hoarse with no name wrote:
Since 1980 has there been any technological advance in
audio equipment of greater benefit to the consumer than
the remote control?

While some may argue its value, you might consider the
introduction of digital audio as such a technological
advance. With it comes the CD, DSP, the IPOD, streaming
audio, and so forth.

Indirectly, you might want to consider the fact that prior
to 1980 measuring loudspeakers fell into to very distinct
camps: 1) crude, often manual measurements using little more
than swept sine oscillators and mechanically synchronized
chart recorders used by many or 2) very sophisticated, VERY
expensive new computer-based systems, e.g., the KEF/HP
impulse FFT system of Heyser's TDS. After 1980, with the
introduction of (primarily) affordable computing power, you
saw the introduction of and more widespread use of more
powerful loudspeaker analysis tools (RTA's don't really
count: they're main advantage over older technology was
primarily one of convenience at the expense of loss of
resolution and accuracy). Early examples include the DRA
MLSSA and Crown TDS-based system. Follow that up with Audio
Precision and you see a blossoming in the 1980's of analysis
and design tools that are capable of provided very high-
resolution measurement data. Whether the user has the where-
withall to intelligently use that sophistication and power
beneficially is another question altogether.