Audio kit builder: how it works
Pick home or bar. For a home, add your rooms and the builder suggests ceiling speakers for each one and an amplifier that drives them safely, with Bluetooth for phones and tablets and the leads to connect your TV. For a bar, pub or club, add your zones; the builder sizes 100V speakers and an amplifier that keeps the speaker taps within 70% of its rating, and adds powered speakers, subwoofers and a DJ mixer for a dance floor.
Every product shown is in stock, with live prices. At the end you can add the whole kit to your basket in one go, or press “Ask us to check it” and our team will look over the list before you order.
How many ceiling speakers do I need?
For most rooms in a home, 2 to 4. The builder suggests 2 speakers (one stereo pair) for rooms up to 16m², such as bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms, and 4 for larger rooms such as lounges and open-plan spaces. You can change the number in each room.
Bathrooms and shower rooms need splash-proof speakers; the builder offers IP-rated models for those rooms. For bars, restaurants and other commercial spaces the builder uses AVSL’s spacing guide instead: the higher the ceiling, the wider each speaker covers, so you get even sound across the room.
Connecting your TV, phone and tablet
Phones and tablets play over the amplifier’s Bluetooth, so they need no extra parts. For the TV, the builder asks which sound socket it has and how far away the amplifier will be, then adds the right leads at the right length.
An optical (digital audio out) socket gives the best result: it goes straight into an amplifier with an optical input, or through a small converter if the amplifier only has phono (RCA) inputs. If your TV only has HDMI, an HDMI audio extractor takes the sound from your TV box (Sky, Freeview or a games console). A headphone socket also works with a 3.5mm lead. Converters and extractors run on USB, so the builder adds a USB mains plug to power them. Set the TV’s digital audio output to PCM or Stereo rather than Dolby or Auto.
8 ohm or 100V speakers?
8 ohm (low impedance) speakers suit homes and short cable runs, and give good music quality from a few speakers. An amplifier channel can safely take one or two 8 ohm speakers, and the builder never sends a speaker more power than it is rated for.
100V line speakers suit bars, shops and larger venues: many speakers run from one amplifier over long cables, and each speaker has power taps that set how loud it plays. Read more in 100V line speakers explained.
Sound for bars, pubs and clubs
Split the venue into zones, such as the bar, the restaurant, the toilets and the garden, so each area can have its own volume. Add up the taps of every speaker (volume controls count at full), and keep that total within 70% of the amplifier’s rating (so the amplifier is rated at about 1.4 times the total taps). The builder does this for you, which also leaves room to add speakers later. Where one amplifier is not enough, it suggests adding a slave amplifier, and where a system is too large it asks you to call us.
Wireless microphones and a desk paging microphone can be added for quiz nights, announcements and last orders. Most of the 100V mixer-amplifiers lower the music automatically when someone speaks.
Adding a dance floor
A dance floor needs more bass and volume than ceiling speakers can give, so the builder uses powered (active) speakers and subwoofers sized to the floor area: up to 40m², up to 100m² and up to 200m². A DJ mixer feeds the subwoofers, the subwoofers pass the sound on to the speakers, and the leads to connect them are added for you. Each powered speaker needs its own mains socket. For larger floors, call us.
Which speaker cable?
The builder estimates about 12m of cable per speaker for a home and about 10m per speaker plus 15m per zone for a 100V system, and you can change the metres. Thicker cable (more mm²) loses less power over long runs; double-insulated cable is suitable for running inside walls and ceilings, and low-smoke (LSZH) cable is often required in public buildings. If you are doing first fix on a new build, you can choose whole reels instead. Browse all speaker cable reels.
Ready-made package or build your own?
A ready-made package is the quickest option: the speakers, amplifier and parts are already matched. Building your own lets you match the number of speakers to each room, choose the amplifier, and add exactly the TV leads, cable and microphones you need. The builder covers both, and adds the TV connection and speaker cable to packages too. For more background, see the commercial audio buying guide.
Questions
What is the difference between 8 ohm and 100V speakers?
8 ohm (low impedance) speakers suit homes and short cable runs. 100V line speakers suit bars and larger venues: many speakers run from one amplifier over long cables, and each speaker's tap sets its volume.
How many ceiling speakers do I need?
Most rooms in a home need 2 to 4. The builder suggests 2 (one stereo pair) for rooms up to 16m² and 4 for larger rooms; for bars it uses AVSL's spacing guide. You can change the number in each room.
Can I play music from my TV and phone?
Yes. The amplifiers suggested for homes have Bluetooth for phones and tablets. For the TV, the builder adds the right lead for its optical, HDMI or headphone socket, and a converter or extractor if your amplifier needs one.
My TV only has HDMI. Will it work?
Yes. An HDMI audio extractor sits between your TV box and the TV and takes the sound off the HDMI. Sound from apps built into the TV will not play through it, so use the TV's optical socket if it has one.
How many speakers can one amplifier run?
On an 8 ohm amplifier, one or two speakers per channel, as long as the amplifier does not send a speaker more power than it is rated for. On a 100V amplifier, the speaker taps added together should stay within 70% of the amplifier's rating. The builder checks both for you.
Can each room play something different?
Yes. Choose "each room its own" and the builder suggests a multi-zone amplifier or an in-wall amplifier for each room, so every room has its own volume and source.
Do you install?
No, we supply the parts. Use "Ask us to check it" and we will look over your list before you order.
How fast is delivery?
In-stock orders are delivered within 1–2 working days to England, Scotland and Wales.
