Bespoke Sound

Music is unlike any other form of creative expression, as the experience itself can change radically based on the means of consumption. Whether it is the raw sound of live music, the enveloping aspect of high-quality headphones, or even the pleasant tones of a loved one’s voice; you can find dozens of ways to enjoy a single song, without it feeling remotely the same. This is why audiophiles spend so much time and effort into creating the best possible musical experience through a combination of amps, receivers, subwoofers, and speakers of all shapes and sizes.

These systems often end up costing a lot and can vary from a two piece setup, all the way to a literal home theatre experience, with speakers in the walls, and even on the roof. It all depends on how much money you are willing to spend and where does your threshold of quality lies. This is not just about buying stuff, as even the way you set the system up has an intimate relationship with the type of music you listen to, and the atmosphere you want to create around that sound. Thankfully, modern technology has given us so many options when it comes to these components that you can always find something to modify, in order to push the envelope. With this issue, we will be exploring examples of the different equipment that will get you started on this journey.

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Amplifiers

If listening to music is your only goal, and quality of sound your only priority; then the first thing you need to invest in is a good quality amplifier. While some people prefer getting separate tuners and pre-amps for more control over future upgrades; for first time users, an integrated amplifier is best as it combines it all in a single body. One of the best options in this segment is the A-S801 from Yamaha, which provides a rich sound thanks to a built-in DAC (digital-to-analogue converter), and a continuously variable loudness control system that modifies the output to match the music. It also supports high-resolution audio playback for FLAC, WAV, and DSD files; and comes with a source direct mode that ensures no distortion or degradation affects the playback quality. For an amp that starts around 60,000 this is more than enough bang for your buck. Although, getting this model in India might add some shipping charges to the final price.

A/V Receivers

Receivers are the next logical evolution over amplifiers, as they add video functionality to the mix, while retaining all the features of an integrated amp. This increase in equipment often leads to shrinkage in the amp size, which can cause some loss of audio quality. This is why it is important to be selective in your choices, so our pick will be Sony’s STR-DN1080. This beast of a machine can handle a 7.2 channel setup with a 165W output for each. For video, the device features support for Dolby Atmos, DTS: X, and a 4K repeater that comes with HDR support for flawless playback. You can connect to the machine through the analogue way, via a 6-in/2-out HDMI setup, coax audio, or optical audio; or go digital with options for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and even Google Home connectivity, thanks to the in-built Chromecast. All of this is governed by Sony’s auto-calibration technology, which makes for an amazing audio-visual profile. This model will cost you around 40,000, excluding shipping costs.

Subwoofers

When it comes to sound amplification, one of the harder elements to master is the bass. If your equipment isn’t suitable for it, the low frequencies can easily become unrecognisable rumbles. At the same time, without the presence of a dedicated subwoofer, it is quite hard to duplicate the full sound; leaving you with a tinny, muted listening experience. Which is why it is important to have a subwoofer that is not only powerful, but also well-designed so that it doesn’t become a disruption. Our choice in this matter is the BIC America F12 subwoofer, which comes with a huge 12 inch driver that produces a massive peak output of 475W. Even in sustained operation, the speaker can deliver a constant output of around 150W, which is more than enough boom for most rooms. Its patented ‘Venturi’ vent keeps the port noise to a minimal, so that you don’t compromise on sound quality. You can get this front firing monstrosity for around 35,000.

Speakers

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that speakers play a major role in any sound system. While the other components are important for driving the quality of the sound, it is the speakers that eventually deliver the finished product. Depending on your budget you can get speakers in all shapes and sizes, even though for a starting kit, our recommendation would be ELAC’s B6.2 Debut 2.0 Bookshelf Speakers. These semi-portable units feature a 6.5 inch aramid fibre woofer, along with a one inch silk dome tweeter. These materials, along with the body itself feature better bracing than the previous model, for reduced sonic coloration and improved three dimensional sounds. Both the tweeter and bass port have been front ported to ensure better projection and quality. An additional benefit of this layout is that you no longer need to worry about their distance from a wall. You can get a pair of them for around 38,000.