How to Design a Home Audio System

Designing a home audio system may seem like a challenging task, but once you break down the system into its various components, it is quite easy to determine which products and devices you need and how to set them up. A well designed home audio system will make listening to music and movies easier, quicker and more enjoyable for yourself or your family and will allow you to receive the maximum clarity and resolution from your recorded media.

Things You'll Need

•    Stereo or surround-sound speakers
•    Stereo or surround sound amplifier with remote control
•    Compact disc player

•    DVD or Blu-ray player

Designing Your Home Audio System

1.    The first step in designing your home audio system is to pick an appropriate receiver. The receiver is the device that accepts connections from audio equipment such as CD and LP players and lets you quickly switch between them. Make sure your receiver has the appropriate amount of inputs for all of your audio equipment. If you have a CD player, a record player, MP3 player and a DVD player, make sure it has connections for at least this amount of devices. Having one or two unused inputs to connect sound equipment you may purchase later is recommended.

2.    Make sure the receiver has appropriate power, as this is the device that will power your speakers and control the volume of your audio sources. Generally, the higher the wattage, the better the amplifier. However, you need to also look at the THD (total harmonic distortion) specifications of your amplifier, as this will effect audio clarity. Most receivers will measure below 1 percent, but the best receivers are below 0.1 percent.

3.    The next step is to purchase speakers. Know the specifications of your receiver when shopping for speakers as they must work together. Generally, the more sensitive the speaker rating, the more power they will need to pull from your amplifier, reducing maximum volume. While this may not be a bad thing if you have a powerful amplifier, it can be a concern if you do not. Check the factory specifications of your amplifier and speakers together to find the best match.

4.    The next step is to purchase a CD player. While many companies manufacture CD players that house many CDs, it is best to choose a CD player with only one or two spaces for CDs. With audio equipment in general, the less moving parts you have, the less likely something is to break or malfunction.

5.    If you plan on watching movies with your home audio system, you will need to purchase a DVD or Blu-ray player. With video players, you are looking for the highest resolution possible. Most standard Blu-ray players offer high resolution for both DVDs and Blu-ray discs.

Connecting Your Home Audio System

1.    With all power off, connect your speakers to the amplifier with the highest-quality speaker cable possible. The manufacturer will note the best gauge of speaker cable to use for both the amplifier and the speakers.

2.    Connect the CD player to the CD input on your receiver. Select CD output on the receiver and play a CD to make sure the system is working.

3.    Connect your DVD player to the DVD input on the receiver. Test this connection to make sure the audio is working properly. If you are planning to connect a television to this system, now is the best time to do it.

4.    Connect any other devices such as an MP3 player or external tuner to your receiver via the appropriate inputs on the amplifier. Check to make sure they are working properly.

Tips & Warnings
•    Measure the proper length of speaker cable you will need before purchasing.

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