I believe ergonomics is the last frontier for audio and video products. We’re at a point where electronics issues are solved: Amps are powerful and transparent, DAC too. Speakers are improving and we’re at a (to me really surprising) of $250.oo speakers being, from very good to verging on excellent ( JBL LSR 308), let’s not even talk about headphones or especially, IEM, where <$200 can give you Harman curve complaint response and THD<1% throughout most of the passband. Golden times indeed. It remains however, that audio and video components are difficult to operate, and I believe this is stunting the market growth. There is no better examples than the front and the back of most any AVR, and last but not least , their remote controls. The usual layout is 15 rows of 15 equal size buttons!!
The purpose of these things is purported to operate an Audo Video system in dim lighting, yet these are usually not lit. And they operate on their own terms. The poor owner of the things , sometimes , has to invest in a control system that cost more than her/his stereo or audio system. I am certain Control 4, for base system, for example, is at least $4000.00 and adding a component or two quickly raise the cost of ownership. Once upon a time , there was some effort from Logitech, IMHO it has beeen the best effort on affordability and ergonomics standpoints. They’re no more. There is in this space a hard vacuum. Or you are rich enough to acquire a Crestron or AMX or, you go DIY, and try your hand and mental heath at some Home automation alternative.
One could acquirre a Logitech remote on eBay. Logitech still provide the service and even support. There is no guarantee when all this will stop functioning. Mean while the problem of multiple remote and operation of audio video components remain.
Strange market sector, at times, ours is.
Peace
