How To Choose The Right Speakers

As shiny and minimalist as your new HiFi may be, it will only sound as good as your speakers do. We went down to Richer Sounds to find out what goes in to finding a good pair. Of speakers.

The modern speaker comes in a range of designs, from the invisible and discreet, to the huge monster sound 2001 monolith variety! Not only do the different types allow for different aesthetics in a room, but they also deliver different performances and different types of sound. If you are looking for speakers for a home cinema system, please also watch the VideoJug film, "How to set up surround sound in your living room : Part 1 - Speakers and components".

First off, cower like a frightened monkey because these are "Tower" speakers. They generally come in pairs and deliver a good range of room filling sound. They handle both low and high frequency sounds well, especially if you opt for a model with an in-built woofer. Models with woofers are often advertised as providing "3-way sound", as there is a separate component dealing with high range sounds, mid-range sounds and low-range sounds. Floor standing speakers also tend to give you the most efficient use of the power being supplied by your amplifier. On the down side, these are obviously the largest of the main varieties of speaker, however if you look for a slim line model, you maybe able to save yourself a little floor space. Tower models also tend to be the most expensive.

Bookshelf speakers have the obvious advantage of a smaller size, when compared to floor standing models. They needn't go on a bookshelf, as it is often possible to purchase wall brackets with this variety of speaker. They are a good alternative and can deliver excellent performance at mid-range and high range frequencies - and at a fraction of the price of a pair of floor standing models. Bookshelves are generally "2-way" speakers. This means they use 2 drivers: one for high frequency performance - usually called a "tweeter", and a second for mid-range performance. As bookshelf speakers are usually unable to produce low bass frequencies, you may want to consider purchasing a subwoofer as well as bookshelf speakers. This will reinforce the bass in your system. If you do not want a subwoofer, consider going for a "3-way" bookshelf speaker, as these have a separate driver to help achieve lower frequencies.

These types of speakers are designed specifically to produce very low frequencies. They are used in combination with normal speakers to provide more powerful and deep bass. Subwoofers can come with or without an in-built amplifier. Those with an amplifier are generally preferable as they offer independent volume and frequency controls to allow the bass to be tuned with the room and any existing speakers. Home cinema systems only use subwoofers with in-built amplifiers. The low frequency sounds created take a lot of power, so look for an amplifier with lots of wattage if your hoping to make the room tremble. Low frequency sounds have Omni-directional properties, which means the subwoofer can be out of the way, but still fill the room with bass.

These tiny speakers can often deliver high performance invisible sounds when used with a subwoofer. They can be wall mounted or hidden behind ornaments, while still producing excellent mid-range to high range sounds. The design of these speakers can be a talking point in of themselves, but it is rare to find a satellite that deals with low frequencies well, hence the need for a subwoofer.

If the few cubic inches taken up by a satellite speaker is still too much intrusion for you to bare, why not look at in-wall or in-ceiling speakers. You may have encountered these types of speakers in hotel rooms, but they are becoming increasingly popular in the home. Discretion is key with these models and they even come with paintable grills to camouflage them into the surfaces they inhabit. The speakers are mounted into a frame and set into the wall or ceiling. Instead of a separate speaker cabinet, they use the wall itself as the cabinet. Though many in-wall speakers are full-range, you may want to add a powered subwoofer to your system for bass reinforcement. It is also important to remember that the invisibility of these models comes at a price - namely a more complicated installation process, and the need to run speaker wires through walls and ceilings. Once the speakers are set, it becomes very impractical to reposition them, so choose their position carefully.

It may seem obvious, but it's important to listen to your speakers before buying them. You're not just listening for how loud it can go - though this is fun - you are also listening for how well the speaker performs at different frequencies. Low frequency sounds, such as the rumble of a heavy bass line, perform better on some speakers, whereas others are suited to high frequency. Generally the very small speakers will not be able to handle the extremes of bass as well as larger ones do. It takes a certain volume of air to create the booms of modern music. When considering speakers, bring a few CDs with you. Choose songs you know, and pick ones that test different ranges of pitch.

The speakers you choose will be part of the furniture of your front room, so don't feel embarrassed about making a choice based on how the speakers look. With so many different models available, you should be able to find speakers that fulfill both your performance and aesthetic criteria.

It is vital that your amplifier and speakers are compatible. Check what power the amplifier can supply per channel, and with what resistance. The power will be shown in Watts, and the resistance in ohms. As a guide, choose speakers that use half the power, and the same resistance. However, for the best results, write down the wattage, ohms and model type of your amplifier, and consult with a sales person as to which speakers will perform best with your amp.

Make sure you purchase your speakers from a source with a good returns policy. The acoustics of the showroom and your front room will differ, and what sounded good in the store, may not perform as well at home. Carefully check your system out in its new home. If there's a problem take them back - if not, enjoy your new speakers!