new Polk sub-brand: Polk Audio Designs
fireshoes
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http://www.twice.com/article/CA6424905.html
Polk Launches Mass Sub-Brand
By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 3/15/2007 10:07:00 AM
Baltimore Polk Audio, which is owned by Directed Electronics, is launching a new sub-brand called Polk Audio Designs for products such as iPod accessories, radios, audio systems and other products.
Polk Audio Designs will be offered through existing Polk Audio dealers and additional stores.
Our vision is that Polk Audio Designs products will meet the needs of customers that we have not addressed in the past. Specifically, were thinking of those consumers who are not audio hobbyists but who comprise an important segment of the market, said Jim Herd, president of Polk Audio.
The first product under the new brand is the MiDock10, a portable iPod audio system to be sold exclusively through RadioShack at a suggested $199. A similar version called the MiDock Studio will be sold through other retailers in April. Also new is an HD radio/CD audio shelf system called the HDX3 to be sold through RadioShack starting in May at $299.
The MiDock Studio portable iPod speaker system will work with any iPod model from the nano to the 80GB iPod. It includes 3.25-inch drivers, side-mounted handles and remote. It works on AC power or eight C-cell batteries and can be connected to a PC. It will be sold through select big box retailers as well as existing Polk Audio retailers and online at PolkAudio.com.
The MiDock 10, to be sold exclusively through RadioShack, will be a smaller version that is styled differently.
The HDX3 HD radio/CD player is a three-piece system with detached two-way speakers. It receives AM/FM and HD radio stations as well as sideband multicast channels. The display can also show text data that may be broadcast over HD radio such as traffic, weather, and artist name and song title. It can also playback MP3 encoded CDs.
High end audio products will continue to be marketed under the Polk Audio brand.
Marketing manager Paul DiComo stated, Our traditional business has been component loudspeakers. Were getting farther a field because the world has changed. Theres certainly a greater desire on the part of consumers to have music in more places; to have their music be portable. We think we can add value to that by bringing higher end audio sensibilities to those kinds of products.
Polk Launches Mass Sub-Brand
By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 3/15/2007 10:07:00 AM
Baltimore Polk Audio, which is owned by Directed Electronics, is launching a new sub-brand called Polk Audio Designs for products such as iPod accessories, radios, audio systems and other products.
Polk Audio Designs will be offered through existing Polk Audio dealers and additional stores.
Our vision is that Polk Audio Designs products will meet the needs of customers that we have not addressed in the past. Specifically, were thinking of those consumers who are not audio hobbyists but who comprise an important segment of the market, said Jim Herd, president of Polk Audio.
The first product under the new brand is the MiDock10, a portable iPod audio system to be sold exclusively through RadioShack at a suggested $199. A similar version called the MiDock Studio will be sold through other retailers in April. Also new is an HD radio/CD audio shelf system called the HDX3 to be sold through RadioShack starting in May at $299.
The MiDock Studio portable iPod speaker system will work with any iPod model from the nano to the 80GB iPod. It includes 3.25-inch drivers, side-mounted handles and remote. It works on AC power or eight C-cell batteries and can be connected to a PC. It will be sold through select big box retailers as well as existing Polk Audio retailers and online at PolkAudio.com.
The MiDock 10, to be sold exclusively through RadioShack, will be a smaller version that is styled differently.
The HDX3 HD radio/CD player is a three-piece system with detached two-way speakers. It receives AM/FM and HD radio stations as well as sideband multicast channels. The display can also show text data that may be broadcast over HD radio such as traffic, weather, and artist name and song title. It can also playback MP3 encoded CDs.
High end audio products will continue to be marketed under the Polk Audio brand.
Marketing manager Paul DiComo stated, Our traditional business has been component loudspeakers. Were getting farther a field because the world has changed. Theres certainly a greater desire on the part of consumers to have music in more places; to have their music be portable. We think we can add value to that by bringing higher end audio sensibilities to those kinds of products.
