Bluetooth and bookshelf speakers are common sites in college apartments and houses.
Oftentimes, sound quality is the last factor considered when college students purchase speakers. Understandably, price tends to be the most important consideration.
However, many students care too heavily about loudness. And while it’s nice to turn up the volume sometimes, it tends to not sound great on cheap, tinny speakers.
Volume tends to cause conflict with neighbors, and it usually doesn’t produce good sound quality.
There is another way, though, to elevate your sound game.
Go thrifting
Decking out your place with a high-quality sound setup doesn’t take lots of money, it just takes time.
Thrift stores are usually filled to the brim with old sound technology. In some cases, equipment available for sale retailed for hundreds of dollars when it was first sold. But in other cases, tech can broken or poorly-made. You just must do your research.
When you encounter a speaker or some audio equipment in-store, do a google search. Read reviews, find old forum posts and do your due diligence. Oftentimes, if the tech is old, you won’t be able to find exact reviews, but more general information about the manufacturer. If the producer of the equipment seems reputable, oftentimes its products will perform fine. Again, do you research, but also don’t overthink it.
Know what you’re looking for
There are tons of different kinds of speakers and sound technology. If you’re looking to become an audiophile, you can go crazy with all different kinds of equipment, but if you just want something that sounds good and simple, there are only a few things you need to get.
First, find a receiver. These are appliances which you can feed your speakers into and allows you total control over their sound. Without a receiver, you’re limited to whatever sound output your TV can muster. Usually, that’s not very good.
Ok, so you’ve purchased a receiver. Now what? Well, it depends on your living situation.
If you’re in an apartment, you want a brighter sound with less bass. This will keep you on good terms with your neighbors and will let you turn up the sound a bit without worrying about vibrating your entire building. All you really need are two tower speakers that can stand off the floor and go on both sides of the television. Plug them into your receiver and choose direct stereo, and you’re good to go.
You can do more if you want, of course. But generally, two high quality speakers and a receiver will be enough.
Houses are a little different. If it’s just you and your friends living in the entire home, you can get louder, but not too loud!
Unlike an apartment, you’re probably safe getting a subwoofer in a house. These create a powerful bass that adds a nice richness to your sound.
You can also invest in an additional two tower speakers and a soundbar for a center channel. Together, the five speakers and subwoofer for a 5.1 surround sound. A simple, common and efficient way to enjoy movies. But make sure to turn on direct stereo when listening to music, since most songs aren’t recorded for surround sound.
With a little research and time, you can have a sick setup at your apartment or home. And remember, keep the volume at a reasonable sound. A noise citation can sometimes cost more than your entire setup!