In 2016, the annual Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook (LIS) gained an entirely new dimension with a complete update of the online directory (www.loudspeakerindustrysourcebook.com), which contains even more complete listings than in previous years. Inside LIS 2017 and the online directory, you will find updated information with all the contacts that make it an invaluable resource for the industry.
In the magazine, you will also find high-quality Industry Features and Reports that provide an invaluable perspective of our industry’s evolution. In cooperation with the Association of Loudspeaker Manufacturing and Acoustics (ALMA) International, most of the articles we selected for this year’s edition are based on presentations that took place during ALMA’s International Symposium & Expo (AISE) 2017. This should provide you with an idea of the incredible value of attending this event, for which audioXpress, Voice Coil, and the Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook are official media partners.
Every year, we also ask audio and speaker industry experts about their business expectations and the trends they consider most relevant and which of the technologies and innovations from the last 24 to 12 months they find most relevant. As most of the experts highlighted this year, USB-C, Lightning and related audio input/output interfaces will continue to be an important area to consider, increasing opportunities for the audio industry.
Although headphones continue to be popular, the fastest growing segment of the audio industry is currently in loudspeakers, with consumers embracing the new class of portable wireless speakers, multi-room audio, and with new categories of smart- and voice-controlled speakers gaining traction and generating a new phenomena in terms of consumer audio. In 2017, we have seen how the Amazon Echo voice-controlled speaker inspired the industry for the possibility of smart speakers, creating a new category. Connected speakers — because that will be the new class, not necessarily only voice-controlled — are already the fastest growing audio product segment for 2017. Adding to those platforms, the combination of powerful DSP, microphone arrays, sensors, and the latest wireless standards and network connectivity, will create a foundation with an incredible potential to revolutionize all loudspeaker applications.
Another notable trend focuses on different approaches in speaker design and in transducers, inspiring new designs in applications. In 2017, loudspeaker manufacturers are rethinking the conventional and challenging what’s been possible. As reflected in ALMA International’s theme for 2018, “The Revolution of the Audio Signal Chain,” the signal path from source to speaker will continue to evolve, from a variety of discrete components to converged and integrated, embedded, networked, and increasingly “intelligent” solutions, ultimately determining the quality of audio. The theme for AISE 2018 will focus on this convergence and how this will impact transducer design, the integrated speaker, and overall loudspeaker performance.
Our annual Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook (LIS 2017) directory also corresponds to our interactive website, available at: www.loudspeakerindustrysourcebook.com
Vendors, service providers, and industry professionals are now able to continuously update their information throughout the year, while the database-driven interface will make it easier than ever for anyone in the industry to find the loudspeaker resources they need. The online directory was recently updated with all the information submitted for our 2017 Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook print edition, complete listings and the familiar category indexes, which make this annual publication such an invaluable resource for the industry.
www.loudspeakerindustrysourcebook.com
