Every homeowner who has dreams of setting up an epic home theater wants to have the best sounding system possible. For most, this means months and months of research, reading magazine articles, talking to audiophiles, and comparing components online. And, all too often, homeowners fall victim to the façade that “bigger is better.”
The problem is, who can you believe? Do higher priced components really make that big of a difference? Do major brand speakers sound better than less expensive models? Does the quality of your cables make a difference in clarity? In most cases, satisfaction depends more on your personal preferences than how much you spend.
Here, we will discuss the three most common home audio myths so you can achieve the best possible home audio in Wilmington NC for your home’s unique needs.
Myth #1: Speaker Size Isn’t Important
Small speakers, like bookshelf speakers and smaller, have become a trend in recent years because homeowners don’t want their living rooms overwhelmed by large speakers. What has accelerated this trend is the fact that the manufacturers of these compact speakers claim that their speakers offer the benefit of inconspicuous design while still delivering movie quality sound.
The problem is, despite all of the technological advances used in the production of small speakers, they still have to follow the general laws of physics. And, larger speakers simply move more air than smaller speakers. Regardless of the room dimensions, the equipment used, and all other factors, the simple truth is a 3-way tower speaker will deliver sound that is richer, fuller, clearer, and better all-around sonic experience than a small speaker.
Myth #2: Expensive Cables Produce Cleaner Audio
When it comes to audio cables, expensive doesn’t always mean good and inexpensive doesn’t always mean bad. Sound quality is not always proportional to the cost of the cables. In order to get the best sound possible, you will want to purchase thicker cables made from oxygen-free copper and here’s why:
Thicker cables offer less resistance to the amplifier. This means that the audio signals being delivered through thicker cable can move easier than they can through thinner cables. Thicker cables are also needed for longer runs, so rear speakers in a typical surround sound setup should be powered by thicker cables than the front speakers (because the front speakers tend to be located closer to the amp). In most cases, you will always want to use cables a little thicker than recommended for the run so your signal won’t be compromised by the eventual broken strands of wire within the cable itself.
One of the things that can impact the price of cables is the material used to make the wire. With the cost of copper climbing, you can probably expect cables made from oxygen-free copper to be more expensive than the common alternative, which is made of an aluminum core with an exterior of coated copper. But, for the serious audiophile, the price of oxygen-free copper will be worth it. For the homeowner who just wants to hear a great sounding movie or CD, copper clad aluminum will probably do just fine.
Myth #3: A 100-Watt Amp Delivers 100 Watts of Sound to Each Speaker
One of the biggest misconceptions in home audio is that the wattage listed on an amplifier is the amount of wattage that’s delivered to each speaker. In truth, most amplifier wattage ratings are based on two speakers only.
In the case of a 100-watt 7.1 amplifier, the actual power delivery per speaker will almost always be lower than 100 watts, sometimes by as much as 20 watts per channel. The only way you can be sure all channels receive the full 100 watts is when the amplifier specifically states that “all channels are driven.” And, the only amplifiers that are capable of driving all channels tend to be priced at the higher end of the home audio spectrum.
Call AcoustiCreations for a Consultation in Home Audio in Wilmington NC
Over the last decade, home audio technology has evolved significantly. If you want to get a better idea of what is available and what will work and sound best in your home, call AcoustiCreations today to set up a consultation. We create custom home theater environments throughout the Wilmington NC area and we have the expertise necessary to design and install the ideal system in your home.
Call AcoustiCreations today at 910-371-2038 and see for yourself why so many homeowners call us when they want the best sounding home audio in Wilmington NC.
The problem is, who can you believe? Do higher priced components really make that big of a difference? Do major brand speakers sound better than less expensive models? Does the quality of your cables make a difference in clarity? In most cases, satisfaction depends more on your personal preferences than how much you spend.
Here, we will discuss the three most common home audio myths so you can achieve the best possible home audio in Wilmington NC for your home’s unique needs.
Myth #1: Speaker Size Isn’t Important
Small speakers, like bookshelf speakers and smaller, have become a trend in recent years because homeowners don’t want their living rooms overwhelmed by large speakers. What has accelerated this trend is the fact that the manufacturers of these compact speakers claim that their speakers offer the benefit of inconspicuous design while still delivering movie quality sound.
The problem is, despite all of the technological advances used in the production of small speakers, they still have to follow the general laws of physics. And, larger speakers simply move more air than smaller speakers. Regardless of the room dimensions, the equipment used, and all other factors, the simple truth is a 3-way tower speaker will deliver sound that is richer, fuller, clearer, and better all-around sonic experience than a small speaker.
Myth #2: Expensive Cables Produce Cleaner Audio
When it comes to audio cables, expensive doesn’t always mean good and inexpensive doesn’t always mean bad. Sound quality is not always proportional to the cost of the cables. In order to get the best sound possible, you will want to purchase thicker cables made from oxygen-free copper and here’s why:
Thicker cables offer less resistance to the amplifier. This means that the audio signals being delivered through thicker cable can move easier than they can through thinner cables. Thicker cables are also needed for longer runs, so rear speakers in a typical surround sound setup should be powered by thicker cables than the front speakers (because the front speakers tend to be located closer to the amp). In most cases, you will always want to use cables a little thicker than recommended for the run so your signal won’t be compromised by the eventual broken strands of wire within the cable itself.
One of the things that can impact the price of cables is the material used to make the wire. With the cost of copper climbing, you can probably expect cables made from oxygen-free copper to be more expensive than the common alternative, which is made of an aluminum core with an exterior of coated copper. But, for the serious audiophile, the price of oxygen-free copper will be worth it. For the homeowner who just wants to hear a great sounding movie or CD, copper clad aluminum will probably do just fine.
Myth #3: A 100-Watt Amp Delivers 100 Watts of Sound to Each Speaker
One of the biggest misconceptions in home audio is that the wattage listed on an amplifier is the amount of wattage that’s delivered to each speaker. In truth, most amplifier wattage ratings are based on two speakers only.
In the case of a 100-watt 7.1 amplifier, the actual power delivery per speaker will almost always be lower than 100 watts, sometimes by as much as 20 watts per channel. The only way you can be sure all channels receive the full 100 watts is when the amplifier specifically states that “all channels are driven.” And, the only amplifiers that are capable of driving all channels tend to be priced at the higher end of the home audio spectrum.
Call AcoustiCreations for a Consultation in Home Audio in Wilmington NC
Over the last decade, home audio technology has evolved significantly. If you want to get a better idea of what is available and what will work and sound best in your home, call AcoustiCreations today to set up a consultation. We create custom home theater environments throughout the Wilmington NC area and we have the expertise necessary to design and install the ideal system in your home.
Call AcoustiCreations today at 910-371-2038 and see for yourself why so many homeowners call us when they want the best sounding home audio in Wilmington NC.
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