Now is the time to buy before prices go up
The state of the nation's economy is not looking very good right now. The rise in oil prices has put heavy pressure on the rupiah and the government has indicated it will raise fuel prices to cut a ballooning budget deficit.
What is the impact of the situation on the audio-video market?
The market survey this week shows that prices of many audio- video products are still declining, but a number of products, particularly high-end products like speakers and receivers, have gone up in price. There are fears that more and more electronic products will go up if the nation's economic outlook turns even worse. Thus, if you wish to buy any of these products, don't delay.
In the micro-compo market, where prices are not moving as dynamically as in the TV, DVD player and handycam markets, there is still a significant downward trend.
Take the LG LX-D5230, for example. This DVD micro-compo, which has 6 satellite speakers, has been reduced in price by Rp 375,000 so that it is available now at Rp 1,375,000, while the LX-D3350, the latest LG DVD micro-compo, is going for Rp 2,150,000.
Meanwhile, a DVD micro made by Sharp, the SD-CX1W, has dropped in price from Rp 2,750,000 to Rp 1,975,000, while a Sanyo micro DVD (the DC-PT70) has been reduced in price to Rp 1,375,000! By comparison, Chinese-made micro DVD sets are available for around Rp 800,000. The Aico AXD1180D, for example, is available for Rp 875,000 while the Bluesky MDC-10101BL is to be had for only Rp 800,000. A less inexpensive micro DVD set made in China is the Enzer HF-1618MC, which has been reduced in price by Rp 120,000 to Rp 1,030,000.
If your budget is limited but you wish to buy a branded micro- compo set, you could go for a VDD micro. For example, a set assembled by Sanyo. For instance, the Sanyo DC-MV22, which comes in an attractive design likely to appeal to the ladies, is now available for Rp 650,000 after being reduced by Rp 120,000. Or, you could opt for an old-model VCD micro set, like the JVC VX- P450UN or JVC VXS77, which have undergone sizable price cuts and are now available respectively for Rp 1,500,000 and Rp 2,000,000.
The survey also shows encouraging developments in the TV market. The Toshiba 32WL46E (LCD TV, 32 inches) has underwent a very surprising price drop from Rp 27,500,000 to Rp 21,500,000! If you want a bigger size, just pay Rp 9,500,000 more to get the Toshiba 37WL55E (LCD TV, 37 inches). As for the Toshiba 43JH9VE (projection TV, 43 inches), it has just seen a price cut of Rp 1 million and is now available for Rp 13,000,000. Another option is a Philips 42-inch plasma TV, the 42PF9946, which is now going for Rp 25,000,000 after experiencing a price cut of Rp 3 million. Meanwhile, the Samsung PS-42D5 (plasma TV, 42 inches) has also been reduced in price by Rp 3 million and now costs Rp 24,000,000.
If you happen to be eyeing a 29-inch flat TV (CRT), there are three quite interesting offers currently out there. First, the LG Flatron RT-29FA35R (full stereo), which has just been reduced in price by Rp 150,000 to Rp 3,150,000. Another choice is the Samsung Plano CS-29M16 (full stereo), which has been slashed in price from Rp 4,089,000 to Rp 3.589,000. If you like neither of these, then you may want to opt for the Sharp 29ZF508W (full stereo), which, after a price cut of Rp 175,000, is now available for Rp 3,700,000.
Another more attractive offer that you are likely to regret missing out on comes from the 21-inch (diagonal) flat TV (CRT) market. JVC has just launched its new TV set, the AV-21WX14 (AV stereo, cinema surround) at the very affordable price of Rp 1,550,000. If you are seriously interested in JVC flat TV sets, there are two other JVC flat TV sets (old models, cinema surround, DVD input terminal) that you may like to consider, namely, the AV-21WX3 (AV stereo), which costs Rp 1,600,000, and the AV-21WS3 (full stereo), which is available for Rp 1,750,000.
