- House Hunting
- Where Our Mothers and Design Sense Intersect
- Season Two is Here!
- Shopping the Antique Stores
- Cincinnati Flower Show
- We Got Some Ink: International Herald Tribune & New York Times
- Garden Inspiration
- Are Home Ratings Helpful?
- Why Do You Decorate?
- A Little Spring Inspiration
- Spend Now or Save Later
- Where are All the Pretty Ice Tea Makers?
- What Happens When...
- Home Stereos are on the Phased Out List, Should we Rejoice?
- Decorating for the Four Senses
- An Extension, Retreat or Enhancement
- Seasonal Decor, Not Just for Homes
- Armoires or Closets -- for Your Boxers or Briefs?
- Stagnant Suitcase Syndrome
- The Break-In Blues
- The Beauty of Simplicity
- Screw the Sound, All We Want is the View
- 25 Things You Want to Do (In Your Home) Before Next Year
- Bring Back the Brass
- Buying Based on Background Checks
- Car Culture
- Getting on the Lint-Free Line
- Here's to a "Durable" New Year
- Home Sick
- My Gift to You: Enjoy!
- The Second Time Around: Welcome Back
ATD blog rss
Home Stereos are on the Phased Out List, Should we Rejoice?
When I was 15, I got a job as a waitress. The very first thing I bought was a stereo system. It was big and bold and allowed me to listen to any music I wanted, which was the closest thing I had to freedom until I got my first car.
But as proud as I was to own that stereo, it's now in storage, and I'm guessing yours is too.
 |
The total sales of home stereos is expected to be roughly $1.7 billion this year; whereas, the sales for MP3 speaker docks should be $1 billion and MP3 players $5.6 billion, according to the article "An Audio Legend Adapts" in the April 21, 2008 edition of Forbes.
One look at those numbers, and it's easy to see that the home stereo is being phased out. But if you decide to bring that up, beware. Music enthusiasts immediately start to discuss whether or not sound quality has been compromised. But I'm more worried about the impact on home design.
Has the introduction of MP3 players made it easier or harder to decorate? I believe it's easier. No longer do we have to look at huge, clunky stereo systems. Now we have sleek, small players that fit in our hand and speakers that can easily be hidden behind cabinet doors or brazenly shown off as if it were a fine piece of art.
And as much as I would like to say I prefer my old stereo for sentimental reasons, I don't. These days I find myself dreaming of a home with hidden speakers and an iPod dock in every room. It's a new type of freedom - one I never dreamed existed when I bought my stereo. It's the freedom of hearing music as if it were coming from thin air and meant specifically for that room, no longer associated with a box or radio, but free to be heard with no strings - or cords - attached. Now that sounds beautiful.
P.S. If you're interested in the iPod stereo pictured above, it's the Bowers & Wilkins system that was featured in the Forbes article. And it doesn't come cheap.
E-mail • Furl • Digg • Delicious • StumbleUpon • NewsVine
Posted by Meghan Carter on Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 in
Musings.
©2006-2008 AsktheDecorator.com