Speaker System Buying Guide

How Many Do I Need?

The first question is “how many speakers do you need?” The general rule is one speaker for each channel of sound. The latest DVD and Super Audio CDs come in Dolby 5.1, so for best results, go with a traditional five-speaker setup: two speakers for stereo music, two for surround sound and one for dialogue. These speaker sets often include one large center channel and are what experts insist is the only setup that produces an optimal listening experience (matched left/right and front/back). Are there other options? Sound Bars, a new product on the audio market, allow you to substitute a five-speaker setup for one large speaker that simulates the work of five. If your room can’t accommodate a five-speaker setup (or you just don’t want to own and/or care for that much equipment), Sound Bar is a viable alternative.

Is one design better than another?

Speakers come in a variety of designs. When most people think of speakers, they probably think of floor-standing speakers, which have long been the standard among home stereo and home theatre systems. Out of all the speaker designs available, floor-standing speakers take up the most space, but audiophiles claim that because they’ve been around so long, they perform the best thanks to decades and decades of product development and consumer experience feedback.

Other options include bookshelf speakers, which, despite their name are often larger than books and frequently don’t fit on a bookshelf. However, bookshelf speakers like the Sony SS-MF750H (est. $280) produce excellent sound and are an option everyone should consider when purchasing speakers. Want your speakers to be invisible and not disrupt the room’s décor? Check out in-wall, in-ceiling or the new in-floor speakers.

If you choose a speaker system for in-design, consider your skills first. Most DIY homeowners will find installation to be an “intermediate” level project. You’ll need to be comfortable fishing wires and cutting holes in drywall. If this is out of your comfort zone, there are many professional that specialize in audio-visual media installation. What to do if you don’t have the space (or desire) for floor-standing speakers and you don’t really want to cut holes in your walls? Consider wall-mounted or on-wall speakers. Be sure to read the fine print on these, though, because not all manufacturers sell them with mounting brackets. Ditto connection cables - until wireless speakers are the norm, you’ll need to budget a few hundred dollars for cables (you’ll probably spend less, but budget for more and you won’t be caught short).

Matching the décor may or may not be a top priority for you, but if it is, the sheer volume and variety of speaker systems on the market today almost guarantee you’ll find the brand you like and power you need in the veneer or finish you want.

What About the Materials?

Speakers are made of wood, plastic and steel and though there is a wide array of opinions, the experts agree that there are excellent systems made of each, and the materials alone should not be a decision point.

Does size matter?

The short answer is: if it matters to you, it matters. Audiophiles all over the Internet message boards disagree that size and quality are directly related. Some enthusiasts insist that a high quality two speaker stereo set up can deliver a comparable experience to multi-speaker one. Ultimately, the only test that counts is how the system sounds in your room to your ears.

Do Ratings Mean Anything?

Speaker ratings and reviews tend to emphasize terms that evaluate the capacity of speakers and the volume of sound they produce (similar to how computer speed is measured in megahertz (mHz) or air conditioner power is measured in british thermal units (BTUs). These should be taken with a grain of salt, because the conditions under which speakers are tested in areas like frequency response (measured in Hz and kHz), decibels (dB) and impedance (ohms) are pulled from sound laboratory tests which produce decidedly different results than if the tests were performed in your home. In particular, the power range/handling settings have been called “meaningless” due to the near impossibility of damaging high-end speakers by turning the volume up too loud. If you rely on numbers for your purchase, look for speakers with impedance in a range from 4-8 ohms and frequency response between 100-200mHz.

Be Prepared to Listen

If you’re going to be trying out new speakers, a surround sound system or home theatre setup, choose your test entertainment DVD or Audio carefully. Movies like the Star Wars series are great test movies because they allow you to evaluate dialogue from the center channel, music from the left/right channels up front and ambient noise from the left/right channels in back. If you’re purchasing for music only, experts recommend playing music by a female solo artist which allows you to best hear the highs/lows of your speakers’ capabilities. You don’t need to understand all the science that goes into making speaker sound, but you’ll understand what you hear, and whether it sounds good to you (or not).

Need to know more?

• Bookshelf Speakers
  http://www.prontotech.com/bookshelf-speakers-9xn43
• How to Choose Home Theatre Speakers
  http://www.avguide.com/features/how-to-choose-home-theater-speakers/ht-speakers-index.php
• How to Buy Stereo Speakers
  http://www.ehow.com/how_3388_buy-stereo-speakers.html
• Floor Standing Speakers
  http://www.prontotech.com/floor-standing-speakers-9xn42