Latest prices of home entertainment products
Brand & type Specs Price
1 LG LX-D5230 DVD Micro Compo, Rp 1.375.000
5 Satellite Speaker
2 LG LX-D3350 DVD Micro Compo, Rp 2.150.000
Sub Woofer,
Dolby Prologic II
3 Sharp SD-CX1W CD Micro Compo, Rp 1.975.000
Mini Disc
4 Sanyo DC-PT70 DVD Micro Compo Rp 1.375.000
5 Aico AXD1180D DVD Micro Compo Rp 875.000
6 Bluesky MDC-1010BL DVD Micro Compo Rp 800.000
7 Enzer HF-1618MC DVD Micro Compo, Rp 1.030.000
Progressive Scan
8 Toshiba 42WP48E Plasma TV, 42 inch Rp 23.500.000
9 Toshiba 32WL46E LCD TV, 32 inch Rp 21.500.000
10 Toshiba 37WL55E LCD TV, 37 inch Rp 31.000.000
11 Toshiba 43JH9UE Projection TV, 43 inch Rp 13.000.000
12 Philips 42PF9946 Plasma TV, 42 inch Rp 25.000.000
13 Samsung PS-42D5 Plasma TV, 42 inch Rp 24.000.000
14 LG RT-29FA35R CRT Flat TV, 29 inch, Rp 3.150.000
Full Stereo
15 Samsung CS-29M16 CRT Flat TV, 29 inch, Rp 3.589.000
Full Stereo
16 Sharp 29ZF508W CRT Flat TV, 29 inch, Rp 3.700.000
Full Stereo
17 JVC AV-21WX14 CRT Flat TV, 21 inch, Rp 1.550.000
AV stereo, Cinema Surround
18 JVC AV-21WX3 CRT Flat TV, 21 inch, Rp 1.600.000
AV stereo, Cinema Surround,
DVD input terminal
19 JVC AV-21WS3 CRT Flat TV, 21 inch, Rp 1.750.000
Full stereo,
Cinema Surround,
DVD input terminal
20 Panasonic TC-21FJ20M CRT Flat TV, Rp 1.550.000
21 inch, AV stereo
21 Panasonic TC-21FJ50M CRT Flat TV, 21 inch, Rp 1.730.000
Full stereo
22 Sharp 51ZPF200S CRT Flat TV, 21 inch, Rp 1.625.000
AV stereo, Plasma Cluster
23 LG RD-21FC91V CRT Flat TV, 21 inch, Rp 1.425.000
AV stereo
24 Sony KV-21HFV100 CRT Flat TV, 21 inch, Rp 2.850.000
Full stereo, FM tuner,
External Speaker
25 Sony KV-BT21M50 CRT Flat TV, 21 inch, Rp 1.825.000
AV stereo
26 Sanyo CG21MF2G Flat Screen, CRT 21 inch, Rp 1.000.000
AV stereo
27 Polytron MX5285RF Flat Screen, CRT 21 inch, Rp 1.880.000
Full stereo, built-in
DVD player
28 Samsung CS-21T20MQ Flat Screen, CRT 21 inch, Rp 1.550.000
Full stereo, DNIe Jr,
DVD input terminal
29 Samsung CS-21N30MJL Flat Screen, CRT 21 inch, Rp 1.200.000
AV stereo
30 Samsung CS-21N30MJZ Flat Screen, CRT 21 inch, Rp 1.130.000
Mono
31 Sanken ST-2195PAV Flat Screen, CRT 21 inch, Rp 1.650.000
AV stereo, Dual Sub Woofer
32 Sharp 51VF20 Flat Screen, CRT 21 inch, Rp 1.325.000
Mono
33 Sharp 51VF200 Flat Screen, CRT 21 inch, Rp 1.469.000
AV stereo
34 Hitachi C21-RF80SNT Conventional Screen, Rp 1.100.000
CRT 21 inch, Full Stereo,
DVD input terminal
35 Panasonic TC-29FG50M Flat Screen, CRT 29 inch, Rp 3.550.000
Full stereo,
DVD input terminal
36 Panasonic TC-29FG20M Flat Screen, CRT 29 inch, Rp 3.430.000
AV stereo,
DVD input terminal
37 Polytron MX3085RF Flat Screen, CRT 29 inch, Rp 4.175.000
Full stereo, built-in
DVD player
38 Samsung CS-29Z7 Flat Screen, CRT 29 inch, Rp 6.200.000
Full stereo, DNIe Jr,
DVD input terminal
Multi PiP, Digital 100Hz,
Dolby Surround Prologic
39 Sanyo CG29AF2G Flat Screen, CRT 29 inch, Rp 2.480.000
AV stereo
40 Sharp 29CFX1 Flat Screen, CRT 29 inch, Rp 2.875.000
AV stereo,
DVD input terminal
41 Sony KV-DA29M61 Flat Screen,CRT 29", Rp 7.050.000
Full stereo,
Progressive Scan,
DVD input terminal
42 Sony KV-SW29M50 Flat Screen, CRT 29", Rp 3.730.000
AV stereo,
DVD input terminal
43 Toshiba 29A3E Conventional Screen, Rp 2.680.000
CRT 29 inch, AV Stereo,
DVD input terminal
44 Toshiba 29A3DE Conventional Screen, Rp 2.830.000
CRT 29 inch, Full Stereo,
DVD input terminal
45 Sony KE-MX42A1 Plasma TV, 42 inch, Rp 46.500.000
1024x1024 pixels,
Memory Stick Slot,
HDTV ready,Full Stereo,
Progressive Scan, 100 Hz,
PC input
46 LG DZ-9300P DVD Player,MP3,JPEG, Rp 469.000
3D Surround Sound
47 Coby TF-DVD7050 7" Widescreen Color Rp 1.875.000
TFT Display,
DVD Portable Tablet,
Built-in Stereo Speaker,
MP3, JPEG
48 LG NE-9321P HTiB ( 1 Sub Woofer, Rp 1.000.000
2 Front Speaker)
49 Samsung VP-327i Handycam, Optical 10X, Rp 3.600.000
Still Picture 0.8 M Pixels,
MPEG4, Multi Card
Surveys were conducted at "Senen Electronic", "Victory Electronic", AGIS, and Carrefour between Aug. 20 - Aug. 23