TWICE Staff On Dec 17 2012 - 1:00am

Component Audio's Future

TWICE: What is the future of the receiver?

Sumner: Even with soundbars and multiple other choices for audio available to consumers, the receiver is still usually the best solution for quality music reproduction and the really immersive movie, sporting or gaming experience. One thing we’ve seen over the years is the proliferation of TV throughout the home. Flat-panel displays are not just in the “main” room at this point but in bedrooms, playrooms and bathrooms as well. This leads to multiple systems throughout the home. We believe the two areas of the home that will still rely on receivers in most cases are the main entertainment room and what some would call the man cave (though not necessarily just for the men) that may be focused on gaming or sports.

Manowitz: The receiver will continue to evolve. The fundamental function of connecting devices and amplifying speakers may not dramatically change for the midrange. But there has never been a greater need to connect various disparate devices and content sources together. The customer looking for this flexibility is very different from the customer looking for the simplicity of a soundbar.

Poggi: The A/V receiver will always have a place as the centerpiece of a high-performance home-theater system. The challenge for us at the D+M Group is to broaden the appeal of the AVR, and continue to innovate with performance and integration enhancements, convenience features and total ease of use.