Constructing a Hi-Fi Audio Setup

The world of high-end audio is, if nothing else, intimidating to newcomers. For those who desire the best-of-the-best, this passion can lead to endless searches for the best equipment and better audio. That said, there are many ways to approach Hi-Fi audio, and such setups are endlessly customizable. That said, knowing what to buy and where to start are often the biggest hurdles for those wishing to expand their audio capabilities. Because of this, I feel it is worth attempting to provide a brief guide to what one needs to begin.

What's Most Important?

There are numerous components and variables to consider when constructing a Hi-Fi system, but in reality there are only a few necessary components. The "key" parts of the setup are the receiver, speakers, and the audio source. These are absolutely necessary, and each has a significant impact upon the final sound quality that the setup will produce. The audio source is your primary device which generates the signal that is then sent to your receiver and, ultimately, speakers. Sources include televisions, vinyl or mp3 players, Blu-ray players, etc. Without a solid audio source, the rest of your system's output will suffer.

Receivers do what their name implies- they receive multiple signals from your sources, then process and output them to speakers. These can be, and sometimes are, exchanged for amplifiers. For the purpose of this article, I will be working under the assumption that a full A/V receiver is desired.

First, you will want to consider what your source is. Are you wanting to boost the quality of  your home entertainment system? Do you just want better audio to come through your mp3 or vinyl player? If you are wanting a full home theater, you need to consider the television you are using along with the (assumed) Blu-ray player.

Your Sources

As stated before, your sources are those devices from which a signal is transmitted to your receiver and then speakers. In the case of a home theatre, these will likely be a projector, television, Blu-ray player, or a combination of such. These are each vitally important components of any Hi-Fi home theater, and should be treated as such. Choosing sources is easily one of the most important decisions one can make during this entire process.

For all of these, you will want to consider what types of surround-sound they support. I will go into more detail on this later, but for now know that they will likely support either 5-Channel, 7-Channel, or 9-Channel surround sound. As far as other audio technologies are concerned, some of the highest end, most sought-after features are DTS:X and Dolby Atmos support. These require specific A/V receivers and speaker setups, so it is worth keeping that in mind from this point onward. Your desired setup might require specific sources, receivers, and speakers in order to function correctly.

Televisions also have certain options that tend to scale with cost- specifically, 4K/UHD video and HDR are premium options today. Size is also going to scale with cost, particularly when it comes to televisions which have the former features. Blu-ray players will generally need to support many of these same features as well, so if you plan to have a Blu-ray and television-based home theater you should consider that.

A/V Receivers

From there, you will need to connect your television or monitor (and additional peripherals) to a receiver. Choosing a receiver can be tricky, but there are a few variables which are worth keeping in mind. Price is an obvious one, and receivers come in a wide variety of prices-ranges. Truly high-end ones can cost $1500 or more, while others are significantly cheaper. The primary differences will come down to the features available on each device, as price does tend to scale with quality when it comes to receivers.

When it comes down to features, there are a few that I would consider. What type of surround sound do you want? This might also effect the speakers that you go on to purchase, along with their price. You are typically going to be looking at 5-channel, 7-channel, and 9-channel options. Five channel audio offers a central channel, left and right front channels, left and right surround channels, and a subwoofer channel for bass. Seven channel is the same, but splits the rear channel and surround into four separate channels. This provides a notably more detailed and 'wider' sound than 5.1- as a result, it tends to cost more but is more commonly sought. Lifewire has an excellent article discussing these two types of surround sound, discussing their significance in greater detail. 

9-Channel surround sound is a newer technology and the most expensive of the bunch. ELITE A/V has an excellent article discussing this in more detail. They state:

"A 9.1 surround sound system consists of nine speakers and one subwoofer. It uses two front-height channels. Therefore, with its 2 extra channels, 9.1 offers more audio depth and dimension. 5.1 and 7.1, on the other hand, only deliver a horizontal soundfield. This means audio is directed at the viewer from just one vertical plane."

In general, this creates a more 'cinematic' audio experience and a much wider range of sound. The downsides are that, of course, it is expensive, along with the fact that it requires a highly specific setup to use.

Speakers

Speakers will likely be based upon the decision one made regarding one's receiver. This is because some forms of surround sound require specific speaker setups, thus one will have no choice but to go with certain options. That said, there are still some things to look for when speaker-shopping.

As already stated, surround sound is a necessary consideration- for example, if you want a 7.1 surround sound setup, you will need the appropriate speakers for a 7.1 channel setup to place in the correct locations. That said, there are other considerations to take into account. Size is one that is perhaps less obvious to newcomers. Speakers can come in massive packages, but also some very small ones. How much space do you have in your room, and would it be better to get wall-mounted speakers? It is also important to note that Dolby Atmos and DTS:X setups, which we recently discussed in another article, require up-firing (or ceiling-mounted) speakers to work appropriately. This alters the soundstage significantly, and is worth considering- they do require very specific speakers to work, however.

