My Surround Sound System Is 15 Years Old and I Still Wouldn't Replace It
Technological developments move at a fast pace, so it's not uncommon to find that even relatively new devices can soon become obsolete. That's why it's always refreshing when products you bought a long time ago still continue to fulfill their purpose. My current surround sound system was purchased 15 years ago, and despite its age, I don't see any reason to replace it yet.
My Surround Sound System Is Old Enough to Drive
I bought my surround sound system way back in 2010. To put it in context, at that time I was rocking an iPhone 3GS, the first iPad had only recently been released, and Facebook had only just overtaken MySpace as the social media app with the most users. Instagram hadn't yet been released, and TikTok hadn't even been conceived. In other words, it was the Stone Age.
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While many tech products have come and gone in that time, my surround sound system keeps on keeping on. It's an LG HT805PH, a 5.1 surround sound system that includes six wired speakers: two tall floor-standing front speakers, a center speaker, two surround speakers, and a subwoofer. It uses an optical input, and while some TVs no longer include an optical output, there are still plenty that do.
The DVD Player No Longer Functions, but I Don't Miss It
That's not to say that everything is still in working order. The central hub of this surround sound system is the DVD receiver. This still works perfectly fine, doing its key job of taking the audio input, amplifying it, and passing the different channels of audio to the appropriate speakers. However, its days as a DVD player are long over.
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The unit stopped playing DVDs three or four years ago. You can still insert DVDs, but it won't read or play them. This really isn't an issue for me, however; I ripped all my DVDs several years ago and got rid of the hard copies as they were taking up too much space in my home. The content of those DVDs still lives happily on my Plex server , and I've honestly not missed the ability to play DVDs at all. Otherwise, the system continues to work perfectly, despite getting on in years.
The Sound Quality Is Still Very Good
Audiophiles among you will already be throwing up your hands about the poor quality audio that this surround system can offer compared to top-of-the-range equipment. Thankfully, I'm not an audiophile, as I already have plenty of other hobbies that eat up far too much of my money, and the best audio equipment does not come cheap.
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To my untrained ears, the sound quality is still excellent. I've not noticed any obvious deterioration in the sound quality in the 15 years that I've owned the system. On paper, it's rated as an 850W system, with each of the five main speakers listed as 136W and the subwoofer at 170W. These are the manufacturer specs, but in practice, the system has more than enough power to fill my living room with impressive sound. I've never come close to turning it up to its full volume, but even on much lower volume settings, it's more than loud enough to fully enjoy the explosive audio effects of action movies.
Soundbars Are Convenient but Can't Match True Surround
The biggest reason that I love my surround sound system is that the sound is just so much better than I can get from my TV. The off-camera sounds that come from the satellite speakers create an incredible audio experience that you just can't match from a stereo TV. Hearing an airplane approach from one rear speaker, pass across the screen, then disappear from the other rear speaker makes watching a movie much more immersive.
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Modern soundbars can offer a much-improved sound experience over your TV, using virtual surround sound to try to create the illusion that sound is coming from behind you or to the side of you. Some systems will even bounce sound off your walls and ceiling to try to create a surround sound effect. Ultimately, however, these systems are still not as immersive as a true surround sound system that utilizes multiple speakers.
The Subwoofer Is Key for a Cinematic Experience
Another key component of any good sound system is the subwoofer . One of the best parts of the movie theater experience is the incredible rumbling bass you can feel in your chest. While a home surround sound system can't produce the same experience that the huge professional-grade subwoofers in your local movie theater can, the addition of a subwoofer to your sound system can make a huge impact.
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The difference between watching a movie through my TV speakers and watching the same movie through my surround system with a subwoofer is night and day. While it can't match the sound quality of a movie theater, that deep bass instantly transforms the experience into something that's much more cinematic.
Setting Up a Wired System Is No Fun
There is one significant downside to my current surround sound system. It's not a wireless system; the speakers are all directly wired into the receiver. Once the system has been set up, it's not a huge issue aside from the unsightly wires, but setting it up is a real pain.
Because I've had the surround system for so long, it's been in four different homes. Each time I've moved, I've had to disconnect all the wires from the speakers, pack everything up, and then set the whole thing up again from scratch in my new home. The central and front speakers aren't too much of an issue as they're fairly close to the receiver, but the rear speakers have enormously long wires that have to travel halfway around the room to reach their destination.
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This is the only thing that has ever tempted me to upgrade; a wireless surround system completely does away with the messy wires and makes it far easier to set up your speakers exactly where you want them. However, I'm not planning to move again any time soon, and now my surround sound system is in place, there's really no need to buy a new wireless system.
The Value I've Had From My Surround Sound System Is Incredible
We live in a world of disposable tech products, where many people regularly upgrade devices such as smartphones that are working perfectly. It's highly satisfying, therefore, that my surround sound system has given me 15 years of loyal service and continues to do so.
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What's even more impressive is that the system cost me less than $200 when I bought it. In effect, it's currently cost me just over ten bucks a year, and that number will keep dropping for every subsequent year that I keep it.
In other words, my surround sound system has cost me less per year than an ad-free Netflix subscription costs per month . That's incredible value for money considering the amount of pleasure that it's given me.
It's comforting to know that not all technology is designed with planned obsolescence, and that some tech can keep doing its job perfectly after a decade or more. Eventually, I'm going to have to replace the system, as modern TVs are starting to ditch optical outputs completely in favor of HDMI ARC and eARC. For now, however, there are still models with optical outputs available, so I don't see any reason why I can't aim to hit 20 years of service.
