I agree with Criderfive, in that the Lossless multi-channel audio, Dolby HD and DTS master and such, were the last thing to get excited about in the AV market. In fact, I did sell my old modified/upgraded Acurus Act 3 (factory upgraded to Aragon Stage One 7.1 processing, 24/192 Dac's ,and component switching) in order to make way for the newer HD codecs.
Next up would be the ability to have quality digital audio quality from Mp3(?) media storage, as streamed from a Macintosh bassed computer for uncompressed quality digital, ot to my analog set up? I saw all the vendors at the High End Shows last couple of years using hard drive storage and Apple Ipads to playback digital files over high end audio systems...pretty impressive for even SACD and high rez digital audio playback, I must admit...all in a convenient storage and interface. I liked all that.
I've also been intrigued a bit by Internet streaming and the merging of the net with AV media, sure. - I have Netflix, right now.
Beyond all of that, I also guess I would look at 4k projectors when they come down to earth in the next few years, perhaps even as little as 4k "scaling", depending. I mean, unless the light output got seriously boosted, 4k or not, you still can't blow the pic up to 200", if there's not enough light output to back that resolution up - not to mention black level best be great and contrast remain high, to go along with that rez boost!
As it is right now, I get a large enough pic that I can sit very close to, with little viz pix structure on a quality black level, refined, JVC projector...more than satisfying for any reasonable seating distance. And that projector, like most any consumer HD projectors, is still limited in picture size by the light output the pj's are capable of.
I guess I'm saying that - as anyone who really is into pic quality FIRST (yes, I used to be an "audio first" guy) - that just having 4k (or even 4k scaling) isn't likely going to give me any significantly better viewing experience, on those merits alone. When discussing 4k, I personally am gunna have to be able to have an appreciably better viewing experience, much larger screen size potential, better contrast and black level, QUALITY OF SCALING REFINEMENT (no jaggies, bugs, pic anomolies, etc), and at a reasonable few $k price point, for me to make a jump. And the main thing would be there, "could I get a much large picture to go along with that rez boost?" Otherwise, i'm notice planning on moving my viewing seats any closer to the screen, to notice so much of a vast improvement, am I?
I guess I'm saying I'm not super excited, but am intregued, at least. Beyond that, someone tell me where's the excitement at again? ...we're in holding pattern mode, I guess. Only thing I can think of is the internet and AV media merging, slowly but surely, and cell phones are amazingly advancing ..if that is even remotely pertinent for this conversation.
