Are soundbars and Bluetooth speakers killing hifi ?

[the skipper]

They sound good enough for most people and the convenience is hard to deny. That's what the market caters to, not audiophiles which make up a very small percentage of the consumer electronics market.

If you want "the good stuff" you can still get it but you have to work a bit to find it and spend a bit to buy it.

 

[uofmtiger]

But you are aware that presently the sales of records are rising, that of CDs are falling? In a way that at least in certain markets the value of records sold is higher? Good things come back.

I use more and more old Hifi equipment with good loudspeakers. I of course own a Marshall Kilburn Bluetooth speaker for my (ignificantly less than 1000,-€) smartphone. And sometimes with an old system via Avantree Bluetooth transmitter when I am in the bathroom, in the garden, in the kitchen, ... However very few of my friends use Hifi gear anymore, most try to get rid of the stuff. Sonos and Bose everywhere!

One of my best friends has thousands of CDs, but listens through a Yamaha soundbar. It actually sounds better than you would think.

 

[grinx76]

are there (were there, before 2020) live concerts that koolkidz go to that have NO audio speakers, just a streaming feed to everyone's earbuds?
/shudder

until that happens, you can have my phone but you WILL leave my speakers

 

[Grenadeslio]

But you are aware that presently the sales of records are rising, that of CDs are falling? In a way that at least in certain markets the value of records sold is higher? Good things come back.

I use more and more old Hifi equipment with good loudspeakers. I of course own a Marshall Kilburn Bluetooth speaker for my (ignificantly less than 1000,-€) smartphone. And sometimes with an old system via Avantree Bluetooth transmitter when I am in the bathroom, in the garden, in the kitchen, ... However very few of my friends use Hifi gear anymore, most try to get rid of the stuff. Sonos and Bose everywhere!

sarcasm eh lol?

I have 6 turntables and thousands of records, less than 100 CD's, so......ya, sarcasm.

 

[Lavane]

are there (were there, before 2020) live concerts that koolkidz go to that have NO audio speakers, just a streaming feed to everyone's earbuds?
/shudder

until that happens, you can have my phone but you WILL leave my speakers

Ya, and those goofy clubs and raves where everyone wore headphones or earbuds. Hey, its quiet, and the cops don't get called in for an illegal gathering in some old warehouse. Maybe a few calls from people hearing loud shuffling and toe tapping.

 

[Gnesen]

Out of a desire to simplify (and general curiosity), I sheepishly admit to recently trying out both Apple's HomePod and Google's Home Max as stereo system replacements. They can be used with Bluetooth, but most people use them to directly stream music from Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc. While they were both easy to set up as stereo pairs and sounded reasonably good, they absolutely cannot replace a standard stereo system. Even with built-in DSP/sound correction, they lack the dynamics and general presence of my dumb speakers. There were a few other nitpicky things that I disliked about each smart speaker (e.g. connectivity and restricted ecosystems). I gave each pair of smart speakers about ten days of solid use before returning them. However, if I didn't know better from prior experience with proper stereo setups, I probably would have been quite content with keeping either pair of smart speakers (I give an edge to the Google Home Max). With that said, we do have an original Amazon Echo device in the kitchen that is good enough for background listening and setting timers.

 

[uofmtiger]

Out of a desire to simplify (and general curiosity), I sheepishly admit to recently trying out both Apple's HomePod and Google's Home Max as stereo system replacements. They can be used with Bluetooth, but most people use them to directly stream music from Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc. While they were both easy to set up as stereo pairs and sounded reasonably good, they absolutely cannot replace a standard stereo system. Even with built-in DSP/sound correction, they lack the dynamics and general presence of my dumb speakers. There were a few other nitpicky things that I disliked about each smart speaker (e.g. connectivity and restricted ecosystems). I gave each pair of smart speakers about ten days of solid use before returning them. However, if I didn't know better from prior experience with proper stereo setups, I probably would have been quite content with keeping either pair of smart speakers (I give an edge to the Google Home Max). With that said, we do have an original Amazon Echo device in the kitchen that is good enough for background listening and setting timers.

Just a note that the HomePod does not support Bluetooth. It uses Airplay when you send audio from phone to speaker.

