Surround Sound Speaker Systems

By Owen Jones

The generations alive now, especially in the West, are all au fait with speaker technology to a limited level. Most individuals started buying music centres in the Seventies if they were old enough and that trend has continued and the technology has got better and better.

Audio reproduction has come on in leaps and bounds since the Fifties and Sixties when most individuals were happy with a mono Dansette record player. My father was still listening to his favourite 78's on a wind-up record player with a pin for a needle and a trumpet for a loudspeaker in the early Sixties. Then he bought a Dansette later in the Sixties.

I bought a Sanyo music centre in the Seventies and he followed suit. The quality of audio reproduction on those systems was laughable in comparison with what is in the shops these days.

The latest development is surround sound, which was only accessible in the cinema twenty years ago, but surround sound speakers are far better now than they were then and you can install them at home without requiring a bank loan.

Often surround sound speakers are associated with film scores, so a surround sound speaker system could be fitted to the outline jacks on your television or home theatre system.

Home theatres are very much in vogue now that lots of people are having to stay in more frequently to save money. A small family that likes to go to the pictures once a week can recoup the costs of a good home theatre system within a year.

While looking at surround sound speakers, you may think that the cost is high, but do not forget that it is the surround sound speakers that transform a film into a cinematographic experience. They also last forever if not abused.

Two bits of advice: buy the best that you can afford and get speakers that will stand on the floor or can be hung on the wall.

Buy quality rather than quantity. If you can just afford two speakers of great quality, so be it, You can buy a new one later. With surround sound, the rule is: the more speakers the better.

Three is the absolute minimum, seven is fine, but eight is much better. The more speakers that you have, the less volume you will have to pump through them so the longer they will last.

The above configurations will be written as: 2:1 (stereo plus a sub-woofer); 6:1 (front and back stereo speakers, a front central speaker and a rear sub-woofer); 7:1 will add a rear central channel.

The good thing about this sort of surround speaker system is that you can easily upgrade it, but you have to begin properly by buying a recognized make that will permit you to add speakers over the years.

One of the best speaker systems you can get are Bose, but they are costly, but they are also the envy of any sound enthusiast as well. If you want the best, but do not have the money take your time building a system of Bose surround sound speakers.

About the Author:

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on numerous subjects, but is now involved with Bose IE2 Headphones. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Bose Digital Radio.

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If You Are Looking For Two Way Radios, Take A Look At The Motorola MH230R 23-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS

By Alexa Lie

I am sure many of you have a time when you need to keep in touch with people if you're out hunting in a group or a group of people go fishing in separate boats. The point is that these radios are really impressive and can really be a real time saver.

I would like to share with you how the Motorola MH230R 23-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio helps us on our Lake Champlain yearly fishing jaunts. We rent an 8-bedroom home and we normally have between 6 and 10 boats that we bring with us, we can have up to 20 people going on this trip each year. Getting everyone to come in for lunch or dinner was nearly impossible because of the size of the lake and also because people didn't like brining their mobile phone in the boats, (that's another story). At times we would be searching for people for hours, and never be able to find them.

Then a few years ago, I bought two sets of these radios and placed them in 4 boats. I kick myself for not buying more radios to start with because they worked really well. Since the two-way radios have a range of 23 miles, we were able to keep in touch with every last boat that had one of the radios in it. Of course, after trying them out, the next year I saw to it that we had a radio for every last boat. And of course wouldn't you know it the following year my uncle's boat wouldn't start on the lake, and he was several miles away. My uncle got on the Motorola radio and the first thing he did was thank me for buying the radios and then told me that his boat wouldn't start. So we went out and towed him and his boat back to the house. If he couldn't have notified us, he would have had to row back 3 miles or so.

These two-way radios have never let us down. As I mentioned, these two-way radios have a 23 mile range and feature a charging station so you don't have to worry about spending a fortune on batteries. You can even be updated on the weather with the weather band that these Motoroal radios have.

And you can utilize these Motorola radios for a lot more than just a fishing trip. My mother decided to take all the grandchildren to Disney Land and wanted to know if she could bring the radios with her, of course I said yes. She thought that it would be a good idea to make certain all of the kids had a two-way radio attached to them just in case someone got lost. While no one got separated from the group, that was actually an outstanding idea she had.

