Discrete multichannel audio is under attack from virtual surround sound, stereo systems and wireless speakers. Mark Craven wonders if this is just a case of survival of the fittest
IS SURROUND SOUND now only the preserve of serious AV fans? It's beginning to look that way. And I'm not sure what can be done about it.
Another CES has been and gone and while there's been plenty of innovation, it hasn't centred around multichannel audio.
Speaker brands and AV amp companies are largely giving the show a steer, preferring to launch within their own timeline, at their own events, or at other shows that are a better fit – Munich's High-End Show, for example. AVR unveils are very much pushed to the sidelines.
But the fact I think the future of home surround sound may be on the line boils down to more than just a poor show at CES. Everyday consumers, basically, just don't seem interested.
This story is from the February 2018 edition of Home Cinema Choice.
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This story is from the February 2018 edition of Home Cinema Choice.
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