Are we best going back to physical media

naefeart said:
This is true, but it’s also relative. I’m reasonably happy with my modest viewing/audio setup, but I bet there’s someone else with a bigger TV, a better amp and a top tier set of speakers, who would swear blind they can’t understand how I can live with my ‘lesser’ gear :D

At the time, I could have bought a small 2nd hand car for the price of my speakers alone. I feel I get ‘value’ from them - my wife would think I’d lost the plot - but I’m fully aware there are bigger and better available. Everyone has to draw the line somewhere. I don’t think any less of those happy with sound from their TV, phone etc. they have simply found their level of compromise.

Edit - I’m still a big fan of physical media (I still choose to buy audio cds for example), but I know the game has moved on and it won’t be turning back :(
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Everything in life is a compromise :p, I'm sure we would all love dedicated cinema rooms with top level kit, but that would either lead to bankruptcy or divorce :cry:.
 
theone8181 said:
Everything in life is a compromise :p, I'm sure we would all love dedicated cinema rooms with top level kit, but that would either lead to bankruptcy or divorce :cry:.
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True enough that (almost) everything is a compromise. That's why forums such as this exist. They help people choose the best compromise they can based on good information from knowledgeable souls who have been through the same learning curve. It's a shortcut to a better solution by using the experience of others.

My son wanted some better sound for his gaming on a 32" TV. His solution... a Goodmans sound bar for £30. In the living room there's audio gear worth thousands, and with bass that can rattle the windows. If he wanted, he could have come to me for some pointers on what to get, but as he said to me "I don't want something powerful that'll wake you both up if I'm gaming or watching a film late at night". He has 'phones too of course, but they're not appropriate if he's just watching some YouTube videos whilst messaging with his mates.

Good systems don't have to be expensive, or big, or complicated, or lead to divorce :cry: I've put together small systems for folks that knock their socks off whether it's movies or music. However, unless they come here first asking, then it's none of my business what they decide. Once they are here though, then there's no point recommending some tat they could have just bought by walking in to Currys.
 
theone8181 said:
But you're forgetting the vast majority just don't care (although the soundbar market has taken off quite well).
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The soundbar market has take off for two reasons

1) it's small, easy to setup and demo in a store - as such almost any electronics store anywhere has soundbars on demo which allowed lots of average joes to walk into the store and here what they are missing whether they came in for a soundbar or not

2) it's cheap
 
Grim5 said:
The soundbar market has take off for two reasons

1) it's small, easy to setup and demo in a store - as such almost any electronics store anywhere has soundbars on demo which allowed lots of average joes to walk into the store and here what they are missing whether they came in for a soundbar or not

2) it's cheap
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Oh yea, moneys got to be the easiest metric. I'm a bit young (36), but I understand betamax was superior, but cost more. I'm sure there were other reasons, but money must be up there. Can't imagine the average Joe buying a 1500 quid soundbar, but a few hundred is much more palatable, just a shame many seem to get caught out with the various standards (hdmi 2.1 I'm looking at you). Even as a bit of a nerd it can be overwhelming what supports what.
 
theone8181 said:
Oh yea, moneys got to be the easiest metric. I'm a bit young (36), but I understand betamax was superior, but cost more. I'm sure there were other reasons, but money must be up there. Can't imagine the average Joe buying a 1500 quid soundbar, but a few hundred is much more palatable, just a shame many seem to get caught out with the various standards (hdmi 2.1 I'm looking at you). Even as a bit of a nerd it can be overwhelming what supports what.
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It's easy spending £1500 on one item alone for home cinema.

Or indeed 10x that for simply a multi channel AV pre amplifier (trinnov altitude 32)
 
I don't particularly care to return for physical media. I was never really an avid film purchaser so streaming and the world it opens up to me is actually much preferable. We have a decent TV, sound bar and sub and for our needs it works really well. I'd like to get some rear speakers just to finish it off but it's a hard sell when my partner doesn't really like surround sound.

Truthfully, I just want it as it's cool but I don't feel like I need it or that I'm having a lesser experience when watching a film. The fake atmos we have works well enough and streaming picture quality is good enough for my eyes.
 
I don't think physical will ever go away whilst people are prepared to buy them, nor should it. I just expect for most people, streaming and subscriptions are the more convenient solutions.
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
No, streaming will only get better as Internet speeds increase as well as improvements to the codecs used for the streams. The streaming companies already hold all of their content with uncompressed audio and near lossless video so just need consumers Internet speeds to increase enough before they can up the bit rates.
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I agree to this. Things will get better.
 
Yes. People won't be able to afford prime/netfelix/broadband/food/heating soon so yes physical media will be needed for the 2 hours you will be able to afford to have your electricity on a month
 
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