When was the last time you watched a movie with the sound turned
off? No matter how big or splendid the TV picture is — without sound there’s
just no enjoying it. And because today’s BIG
SCREEN TVs are now so thin and svelte, there’s just not the room for
including big speakers that can provide big sound to accompany the big picture.
That’s why it’s way past time to upgrade your audio system.
Besides the obvious enjoyment of having greater volume and surround sound
effects, listening to music becomes an event, not a tiny sound coming from a
portable speaker or a smartphone.
The basics needed for a home audio system are simple, but making
choices as to which components will best serve your needs will take time and
effort. As will placing them correctly in your living room, den or wherever
that 4K
TV or HDTV has been placed. That’s why many forego the route of the
Do-It-Youselfer and have a professional installer like Just One Touch
take over: they not only have the knowledge as to what will give you the best
possible sound, but also as to how to place the audio system so that it
performs at its best.
So here are the basics that will transform whatever room you’re
watching in — as it makes your home theater experience as good as going to the
movies. Just without having to pay those insane prices for a candy bar and
soda.
The A/V Receiver
An Audio/Video
Receiver (named as such due to receivers having added video
capabilities some time back) provides the means for powering the speakers that
the home theater needs. As the “hub” of all the components, the receiver
decodes the audio formats, like Dolby Digital and DTS (as well as even newer
audio technologies like Dolby
Atmos and others) and amplifies the audio signal so that it can
drive the various speakers that provide surround sound. There are many added
benefits found in different AV Receivers, but providing for multiple speakers
is always the main concern — be that a 5.1 system (meaning a front left, front
right, center channel and pair of surrounds along with a powered subwoofer) or
7.1 or even greater.
Additionally, the receiver can be used as a “video switcher” —
this works by having the various video components (such as a Blu-ray player, a
cable box, etc.) sending their video signal into the receiver. Then a single
output cable goes from the receiver into the TV or front projector. This also
has the advantage of sending the multichannel audio into the receiver, provided
that the cable being used between the video device and receiver is an HDMI
cable.
The Speakers
A set of speakers provide sound for the home theater. A pair of left and right
speakers are the basics, good for playing stereo from a CD or a vinyl turntable
or even a digital file. But to enhance the sound, a center speaker (a.k.a.
center channel) will highlight dialogue and voices. Then added to that will be
a pair of surround speakers (left and right) to allow for the surround effects
that make movies so exciting. A subwoofer
in the corner (self-powered) joins in to add the strong bass that
makes action movies so dynamic. More speakers can be added too, especially if
the sound format calls for them, but the 5.1 audio system is the basic setup
needed for a home theater to sound good. Not that there are not alternates that
can be used — for example, a speaker
bar sound system. Here you have a number of speakers contained in a
single unit, with surround speakers and a subwoofer often part of the package
as well (and in some cases working wirelessly too).
The Hardware
A home theater needs a great audio system just as it needs a great
TV. Careful planning and patience will serve you well as you work on
upgrading your audio system.
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