TECH ADVISOR
Maximizing
Apartment
Audio
Exploring Home Entertainment System Options That Won’t
Upset the Neighbors
By Jeremy Glowacki
40 Residential Tech Today | Jan/Feb 2020
Shared walls and ceilings can often
make music and movie-loving
apartment and condo dwellers feel
like they’re walking on eggshells while
trying to enjoy their favorite songs and video
content. Fortunately, there are effective ways to
make the most of a home entertainment system
without upsetting the tranquility of those who
live around you.
As a director of global training for Sound
United (Polk, Denon and Marantz, and
Definitive Technology), Philip Jones often
advises AV retailers and custom integrators on
providing the best audio equipment in a setting
with shared walls.
“A lot of times when it comes to an apartment,
the question from the customer is, ‘How big is
it and how do I hide the wires?’” Jones said.
“We strongly stress that components separate
speakers paired with an AV receiver are the
best approach to an application, because they
provide the most flexibility and upgradability.
Soundbars are a great solution if you cannot do
that, however, and so are wireless powered
speakers.”
A components approach provides flexibility,
Jones explained, in that a set of bookshelf
speakers connected to an AV receiver will allow
you to grow your system in the future, especially
should you move to a larger residence without
In an apartment or condo setting, Sound United’s Philip Jones recommends a
“components” approach to provides flexibility for expanding an AV system in the future.