A ranking released Monday by Dallas-based Parks Associates listed headphones as the No. 6 consumer electronics item, right behind video game consoles. And among consumer electronics accessories, headphones ranked as the most desired item.
Parks’ research shows that about 21 percent of U.S. households with Internet access intend to buy headphones or earbuds this holiday season. That ranks headphones above a mouse, keyboard, motion controller and networked security camera, Parks said.
“The headphone market has really benefited from the boom in tablets and smartphones,” said John Barrett, Parks’ director of consumer analytics. “People are using these devices for music and video, and it’s not always practical, or polite, to use the built-in speakers.”
Top electronic gifts:
Headphones have been rising in popularity since last year. This year, they were featured widely by retailers as a hot holiday gift item and ranked sixth in Parks Associates’ holiday rankings. Last year they were fifth. NPD Group said the category made its Top 5 for the first time this year.
1. Tablet
2. Smartphone
3. Laptop/netbook/ultrabook
4. Flat-panel TV
5. Gaming console
6. Headphones/earbuds
7. e-book reader
8. Blu-ray player
9. MP3 player
10. Wireless speakers
From the article, "Headphone sales make a noisy comeback at the holidays" by Maria Halkias.
