There's a price to pay.......

[Johnny Vinyl]

Us early adopters of new technology certainly pay a price for our toys. I was thinking about this the other day as I had to shake my head at the prices of HDTV's and Receivers specifically. Let me give you an example of what I mean.

Panasonic Plasma - List $1,700 - Paid $1,100 - NOW $800
Yamaha Receiver - List $1,500 - Paid $1,100 - NOW $999

I'm not complaining mind you, because I've enjoyed every moment of my setup, but from a financial standpoint it doesn't make much sense to be the first to jump on new technology.

However, I'm still gonna do it anyway as I love my toys!

[Slec]

AMEN!

The key is to realize you'll be paying more upfront. It avoids a great deal of bitterness. I'm with you though, I'd do it all over again if given the opportunity.

[Beta Man]

I'm with you on this one! I look at my 36" CRT I bought in 1997 and I'm sad by the price I paid since I GAVE that t.v. away (still running like a top though!)


I also paid too much ($4,000) for a crappy 5.1 back in 1997, and wish I had put that $4,000 towards a nice set of surrounds now.... but it's too late to cry over it now, speakers have been upgraded, and old 5.1 has also been GIVEN away........


I'm an early adopter (relatively) and my friends are all charity cases apparently

[Sonny]

There's a BIG price 'we' pay , but to me (in the case of Blu-ray) its worth it!
I feel your pain , believe me I'm at the top of the toys game....

[jasontkelley1746]

when plasmas first came out it was like $20,000 for a 42 inch 720p

[JJ]

Well, my Philips 47" was $1,899 MSRP back in January, I bought it at $1,499 - went on Outlet for $1,299 over the summer, now I don't even know if they make them anymore.

But other than that...no price noticeable price drops. B&W speakers only go up in price, my refurbished Marantz will go down eventually when they release the 7003 series, the Dynamo price isn't going anywhere...so just the TV dropped in price.

[Kryptron]

That's technology. I paid $1400 for my computer a year and a half ago now it's not worth half of that. If you wait till the prices drop something newer and better will be out, sometimes you gota take the plunge and enjoy it now.

[Brian Cash]

for my stero equipment I paid list price but tvs i have been fortunate and got a deal especially on my sharps

[Moefiz]

Sometime the waiting game pays off but it gets to a point that you can't wait anymore and you have to have it.
I waited a few months before I finally pull the trigger on my TV and the more I waited the price drop but eventually you can't wait anymore.

[Alkali]

I can sympathise, having bought my DVDAudio player for £450 I rapidly found the DVDAudio disc technology was being abandoned. I've only got 6 discs, so I suppose I invested poorly then. Good thing is it's a high quality DVD player so I didn't lose out altogether.

[Blu-Ron]

Purchased my first Panny DVD player in 1997 for $800.

[Uniquely]

Don't feel bad. My first hdtv was a 42" Sony Grand Wega rear projection LCD. It had one DVI input and two component inputs. Of course the only sources I had that were remotely HD were my PC which utilized the DVI input, my original XBox on one of the components, and a progressive scan dvd player on the other component input. I got that TV in 1999/2000ish and it cost me $3200. I sold it to a friend about two years ago for $250 and it is still working, with it's original bulb.

[callas01]

I remember when my dad bought his Sony S-1 BDP, $1299. I thought he was crazy, I bought my Panny for $550, and now I look at whats available and think, wow, my BDP cant even bitstream HD audio. Good thing I got 10 free blu's when I bought it.... I force myself to think, I actually only paid $250...

[Johk]

Originally Posted by John72953

Panasonic Plasma - List $1,700 - Paid $1,100 - NOW $800

I bought my plasma last May, it retailed at 2600$. I was able to buy it for 2300$. Now 5 months later, it retails at 2200$ and I can walk into a store and get it for 2000$ or less... (not to mention that I paid 3000$ for a 34" CRT 1080i HDTV).

Well it's better not to look at prices of displays once you bought yours!

Also speakers prices are more stable and are a better value over time (something to think about when you make your budget).

[ixlegitballinxl]

i got a really good deal on most of my gear, my tv is still selling more then what i paid for it, and same for my speakers. HT hobby is most def not a way to invest money for profit... it's all down hill once you buy it... so enjoy it until the next big thing comes out lol

[JasonR]

I got a really good deal on most, if not all of my home theatre equipment. I am still doing pretty good...

