Audio at Home

Finding Home Audio Electronics on eBay

Sara Ch — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:08:42 +0000

This is a very quick and simple tutorial on some advanced techniques for finding home audio equipment on eBay. I am writing this because I want you all to know these tricks. I will be discussing some products in the next few weeks that are often readily (and cheaply) available on eBay. With some of these tricks up your sleeves, you will have a much better chance at nabbing the best items at the best prices.

Setting up an Ebay Account

If you don’t already have an eBay account, you will need to register for one. It is free and easy. I’ll just quickly go over this for the newest-of-newbies. Just go to the eBay home page and click on one of the several “Register” links. You will be taken to a page with a short form. Fill out the personal data, choose your ID and password and you are done. Now you have the world of inexpensive electronics (and anything else you could possible imagine!) at your fingertips.

The Basic Search

You are all logged in, but feeling overwhelmed. There are all these categories and links everywhere. What next? We are going to start with a very basic search using the categories. On the left you will see a list of categories. Click on “Consumer Electronics.” This will take you to another page with a list of more specific categories. This list is in alphabetical order so scroll down a bit and in the middle column you will see “Home Audio.” Click on that link in bold - the other categories will drill down further, but you might miss some items because people choose their own categories and it doesn’t always make perfect sense.

On the left you will see a section called “Product Finder,” under that should be two links “Home Speakers” and “Home Audio Receivers.” Choose one - depending on what you happen to be looking for - and you will get a listing of every item in that category. At this point, you will most likely want to use the “Home Speakers Finder” and/or “Search Options” filters in the left sidebar. If you have a more specific idea of what you are looking for, use the search bar and type in your keywords. I recommend always checking the “Search title and description” box because you will be sure to get all results related to your keywords. A good key phrase to begin with is “Home Theater.”

The Typo Search

We all know people make mistakes, right? Well, when it comes to eBay someone’s mistake can be to your advantage. Of the millions of auctions on eBay at any given time, there are many that are entered using misspelled words. Most searchers are not going to find these auctions because they are looking for items using the correct spelling. While this tactic will not always be successful, you can get some killer deals simply by using a few free online tools that will automatically use your original keyword(s) to find auctions where the title has been misspelled.

Once you run a search with one of these tools, you will easily be able to see how they work. Essentially, the application generates a massive list of possible misspellings of your keywords. It then redirects your browser to eBay and enters that list into the search bar and hits search for All Categories. The keywords will still be entered in the search field after the search is done, so you are able to narrow your search by choosing a specific category. Here is a short list of tools and applications available to help you find these hidden items:

eBay Auction Typo Toolbar
If you have Internet Explorer or Firefox you can download this free toolbar. Once installed, the toolbar will appear with your other browser tools (just like the Google search toolbar) so you can search for misspelled auctions without even opening a new window or tab.

Auction Bloopers
This is a website that allows you to search several different auction sites for misspelled listings.

Fat Fingers
This search engine works just like Auction Bloopers with the added option to choose a language other than English for your search. Although it is possible to do that with the other tools, Fat Fingers makes it easier by automatically directing you to the appropriate eBay country site.

The Generic Item Search

Sometimes people sell things on eBay about which they are entirely clueless. Whether they found the item and don’t know exactly what it is or they are selling for someone else without the proper information, you can get some great deals by using very generic search terms. Let me make myself clear on this one. I am not saying that you ought to take advantage of people’s ignorance. The idea is you will have a better chance of winning the item at a good price.

Here’s how this works. Let’s say grandmother left someone an old console stereo-television unit. You know, the ones with a stereo, record player and television built into a beautiful wooden cabinet? They don’t want the thing and it is taking up a huge amount of space in their house so they decide to sell it on eBay. There aren’t really any markings or branding of any kind so they just call it “1950s television” and keep the description short as well.

There might be some bidders based on this keyword who really dug into the results. For the most part, the people looking for a specialized item like this won’t find this particular listing because it isn’t specific enough. This means you could be one of the few bidders and have a better chance of getting the item at a lower price. Above I mentioned that I do not advocate taking advantage of anyone. If Bobby gets Grandpa’s Babe Ruth rookie card and decides he might be able to get a couple bucks for it because it’s so old, don’t buy it at $5.

