Are we being conspired against?

[Good4it]

The “new to me” method of accessing streaming content has me asking if we are? The AVR manufactures and the various streaming app makers say now we have to go through another step instead of being able to stream music directly.

ALL the various people involved are saying it’s the other guys fault. The end result is that the end user, us, has to have another device.

We already have bought the AVR and paid to subscribe to the service now they want more. The manufacturer and phone/iPad maker stand to benefit at our expense.

We should say NO. The major equipment manufacturers should incorporate those apps so we can listen without having to have another device cluttering up our space and costing us more money.

RANT OFF. Just my point of view!

 

[WineOfTheVeins]

Are you referring to Spotify/Tidal? Sounds like greed to me. Personally I am not a fan of streaming anyway. I am paying money every month to rent music, and at least on Spotify, even the "High Def" option still sounds like a glorified YouTube track.
Just like how Netflix is talking about adding commercials to our paid subscriptions. Their excuse is it "gives you a break, and advertises things you may want."
Sure.. $10 a head a month, plus advertisers willing to dig deep to reach a huge market? Greed.

 

[Drunkpenguin]

I actually wish AVR makers would stop including all this extra shiny marketing crap and just sell me a quality AVR. I like keeping my sources separate. Let my FireTV deal with all the apps, it's what its designed for. I just want my AVR switching inputs and amplifying whatever signal gets sent to it.

 

[j_garcia]

The more stuff you add to an AVR, the more things there are to go wrong or become outdated. Not in their defense, but they are in the business of making money, not making consumers happy. They have to include "bells and whistles" to get the less than knowledgeable masses to buy. The average consumer buys a receiver, or most home electronics, based on "which has the most features" not real world performance, simply because it is all they understand.

I already did say no. I don't have every brand new feature out there, but I have also only changed my non-big name Pre/pro twice in about 8 years and I am still happy.

 

[lovinthehd]

Seems the avr guys took their lead from the bluray players and smart tvs and phones when it comes to apps.....they do have to appeal to more than just the hardcore audio enthusiasts....there aren't enough of us to matter.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

The “new to me” method of accessing streaming content has me asking if we are? The AVR manufactures and the various streaming app makers say now we have to go through another step instead of being able to stream music directly.

ALL the various people involved are saying it’s the other guys fault. The end result is that the end user, us, has to have another device.

We already have bought the AVR and paid to subscribe to the service now they want more. The manufacturer and phone/iPad maker stand to benefit at our expense.

We should say NO. The major equipment manufacturers should incorporate those apps so we can listen without having to have another device cluttering up our space and costing us more money.

RANT OFF. Just my point of view!

I'm not sure I fully understand your post. Could you be more specific. How would this affect me and the Denon X4400H AVR I own?

 

[TechHDS]

When I do stream I use WebRadio it’s free thousands of streaming options from all over the world. Most are not even censored which I like. Now you can pay a fee if you want commercial free, but for now at least commercials are few and far between. I was streaming a station from Scandinavia, music awesome! Not what you would hear in the States with all the censorship they have. I totally agree AVR manufactures can do away with Tidal, Spotify and all them other apps I will Not Pay for rented music! Same with the apps on my HDTV which isn’t connected to the Internet for that reason. I’m already paying 85 a month for my cell service for so called unlimited data which is not. Cell phone already comes with bloated apps on my phone. The way I look at it the manufacturers of AVR’s must be getting kickbacks for allowing them to incorporate the apps on the units.

 

[shadyJ]

There are lots of choices in terms of AVRs and processors. You don't have to purchase one that makes streaming a hassle. In fact, you don't have to purchase one that deals with streaming at all. I don't really understand this complaint. I would only ever do streaming through an HTPC.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

On the AVR, I have been using TuneIn for Internet radio with no issues.

 

[Montucky]

This is why I REALLY came to appreciate the Sony STR-ZA5000ES. It's their flagship AVR and it has zero streaming apps. Not even wifi or BT! I love it. I find it interesting that their highest end receiver has none of this nonsense. Probably because they (rightfully) believe the user will have a device they like that does it better. Instead of wasting valuable resources on streaming xyz service, you can see how it went into the quality of the product. While I haven't historically been a fan of their lower end stuff, the 5000ES is the bee's knees and a total integrator's dream AVR.

