Decommissioned the home stereo today. Haven't used it in over 2 years. Everything is through the phone and Bluetooth speakers now.

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0olon_Colluphid@reddit

I have a 7.1 Dolby Atmos set up in the living room, movies sound astonishing. Music, yep a pair of basic ear buds, a Sonos or the car stereo.

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threedogdad@reddit

Same except I'm running 7.1.4! I flip flop on whether it's astonishing or stunning 😎

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Igmuhota@reddit

Never got rid of my CDs, and finally went back to physical sound a couple years back.

Got tired of all the imperfections in all of the streaming platforms. The pops and gaps, etc.

Not gonna lie, I feel I regained something I didn’t realize I had lost. Something about sitting down to intentionally listen to an album just hits for me.

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Your going the wrong way! Today, more then every you need the home stereo to hear the music right. We just went through 10 years of blockbuster sales for records due to that and now all the younger peeps are actually paying a fortune for CD's for its quality.

You cant even stream lossless audio with Bluetooth.

Dont get me wrong, Spotify is great for headphones, when Im working outside I always listen to spotify... 30K minutes a year according to Spotify.

But there is a MASSIVE difference in having a quality sound system listening to lossless sources like CD's and streaming is terrible compared to disks. you get better sound quality watching regular HD bluray disks then streaming supposedly 4K on netflix/Amazon Prime.

Just 4K video comparisons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5NFVsxdntU&t=6s

Home Theater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6I7w6Nun_c&t=14s

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tanhauser_gates_@reddit

When are you getting rid of the land line?

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OliJalapeno@reddit

Still got it. So no time soon.

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threedogdad@reddit

Wow. We haven't had one in 20 years. What do you use it for?

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threedogdad@reddit

I'd be ok with that for tunes, but I can barely handle a good movie or show without my home theater set up.

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elcad@reddit

I use my main stereo all the time. I still collect media, though no 8-tracks. I only stream radio stations. Am planning on doing someone with the secondary one this week.

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Docrandall@reddit

I have four stereo receiver systems. A 5.1 home theater surround sound set up in the basement. Receiver with cassette deck and cd player and four decent tower speakers and a subwoofer in the family room for when I want to get loud. An old four speaker setup in my garage and a two bookshelf speaker setup in my office. My wife thinks Im a weirdo.

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calmlikeasexbobomb@reddit

What did you have?

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Ray_The_Engineer@reddit

I guess I'm a bit of an audio snob, but Bluetooth is unsatisfactory if I'm really wanting to hear the music the way it's supposed to be. I have a near-field audio setup with decent (not audiophile) powered speakers, wired to 3 inputs, my turntable+preamp, lossless digital player, and Spotify via a switchbox. Not changing it any time soon.

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EvilDan69@reddit

Same. Bluetooth speakers certainly have their place. Some certainly sound really nice,

But I have Klipsch bookshelf speakers, big ones as my PC audio on a really nice amp.

Home theater has Denon receiver, in wall Polk speakers, with a DUAL turntable that my parents bought in the 80's or 90's

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Ray_The_Engineer@reddit

Nice, a dual turntable? What model? You have me curious now lol.

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EvilDan69@reddit

It's the brand name.

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Ray_The_Engineer@reddit

Ah, cool, I didn't know that brand

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TheJokersChild@reddit

Thorens is another big turntable name of the same caliber. These are the first two names that come to most vintage-audio minds, just like Marantz and Sansui for amps or receivers.

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squirtloaf@reddit

...meanwhile here's me who was playing a 78 on a Victor Phonograph last night, and picked up a portable turntable stereo from the seventies over the weekend.

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OliJalapeno@reddit

I was sad when I dismantled and disposed of my rack system

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PracticalApartment99@reddit

My record/cassette/cd player/stereo is packed away with my records, but no way in hell am I getting rid of it…

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Diela1968@reddit

Wait, how do you play your vinyl?

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BackgroundNoise222@reddit

Can't you just connect to your receiver via Bluetooth?

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aluke000@reddit

If you no longer enjoy listening to high fidelity music and its crowding you out of a tiny space, it makes sense to downsize. I have high quality stereo and AV systems in multiple rooms and a dedicated home theater, with master power switches in each room to conserve power. I don't use them all regularly but when I do I prefer to listen in highest quality audio with good imaging and not as point source background music, so I keep them all around, at least for now.

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NoiseNecessary4737@reddit

I only stream on the go. The difference in sound vs vinyl or even a cd is really noticeable. But if you're not actually listening to it then aye, totally get it.

