How to Choose a Speaker System
Maybe you want to have coffee with Coltrane. Perhaps it’s time to build the home media room you’ve considered for years. Either way, “choose a sound system is on your to-do list.
Even if it’s as straightforward as breakfast nook speakers, read this quick guide about selecting speakers. Once you do, you’ll have a clear idea of your speaker needs.
What Kind of Sound System do You Choose?
This is the first place to begin planning your speaker setup. Sure, it’s easy to just run out and say “I want speakers”, and a little forethought can set you up to say “I want speakers for MY unique space.” If you’re clear about what you’re going to use the speakers for, you’ll be clear on what you need.
Consider the following questions:
- Are you mostly listening to music with these speakers?
- Are you wanting to mostly watch TV?
- Are you setting up an A+ home theatre?
- Will you be setting up a single room, or integrating speakers in multiple rooms?
- How big are the rooms?
- What kind of furniture and surfaces are in the room?
- Where will you place the speakers?
Plus one more important thing to consider. Keep reading to find out more!
Are you mostly listening to music with these speakers?
For casual music, you can do well with a pair of high-quality bookshelf speakers. Place these speakers on a shelf or side table to elevate your space with a little background music. If surface space is limited, in-wall speakers provide a low-profile audio solution.
If you want a more immersive audio experience, you may want to go with monitor speakers or even floor-standing speakers to provide more bass and depth to your sound. Both options give decent bass when you’re wanting to feel the groove, and you can always add a subwoofer to get those deep sounds that reverb in the soul.
Are you wanting to mostly watch TV?
If you’re going to be watching tv casually, soundbars are your best option. Placing these speakers directly below or above the tv and projects great sound for your streaming videos and news programs. We are currently in love with Sonos soundbars because of their ability to be a soundbar AND stream music through the Sonos app. For Apple users, the Sonos Arc also supports Airplay 2, so you can send music straight from your phone to the soundbar!
Big sound fills your room with just one Sonos Arc soundbar!
Need a bit more bass with your tv? You can add a subwoofer to round out the lows and hear the rumble of the upcoming action sequence in your favorite show!
Are you setting up an A+ home theatre?
Why go to the cinema when the cinema can come to you?
Surround sound systems are what you need. Center channel, mains, front width and height, surrounds and subs, these are going to give you that fully immersive, “damn that was awesome!” home theatre experience. Bonus: this set up is perfect for the concertgoer wanting front-row sound without the front-row crowd!
Creating the right surround sound system involves layering sound with multiple speakers.
Choosing a Sound System to Match the Room Acoustics
Great! Now that you’ve got an idea of what you’re wanting to do we can talk about the space you’re doing it in. Speakers make the sound, and the space you’re using can have a big effect on that sound. The following questions help you think about getting the right sound.
Will you be setting up a single room, or integrating speakers in multiple rooms?
This helps you determine the number of speakers you will need. Do you want a dedicated room for your listening experience? Do you want the playlist heard in many rooms? Think about wired and wireless options to help you manage your integrated systems; wired speakers are a traditional option, and wireless speakers give more flexibility if you decide to take the sound system to a different address.
How big are the rooms?
Sound is created by vibrating the air in the listening space. More space means more air, and this means you need more speaker power to fill your room with sound. On the other hand, smaller spaces run the risk of being “overloaded” with bass from large speakers. Your audio experts at Soundwave can help you find the right setup for your space.
What kind of furniture and surfaces are in the room?
Too many hard surfaces can distort the sound, while too many soft surfaces can muffle the sound. You’ll want to have a mix of hard and soft surfaces to make sure the sound stays solid.
Where will you place the speakers?
This one can be tricky because sound waves experience constructive interference and destructive interference. This can create pockets where sound amplifies and other spaces where sound goes silent. You’ll also want to make sure that subwoofers and speakers have space between the units and the walls. Keep those speakers out of the corners!
One Easily Overlooked Question When Choosing a Speaker System…
What is the décor of the room?
Let’s face it: you deserve nice things. What’s the point of getting a top-of-the-line speaker if it clashes with your room’s style? When choosing a sound system, style matters! Your audio experts can help you find a speaker cabinet that matches the palette or makes a statement.
Decide on Speaker Brand
Congratulations! You’re ready to consider the brand of speaker that you want. Taking everything you know you need from your speaker system, look at brands like Triad, KEF, Klipsch, and Sonos. Do they have the monitor speakers for your study? Do they carry the subs for your movie theatre? Are there wired or wireless options?
This is a lot of shopping and comparison, so many people loop in an experienced audio salesperson at this point. They have the knowledge to fit the right brand to your personal needs and tastes.
Your audio experts at Soundwave are here to make choosing a sound system easier; call us today or fill out the contact form to begin making your dream sound system a reality.