It's been long since my last post. I was actually busy with schedules on some of the energy management projects in Asia. I had traveled many places in Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia. Most of my time were spent in the office because of the client's urgency to use the energy management system. But let me tell you one thing: Nothing beats a nice sweet home with a good warm milk listening to classical music.
Of course you need a great sound system to enjoy the full potential of the music. I believe many home owners also have their own sound system, not only for listening to music but also to watch movie, playing blu-rays, etc. With the ever growing technologies in a fast pace and the increase of electricity bill, we certainly can afford a nice sound system that is energy efficient.
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What is a Sound System?
A sound system, also known as a sound reinforcement system is the combination of microphones, signal processors, amplifiers, and loudspeakers that makes live or pre-recorded sounds louder and may also distribute those sounds to a larger or more distant audience.
In some situations, a sound reinforcement system is also used to enhance or alter the sound of the sources on the stage, typically by using electronic effects, as opposed to simply amplifying the sources unaltered.
It can also be used as a Home Theater System. The typical home-theater setup includes a TV set with cable or satellite hookup, a DVD/CD player, a receiver, and two to eight speakers.
The receiver, or AV receiver, is the hub of the typical AV system. Several types of receivers are available in the marketplace. First is a basic stereo receiver, which may include an AM/FM tuners, 2-channel audio amplifier, pairs of external speaker terminals, and connections for external CD and MP3 player connections. Second is a more full-featured home theater receiver, which combines all of the features of a stereo receiver with the capability to process surround sound, connect to the Internet, and switch and distribute a variety of audio and video signals throughout your home.
Planning a home AV installation is an important first step in choosing a receiver that will support the user needs. Do you only want to connect audio components like a CD player? Or, are you considering a home theater and need connections for your television, a Blu-ray Disc or DVD player, a cable/satellite Set-Top Box, ? Will you be installing surround sound speakers? Do you want to connect to the Internet through your receiver? Answering these questions will help you determine what to look for in your home electronics purchase.
Here are some typical inputs and outputs that can be found on AV products:
- HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface): A single-cable digital AV interface commonly found on consumer products for the transmission of high definition and standard definition video and multi-channel surround sound audio. HDMI also supports the CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) interface, which when implemented properly can allow various home theater components to communicate and control each other.
- DVI (Digital Visual Interface): A digital video interface that is compatible with HDMI (via a plug converter). DVI cables do not carry audio signal content, so separate cables are needed for audio signal connection between devices.
- Composite-video: A single-cable analog video interface used for the transmission of standard definition video signals. Composite video cables do not carry audio signal content, so separate cables are needed for audio signal connection between devices.
- Component-video: A three-cable analog or digital video interface used for the transmission of standard definition and high definition video signals. Composite video cables do not carry audio signal content, so separate cables are needed for audio signal connection between devices.
Surround sound is a movie recording technique that, when paired with a home theater surround speaker system, puts the viewer in the center of the action with sounds that move front to back, and side to side. Surround sound isn't about louder sound, rather, it is more about sound that envelops the listener by creating ambience and providing directionality to off-screen sound effects.
Surround sound is created by multiple speakers linked by a receiver. However, the easiest path to take is a home-theater-in-a-box system. These systems include a receiver, built-in surround sound decoding, speakers, a subwoofer, and a Blu-ray Disc or DVD player.
Basic speakers fall into a number of different categories, but each is designed to carry a specific range of frequencies. Knowing the frequencies a speaker carries helps to pick the ideal type for the user listening needs.
Bookshelf speakers reproduce a full range of frequencies, making them very versatile. Two bookshelf speakers can be used as the sole speakers with a conventional stereo system, or with a stereo TV. Two bookshelf speakers could also be used for the front or rear speakers in a surround system. Additionally, one speaker may be used as an economic alternative to the center-channel speaker in surround sound, if it is magnetically shielded so as not to interfere with the TV picture.
Front speakers come in a variety of sizes and reproduce a wide range of sound frequencies. They are typically used in a home theater system.
Center-channel speakers are dedicated to reproducing on-screen sound and dialogue. They are placed on top or just underneath the TV, and typically shielded so they won't interfere with the picture.
Rear speakers complete the surround effect by providing background sound behind the user. They add a sense of realism to surround sound.
Subwoofers are designed specifically for bass output. They are usually placed on the floor and are "powered," which means that they have a built-in amplifier that requires an electrical power connection in addition to speaker wires. A subwoofer is critical for 5.1 surround sound.
Energy Efficient Sound System
A certified home audio equipment is up to 60% more efficient than non-qualified equipment. You can find a wide range of audio products with the ST ENERGY STAR label, such as:
- Shelf speaker systems
- Sound bars
- MP3 speaker docks
- Audio amplifiers
- AV receivers
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