Home Audio

When we think of a home audio system, we generally think of two different types of systems. The first being a single room, 2 channel home audio system. This is usually made up of two speakers, a receiver or pre/amp & amplifier and a cd player, IPOD, etc… Because the speakers make more of a difference than any other part of the home audio system, we usually recommend you spend about 60% of your budget on just the speakers. All speakers have a different sound and all rooms react differently to sound, so you want to make sure you put the right speakers in the right room. For instance, if you have a room with lots of glass doors or windows, tile floors and very few wall coverings, you want to try and avoid putting a really bright speaker in that room. The reflections will make the room sound like an echo chamber. Amplification is the next most important part of your home audio system. Because certain speakers require more power than others, you want to make sure you purchase the proper receiver/amplifier to make sure you are getting the most out of your speakers. Be careful when looking at power ratings though, manufacturers have a way of “distorting the truth” when it comes to how much power their receiver/amplifier will produce. Make sure you consult with an expert (like us) when choosing a receiver/amplifier.

The second type of home audio system is a multi-room system. This system can be anywhere from 2 rooms to 12 rooms (or more depending on your budget). There are usually 2 speakers in each room (sometimes more depending on the size of the room), an amplifier to drive all the speakers and a volume control or keypad to control volume and other functions. The speakers can be in-ceiling, in-wall or on-wall speakers. Most people choose in-ceiling because they are out of the way and the least visible. As far as controlling those speakers in each room, there are a few different ways to achieve this. The most common ways are volume controls and keypads. A volume control allows you to attenuate the volume independently in each room. A lot of people choose to have a volume control because it is the most economical. If you are looking to do a little more than just adjust the volume, you can put a keypad on the wall in each room. This will allow you to not only attenuate the volume but also change the source and/or track (CD, IPOD, etc…) that is playing in that room. Both the volume controls and keypads come in a few different colors to match the colors of your existing wall switches.

If you’re in the market for a home audio system, stop by our design studio and talk to one of our audio FREEKS. They can design a home audio system that works properly together and best fits your needs and budget. After all, we are the “FREEKS of home entertainment”!
 

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