Home Audio

Nature lovers everywhere enjoy the sounds of birds, crickets, frogs and other wildlife. But many just can't seem to get enough, and you might just be one of those individuals who want to capture...

There are many reasons to use an aftermarket speaker setup rather than the factory speakers included with a television. If nothing else, stock television speakers often don't provide the highest...

Records playing on a turntable use analog technology to create the sounds people hear. Converting an analog recording to an MP3 audio format requires the record to be turned into a digital file....

Converting audio cassette tapes onto a computer involves transforming the analog audio signal from the tape into a digital signal that can be played and saved on your computer, or burned to a CD...

The Sound Soother is an audio therapy device that features digital recordings of natural sounds to improve relaxation and induce sleep. The machine plugs into a standard household electrical...

An amplifier provides power to the rest of your stereo and allows you to play music at high quality. A factory stereo in a car comes with a small amp installed, but many audiophiles don't find it...

Sampling was been made popular by the invention of hip-hop music. DJs and producers have been using the technique since the early 80s; however, earlier forms of sampling existed prior to that...

Whether it's at home preparing to rock out with a garage band or at a club before playing a gig, correct audio setup is crucial to a good set. One of the most basic tasks associated with setting...

If you have ever watched a football game on television, you have likely seen a parabolic microphone on the sideline. Parabolic microphones are highly directional microphones that are commonly used...

By receiving HDTV audio without a television, you can listen to the many music programs that come with cable or satellite service packages. You'll need an HDTV signal in order to receive audio,...

It can be understandably frustrating when your home stereo starts to malfunction. Stereo equipment often costs hundreds of dollars per component, and nobody wants to think that they've wasted...

If you weren't around when records were the main means of playing music, you may not understand why they are so important. In fact, you may not even be familiar with how they are really different...

Removable grill covers on stereo loudspeakers allow you to clean the exterior components that produce sound. Some audio enthusiasts like to remove their speaker grill covers to display their...

Stereo speakers come in all sizes, shapes, colors, and prices. Trying to choose the best speakers for your stereo really depends on where you will be listening, what kind of equipment you'll be...

The best FM signal for your stereo radio will always come from having a good FM antenna. A decent FM antenna does not have to be an expensive store-bought or manufactured kind. Instead, it can be...

Although now is the time for having everything on DVDs some of the VHS tapes still stay close to our hearts because of their contents. However, when we do not play those tapes much they end up...

While it's not meant to be permanently stationed outdoors, the Bose SoundDock allows you to connect your iPod, MP3 player or other portable device to Bose speakers for indoor or outdoor use.

A horn strobe is a combination audible and visible notification device intended to alert occupants of a building emergency.

Sound waves behave a lot like light waves, so some of the same principles that are used to focus or amplify light can be used to amplify sounds. A simple lens can be used to focus sunlight to a...

Video baluns work to convert a balanced electrical line to an unbalanced line and vice versa. Balanced lines have two conductors and equal currents in opposing directions, while unbalanced lines...

Wiring your own speaker cabinet gives you the flexibility to use whatever speakers you want and customize the cabinet to your needs. You have to be careful when wiring your speaker cabinet,...

In this article I'm going to walk you through connecting your car audio amp to your home theater system. I had an extra one in my basement and just recently hooked it up to my DJ mixer to see if...

No home theater system is complete without surround sound. Surround sound will make your movies and music take on a whole new dimension. To fully experience surround sound, you must properly...

Converting music on a vinyl LP into a digital file not only lets you play the music on computers and portable MP3 players, but it also protects the music should the record be damaged. A good...

Audiotape, especially tape produced in the 1970s and 1980s, breaks down as the oxide coating separates from the tape. This problem is especially prominent in AMPEX, 3M, and AGFA tapes. Most people...

Woofer (or subwoofer) "noise" can refer to a variety of problems. Noise may be generated by source unit (stereo, amplifier), by the speaker box, by the speaker itself or by external objects....

The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) compression formats consist of several layers such as M3U, MPG, MP3 and others. Each of these different layers is used to record a different part of a media...

Component speakers upgrade the sound to your stereo because the woofer and tweeter complement each other by focusing on low- and high-end sound, respectively. However, wiring the two is a slightly...

These days we're all playing more audio files, DVDs and games that have wonderful soundtracks, and many of us would like to be able to hear full, rich sound through our advanced stereo systems...

Three basic categories of laser discs, or optical discs, exist--one of which that is specifically designed to store data files (CD-ROM), one that is specifically designed to store audio files (CD)...

Cat 5 cable is a very popular cable to make DIY speaker cables. Cat 5 cable, sometimes called ethernet cable, is a cable consisting of four pairs of 24-gauge twisted copper wires. This twisting of...

Ohm's Law states Voltage = Current times Resistance (V= IR). Most circuits have a fixed input voltage, and resistors and other components break the voltage (and therefore the current) down to...

Tuning your studio monitors actually means tuning the room you will be using. If you have sung in the shower as opposed to other parts of your home, then you are aware of the differences in sound....

Getting the best sound from your monitors requires you to solve two problems. The first is figuring out where to place the monitors for maximum audio response--- and this is easily accomplished...

After many hours of using a cassette deck, the magnetic particles on the tape heads slowly change their alignment and begin to face the same direction. When this happens, the audio quality of the...

The basic installation procedure for installing home stereo speaker wiring is the same no matter how your system is set up. Common configurations include: 5.1 surround sound (five speakers plus...

When shopping for an amplifier or a preamplifier for your home stereo system, you may run across the term "line level." Power amplifiers are designed to take line level signals and amplify them...

Most home audio systems have a sub box or enclosure for a subwoofer that is an important part of any home theater system. Getting the best sound from your sub box will depend on where you place it...

Most people know how to do this, but for those of you who don't, it's one of the simplest things ever. And, it is an essential. We all want to listen to our ipod on some blasting speakers, instead...

A surround sound system is composed of several speaker components. Set up properly, a surround sound system will complement any home theater, making it feel as though the sounds on the screen are...

The Soundcraft Compact 4 is a four-channel compact sound mixer used to record vocals and music. This particular mixer allows many different input sources. You can use a microphone, a Direct Input...

The Bose Lifestyle 8 Series II is a home theater system from the American audio electronics manufacturer Bose corporation. The Lifestyle 8 Series II system has been replaced by other Lifestyle...

Many of us have a stereo, CD player or MP3 player in our home. But these devices would be of little use to us without attached speakers. Sometimes the speakers that are attached to these devices...

Home theater enthusiasts might want to connect a powered subwoofer to speakers for added bass. A subwoofer delivers low-frequency sound that you can feel as well as hear. If your receiver does not...

How to use a portable solar charger In the warm March, I am fortunate to be invited to attend a large-scale outdoor activities in Australia held in April, when I prepare this outdoor activity...

Every music producer has his or her own sound which is partly due to the studio instruments they employ. Korg sounds different from Nord leads. Your decision as to which to use will define the...

Tape recorders have evolved tremendously since first being introduced in the early 1920s. Adaptations and changes to tape recorder parts made later models more portable and applicable to record...

If you are interested in recording audio from your musical equipment at home, but do not have the space or money to create a full recording studio, you can create speaker isolation enclosures,...

Korg Triton LE and Roland Fantom-Xa are brands of workstation synthesizers for professional production of music. Both companies offer a series of their workstation synthesizers and they each have...

Convert your analog cassette tapes, which degrade and wear out over time, to timeless digital recordings. Using just a tape player, audio dubbing cable and some audio editing software, you can...