Let's see if I can sum up all the drivel I've been posting here
What we want:
- Better audio quality, both on headphone and line-out
- Possibly higher volume on both outputs mentioned
- A digital out port.
(maybe sell a version with good isolating plugs, one with good earbuds (like the MX-500) and one with no headphones)
Better audio at a reasonable price would probably mean:
- shorter battery life (8-10 hours or so)
- slightly larger casing
- shorter anti-shock time (10 seconds, not jog-proof)
(the price would be higher than the current flagship PCDP, earlier players used to cost around $400, there can still be a market for those)
So this device would have to be sold clearly as a quality audio player, otherwise nobody would want to buy it based on the limited specifications above.
Who could be targeted:
- Rich people
(want to show off their expensive things)
- Business men (hotel, airplane and office use)
- Audio enthousiasts (office, mobile use, portable use at home)
- Design/Quality freaks (going for the best looking or best quality device)
What does that mean:
- A design that doesn't look out of place on a desktop (like the D-25 for instance)
- Optional infrared remote control
- Built-in backlit display
- High-quality sturdy casing made mostly out of metal or other durable materials.
- A design that looks modern and tasteful.
- Possibly a multibit delta-sigma DAC if economically possible.
How to market it:
Sell it as a "Portable home audio quality audio" or "Home quality audio on the go" device. Make sure the design looks serious and professional. Aim for the target groups mentioned above.
What's in it for Sony:
- Another audience to sell products to, possibly larger than they expect.
- Improving their image as a manufacturer of "quality audio" devices.
- Adding a flagship PCDP above the current flagship that is actually a quality device, instead of a compromise.
- Gain more interest for audio quality, means increasing the potential market for SACD (not that I like SACD
)
The last point might be a serious one for Sony. Most of the people don't really seem to care about audio quality, using the cheapest, most interesting looking, or feature-rich Discman, without thinking about audio quality (many people think all CD players basically sound the same, it's digital). People use cheap headphones, often the ones they get for free with their player.
So not that many people will be interesting in SACD. They might be interested in it when it comes for free with their DVD player.
However, I do think that when a person listens to a player that sounds good, with good headphones, there's a good chance they will think about audio quality next time they are looking for an audio device.
It's a bit tricky though, as people are mostly going for MP3 capable players now. Add that capability to this player and either the price goes up, or other parts like audio quality have to be compromised.
