The term “music source” isn’t commonly used among the average homeowner, but what it refers to is the location your music is coming from—such as an iPod, radio station, or CD. Most people today use iTunes to download music, however there are many different ways to buy and stream quality audio. It’s easy to get lost in a sea of streaming music services, especially when there are many names you are not familiar with. If you have a Sonos speaker, you can choose from more than 50 different stations and services. So how do you navigate the music landscape? Whether you are an audiophile or not, this blog will be a helpful guide to choosing the best music sources for your whole house audio system in the Charlotte, NC area. 

CDs

Do you have a CD collection? The truth is that CDs are actually high-quality music sources. CDs have about 1,411 kbps (kilobits per second). Compare that to mp3 files, which are only 320 kbps and you can see there’s a big difference. CDs transfer data faster per second, so you end up hearing more detail in the soundtrack. The downside to CDs are that they are becoming obsolete. Most stores don’t carry blank CDs anymore; people are sharing music via USBs now. Take a couple new cars for test drives and you’ll notice many of them don’t have a CD player in the car radio. But even though CDs may be turning into a relic of the past, you can still keep your CD collection and enjoy your albums. Connect a player to your whole house music system and you can enjoy quality sound.

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Digital Files

The convenience of transferring music to digital files has led to the increase in digital downloads. Most people access their music in the form of MP3s from iTunes or Amazon Music. While you get to carry your music around with you and save physical storage space, MP3s are just about the lowest quality source. When an original recording is compressed into an MP3 file, a lot of information is lost.  A lower bitrate could translate to a softer bass response or weak-sounding drum cymbals. However, you do have another option, which is to buy high-resolution audio files. This type of audio format is compressed in such a way that no audio data is lost. But where can you purchase or stream high-resolution music?

Currently, music streaming sources like Pandora and Spotify use a bitrate of 160 kbps, which is even lower than a typical MP3 file. Tidal is one of the only ones that plays songs in CD quality at 1,411 kbps. High-resolution song files are seven times higher than that! According to Sony, there are several companies that cater to audiophiles and music lovers by selling high-resolution files for download--including, HDtracks, Super HiRez, and Qobuz. You’ll need a strong and reliable internet connection, a subscription with the music source if they require a monthly fee, and a receiver to play the source.

Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed crowds of people rush to the nearest stores to purchase a 4K TV for their home theater or media room. Many people want to have the very best picture on the market for their Lake Norman, NC residence, and it’s no wonder why when they see such beautiful images on a UHD screen. Yet some homeowners are still not getting the best picture with their home theater system because their settings aren’t right, their cables aren’t compatible, or their system doesn’t match the content specifications. In this blog, we are going to cover exactly what you need to get the most out of your 4K TV or projector. 

SEE ALSO: Transform Your Living Room into a Home Theater with Media Room Designs

Cables

The most common issue we see in homes is not having the right cables in the home theater or media room. Ultra High Definition technology is four times the resolution of HD, or 1080 pixels, and that means your cables need to support four times the information. Add HDR into the equation and you could experience a downscaled signal or even no picture at all. You need to upgrade your cables to ensure you have the proper amount of bandwidth. Using the right cables is essential for all of the devices in your home theater, including the UHD Blu-ray player and cable box. For any devices contained within the theater, say a local UHD Blu-ray player, you can connect them with HDMI 2.0 cables. For any hardware racked neatly in the basement, you’ll want to fortify your signal with fiber optic cables which, unlike HDMI 2.0, can transmit 4K signals over long distances.

Lake Norman homeowners love to enjoy the water, like water skiing, boating, or just sitting by the lake and enjoying the view. But we understand that sometimes you want a change of scenery. Many families own second homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains to go hiking and skiing, or down by the beach to have fun in ocean. It’s crucial to keep a close eye on all your properties, and the good news is that a smart home installation can help. With smart security features and energy management capabilities, you can keep you vacation home in the best condition. Keep reading this blog to learn more. 

SEE ALSO: 3 Signs Your Smart Home Needs and Update

Protect Your Home with Smart Security

The trajectory for 2017 is quite clear: voice control will become the new way to manage your home. Energy management systems will also become even more of a priority and 4K technology will continue to grow in popularity. Is you smart home ready for these updates? It’s possible that you need a professional to come in and replace some of the devices you’re currently using to support certain technologies. Keep reading this blog to discover the possibilities for 2017 smart home updates. 

SEE ALSO: 3 Signs Your Smart Home Needs an Update

Voice Control

Setting up a home theater system goes way beyond just installing a surround sound system and projector and screen. You need to consider how every aspect of the room will affect your movie-watching experience. After all, when you go to the local movie theater in Charlotte, North Carolina, you sit in a completely dark room on professional seats. The room has also been designed and tested to ensure the acoustics are perfect. The good news is that by working with a local professional like The Integrated Home, you can optimize your own home by the same standards of the big cinemas. Here are the three main aspects of your room that you need to consider to get the best experience in home entertainment.

SEE MORE: Transform Your Living Room into a Home Theater with Media Room Designs

Eliminate Glare in the Room