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Your Starter’s Guide to Stereo Sound Systems 

Note: This blog was originally published in 2018 and has been updated in 2024. 

If you love listening to music and are ready to improve your home, we have a definite recommendation for you:

Consider a real speaker system for your property—not just a portable speaker. 

You could go for a whole-home or multi-room audio solution, or you could just focus on a single room. No matter what you choose, you will be able to enjoy high-fidelity and lifelike sound with high-end speakers.

In this blog, we’ll focus on those single-room audio solutions. Much of the time, our clients in the Tampa, FL, area aren’t sure whether they want surround sound or two-channel audio for their speaker arrangement.

For us, the answer is clear if you are an audiophile or you just love music: Go for the stereo sound solution. Here’s why.

McIntosh Provides the Quality and Versatility You’re Looking For

Audio equipment brands play a huge role in the quality and type of sound systems. Generic stereos may cut it for some people, but for true audiophiles, nothing beats the crystal clear tones of McIntosh. In this blog, we will cover the background of why McIntosh sound systems are held in such high esteem in the A/V community, then discuss which McIntosh products are a good starting point for your home in Tampa, Florida.

Discover the Coolest Gadgets for Your Inner Audiophile

The audio technology world is always evolving, and it can be difficult to know what’s worth checking out. Maybe you’re getting into vinyl again or for the first time. Perhaps you’re looking to give your movie marathons better, upgraded speakers. As home technology experts, we’re always reading up on the latest audio equipment and have noticed four exceptional products you shouldn’t miss.  

Whether you’re looking for a loved one or shopping for yourself, consider our picks below for fun and useful ways to enhance your home audio system in Clearwater FL.

The best speakers money can buy will never live up to their potential if they are not hooked up to quality components. That is why I am excited about the Marantz product line. Their single philosophy of "Because Music Matters" should tell you all you need to know about the brand. Your Tampa Bay area home audio system will not be complete without Marantz Reference Series components.

This is the best ceiling speaker I've had in my possession to date. It's built very solid but more importantly it sounds like a floor standing tower speaker.

We’re Thrilled to Offer Bowers & Wilkins for Audiophiles Everywhere

Our team at AV Specialists is committed to delivering the world’s best solutions in high-performance audio for our music-loving homeowners in Belleair and the surrounding Florida area. With that said, we’re proud to now offer speakers from one of the world’s finest names in audio: Bowers & Wilkins.

Universally loved by audiophiles, Bowers & Wilkins is believed by many to offer the best loudspeakers in the world. In fact, Bowers & Wilkins has long been the preferred speaker of Abbey Road Studios. Read on to learn more about the beloved audio brand and its wide variety of speaker offerings for your whole-home sound system.

Create a Stunning Audio Experience in Your St. Petersburg, FL Media Room or Home Theater

Whether you have an immersive home cinema or a media room in your St. Petersburg, FL home, you will undoubtedly improve your experience with a high-end audio upgrade. Many homeowners are design-conscious and have a desire for their technology to blend seamlessly into their interior design plan. Soundbars are an excellent solution for these homeowners because they deliver powerful audio without calling much attention to themselves.

Leon and Paradigm are two of our favorite audio brands for quality soundbars. Each also pairs beautifully with McIntosh or other brands of audio components you may already have at home. Keep reading to learn about a few notable soundbars by Leon and Paradigm and why they’d be perfect for your Florida home.

Connect Your Audio Gear to the World of Wireless Streaming

If you’re looking for a home music system, Bluesound should be on your shortlist. Bluesound is an award-winning wireless multiroom system that lets you play music in any and every room of your St. Petersburg, FL home, with simple control through the BluOS app. Their speakers connect wirelessly and stream hi-resolutiontunes to all your spaces, indoors and out.

What’s more, their wireless stereo components allow you to connect your high-end audio gear to the world of wireless streaming. Easily access, stream, and store all your music in one place and even power your favorite speakers with audiophile-grade amplification. All of this is possible through our three favorite Bluesound products: The NODE 2i, POWERNODE 2i, and VAULT 2i.

Read more to explore these products and why they’re a must-have addition to your home audio system.

When you're looking to spend time outdoors enjoying the weather and your backyard setting, music is a must. With a well-planned system that can withstand erratic Tampa Bay weather patterns, you can create audio accompaniments for any outdoor activity. Here are a few things that you may want to consider when designing your outdoor sound system.

Electro-Voice Makes Your Business Sound Better

When considering your next sound system installation upgrade, you need to go with a manufacturer you can trust. Whether you intend to set up a small PA system at a local taproom or you want to revitalize a concert hall in downtown St. Petersburg, FL, our recommendation goes to Electro-Voice. From microphones to loudspeakers and everything in between, Electro-Voice has the products that will work for your purposes. What makes them so great? We’d love to tell you.

Your Speaker Options Are Vast! Let’s Help You Narrow Them Down

When you purchase a car or kitchen appliance, you don’t go in blind. You want this item to serve you well and last for years, so you do your research first.

