Hi Fi Systems Buyers Guide

Choosing the best home stereo equipment or “hi-fi” system can be an overwhelming task. With so many types and models of systems and so many features available, you can get dizzy just thinking about buying one. Before you make that purchase, there are some things that you should answer for yourself. This will help you to narrow down your choices and make your buying decision a whole lot easier.

Audio equipment comes in a wide range of prices, quality, and performance, from the least expensive mass-produced CD players, tuner/amplifiers and all-in-one systems, to precision-crafted “reference” separate components costing several thousand dollars. The key is to obtain the best possible sound quality at the most reasonable price.

Questions

Ask yourself these questions and answer them carefully. When you are done, you will know exactly what type of hi-fi system you are looking to buy. You will be able to make an informed buying decision as well.

1.      How much money do you have to invest in your system?

2.      Are seeking “audiophile quality” or the modern equivalent of the boom box?

3.      Are you an “audio enthusiast” who wants all the bells and whistles, or is FM Stereo more to your liking?

4.      What types of music do you usually listen to? Are you strictly rock or do you love hip-hop as well? Maybe somewhere in between?

5.      How long do you think you’ll own the equipment you purchase?

Hi Fi Separates

Hi-fi enthusiasts enjoy better-quality sound by using separate components for each job, rather than all-in-one hi-fi systems. For starters, you can pick the best individual components - CD player, amplifier, MiniDisc player, digital tuner - to build the ultimate system that's tailored to your own needs, which can be added to or upgraded at any time.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Expressed in decibels, this is an audio measurement of the noise of a system that is stated as the ratio of signal level (or power) to noise level (or power). For example, the amplifier has a Signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB at full power output over the 20Hz to 20kHz bandwidth. It’s important to note that the "signal" reference level must be stated.

Noise is measured using a voltmeter over a specified bandwidth. Sometimes certain filters are also used. These things are stated so that the serial number has meaning. So, the serial number basically references the reference level, measurement bandwidth and any weighing filters.

Receivers

AV receivers look like hi-fi amplifiers, but with one big difference: they'll take the audio signals from your DVD player, set-top box and other devices, decode them into surround sound, then power a number of loudspeakers placed around your room.

Spending more on an AV receiver will get you better quality sound, support for more surround sound formats (with the possibility of upgrades in the future), greater device connectivity and switching, and most obviously, more powerful amplification.

Speaker Cable

The lifeline to sound lies in the speaker cable. Thicker, longer cables are specifically designed to carry large amounts of electrical current from your amplifier or receiver to your loudspeakers.

Most hi-fi systems do not come with speaker cable; therefore you have to purchase it separately. Here are some things to look for in speaker cable.

·         Standard 10 to 16 AWG (Average Wire Gauge wire)

·         Oxygen Free Multi-stranded Cable (OFMC).

Things to remember is that basically any standard speaker cable will work. Also, keep speaker cable length to less than 50 feet on each speaker. If you cross speaker wire over a power cable, cross it perpendicular to one another. To create longer speakers, use a thicker gauge wire. Make sure that the cable used is shielded against line noise and interference.

 Many speaker cables come with a bare wire at the end to make it easy to connect the amplifier to the loudspeakers. Sometimes speaker cables come with termination connectors at each end to form a mechanical connection between the amplifier and the speaker.

Terminations

Speaker terminations (connectors) come in various types. Here are a few.

·         Banana plugs - Cylindrical tubes that fit into the opening of a binding post. Most banana plugs make good contact with the inside of the binding post. This is a good, cost-effective solution.

·         Spade lugs - They resemble small shovels and they are a popular speaker-wire termination. This is because their flat surfaces provide a lot of contact area between the connector and the connection. Make sure the opening in the lug is wide enough, because if a binding post on the amplifier is too wide, some smaller spades may not be able to fit around it. Spade lugs are not compatible with all amplifiers or speakers.

·         Pins - These are narrow, solid or semi-solid connectors. They don’t provide much contact area, but are more convenient to use than bare wire since they can easily be inserted into spring clips or binding posts on the amplifier. Their main advantage is that they are compatible with just about any kind of speaker terminal imaginable.

Surround Sound

Surround sound added to a hi-fi system can create the ultimate in sound and listening experience. Most surround sound systems employ five main channels of sound, and require five loudspeakers. Ideally you'll have one in each corner of your room, and one above or below your screen, naturally called the center speaker. The simplest is analogue stereo, which can be turned into surround using Dolby Pro Logic or Pro Logic II decoding. Pro Logic will produce surround sound from any stereo signal, although it does the best job when the material was meant to be heard in surround; movies shown on TV, for example, will work better than CD albums.

Speakers

Some companies claim to simulate surround sound with two speakers, but to experience it properly, you really have to install five or more boxes around your room. A subwoofer is optional. Obviously the more you spend on loudspeakers the better the sound quality, but crucially, try to ensure that they're as similar as possible so that when the sound goes from left to right or back to front, it doesn't change tone.

Features

Hi-fi systems come with a variety of features base on price range. The higher the price, the more features that you can expect.

Power Output - Less than 50W or more than 300W. Most systems are at least 150W

Disc Capacity - 1 to 5+ discs, CD Playback Mode includes Intro Scan, Program, Random, Repeat All, Repeat All Discs, Repeat One

Tape Decks – Single and dual cassette decks

Amplifiers - 3 D Stereo Expansion, Bass Boost, Bass Reflex Speaker System, Detachable Speakers

AM/FM radio

Mp3

Separate subwoofer

Connections

·         Aux In

·         DC Input

·         Digital Audio In (Optical)

·         Digital Audio Out (Coax)

·         Digital Audio Out (Optical)

·         Headphones Out

·         Line In

·         Line Out

·         Mic In

·         USB

·         Video In

·         Video Out

Popular Brands

·         Sony

·         Philips

·         Panasonic

·         JVC

·         Sharp

Price

Expect to pay below £80 for a basic hi-fi system and well over £190 for a top of the line system. The price of AV receivers only range hugely from less than £200 to more than £2,000.