The audio system is a system of components, resulting in a conclusive, high-quality, clean and multifunctional sound. Correctly selected audio equipment is a method for a good and, most importantly, sound.
The best speakers for vinyl: each component of the audio system has its own destination. And it’s not so easy to make friends with each other as it seems from the side. To get a really good result – you need to find components that separately have a minimal effect on the sound or complement each other. Each device has its own weaknesses, and in a good system, they are invisible, while dignity is brought to the fore.
If we speak in general, there are two real methods that give answers to the question: “how to build a sound system?” In the first case, she is going to a certain audience with a taste. It can be said about the warmest as much as possible detailed sound, the sound with the expressed bass or vertices. Some people like the wide and deep sound scene, others prefer the straightforward sound of the monitors. Understanding what the listener needs, will simplify the selection of components. There is another philosophy of constructing a stereo: in this case, we are not talking about the listener’s habits, but we are building a system with the correct, “true” sound. Those who have to listen to music on systems with precisely agreed reference components know that all the best home audio systems have some common features. Firstly, you can really enjoy the sound. The best configurations make the listener forget about all the specifications and fully immerse themselves in music. Secondly, the recording is transmitted honestly: a bad record on a good system is bad, and a good one is terrific. Finally, the correct system always plays music with the dynamics and volume, corresponding genre. The best systems work equally well with all the dynamic changes in the record.
If you listen to a system that was built for a realistic and clean sound, then back to the kit, assembled for sound with a certain pronounced character, it will be very difficult. All these terms like “heat” and “brightness” will become meaningless when the stereo system starts to transmit the sound of recorded instruments as it is.
Tips for building a sound system
In most cases, in order to achieve the ideal result in building the system, you need to spend a considerable amount of money, but sometimes you can pick up the components so that the price does not turn out to be very high. An experienced seller can help if you find a common language with him. Remember: A seller with long experience in the industry has listened to many more systems than you. And if he is honest – marry him. So, on Internet forums, too, there are a lot of “connoisseurs” (and their number is constantly increasing), but most of them have heard incomparably fewer systems in various combinations and premises. Their perfect sound can be very different from your wishes. When assembling the audio system, it is necessary to consider how much the work of a component is on the purity of the final sound. First of all, pay attention to acoustics, and in the latter (contrary to popular belief) – on power cables.
Audio system building guide.
Functional stage # 1. Acoustic system.
The sound of the system depends on the speakers by about 80%. The acoustic system is a set of moving parts. The column works efficiently with a clear motion of the drivers and their correct location, and also an important resonance (or lack thereof) of the case of the AU. Different models of acoustics differ from each other much more strongly than any other component. But on the other hand, when choosing an AU it is possible to avoid unnecessary properties to you, so we advise you to select columns that do not have what you do not need.
For example, acoustics, which plays only from the upper bass, often have a remarkable tonal balance compared to a full range column for the same price. Therefore, to get a high-quality bass from an inexpensive AU, the task is very difficult. In addition, you should take into account the parameters of the room – the sound will be better if again select a model with a bit lower bass than you want at first.
There are other questions that would be good to ask yourself: how loud the system should be, the room – large or small, how far away from the walls you put the speakers? Answers to them will allow you to better approach the choice of acoustics.
Functional stage # 2. Amplifier
Amplifier – the main partner of acoustics. To this pair should be treated as a whole. The sound of the AU depends largely on the amplifier’s work – the impedance, the sensitivity of the speakers and the overall tonal balance. It has often happened that, according to passport data, the acoustics and amplifier fit perfectly together, but in reality, the amplifier could not rotate the speakers. And it often happened that amplifiers with modest technical parameters produced a significant sound.
Functional stage # 3. Sound source
The source is the place of the output signal, so it’s very important to pick up a neutral source that does not signal anything from itself. Fortunately, today most of the equipment is made quite qualitative. Digital players even at entry-level work with a much greater degree of accuracy if compared to the acoustics at the same price.
However, if you’ve heard an expensive first-rate player of vinyl records in a well-assembled system, you’re more likely to agree with the statement that vinyl surpasses other formats for sound. The disc, in our opinion, is a better CD and has only one drawback – background noise. Incidentally, even a relatively inexpensive spool can overplay the expensive audio CD player.
Buying an analog source is up to you. But we would have advised you to go to a store where you can listen to different examples. Modern vinyl recorders with new cartridges sound better than those sold 20 years ago. And it’s amazing.
Functional stage # 4. Between the component cables in your audio system
Between components, cables transmit the very low-level signals to the audio system and vary widely depending on their structure. As a rule, the sound of a cable does not depend on its price, so beware “precious” cables. Between the block cables do not spoil the fact that they will once again listen to the system – ask the seller to give a couple of recommendations, and take the cables to rent the home. The cable may affect the tone in such a way that it eliminates minor flaws in the audio system.
Functional stage # 5. Acoustic cable
Acoustic cables have approximately the same properties as between blocks. We recommend carefully selecting the cable from the amplifier to the speakers. This question becomes especially relevant when it comes to lengths over 3.5 meters – in this case, it is necessary to look for wires calculated for such distances. As with interconnecting cables, acoustic cables are best tested in the home in their system.
Functional stage # 6. Racks for equipment
Making a really high-quality and high-performance audio system is a great help for proper installation, and the speaker racks play a special role here. For some columns, the load on its own mass is not an obstacle, but other models require a greater response to achieve the correct tonal balance. Therefore, it’s important to pick up the right racks for your speakers. Power cables
The overall quality of the system depends on power cables, but the excitement that has been observed in recent years, in our opinion, is completely unjustified. The power cables have to be thought of as a last resort when the system sounds well already assembled. The power going to the socket does not save the badly playing system. It’s better to spend money on a new component or column than on an expensive cable. In the budget system, power cables should not exceed 10%.
Summing up all the above said. While collecting an audio system, temporarily forget about your own taste preferences. Think of it as a system, that is, a related set of different devices. And when you buy a new component in the already formed system – do not forget about it, do not break the accidentally thin interconnection.