Another thing that we use these Motorola radios for is when we go out hunting as we cover 186 acres when we hunt and it is a fantastic way for people to tell the other people in the group if they are leaving the woods. You have no idea what a time saver this can be unless you have ever been walking around the woods trying to search for somebody you can't find, merely because they got cold and decided to go home.

You can even buy headsets for these two-way radios for even simpler use. With 121 privacy codes and 22 different channels that can be used, you don't have to worry about other Motorola radios interfering.

Amazon.com has these radios for $39.95 for a set of two, and that is actually a great bargain. While I have only shared several different ways that we have used the two-way radios, I am certain you can think of a lot more ways that you could put these radios to use.

About the Author:

You could be as worn out of the hoopla about wireless surround sound system as we are. On the other hand, you'll find things we bet you have not seen explained about wireless surround sound system. It's up to you - and easy enough to find out.

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Superior Content And Quality Are Offered By Satellite Radio

By Edward French

Satellite radio offers a better sound quality than terrestrial radio broadcasts, leading to the rise in its popularity. Everything you would like to hear may not be included in the content but even so, having a satellite radio does have distinct advantages.

Satellites are used by a satellite radio in order to deliver radio programs to subscribers. Broadcasted from Earth based stations to communicational satellites is the radio signal and this signal will be redirected to satellite radio receivers. Broadcasted to a much larger area than traditional terrestrial radio antennas is the radio signal.

The sound quality of satellite radio is comparable to that of a CD. Even though a satellite radio, like cable TV, has to be paid for, it can be considered as a worthwhile expense because it is affordable enough. Switching to satellite radio is what many people have done mainly because of the superior broadcast quality.

Because a satellite radio is digital, there will be no hissing, sound interferences, or other such disturbances. Crystal clear is one way to describe the sound on satellite radio and for bass lovers, they will be appreciate the stronger accurate bass. More robust mid range sounds and crystal clear high range sounds is what they are coupled with and according to most satellite radio subscribers, the quality is extremely close to that of a CD. Also not susceptible to sound problems by poor weather is a satellite radio.

The content is the second factor that converts people to satellite radio. The major players in satellite radio sought exclusivity for some transmissions even though originally considered quite extraordinary and these elevated them above analog radio stations that often share content such as sports broadcasts. More than 100 programs that vary in content from jazz, rock, rap, as well as classical music is what satellite radio services provides its subscribers. With satellite radio, exclusive sports programs, educational and cultural shows, news and talk-shows are also being offered.

When it comes to satellite radio, another benefit it offers is that there are only a few of their channels that retransmit terrestrial programming. The best part is that satellite radio has no advertising and most of their music channels are created in house. Many subscribers find this lack of interruption from endless commercials appealing.

You will need to buy a receiver and subscribe to one of the satellite radio broadcasts in order to get satellite radio at home or in the car. Monthly subscriptions are usually under $20 a month while receivers can usually cost about $300-$500. Subscribers would be expecting a certain level of content as well broadcast quality even though this is not out of reach for many. Many feel that paying for a radio service means the broadcasters will be more likely to maintain and improve those standards than terrestrial radio stations. After all, wouldn't most people prefer to pay a little for a better service?

About the Author:

Whether you plan an extended holiday or quick getaway, travel insurance should be the first thing on your to-do list.

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Are FM Car Modulators MY Only Option?

By James M. Boersma

Many people without auxiliary options in their cars use an FM modulator to play their favorite songs of their MP3 player. They do so because they believe that the FM modulator provides CD quality sound. Unfortunately, for those users that is simply not true. FM modulators actually convert the audio from your MP3 player into RF signals, which are then sent to the car's FM radio. So instead of CD quality sound, one ends up with FM radio quality sound.

In addition, once an FM modulator is installed, it becomes a permanent addition to one's car. For those people who are leasing, renting, or possibly considering selling their car one day this "binding" union may not seem like the best option.

But, are there any other quality alternatives out there?

The quickest and cheapest alternative would be to buy a cassette adapter - assuming your car has a tape deck. It is very simple to use and produces average sound quality. The performance can go south pretty quickly however, as these adapters are generally made pretty cheaply. If you're looking for a cheap fix then these will work fine, but beware that you may find yourself replacing them quite often.

