Your TV may be the centerpiece of your entertainment room, but sound is what completes the experience. Upgrade its audio output with a premium surround sound system to maximize viewing pleasure.
Home audio equipment covers an expansive spectrum of consumer electronics products – phonographs and AM radios all the way through integrated music center systems. Home audio components typically consist of sources like CD players or turntables connected to preamplifiers before being amplified for playback.
Speakers
Speakers are an essential element of any home audio setup and your selection depends on how you intend to use them. Speakers play an essential part in producing high-quality sound; choosing speakers depends heavily on how and why they will be used.
Tower or bookshelf speakers make an excellent addition to any stereo system, as they feature two drivers (a tweeter and woofer) to reproduce highs and lows accurately. Plus, these small to large speakers come in different sizes that will suit any space perfectly!
For surround sound systems, floor-standing speakers should be your go-to solution. These larger speakers offer an immersive music experience and can serve as front, center or rear surrounds; additionally they work well with subwoofers for additional bass.
Many audiophiles prefer studio monitors over home speakers because of their ability to faithfully reproduce music the way it was recorded. This type of speaker usually features two components: tweeters and woofers to reproduce highs and lows respectively, as well as a crossover that divides frequencies and routes them to appropriate drivers.
Many modern home audio brands are developing smart speakers capable of more than simply playing music. These multi-room audio systems allow you to stream content and control playback through either an app on your smartphone or voice command, or they can be combined together into a whole home system for complete home theater in living room, bedroom and kitchen spaces. They may not be the cheapest solution but will give your space more versatility while adding value.
Amplifier
An amplifier is at the core of every home audio system. It transforms low voltage signals from players into higher voltage signal to drive speakers. An amplifier can either be separate box or built directly into receiver or other equipment; digital or analog; powerful or small; with many choices from budget digital amps up to high-end McIntosh monoblocks available today.
Importantly, amplifiers should never be driven past their limits as this can damage both it and the speakers. Aim for 2x-4x your speakers’ impedance rating with enough headroom to withstand transient peaks as this indicates quality. Furthermore, it is imperative that your amplifier supports all DVD and streaming media formats so you can take full advantage of any digital features they might contain.
Home audio setups with simple requirements can use a stereo amplifier with two speakers – ideal for hi-fi systems – which we offer for sale. For multichannel surround sound setups that require multichannel receivers instead, see here for our selection.
An AV receiver provides all of the functions of a stereo amplifier and more. It will likely contain an internal amplifier as well as tuners and equalizers; and can decode DVD and streaming codecs to allow surround sound playback. An AV receiver may be your perfect solution if you enjoy movies and music that can take advantage of these features; although adding separate preamp and power amps might take up more room on your rack.
Subwoofer
Subwoofers are speakers designed to amplify the lowest frequencies found in audio or movie content, often powerful enough to cause ripples in water or send vibrations rumbling down your spine. Subwoofers help relieve strain from main speakers so they can reproduce sound exactly how an artist or director intended.
Like other home audio equipment, there is a variety of subwoofers to choose from. Both passive (powered by an independent amplifier) and active (built-in amp) models may be found; though active typically offers higher performance. Furthermore, woofers may either be ported or sealed to improve bass response, or front-firing which directs sound forward, downward or upward for optimal placement.
Wattage should also be an important consideration when searching for subwoofers. A higher wattage indicates greater power, louder output and wider frequency response – meaning a higher-rated subwoofer may have the capacity to create more frequencies than its lower-rated counterparts.
Other important components include crossover, filter turnover and phase control. A low-pass crossover cuts off higher frequencies at a specific frequency to enable your speakers and subwoofer to focus solely on bass notes; phase control ensures the woofers move forward and backward in sync; this is essential as otherwise the bass cancels out, rendering music sounding hollow. The best way to find the ideal settings for these elements is through trial-and-error with various music and movies and changing their settings until finding that perfect equilibrium is reached.
Home theater in a box
Home theater in a box (HTiB) systems provide an all-in-one system comprising an AV receiver and five or more surround sound speakers for easy setup and an affordable cinematic experience. They’re an ideal way to upgrade to home cinema without needing to research individual components separately.
A home theater in a box (HTiB) typically consists of a central receiver component equipped with its own DVD or Blu-ray player, and which amplifies audio signals from various input sources before sending them out to various speakers (front, center, back and side surround sound speakers as well as subwoofer if included in system). Some HTiBs even feature preamps that boost analog sources such as turntables.
Many home theatre in a box systems are wireless, making setup and maintenance simpler while offering greater freedom of movement. Wireless systems come in various configurations and price ranges; some feature one central speaker that takes the place of three front channels while others include separate satellite speakers; some may even come equipped with wireless subwoofers to deliver deep bass sound for a superior surround sound experience.
The top htibs offer multiple input and output ports to accommodate different devices, including HDMI cables for modern technologies and RCA connections for older technologies. Some come equipped with Wi-Fi capability so that you can stream media from mobile phones or other devices wirelessly.
Ideal, consider opting for a home theater in a box equipped with Dolby Audio technology. Dolby uses advanced signal processing techniques to deliver more realistic and immersive sound performance.
Accessories
Audio accessories are small items designed to enhance playback quality. From an insulator that reduces vibration under speakers to more complex mechanisms that raise them off the floor and eliminate resonance while decreasing distortion and increasing clarity, there’s an accessory out there to help.
No matter the scale of your musical needs, from wireless multiroom home theater systems to analog turntables with phono preamps, we offer equipment that will bring your tunes alive. WiSA technology even brings uncompressed 24-bit/96 kHz high-resolution audio (twice the resolution of CDs) wirelessly without interfering with Bluetooth or WiFi services.
Some audio enthusiasts prefer listening to their music on analog records because digital sound processing cuts off certain frequency bands that result in sound that differs significantly from its original harmony. Analog sound also seems more pleasing to listeners; thus this reason these music connoisseurs often purchase various accessories to further their listening experience.
Stereo or AV receivers offer an ideal home audio setup without breaking the bank. Combining preamplifier, amplifier and tuner into one unit with built-in support for streaming services and multiroom audio playback. They can even be connected directly to TV screens as surround sound home theater receivers. To further upgrade your system consider adding preamps or separate DACs specialized for digital music sources – essential components to high-resolution playback! If your current setup has become outdated you can upgrade by replacing speakers, amplifier and DAC with new models!