HDTV Almanac - A Sound Idea

[alfredpoor]

Futuresource Consulting has just released a free analysis report that highlights their observations about consumer electronics products and trends at CES 2012. One of the points that they made in their announcement press release caught my attention:
Ever-thinner TV displays boosted interest in speakers, soundbars and home theatre systems.
I confess that I’ve been a bit puzzled [...]

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[eliwhitney]

TO: alfredpoor

Good morning, Sir!

RE: Atrocious Internal Sound Systems of new HDTVs ...

I have 'volunteered' for the past years assisting with selection and installation for fellow Seniors making their transitions from CRTs to assorted HDTVs.

It has deteriorated substantially since the early 2005-6 Era, whenever our local cable company still offered very little 'HD' and an Outside Antenna was my "repetitive recommendation." Few, except for my own set-up actually needed a separate set of external speakers, I (then) felt.

Fast-forward to last "Black Friday" & it's inducements!

I bought a 42" plasma for the "Den" as a second set to replace a very-tired LCD. Internal Audio was essentially-unintelligible!

With that, I "splurged" sending the Budget into space {not in reality, of course!} .... now have new Pioneer HTIB systems on each HDTV that - - - although an "Insult" to a genuine Audiophile - - - I find to be absolutely-fantastic, compared to the Internal Sound!

Thanks very much for your "Mustang Speaker" Article!!

eli

[alfredpoor]

Thanks for the kind words, Eli. I know that "good enough" is the enemy of "better", but I agree that there are times when you want to get top-of-the-line equipment, and then there are times when something less will fill the bill without breaking the bank.

Alfred
HDTV Almanac

[megoldsmith]

The low quality of speakers and sound on new TVs is indeed a shame. I wish they would sell monitors without any sound at all. Personally, I use quality small bookshelf speakers and a quality amplifier in my setup. I know how much work goes into getting good sound for television, and it's sad how that effort is wasted.

[eliwhitney]

TO: megoldsmith

RE: "No Audio System" at all included ...

That used to be a possibility ... "Monitors"

Now, those are MORE costly than just buying any of the opposite {which are perpetually on Promotion / Rebate / free debit card / etc., and setting it's Audio or Speakers to "off" within that HDTVs "menu."

THEN ... pick up the Dolby at the Cable or Satellite S.T.B. 'out' w/ a Toslink Optical Cable directly into your AMP, of course.

eli

[alfredpoor]

Eli, back when you could buy a "monitor" at a reasonable price, it was because they left out the tuners. It was before the digital broadcast transition, and there was no over-the-air HD anyway, so you had to use a different source for HD content.

Now the tuners hardly cost anything, so there's little savings to be had by leaving them out, even though most people don't even use them. I'm afraid that the same is true for the speakers; they just don't cost enough in most sets to affect the pricing.

It is true that you can still get no-speaker (and no-tuner) monitors, and that they usually cost much more than a similar television. That's because just about all of these products are designed for commercial use such as digital signage, and are subjected to a much harsher duty cycle and operating conditions, and so they are engineered to higher standards. Between that and the fact that there is much lower demand for such models, they end up costing more.

Alfred

[eliwhitney]

TO: alfredpoor

RE: W and W/o Internal Systems ...

Thanks for the "update!" ... It all seems very logical, after a "proper explanation!" ...appreciate that.

Will there be "any" TVs tuned to other than "THE GAME" later today, I wonder??

Regards,
eli

[alfredpoor]

As for being tuned to The Game today, I plan to at least sample what the NFL will be streaming for free -- http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/columns/201 ... erbowl.php -- to see how it complements the standard broadcast.

Alfred