Speaker Advice

[jimbomcgommy]

Are there things that I need to especially look for when purchasing speakers? Like power handling(continuous power), sensitivity, impedance, type of material the woofer and tweeter are made of.

Thanks for the input...

[darkpoet25]

Originally Posted by jimbomcgommy

Are there things that I need to especially look for when purchasing speakers? Like power handling(continuous power), sensitivity, impedance, type of material the woofer and tweeter are made of.

Thanks for the input...

Power handling, and sensitivity are the two biggest things to look for. Impedance isn't too much of an issue, since most home theater speakers run the same 8 ohm impedance. Most of all though, take listening material when auditioning speakers. Listen to how clean, clear, loud, and deep they sound. They will sound different in your own home, so keep that in mind. If they have some set up with a Blu Ray player, or dvd player take a movie along to hear them through the speakers. Make a budget as well after listening to them to get an idea of what you are looking for and are willing to spend.

[Big Daddy]

Speaker specifications have absolutely nothing to do the with the sound quality. There are speakers on the market that look impressive on paper, but sound awful and vice versa. The best way to pick speakers is to listen to them. Speakers are very subjective. People have different tastes. What I like is not necessarily what you will like.

Another factor is the type of music you listen to. Speakers that sound good with rock music may not necessarily sound good with classical music.

Generally speaking, people in U.S. like too much bass and as a result American speakers tend to sound a bit heavy on the low frequencies. European speakers have a mellower sound and emphasize the middle frequencies.

[jimbomcgommy]

Obviously the more power the possibility the better sounds, but what about sensitivity? How does 92dB@1 watt/1 meter? Do I need to look for more or less. I have no clue when it comes to speakers. Cars, F-15s, and F-16s...Ask away...


I agree with what you say that some speakers will sound better to you than me and about the part on what looks good on paper might not really mean its a good speaker but I want a smaller path of looking than driving to every store in northeast FL listening to every speaker to find the one I like the best...

I would also like a mix of bass, mids and highs.

[JohnGalt]

Generally the higher the sensitivity the better because an awful lot of HTs are under-powered for the volume levels people really want. Being able to drive a speaker to the desired volume level without pushing your amp into distortion is a huge factor.

Impedance can be a factor as well. The lower the impedance of the speaker the more current your amp is going to have to supply. If, for example, you wind up with 4 Ohm mains and 6 Ohm surrounds / center you'll need a pretty capable amp to drive them at volume. I wouldn't worry too much about this but just be aware that low impedances can place large demands on the amp.

The most important thing is whether or not you like the sound. If you're fortunate enough to find a setup that sounds much better than others to your ears go with it and forget the specs.

[Grif32]

I wouldnt mix and match brands.

Try to timber match ALL speakers for the best sound.

[Psiweaver]

Why don't you give us your price range and what your looking for ie 5.1 7.1 5.2 etc. That way we can suggest a few brands for you to audition. Make sure that you take a few different musical recordings. I would suggest Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Guitar/Piano, Something rocking, Something like Jazz/classical. That way you'll get a very good idea of how your speaker will perform.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Grif32

I wouldnt mix and match brands.

Try to timber match ALL speakers for the best sound.

Only the L/R and Center REALLY need to be timber-matched..... It's not a bad idea for the surrounds, and it's basically impossible for the Sub, despite what someone may tell you. There are subs that suit the other speakers better, but timber matching isn't necessary.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Speaker specifications have absolutely nothing to do the with the sound quality. There are speakers on the market that look impressive on paper, but sound awful and vice versa. The best way to pick speakers is to listen to them. Speakers are very subjective. People have different tastes. What I like is not necessarily what you will like.

Another factor is the type of music you listen to. Speakers that sound good with rock music may not necessarily sound good with classical music.

Generally speaking, people in U.S. like too much bass and as a result American speakers tend to sound a bit heavy on the low frequencies. European speakers have a mellower sound and emphasize the middle frequencies.

What a refreshingly accurate post! Well said, sir!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by richteer

What a refreshingly accurate post! Well said, sir!

I love Kelowna, B.C. Lake Okanagan is beautiful.