Post edited by fireshoes on
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http://www.polkaudio.com/partners/press.php?id=74
Polk Audio® Launches New Brand Polk Audio Designs
Brand to be used on broad-appeal products including iPod audio systems and HD Radio products
BALTIMORE, MD (March 15, 2007)Today Polk Audio, a Directed Electronics Brand (NASDAQ: DEIX), announced a new brand entitycalled Polk Audio Designs. The new mark will be used for products aimed at the general population, such as iPod accessories, radios, audio systems and other mass-appeal products. Polk Audio Designs products will be distributed through existing Polk Audio dealers and/or a wider network of retailers. Products designed for the audio enthusiast market will continue to be branded Polk Audio and distributed through Polks network of value-added retailers. Polk Audio Designs products will aim to offer the best possible sound quality and value in their respective categories.
The first product to bear the mark is the MiDock10, a portable iPod audio system that is being sold exclusively through RadioShack stores at a Suggested Retail Price of $179. A similar but slightly larger and differently styled Polk Audio Designs iPod portable audio system called the MiDock Studio will debut in April and will be sold by Polk Audios existing retailers, select big-box retailers and on Polk Audios website. Due in May 2007 is an HD radio/CD audio shelf system called the HDX3 that will be sold in RadioShack stores for $299. Additional Polk Audio Designs products will be announced later in the year.
Our vision is that Polk Audio Designs products will meet the needs of customers that we have not addressed in the past, said Jim Herd, President of Polk Audio. Specifically were thinking of those consumers who are not audio hobbyists but who comprise an important segment of the market. Our engineering group has applied Polks core acoustic competence to product configurations targeted at emerging trends in audio-listening like iPod/MP3 players and the new radio formats.
The Polk Audio Designs MiDock Studio (pictured left) is a portable iPod music system that can be operated with either the supplied AC adaptor or eight C cell batteries. Its dual 3.25-inch high excursion drivers are vented via a side-firing flared port for high output and robust bass response. Supplied adaptors allow the MiDock Studio to accept any iPod model from the Nano to the 80GB iPod. Its two-tone black grille/white body color scheme looks great with any color iPod. Any audio playback device with a headphone jack or audio output jack may be connected to the MiDock Studio via its 3.5mm stereo input jack. A rear mounted iPod multi-pin connector permits the MiDock Studio to be connected directly to a PC so that the iPods music library can be updated conveniently while the iPod sits in the MiDock Studio. Side-mounted handles make the MiDock Studio easy to carry from room to room while the supplied credit-card sized remote allows convenient operation from across the room. Sound quality is pure Polk Audiowell balanced, spacious and natural. The MiDock Studio will be sold through existing Polk Audio retailers, select big-box retailers and on-line at PolkAudio.com.
The MiDock10 is similar to the MiDock Studio in features and function but is smaller and styled differently and is being sold exclusively in RadioShack stores at an MSRP of $179.
An executive shelf system featuring HD Radio and CD player that will be sold for $299 in RadioShack stores and on-line by Polk Audio will be released in May 2007. The HDX3 is a three piece design with detached two-way speakers. Its tuner receives analog AM/FM as well as HD Radio AM/FM including side band HD channels. The HDX3s large bright display shows all available text data that may be broadcast by an HD Radio station, including traffic, weather, artist name and song title. Tuner features include Seek, Scan and 6 radio presets. A single play tray CD drive is included that plays standard CDs and MP3 encoded CDs. Headphone output and an Auxiliary input are conveniently positioned on the front panel. Polk Audio speaker and Digital Signal Processing technologies deliver a full, rich room-filling sound that belies the modest size of the HDX3 system. -
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Russ, Bill and I saw the HDX at CES. The demo was brief and in a "closet", but the unit looks pretty neat.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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The first product under the new brand is the MiDock10, a portable iPod audio system to be sold exclusively through RadioShack
Radio Shack? Are they trying to gaurantee failure? -
It looks like they are trying to hit the mass market consumer with out tainting the Polk Audio name with the hobby crowd.Michael
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I like the looks of the HDx3. Looks like it would be good for the bedroom.
