The Most Important Components of a
Whole-House Music
System Installation
Are you ready for a whole-house music system installation? Having a hi-fi in your living room is all well and good for when you are hosting a party or chatting with guests. Having great speakers in your office is nice when you are working. What about when you want to listen to your music in dynamic high-fidelity when you are cooking in the kitchen?
A whole-house music system spares you from placing a stereo system in every room in the house. Even more having several separate stereos is unnecessarily expensive, and it certainly clutters up your living space.
Listening to music, talk radio or podcasts is a nice way to start your day and can even make you healthier. As each living situation is unique, there is not a cut-and-paste solution to a multi-room audio system. Therefore audio equipment integration has some general guiding principles.
A whole-house music system spares you from placing a stereo system in every room in the house. Even more having several separate stereos is unnecessarily expensive, and it certainly clutters up your living space.
Listening to music, talk radio or podcasts is a nice way to start your day and can even make you healthier. As each living situation is unique, there is not a cut-and-paste solution to a multi-room audio system. Therefore audio equipment integration has some general guiding principles.
Read on to find out about the most essential
components of a whole house music system installation.
Stereo Receiver
A stereo receiver is the brain of your whole-house surround-sound system. Like the brain, a receiver takes a signal from all your audio devices and routes it to wherever you need it sent.
Speakers
Speakers are probably the most important part of a home audio system. Theoretically, you could get by without a receiver or amplifiers thanks to the proliferation of Bluetooth and digital audio devices on the market. Your music is only as good as your speakers. Having the quality vinyl, lossless audio or expensive analog pre-amplifiers will not matter a bit if you are listening through low-quality speakers. You should spring for the best speakers your budget can handle.Amplifiers and Pre-Amps
Amplifiers and pre-amps are third on the list as many receivers and speaker systems feature built-in amplification. If you are going to be sending audio to multiple rooms, however, you may need a dedicated amplifier.You will need to consider whether you need a powered or un-powered amplifier. You will also have to think about how many outputs you will need, depending on how many speakers the amp will be sending a signal to.
Audio Devices
It goes without saying, but your whole-house music system will not do much good if you do not have anything to play through it. You should think about what kind of music devices you will predominantly be using. This information will impact the other components you end up choosing.If you will be mostly listening to music off of your smartphone, you might want something with a docking station. If you will be listening to vinyl, you may need some additional analog amplification to bring out the warmth.
A whole-house surround system will improve your life in ways you never even imagined. You could be lounging out by your pool listening to Astrud Gilberto on a sunny summer afternoon. You could pipe in light classical or jazz during your next dinner party and marvel at the relaxed mood and conversation.
Music makes everything better. You will be amazed you have managed to live without hi-fi audio in every room for so long.
Element Integration is an electronic and automation installation company serving both residential and commercial clients in the Raleigh-Durham area. As an experienced specifier and educator to architects and building designers, we offer expertise and specifications for projects from concept to completion.
