Not considerin3D,isn't AV market rather stagnant?

I think the AV industry has clearly hit the point of diminishing returns. As you mentioned, who really *needs* a 4k picture? The only folks who would actually need this technology are the ones who sit 5 feet away from their 120" screen - puh-lease.

And, as for multi-channel surround, how many people have the room (and money!) to install a 7.1, 9.1, 9.2, etc. system? And, let's face it, the amount of source material that is available in 7.1 and greater formats is vanishingly small.

And let's not even go there with 3D displays, the source materials are a very small subset of the overall output from the various publishers, and who, really, wants to sit around their home wearing goofy-lookng glasses?

I have setup a very nice 5.1 AV system and I am quite content with its capabilities. I see absolutely NO need to upgrade or enhance the system except, perhaps, to replace my 10" Earthquake sub with a Velodyne 12" sub. Other than that, my system is going to saty the same for the next 20 years or so...

Happy New Year!!

-RW-

While I agree with 3D sucking a$$ I think 4k IS a huge benefit especially for those of us who need large fixed pixel displays. the Sharp 80' 1080p sets screen doors so bad you can see it at 8-10 feet, the pixels simply are too large for any reasonable viewing distance.

LG looks to have an 84" 4k set to show @ CES, release date? Who knows if ever but I will wait for something over 80"s in 4k, that will be my new display!

I honestly can't wait for true consumer grade 4k res projectors(for under $10,000). Sony just came out with one for $25,000, so we should see them coming out in a couple of years. Other than that I agree. 3d sucks, it gives me a headache and 1/3 of the population can't see it.Prolonged exposure to children under 6 can damage developing eyes. It's fine on a movie theater screen but is totally lacking on a 55"tv. I've had this discussion with a good friend who is my personal audio yoda and has been in the custom install business for 25 yrs and a a/v lover for more than 40yrs and he says the same thing we are saying here. If audio companies want my money(which I don't have much of now-a-days) give me something to WOW me. Honestly, lossless surround codex were the last thing I got truly excited enough about to upgrade and that was about 4-5 yrs ago.

People don't see the benefits of multichannel and better sound at all. Most of my friends are content to listen to their TV speakers and get music from an i-pod.

Criderfive,

You do realize that the standard chosen for home is Quad Four HD not Cinema 4k right?

Their is only an 8% difference in the number of pixels but QFHD will allow use of the 16:9 aspect ratio.

I doubt you will see any/many more TRUE Cinema 4K projectors again (which the $25k Sony is BTW!)

QFHD also is fairly easy to scale to from 1080p.....

Excuse my error, I meant to say Quad Full HD not four!

I agree with Criderfive, in that the Lossless multi-channel audio, Dolby HD and DTS master and such, were the last thing to get excited about in the AV market. In fact, I did sell my old modified/upgraded Acurus Act 3 (factory upgraded to Aragon Stage One 7.1 processing, 24/192 Dac's ,and component switching) in order to make way for the newer HD codecs.
Next up would be the ability to have quality digital audio quality from Mp3(?) media storage, as streamed from a Macintosh bassed computer for uncompressed quality digital, ot to my analog set up? I saw all the vendors at the High End Shows last couple of years using hard drive storage and Apple Ipads to playback digital files over high end audio systems...pretty impressive for even SACD and high rez digital audio playback, I must admit...all in a convenient storage and interface. I liked all that.
I've also been intrigued a bit by Internet streaming and the merging of the net with AV media, sure. - I have Netflix, right now.
Beyond all of that, I also guess I would look at 4k projectors when they come down to earth in the next few years, perhaps even as little as 4k "scaling", depending. I mean, unless the light output got seriously boosted, 4k or not, you still can't blow the pic up to 200", if there's not enough light output to back that resolution up - not to mention black level best be great and contrast remain high, to go along with that rez boost!
As it is right now, I get a large enough pic that I can sit very close to, with little viz pix structure on a quality black level, refined, JVC projector...more than satisfying for any reasonable seating distance. And that projector, like most any consumer HD projectors, is still limited in picture size by the light output the pj's are capable of.
I guess I'm saying that - as anyone who really is into pic quality FIRST (yes, I used to be an "audio first" guy) - that just having 4k (or even 4k scaling) isn't likely going to give me any significantly better viewing experience, on those merits alone. When discussing 4k, I personally am gunna have to be able to have an appreciably better viewing experience, much larger screen size potential, better contrast and black level, QUALITY OF SCALING REFINEMENT (no jaggies, bugs, pic anomolies, etc), and at a reasonable few $k price point, for me to make a jump. And the main thing would be there, "could I get a much large picture to go along with that rez boost?" Otherwise, i'm notice planning on moving my viewing seats any closer to the screen, to notice so much of a vast improvement, am I?
I guess I'm saying I'm not super excited, but am intregued, at least. Beyond that, someone tell me where's the excitement at again? ...we're in holding pattern mode, I guess. Only thing I can think of is the internet and AV media merging, slowly but surely, and cell phones are amazingly advancing ..if that is even remotely pertinent for this conversation.

Kennyt I know the new JVC projectors and Integra pre/pros and receivers work with the Quad Full HD, haven't heard of anyone else yet. The JVC is a pretty reasonable $8000. That's a nice drop in price for 8% less pixels.I see Avgorounds point too. I have a 120" screen and sit 12' back and am very satisfied with blu-ray quality. I would need a larger room and screen to really benefit from the technology, but still think it would be cool. Also content is a issue. Yes upscaleing 1080p I'm sure would be gorgeous but not like native content. I have to say also I dig the net-a/v mesh also. Not even for the convenience just the way it all blends together. I've ripped all my cd's to WAV and use media center on my pc to listen to my collection and it sounds great. I keep it all on a nas that is networked to a dedicated pc connected directly to my system via a optical cable. That's where the modern audiophile will find his/her new excitement.