BFA Says Sacrificing Sound Quality is a Mistake

The British Federation of Audio
PO Box 365
Farnham
GU10 2BD
Phone: + 44 (0) 1428 714616
Fax: + 44 (0) 1428 717599

e-mail:
chrisc@british-audio.org.uk

The British Federation of Audio (BFA) – the UK’s leading audio-visual consumer electronics trade body - says that it’s becoming increasingly apparent that consumers are ignoring the sound quality that can be derived from a home cinema system by paying scant attention to ancillary equipment.

Customers eager to take advantage of the excellent home entertainment options now available – particularly plasma TVs, are spending an inordinate amount on the TV monitor – several thousands of pounds in some cases - yet will only spend a small sum on the audio section, especially the loudspeakers, of the system.

Cheap, poor quality loudspeakers, often bundled with the TV package as a ‘complete home cinema system’ and widely sold by leading high-street department stores are often to blame suggests the BFA. "It’s a real shame that the general public are sacrificing the true cinematic and musical experience by not buying electronics and speakers of a matching quality to the TVs they buy," says Stephen N Harris, the BFA Chairman, "George Lucas, the founder of Lucasfilm and director of the Star Wars movies, is on record as saying as much – indeed he claimed that audio makes up 50% of the impact of a movie – and he should know"

"We’re urging our industry to try to educate its customers into spending an amount on the sound system commensurate with the cost of the visual equipment,” said Harris, “And, for a change, it’s not just because we see more business in it. It’s genuinely in the consumers’ interests. The difference in the overall cinematic/sound experience is very easily demonstrable."