Steps for a Better Whole-House Audio System

By Jason Griffin. January 13 2016. For www.electronichouse.com

Want the music delivered by your new whole-house audio system to sound superb? Here’s how.

 

Purchasing a whole-house audio system is a great way to enhance your living space. Not long ago these systems were expensive and difficult to install. No longer is this the case. With an increasing number of options available, there’s a system for nearly every type of home, budget and homeowner need. But finding the right system is only part of the process.

SEE ALSO: THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKER PLACEMENT

 

1. The Component Selection

 

To get the most enjoyment out of your multi-room audio system you must start with the right components. The first component you’ll need to consider is the source. Source material, be it music from your iTunes library, streaming services like Pandora, or a good old-fashioned CD, must be converted from a digital signal to an analog signal before it hits your eardrums. This conversion is the job of a DAC (digital-to-analog converter). The quality of this converter will have an impact on the sound reproduction.

Now for the amplifier: When it comes to optimizing your multi-room audio system, amplifier selection boils down to a choice between analog and digital. There are several classes of analog amps (A, B, and A/B), each with their own performance and efficiency traits. Class D digital amplifiers have several advantages over their analog counterparts, namely greater efficiency (less heat) and increased immunity to signal distortion. While many audiophiles still espouse the benefits of high-end analog circuitry, for most music enthusiats a digital amp will afford a better listening experience.

With sources and amplifiers selected, the last major component to choose is the speakers. Fundamentally, any given speaker is a very simple mechanism, the design of which is equal parts art and science. Trying to quantitatively measure what makes one speaker better than another can be an exercise in futility. Given two speakers of comparable build quality, the difference is by and large one of personal preference. Consequently, if you have the option, either through a local dealer or retailer, auditioning speakers in person is by far the best way to make an informed purchase.

 

2. The Physical Installation

 

Once all of your components are selected it is time to move on to the physical installation. The placement of speakers relative to one another, as well as to other objects in the room, can make a substantial difference in the speaker’s performance. One of the first places to start when determining speaker placement is the installation manual provided with your speakers. This manual should contain information on the speaker’s dispersion pattern. Often, the manual will also contain general guidelines for placement based on such factors as room size and ceiling height.

No matter the type of speaker you’ve selected, there are some general guidelines you can follow. When using in-ceiling speakers it is important to keep them at least 2 feet away from adjacent walls. In-wall speakers should generally be placed at ear-level or higher. Although in some rooms, such as a dining area, where music is likely only to be played at very low volumes, speakers can be placed down low without great compromise to the system’s performance.

In terms of speaker placement relative to one another, the idea is to create even audio dispersion throughout the space. This is accomplished by spreading the speakers out. Bear in mind that in larger rooms a single pair of speakers may not be enough to create the desired effect. Conversely, in smaller rooms, such as bathrooms, a pair may be overkill due to space constraints. In these situations a “stereo input” speaker may be utilized. This is a single speaker that utilizes two inputs (left and right) to create the desired stereo imaging effect in a smaller space.

 

3. The Source Material

 

Beyond the physical installation and calibration there is one final consideration to make: the selection of source material. After all, the best system in the world can only do so much with highly compressed, low-quality source material. As the saying goes, “garbage in, garbage out.” This is primarily a consideration when it comes to digital music files, whether they are downloaded or streamed.

Online music stores, such as iTunes, and streaming services, such as Pandora and Spotify, use various forms of compression technology to shrink audio files down to manageable sizes. This type of compression is called “lossy.” Over time, these compression algorithms have become highly sophisticated. New streaming services such as Tidal and Deezer Elite cater to this hi-fi crowd. Both services offer some form of free trial. It may be worth a shot to see if you can hear the difference. Or better yet, do a blind comparison with a spouse or friend.

Purchasing and installing a multi-room audio system is easier now than ever before. While the upfront costs and setup time have been minimized, it’s still critical to ensure that you get the maximum possible performance for your money. By following a few simple guidelines throughout the purchasing and installation phases, you can feel confident that you are maximizing your multi-room audio investment.

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