Why do people buy huge tvs and listen to the built in sound?

[Metatron]

I went and made a very good review of my 40" tv, giving it 5 stars.

... Then I went thru the reviews already made, to find people complaining about the tvs built-in sound.

I noticed this for at least half the reviews. So at the time of the review, half the people were using built-in sound on a 40" 1080p tv that's $1100-$1400.

What the hell? You're buying a 1080p tv over $1000 AT LEAST and you can't get a sound system for it??????

A doctor's office wouldn't have room for a sound system. You'd just wanna put it on a wall.

No business would have room.

But if your talking a personal home theater, why would you do that?

I don't have speakers connected to a 20" 480p tv that only has directv hd in my guest room. But that's a pos 20" edtv. Why would I do that for a large tv?

Lets not get into the people who buy $3000 tv's and watch over the air hd...

 

[R.E.D]

I have a Sony Bravia in my living room and only use the sound system when I watch movies, I don't see the need of installing a home theater system in my bedroom or in the kids bedroom.

why would I want to use it for:

-"HEAD ON apply directly to the forehead""HEAD ON apply directly to the forehead"

Commercial breaks in enhanced hi-quality 7.1 surround Dolby digital goodness is not my thing.

Anyways I think is a personal choice, like the people that buy an Audi R8 or a Ferrari for their daily commute. (Believe me, I know people like that)

 

[Metatron]

Right. Like I said above, home theater. Bedrooms, guest rooms, offices, etc, don't need home theaters, but when your talking your den (And believe me, lots of people get hdtvs and don't get speakers)...

Thankfully though, with hdmi, people can have good quality connections and not get $5 component cables with no shielding and think it looks so good, or worse, getting $100 monster cables that are worth maybe $15 and thinking they got a good deal...

What really annoys me about all of this is people don't do their math. They either don't get good essiential products, or they get overpriced things liek Bose or Monster cables and think they got a good product, since it's priced so high.

 

[trykael]

lol! I'm with you, R.E.D. - then again, my Samsung has pretty decent built-in sound.

Also, Metatron, you have to remember that a lot of people are purchasing flat-panel TVs to replace their old cathode tube machines. We're used to those old TVs having pretty decent sound included, so when we turn on our pretty, new TVs and find out we have to spend anout $400 on speakers to make it sound good, we get a little frustrated. As a techie, I realize that when you want something smaller, you have to sacrifice somewhere, and they've chosen to sacrifice on sound...but it's still frustrating when you're used to it all in one package.

 

[Metatron]

Well the thing is, iuf your gonna spend $1000 on more on a hdtv, why wouldn't you get the whole package?

Your talking going from a $100-$200 crt to a $1000 or more tv...

Back in the crt days, they didn't even HAVE 7.1, or even 4.1.

Most crts are even mono sound.

It makes no sense. I mean, you invite your friends over to the game, you get out the beer, everyone sits down in front of your 50" 1080p tv that looks wonderful... And the announcer sounds like a screaming child on a playground.

Things change. Tv during the crt days was mono analog at 480i. Today tv is 1080i 7.1 digital. Why go halfway?

 

[R.E.D]

Well the thing is, iuf your gonna spend $1000 on more on a hdtv, why wouldn't you get the whole package?

The answer is simple: People don't know how to install it or connect it, more often then not is mere laziness and technophobia.

I am not an expert but people think that since I fix computers too, then I should be able to install their sound system, well that is something I never thought I would be doing but HEY! its money! right?

People still pay to have someone install their PC or TV, incredible I know... so they see it as a hassle and extra expense...and as it was said before, most new TV's have decent sound quality.

 

[trykael]

it's also about cost...when I bought my tv, i didn't HAVE an extra $400 to spend on a sound system - so i've made do with the built-in. granted, i don't complain about it <grin> - but that could be a reason as well. R.E.D. is right, however - most people are just afraid of having to deal with it.

 

[Metatron]

Who are these people then? Because the dominant way of listening to music from the 60's to the late 90's was the stereo system.

Everyone knew how to install them.

And if your not old enough to remember a stereo system, you'd hafta be an 8 year old buying a tv!

EDIT: And just doing a quick check, a late 90's stereo system I have in another room sounds better then this samsung series 5 550 built in sound...

 

[Cicatriz]

I'm going with Metatron on this one.

If you are going to be spending 1k+ on a awesome TV a sound system to go with it is almost required.

It's obviously for superior viewing (sports, video games, movies) and if you are just watching regular/cable TV than there is no reason to buy a 40+ in. HDTV(Depending on the amount of TV you watch I guess....). I don't really watch TV so I don't find it important at all, but maybe if you were like SUPER into sitting on the couch.

Most places these days will have home installation for free if you are paying that much on a TV and sound system so that argument is out the window IMO.

 

[Mustachio]

I think the reason people dont buy a sound system is a rather simple one.

I would guess that many people who buy TV's either
(a) Only care about picture, and dont realize there is another entire component to the viewing experience
(b) Just dont care

I really think it boils down to the fact that most people, your average consumer have had the whole HD picture thing shoved down their throat, but nowhere you look has anyone really advertised for sound systems as an important component of an HD home theater system.

I personally have a 42" LCD with a (yes i know) Home theater in a box system with a few upgraded speakers. While I am no audiophile and I know the sound from the speaker and receiver is not the greatest, it is FAR better than built in speakers. I personally will never go back to built in speakers except for maybe the most casual viewing of television shows. Even is the sound quality of the speakers is not the greatest, the 5.1 (yes wish I had more) is essential and positional audio I think is an integral part of the HD experience.

 

[Jubei]

Back in the crt days, they didn't even HAVE 7.1, or even 4.1.

Most crts are even mono sound.

I would say that most tv's from the mid 90's or so had at least built in stereo and most components would offer that or more.

I remember buying a 32" TV and hoking up a 5.1 receiver in 1998 or 1999. The TV itself came with stereo out of the box.

I bought a 42" LCD and I am using some junk all in one stereo (my wife bought it in 1996 or thereabouts) just so I can hear it across the living/dining room. If the built in speakers were loud enough I would have gone with those. I watch maybe 4 hours of TV a week. I bought a bigger set to replace the 19" 10 year old tube. Is 42" overkill? A little - but at the time it was on sale and offered the most bang for the buck size wise.

Oh and don't knock over the air HDTV - the local PBS station here airs some of the highest quality high-def cooking shows I have ever seen! I can't watch them without getting hungry. It all depends on how well set the stations are. Some spend the money to get it right, others, well don't.

ETA: The other reason I got a bigger set was so I wouldn't have to sit on top of the tv to see anything. I like the fact I can be 10' away on the love seat and still be able to tell the actors apart.