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happycj@reddit

… and now everyone in the house gets to hear constant interruptions in the music from every alert on your phone, and they get to hear the other person talking when you get a call.

I’m so annoyed with all that crap that I’m going back to all analog music.

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scottjeffreys@reddit

AirPlay doesn’t do that

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Fritzo2162@reddit

Yeah, I went all Sonos throughout the house. Now I have decent sound everywhere instead of fantastic sound in one room 😅

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Fluffymanolo@reddit

We hooked up the record player to the Sonos system so we can hear them in every room. 😁

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Fritzo2162@reddit

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Sonos now. I even put an old iPad Mini on the wall to control home automation and Sonos. After they fixed the app things are working pretty well. I tend to run vinyl in the kitchen while I'm cooking and my wife is in the other room with the Sonos soundbar for the TV.

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labretirementhome@reddit

I have a couple of older Sonos play 1 speakers hanging in my living room and I run Spotify lossless through the Wi-Fi.

It sounds fantastic. I have no idea why I would own a stereo at this point.

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skinisblackmetallic@reddit

I bought a used car last year & it has a 6 cd changer, so I bought 6 cds off ebay.

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scottjeffreys@reddit

AirPlay doesn’t do that

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Ok-Rock2345@reddit

I wish I still had my stereo. Say what you will, but nothing compares to watching the woofers vibrating to the music as it plays.

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Th1088@reddit

I still use audio components, they just include streaming boxes for convenience. I have a large CD collection and stream my own, ripped, high-res audio files via Plex. My old ears can still hear the difference between Bluetooth audio and CD quality.

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AKABrokenArrow@reddit

Yep, streaming everything from my iPhone to my Sonos, anywhere in the house.

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Fluid_Anywhere_7015@reddit

I have always been the "home audio systems" sales rep's fucking nightmare. I studied acoustics in school, specialized in audio recording. Worked in the media field for more than twenty years.

I bought the right budget equipment for my space. And it wasn't expensive at all. As tech progressed, I continued to downsize. Until now, all I have left are smart bluetooth speakers combined with one optical audio controller and a Plex array for distribution.

It's substantially less equipment, and a hell of a lot more streamlined than in the past.

I'm not one of the audio hipsters who waxes on about the "authenticity of vinyl" and sings the praises of tube-powered analog equipment - because objectively it's a bunch of bullshit. Audio response means dick, when everyone's ability to sense that is wildly subjective.

The only reason to keep that old stuff hanging around is:

To "impress the youngsters" when they visit, OR
To drop that goddam amplifier on the head of a burglar, ensuring they'll never burgle again.

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nlyesac@reddit

I just bought an Audio-Technica turntable and Edifier bookshelf speakers. It’s been enjoyable collecting vinyl. Have so many more records to pick up.

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imnotmarvin@reddit

I haven't had a stereo in almost 20 years but I just bought a Harman Kardon CD player made in 1989. Heard younger generations are getting into our old technology and got me a bit nostalgic. Going to buy a few CDs.

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canigetahint@reddit

I've got a stack of stereo equipment sitting in my closet and 2 pairs of Pioneer floor speakers. I don't really have a good spot to set anything up and it kills me. Realistically (no pun intended), I probably should part with it all, as well as all my photo gear.

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NOGOODGASHOLE@reddit

I rigged my Bluetooth speakers into a fisher system I've had for decades. I just can't bury the old girl just yet.

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aran_maybe@reddit

I just got one last year. I use it constantly.

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freesoloc2c@reddit

Just get a Bluetooth to rca for your stereo.

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Odditeee@reddit

Is audio quality/Bluetooth loss not really a concern any more?

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midnight_to_midnight@reddit

Why cant you justify keeping it? Does it cost you money when you're not using it?

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thedumbdown@reddit

Best of both worlds for me. Have a tube amp for my turntable and CD player that has a bluetooth connection option. Also have a separate bluetooth transmitter connected in case I was to listen to my LP on the porch. I don’t love the compression going analogue to digital, but I live with it.

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Moonsmom181@reddit

😢

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ArthurBea@reddit

I invested a Bose surround system years ago, before kids. When I moved, the subwoofer just stopped working. It was tragic! I troubleshot it and couldn’t get it booming or making any noise. I lived bassless for years.

I was about to cave and get a Sonos surround bar to replace it.

I have it one last attempt, unhooked everything and hooked it back up, when I felt a rumble. I played some tunes and felt that deep thump thump boom. The subwoofer mysteriously came back to life.

While I am tech forward (I am really happy with the Sonos standalone I keep in the kitchen), I am still hanging onto my sound system.