I had the first HomePod until it broke and we listened to it more often than the main system. It sat between the living room and kitchen, so its small footprint was a necessity. It's 360 degree audio made it ideal when we were making meals and moving around. It wasn't as good as my main system, but it was pretty darn good for its size constraints. I replaced it with a HomePod mini which isn't close to the dynamics of the original. My current Denon receiver has Alexa and Airplay 2 built in, so I can send audio from these devices without touching the phone, which is pretty cool. Lately, when we are cooking and hanging out in the kitchen, I will pair the Mini with my Main system and have music playing from both.

I have the Dots around the house and their main issue isn't only the sound quality. It is the mics that don't pick up commands nearly as well as the HomePod when something is playing. They are a lot cheaper, though, and have aux and Bluetooth out, which makes them pretty useful for certain applications.

 

[El Rubio]

Are Sounbars and Bluetooth killing HiFi?
Define HiFi.
The reason is what many consider HiFi is out of most people's budget. You're told you need a $3k amplifier, $5k speakers, another $2k on wires, etc. The traditional stereo review magazines seem to parrot whatever mumbo jumbo overpriced hunk of plastic BS that some manufacturers produce and claim better than magical properties. I feel like there is a massive amount of BS in HiFi advertising. Should i consider anything from a company that tells me a couple of fuses in my power supply will make a sonic difference ( always for the better) in my system...so long as I have them in the right direction. Reminds me of the Three Stooges skit where they would hold up a nail with the point facing toward the hammer and proclaim that nail is for the opposite wall. Yeah, I'm a bit jaded by it, but I'm not a fool.

Soundbars and bluetooth are just convenient.

 

[GChief]

Are Sounbars and Bluetooth killing HiFi?
Define HiFi.
The reason is what many consider HiFi is out of most people's budget. You're told you need a $3k amplifier, $5k speakers, another $2k on wires, etc. The traditional stereo review magazines seem to parrot whatever mumbo jumbo overpriced hunk of plastic BS that some manufacturers produce and claim better than magical properties. I feel like there is a massive amount of BS in HiFi advertising. Should i consider anything from a company that tells me a couple of fuses in my power supply will make a sonic difference ( always for the better) in my system...so long as I have them in the right direction. Reminds me of the Three Stooges skit where they would hold up a nail with the point facing toward the hammer and proclaim that nail is for the opposite wall. Yeah, I'm a bit jaded by it, but I'm not a fool.

Soundbars and bluetooth are just convenient.

Most young people I personally know, that are into it (audio), know now is a great time for the hobby and you do not need to spend much money to get “hi-fi” sound reproduction.

 

[Tom Brennan]

Define HiFi.
.

Sound reproduced with low distortion and reasonably wide bandwidth.

Now we get to define low and reasonable.

 

[El Rubio]

Most young people I personally know that are into it know now is a great time for the hobby and you do not need to spend much money to get “hi-fi” sound reproduction.

There's hope

 

[Gnesen]

Sound reproduced with low distortion and reasonably wide bandwidth.

Now we get to define low and reasonable.

I don't know about distortion, but for bandwidth it's a bare minimum of ~35 Hz on the low end and flat (+/- 3 db) to ~15 kHz for me.

 

[Gnesen]

Just a note that the HomePod does not support Bluetooth. It uses Airplay when you send audio from phone to speaker.

I had the first HomePod until it broke and we listened to it more often than the main system. It sat between the living room and kitchen, so its small footprint was a necessity. It's 360 degree audio made it ideal when we were making meals and moving around. It wasn't as good as my main system, but it was pretty darn good for its size constraints. I replaced it with a HomePod mini which isn't close to the dynamics of the original. My current Denon receiver has Alexa and Airplay 2 built in, so I can send audio from these devices without touching the phone, which is pretty cool. Lately, when we are cooking and hanging out in the kitchen, I will pair the Mini with my Main system and have music playing from both.

I have the Dots around the house and their main issue isn't only the sound quality. It is the mics that don't pick up commands nearly as well as the HomePod when something is playing. They are a lot cheaper, though, and have aux and Bluetooth out, which makes them pretty useful for certain applications.

