Music never sounded so good with a customised hi-fi system

If you’re going to do something, then do it right, and that includes getting the very best out of your music collection.

We’ve all got our special moments burned into our brains, and there’s usually a soundtrack to accompany them.

Certain songs and bands stay with us forever, becoming a part of our lives, joining us on our journey through our lives. Through this life, with all its ups and downs, music is always a constant and universally enjoyed.

It’s time to do those songs justice with a bespoke hi-fi system, designed personally for you and built around your home and budget.

Taking music to another level

Never let anyone tell you that music is music, no matter how you listen to it.

There is a very obvious difference between listening to your favourite song through a pair of dollar store earphones compared to a state-of-the-art hi-fi system.

But to many people’s surprise, there’s also a huge difference between a decent set of speakers and a set of speakers that gives you music on another level. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for, and the design, materials, build, and set-up of a hi-fi system all factor into the final result.

From modern pop songs to centuries-old classical music, everything can be enhanced with the right equipment.

The difference between a hi-fi system and a home theatre

A good home theatre system will have excellent sound, but it’s not the same as a hi-fi system.

Home theatres should have at least a 5.1 surround sound set-up. This means there are 5 speakers around you in the room.

This is great for movies and TV – if a helicopter is flying overhead, then the sound can be recreated in your living room – but hi-fi systems aren’t made for movies.

The main focus of a hi-fi system is to authentically recreate an audio recording, and they usually only need 2 speakers to do this.

This 2-speaker setup is called stereo, and a good stereo arrangement can accurately recreate sound from very low frequencies to very high.

If you’re more into your movies, then a home cinema is for you. If, however, you’re an audiophile, then you’ll want a hi-fi system that gives you utmost pleasure when you listen to your music collection.

Choosing the right amplifier

Things are starting to get technical now when we talk about amplifiers.

For the beginners, think of the amplifier as the beating heart of the hi-fi system. It sits in the middle with all the other components (speakers, record player, etc) connected to it.

The amplifier controls the power and the volume of your system, so it’s essential to get it right.

But bigger doesn’t always mean better.

There’s no point having an incredibly powerful amplifier for a small room. Each individual hi-fi system has its own unique needs, which is why a customised solution is always preferable.

The right speakers for the job

For many aficionados, the speakers are the most important part of the set-up.

Building a hi-fi system means getting all the different components to work together in harmony, and this is especially important when it comes to matching your amplifier with your speakers.

It doesn’t matter how mint your Sgt. Pepper vinyl is, or how powerful your amp - if the sound is coming through cheap, tinny speakers, the whole system is pointless.

Conversely, huge speakers which take up half the room won’t do much if you can only turn them up to 30% because the amp isn’t powerful enough. Speakers come in all shapes and sizes, and which ones you pick will depend on the shape and size of your room.

Floorstanding and bookshelf speakers both come with their advantages and disadvantages, but ultimately, the decision is best left to the professionals who will know what is too much/too little for the room you’re setting up in.

A hidden surprise

All this equipment sounds like you will have wires everywhere, but with proper design preparation, a home hi-fi system can fit perfectly into a room – in some cases it can even be hidden!

A nice, clean set-up will hide all cables and plugs away, and even have the player, amplifier, and speakers out of sight.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be discreet, it’s your home, you can have it as flamboyant as you want!

We can design and install a customised hi-fi system that perfectly fits your home and budget, ensuring your new music system doesn’t just sound amazing, but also looks incredible too.

Designer AV founder, Derek Crane, started his career installing hi-fi equipment in homes, and as technology has grown, Derek has kept pace, adding the latest marvels of the digital age to his repertoire.

Contact Derek today if you would like to chat about building your very own bespoke hi-fi system. We can work around all budgets and housing restraints to make your dream come true.

Music never sounded so good!