Whether you’re watching the latest blockbuster on your favourite streaming service, enjoying the excitement of online gaming or simply listening to music, having a good audio setup is important. Good stereo speakers and proper audio quality makes a massive difference to how immersive and enjoyable your favourite types of media can be. However, if you’re a beginner to the world of audio, it might all seem a bit confusing.
Frankly, there are so many different options in terms of setups and gear that it can make it a bit daunting for people to get into. However, creating your ideal home audio setup doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In this guide, you’ll learn the key details you need to get started.
Choosing Between Stereo and Multi-room Setups
When it comes to creating your home audio setup, there are two main ways to go about it. You can focus on a single room by creating a stereo sound setup, or you can get a little more advanced and create a multi-room setup. For most people, a stereo system will usually suffice, connecting a TV and set of speakers in one room. However, if you really love to be able to play music in any room of the house, the multi-room option is a better, albeit more challenging one.
Whichever option you choose, you’ll need to choose the right equipment that meets the specifications. This includes speakers, amplifiers and audio cable, which is needed to transmit signals between devices. When choosing a speaker cable, make sure that it’s not only the right length but that it’s suitable for the type of setup you’re creating. For a home setup, an unscreened cable is normally enough. Strand affects how flexible the cable is, so bear this in mind if you’re creating a multi-room setup.
Selecting Your Audio Equipment
The most important aspect of any audio setup is the speakers. These are devices which turn signals into noise when powered up, allowing you to listen to music and hear the sound effects and music in your favourite movies and TV shows. The type of speaker will obviously make a big difference to the quality of sound. Generally, larger speakers are better, but you don’t necessarily need huge speakers to have great quality.
The important thing to remember with your speakers is that they need to be positioned correctly. Based on your typical listening position, make sure you have one speaker on either side. This ensures that the audio is in stereo, meaning a left and right channel to give direction to the sound that you hear. In addition, you should consider the size and shape of the room you’re using, as these will have an impact on the acoustics of the sound.
Make sure your audio setup includes an amplifier, which will provide power to the speakers and allow you to connect them to your audio source. If you want to use multiple sources of audio such as a TV, music player and other devices, ensure your amplifier has enough inputs.
Many modern sound systems use Bluetooth rather than conventional cables. This will help reduce the time it takes to set everything up and will also mean you don’t need to worry about messy cables everywhere. However, it can be more expensive and you also have to worry about interference potentially disrupting your audio signals.
Bluetooth options are definitely better for multi-room setups, where it can be challenging to run cables through every room in the house. Many wireless speakers can also be linked up to WiFi, making it even easier for you to enjoy your favourite songs in each room.