I mean, you can, I don’t want to tell you what to do. What I would do is email Bobby and tell him that the card is worth much much more than he is asking and that perhaps he ought to learn a bit more about Grandpa’s collection before he starts selling it off. I say go for the good deal, but try not to rip anyone off. It’s bad for your karma and your digestion.

The Super-Specific Search

In this case, you know exactly what you want. Though you may not find it this way, the first thing you want to do is at least try to find a perfect match. It does happen. If you want a 13″ Sony subwoofer from 1997, by all means, search for it. You can always broaden your search if you don’t hit pay dirt. This search is often not the best way to find a great deal, but it often is the best way to get exactly what you want.

The Anti-And-Or-The Search

Unlike many search engines like Google, an eBay search will treat the words “and,” “or” and “the” with just as much importance as any other words. Since everyone thinks a bit differently, this can really get in the way of you finding the results you want. This is especially true if you are looking for a specific title and using quotes. If the seller didn’t use the title just as you are typing it, you will not find the listing.

For the newbies, I’ll finish this article up with a few basic eBay tips:

Before bidding on an item, check the seller’s feedback rating. This is based on those who have bought from him or sold to him. It is an excellent indicator of whether or not this is a safe person from which to purchase an item.
If it seems too cheap to be true, it’s probably false. Always check the shipping and, if it isn’t listed, send the seller a message asking how much they charge. I recently landed a book for 99 cents. I had asked in advance how much shipping was going to be charged and the seller said, “I just charge whatever it costs to ship it and package it.” That was fine by me.

When I won the item the seller asked for my zip code and then updated the item price with shipping charges. Apparently he will be shipping it Fedex overnight in gold leaf packaging because for some reason “his costs” equalled $25.00. And, no, it isn’t some sort of Complete Unabridged Works of Shakespeare, it’s Personal Finance For Dummies, 5th edition. There is a Barnes and Noble less than ten minutes from my house where I could have purchased the book for like $15, but I thought I’d get it used for a good deal. So, yeah, always get the shipping specifics because this sort of shipping markup is very common. With expensive, fragile items like home audio equipment, be sure to ask the seller to add shipping insurance as well. It’s a bit extra, but worth it for the peace of mind.

Check the return policy. Again, be clear on this, especially if you are going to be purchasing expensive, fragile home audio equipment. Make sure you can return it if it is not what you wanted or in poor condition. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a broken $500 surround sound system. Man, that would suck. And every day it would mock you, reminding you how stupid you’d been to not ask about the return policy. Also, you’d probably take against eBay permanently.

eBay’s policies strictly forbid auctions from being taken outside of eBay. If a seller emails you (or if you are selling, a buyer) and says they can make you a better deal if you just worked something out together, say no. Again, say whatever you want, I’m not telling you want to do. This is really just my ethics talking, but just stick with the program. Also, these types of emails are also often scam emails trying to get you to part with personal information. The wise thing to do is to keep all eBay transactions and communications within eBay for the safety and good karma of all involved.

You can contact individual sellers via eBays internal message system. However, if you are having trouble with someone and they are not responding, you can request their outside contact information. eBay will either give you their phone number or call the seller for you to work out the issue.

If your credit card does not have a good buyer protection program, always use PayPal. Some credit cards will refund you if a sale goes wrong or some form of fraud takes place, but it all depends on the plan you have. If you do not have this type of protection or you aren’t sure, use PayPal for your eBay purchases. Personally, I would recommend using PayPal regardless because it is just the safest way to go when purchasing online. PayPal’s Buyer Protection plan will ensure that your money and privacy are safe if anything goes wrong.

I could - and many people have - write a couple of books about how to use eBay, but my goal with this article is to just teach you a new and interesting way of obtaining home audio products. EBay has a little bit of everything and a whole lot of electronics. I will be mentioning eBay in some of my upcoming articles, so I thought it best to be sure that everyone is on the same page and has knowledge of all the tools and tricks to which I will be referring. If you have any questions about anything discussed here, please feel free to ask in the comments.

