What do you think about the future of Stereo? Will the release of immersive personal video help drive more interest in STEREO or cause a faster decline? The Vision Pro is not the final word in presenting that immersive experience as it is too costly and mostly a singular experience, it is just a glimpse of a future experience. At the same time, many audio companies like Denon, Marantz, Polk and others may not be in business after this year according to industry news, so perhaps a new player will emerge. Chime in here with your thoughts and experience.
A thought, what goes in comes out. I have (in no order ) experiences I will share. Most of you are perhaps little too young to remember when cd was making inroads. The record companies were fighting back with PCM discs, Direct to digital, and the king of all (very few made due to process) Direct to disc at 45 rpm. I cannot tell you how great they sound if you find any and you have a half way system they will shock you. Love folks getting back into stereo.
For Boomers, GenX, and older Millennials, we grew up with the movie theater as an “experience” and wanted to duplicate that at home. I am an older GenX, we have a kid who is a Millennial, another who is an older Gen Z and the last which is a younger Gen Z. What I’ve noticed is that rather than have a big screen experience, the younger kids value carrying the entertainment with them. It’s all about portability which means smartphones and tablets. All this is part of the reason movie theaters are having a hard time these days. For older folks, you can get a 65” 4k tv for under $500 and set up a cheap home theater. For younger people, they aren’t as focused on the big screen experience, so no need for home theater. Great video! Best wishes!!
The real reason is that Hollywood hasn’t made a good movie in years. You can only watch so many old movie favourites before you get sick of watching them. Great sound and TV technology but nothing new to watch except brain dead movies designed for 12 year olds.
That's not true. Every year there is at least one movie released worth of watching. And Hollywood is NOT the only place where movies are made. You generalized too much. But I give that not all good movies require most advanced sound systems. Many great movies are OK with just stereo sound.
@@tjblues01 Hi TJ Blues…that’s great news. Can you send me a list of the 1 movie each year for the last 5 years? I will then watch them on my home theatre system.
@@michaelhrpufnstuf1078 Hi Michael. Sure, no problem. But you know, all depends on your and my taste which *might be vastly different.* I didn't do 2024 because it's not over yet... 2023 *Oppenheimer* Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie *Poor Things* Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Killers of the Flower Moon 2022 *Top Gun: Maverick* All Quiet on the Western Front *Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues* *Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio* The Banshees of Inisherin And mixture: *Dune [2021, 2024],* Avatar [2009, 2022], West Side Story [2021], The Call of the Wild [2020], Hamilton [2020], Wolfwalkers [2020], *Never Rarely Sometimes Always [2020]* And you have tons of purely entertaining movies, all within last 5 years: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, The Valet, 57 Seconds, The Flash, Blue Beetle, The retirement plan, The Expendables, The Equalizer, Guardians of the Galaxy, Dog, The Beekeeper, Fishermans Friends One And All, Prey, Ghosted, The Lost City, etc, etc....
@@tjblues01If you look at a streaming service, most of the movies aren't even made by any famous Hollywood movie studio. then it may depend on which streaming service it is. otherwise, for example, TV operators can have play channels or film channels, for example, at least here in Sweden, then maybe streaming has affected the film industry
@@tjblues01 I usually read what the film is about, unfortunately the description is not as detailed on a streaming service as it is on the cover of The Physical Film. on the streaming service, the film may be very little described
Home theater was popular when families can get together to enjoy or endure a movie together. Then came the iPhone and texting each other across the dinner table or even not having a dinner.
The Unabomber tried to tell us that technology separates us and isolates us. Now we have couples on a date night out at a restaurant each staring in to their phone, not even noticing the other is even present.
@@padfoo LOL, well, that is a bit broad. My kids got older and didn't want to hang out with us parents as much, that is normal. Add personal video viewing to the mix with on demand streaming and it dilutes the possibility for the group experience.
I worked with 1000's of home theaters throughout the years. People have viewed these differently. They range from stereo sound and a TV in a living room to a dedicated room with a projector and surround sound. The reality is that many people with dedicated rooms do not use their rooms very much. Others like myself use them a lot. Dedicated home theaters with platform seating are not very social compared to a living room setup. Dedicated home theaters were thought to bring increased value to home resale. This is probably not the case in most instances. The advent of 4K HDR and larger TV's have made the need for a light controlled room and projector much less. The current generation of projectors are also very weak at 4K HDR compared to flat panels. The fact that HDR is mastered for light levels that projectors cannot achieve without an industry standard strategy for remastering the content for the display or room environment is also problematic. IMO the industries constantly changing standards discourages people from investing in this technology. There is always something better around the corner and some of these changes are hard to retrofit. More people are probably understanding their cost to benefit ratio of the options available and deciding against a dedicated theater room or a large investment in this form of entertainment.
I did not get into that level of detail, but I had pretty much the same thoughts overall. As with anything, it is not a single issue that results in change, but many. As well, just as vinyl never completely went away, HT will have its fans for decades to come, but the vast majority, I believe, will adopt much more modest systems. The heyday of the dedicated HT will be relegated to those households with enough financial resources to accommodate a room dedicated to a HT that is just used periodically. Thanks for adding to the conversation, with your level of actual experience in the market, it helps confirm some of my assumptions. I did not consider the point about the experience in a living room, but it makes perfect sense. The majority of folks will want to get the most value of their square footage.
Personally I think home theater sales have slowed because it is a luxury. People are spending money on food & gas to get to work. Much of the working class used to splurge on home theater as a hobby, but the poor economy with inflationary issues puts priorities up front, especially for the working class. Headphones are cheaper. 😢
It is probably about simplicity as well and maybe visibility as well. or a guy on RUclips who told that he visited someone who had put the speakers in cabinets. you might want something that your woman might have an opinion on in terms of appearance in the living room
Some people can just buy a huge TV for their living room along with a stereo amp or receiver, a sub or two and a pair of good speakers. They'll get most of the experience and save some money. PPL are still going into debt for bass boats, f250s, side by sides etc.
a great stereo system is the foundation for a home theater. no headset will replace a room shaking when king kong pounds his chest. home theater isn’t going anywhere.
Yeah and 5.1 is all you need. all those other channels and speakers are overkill. Not to mention when you get too many speakers, they cancel each other and the separation isn't as good. 5.1 Dolby Digital is fine and that is why it's the default surround system.
It is just more simple to use a soundboard. I have a full blown home theater but the problem with the likes of Denon, Marantz , Sony they just don't innovate. Look at Sonos pre last App update . Simple stupid . I seasoned Equipmnet 20 years ago and even rich ppl want simple simple simple
@@progamersplay4716 It’s really that folks want a passable setup that’s easy to install and relatively cheap. There is no way any kind of sound bar can give you a theater experience. The look on friend’s faces when they watch a movie on a 4K disc with our 98” Sony with the full McIntosh / B&W sound system blows their mind.
In my own experience, I was excited when I moved during the pandemic (taking advantage of work from home and low mortgage rates) and built a house with a dedicated media room. After two years in my new home, I have probably watched just 2 movies in there. I find that most of my entertainment hours are spent on RUclips or meandering the internet. RUclips videos are like installment payments; because they're usually short, I don't realize how much they add up, and I end up binging RUclips for hours because it plays in the background as I do chores, eat, or even go to the restroom. However, watching a movie, though just 1.5 - 2 hours long, feels like a much bigger commitment because I have to put everything else down and just sit in front of a screen. Though I am over 50 years old, I fear that I have the reduced attention span of a Millennial, and it takes a movie that I'm dying to see to get me to sit in my media room; and Hollywood of late has just not delivered anything that great. The last movie I watched was Godzilla Minus One in Dec. 2023, and it was worth going to an actual theater to see.
Back when my house was being built in a new development in 1997, I came in overnight just before they added drywall, with battery powered tools, 500 ft of wire, flashlights and ladders, and pre-wired my entire house for in-wall surround sound speakers. I now have 23 speakers throughout the entire house (every bedroom, my shower, etc., including 2 separate 5.2 systems (my TV room has one and my office computer has another). My wife thinks I'm nuts, until a really nice sounding part of a movie comes on and you get immersed in the sound.
Quite possible and very likely, but VR or something similar, will succeed longer term. The point is not specifically the Apple Vision Pro, the point is that some newer tech like it will change the current paradigm.
I couldn't even stand 3d glass after a while. I hated wearing safety glass all my life. Just something on your for longer thak 30min is annoying no matter how emersive it is. Thats just me tho.
I don't know what everybody's talking about. Home theater is far from dead. Infact just about everybody I know prefers home theater over going to the movies. What we have available for projectors and tvs, not to mention speakers and stereo receivers. Are you kidding me? people are making home theaters better than movie theaters. I don't know where the hell you people get this idea that the home theater is dead .
Home theater is far from dead. My first surround sound receiver cost $1,200 in 1993. It was a Yamaha Natural Sound 5.1 channel. I finally replaced it 2 years ago with a brand new Yamaha Natural Sound 7.1/5.2.1 receiver for... just $400. Adjusted for inflation this is incredibly cheap. Now let's cover the increased quality and performance in the same platform over the decades. More wattage (100 watts per speaker), and the ability to control each speaker with it's own dedicated graphic equalizer and volume, with distance from speaker to ear entered into the equation. Also, the choice of Dolby Atmos or 7 channel surround at the push of a button on the remote, or just let the auto function do it's thing. Either setting also has Zone 2 which uses an 8th and 9th channel to provide stereo format of same or different audio to a separate room. Then there is party mode where all speakers just fit the 2 channel stereo format. Music also sounds phenomenal in either Dolby Atmos or 7 channel surround. With all that said, sound bars are just overpriced garbage, comparable to today's "boom boxes". They're just an overly inflated and expensive, cheaply made imitation of what was far better decades ago.
I gave up on home theatre when it became too costly and ever-changing. Not to mention the bullshit around how much better this Dolby version would sound over that Dolby version. I’ve stripped it all out and am using a good soundbar with a subwoofer and I’m completely happy.
Some may forget that there was a precursor to surround sound systems called "Quadraphonic Surround". Like the 3D video experience, it was a technology that was short lived. It required a special amplifier and four speakers. The downside was there wasn't enough quadraphonic media (records) that were recorded in this format. My father got sucked into that. It was interesting, but it didn't wow me. To me, stereo reproduction was perfectly fine by itself and the record industry supported it mainly. Eventually the quadraphonic technology faded into obscurity, but not forgotten as it lit the spark that became the home theater experience. When I was old enough and could afford it, I got involved in the home theater thing but that got too costly and now have reverted back to a simple yet very pleasing stereo system. I'm now 65 years old and don't think I'm going to do much more in respect to audio systems no matter which direction it goes. The difficulties of our economy have put a big damper on what most would now regard as luxury purchases.
The numerous incompatible quad formats did not help matters. What was it, QS; SQ; Matrix and what else? That really wrecked adoption. I remember a radio station in Florida when I was a kid that broadcast in quad. Only had a mono radio myself back then.
For a living room setup, Sonos works phenomenal. Why? Because it's simple. It's not difficult to setup and you're not worried about wires going everywhere. Would I use it in a dedicated home theater? No Because there's no replacing what a proper surround sound system will bring to the whole immerse feel of watching a movie. Buy just a simple living room setup? You betcha it works. I currently don't have a dedicated media room etc, just my living room and I have the Sonos Arc and sub and it works for my setup and the sound is still good enough. I may add some Sonos surrounds at some point who knows but until I get a house where I can have a dedicated theater room. This will do just fine
I'll put it this way. I bet the Cinema Theaters are hurting more than the Home Theaters are. You may have noticed how there are more ways to watch movies at home than there are at the movie theaters. And you do not have to have the best sound system to enjoy the theater experience at home either.
I built a very impressive system in my home and without a doubt it delivers! My girlfriend has a sound bar in her home and I was quite surprised at how well it sounded. It will NEVER be even close to what I have but it works for her and its not complicated. She watched Top Gun Maverick in my room and was absolutely blown away but her appreciation for the sound was just not there like it was for me. The normal person usually doesn't care about that type of sound and just want to enjoy the movie. I can respect that. The downside of this is visiting others, watching the same movies and thinking to myself they are missing so much this sounds like absolute garbage. I'm the one always grabbing their remote and trying my best to adjust what they have for the best sound LOL.
That is essentially the summary of my point, with the exception that new tech (like a VR type experience) will slowly take more and more market share. Go give the Apple Vision Pro a try. On the optical side, it is exceptional. The audio side has a way to go to match current 9.2 Atmos level, but maybe that is an area where it can help expand the experience. For that, I think it may need a full helmet type of gear which may be to claustrophobic for many. :-)
My brother in law and sister are the same way. They have a beautiful 75 inch Samsung tv screen and say that the tv speakers are good enough and they don't need all that. Where as my philosophy is the sound should match the picture.
I think the big downfall with typical home theater implementations is the complication. Juggling remotes and trying to get the females in the house to understand which remote to adjust volume with just isn't worth the effort. With a nice vintage system, all that is obvious and straightforward. I agree though, all this makes a 2 channel system make more sense.
@@atulpandey6500E-Arc can sometimes be finicky with different brands or when the new owner doesn’t know a firmware update will fix their handshake issue.
I disagree. I have long since moved beyond just a soundbar and there is no way I’m going back to just a soundbar. Nor do I see any movement back to just soundbars. I was at a product rollout by a major HT company just this week. They were highlighting their front speakers which could, for many, dispense with the soundbar AND could do a good job at 2 channel as well as HT. That is the future I see. I can see just using a soundbar to improve on the sound coming from your TV. But for anything approaching cinematic sound, a soundbar simply is not sufficient.
For a true moviephile like yourself, that will always be true. I can tell you that the demise of many a great stereo system was the Bose Acoustimass systems because of.... women. They pushed out the big stereo setups in mass so they could "not see" the Bose systems. That is or will happen to many HT systems as they are replaced by women for soundbars. To be clear, not ALL women as some women do like a quality HT experience.
@@stereoniche Hard to argue with you on this point. In our bedroom (my wife’s domain), we have a soundbar for the TV. There is NO WAY that there will be anything more than a soundbar in the bedroom as I had to convince her to even try that! The HT system is in my “man cave” in the basement. Need I say more???
