Audio Video News

In what has turned out to be a big news week for Hi-Res Audio, a new study from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) found that more than half of consumers who recently purchased audio products are interested in Hi-Res Audio (HRA) and three-quarters spent time researching audio products in physical stores.

The “Consumers Journey to Purchase: Audio” study, which examined need-based and desire-based purchases, found that consumers who buy for need are mainly focused on cost, everyday use, and compatibility with mobile devices. Desire-based purchases were focused on prioritizing the quality of product and brand over value, and compatibility with core audio-video products. The study also found a need-based purchase is often intended to replace or supplement an existing product, while a desire-based purchase is often an upgrade.

Among the study’s key findings:

• Two-thirds (68 percent) of consumers' most recent audio purchases were planned, with 77 percent of consumers researching audio products at a physical store and 41 percent doing so online.
• By an immense margin, headphones are the most frequently purchased audio product (69 percent of consumer purchases), with portable speakers (9 percent) and sound bars (6 percent) distant runners-up
• Among the factors affecting consumer purchases, word of mouth (32 percent) is the most influential, followed by store displays (29 percent), and need/want and/or online reviews (20 percent).

For more information on Hi-Res Audio, see our just published Guide to Hi-Res Audio.

For other news, see Music Retailers Adopt Hi-Res Logo.