Speakers are everywhere and there are plenty of brands to choose from. They're in our cell phones, schools, venues and stages, vehicles, houses of worship, home entertainment systems, and much more.

With speakers being so common, many speaker manufacturers have entered the market. In this article, I'll share the best overall speaker brands to look out for when choosing your next speaker, pair of speakers, or speaker system.

Though obviously subjective and prone to biases, I've done my best to list out these brands based on company reputation, product selection, availability, affordability, and, of course, overall speaker quality across all models.

At the end of this article, I've included information on some high-end boutique speaker manufacturers worth checking out for some of the greatest craftsmanship in speaker design on the market. However, these high-ticket manufacturers do not often meet the “affordability” and “availability” factors listed above. Skip ahead by clicking here or scroll through the article!

With all that being said, let's list out the brands.

The Top 10 Best Speaker/Loudspeaker Brands Are:

1. Bose
2. JBL
3. Klipsch
4. KEF
5. Definitive Technology
6. Bowers & Wilkins
7. Focal
8. Quested
9. Dynaudio
10. QSC

Let's get into each of these brands in greater detail and explain why they belong in the top 10 best loudspeaker brands. I'll share their country of origin, a bit of history, examples of best-selling or flagship loudspeaker models, and a link to their official websites.

Related articles:
• The Ultimate Loudspeaker Buyer’s Guide
• Full List: Loudspeaker & Studio Monitor Brands/Manufacturers

Without further ado, let's get into our top 10 overall loudspeaker brands on the market today.

Click here to return to My New Microphone's articles on musical equipment brands/manufacturers.

Bose

Since its founding in 1964, Bose Corporation has grown to become a famous brand of affordable, high-quality audio. Bose is best known for its home audio systems and popular noise-cancelling headphones.

Its innovative spirit has yielded many different speaker models in plenty of categories throughout the years, including portable wireless, smart technology, home theatre, computer, automotive, public address, and more.

Bose remains at the forefront of audio and loudspeaker technology, advancing the field forward while providing high-quality products that are affordable to the consumer and professional alike.

Notable Bose speakers include:

• Soundbar 700: The Bose Soundbar 700 is a high-end soundbar that is part of the Bose family of smart speakers and soundbars. It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and support for Dolby Digital and DTS.

• F1 Model 812: A popular PA speaker from Bose is the F1 Model 812. This Flexible Array loudspeaker delivers a loud, clean sound with a vertical coverage pattern that can be altered by choosing one of four settings. The array features eight mid/high-frequency drivers, plus a 12-inch low-frequency woofer, all powered by a 1000-watt Class D amplifier.

• SoundLink Revolve+: The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ is a portable Bluetooth true 360° speaker. This water-resistant (IPX4) speaker features a highly efficient transducer, dual-passive radiators, and an omnidirectional acoustic deflector to emit clear sound in all directions, even in tough environments.

Back to the full list.

JBL

JBL has been producing loudspeakers since its inception in 1946. The company has two divisions: JBL Consumer (which focuses on consumer home audio equipment) and JBL Professional (which focuses on audio equipment for professional settings).

Each division has its own loudspeakers that are beloved by those who use them. On one hand, JBL has become a household name for consumers who want great-sound audio systems. On the other, the brand has seen success in professional markets, providing the quality (and quantity) needed in many professional situations.

JBL's speaker variety spans all major speaker “types,” including portable Bluetooth, home, car, marine, smart, public address, cinema, installed, live sound, and recording, to name a few.

The popularity of JBL is for good reasons, and this company is certainly a top manufacturer of loudspeakers across the board.

Notable JBL speakers include:

• Stage A180: The JBL Stage A180 is a 2.5-way, dual 8″, 1″ aluminum tweeter floor-standing loudspeaker designed as part of JBL’s ‘Stage’ line of home entertainment speakers.

• PRX835W: The JBL Pro PRX835W is the 3-way powered PA speaker from JBL’s PRX800 Series. Crown DriveCore amplification offers 1500 watts RMS (2000 peak) and a maximum SPL of up to a whopping 137 dB SPL. This PA speaker’s frequency response runs from 33 – 21,000 Hz.

• GT-BassPro12: The JBL GT-BassPro12 pictured below is an example of a car audio subwoofer from JBL. This 12″ model features a 150-watt amplifier with both line level and speaker level inputs (the amp automatically turns off when a speaker level signal is inputted).

Back to the full list.

Klipsch

Klipsch was originally founded in 1946 and has since made a name for itself as a reputable and high-quality speaker manufacturer.

Klipsch has always promoted horn-loaded speakers in its journey of producing the best speakers possible. The company has a large selection of new speakers and many legacy models that are highly sought-after in the new and vintage markets, respectively.

As a company, Klipsch focuses on loudspeakers, producing drivers and enclosures along with complete loudspeaker units for high fidelity, public address, personal computers, home cinema, and more.

Notable Klipsch speakers include:

• Heritage Cornwall IV: The Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV is a high-end floor-standing loudspeaker. This 3-way speaker has a K-33-E 15” woofer, a K-702 1.75” midrange speaker, and a K-107-TI 1” high-frequency driver.

• SPL-150SW: The SPL-150SW is the largest model from Klipsch’s high-end SPL series of subwoofers. This home audio subwoofer has a 15″ spun copper cerametallic woofer, a bass-reflex enclosure, and a high-efficiency Class-D amplifier with 400W RMS/ 800W peak.

• The One II: Klipsch's The One II is a portable 2.1, professionally tuned bi-amplified stereo system. It provides legendary Klipsch sound while featuring Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology for mobile devices and a 3.5 mm analog input.

Back to the full list.

KEF

KEF began as a project to create innovative loudspeakers that utilized the latest in materials technology. Since its founding in 1961, the company has done just that, producing many speakers that have pushed the field of audio replication forward.

KEF produces many high-end high-ticket speakers and some more affordable options that offer tremendous technology as well. The relatively high price points, perhaps, make KEF a bit less well-known than the company ought to be.

Their speaker ranges include Hi-Fi, home theatre, desktop and Bluetooth, installed and THX-certified. All of which offer some of the best speakers available on the market today.

Notable KEF speakers include:

• Blade: The KEF Blade is the top model in KEF's flagship range of high-end speakers. It features four 9″ bass drivers and a Uni-Q mid/high-frequency array in a 62.5″ high cabinet. It is the world's first-ever Single Apparent Source loudspeaker.

• LS50: The LS50 is a Hi-Fi bookshelf speaker based on a reinterpretation of the research, design and engineering approach of the legendary LS3/5a monitors combined with the state-of-the-art technology used in the KEF Blade. It is a compact speaker that performs well above its size and price point.

• HTF8003: The KEF HTF8003 is a high-end soundbar for home theatre applications. The HTF8003 is capable of producing the entire front soundstage with 3 distinct Uni-Q driver arrays for a realistic and clear output.

Back to the full list.

Definitive Technology

Definitive Technology is a relatively new company on this list and has been specializing in home theatre audio systems, soundbars and headphones since 1990.

Though perhaps not as well diversified in terms of the variety of speaker types on its roster, Def Tech has made a name for itself as being a go-to for home audio systems.

Their speakers are designed for home audio but span from home stereo and soundbars to architectural in-wall and outdoor speaker designs to portable wireless speakers. One thing is for sure: each of Def Tech's speakers is made with excellent quality and attention to detail that shows in the way they sound.

Notable Definitive Technology speakers include:

• BP-9080X: The Definitive Technology BP-9080X is a high-performance bipolar tower speaker with a front, rear and top array, and an integrated 12” powered subwoofer and dual bass radiators.

• D11: The D11 is the largest bookshelf speaker from Definitive Technology's ‘Demand' line of high-performance speakers. This 2-way speaker features a 1” Aluminum Dome Tweeter with a 20/20 Wave Alignment Lens and Laterally Offset Tweeter Assembly and a BDSS (Balanced Double Surround System) midrange/woofer with an integrated passive radiator.

• Studio Advance: The Definitive Technology Studio Advance is actually a 2-unit speaker system with a soundbar and subwoofer. It is a 5.1-channel soundbar system with built-in Chromecast that allows for wireless music streaming over Wi-Fi, and the use of voice commands to control music with the Google Assistant.

Back to the full list.

Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins have been around for a long time and have been producing superb loudspeakers on a commercial scale since their first release of the P1 in 1967.

B&W specializes in headphones and speakers. Among their speakers are designs for car audio, wireless speakers, home audio, and mini theatre. Like many of the speakers focused on home audio, B&W also has custom installation speaker designs.

To name a major credential, Bowers & Wilkins has been the official headphones and loudspeaker partner of Abbey Road Studios since 2017.

Notable Bowers & Wilkins speakers include:

• 702 S2: The 702 S2 is the flagship model from Bowers & Wilkins 700-series of studio-quality home speakers. This 3-way vented box speaker has 3 bass 6.5″ woofers, a 6″ midrange driver, and a solid body 1″ tweeter housing on top. It is one step down from B&W’s top-of-the-line 800 Series Diamond.

• Formation Bass: The Formation Bass is a wireless subwoofer with perfect synchronization with 96 kHz / 24-bit resolution and compatibility with Spotify, Roon, Airplay and Bluetooth. It features opposed dual-driver technology and is designed to pair incredibly well with the rest of B&W's Formation series of home speakers.

• M-1: Bowers & Wilkins also has a home satellite speaker known as the M-1 that is worth mentioning. These compact 2-way speakers can be used in all positions of a home audio system.

Back to the full list.

Focal

Since 1979, the French company Focal has been designing and selling Hi-Fi audio systems.

Their focus is on headphones, car audio, home audio speakers, and professional monitor speakers. The company has earned itself global recognition as a major player in the loudspeaker space.

Focal also has full control over the entire manufacturing process of its loudspeakers, ensuring nothing but the best for its products and its customers.

Notable Focal speakers include:

• Chora 826: The flagship home speaker model from Focal is the Chora 826. This bass-reflex loudspeaker offers a clean full range of sound and can be used solo or as a pair for stereo listening.

• Trio11 Be: The Trio11 Be is Focal’s flagship studio speaker dedicated to near-field and mid-field monitoring. This monitor features Focal’s TMD (Tuned Mass Damper) and NIC (Neutral Inductance Circuitry) technologies for amazing tuning. Its optimized vents promote dynamic control and perfect bass definition with high excursion, enabling even more linearity of the subwoofer. The speaker offers up to 118 dB SPL and an extended bandwidth from 30 Hz to 40 kHz.

• Dome Flax: Focal's Dome Flax is a compact satellite speaker designed for any channel of a home theatre setup. The high acoustic performance of these small speakers is made possible by Focal's own flax cone driver design.

• Grande Utopia: The Grande Utopia is Focal's flagship high-ticket loudspeaker. This 4-way, floor-standing bass-reflex loudspeaker is a marvel of loudspeaker engineering that would require an entire article to explain with any justice.

Back to the full list.

Quested

Since 1985, UK-based Quested Monitoring Systems has been designing and perfecting studio monitoring systems and high-end residential home cinema systems.

From ultra-compact near-field monitors to powerful soffit-mounted systems, Quested's game is to produce the highest-quality studio-grade speakers in the world. A game that they are great at and continue to improve at.

Notable Quested speakers include:

• HM415: The Quested HM415 is a high-end, high-price large-format 4-way monitoring system with a built-in amp and crossover. They are designed for Soffit mounting and to be used as the “main monitors” for large music and film control rooms. It features 7 drivers: 4 x 15″ bass, 1 x 8″ low-mid, 1 x 3″ high-mid, and 1 x 1.5″ high.

• V3110: The V3110 is Quested's most powerful self-powered monitor with 1000 watts of class AB and class D amplification designed for near-to-midfield use.

• S7R: The S7R MkIII is a popular two-way active near-field reference monitor that features two class A-B amplifiers capable of delivering a total of 190W RMS.

