Choosing Ceiling In-Wall Speakers
Even
the most qualified professional installer cannot answer these questions for you
so before you set-up your home audio system ask yourself these questions to make
your decision process a little easier:
Do you want speakers for background music, entertaining, critical listening?
Not everyone needs a thumping system so before you start comparing watts and
woofers, think about how you will be using your system and what your
expectations are. If you are simply looking for light, background music when you
get home from work then look for quality speakers with a smaller woofer size and
driver. However, if you think you'll be playing them louder, even if only
occasionally at parties or when you're watching your favorite action movie,
you'll want to invest in speakers that can handle the higher volumes which
usually means a larger woofer, and better quality drivers. If you want a really
loud system that blows the neighbors away, you'll also want to look into a
powerful amplifier or receiver to power the system.
What type of environment will these speakers be placed in?
Your environment can also tell you a few things about the type of speakers
you'll need. For example, smaller and/or odd shaped rooms may want to use a dual
voice coil speaker to get more balanced sound, entertainment rooms with the
television in a corner may want to invest in angled (LCR) speakers that allow
you to direct sound. As for the speakers themselves you want to consider both
the size of the space and as well as other factors. If there is a lot of
background noise or the space is fairly large, you'll probably need to invest in
higher quality speakers, and perhaps a few pairs to meet your sound
expectations. Large rooms (4,000 cubic feet or more) require more power in order
for speakers to output high volume levels without distortion. If you have a
large room or if your room is open to other large areas, there is a lot of air
to move. Remember too that the size of the room is measured in cubic feet
meaning that a room measuring 20 feet by 15 feet with a 10 foot tall ceiling
would have 3,000 cubic feet even though it only has 300 square feet. You will
need larger amplifiers for larger rooms, or you will need more efficient
speakers. You may also need a larger subwoofer or multiple subwoofers to produce
adequate volumes in the large. If, however, you have a small room (less than
2,000 cubic feet), you won't need to worry as much about amplifier power and
speaker efficiency ratings.
What type of system will you be powering your speakers with?
Whether you are using an existing system or purchasing a new one, it is
important to know the details of your system before selecting speakers. Your
amplifier or receiver is what powers the system and it will give you a good idea
of any limitations in terms of size and sound. For this, you can check your
system, the manual, or call the manufacturer. Some things you want to look for
include, how many speakers can your system hold, what is the impedance (ohms),
and how many watts per channel. Make sure your system can handle the impedance
of the speakers and aim for similar wattage. If your system cannot hold your
desired number of speakers you can consider purchasing a speaker selector and/or
another amplifier. You CANNOT put two speakers into one channel. For more
information on setting up a full system please refer to...
Are your speakers intended for use in a multi-channel home theater system?
If you plan on using your speakers as part of a home theater system or other
multi-channel audio system, you should take into consideration the quality of
the speakers you purchase and the similarity of sound provided by them. All the
speakers in a multi-channel system should exhibit similar quality. The center
channel in particular must be of equal quality to the front speakers as it will
be called upon to produce a large amount of the audio in a movie soundtrack.
Also, it is important that the center speaker have a similar sound to the front
stereo speakers so that they create a cohesive sound field. The speakers in a
multi-channel audio system do not necessarily have to come from the same
manufacturer, but often speakers from the same manufacturer feature the most
similar sound and compatibility.
Do you have or do you plan to use a digital 5.1 surround sound format such as
Dolby Digital or DTS?
If you will be using one of these digital surround sound formats you may be
interested in a subwoofer. The digital 5.1 formats feature a special low
frequency effects channel intended specifically to be produced by a subwoofer,
although it can be bypassed if you are using main stereo speakers with
sufficient bass response. The 5.1 digital systems also feature full-range,
stereo surround channels necessitating good quality surround speakers with
similar sound, power and efficiency to the front three speakers (left, center,
right).
Will you power your speakers with a receiver?
Receivers often do not operate well into low impedance loads. If you will use a
receiver with your speakers, look for speakers with a nominal impedance of 8
ohms or higher. You may look at speakers with nominal impedances of 6 ohms, but
avoid speakers in the 4 ohm range. If you are interested in speakers with a 4
ohm nominal impedance, you may want to consider investing in a separate
amplifier. Otherwise, check your receiver (or the receiver you intend to
purchase) to make sure it can operate into low impedances.
What is your price range for the speakers?
Once you know your sound needs/expectations, set a price range to work with
based on all the factors mentioned above. As you look for speakers, either
individually or as a system, be aware that you may need to spend slightly more
for improved quality. Remember, that building a good system on a limited budget
may take time. If you are operating on a limited budget, you may be better off
purchasing higher quality speakers first and investing in a new amplifier at a
later date. You can always build your system up, so start with a good foundation
that will meet your long term needs.
Will you purchase an entire audio system including speakers, amplifiers,
preamplifiers, source components, etc.? If so, what is your price range for the
entire system?
Your expenditures on speakers should make up around 40 percent to 50 percent of
your total expenditures on audio if you plan on putting together a multi-channel
home theater system. Each of the speakers should be of similar quality, though
the front left and right stereo pair often costs more than the other speakers
and may take up around 20 percent of your total home theater audio budget. If
you can afford a subwoofer, it is a worthy addition to a home theater system.
However, most good subwoofers capable of truly providing deep bass cost $500 and
up. If your budget does not allow you to spend the $500 or more for a good
subwoofer, additional funds below the mark for a good sub are better spent on
higher quality left and right stereo speakers with more powerful bass response
themselves.
|
