Given the new era of home audio generally consists of some speakers and one source, the need for a big receiver or preamp with dozens of inputs is gone.
As I consider what I need for my downstairs second TV system, I realize what I really need is just a pair of powered speakers, like studio monitors, a TV, and a Amazon Fire TV. That's it. The TV will act as the volume control for the Fire TV which provides everything I need in terms of a source with all my video channels AND my music. No need for a receiver. If I am really pushing it, I could put a Bluetooth receiver on the TV as an audio only input to connect my phone or a guest's phone to the system. Sure, the TV would need to be on, but this isn't my primary system.
What about in my bedroom? Well, I currently have a pair of Audio Engine A5 powered speakers with a Bluetooth receiver and an additional 1/8" audio cable to plug anything else I might, like maybe a future Amazon Dot.
In the bathroom I have an Amazon Dot connected to my Logitech Boom Squeezebox which is always set to Line In and the Dot provides all the audio.
In my office I have a small USB DAC amplifier connected to my PC digitally and driving a pair of SVS bookshelf speakers.
In my big Home Theater I have two sources, my Roku and a BluRay player. If it performed faster I could use the BluRay player as the streaming device, but it is slow and clunky and the remote is not intuitive, so I use the Roku. My huge Onkyo Pro preamp/processor is only needed for two sources. It does, however, provide bass management for LFE subs, surround decoding, and volume control. Otherwise I could go without it.
So, when I consider my "next system" I start with the speakers and source components and don't even consider a preamp or receiver a necessity.
As I consider what I need for my downstairs second TV system, I realize what I really need is just a pair of powered speakers, like studio monitors, a TV, and a Amazon Fire TV. That's it. The TV will act as the volume control for the Fire TV which provides everything I need in terms of a source with all my video channels AND my music. No need for a receiver. If I am really pushing it, I could put a Bluetooth receiver on the TV as an audio only input to connect my phone or a guest's phone to the system. Sure, the TV would need to be on, but this isn't my primary system.
What about in my bedroom? Well, I currently have a pair of Audio Engine A5 powered speakers with a Bluetooth receiver and an additional 1/8" audio cable to plug anything else I might, like maybe a future Amazon Dot.
In the bathroom I have an Amazon Dot connected to my Logitech Boom Squeezebox which is always set to Line In and the Dot provides all the audio.
In my office I have a small USB DAC amplifier connected to my PC digitally and driving a pair of SVS bookshelf speakers.
In my big Home Theater I have two sources, my Roku and a BluRay player. If it performed faster I could use the BluRay player as the streaming device, but it is slow and clunky and the remote is not intuitive, so I use the Roku. My huge Onkyo Pro preamp/processor is only needed for two sources. It does, however, provide bass management for LFE subs, surround decoding, and volume control. Otherwise I could go without it.
So, when I consider my "next system" I start with the speakers and source components and don't even consider a preamp or receiver a necessity.