If you’ve ever experienced a high-end home surround sound system, you know the difference it can make in a home theater. There are several parts that make up a surround sound system, but clearly the speakers are the most important since they’re the ones delivering the sounds to the room. Selecting quality speakers can really make a huge difference. This guide will discuss the different options of speakers available to choose from for your home theater.
Before getting to the speakers, you’ll need to determine how many speakers you’re going to set up in your theater. There are a few different options when it comes to choosing this, there’s a 5.1 surround sound system with is made up of five speakers and one subwoofer. The speakers are normally placed with two in the front, two in the rear and one in the center. The subwoofers location will vary. Then there’s a 7.1 system which consists of a set of seven speakers and a subwoofer. The difference here is that the 7.1 system has two speakers located on the side as well as the other locations. If you’re really into bass, then the 5.2 or 7.2 option is best for you. These two options are the same as above but come with two subwoofers.
The first and most common type of speaker in a surround sound system is the floor standing speakers. These have been made for many years and they’re quite large. The size of the speakers allows them to produce different frequencies, including bass which isn’t usually produced from smaller speakers. Although they do take up more space than smaller speakers, they tend to be more expensive since they’ll deliver the best overall sounds.
Bookshelf speakers are the smaller option, compared to floor standing speakers. If you’re in a tight space or don’t want to spend as much money, these speakers are a great alternative. I’ve seen some great bookshelf speakers, so by no mean are they poor (typically they don’t deliver sounds like floor speakers). They can conveniently be placed in small places or on shelves.
If you’re looking to hide the speakers all together, then in-wall or ceiling speakers will satisfy this need for you. These speakers are the same as the other two (usually bigger than bookshelf speakers) and are mounted in a frame, which is then placed into a wall. Although these speakers are usually full-range speakers, its best o add a subwoofer with in-wall or ceiling speakers. They even make in-wall or ceiling subwoofers now. If you’re concerned about having the speakers match your walls, this can easily be solved. These speakers come with a grill that can be painted, which covers the speakers. Wiring these speakers can be tough, as the wires should run through the walls or the ceiling.
The last type of speaker is the outdoor speaker. These speakers are weather-resistant and usually placed under an awning on a deck or patio for some sort of protection. They also make speakers that blend into the landscape, such as fake rocks. These work great by an outdoor pool and sound great, since they’re usually close to ear level. Be sure the outdoor speakers have more power than indoor speakers, since the sounds will need to travel in the larger open space.
Speaker wire is often disregarded as an important part of the system. Old wires or low-grade speaker wire can definitely degrade the quality of sound. If you’re running your system on old speaker wire, once you make the change you’ll notice the difference immediately.
I hope this guide has helped you understand the different options of speakers available. There are many different brands and styles of the speakers mentioned above, so be sure to shop around. Good luck!
This author has a passion for creating any high end home theater. He’s designed many sound systemsin NYC, creating the best home theater surround sound systems possible for his customers needs. More details can be found on his blog, ceilingspeaker.org.