Planning for your whole-home audio system can be daunting to homeowners unfamiliar with the process. However, with the right tools and help from a professional team, you’ll be dancing to your favorite tunes throughout the house in no time. Our team at Connected Living Solutions will help you prepare a checklist to determine what your home needs and then plan the best way to map out your multi-room audio system. Let’s examine the factors to consider when planning your home audio setup.

How Many Rooms?

The first step in planning is deciding the number of zones you want. This decision immediately paints a picture of the total installation scope, including specific kinds of equipment for each space. If there are five areas in your home that you want to enjoy music in, then you’ll need to plan for five speakers, if not more.

Checking all your available connections is another influential step before going full force into planning. Perhaps you already own an audio-video (AV) receiver that controls a simple two-room system. Most AV receivers have multi-space features supporting extra speakers and sources; if yours doesn’t, a simple, price-friendly speaker selector switch can usually solve the problem. You should check that the receiver safely supplies power to each speaker because if not, it’s time to upgrade. Setting strict budget parameters will help you stay within your means while maintaining quality.

How Many Audio Sources?

After determining how many rooms, the next step is to decide how many audio sources you want. Do you want to broadcast the same source throughout the house, or are you looking to play different sources in different zones at the same time? Although many receivers can handle multiple zones, not all can support more than one source at a time. It’s vital to know the limits of your receiver when dealing with multiple zones and sources in one system.

How many people live in your home? Will multiple people want to play different audio at the same time? Sometimes, the fight over who gets to play DJ can get intense. However, you can ease this tension by installing a multi-source system, ensuring, for example, one person can listen to music in the kitchen while others can watch a movie in their bedroom. The number of sources is up to you, but consider all your audio devices, such as streaming media devices, music services, satellite radio, Blu-ray and DVD players, cable TV, turntables, CD players, and AM/FM tuners. More sources generally increase the complexity and cost of your setup, so it’s important to remember the limits of your house and budget.

Wired or Wireless System?

The sound quality of wireless multi-room music systems is rapidly catching up to wired systems. With wireless equipment, there is more flexibility in rearranging your room or moving a pair of speakers to a different space, avoiding those pesky wires. Your home layout and the kind of wireless audio technology available will help you decide the speakers you need.

A wired system is ideal if you don’t think you’ll be renovating or redecorating anytime soon. Wired equipment is often higher quality and is highly dependable, while sometimes wireless audio is more likely to have limitations. A wired system does not require wired control; modern universal remotes can fully operate any IR-enabled device.

Bookshelf, Outdoor, or Hidden Speakers?

The type of speaker you choose can impact your interior design. You may not want to see a giant block monolith next to the TV. Size, style, shade, and location matter, especially considering your speakers’ functions. In-wall and in-ceiling speakers are popular choices because they disappear into the background, especially when their color matches the rest of your room’s furnishings.

Speakers built to sit on the bookshelf or stand on the floor are easy to relocate, replace, and upgrade. Their bulk takes up space in the room, so deciding where they’ll reside and how long the speaker wire needs to be is essential. For the best all-around sound, subwoofers are vital for superior bass reproduction.

Outdoor speakers can blend perfectly into your yard’s environment, leaving guests amazed and wondering where the music comes from. Go for a swim while listening to your favorite band, do yoga on the patio while listening to meditation music, or raise the stakes on your recreation court with fight songs.

Whether hosting a slumber party for your grandkids, enjoying the new blockbuster, or having friends over for drinks, our systems allow you to relax and enjoy your new whole-home audio system. At Connected Living Solutions, we can offer you the best equipment for a home filled with music. Contact us today for a quote!