I've always liked my music. Since an early age, listening to dad's records and the Top 40 on a Sunday evening. Its always been part of my life. On the other hand I never go to the cinema and you could count the TV films I watch each year on the fingers of one hand.

Increasingly I'm finding that its assumed if youre into Hifi you should be considering AV components as essential upgrades and that you must be into home cinema too. Surely I can't be the only one who's simply not interested. It also seems it may replace music hifi in shops someday soon as if the two are so similar that they cannot be separated.

Will non-AV audio exist in 10 years time of wlll we be listening to electronics designed and optimised around film sound characteristics?

Jonathan

A good point. Where I grew up (in Worthing) we had two cinemas. Both were dingy (whoever coined the phrase "flea pit" must have been to The Dome!) and now long since gone. Neither gave the sort of experience that 'fun' and I never got into the habit of regular visits to see films.

Cinemas these days are much better but I rarely go, I can't remember the last time I went to see a film that wasn't for the kids.

I rarely have two hours to sit and watch a film. I couldn't tell you what the last DVD was that I watched either. No AV systems are not important to me!

I've been asked several times to offer opinions on and recommendations for AV kit - on the basis that I own decent hi-fi therefore I should know (anyone whose read my ramblings here know that not to be the case!)

Several people I am currently working with are ditching what dedicated hi-fi they have and are moving to hard disk based systems played through the 5.1 surround sound systems and raving about the sound quality.

We, the flat earthers are in a small minority anyway, I suspect that there will remain a small niche market (well vinyl died in the 80s didn't it? How many here still have a turntable, I know I do!). If you look at the main Naim site at the serial numbers you will see an increase in sales year on year so they must be doing something right.

I'm with you, Shayman - AV doesn't interest me and I HATE that thunderous bloody Dolby surround supercompressed rumbling booming garbage that's so popular today. It's just like a bad Hi-Fi - sounds impressive for a few minutes and then irritates the hell out of you!

Not for me. I've got an ordinary TV for watching the news and an occasional film, and a lovely Hi-Fi for listening to proper music.

Alex

Well I'm another old fart who doesn't see the point in all this AV nonsense.
It seems that DVD's have taken over from socks and garish ties as the easy-option present (surely people don't buy those awful Hollywood action thrillers for themselves!). Maybe this christmas I'll get round to watching the ones I got last year, or then again I might lock myself in the music room and play some totally un-seasonal music, grumpy old git that I am

Mike

Why anyone feels the need for AV I don't know. It's perfectly possible to upgrade the sound of a TV by the simple expedient of placing it between the hi-fi speakers and running the sound through the amp. Still that doesn't cost £XXXX's and won't impress friends and neighbours will it? In the final analysis it's aimed at people who watch "movies" instead of "films"...

Mole Man

I'm with you lot too. AV bores the pants off me, as do mates who impress me with those 'realistic' sounds in the latest blockbuster crap.

Sean

Me too.

OK; I want crisp, clean sound from my TV - and I get it with a £90 Denon amp from Mr Richer and a cheap pair of JM Lab floorstanders.

As others have commented, the 'benefits' of an AV surround sound, full monty system only seem to be utilised with what I refer to as 'Flash Bang Wallop' films, which are of no interest to me.

I really don't feel the need for it with dialogue and a bit of background music, which is what most intelligent TV and films consist of.

John.

We like a bit of AV because we watch a lot of films. But it's the two channel stuff that we spend the big money on and the two will never be mixed. I think it's too easy to go over the top with AV. we prefer music to sound effects. But good luck to anyone who wants it. Free country and all that.

Cheers

Harry

I am interested in picture quality and have a very nice Grundig crt TV with built in dvb tuner. I also have a satellite box for watching sport but that's about it.

I have no interest at all in "home theatre" and certainly wouldn't waste hours watching dopey movies. Can't see the attraction there at all.

I've only watched one DVD in my life and that was five episodes of Bottom my son bought me for a birthday present.

quote:

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Originally posted by HTK:
We like a bit of AV because we watch a lot of films. But it's the two channel stuff that we spend the big money on and the two will never be mixed. I think it's too easy to go over the top with AV. we prefer music to sound effects. But good luck to anyone who wants it. Free country and all that.

