Entertainment systems...I just don't get it!

@dragon54u (31633)
United States
October 4, 2008 7:42am CST
My former husband was an audiophile and a TV nut. So was my dad. So are most of the men that I know. They buy the latest tv, now it's HD, that is so clear you can see a pimple on someone's face. Why would you want to? Why do you want to see every blade of grass on a football field? And why all the sound equipment? Can y'all just turn on the TV and enjoy it? I just don't get the surround sound stuff with all the speakers and even a device that lets you feel vibrations. If you want something realistic, get your butt off the couch and go live some experience. So, I'm hoping some guys will jump in here and tell me why the obsession with TV gear. I just turn on the TV and watch, I'm happy with that. All that gear is a puzzle to me, especially at the prices charged!
2 people like this
4 responses
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
4 Oct 08
I hear ya! I don't get it, either. My husband has this 'system' that he put together in our living room. We have a 52" flat-panel HDTV with surround sound. The surround sound system can be programmed to 'center' wherever you happen to be sitting at the time! He bought a remote control that cost $500.00!!! (He claimed it was a gift for me, but that was only to justify the cost.) I won't touch that thing!!! I tried to figure it out, but it has pages and pages of things that you can program, set, reset, change, etc. It even has a video show where you upload your own pictures and it shows them each for a few seconds once it's placed in it's docking station! He has our Wii, a record turntable, DVD player (Blue Ray, of course), Sirius Radio and cable box plugged into the TV. I don't know how to program anything on this monster! Give me something with nothing more than volume up, volume down, channel up and channel down and I'm quite happy!
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
4 Oct 08
Me, too! My ex had 6 remotes for the tv system and I didn't have a clue how to operate them and didn't want to. You could hear our tv clear out to the road and we had a LONG driveway! The first thing he did when he left us was go into debt for a huge flatscreen tv--men love tv's for some reason, they seem to live for the time they can slouch in front of them and vegetate.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
4 Oct 08
It's funny how they love to vegetate in front of the TV. My husband ALWAYS has the TV on, whether he's watching it or not. He doesn't always use the program guide, he just flips through the channels, he says it's to find something good. But he doesn't stay long enough to know if they're good or not! I think this is a typical guy thing. As it is, I need to use two remotes to operate the TV in the living room. One does most of the things, but the volume control doesn't work with the TV so I have to use another one to change the volume! LOL Even HE has trouble with his remote sometimes, but he'll never admit it. He'll sit in his chair, going through all the pages of his remote, pushing button after button, just to do something simple. If I happen to be watching that TV with him, I'll pick up "MY" remote and do whatever it is that he's spending too much time trying to do! I just look at him and say one word, "Simplicity". I don't think he knows that word, at least when it involves electronic gadgets. LOL Men!
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
4 Oct 08
Okay I just bought a whole slew of new electronics. An LCD HDTV, HD DVD player, Digital reciever and Home theatre system. The sound is great as it feels like you're in the scenes shown. The quality of the picture makes it seem more realistic. This is how I feel about it all. I love it.But let me state this is the first for me as far as this much high tech stuff.I got the TV, DVD player, 5 channel surround system and a woofer all for under $1100. So that is not that exspensive. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
4 Oct 08
Yes, but if you put that $1100 into a college account for your new granddaughter it would grow for 18 years and pay for her first year or two of college. Then again, you've probably earned the privilege of having a new toy!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
4 Oct 08
Hey, Grandpa Bob, that's a terrific price for all that stuff! I'm impressed. Yes, everyone deserves to pamper themselves every now and then and if that's what you want and can afford it, by all means, get it! My husband spent almost $5,000.00 on the TV alone! I think the whole thing came to around $8,000.00. Luckily, he used some of the money he made from selling our old house and didn't go into savings. He said it's something that he's wanted all his life but could never afford so there was no way I could begrudge him his toys. I just wish I could figure it all out! If he's not around and I have trouble changing from 'TV' or 'Radio' to 'DVD', I'm just outta luck! I'm just glad I have my smaller TV (42" flat screen that HE purchased before this new one) in the bedroom with a simple remote control that I can understand. LOL Happy viewing!
• United States
5 Oct 08
What's funny is that I don't think I see that clearly in real life much less on TV. I like the idea of a flat screen TV because you can have a larger TV that takes up a smaller space. But, I don't really need anything else. And, with DTV coming, even over-the-air TV is crystal clear. I mostly have TV on the background while I am on the computer, though. I rarely ever look right at it. I'm always doing two things at once.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
5 Oct 08
I usually stream a radio program while I'm on the computer, music or sometimes talk shows. I enjoy the music more, I don't like to hear people yammering at me much.
@GreenMoo (11833)
7 Oct 08
Oh Dragon, that did make me laugh. I knew a man just like that, and we (he!) spent a fortune ensuring that the entire street could hear what we chose to watch on TV!! I never understood it myself. But then, I rarely watch TV and now I don't even bother having one.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
7 Oct 08
I only have one because of my kids, when they come they like to watch movies sometimes. I could get along quite well without it! And my mom, when she's here, loves to watch baseball!