Home Theatre Speakers

Factors to Consider In Selecting Home Theatre Speakers

Let us start this introductory brief on home theatre speaker by clarifying the available type. We have four basic types of home theater speaker in the market namely, subwoofers, satellites, towers and center channel speakers. Tower speakers are tall and freestanding models that are able to reproduce a full range of digital sound. Satellite speakers are used for surround sound (front and or rear-channel) despite being small and bass-limited. They are designed as a complement of with a subwoofer. The subwoofer is basically a dedicated speaker that reproduces both bass and low-frequency-effects channels in a Dolby Digital and or DTS soundtrack. The center channel speakers are horizontal satellite speakers designed to reproduce sound dialog.

Another popular classification of speakers is either as freestanding or on the wall mounts. Traditional home theater speakers were freestanding or attachable to speaker stands. Modern models however use an on-the-wall design such that the speakers come with their wall-mounting hardware or gadgets. This is mainly to safe on the room space usage and to distribute sound with precision arrangement.

Having elaborated on this types, the following are the key consideration you have to make before settling on a specific type of speaker.

The price vs. the budget limitations
The sound intensity required
The number of sound sources to be connected to the home theatre speakers
The source of the sound i.e. where the sound will be sourced from and its most recommended reproducing speaker type
The area within which sound is needed
Their durability and availability of rep[air and or maintenance services
Visual appeal of the speakers such that they improve your room’s decor

Here are some key tips to guide your choice.

Most voice sounds are better reproduced with center channel home theatre speakers than any other. This makes them the best for TV and Radio.
Check for speaker connections at the back and ensure that they provide for your sound source jack types.
Check for a spring-clip connector at the connection points that helps clamp loaded bare speaker wires if a jack is not provided for.
If you like the speakers to be out of sight, consider the in-wall and or in-ceiling home theatre speakers instead of the regular models.
Surround speakers should be direct-radiating besides being able to provide for either or both dipolar, and bipolar connectivity.