Decorating
Home Sound Systems and All That Jazz
There are so many home sound systems on the market that finding the right one may prove overwhelming. Read on to narrow down your choices
The house is alive with the sound of music – well, as long as you have a perfect system! Starting from the top, a wireless network streams music, movies and even photos from your computer to any part of your home (and yes, that includes the bathroom). Or, if you’re looking for an on-the-go option, consider a compact portable unit with plenty of power. Hopefully these ideas, their pros and cons, including ways to store the systems, will help point you in the right direction to work out what will work best in your home.
Stream your music
Streaming music wirelessly to the whole house from your computer gives you maximum choice for minimal cost. Whether you’re purchasing digital albums or subscribing to a digital music-sharing site, your choice in music is ready to go with the touch of a button.
PROS: The set-up can be zoned, so various areas of the house can listen to different music simultaneously.
CONS: You need to be a little tech-savvy to set up or change the system.
Streaming music wirelessly to the whole house from your computer gives you maximum choice for minimal cost. Whether you’re purchasing digital albums or subscribing to a digital music-sharing site, your choice in music is ready to go with the touch of a button.
PROS: The set-up can be zoned, so various areas of the house can listen to different music simultaneously.
CONS: You need to be a little tech-savvy to set up or change the system.
Get an on-the-go system
An all-in-one unit is portable, offers pretty good sound quality and can include digital radio, an iPod dock, CD player and standard radio. Easy to move from room to room, it’s a good choice for apartment dwellers living on a budget.
PROS: Portable, no need to hang speakers, and the cost isn’t going to break the bank.
CONS: These types of units usually have a short shelf life and rarely offer wireless connection to your computer.
An all-in-one unit is portable, offers pretty good sound quality and can include digital radio, an iPod dock, CD player and standard radio. Easy to move from room to room, it’s a good choice for apartment dwellers living on a budget.
PROS: Portable, no need to hang speakers, and the cost isn’t going to break the bank.
CONS: These types of units usually have a short shelf life and rarely offer wireless connection to your computer.
Source an old-school turntable
While CDs are in an ever-decreasing decline, vinyl records are making a bit of a comeback. This vintage unit is just the thing for playing the old vinyl you’ve had boxed away for years.
PROS: Warm, nostalgic and oh-so cool, this unit is the centrepiece of the room.
CONS: If anything goes wrong, it can be difficult to get repaired.
While CDs are in an ever-decreasing decline, vinyl records are making a bit of a comeback. This vintage unit is just the thing for playing the old vinyl you’ve had boxed away for years.
PROS: Warm, nostalgic and oh-so cool, this unit is the centrepiece of the room.
CONS: If anything goes wrong, it can be difficult to get repaired.
Consider a contemporary version
There are a range of modern turntables available that look at home in the most contemporary of rooms. Many musicians are releasing their albums on vinyl and the popularity of DJing is keeping the turntable industry healthy. It’s often claimed that the sound quality of a good turntable is warmer than that of a CD or digital download.
PROS: You get to enjoy full-sized album art again.
CONS: You’ll need to get up and change sides every 20 minutes or so.
There are a range of modern turntables available that look at home in the most contemporary of rooms. Many musicians are releasing their albums on vinyl and the popularity of DJing is keeping the turntable industry healthy. It’s often claimed that the sound quality of a good turntable is warmer than that of a CD or digital download.
PROS: You get to enjoy full-sized album art again.
CONS: You’ll need to get up and change sides every 20 minutes or so.
Surround yourself with sound
To get the most out of your big flatscreen TV and the latest blockbuster movies, surround sound is nearly a necessity. Such a sound system will make you feel like you’re part of the action.
PROS: Awesome sound quality.
CONS: This system will take over a whole room and usually needs some type of sound insulation in the walls.
More ideas for cinematic solutions
To get the most out of your big flatscreen TV and the latest blockbuster movies, surround sound is nearly a necessity. Such a sound system will make you feel like you’re part of the action.
PROS: Awesome sound quality.
CONS: This system will take over a whole room and usually needs some type of sound insulation in the walls.
