Buyer’s Guide to Upgrading Your Home Stereo System

With 41% of American homes having a home stereo system or theater system, it’s safe to say we love our entertainment. Having one of these systems takes listening to music or watching a movie to an immersive level. 

Are you ready to install a stereo system in your home? The question now is, where do you start? How do you know what you need? 

Read this guide to help you get started. 

Start with a Budget 

Before you start comparing systems and speakers, you need to know what kind of budget you’re working with. This will help keep you focused on the stereo systems you can afford. 

The Components You’ll Need 

Many systems come prepackaged with all of the pieces you’ll need. You’ll need a stereo amplifier or receiver. This is the central piece of equipment that acts as the hub for the entire system. 

Then you need speakers. A minimum of two is required, one for the left and right channel. Two speakers are a great place to start, but as you become more familiar, you can create a more advanced system that includes 4 inch Studio Monitors.

Your final component is the source of the sound. The source will connect to the amplifier or receiver, which then directs the sound to the speakers. 

Pre-Packaged Systems 

As a beginner, this is a great place to start. Pre-packaged systems work well for people who are casual music listeners, have a limited budget, or are outfitting a smaller room. 

These systems will come with everything you need to set it up and start listening to music. Depending on the system, it may come with extras such as extra inputs or a CD player. Modern systems may also have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities. 

The downside of these systems is that they may be limited in quality. They also won’t produce high-quality sound throughout a large room. 

Creating a System 

Your other option is to create a system from scratch. This gives you the freedom to hand-select each component. The downside is that this method may result in a much larger and more expensive system. 

One way to help keep costs down is to buy components used. You’ll need to do some searching, but you can find like-new second-hand equipment from others who are upgrading their system. 

Factors to Consider 

Before you make any decisions, think about how you plan to use your system. Are you a critical or casual listener?

Try out systems at the store or dealer. If you don’t like the sound there, then you won’t be happy when you get it home. 

Look at the size of the room. For the best quality, you need to match your system to the size of the room. 

Finally, do you want to use your system for movies or music? Movies and TV require an additional component called a subwoofer. 

Create Your Home Stereo System

You’re now ready to purchase and install your own home stereo system. Start with your budget to narrow your options. Then decide if you want a pre-packaged system or to create one yourself.  

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