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Where will audio be in 10 years?

In honor of CES and some other emerging trends in electronics, where do you see the state of audio in the next ten years?

I see the audiophiles and the "general public" with two different systems. The audiophile will have, similar to today, separate components that will probably incorporate a CD-like player using blue laser technology to produce higher rez audio and video on the same disc. All the separate components, including amps, speakers, etc. will be connected via one cable of some high speed variety (HDMI ?).

The non-audiophiles will probably have a fat looking "receiver" which will have an amp/preamp and a giant hard-drive device incorporated in one box. On that hard drive will be audio (MP5:-), hi-rez video and whatever else (games, pictures, etc) all connected to a flat panel TV, that doubles as the computer monitor, attached to a speaker system. Of course it is all integrated with the internet which is where you'll order your music and movies instantly, on-demand.

What do you see the future holding?
treyhoss

Showing 1 response by pabelson

pabelson
344 posts
 
Source will be a mass storage device--probably physically minute with massive capacity. The exact configuration would be impossible to predict, because this end of the audio chain is subject to Moore's Law.

All music will be downloaded; no one will make discs anymore (except possibly vinyl, although that too may wither as the generations that grew up on it start to croak).

Digital music will be available in a variety of resolutions, however. People willing to pay more for hi-rez will still be able to feel smug about it. (Thank goodness! Otherwise, what's the point?)

The digital signal will be delivered direct to your speakers (wirelessly, of course), where signal processing will allow optimization for your room/set-up.

Bose will still be overpriced, but its low-end products will blow away anything today's audiophiles are listening to.
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