What is a Stereo?
Stereo, noun – “sound that is directed through two or more speakers so that it seems to surround the listener and to come from more than one source; stereophonic sound.”
The Case for Stereo: Why Modern Streaming Speakers Fall Short
Sound rather old-fashioned? Isn’t a stereo something your granddad had, or the domain of Gen X and audiophile geeks? Who needs ugly black boxes and wooden cabinets when we have lovely portable speakers now that can play pretty much any tune on the planet from your phone? Stereos are obsolete... Or are they?
Well, here at Peter Tyson, we think not. Stereos have moved on, they can do everything your Sonos / JBL / Echo Dot can do, only better. Yes, there are excellent streaming speakers out there – we have them in our stores! – but is that really how Bowie, Swift, Drake, BTS or even Mozart want you to listen to their art? If you close your eyes, can you ‘see’ them in front of you, playing to you? Again, we think not.
Music is recorded in stereo; two channels – left and right – mirroring the setup on stage or in a concert hall: lead vocals centre, bass and lead guitars either side, drums at the back. Or an orchestra, carefully arranged to express pieces as the composer intended. ‘Soundstage’ isn’t just some hifi waffle word, it’s quite literal: does it sound like it would on a stage? However you play music, the aim is to recreate that performance as truly as possible.
A single streaming speaker can’t really do that, music comes one point, it’s hard to separate instruments, everything comes across a little, ‘squashed’. In a stereo system, the two channels remain separate throughout, and music emerges from left and right loudspeakers: the instruments and vocals are in the right place, where the artists intended. We call this stereo separation; good stereo systems make the musicians sound like they’re in the room with you; a properly immersive experience, much more like the real thing.
Upgradeability and Longevity: The Benefits of Stereo Systems
So stereo sounds better; what else does it offer? Upgradeability and longevity to start. A stereo system generally consists of individual components – source, amplification and playback. Each can be replaced and upgraded independently over the years. Separates are built to last, software updates are generally automatic, units can be repaired if necessary and often sold on or traded in.
We have clients still loving their 30-year-old Linn and Naim systems, but we’d be sceptical of many mainstream wireless speakers being around that long. There’s an environmental impact too: portables eventually need replacement batteries, and once obsolete are basically landfill. Stereo systems are less reliant on manufacturer’s software issues or decisions to discontinue product support. Recent Sonos app woes and raft of now unsupported products for example have infuriated millions.
And, they can play literally anything. Add a CD player or turntable to enjoy the resurgence of two formats you might also associate with past generations, but are now seeing record sales increases. Sales that artists receive decent income from, unlike the fractions of pence per play from streaming platforms. Music is good. It’s good for the soul, the mind, your mood, your health. If you’re happy bopping away to your wireless speaker, great. But, why not give a decent stereo system a whirl in our demo rooms? You just might be surprised at what you hear. Maybe your granddad was onto something…
