The sound has got smaller
It is with great disappointment that I announce the passing of my old speakers. The pair hung around for more than a quarter of a century, but over the last few years they’ve languished, almost forgotten, in the back of the TV hutch. Our stereo amplifier had developed a case of terminal deafness on one side, so the compromise was to forego home sound, replacing quality with quantity. We bought personal media players and cheap earphones and learned to sing off-key with the various videos showing on the appropriate channels. Home sound was downsized.
I decided to see what the problem might be with the whole kit, last week. In fact, armed with a VOM and a battery and a sound source and the best of logical testing techniques, it was plain to hear that nothing could be repaired, so after some keening (it goes with mourning), the dumpster received the remains of our home stereo system. Which, of course, gives me ‘carte blanche’ to start all over again. No sense in wasting any more time. I’m on the hunt.
Except, things have changed in thirty years. Everywhere I look, people prone the advantages of 5.1 and 7.1 and powered subwoofers. I paid a visit to the local furniture store and turned around in circles for long enough to realize that the salesman (the only person in a three-piece suit) had no interest in my potential as a client. I confronted him, with the perplexed look of someone who couldn’t find the exit. Please sir, could I see what you have for sale?
Given his dress, he must sell something to somebody, so he took me to the far corner of the sound room and showed me some speakers about the size of grapefruit. The sound was actually terrific (remember, I’ve been on a steady diet of earphones for several years). At a price point of $1000, so was the price.
I guess I’m back to shopping. I wonder who I can beat on eBay, for some unsung treasures.
