Record Store Day is just around the corner and if part of your preparation for this year’s big day involved buying a brand new stereo system to enjoy all your freshly bought vinyl, we have some bad news for you.
You like vinyl because it sounds better, right? Your mum or your dad’s old records just seem to have a clearer, warmer sound that you prefer over CDs and it’s far beyond what any digital format can offer.
Well, we’re sorry to tell you that it’s kind of the same story with your mum or dad’s old stereo. Unfortunately, that $300-$500 you just spent on a new stereo would’ve been better spent on second-hand equipment.
As Cnet reports, via Gizmodo, these days the vast majority of consumers aren’t really all that interested in sound quality. They buy stereos according to what kind of interconnectivity it can offer with other equipment.
The result is tech companies don’t have enough money to pour into advancements in sound quality, because it’s being swallowed up by royalties and licensing fees paid to Apple, Bluetooth, HD Radio, XM-Sirius, Dolby, DTS, and others.
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After these companies finish taking a huge chunk out of Sony or JVC’s R&D budget, there isn’t a whole lot left over to ensure the sound is better than what it was in the previous model. But hey, at least it has Bluetooth!
Ultimately, companies have to make a choice. Since the $300-$500 range is where most of their sales occur, they can’t afford to fork out extra money on better sound (which isn’t what consumers really want) and bump up the price of their products.
So if you really want to get the best sound at the best price, you’re better off asking your dad if he has any plans for that old stereo that’s been sitting around in the garage and collecting dust.
