If the free earbuds that come with your iPhone don’t cut it for you; if you still buy vinyl; if you only use high-quality cables for your speakers—you may be an audiophile. Even if your music habits are more casual, all music lovers should have a place in their home where tunes can be experienced at the utmost volume and quality. Especially if you live with others, audio fanatics need a private haven to blast their favorite remastered albums. Is a dedicated listening room just what your home needs?
With your whole home audio system connected to a dedicated listening space, you will create an escape for alone time or appreciating music with friends and family. To discover the benefits and how to build a listening space in your Windsor, CO home, continue reading below.
SEE ALSO: 3 Ways Multi-Room Audio Enhances the Way You Listen to Music
What a Listening Room Offers
If you love music, you need the right space for your speakers to sound their best. When high-quality speakers are merely assembled in the living room or kitchen where acoustics aren’t balanced, you won’t achieve an optimal sound. With measured dimensions and appropriate fabrics to sound-proof and reduce vibrations, audio can sound significantly better.
Furthermore, your listening room will be a sanctuary to relax. While enjoying records over your audio system, you can write, draw, paint, read, or just listen without distractions. You can bring friends in for drinks, and even install a minifridge. Some believe your listening room should only be used to focus on the music, and nothing else. But you have all the freedom in the world to enjoy your listening room however you’d like.
The Right Sized Room
The size of your listening room entirely depends on the amount of energy you’ll be putting into it and your speakers’ sizes. However, you should be sufficient if your room is close to 10-feet high, 17-feet wide, and 23-feet long. It’s important to use a room that isn’t too small or too big in order to minimize reverberation time issues, and make sure there are four walls and a door to keep the sound encased. If you’re unsure on dimensions, an experienced audio expert can offer valuable guidance.
How to Position Your Speakers
When assembling your listening room, arrange your speakers to create a sound triangle. If you’re using a two-channel stereo, you can firm a triangle between yourself, the speaker to your right, and the speaker to your left. For the best effect, position your speakers at ear-level.
Soundproofing & Acoustics
To ensure your audio doesn’t vibrate or echo, complete your room with fiberglass acoustic panels behind the audio equipment and on the walls. Acoustic treatments will also absorb unwanted sounds, like the HVAC system or water pipes, so your audio is undisturbed. To contain the sound to the room (and keep noise from the rest of the house out), consider soundproof blankets on the walls, soundproof curtains, and soft furniture.
Fill bookshelves to absorb sound, and if the speakers are on the floor, place them on insulating vibration pads. Further contain sound with weather strips under the door and be sure that your chair or sofa’s seat back is below ear level. For a relaxing ambience, install soft lighting that can be easily controlled in the same system as hour whole home audio.
Ready to get started on your own dedicated listening room? Call Encore Sight & Sound at (970) 217-7018 or fill out our contact form here!
