Best advice for the perfect AV system

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18 May 2021

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4 min read

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The sky’s the limit when it comes to choosing an AV system. But whether or not you have deep pockets, it pays to make sure you choose from someone with specialist knowledge and expertise who can put together a tailored solution to suit your specific requirements.

Finding a great high-fidelity audio or home theatre system for your home or business can be a minefield. A lot of people are keen to give you advice—electricians, architects and designers and they may all know a little bit.

But if you really want to find a system that is tailored to your specific needs and budget, you need to go to an expert who can carefully listen to your brief and put something together that is more appropriate.

Before shopping, think about what you want to use your new system for and how important music is to you. Are you an audiophile or a dedicated movie buff? Or do you just want a system for entertaining the kids?

Find someone who understands your specific needs so they can recommend a sound or AV system that fits exactly what you want to achieve.

There are not that many retailers who can really give impartial advice and who know what is good and what is not, says John Tom of Paulmoney Hifi.

Best advice for the perfect AV system

Key considerations: getting back to basics

Education is needed around the process of choosing a sound system. It is not always about the look. There are many things to consider. You can buy a system for $2,000 or well into seven figures. What you choose all depends on your requirements.

With 35 years in the business and staff who have an average of around 27 years’ experience, John suggests customers sit down to listen to several systems to ascertain their preferences. That helps narrow it down to the ideal products.

Key considerations: is music a priority?

“Some people just want background music. Others have a passion for audio and they don’t think anything of spending $20,000 on speakers.

“But if you can’t tell the difference between listening to a $2000 system and a $20,000 system, then why spend more? It comes down to appreciation. Basically sound is in the ear of the beholder.”

People often want multi-zones, which means finding out how to control different areas around the house through an app. Remember, the size of the space determines which product you need to fill the area.

Some people do not want a big box, they want something discreet.

Says John: “That’s all very well but the best sound comes from traditional speakers rather than something hidden in the wall or ceiling.”

Best advice for the perfect AV system

Key considerations: colour code your sounds

Some people want a good system, but they want it in a specific colour to match their decor—white for example. Not every brand is available in white.

A specialist can find the best looking colour coded product aligned with the best sound and fit it all together.

If you’re building or renovating a home, you need to make sure you have the appropriate infrastructure in place to stream and integrate the various elements with wiring to get signals from A to B. It’s all about the planning. Don’t leave it until the home is built or else you may be disappointed that you can’t do what you originally wanted. You need good advice right from the start for a strong wifi network.

Key considerations: after sales support vital

The reliability of a product and the after-sales support you get once you have made your purchase should you ever need it is another key thing to consider. It’s the back end of a sale that people do not see until it’s too late.

John says, only purchase from retailers that represent high quality Tier 1 brands and distributors with good support systems in place.

“Often retailers push their own brand and don’t give a true perspective of a product as they only sell what they can make the most money on. Buy from someone that really believes in their products.”

Learn more about finding the best hifi system for your requirements.