Do you want
speakers for background music, entertaining, critical listening?
Not everyone needs a thumping system so before you start comparing watts and
woofers, think about how you will be using your system and what your
expectations are. If you are simply
looking for light, background music when you get home from work then look for quality speakers with a
smaller woofer size and driver. However, if you think you'll be playing them
louder, even if only occasionally at parties or when you're watching your
favorite action movie, you'll want to invest in speakers that
can handle the higher volumes which usually means a larger woofer, and
better quality drivers. If you want a really loud system that blows the
neighbors away, you'll also want to look into a powerful amplifier or
receiver to power the system.
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What type of
environment will these speakers be placed in?
Your environment can also tell you a few
things about the type of speakers you'll need. For example, smaller and/or
odd shaped rooms may want to use a dual voice coil speaker to get more
balanced sound, entertainment rooms with the television in a corner may want
to invest in angled (LCR) speakers that allow you to direct sound. As for
the speakers themselves you want to consider both the size of the space and
as well as other factors. If there is a lot of
background noise or the space is fairly large, you'll probably need to
invest in higher quality speakers, and perhaps a few pairs to meet your
sound expectations.
Large rooms (4,000 cubic
feet or more) require more power in order for speakers to output high volume
levels without distortion. If you have a large room or if your room is open
to other large areas, there is a lot of air to move. Remember too that the
size of the room is measured in cubic feet meaning that a room measuring 20
feet by 15 feet with a 10 foot tall ceiling would have 3,000 cubic feet even
though it only has 300 square feet. You will need larger amplifiers for
larger rooms, or you will need more efficient speakers. You may also need a
larger subwoofer or multiple subwoofers to produce adequate volumes in the
large. If, however, you have a small room (less than 2,000 cubic feet), you
won't need to worry as much about amplifier power and speaker efficiency
ratings.
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What type of
system will you be powering your speakers with?
Whether you are using an existing system or purchasing a new one, it is
important to know the details of your system before selecting speakers.
Your amplifier or receiver is what powers the system
and it will give you a good idea of any limitations in terms of size and
sound. For this, you can check your system, the manual, or call the
manufacturer. Some things you want to look for include, how many speakers
can your system hold, what is the impedance (ohms), and how many watts per
channel. Make sure your system can handle the impedance of the speakers and
aim for similar wattage. If your system cannot hold your desired number of
speakers you can consider purchasing a speaker selector and/or another
amplifier. You CANNOT put two speakers into one channel. For more
information on
setting up a full system please refer to...
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Are your speakers intended
for use in a multi-channel home theater system?
If you plan on using your
speakers as part of a home theater system or other multi-channel audio
system, you should take into consideration the quality of the speakers you
purchase and the similarity of sound provided by them. All the speakers in a
multi-channel system should exhibit similar quality. The center channel in
particular must be of equal quality to the front speakers as it will be
called upon to produce a large amount of the audio in a movie soundtrack.
Also, it is important that the center speaker have a similar sound to the
front stereo speakers so that they create a cohesive sound field. The
speakers in a multi-channel audio system do not necessarily have to come
from the same manufacturer, but often speakers from the same manufacturer
feature the most similar sound and compatibility.
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Do you have or do you plan
to use a digital 5.1 surround sound format such as Dolby Digital or DTS?
If you will be using one
of these digital surround sound formats you may be interested in a
subwoofer. The digital 5.1 formats feature a special low frequency effects
channel intended specifically to be produced by a subwoofer, although it can
be bypassed if you are using main stereo speakers with sufficient bass
response. The 5.1 digital systems also feature full-range, stereo surround
channels necessitating good quality surround speakers with similar sound,
power and efficiency to the front three speakers (left, center, right).
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Will you power your
speakers with a receiver?
Receivers often do not
operate well into low impedance loads. If you will use a receiver with your
speakers, look for speakers with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms or higher.
You may look at speakers with nominal impedances of 6 ohms, but avoid
speakers in the 4 ohm range. If you are interested in speakers with a 4 ohm
nominal impedance, you may want to consider investing in a separate
amplifier. Otherwise, check your receiver (or the receiver you intend to
purchase) to make sure it can operate into low impedances.
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What is your
price range for the speakers?
Once you know your sound needs/expectations,
set a price range to work with based on all the
factors mentioned above. As you look for speakers, either individually or as
a system, be aware that you may need to spend slightly more for improved
quality. Remember, that building a good system on a limited budget may take
time. If you are operating on a limited budget, you may be better off
purchasing higher quality speakers first and investing in a new amplifier at
a later date. You can always build your system up, so start with a good
foundation that will meet your long term needs.
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Will you purchase an entire
audio system including speakers, amplifiers, preamplifiers, source
components, etc.? If so, what is your price range for the entire system?
Your expenditures on
speakers should make up around 40 percent to 50 percent of your total
expenditures on audio if you plan on putting together a multi-channel home
theater system. Each of the speakers should be of similar quality, though
the front left and right stereo pair often costs more than the other
speakers and may take up around 20 percent of your total home theater audio
budget. If you can afford a subwoofer, it is a worthy addition to a home
theater system. However, most good subwoofers capable of truly providing
deep bass cost $500 and up. If your budget does not allow you to spend the
$500 or more for a good subwoofer, additional funds below the mark for a
good sub are better spent on higher quality left and right stereo speakers
with more powerful bass response themselves.
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