Low Cost Surround Sound System

Visual and audio systems seem to be a part of our recreational activities, ever since the birth of technology. Today we have surround sound systems that brings us movie theater effects even though we’re just at home. Big companies like Sony, Samsung, Sharp, and LG are leading brands for surround sound systems. The usual price is approximately $230- $300, which is a bit expensive if you actually consider the cost of the rest of your components. Remember that we aren't discussing an entire home theater setup, but rather just the surround sound aspect of it. If your budget is tight and you'd consider owning a cheaper one, even though it’s not brand name, such as Sony or Samsung, then you would be delighted to know that there are affordable surround sound system that cost half the price, and are readily available in today’s market.

Quick Reference for Surround Sound Set-Up

A consumer recently demonstrated how he was able to assemble a $131 surround sound system instead of paying double the price.  First, he selected an RCA surround sound system, with the Oppo BDP-103, and AT & T U-verse service for $101.00 dollars (usual price is $ 150.00- $200.00). An RCA allows you to view movies and videos via an optical input wire, connected to your cable box, television set, and DVD player that gives you a higher and more-detailed definition of visual images. While AT&T U-verse is a fiber optic technology that allows networking from your computer, thus bringing video clips straight to your television. To complete the package, he bought cable wires and small speakers, which cost $30.00. Therefore, he spent $131.00 in total for the surround sound system, which is much less compared to the typical branded ones.

Possible Surround Sound Speaker Configuration

It may be true that having the expensive home theater system can provide a higher, and more clear definition of visual images and audio. However, a simple and less luxurious surround sound system may not be that bad, after all. This is especially true if you can’t afford to buy those "time-tested" brands. The main issue here is not really the cost or the capability of the home theater system, but rather how you enjoy the facilities that it brings whenever you want to bond with your family and enjoy the company of friends. Therefore, remember to enjoy whatever surround sound system you can buy right now, whether it is of the cheaper variety, or the latest and most expensive one, because after all, it was created for entertainment purposes.

Home Theater System Optimizing Step 2

Home Theater Optimization: Step 2

Initial Points to Consider

Hello readers! In my previous post, I stressed the importance of sticking with just one manufacturer, when creating your ideal home theater system. Now that you have decided on your manufacturer, the real fun begins. There are a variety of component choices that can help you reach your home audio goals with ease. Many consumers falter here though, because they fail to define tangible goals early in the process. These goals range from system optimization for sheer power, surround capability, accurate sound reproduction, or more. However, it is virtually impossible to assemble a home theater that can do all of these things well.

Meeting your surround sound goals

Let’s assume that you define your goal and are ready to move forward.  Your next step is to allocate a budget for your home theater system. If you have done that already, you’re ahead of the game! Make your money work for you by analyzing the different options available for each specific component, and how they fit your home theater goals. For instance, if you are striving for theater-quality surround sound, you know you are going to need a number of speakers to achieve that effect. This, in turn, means that you will require a top-quality receiver, with numerous outputs to accommodate these speakers. Moreover, a great receiver decodes digital surround sound signals, essentially “unlocking” Dolby capabilities, even for Blu-Ray applications.

Wireless Surround Sound System

Choosing a receiver, however, only addresses half of your needs. Focus on speakers that will maximize your existing acoustics. If you are planning to install your home theater system in a rather small space, you don’t need to splurge on more than a few reference speakers, in addition to subwoofers. If you have a rather large space, however, you will have to look into multiple groups of speakers including reference speakers, sub-woofers, and towers speakers.

Meeting your bass maximization goals

Audiophiles know that all bass is not created equal. For instance, listen to a sub-woofer distort at maximum volume to demonstrate what bass should never sound like. Great bass reproduction lies in the union of art and science. If bass is your ultimate home theater goal, I commend you, because it is a lofty one. It’s imperative to seek out the flagship model amplifier in your chosen manufacturer’s line. These models often come equipped with automatic shut-off switches in the event of overheating, or excess distortion. In addition, these models are equipped with highly sophisticated controls to be calibrated to the exact wattage specifications of your sub-woofers.