Back to the full list.

Dynaudio

Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio has been designing and manufacturing incredible loudspeakers for home and studio use since 1977.

The company also excels in car audio and has become the original audio equipment manufacturer of brands such as Volvo, Volkswagen and Bugatti.

Whether it's professional, consumer or vehicle-grade loudspeaker design, Dynaudio excels.

Notable Dynaudio speakers include:

• Evoke 50: The Dynaudio Evoke 50 is a popular Hi-Fi floor-standing speaker from Dynaudio. It is a 3-way, 4-driver design suitable for any listening environment for home audio.

• Core 59: The Core 59 is the flagship of Dynaudio’s high-end professional reference monitor series. It’s a 3-way speaker with uncompromising class-D amplification, cutting-edge digital signal processing, a super-inert 32mm-thick baffle, and a flat bass response down to 36Hz at -6dB. This monitor is designed for professionals with an Esotar Pro tweeter to greatly reduce listening fatigue.

• Xeo 20: Dynaudio’s Xeo 20 is a compact stand-mounted wireless active Hi-Fi speaker that performs like a floor-standing speaker and is tuned like a studio monitor.

Back to the full list.

QSC

The American company QSC Audio Products has been around since 1968 and has made a big name for itself as a trustworthy and quality manufacturer of loudspeakers.

The company focuses on many different audio products, including power amplifiers, loudspeakers, digital mixers and digital signal processors. QSC has various series for its speakers, including professional installation, portable, production, corporate and cinema.

Notable QSC speakers include:

• AP-5152: The AP-5152 is a high-power, 2-way (15″ woofer and 3″ compression driver), 75˚ conical DMT (Directivity Matched Transition) loudspeaker. It is the largest of QSC’s Acoustic Performance line with a maximum SPL of 123 dB continuous (129 dB peak) and a frequency response of 44 Hz – 18 kHz.

• KS118: The KS118 is a noteworthy subwoofer from QSC. This direct-radiating 18-inch subwoofer has a 3600-watt Class D amplifier module and is capable of very high output. It has an adjustable crossover and omnidirectional and cardioid radiation modes (cardioid setup requires a minimum of 2 units).

• K12.2: The K12.2 is a popular loudspeaker from QSC's K.2 series. It is a 2000W 2-way powered speaker with advanced DSP

Back to the full list.

A Note On High-End Boutique Speaker Brands

It wouldn't feel right to leave a “best of” article without talking about the high-end boutique brands that exist on the market.

The following are but some of the world's most expensive speaker brands. Each is a marvel of speaker engineering and manufacturing.

Some of the speakers from these brands have MSRPs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It figures, then, that these brands and their speakers may certainly be among the best in the world.

However, with such a small niche market and impractical pricing, I did not feel compelled to include them in the top 11. That being said, I thought it important to add them at the end of this article to let my readers know that these high-end manufacturers do, indeed, exist and to ensure that I didn't end this “best of” article without mentioning some of the all-time greats.

The high-end boutique speaker brands I speak of include:

• Acapella Audio Arts
• AER (Acoustic Electronic Research)
• Burmester Audiosysteme
• Cabasse
• Duntech
• Eggleston
• Genesis Technologies
• Kharma International
• Legacy Audio
• Meridian Audio
• Oswalds Mill Audio
• Steinway Lyngdorf
• Vandersteen
• Void
• Wilson Audio
• Wilson Benesch
• YG Acoustics

Acapella Audio Arts

• Specialty/Focus: loudspeakers (horn loudspeakers)
• Founded: 1978 by Alfred Rudolph and Hermann Winters
• Country: Germany
• Notable Speaker: Triolon Excalibur
• Official Website: acapella.de

AER (Acoustic Electronic Research)

• Specialty/Focus: loudspeakers
• Founded: 1985
• Country: Germany (Stuttgart)
• Notable Speaker: Aerofon
• Official Website: aer-loudspeakers.com

Burmester Audiosysteme

• Specialty/Focus: home auto and automotive audio
• Founded: 1977 by Dieter Burmester
• Country: Germany (Schöneberg, Berlin)
• Notable Speaker: B100
• Official Website: burmester.de

Cabasse

• Specialty/Focus: home loudspeakers
• Founded: 1950 by Georges Cabasse
• Country: France (Plouzané)
• Notable Speaker: La Sphère
• Official Website: cabasse.com
• Parent Company: AwoX

Duntech

• Specialty/Focus: loudspeakers
• Founded: 1987 by John Dunlavy in Texas USA (formerly Dunlavy)
• Country: Australia
• Notable Speaker: Senator
• Official Website: duntech.com

Eggleston

• Specialty/Focus: loudspeakers
• Founded: 1992 by Bill Eggleston
• Country: USA (Memphis, Tennessee)
• Notable Speaker: IVY
• Official Website: egglestonworks.com

Genesis Technologies

• Specialty/Focus: loudspeakers, electronics, and interfaces
• Founded: 1991 by Arnie Nudell
• Country: USA (Seattle, Washington)
• Notable Speaker: Prime
• Official Website: genesisloudspeakers.com

Kharma International

• Specialty/Focus: loudspeakers and cables
• Founded: 1993 by Charles van Oosterum
• Country: Netherlands (Breda)
• Notable Speaker: Elegance S7
• Official Website: kharma.com

Legacy Audio

• Specialty/Focus: loudspeakers
• Founded: 1983 by Bill Dudleston
• Country: USA (Springfield, Illinois)
• Notable Speaker: Valor
• Official Website: legacyaudio.com

Meridian Audio

• Specialty/Focus: hi-fi audio and video (speakers, home theatres, car audio)
• Founded: 1977 by Allen Boothroyd and Bob Stuart
• Country: United Kingdom (Huntingdon)
• Notable Speaker: DSP8000
• Official Website: meridian-audio.com

Oswalds Mill Audio

• Specialty/Focus: high-end audio equipment
• Founded: 2007 by Jonathan Weiss
• Country: USA (Fleetwood, Pennsylvania)
• Notable Speaker: Imperia
• Official Website: oswaldsmillaudio.com

Steinway Lyngdorf

• Specialty/Focus: audio systems: loudspeakers and amplifiers
• Founded: 2005 Steinway&Sons and Lyngdorf Audio ( Peter Lyngdorf )
• Country: Denmark
• Notable Speaker: Model D System
• Official Website: steinwaylyngdorf.com

Vandersteen

• Specialty/Focus: high-end loudspeakers
• Founded: 1977 by Richard Vandersteen
• Country: USA (Hanford, California)
• Notable Speaker: Model Seven Mk II
• Official Website: vandersteen.com

Void

• Specialty/Focus: audio systems for live sound entertainment
• Founded: 2002 by Rog Mogale and Alex Skan
• Country: England (Dorset)
• Notable Speaker: Air Motion
• Official Website: voidacoustics.com

Wilson Audio

• Specialty/Focus: loudspeaker manufacturing
• Founded: 1974 by David and Sheryl Wilson
• Country: USA (Provo, Utah)
• Notable Speaker: Master Chronosonic
• Official Website: wilsonaudio.com

Wilson Benesch

• Specialty/Focus: high-end audio equipment: loudspeakers, turntables, home theatre and audio furniture
• Founded: 1989 by Craig and Christina Milnes
• Country: United Kingdom (Sheffield)
• Notable Speaker: Cardinal
• Official Website: wilson-benesch.com

YG Acoustics

• Specialty/Focus: speakers
• Founded: 2002 by Yoav Geva
• Country: USA (Arvada, Colorado)
• Notable Speaker: Sonja XV
• Official Website: yg-acoustics.com

The post Top 10 Best Loudspeaker Brands (Overall) On The Market Today first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

Public address systems are commonplace in events ranging from massive festivals to small coffee shops and everything in between. The speakers of such systems often benefit from placement on proper stands, which allows them to project sound at optimal levels and angles.

PA speaker stands are essential parts of many public address systems, and it's no wonder there are so many options on the market. With such a wide variety of choices on the market, it's useful to know the top brands.

In this article, I'll share my take on the top brands to produce PA speaker stands.

Though obviously subjective and prone to biases, I've done my best to list out these brands based on the following metrics (in no particular order):

• Company reputation
• Performance and versatility of the PA speaker stands
• Longevity of the PA speaker stands
• Variety of PA speaker stands
• Accessibility of the PA speaker stands (how easy they are to find/buy)
• The company must currently be in operation

With all that being said, let's list out the brands.

The Top 11 Best PA Speaker Stand Brands Are:

1. König & Meyer
2. Gator Frameworks
3. Ultimate Support
4. On-Stage
5. JBL
6. Hercules Stands
7. Yorkville
8. Samson
9. Auray
10. Odyssey
11. Gravity Stands

Let's get into each of these brands in greater detail and explain why they belong in the top 11 best PA speaker stand brands. I'll share their country of origin, a bit of history, an example PA speaker stand, and a link to their official website.

Related My New Microphone articles:
• Top 11 Best PA Loudspeaker Brands You Should Know And Use
• The Ultimate PA Speaker Buyer’s Guide

Click here to return to My New Microphone's articles on musical equipment brands/manufacturers.

König & Meyer

What K&M achieved in the world of pro audio is to become the synonym of sturdiness and reliability. Furthermore, they are responsible for some of the cleverest designs in the world when it comes to stands and other unsung heroes of music.

To achieve this status, the company worked relentlessly in creating and manufacturing all parts in-house. This way, they have absolute control over every piece of every stand ever to leave the factory. Thus, what you get is German precision to the last bolt.

If you want the best PA speaker stands to withstand a legion of screaming fans, you have to give K&M a chance.

Notable PA speaker stand: K&M 213 Hand Crank Speaker Stand

K&M is a company that has a reputation for being the sturdiest, most reliable in the industry. This stand is no exception to that rule, from the zinc die-cast clamps to the infinitely variable height adjustment to the extra screw for extra safety.

Also, the hand crank and push-button system work wonders, preventing uncontrolled reverse motion. You can even use it for lighting crossbars. If you want the best that money can buy, K&M needs to be on your list.

Gator Frameworks

Gator Frameworks came to life in 2013 as a line of stands from Gator Cases, a company founded in the year 2000 by a father-daughter tandem: Jerry Freed and Crystal Morris.

Since day one, Gator's reputation has been that of a great, affordable option for musicians on the road. Indeed, the brand grew in sales and reputation because musicians turned into fans and spread the word. Such is the case that what started as a summer hobby is now a company with a 1,000-product catalogue.

Gator is a synonym for reliability and has built an empire by being a restless innovator. If you're out shopping for PA stands, you need to give Gator a chance. More than two decades of non-stop success back their designs up.

Notable PA speaker stand: Gator Frameworks GFW-ID-SPKR Lift-assisted Speaker Stand

The first thing you notice when you work with this stand is that it is effortless to operate it. This is because of the piston-assisted clutch design that makes set-up and tear-down a fast and easy endeavour.

But that's not all; this is a very sturdy yet lightweight stand that comes with a handy carrying bag to take everywhere. Any surface since the tripod-style legs allow fine-tuning and can adjust to virtually any terrain.

Investing in a piston-assisted clutch is great for drastically reducing set-up and tear-down times.

Ultimate Support

To begin describing Ultimate Support, it is paramount to say that what separates them from the rest is that they employ an in-house group of engineers. Moreover, they break the mould every day from a facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology, modeling software, and a CNC machine.

Thus, Ultimate Support is in a constant “patent pending state”, innovating to make the ultimate stand for musicians worldwide. As a result, they've provided stands for acts in the White House, among many other mainstream events like the Oscars or the Grammys.

If it is good enough for those stages, it has to work for your needs; check them out before buying anything else.

