Now that you have moved into your new home, you may wish to get a home audio system that can take pride of place in your living room. But how do you go about setting up the system?
There is a bewildering array of components to choose from and the technical details can be daunting. However, with a basic understanding of home audio fundamentals, you can easily put together a system that suits your needs and budget.
SPEAKERS FOR BEGINNERS
The right set of speakers can make your music and movies sound fantastic. Ideally, each speaker in a set will reproduce a separate channel of audio. For example, you will need left and right stereo speakers to reproduce two-channel stereo recordings. To get a surround sound and enjoy a fuller, richer sound, simply add more speakers to your audio system. Music lovers especially enjoy the surround sound effect, be it classical, pop or other music genres.
LOCATING YOUR SPEAKERS
For speakers, as in real estate, it is all about location. Correct stereo speaker placement helps you get the best audio performance from your system. In general, avoid placing stereo speakers too near the wall. This will amplify the bass in music and make the bass sound too loud. For simple home entertainment setups, your speakers should be in-line with the TV, flush with the screen. For home theater, consider surround speakers on each side of the listener or slightly behind them. As for the subwoofer, consider a position that is not too far from your listening ear or the bass will be uneven.
GETTING THE BEST SOUND
If you are absolutely fastidious about sound quality, you should consider adding receivers to your audio system. Receivers allow you to adjust settings such as bass and treble. You can also connect them to different home entertainment devices.
For a more powerful sound, amplifiers are a must. When choosing amplifiers, take note of total harmonic distortion (THD). This is a number that indicates how clean your music and movies will
sound. If you want crisp and clear sound, look for a THD number 0.1 per cent and below.
LINKING EVERYTHING UP
Before you start enjoying the great sound from your audio system, you need speaker cables to connect your speakers to your receivers. To find out how much cable you have to buy, just measure the distance between each component that requires a cable connection. Windows, door-frames and corners are areas that need extra length – so do take note! To be sure, buy at least 60cm more cable than you need.
KEEPING IT QUIET
If you like cranking up the volume when listening to your music or watching movies, consider getting a set of headphones. These will let you listen to your music or movies at any time of day, without bothering your neighbours or family members. Consider either noise-cancelling headphones that block out the noise around you or wireless headphones, which give you freedom of movement.
You now know enough to make basic decisions when putting together your home audio system. Just one last word of advice though – keep an eye on your budget.
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Cover photo courtesy of Sears.com