Podcasting Primer Part Four: Creating a Script

Sara Ch — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:00:47 +0000

There are many things that need to be taken into consideration when preparing to record a podcast. You need to decide how long you want your ‘cast to be, if you want to involve anyone else and - most importantly - what you are going to talk about. To ensure the most professional podcast possible, I recommend creating a script your first several times out.

Your script does not need to be word-for-word, it is there to make sure you don’t fill your podcast with “ums” and “likes.” Nothing turns off an audience faster than a poorly organized, poorly executed recording. The best way to approach a script is to move from your podcast idea to a barebones outline and then onto your script - a very fleshed-out version of your barebones ouline.

Choose a topic from the list you created in Part Two: Brainstorming Episode Ideas. You want your first several episodes to be especially memorable, so make sure you choose strong, original ideas for your kickoff.

The next step is to create a barebones outline. Let’s say I am going to do a half hour podcast with a couple of small topics and one main topic, all interrelated. My initial outline might look something like this:

I. Introduction (3 minutes)
a. a note about the podcast topic (1 minute)
b. an interesting overview of what specifically will be covered, in order (1 minute)
c. the benefits of listening (1 minute)
II. Short Intro Topic (5 minutes)
III. Main Topic (15 minutes)
IV. Short Topic #2 (5 minutes)
V. Conclusion (2 minutes)

Notice I have placed time estimates after each section. When you first start podcasting, it will be more difficult to know how long each segment will take. However, this is a skill you will improve the longer you ‘cast. A half an hour might not seem very long, but when it is just you, the mic and some ideas, you’ll find that it is longer than you think. Jeffrey Daniel Frey has an excellent post on his blog listing five ways to determine podcast length.

Now that you have your podcast relatively organized, begin adding to each segment. As I mentioned as the beginning of this article, it is not necessary to write a script out word-for-word. In fact, it is advisable not to treat your podcast like an essay or a report. You want it to be clear that you are speaking to your audience, not reading at them.

With a heavily fleshed-out outline in hand, I would recommend several read-throughs for both time and cadence. You can record these and, if they are good, use them in your final cut. It is important to listen to yourself. Many people do not like the sound of their own voices, so do your best to remain as distant as you can. Is your voice interesting enough? Are you injecting enough energy? Do you have enough original material to engage an audience?

If you can’t answer yes to all of those questions, then you need to revise things appropriately until you can. There is absolutely no point in spending your time creating a podcast if no one is going to have any interest in it. An outline is an excellent tool for asking and answering the questions necessary to create a successful podcast.

Podcast Primer Part Three: Creating a Hardware and Software Budget

Sara Ch — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:00:09 +0000

In this installment of the Podcast Primer (catch up with Part One and Part Two), I am going to help you create your budget by going over the basic hardware and software components you will need to record, edit and publish your ‘cast.

To create a high quality podcast, you do not need to spend thousands of dollars on top-of-the-line equipment. In fact, you don’t even need to spend $100. You can create excellent audio recordings with free software, an inexpensive microphone and the PC or Mac you already have*. The most expensive cost you encounter will most likely be your website hosting fees as you will need to pay for a package that offers a lot of bandwidth and disk usage.

Podcasting Essentials

Microphone (or two, depending on the setup of your ‘cast)
Preamp
Headphones
Audio Editing Software
Storage Hardware
Domain Name and Web Hosting

All of these items range in price from free to thousands of dollars. I recommend that you start small and let your equipment grow with your podcast. This article provides a good overview of what you need to know about hardware and software in terms of podcasing.

Microphone :: $50 - $100 x number of people

I personally bought a Blue Snowball from eBay (gently used, $100) because I plan to use it as part of my music recording studio as well. You do not need a microphone this high-end for podcasting. I won’t go so far as to suggest a specific microphone type, but I will tell you a bit about your choices.As you might guess, the two things that affect microphone price are features and quality. For a podcast, super-high quality is not necessary. For podcasting, most microphone officionados would tell you to buy a cardioid condenser microphone. Cardioid microphones pick up sound mostly from the front of the device, the opposite of an omnidirectional microphone. A condenser microphone (the other choice here is dynamic) needs external power to function and offers higher fidelity for a crisp, professional sound.