Notable PA speaker stand: Ultimate Support TS-110BL Extra-Tall Lift-Assist Speaker Stand

This is another great example of how air-powered lift assistance can be a game-changer during set-up and tear-down moments. But the wonders of this stand don't end there; it also features an integrated speaker adapter as well as extra height and leveling legs.

Speaking of legs, you can fine-tune the length of each of the three legs in the tripod to accommodate this stand to uneven surfaces and get the job done despite the terrain.

If you're looking for a great stand that will get the job done effortlessly in any scenario, check this model out before buying.

On-Stage

Perhaps the key to this company's astronomic growth was the idea of opening an inbound channel to receive information given by customers to dealers. This way, they took the first-hand experience as a compass to direct innovation. This idea led the company to be regarded as the most innovative yet affordable and sturdy stand brand in the world for many pros.

Thus, if you are after a stand that features everything you need and nothing you don't, it's paramount that you give this brand a chance. It has been perfected by users for over four decades.

Notable PA speaker stand: On-Stage SS8800B+

This stand features some clever innovations that make it the go-to option for professionals around the world. The rubber feet keep the stand in place at all times, regardless of the speaker and the crowd. Also, the crank system is powerful and safe enough to raise or lower a mounted speaker.

Moreover, you can operate it manually or use a power drill.

Finally, the wide base and speaker pole with adapter fit speakers with 1 1/2″ or 1 3/8″ sockets. If you want an effortless, sturdy, cleverly made speaker stand, you have to check this one out.

JBL

After making speakers and enclosures for the most demanding stages and professionals in the world, this company has gained enough leverage and know-how to create the ultimate stands for any enclosure. Indeed, you can expect JBL speaker stands to be just as trustworthy as their speakers.

Furthermore, they are the natural consequence of over 7 decades of non-stop innovation and hard work dedicated to making the best enclosures in the world. Check them out before buying anything else.

Notable PA speaker stand: JBL JBLTRIPOD-GA Professional Aluminum Tripod (Gas Assist)

When you have been in the industry for a while, you know the effort it takes to set up and tear down a speaker system. Well, you can forget about that struggle because this stand's internal pneumatic shock raises the speaker for you.

Once up there, the durable, sturdy structure will keep it working flawlessly throughout the concert regardless of the surface or the crowd. If you want a tireless assistant that can elevate the speakers for you every time, try these stands out before buying anything else.

Hercules Stands

Hercules Stands became so popular so fast because they invented a revolutionary system that closes the stand's latch with the weight of the instrument. This cutting-edge technology is so reliable and trustworthy that it has become a go-to choice of pros in every corner of the world.

Besides that, every design commercialized by Hercules Stands shows the leverage of the over 90 years that the KHS Musical Group has been manufacturing state-of-the-art instruments and accessories. Thus, you can expect the perfect blend of current technology with a century of tradition.

Notable PA speaker stand: Hercules Stands SS710B Gear Up

The SS710B Gear Up by Hercules Stands takes the company's Quik-N-EZ technology and adds a crank system to the combo. As a result, you can securely lock the stand and set it up or bring it down effortlessly with a trusty method.

In the same vein, the speaker adaptor is not exchangeable but expandable to accommodate different speaker sizes. This stand is a great candidate for those after state-of-the-art technology, classic build, and superb operation.

Yorkville

The story behind Yorkville's success has been told a million times: premium products and word of mouth. The outstanding design of Yorkville products turned the brand from a small operation in the back room of a music store to a globally recognized success.

Throughout over half a century of existence, Yorkville stands have seen more stages, local fairs, and churches than most other brands on the planet. If you want affordable quality to get the job done time after time, this brand has to make it to your list.

Notable PA speaker stand: Yorkville SKS-50T

This stand features extra-heavy-duty construction and a scratch-resistant black matte finish that turns it into a reliable, roadworthy option. Furthermore, the oversized rubber feet ensure a set-it-and-forget-it approach that can be a game-changer in most scenarios.

Speaking of which, the extra-wide base makes it the ideal option when you need to maximize stability on the ground or the stage. If you want a great, minimalist approach to getting the job done without breaking the bank, you have to check these stands out.

Samson

Although it started with only two employees, nowadays it manufactures and retails a 250-product catalogue to 140 countries around the globe.

Furthermore, artists the size of Eric Clapton, Steve Vai, and Richie Kotzen, among many others, choose to trust their uncanny sound to this company night after night. After working on the world's most demanding stages with the best in the business, the company grew a reputation for being top-notch yet affordable equipment that can get the job done without breaking the bank.

If you are looking for reliability, great designs, and performance night after night, you should check Samson before buying any other brand.

Notable PA speaker stand: Samson SP-100

This lightweight speaker stand can effortlessly raise the speakers to where the crowd needs them and keep them all night long, every night. The SP-100 honours Samson's tradition of delivering the quintessential tripod stand at a price you can afford with a great features/weight ratio.

If what you are looking for is a minimalist approach that has everything you need and nothing you don't, you need to check these stands out before buying.

Auray

Combining media, entertainment, and pro audio equipment, the Gradous Group manufactures and retails top-notch products to every corner of the globe, excelling in every niche. Furthermore, because of its rich past in hi-fi home audio, you can expect obsessive attention to detail and uncanny reliability across the board.

If you are looking for an affordable option that can get the job done in style, this is a serious contender for your money.

Notable PA speaker stand: Auray SS-47A Deluxe

With an included locking pin for extra security, a rugged steel construction, and adjustable height from 3.8 to 7.5 feet, this tripod-style speaker stand is a great option. Furthermore, with weight support of up to 120lb, it works wonders for conferences, concerts, and DJs.

Finally, the rubber feet are oversized, offering optimum traction and stability on most surfaces. If you are in the market for a great stand that can be folded to 44″ and weighs only 9.8lb but can reliably get the job done night after night, this should be a serious choice.

Odyssey

The story behind Odyssey's foundation is “need becoming the mother of invention”. Indeed, Montano and Hsiao had a DJ/production and DJ/record store, respectively, but couldn't find any gear to satisfy their needs without breaking the bank.

They decided to create such a company with the combined leverage and experience and, to critical acclaim, became the go-to option for colleagues and other professionals. In other words, Odyssey stands have seen so many stages that they are tested-and-true workhorses worth checking out before you buy.

Notable PA speaker stand: Odyssey LTS2

The LTS2 by Odyssey features all you need from a speaker stand in an easy-to-carry, lightweight format that can be set up in a breeze.

Moreover, there are some clever details in the design worth mentioning, like the reversible speaker mount pole that can accommodate 1 1/4″ speakers or 1 3/8″ speakers depending on the side you use it. In the same vein, it features a pole safety pin and aluminum/steel tubing, making it as roadworthy and reliable as it is easy to use and transport.

This is a great choice if you're looking for a minimalist approach with reliable results.

Gravity Stands

Through the leverage of the Adam Hall Group, chosen by the Rolling Stones for a unique collaboration in 2014, Gravity Stands offers some of the best stand designs in the market. They combine decades of hard work and experience with restless innovation.

The best German precision meets decades of performing in the most demanding scenarios, creating a groundbreaking catalogue of reliable, well-made products you can rely on, night after night.

Notable PA speaker stand: Gravity Stands SP 5211 B

Finished in a black matte powder coating, this tripod-style speaker stand comes equipped with a carrying bag. It weighs only 2.2 kg while delivering sturdiness and reliability in all its almost 2 meters of height. Moreover, the oversized rubber feet, clamp with a safety pin, and stainless steel height adjustment can withstand up to 50 kg.

If you're looking for the quintessential tripod-style speaker stand with a no-frills design and extreme reliability, you have to give this model a chance.

The post Top 11 Best PA Speaker Stand Brands On The Market first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

Studio monitors are essential components in mixing and mastering, and proper monitor placement is critical. Though desk mounts and wall mounts are options, many studio spaces will opt for monitor stands, which keep the monitors in place and isolated from the desk and walls.

Since studio monitors are a necessary component of a proper studio, it makes sense that there are plenty of studio monitor stand options on the market. Though the brand is far from the most important specification, it's worth knowing the best names to watch for when considering your first or next studio monitor stand purchase. In this article, I'll share my take on the top brands to produce studio monitor stands.

Though obviously subjective and prone to biases, I've done my best to list out these brands based on the following metrics (in no particular order):

• Company reputation
• Performance and versatility of the studio monitor stands
• Longevity of the studio monitor stands
• Variety of studio monitor stands
• Accessibility of the studio monitor stands (how easy they are to find/buy)
• The company must currently be in operation

With all that being said, let's list out the brands.

The Top 11 Best Studio Monitor Stand Brands Are:

1. JamRacks
2. Argosy
3. Zaor
4. IsoAcoustics
5. Quik Lok
6. ELAC
7. Solidsteel
8. Monitor Audio
9. König & Meyer
10. Gator Frameworks
11. Ultimate Support

Let's get into each of these brands in greater detail and explain why they belong in the top 11 best studio monitor stand brands. I'll share their country of origin, a bit of history, an example studio monitor stand, and a link to their official website.

Click here to return to My New Microphone's articles on musical equipment brands/manufacturers.

JamRacks

What separates JamRacks from the rest of the brands is that the furniture and stands they make are 100% environmentally friendly. Moreover, they employ bamboo almost exclusively, one of the most reliable and sturdy yet fastest-growing plants on the planet.

This commitment to the environment, the 25 years he's been in the business, and his love for playing drums led to building private studios in bamboo for artists the size of Lou Reed, Moby, and many others.

If you are looking for a solution with minimal environmental impact, top-notch craftsmanship, and led by a musician, look no further.

Notable studio monitor stand: Grand Stand

The best craftsmanship meets ultimate isolation to make one of the most beautiful and sturdy stands in the market. Indeed, the Grand Stand by JamRacks features tilt-adjustable feet and an adjustable top going from 36″ to 42″.

The top is also isolated from the base and features a convenient cable management cavity in the center; this is a great asset to make everything look clean and neat. Finally, they are entirely made of bamboo and can withstand a speaker up to 125lbs.

Argosy

David's (and Argosy's) story is as close to the American Dream as possible. He set out to build furniture for his home studio and, after phoning “Recording Magazine” and sending a photo of his new handmade desk, he was featured in the publication. After that, sales exploded exponentially, making Argosy the go-to choice for professionals around the world.

Although much has changed in the Argosy world, the passion for work well done, the obsessive attention to detail and the handmade quality remain the core of their product line.

Notable studio monitor stands: Argosy Spire 420Xi Studio Monitor Stands

These stands made of a powder-coated substrate are some of the sturdiest, most reliable in the market. Indeed, they can hold any size of monitors safe and sound for years.

But there's more than meets the eye in these stands; the patented IsoAcoustic technology isolates all rumble. Thus, it dissipates those low frequencies that can potentially ruin your mixes. Also, they keep all energy on-axis. In other words, all energy moves in the direction of the speaker cones, resisting movement in any other direction.

With a pair of Spire stands you'll get the sturdiness, innovation, and reliability your studio needs.

Zaor

The motto since the company started is to overcome all obstacles erasing the word “impossible” from their vocabulary. With this goal in mind, Zaor quickly became the go-to option for pro musicians and producers putting together their dream home studio. Thus, it is possible to find Zaor products in artists' homes the size of Snoop Dogg, David Guetta, and Finneas O'Connell (Billy Ellish), among many others.

Because of his background as a music shop owner and piano builder, Zaor has a customer-centric policy based on the flawless craftsmanship of having worked with one of the most demanding instruments on the planet.

Especially for custom projects, but with a very interesting catalogue, the stands made by Zaor are as close to perfection as humanly possible.

Notable studio monitor stand: Zaor Miza Stand MKIII

You can create a Miza environment in your home studio, blending these in seamlessly. They represent the pinnacle of design and elegance but also practicality and reliability. Indeed, performance-wise, the top part of the Miza stand is equipped with an Aerstop mat, a state-of-the-art isolator that ensures you'll lose no frequencies due to the rumble of the stand.