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That's pretty much my position. The majority of components in my 2-channel system are each worth as much as the entire audio-rig in my home theatre system. Since movies are visual, the TV is the focal point. In my case, I've got a 65" RPTV, which suits me just fine. As for those 'Flash Bang Wallop' films, I think they're good fun. Who cares if they're "deep" or artistically worthy?

Alternatively, what's artistically worthwhile about a football/soccer match? Those silly events bore the pants off of me. It's all a matter of choice.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Hanson:

Alternatively, what's artistically worthwhile about a football/soccer match? Those silly events bore the pants off of me. It's all a matter of choice.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

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Yeah. We've never seen the point of being able to get the news or a soap (not that we watch any) in high resolution feel-around. Probably our loss but we can live with that

Harry

I got rid of my TV years ago, what a total waste of time. I get news and current affairs from shortwave radio broadcasts (usually BBC World Service). We have the Irish Film Institute near us, which is where I watch movies.

In my view, DVDs are convenient, but not comparable to cinema projection (image quality, scale, involvement, atmosphere etc.)

Nick

Couldn't agree with you more folks. AV seems to start with an assumption that cinema surround somehow equates with realistic (which it does not) and that therefore recreation of cinema surround in one's home is therefore worth striving for (which it is not twice over). There's also the need to suspend belief. Hi-fi is surely about the exact opposite.

Mike

Wow - a thread where everyone agrees!

A friend of mine just bought a $300 Yamaha 5.1 receiver/speakers system; the (non-sub) speakers seem to have no high end at all on music playback. In fact, music generally sucked through this mass-market AV system. Dark days loom ahead, as this low-priced area is the growing area of the market.

I just play the 2-channel output from my DVD player through the "av" input on the 5i; coming through my M12.2s, I reckon I'm getting better AV performance than most!

"Wow - a thread where everyone agrees!"

Yeah, but maybe a different set of responses would occur if this thread was placed in the Home Theatre part of the site!

Nick

quote:

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Originally posted by bhazen:
Wow - a thread where everyone agrees!

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Perhaps I should clarify my position. Although my HT's audio gear doesn't compare to my 2-channel system, it's a full 5.1 surround system, with a dedicated PC, etc. It's probably better than 95% of all the HT's out there. It's not as important to me as my 2-channel system, but that doesn't mean it's not important at all.

[rant]Personally, I think you guys are acting like a bunch of sad luddites, bemoaning the fact that HT is becoming more popular than your preferred medium. Two-channel playback is history, just like vinyl, 78's, Victrolas, etc. Live in the past, if you must, while whinging about the world passing you by. It won't change reality one iota![/rant]

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Seagull

You'll be pleased to know that Worthing Dome is still open, and is currently being refurbished. You may be interested in its website www.wothingdome.com. I grew up in Worthing and visit my dad there quite often.

I watch films on our 28" panasonic widescreen and feel no need for anything better, but I have recently substituted the freebie scarts for QED performance sqart leads between the freeview box and DVD and the TV, and the improvement to picture and sound were very worthwhile. Has anyone else tried these?

Nigel

Mike

I enjoyed your "rant". It's not so much about being a luddite (e.g., my enjoyment of listening to shortwave radio to listen about world affairs), but in my case its about keeping home life pleasantly simple, investing funds in things I really value (like stereo hifi) and not chasing the latest technological trend that I don't need or want.

Nick

I like films but want to see good ones at the cinema or old ones on the TV. I have a DVD player (cheap&small) patched into my 82 on aux1 and the cable box plugged into aux2 so I get good sound. But I seriously don't think I'll ever go to an AV sistem. Tho I do believe that a decade from now they'll be integrated. I'm sure my naim system will last for many years to come.

Life is analogue, enjoy it while you can.

quote:

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[rant]Personally, I think you guys are acting like a bunch of sad luddites, bemoaning the fact that HT is becoming more popular than your preferred medium. Two-channel playback is history, just like vinyl, 78's, Victrolas, etc. Live in the past, if you must, while whinging about the world passing you by. It won't change reality one iota![/rant]

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Mike, have you been taking Mick lessons?

Seriously, if this AV crap sounded as good as my 2-channel, and it cost about the same, I'd buy it. Problem is it doesn't -- by a long shot.

Same is true of vinyl vs. cd, which is why I don't own a cdp anymore. (I was an early cd adopter, btw -- hardly a luddite). I finally realized it was best to admit the medium was a failure and cut my losses. Hope you don't find yourself in a similar situation after all that money....