Kinda the same, but different.
CDs will likely be around almost exclusively just for compatibility, and in some circles will be (semi-)revered much like vinyl is today and for many of the same reasons. They came from back in a time when things were simpler and more pure...
Vinyl will also still be around and even more of a niche/status thing than today. Given the oil supply & demand and the world's economics in 2015, the costs of raw materials & processing will likely drive the price of vinyl-based audio to semi-stratospheric levels (think $50-100+USD per, and that's not even for the decent stuff). The relatively low information density of vinyl, the mechanical wear, etc. and (mostly) just the economics will all conspire to drive it further into cult status (Just how many of us will pay $100 or $200 per LP and how often? All that equals very small niche).
Audiophiles will still prefer their good old setups w/ pre/pro's and separate big amps and transports and whatever, but the complete digital on a (couple of) chips world will be the near-audiophile pinnacle. Again, the economics of what can be done, the small packaging w/ high SAF and smart(er) power usage, etc. will expand the audio capabilities for much more of the population than niche audiophilia. Those small all-digital receiver/whatevers will be a significant advance in audio for the masses (and be sold in much larger numbers than audio sells today).
Content storage is one area where things could be interesting. Blue-ray/holographic storage or whatever quantum leaps replace those things could deliver whole libraries or collected works in a single sleeve - and at high information levels without such huge compression losses. Fiber to your door & ultra-high bandwidth wireless could let you put your (or your subscribed) library online so you could listen to your stuff anywhere without carrying all that content.
Speakers are still the wild card. Plasma & LCD and other thin video technologies will drive lots more research & corresponding development in similarly thin on-the-wall drivers (maybe each w/ its own sub?). Interchangeable in-wall "plug-ables" w/ standardized form factors could emerge. But, "ya canna' change the laws of physics, Jim" so speakers will still be speakers (unless holographic or ultrasonic or whatever drivers make the great leap forward). The above comments on DSP & multichannel stuff are probably right on - the audio industry would want to push more MC stuff so they can sell more stuff.
Which all means the coin is still up in the air on SACD and DVD-A: are they a part of the path forward or are they gonna be today's equivalent of 8-tracks?
Put it all together and the 2015 audiophile will lust after digital/active speaker systems. Each transducer is actively/ideally/digitally powered (sorta like a conventional active system) and your sooper-YPAO/MCACC/whatever lets you tweak each driver in your listening space to audio nirvana. And the best part is that the all-digital ultra-wideband wireless interfaces will help somewhat lower the volume level of the "discussions" on ICs and speaker cables and the like. Unless, of course, Monster and all the cable companies get a constitutional amendment passed still requiring cables everywhere. And you don't have to cryo the air in your living room, do you?
(Wait! Think about the demographics, dummy. The real $$$ will be in inserts/implants/somethings that reverse the ravages of age and restore audio acuity for all to the levels of 20-year-olds. And use the disposable contacts model so you sell more than one pair per person. ;~)
One thing that surely won't change is that a certain segment of the population will still (always?) be insisting that ABX is a curse word and proves nothing...
And just one last point - any/all guesses here are guaranteed to fall far short of the reality in 2015.
(© 2005 Mr_HoseHead and HoseHead Prognostications Ltd. All rights (and lefts) reserved... :~)
CDs will likely be around almost exclusively just for compatibility, and in some circles will be (semi-)revered much like vinyl is today and for many of the same reasons. They came from back in a time when things were simpler and more pure...
Vinyl will also still be around and even more of a niche/status thing than today. Given the oil supply & demand and the world's economics in 2015, the costs of raw materials & processing will likely drive the price of vinyl-based audio to semi-stratospheric levels (think $50-100+USD per, and that's not even for the decent stuff). The relatively low information density of vinyl, the mechanical wear, etc. and (mostly) just the economics will all conspire to drive it further into cult status (Just how many of us will pay $100 or $200 per LP and how often? All that equals very small niche).
Audiophiles will still prefer their good old setups w/ pre/pro's and separate big amps and transports and whatever, but the complete digital on a (couple of) chips world will be the near-audiophile pinnacle. Again, the economics of what can be done, the small packaging w/ high SAF and smart(er) power usage, etc. will expand the audio capabilities for much more of the population than niche audiophilia. Those small all-digital receiver/whatevers will be a significant advance in audio for the masses (and be sold in much larger numbers than audio sells today).
Content storage is one area where things could be interesting. Blue-ray/holographic storage or whatever quantum leaps replace those things could deliver whole libraries or collected works in a single sleeve - and at high information levels without such huge compression losses. Fiber to your door & ultra-high bandwidth wireless could let you put your (or your subscribed) library online so you could listen to your stuff anywhere without carrying all that content.
Speakers are still the wild card. Plasma & LCD and other thin video technologies will drive lots more research & corresponding development in similarly thin on-the-wall drivers (maybe each w/ its own sub?). Interchangeable in-wall "plug-ables" w/ standardized form factors could emerge. But, "ya canna' change the laws of physics, Jim" so speakers will still be speakers (unless holographic or ultrasonic or whatever drivers make the great leap forward). The above comments on DSP & multichannel stuff are probably right on - the audio industry would want to push more MC stuff so they can sell more stuff.
Which all means the coin is still up in the air on SACD and DVD-A: are they a part of the path forward or are they gonna be today's equivalent of 8-tracks?
Put it all together and the 2015 audiophile will lust after digital/active speaker systems. Each transducer is actively/ideally/digitally powered (sorta like a conventional active system) and your sooper-YPAO/MCACC/whatever lets you tweak each driver in your listening space to audio nirvana. And the best part is that the all-digital ultra-wideband wireless interfaces will help somewhat lower the volume level of the "discussions" on ICs and speaker cables and the like. Unless, of course, Monster and all the cable companies get a constitutional amendment passed still requiring cables everywhere. And you don't have to cryo the air in your living room, do you?
(Wait! Think about the demographics, dummy. The real $$$ will be in inserts/implants/somethings that reverse the ravages of age and restore audio acuity for all to the levels of 20-year-olds. And use the disposable contacts model so you sell more than one pair per person. ;~)
One thing that surely won't change is that a certain segment of the population will still (always?) be insisting that ABX is a curse word and proves nothing...
And just one last point - any/all guesses here are guaranteed to fall far short of the reality in 2015.
(© 2005 Mr_HoseHead and HoseHead Prognostications Ltd. All rights (and lefts) reserved... :~)