Component audio is coming on strong, says the Consumer Electronics Association. The trade group's 2010 figures show component audio contributing to a 6.2 percent increase in overall home audio sales. A further 11.9 percent increase is forecast for 2011.

While CEA's definition of home audio includes components, compact systems, HTiBs, multiroom, MP3 speakers, and radios, only component audio and MP3 player related speakers showed increases, buoying the entire audio category.

A CEA analyst attributed the strength of component audio to strong flat panel TV sales, which induce consumers to "focus more on audio." Receivers with ethernet connectivity and soundbars with subwoofers are attractions. Household penetration of home theater systems reached a historic high of 36 percent in January 2011, slowing sales of HTiBs for the third year in a row, though models with docks are winning consumer interest and dollars.

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