Audio Speakers & Amps

There are hundreds of different types of home theater speakers that people can buy. It can be very confusing to try and figure out what the differences are between different brands and models. To give you an idea of what you need to pay attention to when reading the spec sheets from different products, we are going to provide you with some general tips about speakers. We will also discuss some things that you want to pay attention to regarding the center channel speaker, front speakers, surround speakers, and the subwoofer.

The first thing that is important when deciding on speakers is that you want to be able to hear voices at the same level from all speakers. The easiest way to achieve this is to only buy speakers in sets that all belong to the same brand.

Don’t mix and match brands because there is a good chance you will get different sound tones when you hear voices from the speakers.

The second thing that is important to remember is that you want to pick out home theater speakers that are made of good quality materials. Look for ones that are made out of MDF or aluminum. This will help to provide a crisper sound along with a longer lasting product.

The third thing that you want to be aware of is the varying levels of magnets and voice coils. The more powerful these are, the crisper the sound that you hear will be. Generally more expensive products will have higher quality materials here.

The last important item to check is the material that the tweeter and woofers are made out of. Depending on the material they are manufactured out of, this can have an affect on the performance of the sound. A tweeter made out of silk will be smooth, while a tweeter made out of metal will be sharper.

Types of Speakers
The center channel speaker is one of the most important parts of a home theater setup. It is where the dialogue comes from and is a vital part to hearing and understanding what you are watching. You will want to buy one that is comparable to the size of the other speakers you buy. This will help to ensure that the center channel can be heard and will not be drowned out.

The front speakers can come in all different sizes and shapes. It will be essential to figure out how much space you have in your home for a speaker setup and then you can buy something that will fit in that location. Floor standing speakers will be the largest type that you can purchase. They are best used in bigger areas where you want to produce a good amount of sound. Bookshelf speakers are smaller in size and are great for placing on a shelf or something. Satellite speakers tend to be small in size and can be mounted directly to your wall or placed upon a shelf or stand.

The surround speakers are going to pick up the ambient sounds that are available in what you are watching. These are designed to provide a realistic sound experience and are not meant to deliver the majority of the sound you hear. These are designed to compliment the center channel and the front speakers. These can be purchased in all different shapes and sizes and again you will want to buy some that are comparable in size to the rest of the speakers you have picked out.

The last item you will need to choose is your subwoofer. This is what will add that deep bass sound to what ever you are watching. This really brings what you are hearing to life and makes it feel and sound realistic. The larger size you buy the deeper bass it will be capable of outputting. Some common subwoofer sizes include 8”, 10”, and 12”. Again remember to choose one that is comparable to the rest of the speakers you have picked out. Equality is important here because you don’t want to over power the other aspects of the audio.

You now should be well informed when it comes to home audio speakers. You can find box sound systems as well as have the option to purchase speakers individually. Which route you choose to go will be personal preference. It is generally a good idea to make a budget before you start looking so that you can start narrowing down your options based on price and then you can choose what type of quality you can buy for your money.