A wireless FM modulator, also known as an FM transmitter, is your next option. Those aren't much better, right? A cheap transmitter will provide low quality audio and only be able to transmit a distance of 5 to 10 feet. They can also experience quite a bit of interference because of the weak signal strength.

So now that you know to avoid the cheap ones, let me explain the advantages of a high quality wireless FM transmitter. A quality transmitter has the transmission quality that will give you exceptional audio quality. You will be able to broadcast over large distances with static and interference free audio. The most important thing that separates a transmitter from a modulator is that a transmitter is a portable device. So unlike a modulator a transmitter can be transported from place to place which allows you to be in control of your music no matter where you are.

A quality FM transmitter will also provide the following additional benefits:

1. Installation and setup is a breeze. No manuals or prior knowledge required.

2. Compatibility (it works with almost any audio source).

3. A quality FM transmitter is not constrained to just a few frequencies to transmit on. Quality units are able to transmit on the entire public FM band.

4. Many different controls and functions, including microphone compatibility, preset frequencies that allow you to easily switch between favorites, volume and mute control, manual on/off switch, automatic gain control, stereo and mono settings.

5. The transmitter is able to be powered in several different ways (e.g., USB, batteries, cigarette lighter and wall adapter)

6. Excellent audio quality with essentially no interference. The transmission power will allow you to broadcast to a distance of about 150 feet (close to the maximum allowed by the FCC).

The portability and versatility of a quality FM transmitter make it a better all around product when compared to an FM Car Modulator. The FM transmitter is extremely easy to use and can be used with virtually any audio source, in virtually any location. Conversely, the FM car modulator is only useful in one location. So if you want the freedom to broadcast your personal music wherever you are, my advice is to go with an FM transmitter.

About the Author:

TAW Global, LLC has been in business for over 7 years now. They are family owned and are headquartered in Portage, MI. They are the designer of the Whole House FM Transmitter which is a quality wireless car audio transmitter that produces clear, static free, audio for use in your car and other locations.

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What Are The Features Of The XM Radio?

By Owen Jones

XM Radio is one of the two largest American satellite radio broadcasters. They transmit over 150 programmes of all kinds like sports, traffic, weather, music of all decades and comedy.

The largest area of their broadcasting activities though is music. After all, that is what most people like to listen to whilst they are driving or working at home or in the back garden.

The music of XM Radio is wide-ranging, catering to the tastes of every music ever recorded. For example, of the sixty-eight music channels, there are channels that play music from only one decade: from the Forties to the Noughties!

Then, transversing those barriers of time, there are music channels that only play Rock and Roll or only play Bee Bop or only play the Blues. There are also channels that only play new records.

There are others that only transmit film soundtracks. In fact, XM music radio has most bases covered. There are even channels that play the music that is being played live in nightclubs such as the 'B.B. King Club' in New York City! The 'Blue Note Club' is there too! In fact, the world of music is your oyster.

Then, on a different level, there are the leisure shows hosted by characters like Snoop Dog and comedy shows with characters like Opie and Anthony. There is family comedy too and Playboy Radio for the older members of the family, although Playboy Radio pictures do not have to be censored.

Sports fans will get pleasure from the devoted sports channels. XM Radio's sports channels cover such sports as American football, basketball and baseball on a daily basis, although there are international sports featured for the more out-going as well: worldwide, International sports such as soccer, the most popular participation sport in the world.

In fact, there are currently thirty-eight sports channels in XM's repetoire, although by the time you read this, there will probably be three or four times that amount. Many service providers are flocking to Xm's service in order to gain nationwide coverage in the United States.

News channels are there as well. Channels like the world-respected BBC World Service, CNBC, Fox, the controversial C-Span, CNN, the Discovery Channel, NASCAR Racing, E-Entertainment and many more.

If you need apparatus to receive this interesting new service, you can easily find it on the Internet or in your neighbourhood shopping centre. The cost of the apparatus will not break the bank, but it is best if you price it up and then sit back a week or two because new 'special offers' are coming out all the time.

The best technique to get XM Satellite Radio for today's best price is to wait and look which way the wind is blowing, in a short while you will get this illustrious satellite broadcaster for a knock-down price.

About the Author:

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a range of topics, but is currently concerned with Bose Radioss. If you would like to kcurrently more, please visit our website at Bose Digital Radio.

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Satellite Radio: What Are Quality, Content And Availability?

