How to Buy the Best Stereo

Any music lover knows that not all stereos are created equal, but how do you find that perfect stereo? The following steps will put you in the right direction to find the best stereo for you no matter what your music preference is.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. There is a big difference between home audio and professional audio. Home audio is often made of plastic and can be found at typical retail stores like Best Buy and Circuit City. Professional audio (or pro audio) is what musicians, audiophiles, and studio engineers use. Pro audio, naturally, costs a lot more.
2. What kind of listener are you? If your the kind of person that likes to listen to music in the shower, while working, cooking, and doing other tasks then it's probably not necessary to invest in pro audio. You'd be fine with a standard boom box or iPod speaker hookup.
3. Why buy pro audio? If you're the kind of person who loves to hear every instrument with accuracy and clarity then pro audio might be worth your investment. Often times on consumer stereos, many lines will blur together and it will be hard to tell them apart.
4. Do you listen to music really loud? At very loud volumes, the sound on commercial stereos gets fuzzy and the speakers can even blow out. Pro audio speakers like Genelec will remain clear even at volumes that would make your neighbors call the cops.
5. People who fall between these two categories. Companies such as Bose and Bang Olufsen will deliver great sound at a fraction of the cost of pro audio. A good place to buy these products is a high end consumer audio store such as Harveys.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that Genelec charges by the speaker. You'll need to double that price for a pair.