A common complaint among podcast listeners is the popping sound that microphones make when you pronounce “p” and “b.” Recordings made with condenser mics are especially prone to this due to their more sensitive pick-up. To eliminate this popping, you can buy or make a pop filter. To make one, simply stretch pantyhose across some sort of frame, securing it in place to make a screen. Then clip the screen directly in front of your mic and you are all set. No more popping Ps!.

PreAmp Device :: $50 - $100

Many types of mics require additional power to operate and cannot be plugged directly into your computer. A preamp is an audio interface that allows you to record sound from many different types of input devices including electric guitars, microphones and standalone turntables.Preamps are generally inexpensive - at least the kind you need for podcasting are - so even if you didn’t consider needing one, it shouldn’t set you back too much. If you are going the super-cheap route, you may not need a preamp at all. Just remember that you are trading price for quality and try to find the right balance.

Headphones :: $20 - $60If you want to get a good idea of how your podcast sounds during playback and editing, I highly recommend investing in a decent pair of headphones. Somewhere between the $9.99 at Target and $299 noise-reducing Bose models. This is largely up to your personal preference, so go try some out before you buy to find the sound that works for you.

Audio Editing Software :: $0 Sure, you can spend hundreds of dollars are audio editing software, but why should you when there are perfectly excellent free alternatives? I highly recommend Audacity. The software is very user-friendly and there is an active community willing to help if you have any issues.

Domain Name and Web Hosting :: $0 - $500

Depending on what you want to do with your podcast, you could spend most of your budget on purchasing a domain name and hosting your ‘cast. Your options here are wide open. I always recommend that you purchase your own domain name because branding is important. However, you could simply host your podcast at somewhere like Blast Podcast and put up a blog that links to individual episodes.

Using a regular hosting account, you are going to pay too much for bandwidth and disk space. There are hosts specifically targeted at podcasters, but some of those can get very pricey as well (upwards of $100/month!). Podcasting news has a thorough list of podcast hosts if you want to research.

Hosting a podcast can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it. When decided how and where to host, you also need to consider your marketing strategy. How will using a free host affect your ability to brand? Who can you count on to always be up? Do you care if there are ads for which you receive no revenue on your podcast? Hosting is such a complex subject that I am already working on a post dedicated to it.

Storage Hardware :: $50 - $100

Unless your PC has a 300GB harddrive, I would recommend investing in an extra internal or external drive solely for podcast storage. High quality audio recordings like podcasts will eat up your disk space faster then you can say megabyte. I recommend checking eBay for new or slightly used storage media. Over the summer I was able to secure 160GB external drive for around $60. You can probably get an even better deal if you have a little patience.

Based on these estimates, you should be able to create a realistic budget to begin your podcasting career. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments.

*I am assuming that you have a PC or Mac to use for recording.

Podcasting Primer Part Two: Brainstorming Episode Ideas

Sara Ch — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:00:34 +0000

Before you get all excited about starting your podcast and go spend hundreds of dollars on equipment (we’ll discuss hardware/software budget in the next installment), you need to be sure that you actually have something to record. You might be geared up for your first couple of posts, but what comes after that? The last thing you want to do is spend loads of time and money getting your podcast going and then run out of steam after the first month.

Remember when you were in elementary school and the teacher would have you all go sit in front of the chalk (or white) board? She’d say, “When I say Christmas, what do you think of.” Okay, so I’m aging myself a bit because I don’t think you can really talk about Christmas in public schools anymore, but you could twenty years ago when I was in grade school.

So the teacher would ask about Christmas and you and your classmates (except the weird girl who still picked her nose in the third grade) would all wave your hands wildly, wanting to be picked first. The teacher would say that it was okay to just say your ideas aloud without being called on as long as you didn’t create pandemonium. The room would fill with tons of ideas (from angle to fruitcake) and the board would fill as well.

Ah, nostalgia. Anyway, your teacher told you then that brainstorming was a great way to get started with a project and I am going to tell you the same thing now. In this installment of Podcast Primer, I present seven ways to brainstorm possible episode topics for your podcast.

