This shopping guide intended to give you a little guide when purchasing your next one HiFi-module serve.
Please do not consider this shopping guide as a recommendation or subjective opinion.
The following purchasing consultants are available to you:
Detailed buying guide for flat screen TVs and DVD-Recorders are in home theater knowledge!
HiFi online service:
Print out the following checklist for your purchase:
Contents
HiFi systems
What are the individual components of a hi-fi system?
A hi-fi system consists of various components. In contrast to smaller compact systems, which are already equipped with all the necessary components by the manufacturer, a hi-fi system consists of various components - e.g. B. from a amplifier, but without CD-/DVD-Player, Tuner, Loudspeakers, turntables, HD recorders, W-LAN streamers, etc.
For explanation:
The amplifier takes care of the amplification and output of the music signals.
CD and DVD players enable the playback of music CDs, DVDs and many other formats (you can find more information on this in the home cinema encyclopedia).
A tuner allows receiving and filtering incoming (FM-)Signals, as well as storing radio or TV channels - it is practically your module for listening to the radio.
HD recorders offer the storage of films and music on hard drives.
In addition, you do not need to change storage media (such as with the cassette deck) to watch a different film.
A W-LAN streamer is a wireless transmitter and receiver that connects individual electronic components (e.g. PC and hi-fi system) to stream music stored on the PC's hard drive onto the W- LAN streamer speakers throughout the house - wirelessly.
A record player plays – how could it be otherwise – records again.
Which components do I need now?
Basically you need an amp, a couple Loudspeakers as well as either a tuner or a CD player – with that you can Radio or listen to a CD.
All other components (see above) can then be added individually. Do you want e.g. For example, if you want to watch DVD films, you also need a DVD player (tip: save yourself one component and buy a DVD player right away, it will also play your audio CDs without any problems).
To connect the devices to each other, you will of course need the appropriate cable types:
DVD Player >> Amplifier: Cinch, HDMI
DVD player >> TV: Scart, hdmi, S-Video, YUV
Amplifier >> Loudspeakers: speaker cable
What do I have to pay attention to when buying the individual components?
You should make sure that the devices are compatible with each other and have the same or very similar performance values. Does he Loudspeakers impedance of 4 Ohm, the amplifier should also be able to deliver these.
Also make sure to use higher-quality cables, among other things, they reduce the loss of quality during transmission and thus enable better transmission Klang. Please note that high-quality does not mean "very expensive", but simply better quality than loudspeaker cable sold by the meter from the hardware store.
Thus, the cables are one of the most important – if not the most important – component(s) of a hi-fi system, because if the transmission is bad, the output is also bad.
You should also make sure that the DVD player - when you buy it - supports all desired formats, e.g. Belly DivX,
plays.
I deliberately do not want to go into the properties of different devices, because alone you decide which configuration delivers the best sound for you and possibly also at the best price-performance ratio for you!
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Home Theater Systems
What are the individual components of a home theater system?
Just like the hi-fi system, this system consists of various components.
A standard home theater system consists of an excellent widescreen television (LCD or Plasma), a playback device such as a DVD player or a DVD recorder (possibly even one already Blu-Rayplayer), a surroundReceiver and a surround system consisting of at least five loudspeakers (Center Speaker in the center front, stereo-Front speakers left and right and two monitor speakers rear left and right) and one Subwoofer (= 5.1). A rear speaker is added to a 6.1 system. Of course you can use your widescreen TV through a projection screen Beamer replace.
What audio formats are there?
The standard sound format on DVDs is currently Dolby Digital. As a compressed sound format, Dolby Pro Logic is already on the dying road. One of the newer standards is called “DTS(Digital Theater Systems) and, like Dolby Digital, is encoded on six different channels and thus works with five or six loudspeakers.
You can find more information about the various sound formats in the home cinema knowledge.
What advantages does a home cinema system offer me?
A home theater system gives you a huge advantage over a regular TV with stereo speakers because of the widescreen TV and surround speakers.
With the widescreen television, you can experience films in a high-contrast 16:9 format with ingenious HDResolution (HDTV).
