Audio Home Theater Speakers

If you're like many people your going out to the movies  less and staying in more. Nothing enhances your movie watching then making the audio in your home theater system pop. You could get a simple HTIB (home theater in a box) but with all the great inexpensive options that are out there you can get a 5.1 receiver (what most folks get) and a set of 5 speakers and a subwoofer to build your own home theater. The difference is worth the extra effort.

Home Theater Speaker Deals

Home Theater Speaker systems with Receivers

Audio Guide for the Holidays

The newest issue of Forbes has An Audio Guide for the Holidays or how to get better sound from your stereo system, MP3 (iPod) and computer.

The story is aimed at those who have doubts that they are getting the best sound from their computer or living room stereo and are willing to spend some money to improve their music listening enjoyment. The article gives the requisite advice on how the speaker is the most important part of your audio system and of finding a audio store, specifically a speaker store near you. They advice you bring your favorite CD's with you which is a great idea. Then they get a bit strange by asking you to "Ask yourself, 'Am I being emotionally involved in the music? Or being bored by it?' " Huh? How about this. While auditioning speakers ask yourself this. Does it sound natural? Do the voices sound like I expect them too? Does the bass sound satisfactory? And oh yeah, can I afford them.

Earphones
Their advice on earphones is much better. "And don't be afraid of using regularly sized earphones with your iPod; you'll never be cast in an Apple commercial, but you'll get great sound."

They also tackle the big question
Can you hear the difference between compressed and uncompressed? It's a tricky question. Almost surely not if you only listen to pop music on an iPod with its regular earbuds. Even with a well-equipped home system, it may be tough. David Bryant, the programmer responsible for the WavPack lossless system, says he is usually unable to discern the difference between a 320 kilobit MP3 and a lossless file, despite the considerable audiophile gear in his house.


Overall this article is a great read and recommended.

Fixing broken Speakers

A good article in the Los Angeles Times on the Sunda family. For 40 years they've been doing speaker repair bringing new life to old worn out speakers.

Even if the speaker is decades old and the brand no longer made, OCS probably can repair a damaged cone or replace a coil. Prices range from under $50 to six times that depending on the size and maker. Another frequent source of trouble is the edging that surrounds the cone. Made of foam, it typically begins to harden and crumble after a decade or two. First a dry rattle emerges from one or both speakers. Aggravated by bass notes, the rattle becomes a bark. That edging also can be replaced.

The reason to fix and old speaker rather than buy new? The Sundra's claim that most speakers made today are for home theater and not for music reproduction. Accentuating the high's and low's forgoing the midrange where all important voices, piano and guitar reside. Is this true? We I'd likely differ with the Sunda's on this. There are many manufacturers out there that still make speakers meant for music listening. We'll post links later this week to both places to repair old speakers and places to buy speakers made for music.

The reason to fix and old speaker rather than buy new? The Sundra's claim that most speakers made today are for home theater and not for music reproduction. Accentuating the high's and low's forgoing the midrange where all important voices, piano and guitar reside. Is this true? We I'd likely differ with the Sunda's on this. There are many manufacturers out there that still make speakers meant for music listening. We'll post links later this week to both places to repair old speakers and places to buy speakers made for music.

Want to try fixing your speakers youself?
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