Creating a Buzz for DVD-Audio

It is often observed that audiophiles are an aging, dying breed, and that the obvious antidote is to bring younger 'philes into the fold. To that end, BuzzNet 2000 has been created as a "touring educational festival of new music listening technologies" by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The program launches this fall with two dates on the west coast: California State University at Long Beach and the University of California at Davis.

The CEA says that BuzzNet is designed to provide students and faculty with direct ears-on experience with the latest consumer audio technologies.  The technologies showcased include DVD-Audio discs, surround music for homes and automobiles, virtual surround headphones, and Internet audio. The CEA's Gary Shapiro hopes that BuzzNet will show that these new audio technologies constitute a new level of quality in the consumer's music-listening experience. "New formats such as surround music and DVD-Audio deliver an immersive musical experience virtually indistinguishable from a live performance."

BuzzNet comes to CSU Long Beach October 11–12, and to Freeborn Hall at UC Davis October 16–17. Students and faculty from those schools and the surrounding areas can register to attend by logging on to the BuzzNet website at www.buzznet.org. Additional BuzzNet dates at college campuses across the country are being planned for spring 2001.  Interested students and faculty at any US college or university can register at the website to receive automatic updates of future BuzzNet dates and locations, as well as download information about new consumer-audio technologies.

The CEA says that BuzzNet will feature new music specifically produced for the new surround music formats, plus contest giveaways of consumer audio equipment donated by BuzzNet sponsors, including Alpine, Denon, Dolby, Klipsch, Runco, Sherwood America, Toshiba, and Yamaha.

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