The Best Home Stereo Systems on the Market

It's likely that if you're reading this you are in the market to buy a home stereo system. The best stereo systems are the ones you hand pick each component for, and many stores will try to sell you a stereo system that they have pre-built. Basically a home stereo system includes a head (receiver) and a speaker set, once you add a DVD player and TV it becomes a home theater system.

As you browse the net you may find "home speaker system" or "home theater system" is more common than the term "home stereo system". This is because speaker systems no longer need a head to operate. Many speakers today have built in pre-amps allowing them to operate as standalone units and the difference between a home theater system and a home stereo system is nothing more then the number of speaker channels and inputs in use.

Best home stereo system: The brands.

Today's market has many brands of speakers and stereos which can be confusing at times, but there are just a handful that have a history of being top performers. These historical performers include JVC, Panasonic, Sony, and in the speaker market Bose. If you're looking for budget components, you may want to get away from these brands and research generic brands. However, if you are in the market to buy the best performing I would suggest sticking to these name brands.

Best home stereo system: Suggestions.

1.) Panasonic SC-PT1050 Deluxe Home Theater System with 5-DVD Changer

This unit is found on Amazon.com, and though it says it's a home theater system, the only difference is that it comes with a 5 disc DVD changer and all the speakers and wire you need right from the get go. This is a complete 1200w system which includes the head, amp, sub-woofer, and surround sound speakers.

2.) JVC TH-G41 1000-Watt DVD Digital Theater System with iPod Dock

This unit by JVC comes with everything you need out of box. Once again the only difference between a home stereo system and a home theater system is the addition of a DVD player and extra channels. (Stereo actually means two)

3.) Bose Lifestyle V30 Home Theater System - Black

This unit is by far the most expensive and the best sounding home stereo system, unfortunately the price tag puts it out of reach for most consumers.

4.) Bose® CineMate® Series II Digital Home Theater Speaker System

This Bose home stereo system comes with a DVD player, all the speakers, and multiple inputs for a home theatre system. Bose always provides the audiophile in you with high quality sound that won't let you down.

5.) PYLE PRO PT260A 200 Watt 2 Channel Home Stereo Receiver w/AM FM Tuner

This head is for the value conscious buyer. The Pyle Pro stereo receiver has multiple inputs for your TV, DVD, and game system; as well as a very interesting appearance and an AM/FM tuner with antenna and pre-amp built right in, but comes with no speakers. This is the perfect home stereo head if you already have a couple of large speakers setup, or if you just want to purchase your own speakers.

Best home stereo system: What you need.

1.) The first thing you need is a Receiver/Tuner/Head. You can easily pick up a standard tuner reasonably cheap that may even come with speakers. However, I would recommend purchasing a tuner with built in DVD, to minimize the space needed for the unit.

2.) The second thing you will need is a speaker set. For the top of the line sound I suggest checking the Bose speaker line up. However, any suitable speakers will do. Depending on your head you may need specially designed speakers. To check this, look at the outputs on the back of the home stereo system head for multiple tabs or a single output in the shape of an RCA connector. If you have multiple tabs the head operates with any speakers. If the head has only an optical output however, you will need an optical speaker system. If the head has multiple RCA connectors it is a standard output using convenient RCA wires rather than the standard two wire speaker cable.

3.) The last things you need are wall mounts, and speaker wire. If your speakers didn't come with mounting kits, then you will need to buy them separately. Seldom do speakers come with speaker wire, and even less often do they come with enough wire to stretch the full length of your living room. So be sure to pick up lots of 14 gauge speaker wire.

Best home stereo system: Assembly.

Now that you have a head, speakers, wire, and mounting kits for your speakers, it's time to turn these things into a home stereo system. If you purchased a multi-purpose head with built in DVD player; you are probably planning on using this stereo system in your home theatre, which means the first thing you need to do is pull that TV out away from the wall. Once the TV (or stand) is out enough you may connect your TV to the unit using the RCA (Red White and Yellow), Composite (Red Green and Blue), or HDMI connectors by simply matching the colors. Once completed you're done with the TV.

Best home stereo system: Steps to assemble.

1.) Depending on what outputs you have, you will need to connect each set of speaker wires into the back of your head. If you have an optical out you may wish to use it for better quality audio and easier configurations.

2.) If you have a straight speaker wire setup; simply strip the end of your wire then pull back the red tab and insert the red speaker wire. Once that is completed, repeat the process for the black wire and repeat for each speaker you need to connect.

3.) If you have an optical setup simply plug in the optical cable (it resembles Co-Axial with an RCA end) Then plug the optical cable into your speaker set. For systems with a separate speaker set you will need to connect all speakers to the sub-woofer using the same methods as above. Some speaker sets come with RCA type speaker wire for your convenience. This allows you to simply plug each wire into the hole with a corresponding color.

Best home stereo system: Enjoy,

You should now be prepared to not only purchase your new home stereo system, but completely set it up as well. Good luck with your new home stereo system and have fun. Feel free to ask questions in the comments section if there is anything I left out.