1. How do you buy your high-end audio products today? Why?
- Online
- Specialty Retail Store
- Custom Installer
Mostly online, occasionally at a local specialty retailer. Most of the time I am doing a lot of research on my own before buying. Occasionally, when I really want to "kick the tires" before buying, I'll work with someone locally. When this is the case, they'll get the business, even if it costs me more, because of their assistance in making the final decision.
2. What three consumer electronics products in the market today are you most excited about and why?
1) Projectors. The dramatic price decrease and quality increase in front projectors over the last few years is amazing. I still haven't purchased one for our home theater, but a few years ago I expected to spend $6,000 or more to get the quality I wanted. Today, the same quality can be had for less than half that price.
2) Portable computers. Most full-sized PC/Mac computers are overkill for what 95% of people use computers to do. iPads, Kindles, and other hand-held devices are a much better fit for most people most of the time. The ease of setup and use will bring the world's vast stores of information to more people at a lower price than ever before.
3) Easy-to-use surround audio components. Since consumer display devices have improved so much in recent years, the biggest technology difference between a movie theater experience and a home entertainment experience is now in the audio system. Too many people still use the teeny speakers on their 50" flat panel displays. HTIB and wireless systems should help to bridge that gap for people who don't have the technical skill or desire to build a surround system from scratch.
3. What is your most treasured audio component?
The Mackie HR 824 powered monitors that sit in the Front L and Front R spots in our viewing room.
4. What areas of the consumer electronics industry (specifically audio/video) do you feel are untapped and offer the most potential from new technology?
We are just at the beginning of a revolution. Low-cost and easy-to-use computers (see Question 2, #2 above) are enabling many more people to be producers of content instead of just passive consumers. With an iPad, anyone can try their hand at skills that used to take tens of thousands of dollars of equipment just to get started (e.g.: movie-making, writing music, DJ-ing). I hope/expect to see many more people find creative outlets they never would have considered 5 - 10 years ago.