For me and my wife, it ended when our daughters went away to college and there were no more groups of friends watching movies. We had a 16x26ft custom HT with two rows of tiered seating and custom acoustics around the entire room. The cost of fabric to cover the walls would probably make it prohibitive now at today's prices. The other thing for me specifically was chasing technology. We had a $9,000 projector that became obsolete in two years after installation. That kind of stuff killed it for me. Constantly having to upgrade firmware on our previous Pioneer Elite Bluray player was also a pain. We upgraded to an Oppo. We sold that house and now live in a townhouse with a finished "media room" in the basement. I have a 75" TV and some of my old speakers. We kept the Oppo UDP-203, the Marantz processor and an Emotiva XPA-3. The subwoofers stayed with the old HT along with the projector and the surrounds which were all enclosed in columns (I had to buy new surrounds). I'm quite happy now.
@@dgdave2673 Yikes, no, it was $9k. At least I had a comma......lol. I'm going to fix that now, so if anyone else happens to read that it'll be correct. Thanks for pointing that out.
I can so relate, the HT on the basement with the 120” projector screen sits idle as me and my spouse watch a classic movie on our regular 55” in the living room. Too much trouble to go downstairs!
UST projectors with retractable screens make casual projection quite easy and convenient now. And frankly possible for some of us in smaller homes. (At least at night when it's not competing against the Sun.) Love the thing.
After many years I’ve finally bought a house that had a dedicated home theatre space which I’ve developed into a nice music and theatre room with a projection system and I enjoy it almost every night. I’m happy with it all!
I fell in love with movie watching in VR with the original PSVR, largely because how brilliantly Sony recreates theatre sound ambience. The headset is low-res but OLED, but most importantly the audio makes it ridiculously easy to lose myself into the theatre experience. Also 3D Blu-ray movies play in 3D. Sadly have yet to find anythat competes in audio with all the headsets I’ve picked up since. My Magic Leap One is promising with the most impressive spatial sound (without headphones) on a headset but it’s AR and FOV is pretty small.
i haven't checked out the apple vision pro yet but, from the ads and reviews i've seen i don't see it replacing home theater. it's a personal unit and part of the ht experience is sharing with family n friends, sure you can pass the unit around but it's not the same. it's bulky and uncomfortable after about 30mins, even though it'll get lighter n smaller with time, it's still a head unit. if it replace anything i believe it'll be video games, but for those of us who love ht i see apple visison as a side chick, not a replacement.
I think it will take several more years and the price (currently $3500) will need to drop drastically, but that has been the cycle for all major technology shifts. Those with the money to buy them will be early adopters, then as volume increases and price decreases, the masses will be able to participate. Now, that all assumes, of course, the tech gets smaller/lighter, etc, but once you feel that immersive experience from video and pictures you take yourself, there is no going back. It IS the future, just a matter of how long it will take for us to get there.
Yeah, I agree with your assessment. Apple Vision is too personalized. Until they can create something that will create VR experience for a group collectively, I don't see it replacing the media where all can see, feel and hear the experience the same way..
90% + of the movies I watch are old and are either basic stereo or mono. Modern films (the past 30 years or so) are trash. Not all, not all, not all but most (my opinion)
As soon as I see the blurred edges and outer focus backgrounds, I'm immediately aware the actors are standing in front of a green screen, which obviously distances one from the movie. And never mind, no character development it's almost as if sometimes they add a scene (probably on the fly) just to show off the latest camera techniques. The Great Movie era has sadly long gone
Great reply, and also if you get the one or two that are good content on the state of the art media you soon find out ALL the equipment has to handle the content!
I did the home theater fad for a while, had the 6.1 system. It didn’t have the sound quality I was used to. I have always a the basics stereo setup since I was a kid in the ‘80s. After getting a really good sound bar system in 2015, I boxed up my home theater and sold it. When I listen to music, I play the old 2 channel Carver with 2 speakers and a sub. Nothing beats the old way for music for me.
With the scant number of good movie content worthy of a large HT setup, the value prop is just not there. But Music, we can listen to it over and over again daily and it is certainly worth the effort to setup a quality system for so much time spent using it. You can't beat a good vintage system.
For me home theater from the start was about trying to get as close to the real cinema experience at home as possible. No soundbars or headphones can do that. But you can still enjoy watching a movie or tv series with them. And the new flat display's certainly have their advantages. I still have a small home theater room with projector and Dolby Atmos sound system with subwoofer. But nowadays we spend most of our entertainment time in our living room with the big 4k HDR tv and 5.0 B&W speaker system and AV receiver. Stereo amplifier (plays fronts for the AV) and separate Dac for stereo music. At the end is about finding the best setup for you! What you're happy with and what you can afford.
In my opinion, video on a headset, no matter how impressive it might be initially, is a gimmick that few people will adopt. A few years back everyone was trying those 3D headsets. How many people still use them?
I have an Australian made Stereo 6 Kriesler Multisonic Stereo made in 1965. It was state of the art in its day, it was my parents. It's got a Garrard fully automatic turn table and beautiful sounding AM radio. I get more pleasure listening to that gentle beautiful sound than my Yamaha system. That Kriesler played just about every record Elvis ever produced, plus Beatles, Sinatra you name it. I love playing Brubeck Jazz albums on it. It's my treasure from Mum and Dad. 😊👍🏻
You simply cannot buy nostalgia. Even vintage gear that I have no personal emotional history with evokes more emotion and engagement when I play period specific music on it. A "Rat Pack" album playing through a tube amp on some early 60's speakers can be so enjoyable!
I just upgraded to a 75" Qled mini led to replace my 17 year old 50 inch plasma. Also got around to adding two surrounds to my current 5.1 set up to take advantage of the 7.2 pioneer avr I've had for years. Its set up in a large second living room for socializing and movies. We like it, it works for us, and I dont worry about "Keeping up with the Joneses" and constantly replacing gear
@07wrxtr1 yep. They were good tvs, but heavy. My new 75inch weighs 62lbs where the old 50inch plasma weighs 109lbs. And the new tv cost half of what my plasma did back in 2007. Times have changed
I've always just used my regular home stereo connected to the TV. I've never been interested in surround sound. I've always been satisfied with just two good stereo speakers with big enough woofers to give it a solid bottom end.
Same. I actually have my eARC signal feeding out to a converter that goes off to the RCA inputs of a two-channel Amp (actually 2 channels of a 4-channel Amp). My two speakers are high quality. Have considered dropping in a sub, but can’t be bothered.
Great video! Something to add to the timeline was the whole cassette tape and boom box phase, some of those units were pretty amazing. BTW, I still have my 1977 Pioneer SX-950 receiver which has been super reliable and continues to front my system in my home office. In terms of future, I wonder if I could get used to not having buttons and lights that I can physically touch? Of course, I said that same thing about my iphone, so I guess the answer is "yes". Time will tell.
At some point, I guess we will just speak commands, like in the movie "I, Robot", where that is so common someone is confused how to operate an old stereo with buttons because it is a non-AI machine.
Buying a home with a big room for home theater can be a bit challenging in recent years as home prices have gone up so much that they are no longer affordable.
Home theater is struggling because of the home part. Homes continue to increase in expense, with single home commonly exceeding $1 million. That is a lot of money to put the home in theater. Then the theater part is always evolving at the “new every two” rate. Media wars complicate what you show. Hollywood has stopped producing good movies, so what is the point anyway. Add it all up and home theater has a steep curve. The simplicity of a 4k smart TV with a soundbar has killed many budding home theaters.
I have a pretty high end home theater that I use frequently. It’s in my basement so I tend to use it more in the summer because it’s cold. I’ve tried the VR headsets and quickly became bored with it.
Quite the dilemma isn't it? We love movies and there is nothing I like more that popping some good corn, spicing it up and watching a movie with the family, however, it just doesn't happen enough as there just isn't the quantity of great movies. Besides, I rarely watch a movie a twice, but can listen to great music tracks over and over again.
Back in the 70s & 80s I was fanatical about my vinyl music collection and the stero components. Back then, I owned a Marrantz receiver, Dual turntable, Teac tape deck, a Sondcraftsmen EQ & Bose 301s. It's all gone now, but the record and CD collection are still available, but never played. It's so much easier now to just stream music through an Internet music service. Currently, I use Sonos for home theater & audio, as it's controlled with an app and it's also wireless so there's no speaker wire to run and the sound is good enough.
When I was in my mid 60's I picked up a used Samsung Gear VR headset and watched movies like Jurassic Park and Star Wars with headphones/earbuds. I was sold. It was like public theater quality in sight and sound. Since then, I've evolved to the Quest 2 and now the Quest 3. Current VR movie apps include the ability to "share" the experience with others who are using headsets as well. VR movie apps are still evolving and getting better.
@@kennethanway7979 The MSRP is $3500, but I am sure that will continue to fall. The headset is adjusted to your glasses prescription so your glasses are not needed. Quite sophisticated.
@@stereoniche Continue to fall? $3500 was the price when they announced it, and Apple hasn't changed the price yet. Apple rarely, If ever drop prices on anything except a small price break on last years models until they are gone or on refurbs from their online store.
I think there will be a market for good-quality 2-channel audio for the foreseeable future, regardless of what's happening in the home theater and immersive video / VR space. The fact that vintage 2-channel hi-fi gear keeps going up in price, and that there are more new products (2-ch amplifiers / receivers, turntables, CD players, speakers) being introduced shows that. Personally, I did the whole 5.1 home theater thing several years ago, and I don't think it added much to the "experience". If you watch lots of action movies with lots of obnoxiously loud 'splosions and surround effects, then maybe it's worth it. To me, it distracts from the movie instead of adding to it. I'd be happy with 2 channels and a decent center channel so I can actually hear / understand the dialog without having to turn on closed captions. The last TV audio "system" I set up was a Sonos soundbar. More than good enough for me, but YMMV.
We are on the same page. Being a vintage stereo guy, I will always have my 2 channel systems. The dialog for watching movies is the key for me as well. So frustrating when you cannot understand what they are saying.
Thanks for another great history lesson Scott. I have radios from the 30s and 40s, I bought my first stereo in 1975 and now I have a Wiim streamer. I guess I've seen it all. LOL When does it end? I'm moving soon and my new family room/home theater/listening room is going to be over twice as big as my current one. I don't want to wire another room for surround and I'm seriously thinking of just watching movies in stereo. We do that in our living room and it sounds great. I'm running six stereos and I may be dropping down to three. The receiver and speaker bullpen is already crowded and its going to get worse. LOL
Very cool. What is your oldest radio? Mine is either a Philco 90B or a Scott all wave! Scotts are wonky no one is really sure when models were in production.
Well, I also skipped 8 tracks. Really, the focus was on some of the evolution of home entertainment vs trying to cover each and every format. But, going further, this channel is primarily focused on home stereo gear, not so much personal/mobile audio like the boombox. No disrespect for the boombox crowd, just not a category I collect. :-)
thumbs very up. this was very on point. personally I do have VR, and it is no doubt insane as far as experience (Valve Index). the audio on my headset is super on point and nice.. but nothing can replace a dedicated stereo setup. and I am a firm believer in tube tech. when I added vacuum tube pre-amps to my system it made the whole experience so 3d immersive. I can't explain it, it just is so obvious. I feel a properly executed stereo system can easily compete with any surround set up. excellent info here bro.
Soundbars???? I went through that whole thing and went 7.1.4 and never looked back. Yes, when stereo is done well, it is amazing. But for home theatre, im sticking with surround sound. Stereo just feels empty for modern movies. Noted that movies of old mixed in mono or stereo sound great on a stereo system.
I still have an “old-school” multi-channel home theatre setup, and I’m excited about sitting down just to listen to music again because of Apple Music and everything coming out in Dolby Atmos. I appreciate nice quality audio, and sometimes just sit in my “music room” to listen, but I wouldn’t consider myself an audiophile by any means… but I am a musician and, to me, listening in Dolby Atmos makes me feel like I’m in the band! I remember when those multi-channel audio DVDs started coming out, and listening to things like Hotel California and being blown away by how each instrument was so “separate” and coming from a clear position, it sounded huge! Those didn’t last very long… but hopefully this new trend continues and becomes standard!
I have an atmos dedicated hometheater for family movies every weekend. But recently I use my XReal Glasses connected to my phone. Its very personal and immersive without bothering other people in the room
Very Nice! So you are "augmenting" your full theater with personal video. I've not seen or tried the XReal products, but clearly this is going to be the direction for a while. Thanks for commenting.
I have one small home office setup with a soundbar, 5.1 setups in bigger rooms, and an Atmos setup for my main listening room. With my bad eyesight, I expect VR headsets to be a non-starter, but I need to try one out.
Agree. For me, I just feel so much more invested into the process. When I go through the process of selecting some media from my collection to listen to it, I am committed to that experience for the duration. The whole album, not just a single song. And THAT is really why I prefer physical media. Streaming has pluses though, it has essentially replaced radio as the way to find new music. I've not actually started using it myself, my kids have actually introduced me to some new artists.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think you missed the boom in home stereo systems that happened in the 1970's. They made them more affordable in stores like Playback and etc., and then my friends and I all wanted to go out an buy our own home stereo systems to listen to our own selection of records. It was a fairly unique market boom I think.
I believe that is when my grandfather got in the game for quality. Before he passed away, he had a really good set up for the 90s. He used it up to the early 2000s - 2010s.
I have a 2.1 system for my TV. Older McIntosh MX130 in 2 channel mode, Schitt Vidar amp for power, DAC, I run through either Wharfedale Lintons with a sub, or just my mid 80s Cornwalls. Sounds great all the time. Have a turntable and cd also hooked up. I need or want NONE of the complexity of multichannel systems. Such a pain to hookup, hide wires, etc., and very hard to switch components in and out of the system for variety.