Also, with a cleverly-designed height adjustment, many colours to choose from, and flawless craftsmanship, your studio monitors were never safer or looked better.

IsoAcoustics

One of the proudest badges Dave Morrison can bear on his chest is that he helped create the largest multimedia studios in the world, with over 1.72 million feet. This was the pinnacle of his 20-year trajectory at the Canadian Broadcasting Company.

Those two decades and the mammoth project he had to face gave him the leverage and the understanding of sound needed to put together one of the most amazing catalogues in the market. From home audio to pro studios around the world, IsoAcoustics is the go-to choice for those who are serious about their sound.

Notable studio monitor stand: IsoAcoustics Aperta 200 Aluminum Acoustic Isolation Speaker Stand

IsoAcoustics' patented isolation technology is all that you need to get rid of any unwanted frequencies masking your productions. But that's not all; the Aperta Series features unique technology for tilt adjustment that allows you to fine-tune the position and angle of your speakers.

This is a must-check before buying for those looking for the best technology available in a sober, neutral-looking package that will get the job done day after day.

Quik Lok

Perhaps the most important innovation that this company came up with was the famous disc that you can still see in many keyboard stands to regulate their height. Before that innovation, keyboard players needed more time and effort to set up their instruments.

After revolutionizing the piano stand world, the company branched out with critical acclaim. Thus, every stand by Quik Lok is the result of decades of hard work and bold inventions. Studio monitor stands are no exception to this company's flawless legacy and reputation.

Notable studio monitor stand: Quik Lok BS-402

These stands' all-steel, arc-welded construction is as sturdy as it gets, featuring no chipboard or fibre parts. In the same vein, the sturdy metal top plate provides the ultimate safe and steady support to any speaker monitor.

Also, the design (patented by Quik Lok) incorporates cable management into the structure. This way, your studio can look tidier than ever.

Finally, the stands are finished with a scratch-resistant, non-reflective, baked-on, black enamel finish that effectively protects them and gives them an elegant touch. If you want the sturdiest pair of studio monitor stands on the market, you have to check these out.

ELAC

Originally, ELAC was founded to focus on sonar radars and signal interception. That is not a minor detail since the brand was required to design and manufacture top-notch products that could save lives. This endeavour set the sky-high standards the company still abides by today.

As time went by, driven by an intense love of music, the company started developing state-of-the-art equipment. That leverage gathered during wartime became their competitive advantage, making them one of the most sought-after brands in the music world.

Such a deep understanding of sound has also allowed them to study isolation and sound transmission; thus, their speaker stands are among the best in the industry.

Notable studio monitor stand: ELAC LS-80 Speaker Stands

These stands made of aluminum and fillable with your desired material are some of the sturdiest in the market. The reinforced thick steel base plate provides the stability you need. Also, the aluminum column filled with your favourite material will add damping and mass to the stand.

Finally, the top plate is made of steel and is as sturdy as it is secure to work as a steady home for your favourite speakers.

This is a serious candidate for those in search of the best technology in isolation and ruggedness.

Solidsteel

Perhaps the biggest quality to observe about this brand is its flawless work welding steel and the outstanding material sourcing. As a result of this combination, the first-ever Italian brand in this business niche grew astronomically in reputation as well as sales.

Nowadays, despite still being a family business, SolidSteel manufactures and sells its products to some of the most demanding producers and musicians all over the planet, and the legend of the flawless Italian welders, the impeccable attention to detail, and outstanding materials are only growing.

Notable monitor stand: Solidsteel SS-7

Born in 1992 and still a best-seller for the company, these monitor stands take home the prize for the most beautiful design and retro flavour.

Despite the retro look the company gave them, they are truly masterpieces of modern design.

To begin with, the three tubular legs that form the body can be filled with any material and end in removable, stainless-steel spikes. On top of the tubular structure, an MDF shelf that can easily be swappable is decoupled from the base via three precision steel ball bearings.

Finally, they are still made with the same brass welding process, ensuring quality and sturdiness for years to come. Design and performance meet to create this amazing stand.

Monitor Audio

Monitor Audio is a company made by passionate audiophiles looking for the ultimate sound. That passion cascaded into a carefully curated catalogue of outstanding equipment that has been the best-kept secret of music lovers for decades.

Indeed, being big on the small details is this company's recipe for making some of the best speakers in the market, as well as the needed accessories to make them sound the best they possibly can.

With a deep understanding and passion for audio, this is a company you can't miss when shopping for your next pair of stands.

Notable studio monitor stands: Monitor Audio STAND

The company used bespoke metals in every section to ensure optimum rigidity. The top plate is laser-cut steel, the base is die-cast aluminum, and the centrepiece is made of extruded aluminum. That sturdy structure ends in chrome-plated spikes that guarantee maximum stability, minimizing contact with the ground.

For those after the optimum balance between lightweight and sturdiness, this speaker stand is a serious option to check out before buying.

König & Meyer

Pursuing excellence is a bold move. Nevertheless, K&M attempted it from day one, keeping the design and manufacturing process of every part in-house. Although it might be cheaper or easier to outsource such materials, having them within the factory gives the company complete control over every product leaving the plant.

As a result, K&M is a synonym for the best, sturdiest, most reliable, and cleverly designed stands in the world. If you haven't already, it is high time you give this brand a try.

Notable studio monitor stand: K&M 26795 Design Monitor Stand

Sitting on a sturdy 480x480mm base, the maximum height of 1344mm that it can reach is as stable and trustworthy as the minimum 794mm.

The design of these stands is based upon a combination of gradually-adjustable tubes that can be set to the desired height via a spring-loaded clamping knob. Plus, to accommodate more than one speaker size, you can choose one of the three different plates available for this model.

This stand is a must-try before you buy.

Gator Frameworks

One of the reasons that explain Gator's success story is that they became the best affordable option for the musician on the go. To gain that status, the company went through a relentless innovation process, shaping a catalogue that today offers more than 1,000 products to fans all over the globe.

Such is their understanding of the music industry that the stands Gator makes can be the go-to option for professionals and aficionados alike. If you want the best in the market at a price you can afford, you have to check Gator out before buying.

Notable studio monitor stand: Gator Frameworks GFW-SPK-SM50 Studio Monitor Stands

Gator Framework's take on what a studio monitor stand should look like is among the best interpretations of that need in the market. Starting with the stand's rubberized pedestal surface for the speaker and wide base for extra stability, you can be sure your favourite monitors are always safe and sound.

Plus, with a maximum possible height of 1346mm, you can place them at your convenience to get the most out of your investment.

Gator Frameworks is a brand you can trust, and these stands only expand their flawless reputation.

Ultimate Support

Ultimate Support is a brand that made a bold move, just like K&M, keeping an in-house group of engineers and designers. The difference with K&M is that Ultimate Support built a state-of-the-art facility with cutting-edge design software as well as a CNC machine for them.

As a result, the company is in constant “patent pending” mode. In other words, they are constantly looking for new, innovative, and bold ways to solve problems. That is a road that has taken the company to stages like the Grammys and the Oscars, as well as the White House.

If they are good enough for those venues, they have to work for you, too.

Notable studio monitor stand: Ultimate Support MS-100B Adjustable Studio Monitor Stands

This professional studio monitor stand is designed to be sturdy yet flexible, ideal for home studio applications.

To begin with, it is not only adjustable in terms of height but also of the axis. This makes it ideal for creating the needed triangle for optimum studio listening.

Moreover, the decoupling happens in two spaces at the same time: spiked rubber-covered feet and decoupled pads for the acoustic platform where your favourite monitors can sound their best.

Finally, they are available in black and red to suit every style.

The post Top 11 Best Studio Monitor Stand Brands On The Market first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

When you find that your car's battery is draining and dying on you often, looking for the cause of the problem is the best thing to do. After finding a cause, you can start to look for solutions and answers to fix the problem with your battery.

Do car audio systems drain batteries? Car audio systems draw power from the car battery and will drain the battery if the engine and alternator are off or if the alternator cannot charge at a rate faster than what the audio system requires. Aftermarket systems may draw too much power, and poor installation may cause parasitic draw.

In this article, we'll discuss how audio systems drain car batteries and how to keep batteries charged and healthy while still enjoying the audio/sound system.

Related articles:
• Top 9 Best Car Stereo Brands In The World
• Top 11 Best Car Audio Speaker Brands In The World
• Top 11 Best Car Audio Amplifier Brands In The World

How Car Audio Systems Should Work

Car audio systems are powered by the electrical energy stored in the battery. When the car is on and the engine is running, the alternator continually charges the battery to maintain a full charge to run the car's electrical components, including the audio system.

Related article: Can A Car's Battery Charger Run A Car Stereo?

There are cases where the audio system (particularly the amplifiers) will be too power-hungry for the battery and alternator to keep up with. We'll discuss this situation shortly.

When the car is turned off and the engine isn't running, any electrical components still running will drain the battery since the alternator is no longer charging it.

So then, the car's audio system will certainly drain the car's battery when left on while the engine and alternator are turned off.

There are three main components to a car audio system: the stereo, the amplifiers and the speakers.

The speakers are passive, meaning they do not require power. Rather, they are powered by amplifiers.

The amplifiers require the most power and are generally incorporated into the stereo/receiver. Aftermarket amps and subwoofer amplifiers are often standalone devices.

The actual touchscreens, radios, and control panels for the car audio system do require power, though it's very small compared to the requirements of the amplifiers.

Audio System Power Requirements Vs. Battery & Alternator Supply Specifications

It could be the case that an aftermarket audio system is too powerful for the vehicle in question. In this case, the power requirements of the audio system (most notably the subwoofer amplifier/s) demand more energy from the factory battery at a faster rate than the factory alternator is capable of recharging.

A standard car battery will be labelled as 12 volts but will generally be able to provide 12.6 or more when fully charged and nearly 15 volts when the engine is running and the alternator is charging.

To keep numbers easy, we can say that a 1,200-watt RMS audio system (most of the power is required by the amplifiers) will require 100 amps of current. Power (watts) is equal to the product of current (amps) and voltage (volts).

Note that we're taking 12 volts in this calculation, which will actually give us higher current estimates.

Now, this is assuming the amp is 100% efficient, which is rarely the case. Class D amplifiers are becoming more popular as large car amplifiers, which have a theoretical limit of 100% capacity, so let's stick with this for our example. Lower efficiencies will draw more current.

In this example, the alternator would need to deliver 100 amps of current output to maintain a full charge on the battery while the audio system is running.

When the car is turned off and the audio system is running off the battery, we must consider the battery's amp hour specification. This is the rating that tells us how much amperage a battery can provide for exactly one hour.

48 amp hours is a common battery specification for car batteries. With this battery, the 1,200-watt (100-amp) audio system will completely drain the battery (from full) in just under 29 minutes.

Of course, we're discussing a pretty powerful aftermarket audio system here. Most stock audio systems (without subwoofers) will only draw roughly 5-10 amps (60-120 watts). These systems are designed to sound good without demanding too much from the battery. 48 amp hours would run a 5-amp audio system for 9.6 hours before it would be fully drained.

With that all being said, it's recommended not to drop below a 75% charge in the battery. This will ensure the car will start reliably and maintain good battery health by avoiding sulfation (a buildup of lead sulfate crystals on discharged portions of the battery plates).

So then, we should cut the aforementioned times to a quarter, leaving us with 7.25 minutes and 2.4 hours, respectively.

Atypical Audio System Battery Draining: How Does Parasitic Draw Work?

If your car battery is drained and dies overnight, the issue may be parasitic draw. Parasitic draw means that electronics in the car still use battery power even though the car is off. So, how does that work with the car radio, stereo, amp, and speaker?

New car stereos are relatively easy to install. It takes time, but you can install the car radio or stereo by yourself if you understand the instructions.

