Well isnt that interesting. The sale of personal audio devices (ie iPods) has passed the sale of home stereos for the first time.
In the recent past, technology pushed sound quality. CD's sounded better than LPs, cassette tapes and 8-tracks. The industry has tried to continue along this path with super-audio CD's and DVD music.
But it appears that consumers actually care more about convenience than sound quality. We would rather have our tunes with us on the go in a small package than sound quality. Apaprently iPod quality is good enough.
This trend makes some sense to me. We went from home telephones to cell phones, from home computers to laptops and now home audio systems to personal audio systems. Personal systems are small and portable which works well with our urban lifestyles and life in cars.
The trend makes sense but isnt a good thing for the traditional audio manufcturers. Score another one for Apple and more concerns for Sony.
iPods Edge Out Home Stereo Systems
May 2, 2006
Listen to this storyThe popularity of digital music players like Apple's iPod is reshaping the home-stereo business. Users aren't just relying on the devices to store their music. In some instances, they're using them as their main listening device in the home. Sales of high-end audio equipment have taken a dive as a result.