More ideas for cinematic solutions
Play music while you wash
Make bath time even more enjoyable with dedicated bathroom speakers. This waterproof set allows you to slot in your iPod or smart phone and groove along to your favourite playlist.
PROS: The right music really sets the mood for a luxurious bath.
CONS: Be careful not to drop your digital device onto the tiles or in any water!
Make bath time even more enjoyable with dedicated bathroom speakers. This waterproof set allows you to slot in your iPod or smart phone and groove along to your favourite playlist.
PROS: The right music really sets the mood for a luxurious bath.
CONS: Be careful not to drop your digital device onto the tiles or in any water!
Invest in a professional unit
Are you really serious about your music? There are some truly amazing sound systems available that will, quite simply, blow you away with their quality. These are serious units for serious music lovers.
PROS: The sound is amazing.
CONS: When it comes to cost, the sky is the limit!
Are you really serious about your music? There are some truly amazing sound systems available that will, quite simply, blow you away with their quality. These are serious units for serious music lovers.
PROS: The sound is amazing.
CONS: When it comes to cost, the sky is the limit!
Store your technology in a sleek unit
Your sound and entertainment system can consist of multiple pieces of technology. While this gives you a high quality of sound and visuals, it can look messy. A sleek and contemporary entertainment unit can hide everything and keep your living area looking neat and tidy.
PROS: Close the front doors of the unit and everything is hidden from view.
CONS: When in use, you’ll have no other option but to keep the front doors open in order to operate any controls.
How to organise your tech
Your sound and entertainment system can consist of multiple pieces of technology. While this gives you a high quality of sound and visuals, it can look messy. A sleek and contemporary entertainment unit can hide everything and keep your living area looking neat and tidy.
PROS: Close the front doors of the unit and everything is hidden from view.
CONS: When in use, you’ll have no other option but to keep the front doors open in order to operate any controls.
How to organise your tech
Introduce a sound system to rustic-style storage
If you’ve gone for a rustic, retro or ethnic feel but still want the latest hi-tech music system, no problem! Old cupboards, armoires and cabinets can be easily repurposed to keep all the 21st-century technology hidden from sight.
PROS: Beautiful, high-quality music without sacrificing the decor of the room.
CONS: With the growth in popularity of digital music, soon there won’t be a need for so much storage in the cabinet.
If you’ve gone for a rustic, retro or ethnic feel but still want the latest hi-tech music system, no problem! Old cupboards, armoires and cabinets can be easily repurposed to keep all the 21st-century technology hidden from sight.
PROS: Beautiful, high-quality music without sacrificing the decor of the room.
CONS: With the growth in popularity of digital music, soon there won’t be a need for so much storage in the cabinet.
Hide a discreet sound station
Digital technology and iPods or smart phones allow you to set up a sound system in the tiniest of spaces. Unusually shaped cupboards and corner spaces can be the home of a discrete but quality system.
PROS: Music can be played in any room of the house simply by moving your iPod or smart phone.
CONS: You need to plan the positioning of the sound systems in advance (well before renovating the kitchen!).
TELL US
What kind of sound system do you have installed at home? Share a picture of it and tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
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Digital technology and iPods or smart phones allow you to set up a sound system in the tiniest of spaces. Unusually shaped cupboards and corner spaces can be the home of a discrete but quality system.
PROS: Music can be played in any room of the house simply by moving your iPod or smart phone.
CONS: You need to plan the positioning of the sound systems in advance (well before renovating the kitchen!).
TELL US
What kind of sound system do you have installed at home? Share a picture of it and tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
7 High-Tech Home Improvements You’ll Thank Yourself For
12 Instrumental Ideas to Bring a Little More Music Into Your Life
It’s now possible to buy, subscribe or rent music online and stream it to your TV. The visual element lets you know what’s playing at a glance and can include music videos with the songs – great if you’re having a party.
PROS: This set-up is wireless, puts your complete music collection at your fingertips and sees your TV serving double-duty.
CONS: Upgrading the standard speakers that come with the TV is a necessity for better quality sound.