It does have a built-in 8 port PoE switch which is handy for all your connected gear, though. I've sold a bunch of these and am drooling just thinking about it.

 

[Kvn_Walker]

The more stuff you add to an AVR, the more things there are to go wrong or become outdated. Not in their defense, but they are in the business of making money, not making consumers happy. They have to include "bells and whistles" to get the less than knowledgeable masses to buy. The average consumer buys a receiver, or most home electronics, based on "which has the most features" not real world performance, simply because it is all they understand.

I already did say no. I don't have every brand new feature out there, but I have also only changed my non-big name Pre/pro twice in about 8 years and I am still happy.

It's smartphone culture trickling out into other categories. Cram more and more "features" into a single device and plan for 2 year obsolescence.

I'm more than happy with my 5.1 living room setup, and I suspect the "new new" will be 25.8 Atmos by the time I get another receiver.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I actually wish AVR makers would stop including all this extra shiny marketing crap and just sell me a quality AVR. I like keeping my sources separate. Let my FireTV deal with all the apps, it's what its designed for. I just want my AVR switching inputs and amplifying whatever signal gets sent to it.

This might be another discussion point for the AVR vs High-End Separates ($10K Bryston, $20K Theta and DataSAT Pre-pros.

You have to pay $10-20K for Pre-pros that don't have any of these streaming apps.

 

[Montucky]

This might be another discussion point for the AVR vs High-End Separates ($10K Bryston, $20K Theta and DataSAT Pre-pros.

You have to pay $10-20K for Pre-pros that don't have any of these streaming apps.

Haha. That is true for the most part, but that's why I found that Sony I mentioned above to be a [relative] bargain. Kind of funny how I'm willing to pay more to get less fluff.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...
I'm more than happy with my 5.1 living room setup, and I suspect the "new new" will be 25.8 Atmos by the time I get another receiver.

Hope you have the ceiling room and floor space for all those speakers.

 

[Good4it]

OTT ( Other Than That ) the RX A3080 is GREAT so far

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Haha. That is true for the most part, but that's why I found that Sony I mentioned above to be a [relative] bargain. Kind of funny how I'm willing to pay more to get less fluff.

Yeah, that $2200 Sony ES 5000 AVR looks to be a fine piece without all that streaming apps or room correction.

Too bad Sony no longer makes a Pre-pro.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

OTT ( Other Than That ) the RX A3080 is GREAT so far

I see why you would be upset, though.

Good for me I don't care for any of these internet streaming services. Or room EQ or any EQ or DSP for that matter.

I just want a reliable well-built high quality machine.

 

[Drunkpenguin]

I suspect the "new new" will be 25.8 Atmos by the time I get another receiver.

This statement is probably more accurate then we 2018 people can imagine right now. I built my theater about 12 years ago, but have been in the hobby for 20 probably. 20 years ago when home theater sound really started to hit us middle class people 5.1 was all the rage. Nobody talked about more than one subwoofer. What would be the point of that? More than 2 surrounds? Who needs that? By the time I built my theater 7.1 was kinda sorta taking off for some people that were more extreme, but most people still had 5 speakers and a sub. I had 7 and a sub and it seemed like a lot. Naively I thought I had plateaued in my theater.

Fast forward to today and I see 13.2 AVRS! Who would have ever predicted atmos? So whats next? Floor speakers? Maybe followed by robotic speakers that fly around the room delivering sound inside the halogram? Maybe future drywall will be built with thousands of speakers inside every piece so the sound can follow you as you get up to get another bucket of popcorn.

I don't think anyone can predict where this hobby will be in another 20 years.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Fast forward to today and I see 13.2 AVRS!

They already have a 16.2 Pre-pro by DataSAT (own by ATI).

Right now I have 5 subs. But I'm actually looking for another matching sub.

Does anyone have a black RBH SX-1010N sub they want to sell me?

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah, that $2200 Sony ES 5000 AVR looks to be a fine piece without all that streaming apps or room correction.

Too bad Sony no longer makes a Pre-pro.

Well the Sony does have DCAC EX! Altho that may not be saying much. Maybe they finally got DCAC to work better? What do you think @Montucky ?