You don’t have to be an audio expert to have a great home audio system. In addition to a smartphone with earbuds, Bluetooth, or another type of wireless speaker, you'll want the following listening experience.
Stereo provides a listening experience in which sounds are placed across two channels to create a stage.
The music mix places some sounds to the left of the main listening position and other sounds to the right of the main listening position. Sounds placed in the left and right channels, such as vocals, come from the phantom center channel between the left and right speakers. Simply put, it creates an auditory illusion of sounds coming from different directions.
Home audio stereo systems can be prepackaged or assembled from individual components with the following core functions:
- Stereo Amplifier or Receiver : Used as a hub to connect and control content sources and speakers.
- Speakers : A stereo system requires two speakers, one for the left channel and one for the right channel.
- Source : Source provides access to music content. You must plug in an external source on systems with integrated amplifiers. If the system has a receiver, it will have a built-in tuner and, in some cases, Bluetooth or Internet streaming. Need to connect to other sources.
If you're a casual listener, have a small room, or are on a budget, a compact, pre-installed system may be the best option. It provides everything you need to listen to music (including amplifiers, radio tuners, receivers, and speakers).
Depending on the system, additional features may include a built-in CD player, additional inputs for connecting one or more external sources, and Bluetooth for wireless streaming of music. However, one drawback to this is that these systems may not have enough power or good enough speakers to provide high-quality sound for larger rooms.
You can assemble a system with a separate receiver or integrated amplifier, speakers, and source equipment. This type of system offers flexibility to your preferences and budget, as you can choose the individual components and speakers you want.
This increased flexibility may cause your system to take up more space than a prepackaged system and increase your expenses as you customize and upgrade.
Stereo receivers have the following features:
- Amplifier : Supports two-channel (stereo) speaker setup.
- AM/FM tuner : For listening to local radio stations.
- Analog audio input : For connecting compatible source devices.
The higher the quality of a stereo receiver, the better it will prevent different internal components from interfering with each other. In lower quality receivers, the lack of separation can cause unwanted audio distortion.
Connection options you'll find on your stereo receiver include:
- Phono inputs : Most stereo receivers include these inputs for connecting a record (aka vinyl) turntable.
- DIGITAL AUDIO CONNECTIONS : Digital optical and coaxial audio inputs give you access to audio from select CD players, most DVD and Blu-ray players, cable and satellite boxes, and televisions.
- A/B Speaker Connection : This allows four speakers to be connected. However, surround sound listening is not supported. The B speakers mirror the main speakers and draw power from the same amplifier. Each pair of speakers has half the power. A/B speaker options allow listening to the same audio source in a second room, or provide greater coverage in a large room.
- Zone 2 : Selected stereo receivers include a Zone 2 output, which provides a stereo signal to a second location and requires an external amplifier. Zone 2 allows different audio sources to be played in the primary and secondary locations.
- Subwoofer Output : Selecting a stereo receiver allows the connection of a subwoofer, which amplifies low-frequency sounds for added bass.
A 2.1 channel setup is a stereo system with a subwoofer.
- Wireless multi-room audio : Select stereo receivers include platforms such as MusicCast (Yamaha), DTS Play-Fi and Sonos (Onkyo/Integra), allowing music to be sent wirelessly to compatible speakers.
- Ethernet or Wi-Fi : Ethernet and Wi-Fi provide access to music streaming services and networked audio storage devices.
- Bluetooth : Bluetooth included allows wireless streaming of music from compatible smartphones and tablets.
- USB : The USB port allows listening to music from flash drives and portable hard drives via a USB cable connection.
- Video connection : Select a receiver with a video connection. These may be analog (composite) or HDMI that only provides signal pass-through. The stereo receiver does not perform video processing or upgrading.
Speakers come in all types and sizes, and their placement is critical. If space is limited, bookshelf speakers may be the best option. Consider using floor-standing speakers in large rooms, especially if the receiver does not have a subwoofer output.
It's best to place the speakers about six to eight feet apart (about three to four feet from the center of the front wall) or in the front corners. However, do not place the speaker flat against a wall or corner. There needs to be space between the speakers and the wall or corner.
Speakers should not face straight ahead. Speakers should be angled from the main listening point (sweet spot) to provide the best directional balance of sound.
Some audio sources you can connect to a stereo receiver or amplifier include:
- Turntable : A phono connection may be provided with a ground or analog line connection.
If the turntable contains a USB output, it is used to connect to a PC and is supported by other software.
- CD Players : CD players offer analog audio connections, and some offer analog, digital optical, and coaxial audio connections.
- Audio recorder : The audio recorder can be connected to a stereo receiver using an analog audio connection.
- TV : If your TV has an audio output, you can connect it to a stereo receiver to receive TV sound.
- Network audio players : Network audio players provide access to music from streaming services and music stored on PCs and media servers. Bluetooth and USB are great for receivers that don't have these features. Provides analog and digital audio connections.
- Media Server : If the stereo receiver has a network connection, it can play music from a media server (NAS or PC) without needing to connect to an external network audio player.
Stereo receivers with analog or HDMI video pass-through functionality allow connection of video sources such as:
- DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD players
- Media Streaming (Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Apple TV)
- Cable and satellite TV boxes
- video recorder
Make sure that all video connections on the stereo receiver are compatible with the source's video connections.
Some people have stereo systems for music and separate surround sound systems for watching TV and movies.
However, you can also use a home theater receiver to listen to music in stereo, since almost all receivers have a two-channel (stereo) listening mode. This mode turns off all speakers except the front left and right speakers.
Home theater receivers can also use Dolby ProLogic II, IIx, DTS Neo:6, or other audio processing to process stereo signals for distribution to five or more channels. It provides a more immersive music listening experience but changes the characteristics of the original music mix.
Before you pull out your wallet, consider the following:
- Critical Listening vs. Casual Listening : Whether you are a critical or casual listener, try demonstrating the system or component you are considering. If it doesn't sound good at the dealer, it won't sound good at home.
- Small or Large Room : If you have a smaller room, a compact system may be enough. If you have a large room, make sure your choice fills the space with satisfying sound.
- Music & TV & Movie Listening : If you want to use a stereo system to play TV and movie sound while still listening to music, consider a system that can connect a subwoofer and provide a pass-through video connection.
If you primarily watch TV and movies and just listen to music casually, consider a soundbar or home theater receiver and a set of surround speakers.
Balance what you want with your budget. You don't have to buy a high-end stereo receiver. However, make sure the device you buy has all the features and connectivity options you need or plan to use in the future. Stereo receivers start at less than $100 and can go up to more than $1,000. Also, keep these tips in mind:
- Don't be seduced by amplifier power output specifications.
- You don’t have to spend a lot of money on cables and wires. Beware of 6 feet of speaker wire that costs $100 or more.
- Don't assume that a pair of $2,000 speakers will sound twice as good as a pair of $1,000 speakers. Quality usually only improves gradually as price increases. There are very expensive speakers. However, some affordable speakers offer excellent performance for the money.
The only obstacle to setting up a car audio system at home is power, since car stereos don't connect via typical AC power cords. It is possible to adapt a car stereo to AC power, but this requires some electrical knowledge.
Lossless audio formats such as FLAC, WAV, ALAC and WMA Lossless provide the best sound quality. They are generally considered to be as good or better than CDs. Unfortunately, these formats are not as widely supported as formats such as MP3.
