Professional audio/visual technicians know exactly which equipment will blend seamlessly into your home decor for an attractive finish. Furthermore, they can advise you on selecting a system which best meets your audio requirements and budget constraints.
An essential component for surround sound audio systems is the surround sound receiver, which helps organize and amplify signal to speakers. Cables and speaker wire are necessary to transport this sound between receiver and speakers.
Wireless Speakers
Wireless systems provide all of the benefits of wired multi-room audio setup without the expense or complexity. From multi-room music streaming and support for multiple smart assistants to eliminating bulky equipment and unruly speaker wire, wireless systems offer all-around multi-room audio performance without the added complications and expense.
When choosing wireless speakers for your home audio system, there are various factors to take into account, including room size and music preferences. Is a portable Bluetooth speaker best suited to moving from room to room or is in-wall or ceiling mounting preferable? Sound quality also plays a significant role – certain models employ tube amps to fatten up bass on soul/hip-hop tracks while others feature digital amplification designed specifically to bring out guitar parts in rock songs.
Another key decision point when purchasing wireless speakers is whether or not you prefer WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity. Both options have their own distinct benefits, with WiFi typically offering wider bandwidth compared to Bluetooth speakers. Some of today’s top wireless speakers come equipped with both capabilities allowing you to take advantage of your existing network while also giving guests easy Bluetooth connection capabilities for streaming media playback.
Look and feel are also key considerations when purchasing wireless speakers, with some models featuring sleek designs or striking details for more subtle options. Furthermore, wireless speakers may be made from materials ranging from plastic to wood or even stone – making your selection important!
When shopping for wireless speakers, keep in mind that some of the top models provide surround-sound audio without noticeable latency on your television screen. One such model is Sonos Arc, featuring Dolby Atmos compatibility as well as HDMI eARC and Apple AirPlay 2 support to stream music from apps and websites such as Pandora. While not cheap, its powerful performance and impressive list of features may make it worth its cost; other top-rated models include Sony HT-AX7 and Sonus Faber Omnia which offer classy hi-fi sound along with state-of-the-art functionality.
In-Ceiling Speakers
In-ceiling speakers offer an ideal way to build a home sound system without the bulk of traditional speakers. Mounted directly in your ceiling, these discreet units blend in easily with any decor while offering stereo listening or surround sound capabilities. Some models even come equipped with built-in amplifiers while others connect via speaker cable directly to an external amp – and are steam and humidity proof, making them suitable for bathrooms and kitchens alike.
There is a wide range of in-ceiling speakers on the market, each offering unique advantages and disadvantages. When selecting an in-ceiling speaker, consider its power handling capacity, passive/active configuration options and sound quality; all factors which must be taken into account.
Some of the top in-ceiling speakers can be integrated into a surround sound system for immersive, realistic audio experience. They’re also an ideal solution if you have an attic or loft space you would like to convert into home theater space.
DIYers looking for easier in-ceiling speaker installations may benefit from buying speakers designed with one-step mounting using rotating cams, making the installation process quicker and simpler.
These speakers feature pivoting tweeters to adjust audio in any direction you want, and poly-mica woofers for rich, robust audio quality. You can mount them either on the ceiling or wall; various sizes are available.
Though these speakers aren’t the cheapest on the market, they remain extremely popular due to their flexibility and sound quality. Ideal for surround sound listening as well as stereo listening applications; you can even mount them outdoors!
These speakers feature a swiveling tweeter to allow them to be directed in any direction and come equipped with a powerful 250-watt amp for powerful sound. Plus, these moisture-resistant and paintable grille speakers will fit seamlessly into any interior design scheme!
Surround Sound Speakers
Surround sound speakers create an immersive cinematic or gaming experience when watching movies or playing video games, using digital audio signals to transmit sound between multiple speakers in your room, creating a more lifelike listening experience than stereo or left/right stereo systems. Furthermore, surround speakers may add Dolby Atmos or DTS:X height effects for even greater depth and realism.
The most prevalent setup is a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound speaker system, consisting of two front speakers, one center speaker, and two rear surround speakers that are dispersed around the room to give an immersive and exciting audio-visual experience while watching movies or playing video games.
Your surround sound speakers should work seamlessly with your existing home theater system or you can purchase premade surround sound systems from Logitech and JBL. These systems include everything necessary to set up speakers in any room, such as an AV receiver that accepts multiple audio/video sources and splits them out into separate channels for each speaker – in addition to processing and amplifying the signal for improved audio quality.
To successfully set up surround sound speakers, it is best to refer to their instructions. These should provide specific directions on where and how to position each speaker for optimal listening positions and correct positioning is essential as improper setup could lead to unbalanced or muddy audio quality. Also consider blocking off an area for rear speakers so wires can be concealed behind walls or under carpeting making their presence less noticeable.
Back-facing surround sound speakers should be at ear-level for the most realistic experience, or two rear surround speakers will need to be placed near the back of the room if your system features seven channels. Monones speakers may cancel each other out for diffused audio output while dipoles may provide more direct sound delivery.
Subwoofers
Addition of a subwoofer to your audio system at home can make an enormous difference to its sound quality, since a sub handles lower frequencies that speakers struggle with – freeing them up so they can focus on producing mid and high range sounds that suit them best – it’s a win-win solution for audiophiles or music enthusiasts looking to maximize the benefit of their home audio system.
Unless your system already features one, adding a subwoofer to create full surround sound at home requires one. Lower frequencies of movies or songs are key in creating an immersive experience that immerses you into what’s happening on-screen; without one, your regular speakers won’t be able to reproduce these low frequencies accurately and you may miss out on hearing their full bass effect.
Subwoofers consist of a vibrating woofer and cabinet that vibrate together, producing an airwave. When this wave hits your ears, it is picked up as sound and perceived as either funky bass lines or engine roars. A high quality sub can reach down to 20Hz or below; that way you’ll be able to hear and feel all of the lowest notes from pipe organs, kick drums, bass guitars or even the 1812 Overture cannon volley!
There are two different kinds of subwoofers; passive and active. Passive models require an external amplifier for power, while active models include an amplifier built directly into their bodies. It’s usually easy to identify which kind you have by looking at its back panel – active models usually feature dials for setting crossover frequency and volume while passive models don’t. Ideally, your subwoofer should feature its own amplifier so it can receive its signal directly from an AV receiver or component such as your computer or game system.
Selecting an audio system suitable for your home doesn’t have to be difficult, though you should keep certain factors in mind before making your purchase decision.