Same here . 1) dedicated Music listening room in the basement. - single ended Tube amp , single ended phone preamp, Turn table , high sensitivity speakers, 2 subwoofers , cables etc 2) second listening space with vintage stereo speakers, CD player, Classic Marantz solid state stereo amp 3) Movie room with TV , DVD , home theater However , if the sound from HT becomes too overwhelming, it distracts me from the movie on the screen . It goes against being "immersive " , may become a bit distracting, just my own experience
I have three home theater setups in my house. I got the Apple Vision Pro earlier this year and now I only use that for movies. I wear the Apple iPods Pro 2.0 (usb c) for sound. Those little earphones make amazing sound. But now I have a portable home theater for just myself (and I live alone) with a 200-inch screen and surround sound. I love it! It took some doing to get the headset to be comfortable on my head though, Apple didn’t do a great job on that, but third parties stepped up to provide solutions and I had to go through two iterations to find one I could live with. The lens inserts you need if you wear glasses aren’t perfect and at first would produce strange glare in bright scenes in movies. But of late some tricks have appeared in the environments that have diminished the glare tremendously to the point where glare is way less of a problem but not completely gone. If you have two of the AVP, or you have a buddy at another location remote to yours, then if you facetime call them, then you can watch content together in a synchronized way in a theater setting! Of course, this too is not perfect, as content sharing is not allowed. So, to make it work both will need to purchase the same content to watch together. It is the future but the full measure of it is still a ways off. $4000+ for a uncomfortable headset is not gonna fly, full stop! So, someone has some work to do. I will still be buying UHD content on discs + digital copies and I will use my HT if I want to watch with company, but when I am alone or on travel in a hotel, I will use AVP. I will not use it on an airplane because I am just not that guy.
I think you missed one evolution that greatly effected how consumers experience music and video and that would be the introduction of the smart phone for better or worse many today listen and watch movies on their cell phones. I think this evolution of more compact personalized quick access is more closely related the devises being introduce such as the Apple Vision Pro.
Actually, I had planned to mention that very point, but edited it out in the end. But I think that is the transition point that will help grow the VR experience.
And a related ‘evolution’ missing, is the consistent, faster change in technology. I feel burned out, at this point in my life, to make changes and ditch the ‘old’ technology.
The vision pro is just another vr kind of headset. Granted it has ar as well. I don't see these catching on in bulk because it isolates you. It's an amazing experience but a huge part of watching a movie is sharing it experience with someone physically there. I agree with a lot of the other comments that theater is dying because of cell phones, computers and other distractions in the house. I have a theater and my youngest has never sat down and watched a single movie.
There is something to be said about the potential of these devices. The technology is still developing and I think it will eventually be some sort of room filling video.
I think headphones will rule in the future. Fewer people buying homes (and keeping them). Fewer people getting married. And a lot of music today sucks and isn’t worth high end prices. Btw there were high end cassettes and reel to reel back in the day (Otari, Nakamichi, JVC etc.).
My husband worked for Velodrome Accoustics during the early 90s. Your info is mostly correct, though your timing is a bit off. We owned Surround Sound back then, with 5 channels: L, R, C, and rear channels. Besides the 5 channels, we also had 2x 12" subwoofers plus an 18" subwoofer. Another thing you didn't include was to mention 8 tracks and cassettes, both available as portable medium pre CD.
Thanks for commenting. I was not intending the video to cover all of the various formats. There were others like MiniDisc and LaserDisc that were also not mentioned for example. What I did miss though and had intended to include was the rise of the personal video experience that paralleled the trajectory of the personal audio (I had included a picture at 10:06, but no comment in the final edit). The main point I was trying to convey is that home entertainment has evolved for over 100 years and, in many cases, it took decades for shifts in formats to gain critical mass of adoption. The immersive video experience is still in its infancy, the Apple Vision Pro is just one of what will probably be many attempts at expanding the market. In the meantime, might this interim period grow stereo and a renewed interest in music?
@stereoniche Yes, we owned laser discs, too, which maybe I should have included as a precursor to CD and DVD. If there are immersion videos, it's highly likely that adoption, at least by the wealthy, will happen. But, if, for example, it is so novel that no one makes products in that format, i.e., 3D TV, the interest will wane and die. Spotify and Netflix have their place and benefits. Rent is expensive, and so are mortgages. There's no need to have space for all this expensive equipment. There's no need for sockets, cords, or even more USB cables, and it's portable. Now all you need is a phone,tablet, or laptop. However, the sound is inferior, but so is radio. Plus, you have to rely on someone else to collect and store media for you, which means that old movies, TV, and music that you enjoy or find meaningful may disappear and be unavailable. But from a practical perspective, online media is a better value for the masses. So, I guess only time will tell.
Content. The lack of worthy content is killing the home theater. Hollywood has self destructed. Good screenwriting has been replaced by CG and gimmicks. A real interesting movie with a good story and a plot are difficult to find. The music industry has been destroyed by greedy streaming and a music experience that is dominated by lousy lyrics and booming bass. I now search for anything worth watching and it is hard to find. Here is hoping that we will hit bottom and recover soon. Otherwise an iPad and spacial earbuds will dominate movies and HT will fade away.
I have a well equipped system that pulls double duty as 2 channel/Atmos home theater. I’ve had several people experience it and for the most part, the reactions are very positive. Big wow factor. Some caught the bug and went down the rabbit hole but only a few. A high quality audio only or ht a definitely a niche thing. I believe the iPod was the beginning of the end of high fidelity.
I think in the early 2000's the iPod generation certainly went in that direction, but it does seem like many want a bit more now. Will it be very high fidelity? Probably not, but setting up anything beyond just an iPod and headphones is a step up! :-)
Atleast for movies a cetre channel makes a lot of difference so for me it would always be between building a full system or building a 3.0 or 3.1 system. Stereo works great for music but not at all that great for movies
I'd love to hear you discuss the difference between hi end home theatre equipment audio quality vs audiophile receivers/speakers audio quality. I did a home theatre/lounge setup a few years ago in an 18ft x 18ft room. Equipment is top shelf Denon 7.1 a/v receiver, top shelf Klipsch center, sub, front, and 2 prs rear speakers, vintage Technics SL 1300 turntable, and 85" Samsung 8K TV. It's a fantastic set up, but I don't think the audio for music compares well to audiophile stereo set ups I've heard. Any of you that know, please tell us what the differences are in receivers and speakers that make the difference. Thanks a bunch, keep up the good work.
Thanks for commenting. I am sure others with more knowledge on HT systems will chime in, but given I am a vintage stereo guy, my thoughts are this: HT systems are designed to do surround sound BEST. Secondarily, they "can" do stereo, but it is not their PRIMARY purpose. HT receivers are typically somewhat complex and many users do not know how to switch them into stereo mode (ie. my wife). It needs to be turn on simple, for the most part. Having said all that, I think one can setup a dual purpose system, but that takes a lot more gear (multiple amps) to match what one typically gets with a dedicated 2 ch setup. Being 2 ch, there is just so much more budget per unit one can apply than when it has to be divided between 8+ speakers, multiple amps, etc.. Going back to my earlier comment, I am a vintage guy, so with some time, I could build a heck of a vintage 2 ch system for the cost of a mid-level HT setup.
This boils down to preference. I would disagree with the assertion that home theaters are dead. To the contrary, home theaters are almost required in this day in age where the movie industry as a whole is dead, and unless the movie industry develops an entirely different experience and way of presenting movies in the theater I don't see the trend stopping. A large flat panel and a sound bar is a great option for a living room, or family room, but this in no way compares to a 7.1 or greater dedicated setup in terms of audio fidelity, immersion, and suspending the intrusion of your surroundings to focus on the experiences of watching a quality movie.
I agree VR is the future, but disagree that the sound will come from a separate source. Once they get the headset perfected to the point the cost is reasonable and the battery life is acceptable, then they will work on perfecting the sound that's included and I don't think it will be a headphone per say, but maybe more life floating directional earbuds.
I built a wonderful dark theater in my home, and as soon as I did the movies that started being released sucked. I watch mostly old favorite movies however I’m now starting to run out of material. The Music never gets old and that’s a plus.
Young people consume television on their phones, tablets and laptops. They aren’t enamored by the large screens OLED or whatever the newest advancement might be. They listen to compressed music on tiny headset drivers. Often, the music is eq’d by the software and by the headphone manufacturer. No liner notes to read but that’s not missed because they have a window into the lives of their artists via IG, YT and TikTok. Listen through album cuts, flipping to side 2 after 19 minutes of music and being intimately connected to the sounds, smell and feel is not something most attach to the experience. The smell of a record store and that tactile shopping process are replaced too.
I'm still using a 15 year old Vizio 47 inch because to me, most newer stuff looks fake. Almost too good for older sources, imo. Im a 2 channel kind of guy for music, movies, for me, are secondary.
Yes, technology evolves to a fantastic digital streamer with power amp as well integrating TV’s HDMI port with wifi and blutooth. People using stereo speakers can link up with TV. Since it is linked to HDMI of TV, the streamer automatically controlled by TV volume. WiiM Amp for passive speakers and WIIM ultra can be hooked with active speakers. Other all in one amps such as ARCAM and NAIM can also be used. This way you just turn on TV and listen amazing sound on your stereo and enjoy professional streaming music apps as well.
Thanks for the music history lesson 🎶. I must say that I am a bit of old school and willing to explore new technologies. There’s something to be said for equipment made in the 70’s , 80’s and 90’s. Digging through some old boxes I found my Sony Walkman, the original Apple iPod, I even found my old pager, pre cellphone… lol I have a Yamaha stereo component system and they all work great. I started collecting Vynil again and I love it. It’s so much more than a CD which I have many too. But there’s something about holding an Album and reading the inner sleeve and stories about the Artist feels more satisfying than a CD. But as the old saying goes, one of the Constants in Life is Change. Oh I forgot when I sold my last house I left the whole surround system since I put all the speaker wires in the walls while building the house. I’ve heard about the Virtual Reality Systems and I guess I should at least try one out for the experience ? One of the early systems that looked interesting was where you could play golf or bowling, etc. But I still enjoy the hunt of finding an Album from years ago that’s in very good condition. Thanks for your time in putting this video together 👍
I think the difference between video/audio experience and a music experience is that when you're watching video/audio you want it to be immersive, yet while listening to music you want it to be present. Stereo gives that sense of presence to music that surround lacks.
Soundbars are not an evolution of home theater. They are a solution to modern flat screens having trash speakers. CRT TVs had the space for decent speakers. Actually, soundbars are just expensive crap. People are better off getting a stereo amplifier and a pair of book shelf speakers. You can ad a subwoofer for better fidelity. I think home theater systems just got too complex. Dolby Surround was a neat effect. Dolby Pro-logic and Digital added a center speaker. I think Dolby Atmos was just too much. 4 and 5 speakers with a subwoofer were manageable, but Atmos went to 7 to 9 or more. I'm sure it was nice, but it was WAY too expensive. I think records just have a novelty factor to them, but I prefer CDs. I actually just rip them to my computer and listen to them that way, but I also like to collect the CDs.
Apple Vision Pro sales want a word with you. They have only sold 100K to 300K units since February 2024. In regard to home theater. Have you tested the Sony Bravia Home Theater Quads? They're wireless speakers and I love them. The speakers and subwoofer are pretty pricey, but I feel like I'm in a movie theater.
Thanks for commenting. I realize the Vision Pro is not selling at volume and it probably never will. But, I do think this kind of experience is the next evolution of home entertainment. It will require the price to be MUCH lower and probably moreso a group experience. Maybe there will be some sort of wraparound screen or something, no idea, but the tech is evolving. I have not yet heard the Sony Bravia line, but wireless is certainly the next best step to keep HT going.
Large home theater audio AND even 2 channel with the capability to reproduce "live" performance type of listening experience may be fine for single dwelling houses but for the masses living in multi unit apartment buildings where cranking up the volume may well draw complaints from the neighbors the use of nicer headphone systems suddenly becomes a very attractive option both for music and even louder movie experiences that include a lot of bass and explosive types of sound. The soundbar may work for well for a compromise between the the other available options. As a retired senior that downsized from a single dwelling house to a multi unit apartment building I have sold off my vintage separate amps and multiple subwoofer and floor standing speaker systems and have both a soundbar with a smaller subwoofer and headphone dac/amps for listening chores these days and do not feel I am missing out on anything really.
I've got a 120" UST set up with a 5.1 system. When I'm not using it the screen retracts into its case. You're not seriously recommending a soundbar over even a basic surround system like I have?
I made no real recommendations, only pointing out that many have adopted a soundbar (including me) which allows for us to reinstall a stereo only system (like me) in the house. I had considered installing a full surround system with a retractable screen in my personal showroom where I do my videos, but eventually decided not to because we would never really use it but on the rarest occasions.
This video fails to address the fact that there is literally nothing to watch anymore. Home theater died for me when, instead of writing compelling stories, Hollywood decided to try to force ideologies I'm not interested in and don't care about down my throat. I think Hollywood forgets that the entire rest of the world exists. Where I live, we absolutely do not care about the crap that people in Hollywood & some / most first world countries are on about these days. Also, attention spans get shorter every year, and people consume so much media on their phones that it gets hard to actually convince a handful of people to sit down & watch the same thing at the same time. And of course there is the complexity of HT systems... we live in a world where nobody wants to know anything, everybody wants easy, so dealing with a fancy, complex system is not in the cards for a lot of people these days. I get my loud rumble & thump these days from doing live sound for bands... no neighbors to complain about the noise... 🤣🤣🤣
A couple of key points there. Many folks are getting more comfortable watching personal video which, I think, is what will continue to drive the adoption of this new technology. It will take time as the cost is too high, but as with any new tech, the price will fall. The experience is far too great to big ignored. Secondly, complexity in setting up an Atmos system was a bridge too far for many. Not that there won't be some technical issues to address with a Vision Pro, but one plug is all that is needed.
"This video fails to address the fact that there is literally nothing to watch anymore." Not true. There are new movies that are worth watching. It's true that they are few and far between, but that simply means that Sturgeon's Law is true. And you're forgetting the literally thousands of worthwhile old movies that can be enjoyed.
on RUclips, a guy said when I talk about picture quality on TV, the numbers can be high, but as soon as I start talking about sound quality, the curve drops. like people are more interested in the picture quality of the TV than the sound quality when watching the TV or movie
Until they experience their favourite streaming show on a proper Atmos system (not a soundbar). Then they realise what they’re missing. Perhaps the problem is the almost complete absence of demo facilities (once called “shops” or “stores”) where consumers could experience this sort of thing. The dominance of online retail is probably hurting the HT industry more than any other factor.
I'm done with the surround sound. I like a simple 2 channel hookup. It's like every few years they come out with a different format as a way to get your money. I love Bluetooth & streaming music but 5 speakers plus all the connections needed is a pain.
lndeed, for many, that is just too much work and setup to overcome. And many times, the only way to do it is before the dry wall goes up. I am sure it will be well worth the effort though once you get it all setup. Enjoy!
