Interested in replies that could give other community members guidance on selecting headphone types. ... View more

Question What are the best options for multi-room sound systems? And what kinds of things should I consider when choosing the best system for my home? Answer   Imagine walking into a room filled with music. You look for audio gear and speakers, but there are none in sight — just the room's warm, inviting décor. That's because you're hearing an integrated, in-wall multi-room music system. The cables, speakers, and even controllers are installed in your walls and ceiling for a clean, seamless look. In this article, we'll cover your two main options for an in-wall multi-room system. Then we'll walk you through the questions you should ask yourself when choosing this kind of multi-room system. Also, keep in mind that you can always call our Audio/Video Design Group for help — they'll take info you supply about your specific home and create custom recommendations. You'll find more system ideas in our article on wireless multi-room music systems. Will you use existing in-wall wiring, or install new wiring? More and more homes these days are pre-wired with multi-room systems in mind. For example, some offer multiple runs of CAT-5 cable, to accommodate both your computer network and a multi-room system. Some homes also include runs of speaker wire to power multi-room speakers. Depending on the multi-room music system you choose, you'll likely use one or both types of cable to distribute and control your music. If your home doesn't have the right in-wall cabling, or doesn't have it installed in the right locations, you'll need to install new wire. This is something often done in homes still under construction, or under heavy renovation, since it's easier to install in-wall wire before the drywall and insulation are up. See our in-wall wiring guide for info on routing wire in new and finished homes. And if you'd rather go wireless, check out our article about wireless music options. How many rooms do you want music in? Some multi-room systems send music to just two or three rooms total, while others expand to accommodate 12 or more, depending on how you configure your system. As you shop, think about how many listening rooms you'd like, and also how you'll listen in each room. For example, you might choose different components for background listening in your kitchen then you would for dedicated music listening in your den. How much control do you want in your remote rooms? You'll have a range of control options from most pre-matched and conventional systems — everything from simply controlling the volume, to switching sources and songs. Most pre-matched systems include a controller in each room where you have music. But if you're creating your own conventional system, you'll need to be sure to include that in your plans. See our articles on powering your multi-room system and remote controls for multi-room systems for more info. ... View more

  Back in my day we had amplifiers the size of Frigidaires, but they sounded great. I love most of your products, but this is the last great missing piece. ... View more

Question I want to keep my home theater simple, so I'm opting for a sound bar rather than surround sound. I thought I had all the questions answered but I'm stumped on whether I want a sound bar with a built-in amp.   Answer Most models have built-in amplification. As a result, they don't require a separate home theater receiver -- you just connect your audio components, and you're all set. Some virtual surround and Left-Right-Center sound bars don't have built-in amplification. You need to connect these passive models to a separate home theater receiver. Passive sound bars are a good option if you already have a home theater receiver you'd like to use. Plus, a separate receiver can provide cleaner power and more sophisticated audio processing, so you might enjoy higher-quality sound. So like every other question, the answer is it all depends.   ... View more

Question What size TV panel should I buy? Answer There are really two parts of the screen size equation: 1) Viewing distance and 2) picture quality. Sitting the right distance from your TV is also an important part of optimizing the viewing experience. Because HDTVs offer so much more picture detail than old analog sets, you can sit quite a bit closer to them than you could with your old tube. In fact, sitting too far away may mean you miss some of the high-def detail you paid for. But you also want to avoid sitting too close to your TV. A good indication that you're sitting too close to a screen is if you find yourself distracted by the screen's "structure" — those rows and columns of pixels that look like tiny dots. If you're not sure which screen size is best for your room size and viewing distance, check the guidelines below. You can also use them to get an idea of appropriate viewing distance from your current TV. You'll notice that I provided a range for each screen size, rather than a hard and fast number. That's because the viewing distance you prefer will depend on your personal tastes, as well as what kind of material you'll most often watch. If you're going to watch lots of high-quality video — like DVDs and high-def programming — you can sit in the closer end of the range to see all the detail your HDTV can provide. On the other hand, if you'll still be watching lots of lower-quality sources, I recommend sitting at the higher end so that you'll notice less of the image's flaws. Screen     Viewing distance range 26"     3.25-5.5 feet 32"     4.0-6.66 feet 37"     4.63-7.71 feet 40"     5.0-8.33 feet 46"     5.75-9.5 feet 52"     6.5-10.8 feet 58"     7.25-12 feet 65"     8.13-13.5 feet 70"     8.75-14.75 feet Just a note on safety... you'll want to make sure you choose a stand or wall mount that's made to accommodate your TV's weight and size — an old coffee table may not be able to stand up to 100 pounds of TV. Also, be sure that your TV is placed properly on your stand, and that it's balanced left to right, and front to back. Since TVs tend to be heavier towards the front, you should avoid setting them too close to the front edge of the stand. ... View more