Looking to improve your home audio setup?

If you want a better sound for your music or movies at home, the best thing is to invest in a new speaker. But with so many models in the market with different features, you might be at a loss as to where to start. Don’t play the guessing game – get the help of the experts! We asked the team from Tat Chuan Acoustic to share some important factors to consider with your home audio, along with some handy product recommendations.

How do I work out which speaker is right for me?

Which speaker to buy depends very much on how you’ll use it, so consider your daily lifestyle when making your decision.

If you love singing in the kitchen (or bathroom … or anywhere!), choose a speaker that’s humidity resistant. It’ll also be a good idea to get one that has voice control, so you can easily control your device even when your hands are busy. Top picks: Sonos One / Play:1 / Play:5

For those of you who are looking for a speaker for your workouts, pick one that has a sound quality that can fill the room and provide more bass, offering more punch to accompany your activities. Top pick: Play:5

Avid movie and Netflix lovers will want to get their hands on a set that offers surround sound to enhance the cinematic experience. Top picks: Playbar or Playbase, paired with Play:1s or Play:5s

What should I buy if I don’t have much technical knowhow?

If you find it challenging or frustrating fiddling with wires and cords, get a wireless speaker. These are generally easier to set up and use. Just plug in the power cord, connect to your WiFi network and you’ll be all set. Top picks: Sonos One / Play:1 / Play:3 / Play:5

What space considerations should I keep in mind?

If the area you’re placing a speaker in is small or tight, you’ll naturally want to choose a more compact speaker. Besides that, the layout of your room as well as where you place your speaker can have a significant impact on the sound quality.

Pick a speaker that is compatible with a speaker tuning software. It can analyse your room size, layout and other factors that can affect sound quality. In addition, it’ll be able to calibrate, adjust and fine-tune each woofer and tweeter in your speaker to find the optimal configuration that produces the best sound. Top picks: Sonos One / Play:1 / Play:3 / Play:5 / Playbase / Playbar (all compatible with Trueplay Speaker Tuning Software)

Should I opt for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi speakers?

Speakers with Wi-Fi connections can offer greater flexibility compared to those with Bluetooth connections. Wi-Fi allows multiple users while Bluetooth only enables a one-to-one connection. Wi-Fi also allows instant connection of your device with the speaker but Bluetooth requires pairing procedures before the connection is made.

Keep in mind, too, that your music could be interrupted if someone calls or messages if you’re connected through Bluetooth. Also, Wi-Fi speakers can connect up to a 35-metre range while Bluetooth can only reach up to a 10-metre range.

Written in collaboration with:
Tat Chuan Acoustic
#01-17 The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street
tcacoustic.asia

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Lindsay Yap

Living in Singapore all her life, Lindsay loves finding out what's on and fun around town. Besides binge-watching sitcoms and pigging out on her favourite hawker food, she enjoys exploring new places and is constantly adding to her travel wish list!