I don't know that the Apple Vision Pro will replace the Home Theater, or whatever term that you want to assign to a place where the family can sit and enjoy a movie together. Maybe I'm too old, but I have a Quest II and have watched movies on it, the experience is too isolated for my taste. There's nothing like sharing a great movie in your living room with your family and friends. As awesome as my Quest II is in its immersive experience, it's empty. In fact, being a night owl, I typically reserve using my Quest until everyone is asleep. It's then that I feel like it's okay to completely isolate. I think back to my time as a child and remember experiencing The Wizard of OZ with my family, and countless other movies, Christmas shows, etc. I can't imagine it being so great if I sat isolated and watched them. It certainly would have affected my warm thoughts about those experiences. Clearly, it's amazingly cool technology, but unless you can experience these things together, with your wife, girlfriend, children, grandchildren, etc. Meh.
I think ultimately, it will be some sort of new "projector" type device that fills up a room or half a room. Not sure how exactly, but I agree, it needs to be a group experience to win over the masses and a low enough entry point on price. Some sort of "Holodeck" type experience, however, that is kind of back to a dedicated room that many folks cannot accommodate. I've seen an interesting projector system that has a screen that raises itself vertically from a box, so maybe several of these that curve around the room? No idea, I am sure someone is working on the "next big thing".
Great points , one other thing is there are some really good headphones out there and very affordable and centred around the phone. Plus smart tvs, streaming and casting to a tv from a phone is quite easy. Another aspect is as homes have gotten more expensive, younger people cannot afford houses and the newer apartments are quite small. A sound bar and sub in a small apartment will serve you sell.
I agree with the trend, it makes sense. But I think here's another reason why the home theaters shrank. In my own experience, my last step was to upgrade my system to Dolby Atmos, but I rarely use it. And the reason is the lack of good content. You get to a point where you get tired of boring movies with a lot of visual and sound effects in multi-surround, but completely dull in content. Suddenly, Korean, European and even Argentinian movies are creative and fun to watch and just in plain 2 channels. Hollywood which help to push all this technology lost its mojo with dull sequels and new editions of past cash cow movies. Having said that, I do believe that Apple Vision will be good to another genre yet to come of video entertainment using 360 degree scenarios: concerts, cinematic games and tours. Long live to the sound bars for the awakening of the other niches: 2-ch stereo and personal 360 degree VR video.
Yes indeed. There are certainly specific segments that will benefit moreso earlier on for the VR side. One aspect are home movies and photos. The realism one can get from just using an iPhone is so much better. My wife was gasping at the thought of all those prior years we did not capture our kids growing up, etc.
ROKID MAX/Nreal Air Pro Have you looked into these AR glasses? More comfortable than a big head gear. Or even the Quest 3 is so much more cheaper than Apple and does primarily the same thing for less than half the cost of Apple.
I strongly believe in the 2.1 stereo system, The stereo music being heard within the four walls of a room is amazing, I use headphones only when others getting disturbed is a possibility. It's more out of compulsion rather than by choice. Nothing like physically owning records, CD s and cassettes, you could see one's own collection ,maintain them, it's a beautiful feeling altogether, Listen to classicals, country, Jazz whenever mood strikes,it's a go to place at home indeed!
Nice content. As a 70 year old who's first hi-fi was a Bell 6v6 push pull integrated mono amp a Garrard RC-80 given to me by the local Magnavox dealer and home brew speaker from Motorola Golden Voice salvaged. It has been a very long journey. I am at the end of up-grading my home theatre system, why? I could not improve any more on what I already have. I think where was no profits in let's call them flagship receivers. And sadly a lot of misinformation out there. My 2 channel system is the same as it was years ago, nothing I found I could afford was no better than what I had. Sure I heard some top of the line Wilsons would love to have but I have to eat also. Sometimes you just cannot have the "Holy Grail".
For most of us, the new Holy Grail level stuff is far beyond our financial means, however, I think we are only talking very small, incremental improvements for BIG $$$, so 99.5% of the way there is just fine.
Two channel Arcam SA20 for me. I'm using a SVS PB 3000. Heco Aurora 1000s.Rega turntable, wiim for streaming. I don't do a lot of movies and don't want the living area over complicated with extra speakers. The only one that has to like your system is you.
I made my guest house into a theater sometime around 2010 with a 10' screen, projector, surround sound etc. I used it a lot then I stopped even going out there for a couple years. If I wanted a big screen experience I'd use my Quest Pro with the BigScreen app. But here recently I've started using and upgrading my home theater again and I overall think it's a better experience than VR. (Maybe the Apple headset would be a better replacement).
I have a Quest and had the Vision Pro for a while. Movie watching is quite nice on these devices especially the Vision Pro. Unfortunately it’s a singular experience. My husband, daughter, and I use our theater several times a week and host a family movie night with other family members about 3x a week. Can’t do that with the VR devices.
I finally thought about it and unhooked my center channel, I love it! I'm thinking about a 2 channel Integra 100w, my old Pioneer has served me well but, no Bluetooth, or dac....and a couple big Cerwin Vegas 🤔 ? Thanks, I guess it's not only me. 😊 My 70s music will sound right....again 🎉
This video comes across as a stereo guy unhappy with the emphasis on home theater stealing the thunder from two channel. I don't see it that way at all. Have you ever heard something like The Dark Side of the Moon in surround? It BLOWS AWAY the two channel version. I literally hear sounds above me and to the rear of me.
Sure, well implemented surround with good material can sound awesome, but you still have go through the implementation itself. I have had my own surround systems as well, not new to it at all. I even setup my current audio room to add it if I ever wanted, but I, like a LOT of other consumers have found it does not get enough usage to warrant the investment. Plain and simple. Not everyone likes Dark Side of the Moon, not everyone (majority?) wants to worry about a complex surround setup either. There is enough room for all to coexist though.
@@stereoniche DSOTM is just an example. Dolby Surround enhances the spaciousness of ALL material, including two channel. Insisting on a "purist", two channel system really doesn't make sense. And, of course, some audiophiles like SACD and DVD audio, which can be in surround. As for "complexity", audiophiles in general aren't the type to be intimidated by technology. They actually love it. The fact that Stereophile and Stereo Review started magazines that address home theater is very telling (two channel Stereo Review doesn't even exist anymore). The same people who think a sound bar is acceptable for a home theater are hardly the type who are going to invest in a serious two channel rig. Last year, I went to a high end audio show focusing on two channel. NO one there looked to be under 50, so no, the younger generation who might be interested in this device isn't interested in serious two channel (their idea of good music is compressed streaming). Have you been to the A/V Science Forum? It's EXTREMELY active (so no, home theater is not "dying"), and essentially NO one there is interested in the device you talk about. They want serious home theater ROOMS, home theater SYSTEMS, and very few of them segregate their music listening. I was into serious two channel stereo listening decades ago (I have high end ribbon speakers), and that interest didn't diminish at all as I moved to home theater. My subwoofer makes music that can take advantage of it very exciting, and the home theater aspect literally kicks ass.
Title is clickbaity… death of Home Theater? My ‘home theater’ is a soundbar and subwoofer. Also I did a major contraction of my audio/video gear. Reduced Speakers, got rid of receivers, amps, cables, DVD’s, VHS, CD’s, cassettes, records, 8-trks, etc. So I’ll never look into adding gear, especially a headset. I’m glad you’re excited, but I do have to wonder how you are going to reconcile, having all your current equipment vs. a headset?
Well, a title does need to get attention. :-) But your situation is quite in line with the video message. The HT of the past 30 yrs has mostly centered around constant upgrades that needed more hardware, but change has been on the way for the past few years in the form of what you adopted, the soundbar/sub. As I mentioned, for MANY people, that will work just fine. Secondarily, video technology is on the cusp of a new experience that has the potential to send us in a new direction once the tech becomes less expensive. The Apple Vision Pro, like the early TVs, is far too expensive and, as many have stated, lacks a group experience, but it is still early.
Problem with 2 channel stereo listing is that most people dont get the real magic of it because speakers suck unfortunately I didn't get it in full until i built my own speakers i didn't know how good it could really be. I built a set of speakers that had 2 8" woofers in a box for bass and di pole plannars on the mid and tweeter section on top When i pluged them in and listened to them my god i was blown away i thought to myself is this what its supposed to sound like thats wonderful and my mind went to other places But for most normal people they haven't heard music in this way most people just throw up a set of speakers in a box and figure thats the way it is but it can be so much better I sold my speakers now (building a new pair) but the guy calls me at least twice a weey raving about the speakers and thanking me say this is the best speakers ive ever heard 😊 I always tell people you dont know until you hear it 😂
A high quality pair of hi-fi speakers can with excellent imaging can provide a satisfying experience for most users, especially when listening to music as opposed to a movie.
For the past 15 years of my home theater sets still now remain as 2.1 settings. Others than 4K blu rays movies I pretty much enjoy blu rays concerts with 2.1 settings stereo amplifier, 2x bookshelf speakers and 1x subwoofer. A good quality soundstage always better than bombastic sound if want to enjoy long hours entertainment. As for the Netflix or old blu rays movies I will switch to a good pair of powered speakers are more than sufficient.
I personally believe that a big part of home theater dying is because it was never good in the first place. I went all out and had an atmos system with multiple subwoofers and a ton of calibration and post processing. It never sounded good. I even dabbled in acoustic treatment and it did make it better but to make a big difference you need 2 grand in panels full of toxic materials, and they're more than ugly. I could never get it to sound any better than my normal tv speakers. Yeah my theater setup had more bass and better quality sound but it never sounded cohesive. Any time the surround speakers played, it took me out of the movie because they stuck out like a sore thumb. The bass was always too much or too little. The left and right mains were never in cohesion with each other so one speaker would be brighter than the other due to reflections off the walls and ceiling (although I did move the speakers around and found a good sounding spot, but of course it didn't look good so I had to put them in the suboptimal positions). After 2 years of endless tweaking and buying and learning, I sold all my stuff. I guess I'm either too picky or just have SUCH a bad room that a decent sound is impossible. But that rests my case; If the average room can't sound good then home theater is a pointless endeavor. The real reason movie theaters are so awesome is because it's a giant dark isolated space where you're away from everything and you can focus on the movie. You don't have to worry about your neighbors complaining, you don't have to worry about putting the dog out, you don't have to worry about anything. I don't think people are going to be buying the Apple Vision Pros to watch movies on. TV's are good enough for home entertainment. But hey maybe I'm wrong, I've never tried it.
What do you think about the future of Stereo? Will the release of immersive personal video help drive more interest in STEREO or cause a faster decline? The Vision Pro is not the final word in presenting that immersive experience as it is too costly and mostly a singular experience, it is just a glimpse of a future experience. At the same time, many audio companies like Denon, Marantz, Polk and others may not be in business after this year according to industry news, so perhaps a new player will emerge. Chime in here with your thoughts and experience.
now that the 2 channel streamers are coming out and technology is getting better like the eversolo dmpa8 im loving 2 channel all over again
A thought, what goes in comes out. I have (in no order ) experiences I will share. Most of you are perhaps little too young to remember when cd was making inroads. The record companies were fighting back with PCM discs, Direct to digital, and the king of all (very few made due to process) Direct to disc at 45 rpm. I cannot tell you how great they sound if you find any and you have a half way system they will shock you. Love folks getting back into stereo.
@@robertliskey420 good to know! Thanks!
@@robertliskey420 I think it will continue. It just feels like a renewed interest is fueling it.
For Boomers, GenX, and older Millennials, we grew up with the movie theater as an “experience” and wanted to duplicate that at home. I am an older GenX, we have a kid who is a Millennial, another who is an older Gen Z and the last which is a younger Gen Z. What I’ve noticed is that rather than have a big screen experience, the younger kids value carrying the entertainment with them. It’s all about portability which means smartphones and tablets. All this is part of the reason movie theaters are having a hard time these days. For older folks, you can get a 65” 4k tv for under $500 and set up a cheap home theater. For younger people, they aren’t as focused on the big screen experience, so no need for home theater. Great video! Best wishes!!
The real reason is that Hollywood hasn’t made a good movie in years. You can only watch so many old movie favourites before you get sick of watching them. Great sound and TV technology but nothing new to watch except brain dead movies designed for 12 year olds.
That's not true. Every year there is at least one movie released worth of watching. And Hollywood is NOT the only place where movies are made. You generalized too much. But I give that not all good movies require most advanced sound systems. Many great movies are OK with just stereo sound.
@@tjblues01 Hi TJ Blues…that’s great news. Can you send me a list of the 1 movie each year for the last 5 years? I will then watch them on my home theatre system.
@@michaelhrpufnstuf1078 Hi Michael. Sure, no problem. But you know, all depends on your and my taste which *might be vastly different.* I didn't do 2024 because it's not over yet...
2023
*Oppenheimer*
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
*Poor Things*
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Killers of the Flower Moon
2022
*Top Gun: Maverick*
All Quiet on the Western Front
*Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues*
*Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio*
The Banshees of Inisherin
And mixture:
*Dune [2021, 2024],*
Avatar [2009, 2022],
West Side Story [2021],
The Call of the Wild [2020],
Hamilton [2020],
Wolfwalkers [2020],
*Never Rarely Sometimes Always [2020]*
And you have tons of purely entertaining movies, all within last 5 years: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, The Valet, 57 Seconds, The Flash, Blue Beetle, The retirement plan, The Expendables, The Equalizer, Guardians of the Galaxy, Dog, The Beekeeper, Fishermans Friends One And All, Prey, Ghosted, The Lost City, etc, etc....
@@tjblues01If you look at a streaming service, most of the movies aren't even made by any famous Hollywood movie studio. then it may depend on which streaming service it is. otherwise, for example, TV operators can have play channels or film channels, for example, at least here in Sweden, then maybe streaming has affected the film industry
@@tjblues01 I usually read what the film is about, unfortunately the description is not as detailed on a streaming service as it is on the cover of The Physical Film. on the streaming service, the film may be very little described
Home theater was popular when families can get together to enjoy or endure a movie together. Then came the iPhone and texting each other across the dinner table or even not having a dinner.
Personal devices have surely taken much entertainment into a "personal" space. I think we all hope that the group experience is much better.