Once you’ve selected a premium amp, it’s time to consider speakers (which are drastically different from the surround-sound speakers mentioned above). You probably already know subwoofers dominate the lower registers, so let’s cut to the chase. A common misconception is that subwoofers can handle the max wattage listed by the manufacturer. This is not true, at all. Instead, look at the RMS wattage, as this is the actual sustainable max wattage. A good rule of thumb is to opt for subwoofers that have an RMS rating twice that of the amplifier’s output per channel. This ensures that your sub-woofers will never blow out from over-amplification.   

Finally, always use your best judgment, if it is a common sense issue that you can deal with directly. However, know your limits. Professionals are available to help you, and usually a consultation or several quick questions won’t cost you much at all. So don’t hesitate to contact someone who knows a thing or two. Or leave a comment, as a certified audiophile I will do my best to answer any questions I can! Seeking professional help can probably save you hours of headache in the long run! Until next time…good luck!

Home Theater System Optimizing: Step 1

Initial Points to Consider

Far too many novice audiophiles tend to stray away from uniformity when they are putting together their home theater systems. As a result, they limit their speakers’ bandwidths, frequencies, and dynamism. I know of many examples where individuals purchased speaker components in hopes of maximizing certain areas of their sound. For instance one shopper purchased Yamaha receivers because of their categorical prowess, and paired them to JBL subwoofers, for the same reason. This is one example out of hundreds, and there are a plethora of reasons why you should avoid this pitfall.

Multiple Frequency Speakers

First, understand that there are technical hardwiring issues, when you go the route of average home theater purchasers. While certain aftermarket cables are manufactured to merge components of different brands, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should do it, or even consider doing it, if you want optimal sound quality. Here’s why: Speaker loads, impedances, etc. are usually tailor-made to suit a particular brand. That translates to JBL subwoofers being designed to bear an exact load specification from the power amp, and receiver. However, you opted for the Yamaha, and while you may be able to tailor your sound, it would require a lot of guess and check work, and tweaking. All of this can be avoided if you simply choose to stick with one manufacturer, from the beginning.

Do a Mental Checklist

Consider this: maybe you are really partial to one type of speaker. Ask yourself why. Are you a die- hard Martin Logan fan? Ask yourself if it’s because of the crisp and accurate highs that they are known for. If that is the case, perhaps you are just a fan of great treble, and it is possible to assemble a home theater system that caters to that. In fact, because you are (hypothetically) a big Martin Logan fan, you can benefit from the fact that the company makes multiple components besides just speakers. So, instead of shopping around for what makes your Martin Logan speakers sound best, you can start with the source. No one knows how to maximize the potential of your Martin Logan speakers better than Martin Logan, itself!

Top Quality Receivers

Address All of Your P’s and Q’s

Once you’ve decided exactly which manufacturer you are willing to stick to, do some research. Perhaps cost is a prohibitive factor.  Perhaps installation of your system or acquisition is a problem. If you believe that it becomes too much work, remember that the work you will put in to assembling the right system, in the beginning, will save you hours of headaches in the long run. Also, the end product will be audibly better. Your decision to stick to one manufacturer will allow you to capitalize on the inestimable amount of money and time that the specific company spent on research and development.

Now You Are Ready!

Keep in mind that using one manufacturer doesn’t necessarily mean that your choices are severely limited. For instance there is a lot of leeway, depending on the specific manufacturer you chose. Also, if you chose a smaller manufacturer, some mixing and matching will be impossible to avoid. Nevertheless, if you are confused about how to proceed, do not hesitate to contact a professional. No matter how many home theater systems you installed, chances are, if you weren’t trained, the system you installed was never optimized for output. This is not to say you may not know what you are doing, but rather to stress that you cannot discount the importance of a true audio professional’s advice. Good luck on your home theater system sound!