While so many of us have been stuck at home, we’ve all been trying to find some new ways to spruce up our living areas. The popularity of home improvement projects is at an all-time high, so you might as well jump on the bandwagon and make your home a place you’ll never want to leave.
Watching movies, TV shows, or listening to music is a great way to pass the time, but if your home audio system is lacking, it might make these activities feel more like a chore. So take a break from painting the kitchen or remodeling the bathroom and spend some time revamping your home audio system.
Here are a few simple tips to get you started!
1. Angle Your Speakers
Even if you’ve got the nicest speakers in the game, they won’t sound much different from any other model if you don’t set them up correctly. Modern speakers useelectromagnets to turn electric signals into varying strength audio waves. These waves tend to move in a single direction, bouncing off of solid surfaces that they touch.
But as the waves reverb off of surfaces, the sound quality diminishes. This means that to hear the best quality sound from your audio system, you want to make sure that your speakers are aimed directly towards the seating area.
For example, tilt your speakers so that they are facing the couch, recliner, or any other favorite chair. This will ensure that you’re hearing the sound directly from the speakers themselves.
2. Use a New DAC
DAC stands fordigital-to-analog converter. It takes digital data and transforms it into an analog sound signal. When you listen to any type of sound from your phone, CD player, or television, this is an analog signal that was converted from a digital file.
The thing is, not all DACs are built equally. The digital-to-analog converter inside of your television or laptop, for example, is of lower sound quality than one you might find inside of a Bluetooth speaker or home stereo system.
3. Use Speaker Stands
If you own bookshelf speakers, you should consider getting a pair of speaker stands. Bookshelf speakers are any type of speaker that can sit on a bookshelf or any other surface. In other words: they are meant to sit on something flat.
The problem is that many people put their bookshelf speakers directly on the floor. Not only will this diminish the sound quality from reverb on the floor, but it also makes the sound direction hit your feet rather than your ears.
Investing in some speaker stands might make all the difference. This will give you more freedom in regards to angling and placement while also making sure that the sound rests at ear level. It’s also much more inexpensive than investing in a brand new set of speakers.
4. Adjust Your Seating
Believe it or not, your audio system might not be the problem -- it might bethe room layout itself! Every space has an acoustic sweet spot where the sound quality from your speakers will hit most effectively.
The rule of thumb is to create an equilateral triangle with both of your speakers and your seating arrangements. In short, put one speaker on the left side of your TV or projection screen and another speaker on the right side. Then, set up your seating in front of those speakers so that you can draw an imaginary equilateral triangle connecting all three.
This will help to maximize the stereo effect and reduce diluted transmission that may come from bouncing off of surfaces.
5. Amplify Your Speakers
Amplifiers are volume boosters that can help to enhance the base functionality of any of your speaker systems. Most amplifiers just hook up directly to your speaker system and can work in relative isolation, but you can configure a pretty cool set-up that includes a pre-amp. These can help reduce feedback in audio signals before they hit the amplifier itself.
Amplifiers work great, and they aren’t reserved just for your speaker systems. You can even use an amplifier for your favorite set of wired headphones for jaw-dropping audio fidelity. Auris’Amplify Hi-Fi amplifier can even make your wired headphones Bluetooth compatible.
6. Find a New Streaming Service
Some of the sound issues you’re experiencing might also have to do withwherethe sound is being sourced from, rather than the speakers themselves. This is especially true when listening to music from your favorite streaming service.
While Spotify and Apple Music are the most popular optionswhen it comes to music streaming, they are on the lower quality end of the spectrum. Don’t get us wrong -- they still sound really great. However, streaming services such as Tidal have alossless streaming option that can get you a higher quality sound when compared to many others.
But this all comes down to personal preference. For the average listener, you may never notice a difference, and Spotify’s vast music catalog is often more attractive than high-quality sound. However, if you’re looking to really “wow” guests with your speaker systems, you want to make sure that your streaming service can match up.
7. Make Your Speaker Wireless
Wired analog speaker systems had their moment many years ago. But in the age of wireless Bluetooth technology, your home audio system should be able to follow suit. Turning your analog system into a completely wirelessly compatible device will give you much more freedom without the limitations of wires.
You can do this by getting yourself aBluetooth Music Receiver that makes any wired sound system Bluetooth compatible. It lets you enjoy your music while you move around your home, simultaneously allowing you to change tracks and stations from anywhere.
It means you won’t be stuck playing CDs or records during your post-COVID party, as you can play any song imaginable from whatever streaming service you choose.
8. Keep Things Simple
Many people make the mistake of buying tons of speakers to create that perfect surround sound set-up. The thing is, you only need two speakers to deliver great quality stereo sound.
While surround sound might help you become fully immersed in your favorite shows and movies, it’s usually not more noticeable than a simple two-channel set-up. These are also less complicated to install and work with, so if you’re not well-versed in the world of audio, this is a safe way to go.
A New Sound for Your System
Your audio system can make or break your next movie night or get-together. While you have some free time from being stuck at home, you might as well make your living space as great as possible!
Enhancing your speakers usually doesn’t take too much time and effort. Something as simple as angling your speakers correctly can make all the difference. However, you may want to try investing in speaker stands or a speaker amplifier to heighten your sound quality.
Also, lackluster audio may have nothing to do with the speakers themselves. You may want to look into getting a higher quality streaming service or even just move around the furniture in your room.
Regardless, high-quality audio is more easily attainable than you might think. The right speaker set-up can turn your living room into a theater, nightclub, or even a concert venue. You’ll never want to leave the house again!
Sources:
History and Types of Loudspeakers | Edison Tech Center
How Does the Shape of a Room Affect Reverberation Time? | Sciencing.com
Lossless audio explained: sorting the FLACs from the ALACs | TechRadar.com