Read Blogs/Listen to Podcasts - search for your niche topic on various engines and see what sort of results you get. Find out what questions and problems people have regarding your topic. You want to provide a unique solution for these problems/questions to gain attention and respect.
Mind Map - Write down your main topic and then branch out to subtopics. From there, sub-subtopics and so on. Once you are done, you will have a whole list of episode ideas and some mini-outlines as well.
Poll Your Audience - If you do not actually have a way to directly communicate with your target audience, you can judge their answers by what they are already reading and/or listening to. Find out where the visitors you want are visiting. Directories and search engines are great for this type of polling.
Lists - Choose a specific amount of time during which you will freely write down anything that comes to your mind. If you are brainstorming alone, 10-15 minutes might be enough. If there are others involved, make sure you allot enough time for everyone to get his/her ideas out. This is traditional brainstorming at its purest. Do not stop to think, do not cross things out and never, ever criticize these ideas. You can decide they’re ridiculous later, but not during the allotted writing time.
Stumble - Everyone loves Stumble-Upon for a reason: it is fun and useful. As long as you can stay on task (don’t get sucked into a new game or some random tech blog), this is a great tool for finding terrific ideas. This is related to reading blogs, but in this case you don’t necessarily have to stick to your niche. You can get ideas for your podcast from any type of site about any topic.
Research - Get off the computer and out of the house. Head out to your nearest public library and do some research on your podcast topic or anything that might help you develop ideas. If your blog is high tech and your local library, like mine, is not too cutting edge, you might think there is nothing there to help you. I challenge you to try biographies of innovators, productivity guides and other business books. If nothing else, you can use the time to learn more about business.
How To . . . For Dummies - Create a list of How To or For Dummies topics you could record. Above all, people will listen to your podcase to learn something new. What topics can you speak on fluently. By thinking in terms of a How To, you will come up with a bunch of ideas you would not have thought of otherwise.

If you can come up with 50 - 100 solid ideas for your podcast, then you are ready to go. Now you can move on and create your hardware/software budget. In the next installment, I will introduce you to some equipment and application choices for recording, editing and publishing your podcast.

Podcasting Primer Part One: Two Steps to a Podcast Topic

Sara Ch — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:00:58 +0000

Podcasting is hot right now and since it absolutely fits into the Audio at Home niche, I thought it would be a good idea to run a series dedicated to creating podcasts. This Podcasting Primer will take you from initial topic research all the way to marketing your podcast. All of the installments will be newbie friendly, but I think even seasoned podcasters will find some use for the marketing tactics I will be sharing with you.

If you already have a blog or have done niche research before, then this part will be old hat for you. This article is targeted at those of you who want to start podcasting, but have no idea where to begin. I’m going to start at the very beginning with how to find a great topic. This post assumes that you do not currently have a website and you have never researched hot niches.

Step One: What is your Passion?

The first step in choosing a topic for your podcast is to make a list of subjects about which you are passionate. Many people think that you should first find out what topics are popular, but I say start with the heart. If you decide to swap steps one and two, don’t be surprised if your podcast falls flat and doesn’t go the distance. Producing a regularly scheduled (and it need to be!) podcast is a big committment and if you couldn’t care less about your topic, then you will have trouble completing the tasks necessary to succeed. Podcasting has become a very competitive business, so be prepared to learn some serious marketing skills along the way.

To find a topic you can commit to for a long time, you need to first make a list of things you love: hobbies, people, places, gadgets, etc. The list can be as long or as short as you like, but don’t waste your time with something you know doesn’t have a strong following. For instance, I might love my Xena: Warrior Princess trading cards, but I doubt I could build a large, lasting audience if I decided to podcast about them.

It also helps if your “loves” are also things about which you are knowledgeable. You will want to position yourself as an expert on your topic so listeners will trust and respect you. If there is absolutely nothing you feel comfortable doing this with, you can take the “learn with me as I learn” route, but it can be risky because most people want to learn from someone they feel knows more than they do. Otherwise they feel as though they are wasting their time.

The other option, if you don’t feel like you know much about anything, is to stay one step ahead of your audience. This approach takes more work because you must always be researching and checking your facts, but it can work quite well if done correctly.

Step Two: What Topics Are Hot Right Now?

As I said before, many people recommend that this step is first, but I stick by my belief that longevity cannot be had without passion. If you do not care about the topic of your podcast, it will be very difficult to produce quality content on a regular basis that sparks interest in your listeners. Your listeners will feel your lack of interest and the entire project becomes nothing except an annoying task to be completed as quickly as possible. Not a recipe for success.