However, if the wires are not connected the right way, or someone else installed the radio wrong, it can take power from the battery and cause it to die unexpectedly.

If a car battery is dying after a new stereo install, it should be inspected by a qualified professional.

How To Know If Your Audio System Is Draining Your Battery

Having a car battery that frequently dies without any noticeable cause is annoying to deal with. If you suspect that your car battery is dying because of your audio system, there are some things that you should look out for to see if it is affecting your car.

The first sign to look out for to know if the car's audio system is draining the battery is to see if the battery is frequently and persistently dying.

Another indication and sign that your car is having its battery drained by your audio system is when the lights inside and outside your car are not at full brightness. Dim headlights and dashboard lights are signs that the battery life is being drained.

The last sign that your car battery is dying due to the audio system is that some of the electronics remain on when the car engine is turned off.

If the stereo and amp(s) stay on while the car is off, the car audio system is draining the power from the battery. If that is the case, call a local mechanic and let them know that when your car is off, the radio or stereo is still on and taking power from the battery.

How To Fix Parasitic Draw

Depending on the source of the problem, there is an easy way to fix the car audio system to stop draining the battery. The first solution is to pull out the radio and follow the instructions to see if the wires are all connected properly after the radio is installed.

Use the instructions and follow the steps to determine if each of the steps was followed and if everything is correct. If you find something that was not done or not done right, follow the instructions and fix the wires and other issues you find. Re-install the stereo and see if the problem with the battery continues.

If that does not fix the problem, make an appointment with your mechanic to help diagnose the problem. They should be able to take your car in and look at it. Then, they can let you know what the issue is, what they have to do to fix it, and what it will cost you for them to fix it.

If the cause for your battery dying is not the audio system, then it is probably a battery issue or something in the engine that needs to be fixed. Talk to your mechanic and see what could be draining your battery other than the audio system. They will be able to tell you what the problem is and be able to fix it.

The post Do Car Audio Systems Drain Batteries? Stereo, Amps, Speakers first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

So you're wondering which loudspeaker you should buy, rent or otherwise try out. In this comprehensive buyer's guide, we'll go through everything worth considering before you make any decisions about a loudspeaker, a pair of loudspeakers, or a surround sound set.

If you've found yourself asking, “Which loudspeaker(s) should I buy?” this extensive resource is for you.

Please feel free to jump around this article and read all the additional resources I have provided links to.

With that, let's get into this comprehensive loudspeaker buyer's guide to help you with your next loudspeaker purchase!

Related articles:
• Top 10 Best Loudspeaker Brands (Overall) On The Market Today
• Top 11 Best PA Loudspeaker Brands You Should Know And Use
• Top 11 Best Home Speaker Brands You Should Know And Use
• Top 11 Best Car Audio Speaker Brands In The World
• Top 11 Best Subwoofer Brands (Car, PA, Home & Studio)
• Do Better Speakers Make A Big Difference In Sound Quality?

Table Of Contents

• What Is Your Loudspeaker Budget?
• What Are The Intended Applications Of The Loudspeakers?
• Styles Of Loudspeakers
• Active Vs. Powered Vs. Passive Loudspeakers
• Wired Or Wireless Loudspeakers
• Loudspeaker Size
• Loudspeaker Power Handling
• Loudspeaker Sensitivity
• Loudspeaker Impedance
• Loudspeaker Frequency Response
• Loudspeaker Coverage Angle
• Loudspeaker Enclosures
• Number Of Loudspeakers
• Types Of Loudspeaker Working Principles
• Loudspeaker Crossovers & The Number Of Drivers
• Common Loudspeaker Applications
• Know The Additional Costs Of Loudspeaker Accessories

What Is Your Loudspeaker Budget?

The first thing to consider when making any purchase is your budget. Money can be a touchy subject for some, so I'll keep this section brief.

I would never advise anyone to overspend on any audio equipment. Know what you can realistically afford, and do your best to stay within those limitations, whatever they may be.

Loudspeakers, like many audio devices, range significantly in price. The market is rather large, and so there should be a good selection for any budget.

Note that some retailers offer payment plans, which could be an option.

Consider the cost-to-benefit ratio of the purchase of the loudspeaker(s).

For example, if the loudspeaker(s) are needed for business, perhaps stretching the budget is more appropriate. If, on the other hand, you don't plan on making money with the loudspeaker(s), perhaps a more conservative budget is appropriate.

Also, consider any additional accessories or upkeep that may be required for your loudspeakers.

Only you can determine your budget. All I'm here to say is that you should consider it.

Related My New Microphone article:
• How Much Do Loudspeakers Cost? (With Pricing Examples)

Back to the Table Of Contents.

What Are The Intended Applications Of The Loudspeakers?

There are numerous styles of speakers and options on the market. When choosing the best speaker for your budget and application, it's a great idea to first think of the intended use of the speaker.

For example, an optimal set of speakers for mixing and mastering applications will be different from those for a live venue or those for a day at the beach.

If you're into HiFi audio or are building a home theatre, you'll likely need different speakers than if you're investing in your car audio.

Oftentimes, searching for application-specific speakers will narrow down your choices drastically—more on this in the later section, Common Loudspeaker Applications.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Styles Of Loudspeakers

Let's consider the different styles of loudspeakers we're likely to come across in our search.

Note that these generalized styles have little to do with amplification or the transducer principle (we'll get to those topics later). Rather, these are the general types of speakers we'll find on the market:

• Portable Bluetooth Speakers
• Computer Speakers
• Bookshelf Speakers
• Floorstanding Speakers
• Public Address Speakers
• Foldback Monitor Speakers
• Subwoofer Speakers
• Studio Monitor Speakers
• Soundbar Speakers
• Installed Speakers
• Car Audio Speakers
• Marine Speakers

Portable Bluetooth Speakers

Portable Bluetooth speakers are wireless, battery-powered speakers with internal amplifiers that pair with audio playback devices via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth standard is backward compatible, which means that these speakers will work with any Bluetooth audio device (though the functionality will be at the lowest BT version).

Portable Bluetooth speakers are great choices for on-the-go and outdoor activities. They often rate pretty high in terms of Ingress Protection (IP) rating, which measures their dust and water resistance/proofing.

• Click the link to check out portable Bluetooth speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out portable Bluetooth speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out portable Bluetooth speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• Top 8 Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker Brands On The Market

Computer Speakers

Though any speaker can connect to a computer with the right signal chain, there are speakers on the market designed specifically for computers.

These consumer-grade speakers typically connect via USB, 3.5mm “aux,” or wirelessly. They're pretty well always powered, meaning that at least one of the speakers in the set will have a built-in power amplifier to drive the speaker drivers appropriately.

Computer speakers tend to come in stereo pairs or 2.1 configurations (a stereo pair of full-range speakers and a subwoofer).

• Click the link to check out computer speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out computer speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• How Do Computer Speakers Work? (Built-In & External)
• How To Connect Speakers To A Computer (All Speaker Types)

Bookshelf Speakers

Bookshelf speakers are designed for placement on shelves, tabletops, or other elevated surfaces and to produce sound in small to medium-sized rooms.

Though these speakers range in price, they're generally pretty affordable and are usually of decent quality. Indeed, they range from audiophile-grade HiFi units to consumer-grade stereo speakers.

Bookshelf speakers are generally intended for those who want good sound but don't require the most precise reproduction of their audio.

• Click the link to check out bookshelf speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out bookshelf speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• Differences Between Studio Monitors & Bookshelf Speakers

Floorstanding Speakers

Floorstanding speakers are large speakers designed to stand on the floor. We'll typically find these speakers in home audio systems.

There are plenty of HiFi floorstanding speaker pairs on the market, though affordable options are also available. These speakers range from the basic designs for home entertainment systems to exquisite marvels that cost tens of thousands of dollars.

• Click the link to check out floorstanding speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out floorstanding speakers on Amazon

Public Address Speakers

PA speakers are used for live sound reinforcement and public address systems. These speakers are designed to be loud while maintaining decent accuracy.

PA speakers generally have the largest drivers and highest power-handling ratings among this list of speaker styles (especially the subwoofers). These speakers include passive and active options, and PA system speaker needs range from single speakers to multiple line arrays with dozens of loudspeakers each.

• Click the link to check out PA speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out PA speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out PA speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• Top 11 Best PA Loudspeaker Brands You Should Know And Use

Foldback Monitor Speakers

Foldback monitors are generally part of a PA system, and PA speakers generally double as these stage monitors.

Foldback monitors are typically powered and receive monitor sends from the live sound mixer to playback the monitor mixes for the performers to hear themselves.

• Click the link to check out foldback monitors at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out foldback monitors at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out foldback monitors on Amazon

Subwoofer Speakers

Subwoofers are special speakers with larger drivers designed specifically to reproduce the low-end frequencies.

Consumer-grade subwoofers are often tasked with handling 200 Hz and below, while pro audio is generally <100 Hz and THX-certified systems have <80 Hz subwoofer outputs.

If necessary, subwoofers can be included in nearly all speaker setups, including car audio, home audio, theatre audio, recording/mixing studios, and PA systems.

• Click the link to check out subwoofers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out subwoofers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out subwoofers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• Top 11 Best Subwoofer Brands (Car, PA, Home & Studio)

Studio Monitor Speakers

Studio monitors are designed to be as accurate as possible for critical listening and professional monitoring, mixing and mastering.

Though optimal studio monitors are as flat/accurate as possible, there will be differences in sound from monitor to monitor. Mixing and mastering engineers will often have multiple sets of monitors to toggle between for additional monitoring options.

Studio monitors are typically near-field, but larger control/mix rooms may have far-field monitors in the distance. Depending on the room acoustics and the need for sub-bass frequencies, studio monitors may require an additional subwoofer.

• Click the link to check out studio monitor speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out studio monitor speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out studio monitor speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• Top 11 Best Studio Monitor Brands You Should Know And Use

Soundbar Speakers

A soundbar is a style of loudspeaker with several drivers and audio channels designed into a bar-like form factor. Soundbars are typically powered and are used as a convenient all-in-one speaker upgrade for televisions (often removing the need for a receiver altogether).

• Click the link to check out soundbars at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out soundbars at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out soundbars on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• Top 11 Best Soundbar Brands On The Market

Installed Speakers

Installed speakers are compact indoor and outdoor designed for permanent installation in walls, ceilings, and other locations.

These speakers are common for intercom systems and multi-room audio systems.

• Click the link to check out installed speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out installed speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out installed speakers on Amazon

Car Audio Speakers

Car audio speakers are designed for vehicle sound systems. These speakers are typically co-axial for compact installation, meaning their drivers are stacked along the same axis. In addition to the full-range co-axial speakers, car speakers also include subwoofers.

• Click the link to check out car speakers at Crutchfield
• Click the link to check out car speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• Top 11 Best Car Audio Speaker Brands In The World

Marine Speakers

Marine speakers are designed to be waterproof for use with marine vehicles. Like car audio speakers, most marine speakers are full co-axial or subwoofers.

• Click the link to check out marine speakers at Crutchfield
• Click the link to check out marine speakers on Amazon

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Active Vs. Powered Vs. Passive Loudspeakers

Loudspeakers require speaker level signals to function properly. Since most audio is mixed, recorded and played back at line level (which is lower than speaker level), amplification is required.

The power amplifiers that drive loudspeakers can either be separate devices or built into the loudspeakers themselves. These differences are clarified in the terms active, passive and powered.

Active Loudspeakers

Active loudspeakers have built-in power amplifiers and, therefore, require power to function (hence the name active).

In general, active speakers are comprised of an enclosure, one or more speaker drivers, an active crossover network, and a separate amplifier for each of the crossover's frequency bands.

