Intro To Home Audio (Basics) - Part 2
If you havent already, read Intro
to Home Audio (Basics) Part 1 in this section we will be covering
where to place your speakers and how to integrate your computer
into your home stereo.
Speaker Placement
The trick to getting a good sound out of your stereo is where you
place the speakers, elevating your speakers off the ground is the
first rule in getting better quality, the speakers should be elevated
to the height of your ears when you sitting for standing in your
optimal listening spot.
Stereo Separation
Now that your stereo is working lets move onto the next topic of
how to optimize your stereos sound with proper speaker placement.Your
left and right speakers should be placed a foot or two in from the
corners of the room pointed toward your optimal listening spot.
Stereo separation is important for giving that 'room filling' sound
and depth to your music. If your stereo uses small satellite speakers
and a sub woofer in its own speaker box than position the sub woofer
on the floor, and speaker bracket or stands can be used to elevate
the satellite speakers.
Reflection of Sound
Now the final factor to look into, is what objects are in the room
and will the effect the sound. Hard surfaces like tile floors reflect
sound, this is the same with large hard funiture, and rugs, carpet,
couches and beds are great for absorbing sound. Obviously there
is some give and take to this factor because you most likely will
not go remodeling your room just to get that added quality out of
your stereo, but it is an important enough factor to at least think
about.
Hooking Up Your Computer Into Your Stereo
One of the most common underutilized networks people avoid hooking
up is their computer to their home stereo. For the cost of a couple
of dollars you can buy a "Y" cable with a 1/8" stereo
jack on one side, and red and white RCA connectors on the other
end. Now on the back of your stereo reciever you plug the RCA connectors
into either the AUX channel or if it doesn't have that you can use
the VCR, CD, or tape inputs. Now unplug your computer speakers and
plug the 1/8" stereo jack into the back of your computer where
your computers speakers were. Now you can stream your favorite radio
stations and listen to your computers Mp3 collection on your home
stereo in wonderful sound instead of the tinny sound your tiny computer
speakers once played.
Video Feed to Your Television
If you want to go one step further you can buy a video card for
your computer that has a TV output on it, and send the video signal
of your computer to your television. This allows you to watch steaming
video on your home entertainment center. The connection is made
with a single RCA cable. Note: You will commonly notice video game
units, DVD players and VCR's will have a cable with three RCA ends
these are: red (right audio channel), white (left audio channel),
and yellow (video feed).
Intro to Home Audio
(Basics) Part 3>
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