Good point about no Bluetooth streaming to the HomePod. I'm fairly certain the units have Bluetooth built in, since that's what is used for setup, but I don't know why they won't allow it to play music through BT (to lock you into Apple Music?). But I digress, the HomePod and Google Home Max (and related smart speakers) sound great for what they are, and 99% of the population would probably be happy with them. They just weren't for me. But your experience brings up another reason why I decided to return mine: once something goes wrong inside, it's basically a disposable unit.

 

[uofmtiger]

Good point about no Bluetooth streaming to the HomePod. I'm fairly certain the units have Bluetooth built in, since that's what is used for setup, but I don't know why they won't allow it to play music through BT (to lock you into Apple Music?). But I digress, the HomePod and Google Home Max (and related smart speakers) sound great for what they are, and 99% of the population would probably be happy with them. They just weren't for me. But your experience brings up another reason why I decided to return mine: once something goes wrong inside, it's basically a disposable unit.

Yep, that's the case with all of these speakers. It is also the thing that is worrisome about some of the higher end all in one type systems like Kef LS50 Wireless. Just recently, Kef came out with new wireless speakers and a much better app. The new app isn't backward compatible with their old wireless speakers, so lack of updates can also be an issue.

 

[KingAzazel]

There comes a time when less is better,tis why i gave 700 records to GW and sold 2000+ to local record store.

I’ve witnessed goodwill in heartvile Ohio tossing out the quality of electronics because they had a employee who didn’t understand how to use them .
I guess it was your choice To donate to a mega corporation for profit store . Wow how did you afford so many records retail prices a good job ??
I was forced to donate stuff too goodwill my mom didn’t want old toys and that was the worst feeling ever I regret it..

portability and low sound quality ehh a new era in audio !!!? Like Walkman’s and those crummy metal headphones . I used to have one someone must had tossed it out .
A quality receiver is now over $500 to $1200 for entry level and mid ranged.
No one people opt for soundbar ...
Much cheaper except the models over $1100

 

[drmevo]

I live in a motorhome and listen to this Klipsch bluetooth speaker. The sound is mono but high fidelity---low distortion at my listening levels, a good tonal balance and clarity that allows me to hear deep into the music.

Next month I'm moving into an apartment up in downtown Kent Washington and will be able to go with a conventional hi-fi again, what I'll do is much on my mind.
View attachment 2110360

I have the same speaker. The version I have has a phono input (switchable to Line) and it's actually pretty great for what it is! I think it was $150 at Walmart.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

I don't know about distortion, but for bandwidth it's a bare minimum of ~35 Hz on the low end and flat (+/- 3 db) to ~15 kHz for me.

For most people, I'd go as far as saying 50 to 18,000 hertz at less than 1% THD as a reasonable criteria at minimum. That's a decent definition for HiFi for most everyday common music lovers.

 

[WaynerN]

They are not "HIFI" so...no. Cheapskates are killing their own HIFI.

 

[jcg1112]

Are Sounbars and Bluetooth killing HiFi?
Define HiFi.
The reason is what many consider HiFi is out of most people's budget. You're told you need a $3k amplifier, $5k speakers, another $2k on wires, etc. The traditional stereo review magazines seem to parrot whatever mumbo jumbo overpriced hunk of plastic BS that some manufacturers produce and claim better than magical properties. I feel like there is a massive amount of BS in HiFi advertising. Should i consider anything from a company that tells me a couple of fuses in my power supply will make a sonic difference ( always for the better) in my system...so long as I have them in the right direction. Reminds me of the Three Stooges skit where they would hold up a nail with the point facing toward the hammer and proclaim that nail is for the opposite wall. Yeah, I'm a bit jaded by it, but I'm not a fool.

Soundbars and bluetooth are just convenient.

Who woulda thunk it, directional nails. The boys were obviously way ahead of their time. The plumbers episode is also a classic.

 

[El Rubio]

Who woulda thunk it, directional nails. The boys were obviously way ahead of their time. The plumbers episode is also a classic.

View attachment 2111071

They’re all classics. You ever notice that females almost never “get” The Three Stooges? If I put the stooges on, my wife and daughters will leave the room faster than if I put Battlebots on.