How would you like to have a home music system that sounds so
fantastic you would think the performers are playing in your home right
in front of you? Choosing just the right home audio amplifiers can make a
dramatic musical difference in how well your home theater and home
music system will sound.
Use these expert home audio tips for selecting your home entertainment and music system components and you'll create an exceptional sounding home audio experience without having to spend a small fortune.
Here's how to get the best value with your home entertainment music system
o Your largest investment after your HDTV should be in your home audio amplifiers, not your speakers
o Specific brands of AV receivers are known for having exceptional music fidelity
o You need a specific minimum power capability to achieve great audio sound
o Why you want a 2 channel stereo music system
o Stereo music and home theater surround sound need completely different power amplifiers
o AV receiver vs separate audio power amplifier components
o What makes up the heart of your home theater and music system sound?
The problem is that you have so many choices and there are so many brands available to choose from that it's very difficult to know where to start. If you shop at your local electronics stores these days, you probably won't find an expert in home audio entertainment who is knowledgeable enough to really help you. Most online forums and review sites are largely too biased.
The biggest difference between a good sounding home music system and having a fantastic sounding home entertainment system is the synergy of your components. Basically, how well all the separate pieces sound together like your speakers; your AV receiver, your home audio amplifiers, DVD/ blu-ray players, game consoles, ipod, DAC and so forth.
The heart of your entire music entertainment system will be the home audio amplifiers that you are using. Home audio amplifiers are like the engine of your car. They are a major factor in the musical synergy that you will hear throughout your home entertainment system. Your second biggest investment after your HDTV should be in your home audio amplifiers, not your speakers.
Select your audio amplifiers based on what you are most interested in for your home entertainment. Do you primarily want to listen to stereo music (2 channels) or do you want your music system to be part of your home theater movie system 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system?
In general, the most realistic live performance music sound that you can experience in your home will be listening through amplifiers which are 2 channels stereo only.
If you want the best value in stereo music choose a stereo integrated amplifier with a power per channel of at least 75 watts to 150 watts into 8 ohms. If your budget is higher, you will hear the best stereo music using a separate stereo power amplifier or individual mono power amplifiers and a matching stereo preamplifier together. Home audio amplifiers with at least 250 watts per channel will give you the best deep bass and overall warmth and sound stage depth and width from your music listening.
If your main interest is enjoying a home theater surround sound movie experience or playing video games and not just listening to music, you will need a home audio system with 5.1 or 7.1 multi-channel capabilities to experience fantastic sound in your home.
You will find the best values in home theater amplifiers by choosing a multi-channel AV (audio/video) receiver. You have many choices in selecting an AV receiver. They all have about the same features today but only a few have the higher level of hi fidelity sound that will create musical synergy for you. Choose an AV receiver that has at least 120 watts per channel for all channels. Marantz makes some of the best sounding AV receivers that you can buy and Marantz quality is first class.
When budget is not a concern, you will hear the most incredible sounding home theater systems using separate muti-channel high power home audio amplifiers with a matching audio video processor/preamp. You'll want to consider multi-channel home audio amplifiers with at least 150 watts to 350 watts per channel. Some of the top brands in this category are from: Marantz, Krell, Paragon, Lexicon and Mcintosh to name a few. For a significant step up from an AV receiver, separates like the Marantz AV8003 and MM8003 are both affordable and have outstanding musical sound quality making an excellent value for a first class home theater and home audio system.
Just remember, when putting together your home theater entertainment system or home audio music system, the heart of your sound system will come from the quality of the home audio amplifiers that you are using.
Use these expert home audio tips for selecting your home entertainment and music system components and you'll create an exceptional sounding home audio experience without having to spend a small fortune.
Here's how to get the best value with your home entertainment music system
o Your largest investment after your HDTV should be in your home audio amplifiers, not your speakers
o Specific brands of AV receivers are known for having exceptional music fidelity
o You need a specific minimum power capability to achieve great audio sound
o Why you want a 2 channel stereo music system
o Stereo music and home theater surround sound need completely different power amplifiers
o AV receiver vs separate audio power amplifier components
o What makes up the heart of your home theater and music system sound?
The problem is that you have so many choices and there are so many brands available to choose from that it's very difficult to know where to start. If you shop at your local electronics stores these days, you probably won't find an expert in home audio entertainment who is knowledgeable enough to really help you. Most online forums and review sites are largely too biased.
The biggest difference between a good sounding home music system and having a fantastic sounding home entertainment system is the synergy of your components. Basically, how well all the separate pieces sound together like your speakers; your AV receiver, your home audio amplifiers, DVD/ blu-ray players, game consoles, ipod, DAC and so forth.
The heart of your entire music entertainment system will be the home audio amplifiers that you are using. Home audio amplifiers are like the engine of your car. They are a major factor in the musical synergy that you will hear throughout your home entertainment system. Your second biggest investment after your HDTV should be in your home audio amplifiers, not your speakers.
Select your audio amplifiers based on what you are most interested in for your home entertainment. Do you primarily want to listen to stereo music (2 channels) or do you want your music system to be part of your home theater movie system 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system?
In general, the most realistic live performance music sound that you can experience in your home will be listening through amplifiers which are 2 channels stereo only.
If you want the best value in stereo music choose a stereo integrated amplifier with a power per channel of at least 75 watts to 150 watts into 8 ohms. If your budget is higher, you will hear the best stereo music using a separate stereo power amplifier or individual mono power amplifiers and a matching stereo preamplifier together. Home audio amplifiers with at least 250 watts per channel will give you the best deep bass and overall warmth and sound stage depth and width from your music listening.
If your main interest is enjoying a home theater surround sound movie experience or playing video games and not just listening to music, you will need a home audio system with 5.1 or 7.1 multi-channel capabilities to experience fantastic sound in your home.
You will find the best values in home theater amplifiers by choosing a multi-channel AV (audio/video) receiver. You have many choices in selecting an AV receiver. They all have about the same features today but only a few have the higher level of hi fidelity sound that will create musical synergy for you. Choose an AV receiver that has at least 120 watts per channel for all channels. Marantz makes some of the best sounding AV receivers that you can buy and Marantz quality is first class.
When budget is not a concern, you will hear the most incredible sounding home theater systems using separate muti-channel high power home audio amplifiers with a matching audio video processor/preamp. You'll want to consider multi-channel home audio amplifiers with at least 150 watts to 350 watts per channel. Some of the top brands in this category are from: Marantz, Krell, Paragon, Lexicon and Mcintosh to name a few. For a significant step up from an AV receiver, separates like the Marantz AV8003 and MM8003 are both affordable and have outstanding musical sound quality making an excellent value for a first class home theater and home audio system.
Just remember, when putting together your home theater entertainment system or home audio music system, the heart of your sound system will come from the quality of the home audio amplifiers that you are using.
Gary L. Goldsmith is a life long music audiophile with an
extensive background of more than 40 years experience in electronics
including state of the art digital and analog audio and video home
entertainment systems. He consults, designs and installs home
entertainment and music systems as a hobby.
