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Home Audio Advice

1. Before you buy or set up a home theater system
You should read these helpful articles.

Choosing Home Audio Speakers - General advice on what to look for when shopping for speakers.

Speaker Wire and Connectors - Recommendation on speaker wire length and various connectors

Bigger is Not Always Better - Advantages of multiple small drivers over fewer large drivers

Speaker Types - The pros and cons of the different kinds (not brands) of speakers available.

The Truth About Power Ratings - There are games being played with amplifier power ratings, so you better watch out, you better not cry.

Choosing Electronics - What to look for when shopping for electronics.

Surround Formats - Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, DTS, THX and DSP - What does all this gibberish mean?

Home Theater System Overview - All the parts you'll need to assemble a system.

How To Use Product Reviews, Part I. - Make A More Powerful Buying Decision.

How To Use Product Reviews, Part II. - Exploring a relatively new, Internet-fueled issue: the role and value of consumer written reviews and review sites.

2. Setting up a home theater system can be difficult
So we wrote the following articles to help guide you. If we don't take care of you, who will?

General Home Theater Set-up - This Is System Set-Up 101

Home Audio Speaker Placement - OK, now that you have all these boxes, where ya gonna put them?

Surround Processor/Receiver Set-Up - Dolby Digital surround processors have adjustments you may not be familiar with

Optimizing the Sound of Your Room - A few simple techniques will make your room, and your equipment, sound much better.

Bass Management and Subwoofer Connections - A further examination of some of the topics covered above.

Subwoofer Positioning and Adjustment - Tips on how to get the best bass performance.

3. Using a home audio system is fun!!
Especially if you follow our advice listed in the articles above. So now that we have you hooked, read these!

How to Read a DVD Label - Know what you're getting before you buy DVDs. Secrets revealed!

How do I prevent damaging my speakers again? - There are many reasons why speakers malfunction.

Car Audio Advice

1. Car audio basics
Welcome to 12V school. Now do your homework. You're itching to buy but you're a 12V freshman. Do a little reading first.

Car Audio Glossary - How to talk like a 12V pro. What all that jargon means.

The Basics of Car Audio - The basic parts of a system, what they do and why you need them.

More Toys - More in-depth explanations about all kinds of important stuff.

How Car Speakers Work - How they work, the different types and how to choose.

Little-known Secrets of the Soundroom - How to listen smart when buying car audio speakers.

Power Up! - How much power do you realy need?

A crossover is not a puzzle. Well, sort of. - But they’re vital to creating great sound. Here are some basics.

2. Setting up a car audio system
can be difficult. That's why we wrote the following articles to guide you in the right direction.

To Install or Not to Install - DIY or go with a pro?

Dealing with Noise - Defeating distortion and stifling hum in your system.

3. Great car speakers deserve a little TLC, too
Now that you're a car audio fanatic, these articles will feed your obsession.

The 5 Mistakes to Avoid - Lot’s of people make them when choosing speakers. Read this first.

Tips on cleaning your car's sound system - Some simple, though very important, things to do when you clean up your act.

How Not to Wax Your Speakers - Sometimes what you don’t do makes your speakers live longer.

The Care and Feeding of Tweeters - Give tweeters the respect they deserve, really.