Ahh, I see how you view things now. In our projector discussion, you asserted that anything which was a few years old was "outdated junk" (paraphrased) while anything newer was obviously better (due to technology advances, etc...) Interesting how those sentiments don't seem to apply where your stuff is concerned. It's not that I necessarily disagree with your assertion (I know better, as it's entirely possible) but you can't have it both ways for your own convenience. Also keep in mind that $120 thirteen years ago isn't $120 in today money. So what you paid wasn't much different.
Nah dude. It applies differently to various fields. Display technology is one field that continues to grow at an exponential rate. The reasons are due to different motivations. That said, even though the displays are getting better in some ways... their durability and quality has fallen. For example, yes your new LCD may beat my 34" Sony widescreen 1080i hdmi CRT tv's picture quality (unless your doing non native resolutions for gaming
) However, the Sony I bought was Used.. and it will probably outlast the next 2 or 3 or your LCD tvs lifespans. Thats because they make the new stuff to be disposable, and to break with relative ease... so that you will buy another one. Its called Planned Obsolescence... and its been going on since GE Lightbulbs (They used to hold contests to see who could make bulbs blow closest to a certain hour marker, on purpose), and well beyond that.
Speaker Tech is also different. Most all of the technology related to audio has long since been understood and put into practice. The famous AR3a's from Acoustic Research, used to peddle their speakers to large malls and gatherings... And then would ask people if they could tell the difference between them.. and a live band that would play. People couldnt tell. The Smithsonian Museum now has a pair in their collection.. and restored AR3a's sell used on ebay as high as 1000$ regularly.. Not much less for unrestored AR3a's either.
Whats the catch? The elder speakers are very power hungry. You need a very hefty amp to rum them.. and they are not always the loudest speakers you could own. However, their output is FAR more accurate, with less distortion, without any Fake artificial boomy 'port' based Bass.
Note that the good speakers, are usually speakers are quite heavy. Made of either real solid hardwood.. or up to an Inch thick of particalboard laminated with fake or real wood laminate. Often stuffed with Acoustic fiber, and best without any air ports. Instead, the air inside is well sealed, and acts as a spring. (Acoustic Suspension). The heavy cabinet keeps vibrations from moving it and distorting the sounds. One of the former guys from the elder Genesis speaker company.. (of which I believe bought EPI, makers some incredible speakers.. ) goes so far as to line his speakers with lead sheeting.
The speakers themselves usually have far superior drivers. Larger and stronger magnets. Heavier duty coils. Which also adds to that weight.
Many have very complex high end crossovers.. with dial adjustments on the speaker itself. Many new speakers have a few cheap caps at best. The AR3a's have the most crazy crossover setup Ive ever seen. Theres two main units, as well as it using seriously high power handling ceramic adjustment pots... As these will most likely get super hot, and standard pots wouldnt hold up to that level of power. (I suspect the Lpad kits do not really put out the same levels of responses that were intended.. and Im not sure that the small cap replacements are up to par either. Then again, Im not versed in anything much more than basic wiring)
Now... Why have once great speaker companies turned to Crap? Because they were concerned about the environment (power draw), as well as the difficulty in dealing with the Amp manufacturers. People want cheap amps.. but speakers of such high function, need / want expensive amps... to really shine.
Couple that with the fact that all the material prices have went up.. Labor isnt as cheap.. Shipping costs more.. etc.. and what they did was to cut as many corners as possible, in order to make the largest profits... rather than putting out great speakers to the masses. Only select unobtainable 'rich mans' speakers are designed and made to the past high standards & technology. It wasnt always like that. (And btw - those $2000 speakers at your modern stereo shop are garbage too)
The woofers in todays cabinets are small and or have small magnets.. with thin metal baskets, that distort quite easily. The wood has went down from 1/2" a few years ago... to just a hair over 1/4" in many speakers these days. Since the smaller speakers do not produce much bass.. they expect you buy a boomy subwoofer. But then where is the musical bass range that a typical large woofer could play? Vanished.
Then again.. look at the music this gen has to listen to. They have compressed all the detail and range out of the music cds. Even the Master recordings are compressed to hell.. super distorted and absolute garbage. It, like most movies and video games.. are now also crap.. because they have been taken over by powerful people.. whom have zero artistic understanding. There is never enough money for them.. and so they will cut details to reduce production costs, as well as to follow a certain "Formula" they have came up with. This is why so many songs sound the same these days. And why almost all new games play pretty much exactly the same. FPS FPS FPS.. for +20yrs, its been the same repacked, boring old-hat. Almost Nothing original. Not in games, movies, musical artists...etc.
Companies like Bose, Beats .. are all overpriced Hype & garbage. They use massive tv commercial marketing, to make the Zombies believe they are the best. Sadly, many people find out the hard way... as one of my collector friends had just bought a very expensive pair of Bose headphones... and upon hearing my OLD Senns.. nearly cried.. after he was able to lift his jaw off the floor. Especially when I told him what I paid.
As for your comment about elder dollars.. Thats a load of crap too. My 120$ was still the same 120$ as today. I made less money.. but.. I also had cheaper groceries, WAY Cheaper Gas, as well as all the rest. It was the bottom of their HD Audiophile line. They have pretty much the same pricing for the new models in that series. A range of headphones for every budget level in that category. All of them high quality with removable headphone cable.. but many which will put out frequency response, incredibly low THD (distortions) and a huge 3d soundstage, that even 50,000$ speakers match.
Basically what Im saying.. is that you can still get an HD Audiophile level Sennheiser for under $100. One that stomps all over Beats Pro. And when you hear one of Senns higher priced, yet still justifiably affordable, sets.. it will blow your mind. With beats, your paying $300? ...for a set thats on the Senns 20$ price level. ...As well as paying for all the advertising, that made you BELIEVE they were good in the first place.
Im not saying that All things new are bad or worse. But Id have to say that the majority of consumer good and even the entertainment quality in music and movies.. is far worse than the distant past.
The includes things like the decision for arcade machines to be made with Happs Generica controllers... and the later Flush / Convex buttons, and those cheaply made Japanese sticks... that would probably be bent and destroyed in any USA arcade.. in a matter of hours.
On buttons opinions..
There is always a reason why something is better or worse. Not just in quality and looks.. but in actual function, comfort, & physical mechanical losses. Hence why we would agree that cutting the lawn with a mower, is far more effective than with a pair of shears.
Leafs react physically better for certain games.
Concave fits the fingers better.. and keeps them centered on the buttons, .. so you will never accidentally get lost, not knowing which button you are on.. if you 'slid' off a button. Which is probably going to happen, considering that many of these poorly designed controllers ... are too sensitive for even resting the fingers on buttons lightly.
If you try to play Galaga or Asteroids Deluxe.. with a Microswitch.. thats like bringing a slingshot to a gunfight. Or if you try to play any Pacman Variant, without a diamond restrictor... instead of using an 8way.
Dave, thanks for the colorful Critique of my posts, and your efforts to be my personal spell checker. Gave me a chuckle
But seriously, I know all about YOUR, UR, U R, and You're... etc.
I just dont care. Its not important to me in the least, to spend extra time typing out correct punctuation. Its the Content that matters. Not the spelling or punct.. nor even the grammar.
I think its hard for those whom are OCD freaks, and "Follow the Pattern"+"Zombies", to accept a concept like this.. but realize that its really not important in the grand scheme of things.
ChanceKJ, I am.
Im trying to de-brainwash them from the forced-upon lackluster garbage.. awareness of whats out there are the reasons why.. and to end up demanding "better".
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Topic: Too many buttons! (Read 20881 times)