The Unabomber tried to tell us that technology separates us and isolates us. Now we have couples on a date night out at a restaurant each staring in to their phone, not even noticing the other is even present.
Game board nights are rare.
Yes, the decline of the family ended the home theater!
@@padfoo LOL, well, that is a bit broad. My kids got older and didn't want to hang out with us parents as much, that is normal. Add personal video viewing to the mix with on demand streaming and it dilutes the possibility for the group experience.
I worked with 1000's of home theaters throughout the years.
People have viewed these differently. They range from stereo sound and a TV in a living room to a dedicated room with a projector and surround sound.
The reality is that many people with dedicated rooms do not use their rooms very much. Others like myself use them a lot. Dedicated home theaters with platform seating are not very social compared to a living room setup. Dedicated home theaters were thought to bring increased value to home resale. This is probably not the case in most instances.
The advent of 4K HDR and larger TV's have made the need for a light controlled room and projector much less. The current generation of projectors are also very weak at 4K HDR compared to flat panels. The fact that HDR is mastered for light levels that projectors cannot achieve without an industry standard strategy for remastering the content for the display or room environment is also problematic.
IMO the industries constantly changing standards discourages people from investing in this technology. There is always something better around the corner and some of these changes are hard to retrofit.
More people are probably understanding their cost to benefit ratio of the options available and deciding against a dedicated theater room or a large investment in this form of entertainment.
I did not get into that level of detail, but I had pretty much the same thoughts overall. As with anything, it is not a single issue that results in change, but many. As well, just as vinyl never completely went away, HT will have its fans for decades to come, but the vast majority, I believe, will adopt much more modest systems. The heyday of the dedicated HT will be relegated to those households with enough financial resources to accommodate a room dedicated to a HT that is just used periodically. Thanks for adding to the conversation, with your level of actual experience in the market, it helps confirm some of my assumptions. I did not consider the point about the experience in a living room, but it makes perfect sense. The majority of folks will want to get the most value of their square footage.
A great example HDCP compliance. Makes me angry just typing it.
Personally I think home theater sales have slowed because it is a luxury. People are spending money on food & gas to get to work. Much of the working class used to splurge on home theater as a hobby, but the poor economy with inflationary issues puts priorities up front, especially for the working class. Headphones are cheaper. 😢
*earbuds
😢
I ABSOLUTELY HATE HEADPHONES, they hurt my neck and back.
Thank the Democrats 🖕🏻
It is probably about simplicity as well and maybe visibility as well. or a guy on RUclips who told that he visited someone who had put the speakers in cabinets. you might want something that your woman might have an opinion on in terms of appearance in the living room
Some people can just buy a huge TV for their living room along with a stereo amp or receiver, a sub or two and a pair of good speakers. They'll get most of the experience and save some money.
PPL are still going into debt for bass boats, f250s, side by sides etc.
a great stereo system is the foundation for a home theater. no headset will replace a room shaking when king kong pounds his chest. home theater isn’t going anywhere.
THIS. There is no replacement for the sheer immersiveness of bass that shakes the furniture and the walls!
(great dolby atmos system you mean actually).
@@GodsHeretic You can do that just fine with two good 3 way speakers or two good two way speakers and a subwoofer.
@@yannisgk Don't you think trying to tell someone else what they really meant is just a bit pretentious?
@@johnbgood52 no.
I have a 5.1 system with dual SVS subwoofers. I could never go to a soundbar. It will not replace what I have.
Yeah and 5.1 is all you need. all those other channels and speakers are overkill. Not to mention when you get too many speakers, they cancel each other and the separation isn't as good. 5.1 Dolby Digital is fine and that is why it's the default surround system.
It is just more simple to use a soundboard.
I have a full blown home theater but the problem with the likes of Denon, Marantz , Sony they just don't innovate. Look at Sonos pre last App update . Simple stupid .
I seasoned Equipmnet 20 years ago and even rich ppl want simple simple simple
@@progamersplay4716 *_"...the problem with the likes of Denon, Marantz , Sony they just don't innovate."_*
Who cares? Why "fix" what isn't broken?
@@progamersplay4716 It’s really that folks want a passable setup that’s easy to install and relatively cheap. There is no way any kind of sound bar can give you a theater experience. The look on friend’s faces when they watch a movie on a 4K disc with our 98” Sony with the full McIntosh / B&W sound system blows their mind.
No brand wants to bring out a Pre-Pro with just 5 or 7 channels.
It’s not dead. 45% of homes in America have some sort of home theater system. It’s a growing number
In my own experience, I was excited when I moved during the pandemic (taking advantage of work from home and low mortgage rates) and built a house with a dedicated media room. After two years in my new home, I have probably watched just 2 movies in there.
I find that most of my entertainment hours are spent on RUclips or meandering the internet. RUclips videos are like installment payments; because they're usually short, I don't realize how much they add up, and I end up binging RUclips for hours because it plays in the background as I do chores, eat, or even go to the restroom. However, watching a movie, though just 1.5 - 2 hours long, feels like a much bigger commitment because I have to put everything else down and just sit in front of a screen.
Though I am over 50 years old, I fear that I have the reduced attention span of a Millennial, and it takes a movie that I'm dying to see to get me to sit in my media room; and Hollywood of late has just not delivered anything that great. The last movie I watched was Godzilla Minus One in Dec. 2023, and it was worth going to an actual theater to see.
I dont think that it is reduced attention span. Its just that content on youtube, from 2 mins to 2 hours is more engaging than watching films.
Back when my house was being built in a new development in 1997, I came in overnight just before they added drywall, with battery powered tools, 500 ft of wire, flashlights and ladders, and pre-wired my entire house for in-wall surround sound speakers. I now have 23 speakers throughout the entire house (every bedroom, my shower, etc., including 2 separate 5.2 systems (my TV room has one and my office computer has another). My wife thinks I'm nuts, until a really nice sounding part of a movie comes on and you get immersed in the sound.
Weird 😢
Hell yeah. 🎶🤘🏽❤️🔥🔊
I would gladly bet a million dollars to that Apple Vision Pro will be a profound sales failure.
Quite possible and very likely, but VR or something similar, will succeed longer term. The point is not specifically the Apple Vision Pro, the point is that some newer tech like it will change the current paradigm.
That’s a given.
But that’s not an argument.
Yep, why meta failed, very few people want to wear those stupid helmets. I don't even like anything on my ears.
@@swit2732 Meta failed? Maybe Horizon World app been disappointment but everything else has been growing
I couldn't even stand 3d glass after a while. I hated wearing safety glass all my life. Just something on your for longer thak 30min is annoying no matter how emersive it is. Thats just me tho.
I don't know what everybody's talking about. Home theater is far from dead. Infact just about everybody I know prefers home theater over going to the movies. What we have available for projectors and tvs, not to mention speakers and stereo receivers. Are you kidding me? people are making home theaters better than movie theaters. I don't know where the hell you people get this idea that the home theater is dead .
Home theater is far from dead. My first surround sound receiver cost $1,200 in 1993. It was a Yamaha Natural Sound 5.1 channel. I finally replaced it 2 years ago with a brand new Yamaha Natural Sound 7.1/5.2.1 receiver for... just $400. Adjusted for inflation this is incredibly cheap. Now let's cover the increased quality and performance in the same platform over the decades.
More wattage (100 watts per speaker), and the ability to control each speaker with it's own dedicated graphic equalizer and volume, with distance from speaker to ear entered into the equation. Also, the choice of Dolby Atmos or 7 channel surround at the push of a button on the remote, or just let the auto function do it's thing. Either setting also has Zone 2 which uses an 8th and 9th channel to provide stereo format of same or different audio to a separate room. Then there is party mode where all speakers just fit the 2 channel stereo format. Music also sounds phenomenal in either Dolby Atmos or 7 channel surround.
With all that said, sound bars are just overpriced garbage, comparable to today's "boom boxes". They're just an overly inflated and expensive, cheaply made imitation of what was far better decades ago.
I agree-every TV caters to a sound bar. That just means the TV manufacturer has been too lazy to build in or provide proper speakers.
SACD, DVD audio and other 5.1 music surround-sound mediums are the reason why I still keep my theater setup..and I absolutely Love it still!!!
SACD and the like, are the reasons I'm upgrading my HT. Even without that I'd keep it because good sound makes even an average movie more enjoyable.
So sad quantity prevailed over quality with the rise of digitally distributed media. Though things got better eventually.
I gave up on home theatre when it became too costly and ever-changing. Not to mention the bullshit around how much better this Dolby version would sound over that Dolby version. I’ve stripped it all out and am using a good soundbar with a subwoofer and I’m completely happy.
Me too. Got sick of storing perfectly good components in their boxes after I upgraded and there was no demand for the old ones.
Some may forget that there was a precursor to surround sound systems called "Quadraphonic Surround". Like the 3D video experience, it was a technology that was short lived. It required a special amplifier and four speakers. The downside was there wasn't enough quadraphonic media (records) that were recorded in this format. My father got sucked into that. It was interesting, but it didn't wow me. To me, stereo reproduction was perfectly fine by itself and the record industry supported it mainly. Eventually the quadraphonic technology faded into obscurity, but not forgotten as it lit the spark that became the home theater experience. When I was old enough and could afford it, I got involved in the home theater thing but that got too costly and now have reverted back to a simple yet very pleasing stereo system. I'm now 65 years old and don't think I'm going to do much more in respect to audio systems no matter which direction it goes. The difficulties of our economy have put a big damper on what most would now regard as luxury purchases.
Dark side of the moon was my first quad experience. A NAD 400 amp and Cerwin Vega towers. The world has gone backwards for me since then.
Not to mention hearing declines as we age. Wouldn’t really benefit from higher fidelity.
The numerous incompatible quad formats did not help matters. What was it, QS; SQ; Matrix and what else? That really wrecked adoption. I remember a radio station in Florida when I was a kid that broadcast in quad. Only had a mono radio myself back then.
@@kennixox262 And The Who named their album Quadrophenia. Must have thought it’s the next big thing too. 😂
Sound bars suck, promise a lot delivers crap. Even a small receiver with inexpensive speakers and a sub will kill any soundbar.
You should still go give the Vision Pro a try, just for the experience. There is more for it beyond movie watching that is quite compelling.
Sonos soundbar w/ Sub and if so inclined, 2 Sonos 1’s in the back is pretty freaking amazing.
For a living room setup, Sonos works phenomenal. Why? Because it's simple. It's not difficult to setup and you're not worried about wires going everywhere. Would I use it in a dedicated home theater? No Because there's no replacing what a proper surround sound system will bring to the whole immerse feel of watching a movie. Buy just a simple living room setup? You betcha it works. I currently don't have a dedicated media room etc, just my living room and I have the Sonos Arc and sub and it works for my setup and the sound is still good enough. I may add some Sonos surrounds at some point who knows but until I get a house where I can have a dedicated theater room. This will do just fine
I'll put it this way. I bet the Cinema Theaters are hurting more than the Home Theaters are.
You may have noticed how there are more ways to watch movies at home than there are at the movie theaters. And you do not have to have the best sound system to enjoy the theater experience at home either.
Don't forget the ridiculous cost of a movie ticket is definitely what's killing the movie going experience these days.
That's it @@krisfx1976 .
That's it @@krisfx1976 .
Whereas, at home, there's no need for buying tickets or popcorn or sodas because they are already there on the ready.
I love my home theater, and I love my Quest 3. But I prefer movies in my theater with surround sound.
Thank you for commenting!
Yeah we're not going backwards, fuck that!
I built a very impressive system in my home and without a doubt it delivers! My girlfriend has a sound bar in her home and I was quite surprised at how well it sounded. It will NEVER be even close to what I have but it works for her and its not complicated. She watched Top Gun Maverick in my room and was absolutely blown away but her appreciation for the sound was just not there like it was for me. The normal person usually doesn't care about that type of sound and just want to enjoy the movie. I can respect that. The downside of this is visiting others, watching the same movies and thinking to myself they are missing so much this sounds like absolute garbage. I'm the one always grabbing their remote and trying my best to adjust what they have for the best sound LOL.
That is essentially the summary of my point, with the exception that new tech (like a VR type experience) will slowly take more and more market share. Go give the Apple Vision Pro a try. On the optical side, it is exceptional. The audio side has a way to go to match current 9.2 Atmos level, but maybe that is an area where it can help expand the experience. For that, I think it may need a full helmet type of gear which may be to claustrophobic for many. :-)
I can totally relate
My brother in law and sister are the same way. They have a beautiful 75 inch Samsung tv screen and say that the tv speakers are good enough and they don't need all that. Where as my philosophy is the sound should match the picture.
@@teddine7366 Absolutely!
@@stereonichecan you run your audio through Bluetooth on the Apple Vision Pro? Play the sound through your system?
I think the big downfall with typical home theater implementations is the complication. Juggling remotes and trying to get the females in the house to understand which remote to adjust volume with just isn't worth the effort. With a nice vintage system, all that is obvious and straightforward.
I agree though, all this makes a 2 channel system make more sense.
I went for about 10 yrs with just a vintage receiver hooked up to the television. We also struggle with the "what remote do I use" issues. LOL
Nothing beats simple surround sound..
Modern systems connect with earc and everything could be controlled through tv remote. Only occasionally you will need ht remote
@@shahross8366 They're all garbage.
@@atulpandey6500E-Arc can sometimes be finicky with different brands or when the new owner doesn’t know a firmware update will fix their handshake issue.
I disagree. I have long since moved beyond just a soundbar and there is no way I’m going back to just a soundbar. Nor do I see any movement back to just soundbars. I was at a product rollout by a major HT company just this week. They were highlighting their front speakers which could, for many, dispense with the soundbar AND could do a good job at 2 channel as well as HT. That is the future I see.
I can see just using a soundbar to improve on the sound coming from your TV. But for anything approaching cinematic sound, a soundbar simply is not sufficient.
For a true moviephile like yourself, that will always be true. I can tell you that the demise of many a great stereo system was the Bose Acoustimass systems because of.... women. They pushed out the big stereo setups in mass so they could "not see" the Bose systems. That is or will happen to many HT systems as they are replaced by women for soundbars. To be clear, not ALL women as some women do like a quality HT experience.
@@stereoniche Hard to argue with you on this point. In our bedroom (my wife’s domain), we have a soundbar for the TV. There is NO WAY that there will be anything more than a soundbar in the bedroom as I had to convince her to even try that! The HT system is in my “man cave” in the basement. Need I say more???
