There was a time, maybe 30 or 40 years ago, when having a big, powerful home stereo was essential for music fans to show off how much they loved the craft. These weren’t the compact sound bars and tiny speakers of today, but big floor speakers that would take up a serious chunk of the room.
This was never a small or cheap undertaking, as these systems would cost a sizeable chunk of cash. This is a feature that hasn’t changed too much over the years, but as the world has changed so much, is it really a good investment anymore?
What are the Biggest Issues with Sound Systems?
While it’s a fairly complex topic, two factors have played a huge part in the decline of sound systems.
The Rise of Smartphones
Mobile devices are the first stop for every kind of entertainment these days. A majority of people who would refer to themselves as ‘gamers’ are mobile-only, with many never having owned a full console or PC. In a similar vein, a huge portion of those who regularly play at casinos makes use of mobile online casinos instead of those in real physical buildings largely down to the ease of access.
Gen Z and those after them are therefore far more likely to invest in a high-end set of headphones, like the Apple Earpods or, for the real connoisseurs, a set of headphones from Sennheiser or Bose. Given that, at the top of the price range, these headphones can cost as much as a decent sound system on their own, it usually becomes a choice between the two, and convenience will most often win out.
The Rise in Rent
The other issue is basic economics. In the US particularly, property rental rates have dramatically increased over the decades, so people are simply less able to get big luxuries like a sound system when basic speakers can do a decent job for much lower prices. This isn’t even considering that people may not even have the space to house sound systems if they can get them in the first place. In either case, it’s simply not a priority.
Could We See a Comeback?
As it stands, the days of the old tower speakers seem to be over, but it isn’t like the concept has vanished completely. In line with other modern tech becoming smaller and more discreet, it’s now possible to pick up a world-class sound system that can fit into the corners and nooks of a room so seamlessly that you can easily forget it is there.
Going back to Bose from earlier, they produce a home theater set featuring their Soundbar 900 which competes with professional-level sound equipment while blending into a table or TV base. It admittedly doesn’t have quite the same visual appeal as a wall of speakers but it makes more sense in every other practical way.
Of course, there are still niche experts who have lovingly maintained ‘retro’ speaker systems and for those people, nothing else will ever be good enough. The fact is though, they may be the last generation to ever know something like it as the world rolls on past.