Introduction
In this article, we will look at the difference between a home theater system and HI-FI systems.
I have taken the liberty of writing about home theater systems in depth. Please look at the following article for a detailed discussion of home theater systems.
For the purposes of this article, I will speak only briefly about home theater systems, summarizing only the most salient points.
The major focus will be on hi-fi systems and then I will contrast what makes them different from home theater systems.
This article is intended to be beginner-friendly, so I will not be getting into very technical details.
What makes the comparison a little tricky is that the 2 types of system are often spoken of interchangeably and they can very often overlap.
Let’s first discuss hi-fi systems and then at the end I will summaries the main differences between a hi-fi system and a home theater system.
Introduction to Hi-fi systems and home theater systems
The dictionary definition of hi-fi is the reproduction of sound with minimal distortion giving a result that close to the original.
Hi-fi is the high-quality reproduction of sound. The term in full is high fidelity. This implies a high degree of accuracy in the reproduction of sound.
This term distinguishes the sound produced by hi-fi systems from sound produced by lower quality /less expensive equipment.
The term does not necessarily describe a certain type of musical equipment. Instead high-quality home audio equipment typically can fall in the definition of high fi.
A home theater on the other hand system is an entertainment system designed to provide immersive visual and audio experience.
Also called a surround sound system, it consists of a receiver, speakers, and subwoofers.
As an essential sound system, a home theater system acts as a hub that expands your music listening and TV viewing.
In the early half of the 20th century (say 1950’s) music lovers and aficionados were becoming very particular about the quality of sound from listening devices.
Manufactures of music equipment then started moving from mono to stereo sound. They would use isolated speaker enclosures, accompanied by large subwoofers.
Key characteristics of hi-fi systems are neutral frequency response, imperceptible noise and distortion within the frequency range.
The purpose of a hi-fi system is therefore to make music sound more real and authentic.
Hi-fi’s typically have a high degree of accuracy in producing sound. The intention initially was to get the sound to sound as much as possible like live music.
MP3’s and heavy bass focused headphones can compromise the quality of sound that musicians spend much time producing.
The little nuances in beats and instruments can get drowned out as a result. This is where hi-fi comes in.
The same track that you heard on your headphones and computer, now sounds different as you can make out the instruments and other sounds that much clearer.
Things to consider prior to getting your hi-fi system.
Prior to deciding on a hi-fi system, you must decide how much space you have and what type of system you can therefore accommodate.
Larger systems would be more suitable for larger living spaces, and would probably not be a good idea for small apartments.
Also keep in mind what budget you must play with. Hi-fi systems can be pricey so you need to make sure you know what you’re willing to spend.
It is also important to determine how you listen to your music. Do you use your phone or other device?
How does a hi-fi system work?
A hi-fi system is built using individual units and can be tailored. A hi-fi system also includes various units or separates.
Each of the components focus on a specific task in playing back music. It’s important to understand how you listen to your music.
Hi-fi systems are versatile in that they can play older formats of music such as DVD or records. But in truth most of today’s systems are very adept at playing digital music formats.
The next most important thing to consider is the amplifier that you are going to use.
The amplifier is the life blood of the hi-fi system and powers the system and allows you to control the volume.
The last component are the speakers that you will use. There are many types of speakers for hi-fi systems from bookshelf to floor standing speakers.
The type pf speakers that you will get will depend very much on the size of your room and other factors.
To get an understanding on what is important when considering speakers. Check out the following article.
Types of Hi-fi systems
There are various types of systems that one can use. I will talk about few.
For those who are short on space, a one box unit is a good option. One box units tend to be small, and big on quality. Also, a one box unit is unlikely to break the bank
Portable Bluetooth speakers are a dream for those that prefer to be mobile with their music. Portable Bluetooth speakers work very well with smartphones and streaming services etc.
For more information on what to consider prior to purchasing a Bluetooth speaker read the following article.
The nice thing about portable Bluetooth speakers is that they can charge tour device whilst you are listening. However, this will consume battery life.
A sound bar is also very useful as a cheaper alternative if you cannot afford a fully integrated home theater system.
Many of today’s sound bars include Bluetooth so you can even listen to music on your sound bar using your phone.
Difference between a home theater and a hi-fi system
It is going to come down to whether you prefer music or movies and what type of system is best suited to your needs.
A home theater system makes use of subwoofers and speakers to make your home feel like a movie theater, packed with surround sound.
A hi-fi system is more concerned with reproducing sound as accurately as possible.
Hi-fi systems recreate audio the way that you would hear them in a studio capturing all the different instruments and vocals accurately.
A home theater needs a receiver to adjust and tweak the effect of the surround sound. On the other hand, a hi-fi system will be powered by a powerful amplifier.
Hi-fi systems are simple to set up. A simple s speaker system or a multi-channel stereo system will suffice.
Hi-fi systems generally do a good job of covering all the frequency ranges well.
Home theater systems range from the 5.1 channel and above. As discussed in this article, the 5.1 channel speakers are 5 speakers and a subwoofer.
The many speakers of the system are designed to create sound from all around you, but most important to track the sound from the direction that it is coming from.
Therefor if someone is coming from behind in a movie, you will hear the sound from behind.
For more information on the different types of home theater systems out there and the best ones, please follow this article.
