As technology grows and changes, so does the home stereo. It seems what was popular and the “hot new item” 10 years ago, is the antique relic of today when it comes to the rapidly changing world of entertainment technology. There are home stereos of all sizes, for all types of listeners from those who dedicate room(s) of their home to mini theater-like setups, to those who have a couple of speakers and a CD player. Regardless of the amount of work put into the hardware, what these people all have in common is a passion for the sounds that come out of the stereo- the music that so greatly influences and enhances their lives.

What more and more music aficionados are discovering is that not only the equipment but the furniture it is kept in/on can make a huge difference in the quality of the listening experience. A new type of product is becoming increasingly popular, that of audio furniture. These pieces don’t just provide a stylish new home for stereo equipment; they give it a performance boost to boot. That’s not something any old entertainment cabinet can say. Here are some examples of what’s out there now.

One of the best pieces of furniture to improve the sound quality of a home stereo system is a Hi-fi stand. The term hi-fi, or high fidelity, refers very briefly to the quality of sound and image reproduction achieved by an audio/AV system. The concept of a current, home, hi-fi setup involves digital audio sources like CD players, digital audio tape, digital audio broadcasting (like HD Radio tuners), an amp, pre amp, and loudspeakers. What exactly do these hi-fi stands provide? Hi-fi stands come equipped with thick, isolated, shelves made of glass, or other incredibly sturdy materials that provide for vibration dampening, deadening, and leveling. The ideal stand should have an open-air design to help increase the lifespan of sound equipment by preventing overheating- which ultimately results in the equipment breaking down prematurely. Often the shelves may appear to be “floating,” which means vibration interference will be at a minimum.

As a home’s collection of quality high definition equipment grows, many hi-fi stands are able to expand with it. Choose from hi-fi stands that stack and expand, allowing a quick solution to space issues. For those just beginning to build a stereo system, start with a base 2-shelf unit and let the stereo system grow from there. It’s a welcome alternative compared to growing into a larger entertainment until that sits empty for months or years, or buying new stereo furniture all the time. For those who already have specialized equipment, the shelves of these versatile storage units can be raised and lifted to accommodate even the bulkiest digital audio device. The convenience of stackable units is this flexibility to add and subtract height from the stand.

For those with wall-mount flat-screen television units, the hi-fi stand is a modern way to display connected audio and DVD equipment without adding a bulky piece of furniture to the room- part of the idea of having a wall-mount! Hi-fi stands are sold online, and in stores where high-end sound equipment is sold. When looking to upgrade audio equipment storage to a hi-fi stand, be sure to consider the specific needs and quality of the existing stereo system.

For those looking for a quick and affordable way to boost sound performance, speaker stands can be a great place to start when considering audio furniture for the home. As discovered in the 80’s, the simple action of lifting a speaker off the floor improves its sound quality and performance immeasurably. Domestic furniture and floors carry vibrations which have a negative effect on the sound being produced. In order to cancel this effect out, the modern speaker stand has been designed to function as a sonically dead column, on which speakers can be isolated, lifted and mounted.

Speaker stand technology has improved drastically- far beyond just lifting a speaker into the air- and now there are many aesthetically pleasing brands and styles on the market that will not only optimize speaker performance, but enhance the look and ambience of any living or entertainment room.

The most important qualities in a speaker stand are stiffness and stability. The best materials are rigid like steel or thick glass. The flat top plate of a speaker stand supports the speaker with rubber padding, which further serves to eliminate vibrations. The proper height for speakers and tweeters is of utmost importance (they should be at ear level) and speaker stands allow for the perfect height adjustment. Another big element when optimizing sound is getting the speakers in exactly the right positions as related to the listener. Putting the speaker on a stands allows for the kind of fine-tuning and adjustment necessary to really get the best hi-fi sound out of a stereo system. These simple stands make for an affordable way to quickly and easily improve the sound quality of a home hi-fi stereo system.