The surround system is able to play back all of the audio tracks stored on the DVD or Blu-Ray disc, putting you in the atmosphere of an action film.
What do I have to pay attention to when buying the individual components?
First of all, you should pay attention to your needs. There are complete home theater systems (usually without a TV) consisting of a receiver, a DVD player and a surround system. Here you can be sure that all devices are compatible with each other. In addition, the price here - in contrast to buying the individual components - is much cheaper.
However, if you want to tailor your system to you, it is advisable - just like with a computer - to buy the individual components and assemble your system piece by piece yourself. This also gives you the advantage of getting the best product on the market. However, you should also pay attention to the compatibility of the individual blocks (see HiFi systems). Your amplifier and/or DVD player should definitely include a decoder to separate the different sound channels and then that Signal the right one Loudspeakers to send.
Your widescreen television or projector, if you use a screen, should definitely have an HDMI and DVI-Own interface.
Loudspeakers
What types of speakers are there?
There are many different types of speakers, such as B. Two-way systems, active Loudspeakers, passive Loudspeakers, magnetostats, etc.
A large number of those on the market Loudspeakers are passive.
They therefore have no direct power supply of their own and no amplifier of their own.
Loudspeakers who have this are active Loudspeakers. They are mostly found in the form of active subwoofers.
Which speaker is right for me?
Which one Loudspeakers The right one for you depends on two factors:
1. From the spatial conditions: If your listening room is larger than 25 square meters, powerful floorstanding speakers are generally more suitable, since they can better compensate for the disruptive resonances that shift to the low frequency ranges in large rooms. If the room is smaller, use either floor-standing speakers or compact speakers that are less powerful – however, the bass reproduction is not quite as powerful here.
2. From the type of music listened: Do you like high-definition and/or live music in general, reach for high-quality floor-standing speakers if not horns straight away. Do you like to listen loud with lots of bass, would be a Loudspeakers with a great woofer (and corresponding frequency responses) advisable, or an additional subwoofer. Pay attention to the maximum here rated power of Loudspeakers, the decibel number and the impedance.
However, remember that it is not just the maximum rated capacity that matters!
In addition, processing, sound quality and positioning of the Loudspeakers a more important point than the pure Performance!
What should I look out for when buying speakers?
Make sure the Loudspeakers has the same quality as your amplifier, because what's the point if your amplifier e.g. B. can not deliver the required power to operate the speaker?
However, the amplifier does essential more power than that Loudspeakers, then if the volume is too high, there is a risk that it will be completely destroyed. A little more power from the amp is perfect, because that way the amp has control over the Loudspeakers - and not the other way around. This would lead to signal distortion and subsequently to a so-called "Clipping" to lead!
Also take a look at the warranty periods and your right of return as a buyer.
You can also see which one Loudspeakers is suitable for you and thus you already have a rough overview (see above).
Headphones
What types of headphones are there?
You know him from young people who, with their MP3 player walk around:
In-ear headphones are small, not particularly powerful headphones. They are usually designed to compensate for disturbing noises in the environment.
Wireless headphones are very useful. You can walk around with it on your head wirelessly within a radius of many meters and enjoy your music - if it weren't for this mostly constant hissing.
Bluetooth enables the best transmission quality. This technology eliminates the disturbing noise and ensures lossless transmission of digital sound sources.
What should I look out for when buying headphones?
First of all, you should consider where you use the headphones the most.
If you need headphones on the go, we recommend in-ear headphones.
If you like to walk around a lot and want to enjoy your music for yourself without having to turn up the volume and possibly annoy the neighbors, wireless headphones are recommended.
If you want to be very close to the audiophile world and sit close to your system, we recommend the classic wired headband headphones.
Make sure that you can keep the headphones on for a long time without pain. Good padding is therefore recommended.
Closed-back headphones seal off the ear, while open-back models allow sound to pass through and offer a slimmer, more airy soundscape.
Here, too, you should pay attention to the impedance and the type of connection (e.g. 3,5mm Klinke) regard.