By Owen Jones

Satellite radio has really taken off. It is extremely popular for two or three main reasons such as quality, content and availability. In the context of satellite radio, quality refers to the quality of sound that is capable of being reproduced by the equipment because of the signal; content refers to the types of programmes being broadcast by the various radio channels or stations and availability refers to the footprint or coverage of the satellite, that is how much area of land receives the signal from the satellite.

All these comparisons are made with terrestrial radio broadcasts of course. For instance, we all know that typical AM or FM stations differ greatly in quality, the content can be heavily interspersed with advertising, jingles and mindless chatter and coverage is usually only on a extremely localized basis.

The two big players in the American satellite radio market are of course Sirius and XM and each one is attempting to out do the other in these three fields

Typically, satellite radio produces a quality of sound which is similar to CD quality. This is extremely high, especially if you use good quality equipment to replay the signal received. If you merely replay satellite radio through tinny, old, blown speakers, then you will hardly benefit from this boost in quality at all.

Quality, content and coverage have all played a role in increasing the popularity of satellite radio, but it is probably content which has played the greatest part.

You may be asking yourself why anyone would want to pay for subscription radio, when there is so much free radio about. It is a valid question, but in fact, similarities can be made with cable TV and broadcast television. Why do people pay for that? Is it the sound quality? Or the content? Or what? A lot of cable TV is drivel as well. Sports coverage, possibly.

At least the majority of satellite radio is free of commercials. That has to be worth a couple dollars a month and it is in fact a big selling point. Many people cite the lack of commercials as one of their foremost reasons for switching to satellite radio.

It is likely that all big league sports games will move to subscription only over the next few years. This will inevitably be carried out with the use of satellite radio. American football, soccer, baseball, basketball will all either get their own nationwide channels or be bundled with other channels

People are fed up with the amount of advertising on AM and FM radio, but at the end of the day, the main reason whether to get satellite radio or not for most people rests on content not even so much on the quality of the sound. If sport is taken off terrestrial radio and only available on satellite radio, then people, especially men, will switch to satellite radio, which is precisely what happened with cable and satellite television.

About the Author:

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a range of subjects, but is now involved with Bose alarm clocks. If you would like to know more, please visit our web site at Bose Digital Radio.

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Things People Must Know When Considering TV Aerial Installation

By James Sollis

Nowadays, watching television has becoming a necessity that cannot be overlooked. You get to know what is happening around the world and important world events that are taking place. The only hindrance in deriving concentration when you are watching crucial news or programs is the TV aerial. While people near the broadcasting transmission towers experience no signal blockage, those located away from the signal tower are interrupted by trees and building that weakens the signals. This is why you should opt for a TV aerial installation.

If you are in an area that is overly obstructed from the signals, you will need the signal boosters. In most cases, television images are distorted by either the ghost interference or the snow interference. You find that in snow interference, the images are disrupted by the heavy grains occurring as a result of weak transmission of signals. However, this type of interference can also take place if your antenna is of low quality or your TV has some technical problems.

Ghost interference on the other hand happens when two or more signals from different transmission sources are received by your antennae. The result is usually displayed as many overlapping images. When the original signal is interfered with, the multiple signals occur. This occurs when mountains or occasional aircraft makes the original signal to bounce.

To eliminate the problems, you should install the antenna on the best spot in your home. You can do this by using a signal meter. Somebody can help you in the house and inform you on which place the antenna receives the best image. Remember to put in safety measures to avoid injuries or accidents.

Currently, there are some TV aerial installations companies that can help you get good quality pictures on your television in addition to the best broadcasting stations. You will be obliged to make a choice between the indoor antenna and the outdoor antenna. The indoor antenna will be small in size and easy to install and adjust. You can then connect it via Ethernet or coaxial cable.

The outside antennae is larger than the inside one. It is installed by mounting it on top of the roof. Remember, you should place your antennae at the highest point possible to get a clearer picture. A technician who will do the job for you need to be consulted.

You might also opt for an outside antenna. It is usually large and mounted on the rooftops. In such cases, you need to get a technician to determine where your antenna installation should take place so that you can receive clear images. You can therefore consult the nearest TV aerial installation company for the installation services.

About the Author:

Get complete information on the benefits of installing TV aerial system now. When you want to enjoy digital aerial, you can get the details you will need to achieve your goal today.

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