You'd just have to shell out for a great soundbar system like Samsung's Q 990C which goes for a reasonable price (1,000 dollars) these days.
For me and my wife, it ended when our daughters went away to college and there were no more groups of friends watching movies. We had a 16x26ft custom HT with two rows of tiered seating and custom acoustics around the entire room. The cost of fabric to cover the walls would probably make it prohibitive now at today's prices. The other thing for me specifically was chasing technology. We had a $9,000 projector that became obsolete in two years after installation. That kind of stuff killed it for me. Constantly having to upgrade firmware on our previous Pioneer Elite Bluray player was also a pain. We upgraded to an Oppo. We sold that house and now live in a townhouse with a finished "media room" in the basement. I have a 75" TV and some of my old speakers. We kept the Oppo UDP-203, the Marantz processor and an Emotiva XPA-3. The subwoofers stayed with the old HT along with the projector and the surrounds which were all enclosed in columns (I had to buy new surrounds). I'm quite happy now.
Really a $90K projector?
@@dgdave2673 Yikes, no, it was $9k. At least I had a comma......lol. I'm going to fix that now, so if anyone else happens to read that it'll be correct. Thanks for pointing that out.
I can so relate, the HT on the basement with the 120” projector screen sits idle as me and my spouse watch a classic movie on our regular 55” in the living room.
Too much trouble to go downstairs!
UST projectors with retractable screens make casual projection quite easy and convenient now. And frankly possible for some of us in smaller homes. (At least at night when it's not competing against the Sun.) Love the thing.
Never Not For Me!!! Home theatre will stay a Theatre at my home….
Thank you for commenting!
After many years I’ve finally bought a house that had a dedicated home theatre space which I’ve developed into a nice music and theatre room with a projection system and I enjoy it almost every night. I’m happy with it all!
I’ve got a quest 3 headset and it’s pretty good and I’m pleasantly impressed by it’s immersive sound
I fell in love with movie watching in VR with the original PSVR, largely because how brilliantly Sony recreates theatre sound ambience. The headset is low-res but OLED, but most importantly the audio makes it ridiculously easy to lose myself into the theatre experience. Also 3D Blu-ray movies play in 3D. Sadly have yet to find anythat competes in audio with all the headsets I’ve picked up since. My Magic Leap One is promising with the most impressive spatial sound (without headphones) on a headset but it’s AR and FOV is pretty small.
i haven't checked out the apple vision pro yet but, from the ads and reviews i've seen i don't see it replacing home theater. it's a personal unit and part of the ht experience is sharing with family n friends, sure you can pass the unit around but it's not the same. it's bulky and uncomfortable after about 30mins, even though it'll get lighter n smaller with time, it's still a head unit. if it replace anything i believe it'll be video games, but for those of us who love ht i see apple visison as a side chick, not a replacement.
I think it will take several more years and the price (currently $3500) will need to drop drastically, but that has been the cycle for all major technology shifts. Those with the money to buy them will be early adopters, then as volume increases and price decreases, the masses will be able to participate. Now, that all assumes, of course, the tech gets smaller/lighter, etc, but once you feel that immersive experience from video and pictures you take yourself, there is no going back. It IS the future, just a matter of how long it will take for us to get there.
Yeah, I agree with your assessment. Apple Vision is too personalized. Until they can create something that will create VR experience for a group collectively, I don't see it replacing the media where all can see, feel and hear the experience the same way..
90% + of the movies I watch are old and are either basic stereo or mono. Modern films (the past 30 years or so) are trash. Not all, not all, not all but most (my opinion)
There are some gems out there, but most do not benefit from a complex home theater setup. The few that do, I prefer to just see at the theater.
You could say the same for current music releases.
As soon as I see the blurred edges and outer focus backgrounds, I'm immediately aware the actors are standing in front of a green screen, which obviously distances one from the movie. And never mind, no character development it's almost as if sometimes they add a scene (probably on the fly) just to show off the latest camera techniques. The Great Movie era has sadly long gone
Great reply, and also if you get the one or two that are good content on the state of the art media you soon find out ALL the equipment has to handle the content!
So true.
I did the home theater fad for a while, had the 6.1 system. It didn’t have the sound quality I was used to. I have always a the basics stereo setup since I was a kid in the ‘80s. After getting a really good sound bar system in 2015, I boxed up my home theater and sold it. When I listen to music, I play the old 2 channel Carver with 2 speakers and a sub. Nothing beats the old way for music for me.
With the scant number of good movie content worthy of a large HT setup, the value prop is just not there. But Music, we can listen to it over and over again daily and it is certainly worth the effort to setup a quality system for so much time spent using it. You can't beat a good vintage system.
For me home theater from the start was about trying to get as close to the real cinema experience at home as possible. No soundbars or headphones can do that. But you can still enjoy watching a movie or tv series with them. And the new flat display's certainly have their advantages. I still have a small home theater room with projector and Dolby Atmos sound system with subwoofer. But nowadays we spend most of our entertainment time in our living room with the big 4k HDR tv and 5.0 B&W speaker system and AV receiver. Stereo amplifier (plays fronts for the AV) and separate Dac for stereo music. At the end is about finding the best setup for you! What you're happy with and what you can afford.
In my opinion, video on a headset, no matter how impressive it might be initially, is a gimmick that few people will adopt. A few years back everyone was trying those 3D headsets. How many people still use them?
I still have a 3d tv with glasses.... Lol I do use it though
I have an Australian made Stereo 6 Kriesler Multisonic Stereo made in 1965. It was state of the art in its day, it was my parents. It's got a Garrard fully automatic turn table and beautiful sounding AM radio. I get more pleasure listening to that gentle beautiful sound than my Yamaha system. That Kriesler played just about every record Elvis ever produced, plus Beatles, Sinatra you name it. I love playing Brubeck Jazz albums on it. It's my treasure from Mum and Dad. 😊👍🏻
You simply cannot buy nostalgia. Even vintage gear that I have no personal emotional history with evokes more emotion and engagement when I play period specific music on it. A "Rat Pack" album playing through a tube amp on some early 60's speakers can be so enjoyable!
I think its the smartphone is the biggest reason today audio is fading away
Mobile video viewing is also part of the reason Home Theater is slowing down. More and more are watching the small screen.
I just upgraded to a 75" Qled mini led to replace my 17 year old 50 inch plasma. Also got around to adding two surrounds to my current 5.1 set up to take advantage of the 7.2 pioneer avr I've had for years. Its set up in a large second living room for socializing and movies. We like it, it works for us, and I dont worry about "Keeping up with the Joneses" and constantly replacing gear
I still miss my old pioneer plasma
@07wrxtr1 yep. They were good tvs, but heavy. My new 75inch weighs 62lbs where the old 50inch plasma weighs 109lbs. And the new tv cost half of what my plasma did back in 2007. Times have changed
I've always just used my regular home stereo connected to the TV.
I've never been interested in surround sound. I've always been satisfied with just two good stereo speakers with big enough woofers to give it a solid bottom end.
Same. I actually have my eARC signal feeding out to a converter that goes off to the RCA inputs of a two-channel Amp (actually 2 channels of a 4-channel Amp). My two speakers are high quality. Have considered dropping in a sub, but can’t be bothered.
Great video! Something to add to the timeline was the whole cassette tape and boom box phase, some of those units were pretty amazing. BTW, I still have my 1977 Pioneer SX-950 receiver which has been super reliable and continues to front my system in my home office. In terms of future, I wonder if I could get used to not having buttons and lights that I can physically touch? Of course, I said that same thing about my iphone, so I guess the answer is "yes". Time will tell.
At some point, I guess we will just speak commands, like in the movie "I, Robot", where that is so common someone is confused how to operate an old stereo with buttons because it is a non-AI machine.
I have a 5.1.4 home theater and a 2 channel turntable system and I love them both.
Best of BOTH worlds!
Buying a home with a big room for home theater can be a bit challenging in recent years as home prices have gone up so much that they are no longer affordable.
Home theater is struggling because of the home part. Homes continue to increase in expense, with single home commonly exceeding $1 million. That is a lot of money to put the home in theater. Then the theater part is always evolving at the “new every two” rate. Media wars complicate what you show. Hollywood has stopped producing good movies, so what is the point anyway. Add it all up and home theater has a steep curve. The simplicity of a 4k smart TV with a soundbar has killed many budding home theaters.
I have a pretty high end home theater that I use frequently. It’s in my basement so I tend to use it more in the summer because it’s cold. I’ve tried the VR headsets and quickly became bored with it.
Bunch of surround haters on here
Not so much haters, they just prefer stereo.
I made it to a point in life that I can afford high end equipment and a dedicated theater room with amenities.
Now, there is nothing I want to watch.
Quite the dilemma isn't it? We love movies and there is nothing I like more that popping some good corn, spicing it up and watching a movie with the family, however, it just doesn't happen enough as there just isn't the quantity of great movies. Besides, I rarely watch a movie a twice, but can listen to great music tracks over and over again.
@@stereonichelistening to music in a dedicated room never gets boring. You can listen to your favorite albums again and again and again ....
Nothing wrong with watching older movies you love. I find it very cool to rewatch some of greats with my home theater systems.
Back in the 70s & 80s I was fanatical about my vinyl music collection and the stero components. Back then, I owned a Marrantz receiver, Dual turntable, Teac tape deck, a Sondcraftsmen EQ & Bose 301s. It's all gone now, but the record and CD collection are still available, but never played. It's so much easier now to just stream music through an Internet music service. Currently, I use Sonos for home theater & audio, as it's controlled with an app and it's also wireless so there's no speaker wire to run and the sound is good enough.
Sonos is not Hi-Fi. Sonos is the new Bose.
When I was in my mid 60's I picked up a used Samsung Gear VR headset and watched movies like Jurassic Park and Star Wars with headphones/earbuds. I was sold. It was like public theater quality in sight and sound. Since then, I've evolved to the Quest 2 and now the Quest 3. Current VR movie apps include the ability to "share" the experience with others who are using headsets as well. VR movie apps are still evolving and getting better.
It has to start somewhere. Who know how cool it will be in another 10 yrs.
Wow just the answer I needed, do they work on a pc? Old eyes getting bad. Thank you!
Prices?... what about if you wear glasses?
@@kennethanway7979 The MSRP is $3500, but I am sure that will continue to fall. The headset is adjusted to your glasses prescription so your glasses are not needed. Quite sophisticated.
@@stereoniche Continue to fall? $3500 was the price when they announced it, and Apple hasn't changed the price yet. Apple rarely, If ever drop prices on anything except a small price break on last years models until they are gone or on refurbs from their online store.
Actually, the beginning of home entertainment was the piano. Many more homes had pianos than phonographs at the turn of the 20th century.
I think there will be a market for good-quality 2-channel audio for the foreseeable future, regardless of what's happening in the home theater and immersive video / VR space. The fact that vintage 2-channel hi-fi gear keeps going up in price, and that there are more new products (2-ch amplifiers / receivers, turntables, CD players, speakers) being introduced shows that.
Personally, I did the whole 5.1 home theater thing several years ago, and I don't think it added much to the "experience". If you watch lots of action movies with lots of obnoxiously loud 'splosions and surround effects, then maybe it's worth it. To me, it distracts from the movie instead of adding to it. I'd be happy with 2 channels and a decent center channel so I can actually hear / understand the dialog without having to turn on closed captions. The last TV audio "system" I set up was a Sonos soundbar. More than good enough for me, but YMMV.
We are on the same page. Being a vintage stereo guy, I will always have my 2 channel systems. The dialog for watching movies is the key for me as well. So frustrating when you cannot understand what they are saying.
Thanks for another great history lesson Scott. I have radios from the 30s and 40s, I bought my first stereo in 1975 and now I have a Wiim streamer. I guess I've seen it all. LOL When does it end? I'm moving soon and my new family room/home theater/listening room is going to be over twice as big as my current one. I don't want to wire another room for surround and I'm seriously thinking of just watching movies in stereo. We do that in our living room and it sounds great. I'm running six stereos and I may be dropping down to three. The receiver and speaker bullpen is already crowded and its going to get worse. LOL
We can never have enough space! Always the bane of us hobbyists, but great you will have a dedicated space to set things up to enjoy.
Very cool. What is your oldest radio? Mine is either a Philco 90B or a Scott all wave! Scotts are wonky no one is really sure when models were in production.
How could you skip boom boxes ???
Well, I also skipped 8 tracks. Really, the focus was on some of the evolution of home entertainment vs trying to cover each and every format. But, going further, this channel is primarily focused on home stereo gear, not so much personal/mobile audio like the boombox. No disrespect for the boombox crowd, just not a category I collect. :-)
thumbs very up. this was very on point. personally I do have VR, and it is no doubt insane as far as experience (Valve Index). the audio on my headset is super on point and nice.. but nothing can replace a dedicated stereo setup. and I am a firm believer in tube tech. when I added vacuum tube pre-amps to my system it made the whole experience so 3d immersive. I can't explain it, it just is so obvious. I feel a properly executed stereo system can easily compete with any surround set up. excellent info here bro.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Soundbars???? I went through that whole thing and went 7.1.4 and never looked back. Yes, when stereo is done well, it is amazing. But for home theatre, im sticking with surround sound. Stereo just feels empty for modern movies. Noted that movies of old mixed in mono or stereo sound great on a stereo system.
I still have an “old-school” multi-channel home theatre setup, and I’m excited about sitting down just to listen to music again because of Apple Music and everything coming out in Dolby Atmos. I appreciate nice quality audio, and sometimes just sit in my “music room” to listen, but I wouldn’t consider myself an audiophile by any means… but I am a musician and, to me, listening in Dolby Atmos makes me feel like I’m in the band! I remember when those multi-channel audio DVDs started coming out, and listening to things like Hotel California and being blown away by how each instrument was so “separate” and coming from a clear position, it sounded huge! Those didn’t last very long… but hopefully this new trend continues and becomes standard!
I have an atmos dedicated hometheater for family movies every weekend. But recently I use my XReal Glasses connected to my phone. Its very personal and immersive without bothering other people in the room
Very Nice! So you are "augmenting" your full theater with personal video. I've not seen or tried the XReal products, but clearly this is going to be the direction for a while. Thanks for commenting.
