Home Audio Systems Beginner Guide

Setting up and owning a home audio system is more accessible today than ever. Even a few years ago, having such a system would be a luxury or require a tech degree to put together. But nowadays more and more people are making quality sound systems a part of their everyday leisure. Still, there can be a few questions most people might have when getting started, so Kanex Pro has put together a fast home audio systems beginner guide.

Our Home Audio Systems Beginner Guide

In some cases, you can get a prepackaged audio system at the store and it is just plug-and-play. But to get something that makes the most of your unique space or room, it is best to put together a unique set.

To get your set assembled and ready to go, you will need three main features. We will go through each one to help you figure out just what you need.

• Stereo amplifier or receiver
• Speakers
• Sources

Receiver or Amplifier

Think of the receiver as the core or hub of your audio system. An audio system is a bit like a river system. The input source sends the audio to the receiver, which then processes it and sends it to the speakers, much like how a dam redirects a river's flow. A receiver usually has multiple options for input, ranging from AV cables to Bluetooth connections, so the first thing you will need to check for your receiver is that it can receive the type of input you want. We generally recommend having several input options on your receiver because it allows you to use it with greater flexibility overall. Below are the main connection options:

• Phono 
• Digital audio connections (e.g., digital optical and coaxial audio inputs)
• A/B speaker connections
• Zone 2
• Subwoofer  
• Wireless multiroom audio & Bluetooth
• Ethernet or Wi-Fi: 
• USB
• Video connections (composite or HDMI)

Speakers

With speakers, you want to consider two main factors: the types of speakers and their placement. Don't let their looks fool you and go by size alone. Small speakers nowadays can pack more of a punch and sound cleaner than larger ones, but they may cost more. So instead of just trying to get the biggest speakers, we suggest looking for quality speakers that make sense size-wise for your room. Try measuring out different parts of your room and see what dimensions make the most sense for speakers. 

Placing your speakers takes some thought too. If you are placing them for a home theater especially, you will want to angle them toward the listening spot instead of putting them head-on. Kanex Pro is always here to help you with home theater AV solutions to help you get the highest performance for the most affordable solution.

Sources

The source for your home audio systems is generally just your Smart TV or a DVD/Blu-ray player. But many people may use media streams such as Fire TV, Roku, or Apple TV. In any case, the main thing to think about for your source is that you can connect it to your receiver. So keep in mind cord lengths and types as well as the placement of your source to keep any cables as invisible as possible. Visible cables not only can look untidy, but they are more likely to break if someone gets caught on them while walking, cleaning, or whatnot. Trust us, it happens more often than you would think. A visible cable is one that is just waiting to accidentally get yanked out of its slot.

Get Started on Your Home Audio System Today

Kanex Pro is your ideal place to go for audio visual system integration. Whether you need an audio system for a home theater or for a more commercial setting, we have the supplies and expertise needed to get your system up and running with optimal sound and functionality. Contact us today to get started and see what a difference in audio quality truly sounds like.