Gonna play some Afrika Bambaataa - Perfect Beat on it right now.

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deep-sea-savior@reddit

Considering parting with mine also. It’s an audiophile system that sounds great, but the other half of the equation is room treatments and I don’t have that option. Music sounds just as good through our surround-sound soundbar. I’ll miss my CD player.

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Numerous-Positions_5@reddit

I have a few components I threw together. It works for me. When the last of my cassettes bit the dust, I ditched the tape deck and added a Bluetooth audio receiver. I still listen to my vinyl and CD’s, and stream stuff from my phone when I want to do that.

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Beautiful_Arm8364@reddit

The irony: I just got my 16yo son a turntable and speakers. He goes to record swaps. Physical media is back, apparently.

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pocketdare@reddit

... among posers. lol

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Ray_The_Engineer@reddit

If you have an ear for music, vinyl has a warmer sound for music that was recorded for it.

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Beautiful_Arm8364@reddit

Oh snap, you took that literal child down a peg or two.

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Techchick_Somewhere@reddit

Better sound quality.

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Tech-Mechanic@reddit

I will never be you!

I have two stereos set up in my house right now. One of them, a quite expensive audiophile-level system. The other is mostly comprised of remnants of the first serious gear I bought in my early 20's and now does double-duty in the living room as sound for my rudimentary home theater.

Granted, I spend less time in the music room than I did 20 years ago. But, I still NEED that space for when I want to zone out to some good music for a few hours. The only time I use my phone for music is in the car.

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irmarbert@reddit

What about movies? Sound bar?

I love the 5.1 system the previous owner installed in the ceiling for me. Couldn’t imagine letting it go. The amp I have has BT for rare instances I need it, but with the Apple TV hooked up to it, I don’t really use it.

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Oxjrnine@reddit

Nothing will ever sound as good as my 1990 Sony Bookshelf sound system.

But sadly it got destroyed in a move in 2007.

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Ok-Somewhere-2902@reddit

Not me. I have put about $15K into my system over the years. I have a dedicated spot to listen, nice turntable, tube amp, digital streaming front end, DAC, subwoofer. It's one thing I'll never give up, my tinnitus be damned! I like to sit in the sweet spot and ensconce myself in my little audio bubble.

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Flaky-Debate-833@reddit

I'm looking to make the opposite move. I'm scouring Offer Up and Marketplace for an old school system.

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AstroStrat89@reddit

I was just going to say I'll be looking at r/BudgetAudiophile for the person that finds the OPs gear. lol.

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SHDrivesOnTrack@reddit

I have a stereo/tv setup with some large speakers. I have an old AirportExpress plugged into it so I can play music from my iPhone conveniently, but with proper speakers. They even support toslink.

While they're convenient, you just don't get the Maxell Blown-Away effect from a bluetooth speaker.

FWIW, you can get an A1392 on ebay for about $30. I've also seen Sonos Connect and Chromecast Audio devices for $30-$50 as well.

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BIGscott250@reddit

I set my equipment up in the garage !

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largos7289@reddit

I kept my old rack system for as long as i could...

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tands@reddit

I have the same setup, but recently added a home stereo and record player as well. I love physical media again, and it has taught me to listen again with intention. The Bluetooth comes out when I’m too high to get off the couch and keep flipping records haha. Also, I pretty much use Sirius exclusively now. So many songs I’ve forgotten, and hearing a real live dj is pretty rad.

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HarryHaywire@reddit

the only home stereo receivers I still have hooked up are one that is connected to the speakers built in to the house and the only thing I use it for is as a bluetooth connection for my phone and the TV.

The other is hooked up to a couple decks and a mixer because my wife likes to pretend she's a drum and bass DJ. I still buy a lot of vinyl as a result.

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ParticularBed6338@reddit

My decks are in storage, sold the table and kept the rest. I still blast my DnB through the Pioneer receiver where the surround sound is. Cerwin Vegas for the front speakers and a powered sub also. My neighbors love me.

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HarryHaywire@reddit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkqeMbxB5aE

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ParticularBed6338@reddit

Hahahaha yes yes rudeboy!

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iwastherefordisco@reddit

When I moved I got rid of my old black Kenwood stereo complete with pre-amp and cassette deck. Speakers were huge, but not quality.

I run an older desktop PC and really lucked out on computer speakers from Logitech. Two satellites and a huge 14 inch subwoofer. It puts out 400 watts peak power and I run every movie/song/audio thingy I need to through the desktop system.

And I miss that old Kenwood system every day. I had a Pioneer turntable waaay back and still haven't heard that depth of sound on a digital file, even FLACs.

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