The growth of the MP3 has forced many consumers to listen to downloaded music through poor-quality computer, or even mobile phone, speakers, but this may be about to change. Chord Electronics, a specialist audio manufacturer based in the UK, has isolated a high-quality coded audio signal secreted in the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), to allow the wireless transmission of music from any A2DP-enabled product to home hi-fi. The Chordette Gem converts the Bluetooth signal from digital to analogue and can be used up to 100m away from a home hi-fi system. John Franks, Chord’s managing director, says the Chordette Gem is designed to “bring a whole new generation back to home hi-fi and hear the artists the way they should be heard”. With the rest of the music industry focusing on making music distribution profitable again, Chord is plugging a tangible gap. According to IMS research, Bluetooth on laptops globally will rise above 75% by 2012, and over 70% of mobile phones in Western Europe in 2007 had Bluetooth capability. Chord is tapping into the growing trend of downloading music to mobile phones and while the €495 entry price is high, expect it to tumble as bigger manufacturers cotton on.