Speakers, much like receivers, come in a wide range of prices. 5-Channel speakers are going to be much less expensive than higher-end equipment, but it is worth considering the massive difference in audio quality between high and low-end speakers. Again, the cost of a Hi-Fi setup can vary heavily depending on how much one seeks to put into it.

Other Considerations

Obviously, these are only the most basic components to consider. There are numerous factors to take into account when starting a Hi-Fi setup. One of the more overlooked things is the actual outlet through which your hardware will be powered. This is the first step in the 'chain of events' which leads to the sounds being produced, and does have an effect. As BHPVideo notes, sudden power spikes or outages can damage your hardware. Replacing your outlet with one which features built-in surge protection can assist with this issue. Similarly, running everything through a power conditioner is a fantastic idea; these will not only protect your equipment, but also reduce 'noise' and generally aid in the production of a clearer, more pleasant sounding setup.

Cables are another component which should be considered due to their own effect upon how everything is transmitted throughout a given setup. Opting for the most expensive cables is not always the best option, of course. When it comes to speaker wire, Engadget suggests that 12 gauge copper wire is the most anyone should need. The other cables needed will vary depending on your own setup. If you have a 4K television, you will need high-speed HDMI cables to properly experience the visual end of your home theater. You will also likely need Power (AC), USB, RCA, and other cables; the same is true for these. Focus on acquiring decent quality cables with relatively pure connections, and you should be fine. These do all have an effect upon sound quality, but with diminishing returns; if you are on a budget, you can save money on these components.

Your Hi-Fi Home Theatre

Ultimately, your Hi-Fi home theater should be precisely what you want it to be. The level of customization possible in this hobby is honestly absurd at times, and with its popularity increasing there are even more devices being released than we saw in recent years.

If you are considering starting your own hi-fi home theater, check out 220-Electronics.com. 220-Electronics is a leader in 220 volt appliances, with custom-modified televisions and Blu-ray players which will work around the world.

When looking at high-end televisions and audio equipment in 2019, there are a few recurring themes which might be foreign to the uninitiated. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are two competing technologies in the audio market which are commonly seen features on new televisions and audio receivers. For those not in the know, these names might come across as arcane. Today we will cover what Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are and what makes them different.

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is an audio codec which seeks to create a unique, 3D-Audio experience. Traditionally, audio is mastered for movies and music to be 2 Dimensional. Two speaker setups are the most common, and are what most televisions natively have equipped. Dolby Atmos requires use of an A/V receiver to connect your television to two pairs of speakers, mounted on the ceiling. These speakers, mounted in front of and behind the viewers, creates the sensation of three dimensional audio. Speakers created specifically to work with Dolby Atmos also exist, which remove the requirement of mounting speakers to the ceiling.

DTS:X

DTS:X is a slightly different take on three-dimensional audio. The key difference between DTS:X and Atmos setups are that DTS:X speakers need not be placed in specific locations. DTS:X speakers can supposedly be placed more freely, allowing for less restrictions. To add to this, there are no official requirements for the number of speakers one needs to use DTS:X.

To accomplish this feat, DTS:X speakers run a calibration during setup which assists the software in knowing where speakers are located. Through this, DTS completely avoids the most significant issue with Atmos setups. DTS:X also features a higher bitrate than that of Atmos, theoretically allowing for higher quality audio. Despite this, many listeners are unable to determine the difference in quality by ear alone. As a result, this is not necessarily something which should make up ones mind when purchasing a new device.

Which is Better?

While there are some clear advantages to using DTS:X, Atmos has its own winning features. DTS:X's flexibility is obviously fantastic for those who are setting up their system piecemeal or with little wriggle-room regarding placement. Its potential higher audio quality is also a boon, although it is questionable whether or not it will actually make a difference. Atmos has one particularly ideal feature which DTS:X lacks: compatibility. Dolby Atmos is compatible with Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, the majority of Blu-rays, and more. DTS:X lacks this, only being supported by certain Blu-rays and 4K Blu-rays. As a result, Dolby Atmos is the way to go if you want a broad range of compatible services; DTS:X is worth going for if you primarily use your setup with Blu-rays and desire versatile speaker orientation.

In reality, the best option is to purchase a television and receiver which supports both options. On top of that, some soundbars now come equipped ready-to-go with Dolby Atmos support, featuring up-firing speakers. It is also worth noting that both are backwards compatible, with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio depending on which brand you purchase. If you are interested in purchasing a new high-end audio setup, be sure to look at 220-Electronics.com for a great deal and quality support.