Sony KDL-40V2500 - Paid $1500. The last time it was being sold (3 months ago), it was actually more than the newer models being offered and more than I paid for it.

Sony STR-DG920 - Paid $330. Amazon $423.99

Polk Audio Monitor 50s - Paid $100 each. Amazon $144.97 each

Polk Audio CS1 - Paid $99.99. Amazon $88.28

Polk Monitor 30s - Paid $135 pair. Amazon $143.52

Sony BDP-S350 - Paid $220. Amazon $264.07

eD A2-300 - Paid $315. eD website $350.00

[ambientcafe]

Us early adopters never learn....let's see, I remember back in the day when I first started w/BetaHiFi, then SuperBetaHiFi....VHSHiFi...Laserdisc...Minidisc... .Dolby Surround 4.0 decoders....ad infinitum...

[matthewrounds]

I had to have the Sony 40" KDL-XBR1 back in January 2006. I used over $500 in gift cards and still paid over $3000 for it. I am a lot smarter now of course just a little over two years later. I don't regret the purchase, that was my first step in the direction of HD. Without purchasing that TV I may not have been so desperate for a release PS3 which I still own. It really was the stepping stone for me. As early adopters, we expect to pay more, but when we upgrade our stuff it is still early enough in the technology that we can at least in my case recoup some of the cash. Those of you with a first gen standalone blu-ray player can still fetch nearly $200 for it and with the price of some 2.0 players at $300 its not been a bad investment for the time you got out of the purchase.

[DBlackGT]

Originally Posted by ambientcafe

Us early adopters never learn....let's see, I remember back in the day when I first started w/BetaHiFi, then SuperBetaHiFi....VHSHiFi...Laserdisc...Minidisc... .Dolby Surround 4.0 decoders....ad infinitum...

Oh no dont bring up the minidisc dang mp3 players had to ruin everything haha

[benmbe]

Hello and good day to all,

Very interesting reading from the people on this subject (formats)

I still have both of my Mini disc players (Sony ES,) and am also an avid Laserdisc collector (Hard & Software.)

I also have a reference HD DVD player and shall also be purchasing a reference Blu-Ray player from the likes of Sony ES / Pioneer Elite BDP 09.

And yes' I am a regular guy with a regular job and so yes ''it takes time to purchase hardware and so on'' but wouldn't have this any other way.

It's very easy to make sweeping statements friends, and many many factors to be taken into consideration here.

All of these subjects can & most likely will go on and on yardi! yardi! yar!.........

I could go on and write in detail, and also say that the manufacturers want us to keep buying thier products & so on & so forth you all know what I mean.

It's all about enjoying the products friends!

Laserdisc was an exception to the rule format, and even though limited to a niche consumer base.......this was the format that launched extra features, AC-3 a.k.a. Dolby Digital and DTS.

Laserdisc R & D goes back to the late 1960's production started in the late seventies and went through many changes (improvements,) including among others ''High Def Muse'' Laserdisc's from 1994 (although limited to about 160 aprox titles.)

Aproximately 7 titles with Dolby Digital EX soundtracks.

17.500 aprox titles produced in the US
37.500 aprox titles produced in Japan (wrapping and Covers and print are of better quality than their US counter parts.)

Various other bonding & disc material refinements (Pioneer producing three quarters of all Laserdisc production) from 1995 to the end of LD production at the end of September 2001.

Laserdisc was in the process of going further still, if the market forces wanted it to do so, IE: ''Polycarbonite 1 sided high def format''

All I can say is damn!!!! as I would have loved this to happen.

HD DVD came out ahead of the Blu-Ray game, and the sound formats have 'only just' in the last year aprox, with hardware availability & compatability ''finally improved'' to the same bitrate aprox as Laserdisc.

A number of guys are now buying into the Laserdisc format, because of it's collectability, as they have explained to myself and others, that there is something very special about this format that attracts them.

Not to mention the fact that about 5 percent of what is available to buy on
forums and ebay shops are brand new and unopened, along with the fact that a large number of collectors really looked after their collections (which are in mint quality.)

Guys?.....Enjoy the movies no matter what disc formats you have.

I love tweaking the picture and sound as much as the next guy, but I deeply enjoy the movies.......''FANTASTIC HOBBY'' AND LOVE THE JOURNEY OF REFINEMENTS...........Take good care of yourselves and do not get in debt?

Kind honest and genuine regards

Mark