That is not to say that this step is not important. Without taking the time to properly research markets, you are wasting your time creating any sort of info-product. You must know that there is an audience for your podcast before you move along in the process.

To find out hot topics we are going to use three free tools that all internet marketers hold dear. Although you may not consider yourself a marketer, if you want your podcast to be successful, you are going to have to learn some marketing skills. These tools are a great place to start.

Google Trends provides data on popular searches in realtime. From the search screen, you will input the general topics you settled on in step one. In return, you will receive helpful graphs and other data showing you the popularity of your topic.
The Google Keyword Tool is intended to aid advertisers in finding lucrative keywords for their marketing plans. However, it works just as well in reverse, allowing you to see how much the keywords for your topics are “worth.”
TheSEO Book Keyword Suggestion Tool is a one-stop shop for getting all the keyword information you need. Play around with this for a bit and you will know everything you could possibly want to know about your keyword.

By using one or all of the free tools mentioned above, you will be able to narrow down your list to one laser-targeted topic. now that you have your topic nailed down, you can proceed to the next step of this process. Drop by tomorrow for Part 2 of the Podcasting Primer: Brainstorming Episodes.

Podcasting Primer

Sara Ch — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:00:30 +0000

I haven’t done a very good job of keeping this blog up to date lately, but I plan to change that. Starting tomorrow morning I will be running a series of articles discussing podcasting. This series is targeted at absolute newbies and will cover the process from the ground up.

Tomorrow morning’s installment will go over choosing a topic for your podcast. Much like blogs, podcasts are most successful when they focus on a very specific niche. Drop by tomorrow morning for the first installment of the Audio at Home Podcasting Primer.

Contest: Win High-End Headphones

Sara Ch — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 05:39:27 +0000

Not only are the V Moda Vibe headphones stylish-looking, they have incredibly noise-canceling ability. The only drawback is that they are quite pricey at nearly $200. The good news is you can win a pair from FiddyP Blog. All you have to do is write about and link to the contest.

Andy Bailey, the man behind FiddyP has created several handy Wordpress plugins including CommentLuv, Last-Stumbled and the ever-cute Hello Stumbler Plugin. The Hello Stumbler plugin detects visitors arriving through Stumble-Upon and greets them. It’s a nice personalization detail, especially since SU is such a great traffic source.

The Definitive Guide to Recording Gear Resources

Sara Ch — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:00:34 +0000

Ken Johnstone of Home Music Recording has a free email course that outlines the details on building a home recording studio. Spread out over several weeks, you can receive the course by entering your name and address in the Recording Gear Resource Guide boxes. It’s a double opt-in so you’ll receive an email to confirm your subscription before the course begins.

I’ll be discussing the Home Music Recording site in more detail at a later time. It is full of great reviews and information about home audio equipment, home audio software and home recording studios.

5 Steps to Take Before Buying Home Audio Equipment Online

Sara Ch — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:00:00 +0000

When it comes to electronics, you probably already know that you get what you pay for. An iPod is expensive because of features, design and functions. However, if you’re just looking to store some songs to listen to on the road or take with you somewhere, there are much cheaper MP3 player options. Just keep in mind when you’re purchasing home audio equipment that if something seems too good to be true then it probably is.

You can nearly always find something to do what you want it to for the price you are willing to pay. The question is: does it do it well? You can find some seriously killer deals online - I bought all my home studio equipment online, in fact - but you are not going to create a professional home studio sight unseen. My studio is pieced together with eBay bargains and, though the sound is everything I need for podcasting and playing with music, it certainly wouldn’t be considered professional.

I’ll be covering the components of my DIY home recording studio over the next couple of weeks. For this article, though, I’d like to detail the 5 steps you should take before you buy home audio equipment online.

Read Articles and Reviews
They don’t call it the information superhighway for nothing. The internet is overflowing with articles and reviews about anything you can imagine. Even if you are not planning to purchase online, the web is a great place to begin your search.You can either start from a search engine or a trusted home audio equipment retailer, searching within your needed functions and price range. Once you get your decision narrowed down somewhat you can search for reviews of the equipment or recording software.

