By
eHow Electronics Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Stereo user manual
- Audio system amplifier
- Stereo system
Buy A Satellite Radio Home Stereo
Step1
Check your stereo's user manual to find out if your stereo is factory wired for satellite radio. Some newer stereos are partnered with one of major satellite radio companies, and you'll just need an inexpensive add-on box to route the proper antenna to your stereo. Remember that you'll still need to call the service provider to sign up for a satellite radio account.
Step2
Explore the possibilities of adding a satellite receiver to your current home audio system. For this setup to work, you'll probably need to have an amplifier that has room for another connection. You could wire a satellite receiver to your stereo system, but an amplifier makes it much easier to switch between you CD player and your radio.
Step3
Look at getting a set of boom box speakers if you already own a portable satellite radio unit. These stereo systems have large speakers on the sides and hold the portable unit in the middle. The stereo system provides power to the portable device and should also accept an antenna connection.
Step4
Try out different speaker brands at an audio store. Satellite radio broadcasts can be very high quality, so look for speakers that can reproduce a broad range of frequencies. If you get a speaker that can handle low frequencies (less than about 500 Hz), then you don't need to buy a subwoofer.
Step5
Compare the max output of your radio receiver to the speakers to be sure you won't blow them out. Most radio receivers aren't loud enough to blow out home stereo systems, but if you run your receiver into an amplifier, then the signal gets much hotter.
Step6
Budget for quality stereo cables. The best speakers mean nothing if you don't have a strong connection. Fourteen-gauge wire is ideal for most satellite radio home stereos.