I have one small home office setup with a soundbar, 5.1 setups in bigger rooms, and an Atmos setup for my main listening room. With my bad eyesight, I expect VR headsets to be a non-starter, but I need to try one out.
Once they adjust them to your corrective lens prescription, crystal clear. Go give them a shot, it was quite fun.
THanks Scott for this video. I Love the experience of buying physical media and haviing it in my hands. In my opinion, a much better experience
Agree. For me, I just feel so much more invested into the process. When I go through the process of selecting some media from my collection to listen to it, I am committed to that experience for the duration. The whole album, not just a single song. And THAT is really why I prefer physical media. Streaming has pluses though, it has essentially replaced radio as the way to find new music. I've not actually started using it myself, my kids have actually introduced me to some new artists.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think you missed the boom in home stereo systems that happened in the 1970's. They made them more affordable in stores like Playback and etc., and then my friends and I all wanted to go out an buy our own home stereo systems to listen to our own selection of records. It was a fairly unique market boom I think.
I hit on that era around the 6:30 mark, but only in reference to the gear getting much better.
I believe that is when my grandfather got in the game for quality. Before he passed away, he had a really good set up for the 90s. He used it up to the early 2000s - 2010s.
I have a 2.1 system for my TV. Older McIntosh MX130 in 2 channel mode, Schitt Vidar amp for power, DAC, I run through either Wharfedale Lintons with a sub, or just my mid 80s Cornwalls. Sounds great all the time. Have a turntable and cd also hooked up. I need or want NONE of the complexity of multichannel systems. Such a pain to hookup, hide wires, etc., and very hard to switch components in and out of the system for variety.
Well, you are part of the choir I was referring to, you never went down that rabbit hole. :-)
I took another route and did both. Dedicated home theater and dedicated 2 channel system. Of course they take 2 rooms, but I’m satisfied. 😊
Well, that is certainly the best of both worlds!
Same here, dedicated theater in basement, two channel in living room!
Same here .
1) dedicated Music listening room in the basement.
- single ended Tube amp , single ended phone preamp, Turn table , high sensitivity speakers, 2 subwoofers , cables etc
2) second listening space with vintage stereo speakers, CD player, Classic Marantz solid state stereo amp
3) Movie room with TV , DVD , home theater
However , if the sound from HT becomes too overwhelming, it distracts me from the movie on the screen . It goes against being "immersive " , may become a bit distracting, just my own experience
Same here. Separate rooms.
It comes down to what you're willing to spend money on.
I have three home theater setups in my house. I got the Apple Vision Pro earlier this year and now I only use that for movies. I wear the Apple iPods Pro 2.0 (usb c) for sound. Those little earphones make amazing sound. But now I have a portable home theater for just myself (and I live alone) with a 200-inch screen and surround sound. I love it! It took some doing to get the headset to be comfortable on my head though, Apple didn’t do a great job on that, but third parties stepped up to provide solutions and I had to go through two iterations to find one I could live with. The lens inserts you need if you wear glasses aren’t perfect and at first would produce strange glare in bright scenes in movies. But of late some tricks have appeared in the environments that have diminished the glare tremendously to the point where glare is way less of a problem but not completely gone. If you have two of the AVP, or you have a buddy at another location remote to yours, then if you facetime call them, then you can watch content together in a synchronized way in a theater setting! Of course, this too is not perfect, as content sharing is not allowed. So, to make it work both will need to purchase the same content to watch together.
It is the future but the full measure of it is still a ways off. $4000+ for a uncomfortable headset is not gonna fly, full stop! So, someone has some work to do. I will still be buying UHD content on discs + digital copies and I will use my HT if I want to watch with company, but when I am alone or on travel in a hotel, I will use AVP. I will not use it on an airplane because I am just not that guy.
I think you missed one evolution that greatly effected how consumers experience music and video and that would be the introduction of the smart phone for better or worse many today listen and watch movies on their cell phones. I think this evolution of more compact personalized quick access is more closely related the devises being introduce such as the Apple Vision Pro.
Actually, I had planned to mention that very point, but edited it out in the end. But I think that is the transition point that will help grow the VR experience.
And a related ‘evolution’ missing, is the consistent, faster change in technology. I feel burned out, at this point in my life, to make changes and ditch the ‘old’ technology.
The vision pro is just another vr kind of headset. Granted it has ar as well. I don't see these catching on in bulk because it isolates you. It's an amazing experience but a huge part of watching a movie is sharing it experience with someone physically there.
I agree with a lot of the other comments that theater is dying because of cell phones, computers and other distractions in the house. I have a theater and my youngest has never sat down and watched a single movie.
There is something to be said about the potential of these devices. The technology is still developing and I think it will eventually be some sort of room filling video.
I think headphones will rule in the future. Fewer people buying homes (and keeping them). Fewer people getting married. And a lot of music today sucks and isn’t worth high end prices. Btw there were high end cassettes and reel to reel back in the day (Otari, Nakamichi, JVC etc.).
My husband worked for Velodrome Accoustics during the early 90s. Your info is mostly correct, though your timing is a bit off. We owned Surround Sound back then, with 5 channels: L, R, C, and rear channels. Besides the 5 channels, we also had 2x 12" subwoofers plus an 18" subwoofer. Another thing you didn't include was to mention 8 tracks and cassettes, both available as portable medium pre CD.
Thanks for commenting. I was not intending the video to cover all of the various formats. There were others like MiniDisc and LaserDisc that were also not mentioned for example. What I did miss though and had intended to include was the rise of the personal video experience that paralleled the trajectory of the personal audio (I had included a picture at 10:06, but no comment in the final edit). The main point I was trying to convey is that home entertainment has evolved for over 100 years and, in many cases, it took decades for shifts in formats to gain critical mass of adoption. The immersive video experience is still in its infancy, the Apple Vision Pro is just one of what will probably be many attempts at expanding the market. In the meantime, might this interim period grow stereo and a renewed interest in music?
@stereoniche Yes, we owned laser discs, too, which maybe I should have included as a precursor to CD and DVD. If there are immersion videos, it's highly likely that adoption, at least by the wealthy, will happen. But, if, for example, it is so novel that no one makes products in that format, i.e., 3D TV, the interest will wane and die. Spotify and Netflix have their place and benefits. Rent is expensive, and so are mortgages. There's no need to have space for all this expensive equipment. There's no need for sockets, cords, or even more USB cables, and it's portable. Now all you need is a phone,tablet, or laptop. However, the sound is inferior, but so is radio. Plus, you have to rely on someone else to collect and store media for you, which means that old movies, TV, and music that you enjoy or find meaningful may disappear and be unavailable. But from a practical perspective, online media is a better value for the masses. So, I guess only time will tell.
Content. The lack of worthy content is killing the home theater. Hollywood has self destructed. Good screenwriting has been replaced by CG and gimmicks. A real interesting movie with a good story and a plot are difficult to find. The music industry has been destroyed by greedy streaming and a music experience that is dominated by lousy lyrics and booming bass. I now search for anything worth watching and it is hard to find. Here is hoping that we will hit bottom and recover soon. Otherwise an iPad and spacial earbuds will dominate movies and HT will fade away.
I have a well equipped system that pulls double duty as 2 channel/Atmos home theater. I’ve had several people experience it and for the most part, the reactions are very positive. Big wow factor. Some caught the bug and went down the rabbit hole but only a few. A high quality audio only or ht a definitely a niche thing. I believe the iPod was the beginning of the end of high fidelity.
I think in the early 2000's the iPod generation certainly went in that direction, but it does seem like many want a bit more now. Will it be very high fidelity? Probably not, but setting up anything beyond just an iPod and headphones is a step up! :-)
Atleast for movies a cetre channel makes a lot of difference so for me it would always be between building a full system or building a 3.0 or 3.1 system. Stereo works great for music but not at all that great for movies
I'd love to hear you discuss the difference between hi end home theatre equipment audio quality vs audiophile receivers/speakers audio quality. I did a home theatre/lounge setup a few years ago in an 18ft x 18ft room. Equipment is top shelf Denon 7.1 a/v receiver, top shelf Klipsch center, sub, front, and 2 prs rear speakers, vintage Technics SL 1300 turntable, and 85" Samsung 8K TV. It's a fantastic set up, but I don't think the audio for music compares well to audiophile stereo set ups I've heard. Any of you that know, please tell us what the differences are in receivers and speakers that make the difference. Thanks a bunch, keep up the good work.
Thanks for commenting. I am sure others with more knowledge on HT systems will chime in, but given I am a vintage stereo guy, my thoughts are this: HT systems are designed to do surround sound BEST. Secondarily, they "can" do stereo, but it is not their PRIMARY purpose. HT receivers are typically somewhat complex and many users do not know how to switch them into stereo mode (ie. my wife). It needs to be turn on simple, for the most part. Having said all that, I think one can setup a dual purpose system, but that takes a lot more gear (multiple amps) to match what one typically gets with a dedicated 2 ch setup. Being 2 ch, there is just so much more budget per unit one can apply than when it has to be divided between 8+ speakers, multiple amps, etc.. Going back to my earlier comment, I am a vintage guy, so with some time, I could build a heck of a vintage 2 ch system for the cost of a mid-level HT setup.
This boils down to preference. I would disagree with the assertion that home theaters are dead. To the contrary, home theaters are almost required in this day in age where the movie industry as a whole is dead, and unless the movie industry develops an entirely different experience and way of presenting movies in the theater I don't see the trend stopping. A large flat panel and a sound bar is a great option for a living room, or family room, but this in no way compares to a 7.1 or greater dedicated setup in terms of audio fidelity, immersion, and suspending the intrusion of your surroundings to focus on the experiences of watching a quality movie.
No more disk rental. Streaming is low audio not worth 2k speakers
I agree VR is the future, but disagree that the sound will come from a separate source. Once they get the headset perfected to the point the cost is reasonable and the battery life is acceptable, then they will work on perfecting the sound that's included and I don't think it will be a headphone per say, but maybe more life floating directional earbuds.
I built a wonderful dark theater in my home, and as soon as I did the movies that started being released sucked. I watch mostly old favorite movies however I’m now starting to run out of material. The Music never gets old and that’s a plus.
Young people consume television on their phones, tablets and laptops. They aren’t enamored by the large screens OLED or whatever the newest advancement might be. They listen to compressed music on tiny headset drivers. Often, the music is eq’d by the software and by the headphone manufacturer. No liner notes to read but that’s not missed because they have a window into the lives of their artists via IG, YT and TikTok. Listen through album cuts, flipping to side 2 after 19 minutes of music and being intimately connected to the sounds, smell and feel is not something most attach to the experience. The smell of a record store and that tactile shopping process are replaced too.
I'm still using a 15 year old Vizio 47 inch because to me, most newer stuff looks fake. Almost too good for older sources, imo. Im a 2 channel kind of guy for music, movies, for me, are secondary.
I only recently replaced a 15 yo 48" Vizio and it will looked great. The family outvoted me wanting a bigger screen, but 2 channel rocks!
Yes, technology evolves to a fantastic digital streamer with power amp as well integrating TV’s HDMI port with wifi and blutooth. People using stereo speakers can link up with TV. Since it is linked to HDMI of TV, the streamer automatically controlled by TV volume. WiiM Amp for passive speakers and WIIM ultra can be hooked with active speakers. Other all in one amps such as ARCAM and NAIM can also be used. This way you just turn on TV and listen amazing sound on your stereo and enjoy professional streaming music apps as well.
Thanks for the music history lesson 🎶.
I must say that I am a bit of old school and willing to explore new technologies.
There’s something to be said for equipment made in the 70’s , 80’s and 90’s.
Digging through some old boxes I found my Sony Walkman, the original Apple iPod, I even found my old pager, pre cellphone… lol
I have a Yamaha stereo component system and they all work great.
I started collecting Vynil again and I love it. It’s so much more than a CD which I have many too. But there’s something about holding an Album and reading the inner sleeve and stories about the Artist feels more satisfying than a CD.
But as the old saying goes, one of the Constants in Life is Change.
Oh I forgot when I sold my last house I left the whole surround system since I put all the speaker wires in the walls while building the house.
I’ve heard about the Virtual Reality Systems and I guess I should at least try one out for the experience ?
One of the early systems that looked interesting was where you could play golf or bowling, etc.
But I still enjoy the hunt of finding an Album from years ago that’s in very good condition.
Thanks for your time in putting this video together 👍
I think the difference between video/audio experience and a music experience is that when you're watching video/audio you want it to be immersive, yet while listening to music you want it to be present. Stereo gives that sense of presence to music that surround lacks.
All true!
Soundbars are not an evolution of home theater. They are a solution to modern flat screens having trash speakers. CRT TVs had the space for decent speakers. Actually, soundbars are just expensive crap. People are better off getting a stereo amplifier and a pair of book shelf speakers. You can ad a subwoofer for better fidelity.
I think home theater systems just got too complex. Dolby Surround was a neat effect. Dolby Pro-logic and Digital added a center speaker. I think Dolby Atmos was just too much. 4 and 5 speakers with a subwoofer were manageable, but Atmos went to 7 to 9 or more. I'm sure it was nice, but it was WAY too expensive.
I think records just have a novelty factor to them, but I prefer CDs. I actually just rip them to my computer and listen to them that way, but I also like to collect the CDs.
All good points. I like owning my media as well, but eventually, I am sure I will also use streaming.
Apple Vision Pro sales want a word with you. They have only sold 100K to 300K units since February 2024.
In regard to home theater. Have you tested the Sony Bravia Home Theater Quads? They're wireless speakers and I love them. The speakers and subwoofer are pretty pricey, but I feel like I'm in a movie theater.
Thanks for commenting. I realize the Vision Pro is not selling at volume and it probably never will. But, I do think this kind of experience is the next evolution of home entertainment. It will require the price to be MUCH lower and probably moreso a group experience. Maybe there will be some sort of wraparound screen or something, no idea, but the tech is evolving.
I have not yet heard the Sony Bravia line, but wireless is certainly the next best step to keep HT going.
Large home theater audio AND even 2 channel with the capability to reproduce "live" performance type of listening experience may be fine for single dwelling houses but for the masses living in multi unit apartment buildings where cranking up the volume may well draw complaints from the neighbors the use of nicer headphone systems suddenly becomes a very attractive option both for music and even louder movie experiences that include a lot of bass and explosive types of sound.
