Everyone was talking about the sound industry in the 1980s. However, to date, this topic is rarely touched upon. Publications about acoustic systems can only be found in some specialized publications. But many of us are not even aware of the possibilities that modern audio technology can provide.
Entertainment systems
Home for every person is the place where after a hard day's work he can relax by spending time reading books or watching TV. For many of us, it is no less pleasant to listen to our favorite music or enjoy watching a movie.
To get the full feeling of comfort, you need a good sound system. Of course, in any technique there are built-in speakers. However, they are usually of low quality. That is why many people seek to purchase additionalsound output devices. What are the best home speakers?
Requirement Criteria
How to choose a speaker system for home use? First of all, you need to decide why it is needed. Of course, a good speaker system for a sensitive music lover and for an ordinary housewife is far from being an equivalent concept. After all, their requests are fundamentally different from each other.
In addition, you will need to make a real assessment of the possibilities of the premises. Even if a good speaker system, but with high power, is hardly suitable for a small room of nine square meters.
That is why the selection of speakers for the home is not an easy task. And when solving this issue, it will be necessary to proceed not only from the parameters of the equipment that reproduces the sound, but also from its key features. Do not forget about your own preferences, as well as personal financial opportunities.
Acoustic bands
Systems for sound reproduction are divided into five groups. The first of them includes one-way acoustics, the second - two-way, etc. How to choose a speaker system for this parameter? For people who do not have special requests or are simply deprived of an ear for music, it is quite enough to purchase a single-way system. All sounds from these speakers come from only one speaker.
The best system is considered to be two-way. In it, one of the speakers reproduces the sounds of medium and low frequencies, and the second - high. This is a good acousticsystem for watching movies or listening to music, as it transmits deep bass separately. This uses a subwoofer. This is a speaker that reproduces the low-frequency range of audio frequencies. It has a fairly powerful speaker built into it.
A good speaker system for people with a more refined musical taste is a three-way speaker. In it, high, medium and low frequencies are reproduced in separate speakers. This system allows you to hear a more even sound and the most intelligible speech.
Four- and five-way systems are recommended for the most demanding listeners. In them, the sound quality will be as high as possible.
Power
How to select columns based on this parameter? Some buyers believe that the most powerful speakers allow you to get the maximum volume. However, it is not. The power of acoustics does not speak at all about the strength of the sound it produces.
This parameter indicates the mechanical reliability of the system. The higher it is, the more durable the speakers will be. When choosing acoustics, one nuance should be taken into account. It will be better when the speaker power is higher than the same amplifier setting.
Active and passive
There are two types of speakers available on the market. The first one is active. In such a system, the amplifier is located in the column. In the passive type, it is located separately.
Speakers withamplifier is simply plugged into an outlet. At the same time, they immediately begin to make sounds. Passive systems will not work this way. In order to hear sound from such speakers, you will need to connect an amplifier. Simply put, the active type of acoustics works like ordinary computer speakers. The passive system is similar in its principle of operation to headphones that are not plugged into an outlet.
Speakers with an active type amplifier have a big plus. It lies in their ease of use. In this regard, the whole system is quite mobile. It is easy to put it in another place or unmount it. Another advantage of active acoustics is that each of its bands, that is, the speaker, has a separate amplifier, at the output of which there are crossover filters. They are also active. This filter is easy to adjust. And this allows you to get high-quality sound.
An important criterion when choosing will be a wider frequency range of the active system, as well as the presence of a volume control on the speakers, which is very convenient during operation.
The second type of systems also has some advantages. First of all, they lies in their relatively low cost. At the same time, passive systems, as a rule, are more powerful than active ones, and they can always be combined with an amplifier available in the house. In addition, these speakers do not require a line signal and voltage.
Sensitivity
A good speaker system capable of reproducing the loudest sounds has a highsensitivity. This indicator is measured in decibels. Their number determines the sound pressure that the speakers are able to exert on the surrounding space. The higher the sensitivity value, the louder the sound. For home use, speakers with this value equal to 85 decibels are perfect.