The latest evolutionary phase of the TV stand is truly something to consider when choosing a home for a new flat screen TV. Combining all the utility of a hi-fi stand with support for a television, a modern TV stand earns its keep. Today, the stereo system and TV are often interconnected, and therefore it makes sense to keep everything in one, centralized location. These pieces of smart furniture combine not only the hi-fi shelving that isolates stereo equipment and eliminates vibrations (like the hi-fi stands), but hide cables and chords to increase the neat clean appearance. Part of the advantage for flat screen owners of going with a stand instead of a wall-mount is the swivel-action of many of the latest TV stands- now they can get the perfect picture from anywhere in the room.

At the end of the day, the method of mounting speakers is an individual preference. Speaker stands are an affordable way to quickly and easily improve the sound quality of a home hi-fi stereo system. They help the speakers work better by eliminating many common, completely avoidable, complications like picking up vibrations, and poor room and listener-related placement. Nobody wants those pesky “deleterious colorations” ruining the sound quality on yet another stereo system’s speakers. Start hearing things clearly by giving speakers a quick and easy speaker stand makeover.

Watching movies at home has become very popular over the last decade, especially now that people have the ability to setup some very sophisticated home theaters. It doesn’t make much sense to go to the cinema and sit for two hours in an uncomfortable seat with dozens of other people, when you can enjoy the movie in your home in great comfort.

To have a theater experience in your own home is simply a matter of a home movie theater system. Here are a few tips to help you create your own cinema movie experience right in your own home.

• The first step in setting up your home cinema will be to choose an appropriately sized room. The room will have to be large enough to accommodate the size of TV you have, and your seating.
• You will then need to setup the basics for your home theater. The basic components of your theater system will be speakers, a TV or projector, plus a DVD player and a multi-channel amplifier. You will also need cables to hook your components together.
• The next step will be to place your TV in the appropriate place; the dimensions of the room will determine where you will set your television. It should be set up on a TV stand where it will set at eye level while you are seated. You will also need to ensure that it is far enough away from the room’s seating for comfortable viewing. A general rule is that the seating should be about five times the length of the screen from the TV.
• Once you have setup your TV you will next place your speakers. You will place the front speakers first. These speakers should be placed to where they are pointed toward the viewing area. You will also have a center speaker; this should be placed close to the TV screen. The rear speakers to your home theater system will have to be placed at the back of the room, or behind the viewing area. This speaker setup will bring the best stereo sound to your home theater setup.
• The furniture you use in your home cinema should be comfortable and fit nicely in the room. You can use sofas, love seats, and recliners. There is also special furniture for home theater seating if you would like to invest in this type of furniture.
• The lighting in your home cinema is also important. You will want indirect lighting in the room. For this reason you will want to install dim lighting on the walls as apposed to having lighting coming from the ceiling. If the room is too bright, or the lighting is coming from above, this can diminish the viewing quality.
• Decorating your home cinema is a matter of personal taste. Some people prefer that it resemble a normal living room while others like their home theater to resemble an actual cinema.

With some effort and the right equipment, you can create a fantastic home cinema that will actually be more enjoyable than going out to a theatre to watch movies.

Over the years the home stereo system has evolved substantially.  In fact, today it seems like every day there is some new tweak or improvement available in home sound equipment.  It’s hard for the average consumer to know when to buy, what to buy, and how to get the most for their money.  That being said, what most owners of high fidelity sound equipment don’t realise is that without the proper placement and configuration, their home speaker system will not come close to realizing its full sound quality potential.  Hiding a sound system away in a cupboard-like entertainment center hurts the owner and audience in 2 big ways: 1- It takes up the entire den, living room, or entertainment room; 2- It may be eating up the acoustics, and ruining the hi-fi quality of the speakers.  Instead, knowledgeable consumers are looking to speaker stands to bring their speakers out into the open, and maximise sound quality.

