Speaker Sound: Audio elements to consider when finding quality home theater speakers
Buying home theater speakers isn’t as easy as just going to the store and picking up a set of speakers that looks nice. There are a number of things that you should consider before making your purchase. Depending upon the speakers that you purchase and the components that make up the rest of your system, you might find that you experience unwanted distortion or that the speakers you choose simply can’t handle the volumes at which you set your surround sound system. Take the time to talk to employees at the store where you’re buying your home theater speakers, and if possible listen to demo speakers that have been set up in-store so that you can get a feel for any distortion that might occur.
There are a lot of speaker systems out there, ranging from the PSB Image Series to the various Dali Ikon lines. To help you in making the right decision, make sure that you keep the following considerations in mind. This will ensure that you find the perfect speakers for your home theater system and that they will work just the way that you want them to in your surround sound speaker setup.
Distortion
Distortion can ruin audio quality, and one of the most common causes for it is having the volume set too high or having too much power coming through the speaker cables. Different speakers can have different amounts of distortion, so it’s important that you choose speakers that will have as little distortion as possible to go with your home theater system. This is definitely one situation in which you want to talk to someone who works in the store in order to get their assistance, as they should have a lot more knowledge as to which speakers will have the least distortion under different conditions. You’ll need to supply them with as much information about your home theater system as you can, including the type of receiver and amplifier that you’re using, so that they can better match you with home theater speakers that will meet your needs.
Placement Requirements
Not all speakers are going to be mounted the same way, or even be the same size. You’re going to have to consider the space that’s available to you for your speakers as well as the types of speakers that you want to include in your home theater system. You’ll need to choose from among tower speakers, in-wall speakers, wall-mounted speakers, and even in-cabinet speakers in order to decide how you want your speakers to appear. Tower speakers will require floor space or at least something to set them on, whereas wall-mounted speakers will need to have enough support within the walls to keep them from pulling out their mountings. In-wall speakers are unobtrusive, but require alterations to the walls that can be inconvenient if you decide to remove the speakers later, while in-cabinet speakers are built in to you entertainment center or other audio cabinet but are limited on where they can be placed. Of course, a combination of different speaker types can be used as well to help you get the most out of your speaker arrangement.
Volume Limitations
Just as some speakers will start generating distortions at higher volumes, speakers can also be seriously damaged if you try to turn the volume up to a higher level than they are designed to handle. Home theater speakers that can handle higher volumes may cost a bit more, but that cost is worth it if you plan on having music, movies, or other audio playing at higher levels. If you don’t want to have your home theater system turned up very high, though, you might be better off with more standard speakers. Ask for the opinion of an audio expert at the store in regards to the home theater speakers that they would recommend for your system, being sure to explain your intended usage so that they can match them to the speakers’ volume limitations.
Bass/Treble
While most speakers allow for some bass and treble, it’s important to remember that specialized speakers such as woofers and tweeters are also available and can be used to customize your audio experience to your preferences. Be sure to get assistance in designing your home theater system’s speaker arrangement so that you can bring out exactly the sounds that you most want to hear… many audio professionals can help you to find the perfect balance that will take your surround sound audio to the next level and make sure that you’re finished with the end result.
~Ben Anton, 2008
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