As an example, let's look at a simplified signal path of a 3-way active speaker:

• Audio source
• Preamplifier
• Active crossover unit
• Individual power amplifiers
• Drivers

Active speakers take line level signals from an audio source and/or preamplifier (from a playback device, audio mixer, audio interface, etc.).

The line level input audio signal is first separated into different frequency bands by the active crossover network. We'll discuss crossovers in more detail in the section Loudspeaker Crossovers & The Number Of Drivers.

For now, just know that crossovers divide the full-range audio signals into smaller frequency ranges that are best suited for each of the drivers (tweets handle high-end, woofers handle low-end, etc.).

Each band is then amplified to speaker level before driving its appropriate driver (tweeter, woofer, etc.).

Because line level signals are lower than speaker level signals, these active crossovers do not need to be overly bulky to accommodate high signal power. Rather, they can be designed more precisely to optimize the crossover frequency cutoffs for improved linearity, clarity and overall performance.

Since each crossover band has its own amplifier, active speakers have the added benefit of being tuneable. Some active speakers will have basic EQ sections.

Active speakers are heavier and more expensive than their passive counterparts, but their convenience is much greater. Furthermore, the built-in amp and crossover are designed specifically for the drivers, so there's no worry about proper amp-speaker matching.

• Click the link to check out active speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out active speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out active speakers on Amazon

Passive Loudspeakers

Passive loudspeakers do not have built-in power amplifiers and, therefore, do not require power to function (hence the name active). Rather, they depend on external power amplifiers to drive them appropriately.

In general, passive speakers are comprised of an enclosure, one or more speaker drivers, and a passive crossover network (if there are multiple drivers).

As an example, let's look at a simplified signal path of a 3-way passive speaker:

• Audio source
• Preamplifier
• Power amplifier
• Passive crossover unit
• Drivers

Passive speaker crossovers and drivers are, as the name would suggest, passive. They work with passive electrical components.

These speakers receive an amplified speaker level signal from a connected power amplifier. This power amplifier boosts the line level signal from the audio source and/or preamplifier to a speaker level signal.

The speaker level signal is then split into different frequency bands by the passive crossover unit before being sent to the appropriate drivers.

The crossovers are required to split speaker level signals, meaning they must be able to handle higher levels than line level.

The power amplifier and passive speaker(s) must be matched appropriately for optimal performance.

Matching speakers to amplifiers is an art in and of itself.

If the amplifier is too weak, it will be incapable of driving the speakers to their full potential and will distort the signal before the speakers even get close to their loudest output.

Conversely, if the amplifier is too strong, it can overload the passive speaker crossover and driver components, leading to distortion and speaker blow-out.

So, we ideally want the speaker's power handling rating to be close to the amplifier's output power rating per channel.

Furthermore, we must consider speaker impedance and the amplifier's rated output impedance.

If the speaker's impedance (load) is lower than what the amplifier (source) can handle, the speaker may draw too much power from the amp, thereby overloading and damaging it.

If the speaker's impedance (load) is too high, it won't draw enough power from the amplifier, which will result in poor speaker performance.

Passive speakers are lighter, more affordable, and more modular than their active counterparts. However, they will require a dedicated power amp, which you'll need to match and set up appropriately—more on this in the section Loudspeaker Connectivity & Amplifiers.

• Click the link to check out passive speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out passive speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out passive speakers on Amazon

Powered Loudspeakers

The terms “powered” and “active” are often used interchangeably in audio, though there is a difference between powered and active speakers.

Powered speakers have essentially the same signal path as passive speakers, except that the power amplifier is built into one (or each) of the speaker enclosures. A preamplifier may also be built into the enclosure.

The “master speaker” that contains the power amp(s) will typically have a speaker cable extending to its passive counterpart (in stereo setups) or multiple cables extending to multiple other passive speakers (in multi-channel setups).

Powered speakers do not have active crossover networks with individual amps for each of their drivers. Rather, powered speaker setups have a single (typically stereo) amplifier built into a master speaker, which then feeds the passive crossovers of all other speakers.

Many affordable computer speakers and low-end home stereos utilize a powered configuration.

• Click the link to check out powered speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out powered speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out powered speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone articles:
• What Are The Differences Between Passive & Active Speakers?
• Why Do Loudspeakers Need Power & How Are They Powered?

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Wired Or Wireless Loudspeakers

A loudspeaker may be designed to connect to its playback source with cables or wireless (or both in some cases).

Let's consider the various speaker specifications for wired and wireless connectivity.

Wired Loudspeakers

Wired loudspeakers, as the name suggests, have audio signals sent to them via cables.

As mentioned previously, the signal level a speaker is designed to accept varies from model to model.

Active and powered speakers will generally have line level inputs since they provide their own amplification needs. These input connections (and the compatible cables) include:

• XLR
• 1/4″ (6.35mm) phono
• Combo jack (XLR + 1/4″)
• 1/8″ (3.5mm) phono
• RCA co-axial

Passive speakers are designed to accept speaker level signals, which aren't standardized. These signals can range in amplitude, and the speaker's power handling rating will give us an idea of how much signal it can accept without any issues of distortion or damage.

When connecting a power amplifier to a loudspeaker, we usually use speaker wire/cable—the gauge of such cable matters. Thicker gauge (lower number) cables are best for long wire runs, high-power applications, and low-impedance speakers. Thinner gauge (higher number) cables are typically fine for short runs, low-power applications and high-impedance speakers.

As for connectors, passive speakers will generally have one or more of the following inputs:

• Neutrik speakON
• Binding post (universal connector designed to accept bare wire, pin connectors, spade connectors, banana plugs, and dual banana plugs)
• Barrier strip terminal (bare wire, spade connectors)
• Bare wire
• 1/4″ (6.35mm)

• Click the link to check out wired speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out wired speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone articles:
• Which Is More Important, Speakers Or Amplifiers?
• Why Do Speakers Need Amplifiers? (And How To Match Them)

Wireless Loudspeakers

Wireless speakers will generally have Bluetooth connectivity (common) and/or WiFi connectivity (less common). These speakers accept digital audio wirelessly, convert it to analog, amplify it, and output it as sound.

There's a big market for portable Bluetooth speakers, though wireless connectivity is also available in home speakers such as soundbars and bookshelf speakers. There are also some small PA system speakers designed with wireless connectivity.

• Click the link to check out wireless speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out wireless speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out wireless speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• How Do Bluetooth Speakers Work & How To Connect Them

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Loudspeaker Size

The size of the loudspeaker(s) should be considered before making a purchase. The size of a loudspeaker is generally measured in inches, and the size specification refers to the diameter of the largest driver.

In terms of the overall physical size of the speakers, including the enclosures, think of where the speakers will be placed and if they'll physically fit in the intended spots.

Also, if you plan on moving the speakers around (from gig to gig), consider how the size of the speakers will affect storage during transportation.

Beyond the physical space limitations you may be faced with, loudspeaker size will also affect the performance of the speakers.

Larger speaker drivers will produce low frequencies more easily since they can push and pull more air. Low frequencies require more energy and have longer wavelengths. The larger the driver, the more apt it will be to accommodate the slow yet powerful movement required of bass frequencies.

Subwoofers are large for this reason.

Before we go out and buy the largest speakers we can find, however, we should also consider the acoustic space in which the speakers will reside.

Once again, bass frequencies have long wavelengths. Therefore, they require longer distances to develop fully. Smaller rooms may not be adequate to allow the low-end sound from the speakers to develop. If the room isn't acoustically treated, these underdeveloped waves will only act to interfere with other sound wave frequencies.

For example, the lowest frequency on the audible spectrum (though we can barely hear it, naturally) is 20 Hz. If we take the speed of sound to be 343 m/s, then 20 Hz has a wavelength of 17.15 m (56 ft). That's a long distance to develop!

Without bass traps and other acoustic treatments, the low end can severely affect the sound of the room. It may be muddy, resonant at certain frequencies (especially in low-mids and mids), and overly reflective.

The speakers may sound great at a defined listening position, but the perceived sound may have too little or too much bass a metre away at a different listening position.

So, as a rule of thumb, bigger speakers will provide more bass. However, more bass isn't necessarily warranted.

I would suggest getting a separate subwoofer to handle the low-end. That way, you can adjust the low-end output and even turn the subwoofer off if need be.

Related My New Microphone articles:
• What Is A Good Driver Size For Loudspeakers?
• Do Bigger Magnets Make For Better Loudspeakers?
• Why Do Loudspeakers Need Enclosures?
• How Do Small Speakers Produce Bass Frequencies?

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Loudspeaker Power Handling

What is speaker power handling (wattage rating)? The speaker power handling specification (aka wattage rating) is the measured or theoretical limit of electric power the speaker is capable of handling before burning out. The spec is given in watts and can be measured/calculated as a continuous, peak, or root mean square (rms) value.

Power handling applies mostly to passive speakers, which need separate power amplifiers to drive them. It's critical that we do not exceed the rated power handling/wattage rating to keep our speakers working properly. Exceeding these levels, especially over extended periods, will cause irreversible damage to the speaker's driver(s).

Unfortunately, there are numerous ways in which the power handling spec of a speaker is given (peak, RMS, average, continuous, program, and nominal power/watt values can be given).

Some manufacturers bend the truth to make their speakers look more powerful than they actually are. Do your research to find out exactly what the specification means according to the manufacturer's datasheet.

Additionally, power handling doesn't tell us how loud a given speaker will be. That information is to be found in the sensitivity and max SPL specifications.

Related My New Microphone article:
• Complete Guide To Speaker Power Handling & Wattage Ratings

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Loudspeaker Sensitivity

What is speaker sensitivity? Sensitivity is a specification/measurement of how well a speaker converts amplifier power (electrical energy) into acoustic (mechanical wave) energy. Sensitivity specifications are generally given as decibels of sound pressure level per 1 watt of power at 1 measurement distance of 1 meter.

Put differently, speaker sensitivity is generally given as a dB SPL / 1 W @ 1-meter rating.

Higher sensitivity speakers will produce more volume given the same amount of power. Therefore, if two speakers have the same power handling/wattage rating, the more sensitive speaker will have a higher maximum level.

Note that the sound pressure level produced by the speaker is halved (-6 dB) for every doubling of distance. This is why the 1-meter unit is critical in the sensitivity specification.

Confusingly, the perceived loudness is doubled or halved for every +10 or -10 dB change. Additionally, a doubling or halving of power is defined by +3 or -3 dB. The math is rather complex, but it's important to note.

For example, a maxed-out 500-watt speaker with a sensitivity of 93 dB SPL / 1 W @ 1 m will be the same volume as a maxed-out 1,000-watt speaker with a sensitivity of 90 dB SPL / 1 W @ 1 m.

Once power handling is known, the sensitivity rating should give us an idea of how loud the loudspeaker can get. Let's consider the following chart to understand how power and sensitivity translate to perceived loudness.

In the illustration below, we'll use the examples of Speaker A (sensitivity rating of 84 dB SPL @ 1W/1m) and Speaker C (sensitivity rating of 90 dB SPL @ 1W/1m):

Take this information for a single speaker and understand that every speaker added (assuming equal build, distance from the listener, and output) will double the sound intensity, causing an increase of 3 dB SPL at the listener's position.

Here's a table to suggest the safe listening times at defined sound pressure levels according to the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration):

Here's a table with common sound pressure levels to get a better idea of how loud certain dB SPL values are:

Related articles:
• Full Guide To Loudspeaker Sensitivity & Efficiency Ratings
• What Are Decibels? The Ultimate dB Guide For Audio & Sound

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Loudspeaker Impedance

What is speaker impedance? Speaker impedance, measured in ohms (Ω), is the electrical impedance (AC resistance) encountered by the audio signal (electrical AC) at the input of the speaker driver. Impedance affects the load a speaker places on an amplifier and is an important spec when matching speakers and amplifiers.

