Mass marketing dealers want to see $$$, not strokers. It's still possible to build a smaller solid retail operation, but sales can no longer drive it; after-sales support, service, accessory sales and installation need to provide substantial revenue. It's not easy, but the ones who are successful have happy repeat customers and get new business through referrals.
Glad I don't have to pay for that. I do support my local dealers when I can. My issue is that I hardly ever buy anything! Years go by, before I buy anything new. My speakers are all DIY so no business there for local dealers, and the electronic I have changed is updating TVs, bought locally, and the AVPs updated three times in 20 years bought locally from Hi-Fi sound. I have updated, well largely added disc players, some bought locally, but two not. I have updated the internals of HTPCs over the years, but that is not something dealers stock. So unfortunately I do not get a lot of opportunity to support local dealers. I have always planned for the long haul. That is the cheapest way to get results and enjoy this hobby.
The problem as I see it, is that I know many who would like it, but are totally intimidated by the complexity. They do not feel they could ever get their minds round an AVR.
I really don't think we need these auto Eq setups for a start.
I think active, not powered speakers, with good Wi-Fi connectivity would bring a lot more to the table. I think with economies of scale better results could be obtained at less cost. Passive components have increased in cost enormously mainly because of the cost of inductors. I note manufacturers to keep costs down seem to progressively reduce the wire gauge of inductors. This is bad and puts a needless DC resistance in series with drivers. On the passive boards I have made the cost of the components was very significant. With the cost of good class D amps coming down active speakers could be on the market at competitive prices and offer performance far above passive designs.
Now if you don't want old analog sources then making the system easily set up and controllable from devices people already own is not a stretch. Streaming is no problem and disc players could easily be made Wi-Fi compatible.
I just don't buy this idea that AC outlets are a problem. Many will be nearby and adding AC outlets is commonly and easily done. So actually it would be a cosmetic upgrade compared to long speaker cables going to the "birds nests" at the back of AVRs.
I do believe was have the ability to offer a huge increase in quality for the many and make it user friendly by designing round devices they already own.
Unless some wise corporate leaders have the foresight to make significant change I fear good AV in the home could be just part of our history. There are just not enough of us "nerds" for a healthy sustainable market.
I close this with one last question. Would you rather power your system with a device crammed with power amps fed form a totally inadequate power supply with sleight of hand often times to meet testing procedures, or a system with amps designed specifically and optimally for the transducer they are connected to, that will always deliver the stated power under all conditions. I know which I vote for. That is the way ALL my systems are designed and I know it is the correct engineering approach.
