Listening to music has never been easier. In the age of ubiquitous data and devices, anyone with a phone, a Spotify account and a Bluetooth speaker can get the party started. But it doesn’t take an audiophile to appreciate the difference between an ad hoc speaker set-up, and a properly-appointed home stereo system. We’re not talking about remodeling rooms or splurging on high-end, high-fidelity gear, but making a few thoughtful purchases, and paying attention to the way sound travels in confined spaces. Here are some quick tips for transforming a room into a dedicated listening environment.
DON’T BOTHER WITH SURROUND SOUND
Specifically, you only need two or three speakers for listening to music. A right and left channel to deliver stereo sound, and possibly a subwoofer to crank up the bass. That’s 2 channel or 2.1-channel, in home audio speakers, whereas a full surround sound set might be 5.1 or 7.1 channel. Music is typically recorded and mixed with stereo output in mind, so there’s no advantage to adding additional speakers. That’s not to say that you can’t play tunes on a surround sound layout, but if music is your priority, then focus on getting and placing the best 2 or 2.1-channel gear you can swing.
SKIP THE SOUNDBAR, TOO
Soundbars, which squeeze multiple speakers into a compact cabinet, are a popular alternative to the more traditional, multi-speaker setup. But they’re designed as home theatre products, optimised for TV and film-based audio, rather than music. And they have superfluous features. Most importantly, though, is the fact that soundbars don’t let you physically separate the left and right audio channels, which brings us to our next tip.
TRIANGULATE YOUR SEATING
Whether it’s a concert hall, a rock club, or your living room, every space has an acoustic sweet spot, where listeners can enjoy the full benefit of distinct, directional audio sources. For home stereo setups, the easiest rule is to create an equilateral triangle. In other words, set your left and right-channel speakers equal distance from each other, and from you. This will maximise the stereo effect.
ANGLE YOUR SPEAKERS
This might sound obvious, but remember that, while sound radiates outward in waves, most speakers are directional devices, and their cleanest audio comes from waves aimed directly at you. Aiming speakers at your preferred seat will also reduce the amount of audio reflections that you experience. This rule only applies to those two primary channels, though. If your system includes a subwoofer, that speaker’s placement is less about direction, and more about where in the room its bass sounds best. For subwoofers, trial and error is the more relevant strategy.
AMPLIFY YOUR SPEAKERS
At their most basic, amplifiers are volume boosters allowing people to pour extra power through existing speakers. Amplifiers can work in relative isolation, upgrading the power of speakers, or they can be part of a larger configuration that includes a pre-amp, which can clean up signals before they hit the amp. It’s easy to tumble down the hi-fi rabbit hole, however, so consider adding an integrated amplifier to your system, and skipping the pre-amps, receivers, and other arcane gear.
PUT BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS ON STANDS
They’re called bookshelf speakers, but don’t believe the hype. Actual bookshelves can trap and redirect sound, and they can vibrate, creating everything from unseemly buzzing to more subtle audio distortions. If you can’t spring for standing loudspeakers, or don’t have the space, mount compact bookshelf speakers on stands.
CHECK STREAMING SETTINGS
Streaming music services like Apple Music and Spotify don’t generally offer the highest quality files, unless you change the settings. The better the quality, the more data is being transferred per second, which can take a toll on your cellular data plan. But there’s really no reason to throttle your data when listening to music over a Wi-Fi connection, so pick the maximum bit-rate available.
DRAW THE CURTAINS
Sound waves change as they move through a space, absorbing into some materials and bouncing off of others. The latter can pose a bigger problem, especially when it comes to audio’s interaction with glass. Bizarre as it sounds, you can avoid many unwanted reflections by simply pulling the curtains, or reconsidering that new glass-top coffee table. If this seems extreme, know that true hi-fi purists have been known to hang fabric on walls, or else position special, purpose-built audio traps around a listening space.
Source: www.mentalfloss.com
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