player is a great way to make it feel like it’s really yours now. Buying a new car? Aftermarket CD players are an affordable alternative to the outrageous prices the car dealers would like you to pay. Whatever your reason, you’ll find much that’s new.
Fashion Forward. Today’s new, larger displays are easier to see at a glance, give you more information, and, as on the Kenwood KDC-4011S, remain legible even in the glare of direct sunlight. Displays also make it easier for a brand to create a distinctive style and image, as with the Pioneer DEH-P8000R, the first to actually generate 3-dimensional graphics as part of its display. Looking for a little more fashion? The Blaupunkt Nevada is available with a bright yellow, red, or blue faceplate to liven up your dash. The Panasonic CQ-DFX99 presents a champagne silver face to the world by day, but turns an outrageous radioactive blue by night.
Ergonomics. You no longer need fingers slimmer than needles to work the controls of a CD player. Sony’s CDX-C680, for example, has a main control knob bigger than your thumb. Wireless remote make it easier to keep your eyes on the road instead of stealing glances at the radio to see what you’re doing. Blaupunkt takes remote control convenience a step further with its "Thummer" remote control that attaches to your steering wheel. The ultimate in convenient control, the Clarion AutoPC responds to your spoken commands, practically eliminating the need to touch the stereo at all!
Theft Deterrence. To date, the main idea behind theft-deterrence has been the detachable faceplate. Take with you the part of the radio that has all controls and what’s left doesn’t provide much incentive for a thief. Going a step further, the Kenwood KDC-8011 has a revolving faceplate that flips 180 degrees when you turn off your car. When it’s done, all that’s visible in your dash is blank panel. JVC takes a similar approach with its KD-LX3; turn off your ignition, the control panel slides back into the dash and the display turns pitch black, looking for all the world as if you’ve detached the faceplate and taken it with you.
Car CD Changers
Are you finding it tricky deciding between cassette and CD? Maybe you’re in need of hours of continuous music for your road trips, or simply looking for a way to enjoy CDs in your car while keeping your factory radio. All of these are terrific reasons to look at a CD changer. Depending upon your need and brand preference, you can get a changer that holds 6, 8, 10 or even 12 CDs at a time.
Neat Tricks. Quick, name that disc! Many changers, like the Kenwood KDC-C712, allow you to enter the titles of your discs and then select any loaded disc by name using a compatible in-dash stereo. Slim-line changers, like the Clarion ProAudio CDC655z, can fit beneath your seat or in many center consoles for easy access. Riding a rough road? Better CD changers, like the Sony ES CDX-828, have a memory buffer that acts as an electronic “shock absorber” to prevent skipping in all but the most extreme situations.
Leased Cars. If you’re driving a leased car or cruising in a classic vehicle, you may be hesitant to replace the factory radio. Luckily, you don’t have to. “FM add-on" changers like the JVC CH-X200RF connect to your existing stereo through the antenna input. You get multi-disc convenience, CD sound, and direct control without making any alterations that might void your lease or change the look of your dash!
Founded in 1974, Crutchfield Corporation is the nation's largest direct integrated marketer (catalog, call center, Internet) of consumer electronics products, offering a convenient, full-service shopping destination to buyers of car and home audio/video products. Providing an unprecedented level of customer service, Crutchfield is noted for its high integrity, courtesy, product expertise, and technical support. The company offers some 4,000 products and carries all major branded lines, including Sony, Kenwood, JVC, Pioneer, Panasonic/Technics, JBL, Rockford Fosgate, Yamaha, U.S. Acoustics, Clarion, Infinity, Bose, Aiwa, Polk Audio, and others. Mailed to approximately 6.3 million households, Crutchfield’s catalogs include comprehensive explanations of products and technology intended to help consumers make informed buying decisions. Crutchfield was the first authorized audio/video retailer on the Internet, launching its Web site (www.crutchfield.com) in the summer of 1995.
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