Speaker impedance is a significant specification when connecting passive speakers to power amplifiers. Impedance specs matter less with active speakers, which accept line level or even mic level signals.

A speaker with a lower impedance will require more power to achieve the same voltage (signal level) across its driver.

The power amplifier output driving the passive PA speaker should ideally have less than one-tenth the nominal impedance of the speaker input for proper signal transfer.

Amplifier output impedance specifications are generally given as “rated impedances,” which refer to the speaker impedance(s) the amp can drive properly. The real output impedance of a power amplifier is usually less than 0.1 Ω, but this is rarely specified.

Impedance is also critical when connecting multiple speakers to a power amplifier. Speakers can be connected in series or parallel.

Speakers connected in series are connected along a single conductive path. The same current flows through all of the speakers, but voltage is dropped across each of the speakers (due to the speaker's impedance).

Wiring speakers in series requires connecting the positive output of the amp channel to the positive terminal of speaker A and the negative terminal or speaker A to the positive terminal of speaker B (and so on for more speakers) before connecting the negative terminal of the last speaker to the negative terminal of the amp channel.

The combined impedance of the series speakers is as follows:

Z_T = Z_1 + Z_2 + \ldots + Z_n

Speakers connected in parallel are connected along multiple paths so that the current is split up, but the same voltage is equal across each speaker.

Wiring speakers in series requires connecting the positive output of the amp channel to the positive terminal of speakers A, B, and so on. The negative terminals of the speakers are then connected to the negative terminal of the amplifier channel.

The combined impedance of the parallel speakers is as follows:

\frac{1}{Z_T} = \frac{1}{Z_1} + \frac{1}{Z_2} + \ldots + \frac{1}{Z_n}

Related My New Microphone article:
• The Complete Guide To Speaker Impedance (2Ω, 4Ω, 8Ω & More)

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Loudspeaker Frequency Response

What is speaker frequency response? Frequency response refers to the frequency-dependent sensitivity of the loudspeaker. In other words, how well the speaker will respond to and reproduce the frequencies of the incoming audio signal.

Frequency response specifications generally range from the lowest frequency the speaker can produce effectively to the highest frequency the speaker can produce effectively. The tolerance is often given as a plus/minus dB value (±3 dB, for example).

More accurate frequency response specifications are given on a performance graph, where frequencies (Hz) are along the x-axis, and relative output (dB) is along the y-axis. A response line is graphed to show the relative output across all frequencies of the loudspeaker's response.

These graphs tell us the frequencies at which the speaker will be most and least sensitive and the regions where sensitivity rolls off completely.

In theory, producing the most accurate response possible would mean the frequency response graph is perfectly flat. No frequencies would be over or under-represented, and the speaker would reproduce audio perfectly.

However, as discussed, real-world acoustics must be considered since speakers produce sound waves in an acoustic environment.

The reflections and resonances of the room won't alter the frequency response of the speakers themselves. Still, they will alter how we ultimately hear the sound from the speakers within the listening environment.

Furthermore, positioning the speakers close to the wall will increase the perceived bass. This is because bass frequencies are fairly omnidirectional (they propagate in all directions at once). A quick reflection from a close wall will effectively add volume to the bass frequencies of the incoming sound waves.

Bass frequencies are also tricky to tame acoustically due to their long wavelengths. The lower the bass frequencies, the longer the wavelength, and the larger the bass traps must be to absorb them.

Furthermore, bass wavelengths will often match the distance between two parallel surfaces in a room (two walls, the floor and ceiling, etc.) and cause standing resonant waves.

Even in acoustically treated spaces, bass frequencies can be a nuisance.

For that reason, it may actually be a good thing to choose a smaller speaker with less sensitivity or capability in its low-end frequency response. Pushing this point further, speakers with adjustable high-pass filters may also be worth considering to help tune their bass response to your room.

If the bass ends up lacking, an additional subwoofer can be included to cover the low-end frequencies when needed for mixing.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Loudspeaker Coverage Angle

What is speaker coverage angle? The coverage/dispersion specification refers to the directionality of the speaker's sound output. The coverage spec is often given as an angle along the horizontal plane that cuts through the on-axis line of the speaker and another angle along the vertical plane that cuts through the on-axis line.

The coverage can be imagined as a 3-dimensional conical-shaped sound front emanating from the speaker. The coverage limits are often defined as a -6 dB drop from the on-axis (directly in front of the speaker) SPL.

Suppose we're planning on projecting sound to an audience with our loudspeakers. In that case, we should note the speaker's coverage angle(s) to help position them for optimal performance across as much space as possible.

To learn about all the specifications related to loudspeakers, check out my article The Full List: Loudspeaker & Monitor Specifications w/ Examples.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Loudspeaker Enclosures

The enclosure type in the loudspeaker design will also affect its frequency response. These enclosures can be categorized as sealed or ported. This difference is more pronounced in instrument cabinets than in most other speaker types.

Sealed Speaker Enclosures

Sealed enclosures, as their name suggests, are completely sealed off. Because the rear sound is completely trapped, sealed speakers are inherently inefficient and only produce half their potential in terms of output level.

That being said, sealed enclosures tend to offer a tighter, more accurate frequency response and a more direct sound, especially at the more directional mid and high frequencies. They're also easier to design and often cost less.

• Click the link to check out sealed speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out sealed speakers on Amazon

Ported Speaker Enclosures

Ported enclosures, as their name suggests, are ported in the front and/or back. They allow sound to emanate from the front and/or the rear and are more efficient (louder) than their sealed counterparts.

The acoustic labyrinth design within a ported speaker largely depends on the speaker's design requirements. However, nearly all ported designs extend the low-end frequency response, making these enclosure types more capable of producing bass.

Placing ported speakers close to a wall or surface can really affect the perceived sound and frequency response, as all frequencies are emitted to the rear of the speaker in addition to the front.

Placement of ported speakers, then, becomes an even bigger deal than it is with sealed speakers.

• Click the link to check out ported speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out ported speakers on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• Why Do Loudspeakers Need Enclosures?

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Number Of Loudspeakers

A common question to ask is, “How many loudspeakers do I need?”

The answer, of course, is “it depends on the results you want.”

For portable Bluetooth speakers and stereo soundbars, one unit is often enough.

Two speakers (and potentially a subwoofer) will be required for stereo playback to get the full experience. This is common for studio monitoring and home stereo systems.

Surround sound formats will need at least as many speakers (placed appropriately) as there are channels. For example, 5.1 surround will need at least 5 full-range speakers and a subwoofer for a complete sound image.

The number of speakers in your car is largely dependent on the car's design.

Installed speaker systems, which cover a wide area and/or several rooms, will require as many speakers as necessary to adequately cover the area.

When designing a mixing studio, perhaps you should consider multiple pairs of monitors. When setting up a live sound stage, foldback monitors are often required in addition to the front-of-house PA system.

When it comes to filling up a venue with an adequate amount of sound, the number of speakers will vary significantly.

Small rooms need less power, and the fewer people in the room, the less power is needed. Though far from standardized, I recommend the following loose power requirements for small rooms:

• Under 500 square feet: 200 Watts RMS or less
• Under 1,000 square feet: 800 Watts RMS or less
• Under 2,000 square feet: 2,000 Watts RMS or less
• Under 4,000 square feet: 4,000 Watts RMS or less

Speakers in larger setups are often set up in line arrays, which effectively stack several speakers together to output more sound at a wider coverage angle.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Types Of Loudspeaker Working Principles

Loudspeakers are transducers that convert electrical energy (analog audio signals) into mechanical wave energy (sound waves). There are several methods by which this conversion is accomplished, which we'll discuss in this section.

The different types of loudspeaker transducer principles include:

• Electrodynamic Speaker Drivers
• Magnetostatic/Planar Magnetic Speaker Drivers
• Ribbon Speaker Drivers
• Electrostatic Speaker Drivers

Electrodynamic Speaker Drivers

Electrodynamic speaker drivers are by far the most common in speaker design. They work on the principle of electromagnetic induction to convert audio into sound.

If you're familiar with moving-coil dynamic microphones, electrodynamic speakers effectively use the same process, only in reverse.

Let's begin our discussion with a cross-sectional diagram of the electrodynamic speaker driver:

The analog speaker level audio signal is passed through the speaker's voice coil via two electrical leads. This voice coil is a tightly wound cylindrical coil of conductive wire (often copper) that sits within a circular cutaway in the driver's magnetic structure.

This voice coil is connected to the speaker diaphragm, which is then connected to the suspension of the speaker driver (spider and surround). The driver should be designed in a way that allows for the movement of the voice coil along the z-axis (up and down within the cutaway) while restricting movement in the x and y axes.

Electromagnetic induction states that an electrical current through a conductor will produce a magnetic field. The alternating current (audio signal) through the voice coil causes an alternating magnetic field.

As the magnetic field of the voice coil varies according to the audio, the voice coil interacts with the permanent magnetic field of the driver's magnets.

Thanks to magnetic repulsion and attraction, this interaction causes the voice coil to oscillate in a way that mimics the audio signal waveform.

Since the voice coil is attached to the diaphragm, the diaphragm will also move with the voice coil.

The movement of the diaphragm pushes and pulls the air around it and produces increases and decreases in localized pressure. These pressure oscillations are propagated outward from the driver and are known as sound waves.

Electrodynamic drivers are relatively inexpensive to construct but are relatively poor at producing the entire range of audible frequencies. This is part of the reason why so many speakers have multiple drivers to cover an adequate frequency range.

• Click the link to check out electrodynamic speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out electrodynamic speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out electrodynamic speakers on Amazon

Magnetostatic/Planar Magnetic Speaker Drivers

Magnetostatic/planar magnetic speaker drivers also work on electromagnetic principles.

While electromagnetic drivers have a voice coil attached to a cone-like diaphragm, the planar magnetic driver has a thin planar (often rectangular) diaphragm with an embedded conductive wire.

This wire is typically serpentine and passes through the majority of the diaphragm area. Consider the following illustration for a simplified idea of a planar magnetic speaker diaphragm:

As the AC audio signal passes through the conductive traces of the diaphragm, an alternating magnetic field is induced in and around the diaphragm.

The diaphragm is typically positioned between two magnetic arrays/structures, though some designs opt for a single magnetic structure. This can be envisioned in the following illustrations:

As the audio signal induces an alternating magnetic field in the diaphragm, it will be attracted/repulsed by the magnets around it, causing it to move.

The diaphragm is carefully connected to the housing around its perimeter and moves in a near-perfect planar bipolar manner (hence the name). There is little to no banding or wrinkling of the diaphragm except at its perimeter. This yields a very accurate response and low distortion.

Planar magnetic drivers are generally capable of extended frequency responses, though a separate subwoofer may best produce the low-end frequencies.

• Click the link to check out magnetostatic speakers at B&H Photo/Video

Ribbon Speaker Drivers

The ribbon speaker driver is yet another that works via electromagnetic principles.

If you're familiar with ribbon microphones, ribbon speakers effectively use the same process, only in reverse.

Consider this simplified illustration of the ribbon speaker transducer:

In ribbon designs, the diaphragm (known as the ribbon) is the conductive element. Unlike the aforementioned driver types, there are no additional materials in the diaphragm (embedded conductive wire or attached coil).

The ribbon diaphragm is ideally corrugated to increase its transverse rigidity and reduce its resonant frequency. It also has a relatively low mass, which makes it easier to move and improves the accuracy of its movement.

The AC audio signal is applied across the diaphragm itself, and an alternating magnetic field is induced via electromagnetic induction.

In terms of amplification, the ribbon diaphragm generally requires less voltage and more current than traditional speaker drivers to keep the relatively fragile ribbon safe.

Many ribbon drivers have a step-down transformer (or an equivalent transformerless circuit) to drop the signal's voltage while boosting the current.

