Speakers
The loudspeaker is a necessary component in the production of sound and music. These are found in large numbers in our everyday life and they are used everywhere we go. In the car, in our mobile phones and TV sets, etc.
Typical of a speaker is that it requires some form of power to play. It achieves this through an amplifier which is able to set the speaker's membrane in motion, thereby creating sound waves/oscillations that we perceive as sound through our ears. This is the short and simplified explanation of how the speaker works.
Loudspeakers come in many shades, types and sizes. However, the most important thing is that you get to choose the speakers that suit your needs.
Passive speakers
The passive speaker has no built-in amplifier and therefore needs a separate amplifier to produce sound. This type of speaker is the one we typically know from a classic stereo system with two speakers, amplifier, CD player, etc.
Active and wireless speakers
The active speaker, in contrast to the passive speaker, has a built-in amplifier that enables it to play without the use of a separate amplifier. We typically find these active speakers in everyday life as Soundbars, sound boxes and the well-known kitchen radio. However, in recent years there have also been a number of well-playing stereo speakers on the market for even serious listening. Several of these active speaker solutions also contain built-in options for streaming from the various services via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast or Airplay2.
The active and wireless speakers are the perfect solution for those who want excellent sound without taking up too much space. In addition, several of these active solutions also have the option of so-called "multi-room sound", so you can have sound in several rooms at the same time.
Floor speakers
The floor speaker must be considered the ultimate sound reproducer. This type of speaker, in contrast to the smaller compact/stand speakers, is capable of reproducing all aspects of the music, and here special thought is given to the deeper octaves found in the music, these are necessary to get a completely realistic reproduction as the music was intended in its origin.
The floor speaker provides a realism and size of the sound that the smaller alternatives are not able to reproduce in the same way. This is typically because a floor speaker has a larger physical appearance in the form of a larger cabinet, but generally also larger and more speaker units. The disadvantage is that this type of speaker takes up more space in your listening room compared to the compact speaker solution.
A floor speaker also tends to place greater demands on the surroundings in which it is placed, and here the size and nature of the room has a great influence on the overall result. However, it is in this type of speaker that you find the ultimate sound experiences.
Compact speakers
These smaller alternatives to the floor speakers are typically used in smaller rooms where space is more important than for the user of floor speakers. However, many compact/stand speakers are mounted on a stand or tripod, which ultimately means that they take up the same floor space as the floor speakers.
With compact speakers, the size of the room is also of decisive importance, as the smaller speakers do not play as deeply and powerfully as the floor models. Therefore, compact speakers can be easier to adapt purely acoustically in a smaller room. Although these compact speakers do not have the same depth and weight in sound as a floor speaker, there should be no doubt that you can still get sublime sound reproduction with smaller speakers.
How do I choose my speakers?
1. First think about what musical needs you have. How often do you listen to music and how important is the quality of the sound to you? This can ultimately be a "guideline" for how much you should invest in your new speakers.
2. Think about how much space you have available for your new speakers. Should it be passive or active speakers, it must be floor speakers or a compact/stand speaker solution. Here, the size of the room is decisive. How many square meters do you want to play up? This always has a meaning regardless of whether you choose a passive or an active speaker.
3. If you choose the passive solution, pay attention to which equipment your new speakers must play with. Here, particular consideration is given to which amplifier you will be playing with. It does not matter which speakers you use together with your amplifier. Search here for advice and guidance if you are in doubt.
What does a speaker consist of?
A speaker basically consists of a cabinet where some speaker units are mounted which are connected to a so-called crossover.
1. Treble
The tweeter is the unit that handles the highest frequencies in music, typically overtones on voices and instruments. The tweeter is possibly the most critical unit on your speaker as it is of paramount importance to the stereo perspective. In other words, it is important for your speakers to have the right interaction with each other.
The treble is also where all the fine and delicate nuances arise, so a good treble is very important for the overall sound reproduction. Typically, there are two types of tweeter units. The more traditional "dome" treble, and the lesser-known ribbon treble. These two types carry out the same tasks in the loudspeaker, but they can sound very different. Here it is a matter of listening to which type suits you best.
2. Middle tone
The middle tone is the unit that primarily handles the frequency range where the basic substance of voices and instruments is found in the music. The human ears are quite sensitive in this particular area, and therefore it is also important here that the middle tone is of a high quality nature.
3. Bass
The bass unit is the unit that reproduces the deeper octaves in the music. The bigger the bass unit, the deeper and more powerful bass it can play. This is especially where you need to pay attention to the size of your room and the placement of the speakers in the room.
If you choose some speakers that have large woofers, you must pay attention to whether your room is large enough to match the bass reproduction from your woofers. Otherwise, it will typically end up with a "resounding" and exaggerated bass reproduction.
4. Divider filter
The dividing filter, which is mounted inside the loudspeakers, has the task of conveying the tasks to the various units in the loudspeakers. It is the dividing filter that determines which devices will play the different frequencies in the music.
Your speaker cables are connected to the speaker terminals on the back of your speakers, and from the speaker terminals there is a direct connection to the crossover, which then sends signals to the speaker's various units.
5. Wattage and operating power
Watts is the measure of electrical power, and in a speaker, watts represent the amount of power that the speaker can withstand being loaded with. The more watts, the higher load the speaker can generally withstand.
The operating power indicates how many watts the loudspeaker must be supplied in order for it to produce a sound pressure of 96 Db measured at a distance of 1m. Put simply, the operating power is an expression of how much power the amplifier must use to drive the speakers. At the same time, it is an indicator of how powerful an amplifier you should use together with the speakers in question. It is always important that the speaker's electrical characteristics match the amplifier that will be driving them.
6. Location of the speakers
How you place your speakers has a big impact on the overall sound quality. A set of stereo speakers should basically be placed in the direction of the preferred listening position, so that the speakers' units play towards the listener.
The optimum is to position the speakers so that they have approximately the same distance between each other as they have distance to the listening position. So in an isosceles triangle. In other words, it has a significant sonic significance that the speakers have the same distance to the preferred listening position. Otherwise, it will impair the perception of the stereo perspective. In addition, it will go beyond rhythm and not least the timing in the music.
Most traditional stereo speakers also need some space around them to sound as intended. Therefore, they should basically have a certain distance to the back wall. Typically 20-50cm. If possible, placing the speakers directly in the corners should be avoided, and it may also be that the speakers should be angled slightly towards the listening position in order to achieve a good stereo perspective and coherent sound image.
Some loudspeakers make higher demands than others with regard to their placement in your listening room, and here you should seek advice and guidance if you are in doubt. At Lydspecialisten, we are always ready to guide you and answer your questions. That's why we're here.