Frequency
This parameter is also important for those who are interested in a good speaker system. A person is able to hear only those sounds that are in a certain range. It ranges from 20 to 20,000 Hertz. In this case, the frequencies are distributed into the following:
- low, ranging from 10 to 200 Hertz;
- medium - from 200 to 5000 Hertz;- high - from 5000 to 20000 Hz.
A speaker system purchased for a home theater system may have a frequency in the range of 100-20000 Hertz. Music lovers are recommended columns with a large interval. The best for them will be speakers with a frequency of 20 to 35,000 Hz.
Case Type
You should also pay attention to this parameter when choosing a speaker system. The most popular are the speakers of the closed, as well as bass-reflex type. The case of the first of them is the simplest. It can be designed in a variety of designs to meet the tastes of a wide variety of customers.
However, when the space is closed, the frequency of the lower resonance increases significantly. This negatively affects the transmission of low frequencies. In this regard, most speaker systems use a bass-reflex enclosuretype. It is an open box with perfectly matched dimensions. There is an air vent in the cabinet that directs sound from the back of the speakers to the front. This greatly enhances the bass volume.
Material
On sale you can find speakers made of plastic, wood and chipboard. Each of these materials has its own merits. So, plastic allows you to implement the most daring design decisions. It's fairly cheap and lightweight. However, the sounds reproduced by such speakers are much simpler. This is due to the rattling of plastic at high frequencies. Such speakers, as a rule, find their application when using a computer. They are not suitable for watching movies. In such cases, the best option is a speaker system made in a wooden case.
For those who opted for plastic, it is recommended to select speakers without sharp corners, edges and wide panels, as well as having a high-quality reliable assembly.
Formats
In-ceiling speakers are suitable for a small room. They are quite compact, have a low cost and provide good sound. Their main disadvantage is shallow bass. In addition, in-ceiling speakers have low sensitivity. Only 40 watts of power is needed to play loud sound.
A good acoustic system for the hall is rack-mounted. It is larger than a ceiling-mounted one, but still provides enough bass depth. Veryconvincing bass sound thanks to floor-standing speakers. It's also a great auditorium speaker that can rock the floor of a room. These speakers produce good sound and don't need a heavy-duty amplifier.
However, the size of the loudspeakers is the main reason why they need to be anchored to the floor in order to eliminate additional cabinet vibrations. In addition, when these speakers are moved away from the walls for better sound, the space they occupy increases significantly. Such acoustic systems are quite massive and attract attention. And their cost is not so small.
Professional appliances
According to some lovers of good music, such audio systems are of the highest quality. However, in reality, things are different. Professional acoustic systems have their name not at all from favorably different parameters. They are simply used to carry out activities related to the reproduction of sound.
Professional speaker systems do not have any design frills, and expensive materials are not used in their manufacture. Their main difference from amateur speakers is the use of some elements that can withstand a constant load. After all, such systems work in stores or fitness clubs all the time, during the entire working time. In addition, professional speakers have a lot of power. It is she who allows them to voice a fairly large space.
Producers
To those who wishto purchase the best speaker system and has sufficient funds, it is worth considering the equipment of those manufacturers who are leaders in the market for sound reproduction equipment. And first of all, I would like to say about Bowers & Wilkins (B&W). In the list of the best manufacturers of acoustic systems, it rightfully occupies one of the first places. The company specializes in the production of the most advanced home theater systems. At the same time, it offers its customers only the best acoustics that perfectly reproduce any music. Such systems are not cheap. However, with their help, you can hear an almost perfect sound.
The rating of acoustic systems of the best manufacturers continues with Rotel equipment. It originated as a small family business, and today it is a solid company that is professionally engaged in sound equipment. Feedback from consumers who have bought its equipment for home use confirms the high quality of the devices. In addition, the company produces audio systems that are suitable for buyers with different income levels.
Affordable and high quality speakers offered by Yamaha. This Japanese manufacturer knows a lot about not only acoustic systems. Some branches of the company also produce classical and other musical instruments, which are highly valued by consumers around the world.
Jamo's audio equipment is well known to many users. Its speakers are of high quality and come in various price ranges.
Decent in its soundbrands such as JBL, Magnat, Dali and HECO also produce products.