What is a speaker stand?  An invention that crept out of the 80’s without great fanfare, people began utilising speaker stands when they realised getting the speakers off the floor made a world of difference in their sound quality and performance.  This quick and easy fix for improving sound has since been extremely popular amongst musicians and high fidelity enthusiasts alike.  The science behind it is that most floors (especially carpet) and common domestic furniture pick up on the vibrations around them, essentially swallowing a portion of all sound produced by the speaker.  Or, vice versa, the speaker can pick up vibrations from other sources like people walking over the floor, causing undesired vibrations and again deadening sound.  In order to counteract this effect, the speaker stand was designed as a sonically dead column, on which speakers could be isolated, lifted and mounted.  Today, there are a range of aesthetically appealing brands and styles of speaker stands available that will optimise speaker performance, without looking like a space age command center was dropped into the living room. 

The first thing to look for in a quality speaker stand is stiffness.  Without a certain amount of rigidity the stand will still be subject to vibrations, and therefore no better than domestic furniture.  If the stand is moving and wobbly, it is obviously less than ideal as the idea is to protect the speaker equipment, not jeopardise a fall.  The best stands will be made of steel, or an equally resilient material like thick glass, and the support tubing will be rectangular, square, or circular in cross-section.  For extra heavy equipment, look for stands that can be filled with another substance, like sand, to increase their own mass and support more speaker weight.  The flat top plate of a speaker stand generally has small pads made of plastic or rubber to support the speaker and minimise vibration.  When mounting the speaker, the listener can choose to apply additional reinforcements to keep the speaker securely atop like top spikes or gel pads. 

Once the speaker stands are being set up in the home, having the speakers and especially the tweeter at the proper height will be of utmost importance.  Ideally, the speakers/tweeter should be placed at ear level for someone in their normal listening position in the room (think about whether the listener will be sitting on a couch, lying on a bed, etc.)  Do some homework and have measurements available as to the desired height of the speaker stands.  Some speaker stands are adjustable in height.  Many simply come in a range of graduated sizes.  Regardless, it’s important to know whether or not the speaker stand has the desired height, or at least has the potential to adjust to the desired height, for the room. 

Rest assured that speaker stands come in a wide variety of shapes and colors, so there will be something to match the existing home décor.  One variety of speaker stand is made of a thick glass tubing that can be filled with any material (besides a liquid) to perfectly coordinate to match the room it’s in.  The base and platform portions of speaker stands come in a range of shapes, as do the column supports.  Keep in mind that part of the idea of the speaker stand is to create some distance between the speakers and thereby improve the sound quality.  The idea is to create almost an equilateral triangle between the listener and the speakers, so sit down in the room and imagine what would compliment the space.  An added benefit is that many speaker stands are equipped to hide unsightly wires and cables that often become a tangled mess sprawled across the living room floor. 

One of the major concerns about speaker stands is the requirement to use spikes to fasten them to the floor.  Many people would rather not cause that type of damage to their home flooring.  However, the fact of the matter is that once the home stereo system has been purchased, it’s going to waste without the proper mounting of the speakers.  Other options include mounting speakers on the walls or ceilings, but this type of damage is going to be far more intrusive, and require a great deal more unsightly material to keep the speakers secure than the floor spikes (not to mention wall mounting is unrealistic for anyone who rents).  The spikes make minimal perforations in the flooring, which can be easily repaired should the speakers need to be moved.  Alternatives to spiking the floor include setting the spikes in blocks of wood, or small metal cups specifically designed for speaker stands. 

Where can speaker stands be found?  The internet is a great resource for finding the widest range of colours, styles, makes and materials.  Anyone with a very specific vision should start here.  Of course as with any internet shopping it can be difficult to know exactly what one is getting without seeing the product in person.  As always, make sure things like return policies, warranties, delivery details and payment security are discussed before making any purchases or giving any information over the internet.  Another option is to try any local audio equipment location where speakers are sold.  These establishments will either have speaker stands in stock, or be able to assist the buyer in finding a nearby vendor.   

At the end of the day, the method of mounting speakers is an individual preference.  Speaker stands are an affordable way to quickly and easily improve the sound quality of a home hi-fi stereo system.  They help the speakers work better by eliminating many common, completely avoidable, complications like picking up vibrations, and poor room and listener-related placement.  Nobody wants those pesky “deleterious colorations” ruining the sound quality on their home stereo system’s speakers.  To start hearing things clearly, give speakers a quick and easy speaker stand makeover.