Choosing the Right AV System for Your Home or Business

December 21, 2023 No Comments

by Jeff Caplinger

In this day and age, having the right AV system is more important than ever before. People spend most of their time-consuming digital content, and the quality of this is often restricted by the hardware you have set up.

After all, the average screen resolution in 2023 will be 1920×1080, but this is constantly moving upward. This means that to get the most out of present-day formats, you need a screen that can keep up and an audio system to enhance your immersion.

More importantly, these systems have more than just personal use in residential homes. A modern conference room is never complete without the right AV system, and even the main working floor can greatly benefit from an interactive board. 

Still, how do you choose the right AV systems for your home or business? Well, let’s check it out!

Screen size and resolution

First of all, you need to consider your needs and preferences. Sure, ideally, you would get 4K screens everywhere, but this will cost you extra, and it might not even be necessary for the way you consume content.

Sure, watching 4K videos and streams is amazing, but if your broadband isn’t adequate, you’ll probably watch 720 or 1080 streams. Sure, it’s still a good idea to have a better resolution to future-proof your system, but at the same time, it will be harder to justify an extra expense. The increase in resolution division can make the device several times more expensive.

As far as the commercial use goes, it all comes down to the size of the room, the number of seats in the room, and even the impression that you want to make. Just remember that, expensive as it is, this is a one-time purchase. The increase in the amount of power these larger screens use will not be noticeable on your utility bill anyhow, so why not go with premium?

Still, if you want an extra large and you’re concerned with the cost of this decision, the simplest way to solve the problem will be to go for a projector. This way, you’ll get an optimal cost-per-inch. Not to mention that using a projector and a white sheet has a nostalgic feel to it, even in the modern business world. The biggest downside is that it won’t be touch-friendly. This means that its collaborative function might be significantly lower. 

Picking the right audio system

There are so many things you could ask for from an audio system. First, it’s important to acknowledge that AV systems require audio as much as they do the visual part.

You see, in your home, your ability to enjoy music, watch streams and shows, and use white noise to block out other noises will depend on your sound system. The same thing is true for your office; it will not just affect the quality of life of everyone involved, but it will also affect their productivity. In other words, this investment has an ROI in the literal sense of that word.

Now, depending on the size of the room you need to install the sound system in and the intended effect, you may have to adjust your hardware quite a bit. The number of speakers, their positions, their maximum volume, and their intended purpose must be addressed. While you could look up some guides and tips, the truth is that you’re better off just hiring specialists to do the audit of your space and make a list of the hardware they need. 

There are many different speaker types, from floor-standing speakers and soundbars all the way to bookshelf speakers. While, in theory, you should pick the right one for the size and intended purpose, in reality, you probably want to combine all of them.

The room acoustics are just as important. This is why it’s never just the issue of speakers, and it’s one more reason why you want professionals. 

Wiring and cable management 

A modern household has so many cables, and you need to find a way to get all the services that you need without causing everyone to trip and fall around your home, getting injured in the process, and damaging appliances.

Remember that while installing cables through walls may make it harder to change and replace them, this will actually lower your maintenance requirements. How come? Well, when not trampled on or pulled during dusting, these cables can last a long time. When they’re in walls, the only risk is that of pests; however, this wouldn’t spare your cables even if they were out.

If we’re talking about professional AV systems and high-speed internet, the quality of the cable matters quite a bit. This is why keeping it safe and out of harm’s way needs to be one of your highest priorities.

In offices, where trampling damage and foot traffic are even more common, this is something you need to take into serious consideration. Not only that, but if you don’t pull this off right, you have an increased chance of a workplace injury. This is important for both legal and HR reasons.

Aesthetics

This is a topic that doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves. Namely, the overall aesthetics of your AV system are a significant issue. After all, the screens that you opt for will be a focal point of any room or conference hall. Even more importantly, they’ll affect the overall visuals within your home, sometimes even completing or disrupting the style.

The same goes for the speakers, only they’ll be scattered everywhere across your home. The key takeaway is that you need to figure out the right visuals for your home. Just bear in mind that the hardware you buy now may be kept for years. This means that your next paint job might come before your next hardware replacement. The fact that you might want a change of style in the future must be a factor when making up your mind.

Wrap up

Ultimately, try to be realistic about how you’re spending time in your home. You’ll have to acknowledge that you’re probably in front of the screen and that, even when you’re not, there’s the noise of a movie, podcast, TV show, or some music blasting in the background. A similar thing happens in the office, as well, which is why you need to take the choice of the right AV quite seriously.