You should be able to find out pretty quickly if a piece of home audio equipment is worth purchasing or not. It is not a good idea to let user and/or professional reviews be the only factors that help make your decision. Though these reviews can be immeasurably helpful, you have to remember that your needs may not be the same as others’.

Take everything you read about a product with a grain of salt, you never know what someone’s agenda is. And remember, Google is your friend.
Know Your Seller
If a product description (whether on eBay or elsewhere) does not give you all the information you need, make sure you get your questions answered. As the buyer, you can and should expect to be treated the same online as you would if you walked into a Guitar Center in person.Be sure to do your homework when it comes to online sellers and retailers as well. It’s easy to get scammed, so read privacy policies, terms and conditions and check for secure connections.

Take a Test Drive
It’s great to be able to research and review available products without having to leave your comfy chair. However, if you are purchasing equipment to build your home recording studio, home theater setup or even just a decent sounding docking station for your iPod, you’ll want to try before you buy.Think of it this way: you wouldn’t purchase a car sight unseen, right? The same thing goes for all types of audio equipment. You do not want to purchase a pair of expensive mics only to discover that you don’t like the weight of them in your hand. This may sound picky, but it’s important in the long run. All your equipment needs to play well together and you need to be comfortable with it.

When it comes to audio equipment, the best example of needing to try before you buy is probably a guitar. Even if you don’t own one, I bet you can understand that if you were going to buy a guitar you would want to play it first. Though a home audio receiver or a subwoofer doesn’t seem quite as personal, it’s just as important that you are comfortable with them. Seeing home audio equipment in person will let you make sure that it is just right before you buy it.

Ask ProfessionalsSometimes a retailer or personal seller will not be able to answer your specific questions. Let’s say your voice has a lot of treble in it and you want to make sure you have equipment and/or software that can correct this at some point in the recording or editing process. This isn’t the most common question so you may need to find a recording expert to answer it.Don’t be afraid to ask any questions you want to make sure you are getting exactly the home audio equipment and/or recording software that you need. Building a home studio on your own can be a daunting task, as can setting up just the right surround sound configuration for your living room. Home audio equipment is often an expensive investment and you shouldn’t commit to any purchases without being completely satisfied that you have all the information necessary to make the right decision.

Know Your Full Cost
I can’t stress this enough: don’t forget the shipping! If you are ordering large and/or heavy equipment you could end up paying more for the shipping (especially on eBay) than you do for the actual product. This happened to me with my receiver and, while it still ended up being quite a bargain, the hefty shipping cost took me by surprise.If you are buying from a nationwide retailer like Best Buy or Circuit City you may find it more affordable to do a local pickup. Often these big name retailers will even ship the product to your local store for free if it is not in stock. Then you can pick it up and (a) you don’t have to pay for shipping and (b) you won’t have to be home to pick it up.

Whatever you decide, just make sure you know everything for which you will be charged. And if you are making an investment on an expensive piece of equipment do not skimp on the insurance.

Shopping for home audio equipment online can often be a great experience. You can avoid pushy salespeople, take your time researching produces and often find killer bargains. Just be sure that you put your internet saavy to work and do your homework on all equipment, software and merchants before you commit to any in-home audio investments.

Welcome to Audio at Home

Sara Ch — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 10:28:17 +0000

Welcome to the new Audio at Home blog. I am a firm believer in saving other people time. If I am going to spend some time researching or learning about something, I can share that knowledge and save time for other people. That’s what this blog is about.

I have purchased some equipment to start building a home recording studio and I plan to document that process here. Along with that, I will offer news, product reviews and other information related to home audio. While many posts will at first focus on the home recording studio I am building, I plan to cover all aspects of home audio.

A little bit about me: My name is Sara and I’m a business systems analyst. My primary blog is about making money online and I’m quite involved with internet marketing and web design. Basically anything related to technology and techno-gadgets interests me so please forgive me if I stray a bit off the topic sometimes.

I hope you’ll add Audio at Home to your regular reading list and participate. I run the do-follow plugin so you’ll get your linkbacks. That might not mean much today, but it will in a few months when this blog is highly-trafficked.

Enjoy!