High fidelity and home theater have always been at the heart of the quest for the best musical and cinematographic experience. While hi-fi aims to reproduce sound as accurately as possible, home theater seeks to recreate the movie theater experience in the comfort of one’s own home. Although they have distinct objectives, these two worlds share common technologies, developments and trends, which are shaping their future.
The digital hi-fi era
Over a decade after their arrival on the market, music streaming services continue to attract more and more users. Lossless and Hi-Res tracks are becoming the standard for practically all platforms, which promise users and true music fans a superior sound quality, similar to that of CDS. Hi-fi is evolving to follow this trend, with a growing number of connected amps that natively integrate streaming services and increasingly powerful network players, such as the Eversolo DMP-A6 and Marantz connected amps, this year’s bestsellers.
MP3 has definitively been retired to make way for Hi-Res music, now available to anyone, anywhere thanks to the development of high bandwidths, fiber optic internet and 4G/5G. High fidelity equipment is becoming smaller to follow the user every day, with increasingly powerful DAPs from the likes of Astell&Kern Sony, Shanling and tube-specialist Cayin. Portable USB DACs now allow smartphones to be a true hi-fi source, capable of reading tracks up to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD or MQA.
Total immersion
This miniaturization trend also extends to the world of home theater, where soundbars are becoming a key element in the evolution of the TV. Some models are now capable of transporting the listener into the heart of a three-dimensional sound space in Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The multiplication of speakers and the computing power of the latest DSP processors contribute to the creation of this highly immersive sound environment. In 2023, Sennheiser confirmed its leadership status, establishing itself in this arena with its Ambeo range, whose latest model, the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini, is revolutionary in its ability to diffuse sound throughout the room from a single compact device.
However, traditional home theater is still the best way to reproduce cinema sound as mixed on the Dolby or DTS track, with more sophisticated receivers now offering HDMI 2.1 inputs and outputs compatible with UHD 8K and 4K 120 fps for video games, as well as a growing number of channels for the most advanced systems. Private home theaters are becoming increasingly popular, with more and more enthusiasts designing dedicated rooms to enjoy a cinematic experience with unprecedented sound immersion, right in their own homes.
This 3D immersion has become a must, in both hi-fi and home theater. Popularized through the Tidal, Amazon Music and Apple Music streaming platforms, Dolby Atmos music is the new standard and the prerogative of artists who enjoy limitless creativity.
Contemporary productions are often created in Atmos, and many legendary albums are being remixed in this format, like Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, which seems to have waited half a century to reveal its new potential through the prism of Dolby Atmos. This trend extends to connected speakers equipped with dedicated Atmos drivers, such as the new Sonos Era 300, which made its mark in 2023.
The popularization of wireless connectivity
The latest WiFi and network communication standards also mark a major advance in wireless hi-fi and home theater to meet needs for greater simplicity and elegance. Wireless speakers can be installed with greater freedom than ever before, allowing configurations to suit any space while offering sound quality that rivals traditional wired installations.
Italian manufacturer Sonus Faber is a great example of this trend, as it released the Sonus Faber Duetto connected bookshelf speakers this year, setting new standards in quality. Wireless home theater systems are also on the rise, especially soundbars, with their wireless surround speakers and subwoofers becoming the norm. In this field, Yamaha has demonstrated ingenuity with the Yamaha True X system. Its Yamaha SR-X40A soundbar can be wirelessly connected to Yamaha WS-X1A battery-powered surround speakers to create a custom home theater experience, with every element freely positioned in the room.
The quest for perfect sound
Increasingly powerful, audio equipment is now capable of optimizing sound according to the acoustic characteristics of the room. After proving themselves on AV receivers, microphone acoustic correction solutions such as Audyssey, Dirac Live and YPAO are now available on soundbars, particularly models from Sonos, Sennheiser, Devialet and LG.
Automatic calibration is also being introduced with the latest hi-fi amplifiers, notably the new Yamaha R-N800A and R-N2000A, as well as the JBL SA750. The promise: correct as many of the defects in the room and speakers as possible to maximize precision and allow the music to shine. What was once the domain of professional acoustic technicians is now accessible to everyone, thanks to these intelligent calibration systems.
A return to the roots of hi-fi and home theater
However, we haven’t heard the last of traditional hi-fi and home theater systems. Despite the explosion of wireless solutions and streaming platforms, turntables are resisting, with vinyl records sales continuing to rise over the last few years. Vintage styles are still going strong, with a return to retro design. Examples of this are the Elipson XLS and JBL Classic Series speaker ranges, which echo the look of flagship models from the 70s, such as the Celestion Ditton 551, JBL 4312 and Pioneer HPM-100.
Hi-fi amplifies are going back to VU meters, radios to analog switches, and headphones to wooden ear cups. Retro design has never been trendier! The hi-fi and home theater markets have come a long way since their origins and are continuing to evolve at a breathtaking rate. While technologies and user preferences change, one thing remains constant: the pursuit of audiovisual excellence.
