U
uncle eric
Guest
Just before I went on my hols, I popped into my local Dixons to pick up a CD travel case. I happened to overhear one of their salesmen trying (very hard) to sell one of those all in ones. All in ones meaning Home Cinema in a box, aka Sony DAV's etc.
I spoke to the salesmen after he had sold this to his smiling customer and he confirmed that HC in a box was one of Dixons best lines.
Now obviously, from the numbers sold, the man in the street thinks these are a good idea.
Heck, even one of our friends (against my advice) bought "the box" not long ago. To add insult to injury, I was even asked to "come and set it up". I think it took me 3 nano seconds. Open the box, plug in and set channel levels. Well, sort of. The side L/R's levels could only be adjusted together. Apparently, according to Sony, everyone has the same room, armchair, and viewing distance.
I even know a couple that spent £5000 on a Bose lifestyle (god I hate that word) 50. A posh home cinema in a box if you will. For 4 to 5 large (if you're a Tony Soprano fan) you can trip someone up in the street who can install something better than 40 watts per channel with an unknown frequency response and plastic speaker casings that reverberate faster than most humming birds.
Going back to the man in the street, over the years, I've learnt that this guy, likes and even prefers his or her equipment to be all one make. The chances of finding the best value (bang for buck performamce wise) DVD player, Amp, Speakers and Display device being sold by one company are roughly equal to finding Lord Lucan clutching this weeks winning lottery ticket.
Our man in the street is draged to his weekly trip to the local shopping centre and escapes the wife for a few minutes to "look at the toys" in Dixons. What does he see? The answer to his dreams. A lovely home cinema in a box at a great value price (or so he thinks) and to top it all, wow, all one make. Luverly.
What he doesn't realize is that once he starts getting involved in this hobby, it is in fact himself thats stuck in the box. Why? Because basicly there is no way of upgrading. We all remember snakes and ladders. Buying one of these is like landing on the biggest snake on the board.
The above is advise for newbies starting out in this hobby who may be thinking of going down this route. Do your research well. Spend your money wisely. Do not put yourself in the box.
Eric
I spoke to the salesmen after he had sold this to his smiling customer and he confirmed that HC in a box was one of Dixons best lines.
Now obviously, from the numbers sold, the man in the street thinks these are a good idea.
Heck, even one of our friends (against my advice) bought "the box" not long ago. To add insult to injury, I was even asked to "come and set it up". I think it took me 3 nano seconds. Open the box, plug in and set channel levels. Well, sort of. The side L/R's levels could only be adjusted together. Apparently, according to Sony, everyone has the same room, armchair, and viewing distance.
I even know a couple that spent £5000 on a Bose lifestyle (god I hate that word) 50. A posh home cinema in a box if you will. For 4 to 5 large (if you're a Tony Soprano fan) you can trip someone up in the street who can install something better than 40 watts per channel with an unknown frequency response and plastic speaker casings that reverberate faster than most humming birds.
Going back to the man in the street, over the years, I've learnt that this guy, likes and even prefers his or her equipment to be all one make. The chances of finding the best value (bang for buck performamce wise) DVD player, Amp, Speakers and Display device being sold by one company are roughly equal to finding Lord Lucan clutching this weeks winning lottery ticket.
Our man in the street is draged to his weekly trip to the local shopping centre and escapes the wife for a few minutes to "look at the toys" in Dixons. What does he see? The answer to his dreams. A lovely home cinema in a box at a great value price (or so he thinks) and to top it all, wow, all one make. Luverly.
What he doesn't realize is that once he starts getting involved in this hobby, it is in fact himself thats stuck in the box. Why? Because basicly there is no way of upgrading. We all remember snakes and ladders. Buying one of these is like landing on the biggest snake on the board.
The above is advise for newbies starting out in this hobby who may be thinking of going down this route. Do your research well. Spend your money wisely. Do not put yourself in the box.
Eric