The soundbar may work for well for a compromise between the the other available options.
As a retired senior that downsized from a single dwelling house to a multi unit apartment building I have sold off my vintage separate amps and multiple subwoofer and floor standing speaker systems and have both a soundbar with a smaller subwoofer and headphone dac/amps for listening chores these days and do not feel I am missing out on anything really.
I've got a 120" UST set up with a 5.1 system. When I'm not using it the screen retracts into its case. You're not seriously recommending a soundbar over even a basic surround system like I have?
I made no real recommendations, only pointing out that many have adopted a soundbar (including me) which allows for us to reinstall a stereo only system (like me) in the house. I had considered installing a full surround system with a retractable screen in my personal showroom where I do my videos, but eventually decided not to because we would never really use it but on the rarest occasions.
This video fails to address the fact that there is literally nothing to watch anymore. Home theater died for me when, instead of writing compelling stories, Hollywood decided to try to force ideologies I'm not interested in and don't care about down my throat. I think Hollywood forgets that the entire rest of the world exists. Where I live, we absolutely do not care about the crap that people in Hollywood & some / most first world countries are on about these days.
Also, attention spans get shorter every year, and people consume so much media on their phones that it gets hard to actually convince a handful of people to sit down & watch the same thing at the same time. And of course there is the complexity of HT systems... we live in a world where nobody wants to know anything, everybody wants easy, so dealing with a fancy, complex system is not in the cards for a lot of people these days. I get my loud rumble & thump these days from doing live sound for bands... no neighbors to complain about the noise... 🤣🤣🤣
A couple of key points there. Many folks are getting more comfortable watching personal video which, I think, is what will continue to drive the adoption of this new technology. It will take time as the cost is too high, but as with any new tech, the price will fall. The experience is far too great to big ignored. Secondly, complexity in setting up an Atmos system was a bridge too far for many. Not that there won't be some technical issues to address with a Vision Pro, but one plug is all that is needed.
For me, I lost interest when they started making so many superhero movies which I cannot make myself get interested in no matter how hard I try.
"This video fails to address the fact that there is literally nothing to watch anymore."
Not true. There are new movies that are worth watching. It's true that they are few and far between, but that simply means that Sturgeon's Law is true. And you're forgetting the literally thousands of worthwhile old movies that can be enjoyed.
Once you go Atmos / DTS X you never go back to 2 chanels or soundbars.
on RUclips, a guy said when I talk about picture quality on TV, the numbers can be high, but as soon as I start talking about sound quality, the curve drops. like people are more interested in the picture quality of the TV than the sound quality when watching the TV or movie
Until they experience their favourite streaming show on a proper Atmos system (not a soundbar). Then they realise what they’re missing. Perhaps the problem is the almost complete absence of demo facilities (once called “shops” or “stores”) where consumers could experience this sort of thing. The dominance of online retail is probably hurting the HT industry more than any other factor.
I'm done with the surround sound. I like a simple 2 channel hookup. It's like every few years they come out with a different format as a way to get your money. I love Bluetooth & streaming music but 5 speakers plus all the connections needed is a pain.
Overly complex killed the goose.
A drawback is installation. I moved into my home in 2020. I just now crawled under my house to run surround wiring into new wall jacks.
lndeed, for many, that is just too much work and setup to overcome. And many times, the only way to do it is before the dry wall goes up. I am sure it will be well worth the effort though once you get it all setup. Enjoy!
I don't know that the Apple Vision Pro will replace the Home Theater, or whatever term that you want to assign to a place where the family can sit and enjoy a movie together. Maybe I'm too old, but I have a Quest II and have watched movies on it, the experience is too isolated for my taste. There's nothing like sharing a great movie in your living room with your family and friends. As awesome as my Quest II is in its immersive experience, it's empty. In fact, being a night owl, I typically reserve using my Quest until everyone is asleep. It's then that I feel like it's okay to completely isolate. I think back to my time as a child and remember experiencing The Wizard of OZ with my family, and countless other movies, Christmas shows, etc. I can't imagine it being so great if I sat isolated and watched them. It certainly would have affected my warm thoughts about those experiences. Clearly, it's amazingly cool technology, but unless you can experience these things together, with your wife, girlfriend, children, grandchildren, etc. Meh.
I think ultimately, it will be some sort of new "projector" type device that fills up a room or half a room. Not sure how exactly, but I agree, it needs to be a group experience to win over the masses and a low enough entry point on price. Some sort of "Holodeck" type experience, however, that is kind of back to a dedicated room that many folks cannot accommodate. I've seen an interesting projector system that has a screen that raises itself vertically from a box, so maybe several of these that curve around the room? No idea, I am sure someone is working on the "next big thing".
Great points , one other thing is there are some really good headphones out there and very affordable and centred around the phone. Plus smart tvs, streaming and casting to a tv from a phone is quite easy.
Another aspect is as homes have gotten more expensive, younger people cannot afford houses and the newer apartments are quite small. A sound bar and sub in a small apartment will serve you sell.
All true which is why I think some may put more emphasis on a nicer stereo vs so much needed to setup a full blown HT system.
I agree with the trend, it makes sense.
But I think here's another reason why the home theaters shrank. In my own experience, my last step was to upgrade my system to Dolby Atmos, but I rarely use it. And the reason is the lack of good content. You get to a point where you get tired of boring movies with a lot of visual and sound effects in multi-surround, but completely dull in content. Suddenly, Korean, European and even Argentinian movies are creative and fun to watch and just in plain 2 channels. Hollywood which help to push all this technology lost its mojo with dull sequels and new editions of past cash cow movies.
Having said that, I do believe that Apple Vision will be good to another genre yet to come of video entertainment using 360 degree scenarios: concerts, cinematic games and tours.
Long live to the sound bars for the awakening of the other niches: 2-ch stereo and personal 360 degree VR video.
Yes indeed. There are certainly specific segments that will benefit moreso earlier on for the VR side. One aspect are home movies and photos. The realism one can get from just using an iPhone is so much better. My wife was gasping at the thought of all those prior years we did not capture our kids growing up, etc.
ROKID MAX/Nreal Air Pro
Have you looked into these AR glasses? More comfortable than a big head gear. Or even the Quest 3 is so much more cheaper than Apple and does primarily the same thing for less than half the cost of Apple.
I strongly believe in the 2.1 stereo system, The stereo music being heard within the four walls of a room is amazing, I use headphones only when others getting disturbed is a possibility. It's more out of compulsion rather than by choice.
Nothing like physically owning records, CD s and cassettes, you could see one's own collection ,maintain them, it's a beautiful feeling altogether, Listen to classicals, country, Jazz whenever mood strikes,it's a go to place at home indeed!
Nice content. As a 70 year old who's first hi-fi was a Bell 6v6 push pull integrated mono amp a Garrard RC-80 given to me by the local Magnavox dealer and home brew speaker from Motorola Golden Voice salvaged. It has been a very long journey. I am at the end of up-grading my home theatre system, why? I could not improve any more on what I already have. I think where was no profits in let's call them flagship receivers. And sadly a lot of misinformation out there. My 2 channel system is the same as it was years ago, nothing I found I could afford was no better than what I had. Sure I heard some top of the line Wilsons would love to have but I have to eat also. Sometimes you just cannot have the "Holy Grail".
For most of us, the new Holy Grail level stuff is far beyond our financial means, however, I think we are only talking very small, incremental improvements for BIG $$$, so 99.5% of the way there is just fine.
Two channel Arcam SA20 for me. I'm using a SVS PB 3000. Heco Aurora 1000s.Rega turntable, wiim for streaming. I don't do a lot of movies and don't want the living area over complicated with extra speakers. The only one that has to like your system is you.
Headphones vs Speakers is akin to Vision Pro vs Home Theater. Each will have its place in media consumption, and none is going anywhere soon.
For me it surround sound sounds great but the levels go from too loud to not hearing what is being said. Leave the setting on stereo now.
I made my guest house into a theater sometime around 2010 with a 10' screen, projector, surround sound etc. I used it a lot then I stopped even going out there for a couple years. If I wanted a big screen experience I'd use my Quest Pro with the BigScreen app. But here recently I've started using and upgrading my home theater again and I overall think it's a better experience than VR. (Maybe the Apple headset would be a better replacement).
I have a Quest and had the Vision Pro for a while. Movie watching is quite nice on these devices especially the Vision Pro. Unfortunately it’s a singular experience. My husband, daughter, and I use our theater several times a week and host a family movie night with other family members about 3x a week. Can’t do that with the VR devices.
I finally thought about it and unhooked my center channel, I love it! I'm thinking about a 2 channel Integra 100w, my old Pioneer has served me well but, no Bluetooth, or dac....and a couple big Cerwin Vegas 🤔 ? Thanks, I guess it's not only me. 😊 My 70s music will sound right....again 🎉
I bet it will sound AWESOME! Send some pictures over when you get it all setup.
This video comes across as a stereo guy unhappy with the emphasis on home theater stealing the thunder from two channel. I don't see it that way at all. Have you ever heard something like The Dark Side of the Moon in surround? It BLOWS AWAY the two channel version. I literally hear sounds above me and to the rear of me.
Sure, well implemented surround with good material can sound awesome, but you still have go through the implementation itself. I have had my own surround systems as well, not new to it at all. I even setup my current audio room to add it if I ever wanted, but I, like a LOT of other consumers have found it does not get enough usage to warrant the investment. Plain and simple. Not everyone likes Dark Side of the Moon, not everyone (majority?) wants to worry about a complex surround setup either. There is enough room for all to coexist though.
@@stereoniche DSOTM is just an example. Dolby Surround enhances the spaciousness of ALL material, including two channel. Insisting on a "purist", two channel system really doesn't make sense. And, of course, some audiophiles like SACD and DVD audio, which can be in surround. As for "complexity", audiophiles in general aren't the type to be intimidated by technology. They actually love it. The fact that Stereophile and Stereo Review started magazines that address home theater is very telling (two channel Stereo Review doesn't even exist anymore). The same people who think a sound bar is acceptable for a home theater are hardly the type who are going to invest in a serious two channel rig. Last year, I went to a high end audio show focusing on two channel. NO one there looked to be under 50, so no, the younger generation who might be interested in this device isn't interested in serious two channel (their idea of good music is compressed streaming). Have you been to the A/V Science Forum? It's EXTREMELY active (so no, home theater is not "dying"), and essentially NO one there is interested in the device you talk about. They want serious home theater ROOMS, home theater SYSTEMS, and very few of them segregate their music listening.
I was into serious two channel stereo listening decades ago (I have high end ribbon speakers), and that interest didn't diminish at all as I moved to home theater. My subwoofer makes music that can take advantage of it very exciting, and the home theater aspect literally kicks ass.
Title is clickbaity… death of Home Theater? My ‘home theater’ is a soundbar and subwoofer. Also I did a major contraction of my audio/video gear. Reduced Speakers, got rid of receivers, amps, cables, DVD’s, VHS, CD’s, cassettes, records, 8-trks, etc. So I’ll never look into adding gear, especially a headset.
I’m glad you’re excited, but I do have to wonder how you are going to reconcile, having all your current equipment vs. a headset?
Well, a title does need to get attention. :-) But your situation is quite in line with the video message. The HT of the past 30 yrs has mostly centered around constant upgrades that needed more hardware, but change has been on the way for the past few years in the form of what you adopted, the soundbar/sub. As I mentioned, for MANY people, that will work just fine. Secondarily, video technology is on the cusp of a new experience that has the potential to send us in a new direction once the tech becomes less expensive. The Apple Vision Pro, like the early TVs, is far too expensive and, as many have stated, lacks a group experience, but it is still early.
Problem with 2 channel stereo listing is that most people dont get the real magic of it because speakers suck unfortunately
I didn't get it in full until i built my own speakers i didn't know how good it could really be.
I built a set of speakers that had 2 8" woofers in a box for bass and di pole plannars on the mid and tweeter section on top
When i pluged them in and listened to them my god i was blown away i thought to myself is this what its supposed to sound like thats wonderful and my mind went to other places
But for most normal people they haven't heard music in this way most people just throw up a set of speakers in a box and figure thats the way it is but it can be so much better
I sold my speakers now (building a new pair) but the guy calls me at least twice a weey raving about the speakers and thanking me say this is the best speakers ive ever heard 😊
I always tell people you dont know until you hear it 😂
As with anything really, once you see/hear quality, only then can you realize what you were missing.
Please... tell me more! Seriously!
A high quality pair of hi-fi speakers can with excellent imaging can provide a satisfying experience for most users, especially when listening to music as opposed to a movie.
For the past 15 years of my home theater sets still now remain as 2.1 settings. Others than 4K blu rays movies I pretty much enjoy blu rays concerts with 2.1 settings stereo amplifier, 2x bookshelf speakers and 1x subwoofer. A good quality soundstage always better than bombastic sound if want to enjoy long hours entertainment. As for the Netflix or old blu rays movies I will switch to a good pair of powered speakers are more than sufficient.
I personally believe that a big part of home theater dying is because it was never good in the first place. I went all out and had an atmos system with multiple subwoofers and a ton of calibration and post processing. It never sounded good. I even dabbled in acoustic treatment and it did make it better but to make a big difference you need 2 grand in panels full of toxic materials, and they're more than ugly.
I could never get it to sound any better than my normal tv speakers. Yeah my theater setup had more bass and better quality sound but it never sounded cohesive. Any time the surround speakers played, it took me out of the movie because they stuck out like a sore thumb. The bass was always too much or too little. The left and right mains were never in cohesion with each other so one speaker would be brighter than the other due to reflections off the walls and ceiling (although I did move the speakers around and found a good sounding spot, but of course it didn't look good so I had to put them in the suboptimal positions).
After 2 years of endless tweaking and buying and learning, I sold all my stuff. I guess I'm either too picky or just have SUCH a bad room that a decent sound is impossible. But that rests my case; If the average room can't sound good then home theater is a pointless endeavor.
The real reason movie theaters are so awesome is because it's a giant dark isolated space where you're away from everything and you can focus on the movie. You don't have to worry about your neighbors complaining, you don't have to worry about putting the dog out, you don't have to worry about anything.
I don't think people are going to be buying the Apple Vision Pros to watch movies on. TV's are good enough for home entertainment. But hey maybe I'm wrong, I've never tried it.