The same can be said about home audio systems. To find the right home audio equipment that brings out the best in your music and movies, you need to know what to look for.

While it’s important to note that home audio systems aren’t only about the speakers, you can’t enjoy sound without them. So, which types of speakers should you consider for your desired setup in your St. Petersburg, FL home? Let us help! Use the quick guide below to narrow down your options.

Sound System Installation Helps You Live Your Life to the Rhythm of Music

Add more music to your life with a home sound system by Sonance. Everywhere you go – the home theater, living room, bedroom, or outdoor areas – you’ll hear high-quality audio from premium speakers. Whether you want whole-home sound system installation or a state-of-the-art soundbar in your home theater, Sonance has the perfect audio solution that’s music to your ears.

Keep reading to discover why Sonance speakers are the right choice for your home in St. Petersburg, FL.

Partner with a Pro Outdoor Audio Installer like AV Specialists for Your Dream Backyard Soundscape

With warmer weather on the way, it’s almost time to take the fun outdoors again. Poolside parties and alfresco dining are just a few activities that families in Clearwater, FL can enjoy this spring and summer in their waterfront backyards.

When planning your outdoor activities, don’t forget the most important component: the music. A dedicated backyard sound system can elevate any party or evening of relaxation, especially when you partner with a professional outdoor audio installer like AV Specialists. We use high-quality audio solutions that withstand the elements, blend into your landscape, and are easy to control.

Read below to learn what to expect when you call on AV Specialists to design and install your backyard sound system.

When designing a residential sound system, one simple mistake can drastically decrease your sound quality. You don't want to end up with a system that blows you out of the room, doesn't have the sound quality you were expecting, or does not put out the volume you were expecting, even with the volume turned all the way up. How do you avoid these mistakes? Here's a look at the some things you should never do: the worst residential sound system advice we've ever heard. 

In life we sometimes get caught up in the everyday happenings and forget to enjoy things along the way. This is probably even more true at work. Being in the AV business, I sometimes get so caught up in things like client scheduling, finding the right dimensions to fit our recommended equipment and various other minutia that I forget why I got into this business to begin with, that being the enjoyment of music. I have been after better sound since when I was a young kid. Today I was reminded of this and thought I'd share my experience with you.

In this article we’ll take a look at Totem Speakers. They have been around for over 25 years, making quality speakers that are not compromised by market pressure. The Totem Speakers name is synonymous with attention to detail, uncompromising design and engineering, and critical listening tests. Seriously consider this world class speaker manufacturer if you are looking for speakers to perfect your listening experience in your Clearwater home.

Marantz is a Must-Have for High-End Sound Systems

Choosing an audio brand is a big part of adding a high-quality sound system to your home. The right brand can make your home feel like a concert hall or amphitheater, with you sitting center stage for the performance. Here at AV Specialists, one of our favorite audio brands is Marantz. Read on to learn more about this innovative audio company and how their AV equipment can enhance the listening experience in your Clearwater, Florida home.

You’ve likely heard the theory before: When you listen to a high-end speaker, you instantly can tell the difference.

Compared to a standard speaker, the top-line one will produce better sound.

But is there really a difference? And if there is a difference, how can you tell that one exists?

Below, we’ll explore the theory of whether high-end audio actually  is worth it and how you can find out for yourself, right here in Tampa, FL.

Just keep reading to find out more.

If you’re in the market for a new sound system installation in St. Petersburg, you may have shopped around a bit in the big-box stores to see what’s out there. Sonos speakers are available in big box retailers and have been around the wireless sound system space for almost two decades. While Sonos does offer a good sonic experience, many people aren’t aware of how great a wireless speaker experience can be if they’re willing to invest in a proper sound system installation.

At AV Specialists, we’ve had several customers ask us about Sonos speakers, and we’ve decided to level with you in this blog. Keep reading to learn more about how Bluesound wins the race against Sonos with extra features, higher fidelity sound, and more.

SEE ALSO: 4 New Products for Your Audio Sound System

Easy of Use

A Bluesound sound system utilizes your wireless network to stream music and goes a step beyond typical wireless sound systems. It can communicate with up to 64 other BlueOS-enabled players, all controllable through the BlueOS Controller app on the smart device of your choice. If you have your smart devices integrated into a Control4 system, then you can manage and control your Bluesound speakers via any of your Control4-enabled devices.

Sound Quality

Sonos does offer TruePlay, which uses the microphone in your Apple iOS device and room correction algorithms to ensure the speaker sounds its best in the location you’ve placed it. It relies on the user waving the device up and down around the room, and sometimes has errors and inconsistent results.  A Bluesound speaker system – with configuration and installation by the professionals at AV Specialists - will provide uninterrupted, crystal clear, multi-room audio throughout your home. AV Specialists ensures each speaker in your sound system is expertly placed for maximum listening pleasure in every location in your home.