So my next question is, is anyone doing anything differently because of these prices increases in electronics?
Like buying "backup" equipment for the future since we know prices will increase?
Has technology like 4K video and ATMOS sound reached a plateau/peak (like DAC)?
Not really. The items most likely to need replacement are the TVs. However they are large and a storage headache, so we would just have to suck that up.
I do have older AVRs in the great room and family room. I suppose one day I will hear from Marantz on the warranty repair in the 7706. If it comes back, that will be a spare and I have Marantz 8003 stored away, that could be put into service. For my Quad amps, I do have an 909 boxed and ready to go if needed. I have lots of spare 405 II and plenty of spares including boards.
I have two universal disc players in the rack. I have spares to the Shure SR 106 units and I could service the Crown crossover.
So, I think I am in good shape, but you never know. I do hope the AV 10 has 'long legs' I would hate to have to replace that.
I still find it a disgrace that the 7705 and 7706 units failed and in a very similar way. I am 99% certain the issue is in the power supply, only that really explains the way they failed.
I think part of the issue is making a price point. So, I have a feeling that these complex multi-channel AVRs and AVPs are having too many corners cut.
I think an awful lot of potential buyers are now getting priced out of the market, and that is before we even get to the point of installing it in a satisfactory way in homes. Both these issues are significant negative marketing factors.
That is why we need affordable two and three channel units with bass management to be available. They should be priced and designed to really deliver, be neat and tidy and have very low failure rates. In my view that is the only way to get back to good audio in homes, now with the added benefit of AV.