The magnets are toward the sides of the diaphragm rather than to the front and rear and must be powerful to make up for the lower voltage and less-than-ideal positioning. Ribbon driver designs place the magnets very close to the diaphragm to improve magnetic flux and keep air from passing through the driver.

Ribbon diaphragms/drivers are cherished for their accuracy but are notorious for their low sensitivity/efficiency ratings and fragility. They are often used as tweeters and in conjunction with moving-coil drivers to produce the full range of audible frequencies in multi-way speaker design.

• Click the link to check out ribbon speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out ribbon speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out ribbon speakers on Amazon

Electrostatic Speaker Drivers

The electrostatic loudspeaker transducer/driver is the first on this list not to use electromagnetic induction as its primary transducer principle. Rather, these drivers work on electrostatic principles.

If you're familiar with condenser microphones, electrostatic speakers effectively use the same process, only in reverse.

The electrostatic speaker diaphragm is typically larger and thinner than other speaker diaphragms and is typically rectangular in shape. It is coated with a conductive material across its entire area.

The diaphragm must hold a positive electric charge for the speaker to work properly as a transducer. It is generally charged via a high-level DC biasing voltage or a strong electret material.

The electrostatic speaker diaphragm is sandwiched between two large perforated stator plates that act as a parallel-plate capacitor.

The stator plates and the diaphragm are electrically insulated from each other by using spars around the perimeter of the diaphragm and the plates.

The electrostatic speaker driver can be visualized in the following illustration:

To better visualize the electrostatic speaker driver/diaphragm, check out this simplified cross-sectional diagram:

The audio signal is sent to the stator plates, which act as a sort of parallel-plate capacitor.

A specialized amplifier must crank up the voltage of the intended audio signal while knocking down the current. This is to properly charge the high-impedance “capacitor,” otherwise known as the stator plates.

Once connected to an audio source, the stators, at any given time, will be equally but oppositely charged.

The positively charged diaphragm will be pulled toward one plate while being pushed by the other plate at any given instant. This causes the diaphragm to move back and forth and produce sound waves as it does so.

These sound waves mimic the audio signal and escape the driver through the perforated stator plates.

The diaphragm of the electrostatic transducer, like that of the planar magnetic driver design, moves in a bipolar fashion and produces little to no distortion.

These speakers can produce the entire range of audible frequencies, though some are enhanced with a dynamic woofer/subwoofer to cover the sub-bass and bass frequencies.

• Click the link to check out electrostatic speakers at Crutchfield

Related My New Microphone article:
• What Are Speaker Drivers? (How All Driver Types Work)

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Loudspeaker Crossovers & The Number Of Drivers

As we've touched on in this article, speakers often require multiple drivers to produce an adequate frequency response. Furthermore, additional subwoofers are often required to produce the low-end frequencies of the audio.

Before we get to each of the driver types, let's quickly discuss crossovers.

Crossover networks split up the full-range audio signal into smaller frequency bands that each speaker driver can accurately produce. To do so, crossovers use filters. There are 3 types of filters that we'll find in a speaker crossover network:

• Low-pass filter: a low-pass filter (also known as a high-cut filter) allows the low frequencies to pass unfiltered while it filters out or “cuts” the high frequencies.
• High-pass filter: a high-pass filter (also known as a low-cut filter) allows the high frequencies to pass unfiltered while it filters out or “cuts” the low frequencies.
• Band-pass filter: a band-pass filter can be thought of as a combination of an LPF and an HPF. It allows a particular band of frequencies to pass by filtering out frequencies above the high point of the band and the frequencies below the low point of the band.

Active crossover networks split line level signals into separate bands, with each band having its own amplifier.

Passive crossover networks act to split speaker level signals (which are already amplified) into separate bands.

Fortunately, most speakers have their own internal crossovers that are designed specifically for their drivers.

However, standalone crossovers also exist, which are often adjustable. These are more common in pro audio and large PA systems than in other audio applications.

Perhaps the most common crossover is the subwoofer crossover, which effectively splits an audio signal into two bands: the low-end, which is sent to the subwoofer, and the rest of the audio signal, which is sent to the other speakers in a system.

Speakers are typically constructed with multiple drivers. They are known as:

• 2-way speakers: these speakers have 2 drivers (typically a woofer and tweeter) and rely on a 2-way crossover (lows and highs).
• 3-way speakers: these speakers have 3 drivers (typically a woofer, mid-range speaker and tweeter) and rely on a 3-way crossover (lows, mids and highs).
• 4-way speakers: these speakers have 4 drivers (often a woofer, mid-range speaker, tweeter and super-tweeter) and rely on a 4-way crossover (lows, mids/low-mids, highs/high-mids, highs/super-highs).

• Click the link to check out 2-way speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out 2-way speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out 2-way speakers on Amazon

• Click the link to check out 3-way speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out 3-way speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out 3-way speakers on Amazon

• Click the link to check out 4-way speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out 4-way speakers at Crutchfield

With that primer on crossovers, let's consider the various driver types we're likely to encounter when searching for our next loudspeakers:

• Subwoofer Speaker Drivers
• Woofer Speaker Drivers
• Mid-range Speaker Drivers
• Tweeter Speaker Drivers
• Super-tweeter Speaker Drivers
• Co-axial Speaker Drivers

Subwoofer Speaker Drivers

Subwoofers are a popular addition to audio systems and are designed to produce the lowest frequencies (typically from 20 Hz to 80, 100 or 200 Hz, depending on the setup).

• THX-approved system subwoofers: ≤20 Hz – 80 Hz
• Professional-grade live sound subwoofers: ≤20 Hz ~ 100 Hz
• Consumer-grade subwoofers: ≤20 Hz ~ 200 Hz

Subwoofers require a relatively large amount of power to produce their low-end sound frequencies. Low-end frequencies require slower speaker movement and greater speaker excursion.

In addition, we naturally feel these low frequencies more than we hear them, and, therefore, the subwoofer must produce higher levels if we are to hear the low-end.

For powering reasons, many subwoofers are powered. This means they have their own dedicated built-in amplifier and crossover (essentially a low-pass filter).

Woofer Speaker Drivers

The woofer is the larger, bassier driver in a multi-driver speaker.

Woofers are often tasked with producing frequencies from 20 Hz – 2,000 Hz. Note that the midrange speaker driver may take some load off the woofer's high-end frequency production.

Similarly, a subwoofer may very well ease the production of the very low frequencies in a woofer.

Nonetheless, woofers are included in speaker design to produce the low-end and are typically joined by a tweeter (in 2-way speakers) or a tweeter and midrange driver (in 3-way speakers).

To produce the lowest frequencies, woofers need to be big. A woofer of 12-inch diameter or more is likely capable of reaching down to 20 Hz. This is why many subwoofers are generally larger.

Mid-range Speaker Drivers

The mid-range speaker (sometimes referred to as a squawker or mid-woofer to keep with the animal noise theme) is responsible for producing the mid-range frequencies.

As the name suggests, mid-range drivers are designed to produce the mid-range of the frequency spectrum—the frequency response of mid-range speakers ranges, roughly speaking, from 150 Hz to 5 kHz.

Of course, different midrange drivers will have different frequency responses, and different speaker crossovers will send different frequency bands to these drivers. Therefore, it's difficult to state any specific range with confidence.

Because mid-range speakers are tasked with producing the mids, we'll generally only see them in 3-way or 4-way speakers. To produce the full range of audible frequencies, a speaker containing a midrange driver would also require a woofer to cover the low end (which we'll get to in a moment) and a tweeter to cover the high end.

Tweeter Speaker Drivers

The tweeter is the smallest driver unit in a speaker design and is responsible for reproducing the highest range of frequencies. This range is often 2 kHz to 20 kHz, though some specialty tweeters can produce sound waves as high as 100 kHz.

Note that when super-tweeters are used in the speaker design, the tweeter will have a smaller band and not have to produce frequencies up to 20 kHz.

Remember that the audible range of human hearing is universally known as 20 Hz – 20 kHz.

The overwhelming majority of tweeters are 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter. These small-diameter lightweight tweeter drivers are capable of vibrating very quickly and reproducing treble frequencies with great detail.

Ribbon drivers are sometimes used for tweeters.

Super-tweeter Speaker Drivers

A super-tweeter is an additional driver that helps take some of the load off of the tweeter.

It is responsible for producing the highest frequencies of the audio signal and allows the tweeter to “focus” on producing a narrower band with greater precision.

Super-tweeters are generally found in 4-way speakers along with a tweeter, mid-range speaker and woofer. However, there are also cases where a super-tweeter is used in conjunction with a tweeter and woofer in a 3-way speaker.

Co-axial Speaker Drivers

Co-axial speakers (sometimes called full-range speakers) are speakers designed to produce the full range of audible frequencies.

Co-axial speakers, as the name suggests, have multiple drivers that share an axis of movement. Like the speakers mentioned above, the full-range speakers can be 2-way, 3-way or even 4-way. However, they share a single axis and are essentially designed on top of or within each other.

The woofer, midrange (if applicable), tweeter and super-tweeter (if applicable) are built into concentric circles.

Many automobile manufacturers use co-axial speakers since they are cheaper and easier to install.

Related My New Microphone article:
• What Is A Speaker Crossover Network? (Active & Passive)
• Differences Between Mid-Range Speakers, Tweeters & Woofers

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Common Loudspeaker Applications

Let's consider a few common applications for loudspeakers and discuss what we should look for in each:

• Critical Listening
• HiFi Listening
• Live Sound Reinforcement & Public Address
• Monitoring
• Car Audio

Critical Listening

Critical listening requires the most accurate speakers possible. This is typically the goal of studio monitors and HiFi speakers. Read into the speakers' frequency response and understand the frequencies where the speakers may over-exaggerate or under-exaggerate the audio.

Note that speakers alone may not be enough for optimal listening. The acoustic environment will likely require treatment to reduce flutter echo and natural resonances to reach the speakers' true potential for critical listening.

HiFi Listening

The high-fidelity audio market has plenty of speaker options. Hi-Fi speakers are generally set up in home listening environments, and the speaker styles include floorstanding, bookshelf, and installed speakers along with subwoofers.

Ensure you're working within your budget (HiFi systems can get expensive), and opt for speakers that sound great to you. I highly suggest trying it before you buy.

Live Sound Reinforcement & Public Address

PA speakers are generally among the most rugged. After all, they generally live in live venues and “on the road.”

For small PA systems, active PA speakers are likely more convenient. Wireless connectivity may also be something you're interested in.

For medium-to-large PA systems, it's typically best to choose passive PA speakers and connect multiples in series and parallel formations to their dedicated power amplifiers.

Monitoring

Monitoring can mean several things.

If you're monitoring recording and playback in a studio, you'll want accurate studio monitors.

Foldback monitors for live performances need to be rugged, somewhat directional, and loud enough to be heard by the performer in question.

Monitoring sound from another acoustic space (as is the case with baby monitors, for example) doesn't require a great deal of accuracy. It can be accomplished with a cheap single-driver speaker.

Car Audio

Car audio requires speakers. These speakers are often co-axial and subwoofer units, and it's common for each speaker to have its own channel driven by the car's power amplifier(s).

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Know The Additional Costs Of Loudspeaker Accessories

• Loudspeaker Stands (including studio monitor stands)
• Loudspeaker Covers
• Speaker Cable

Related article: How Long Should Loudspeakers Last (Typical Lifespan)?

Loudspeaker Stands

Some speakers benefit from dedicated speaker stands, which effectively hold them in place and help mechanically isolate them from the environment. Stands are often adjustable, allowing users to select the ideal height for the speakers. They also work, to some degree, to mechanically isolate the speaker from the floor, thereby minimizing the transfer of mechanical vibrations to and from the speaker.

• Click the link to check out speaker stands at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out speaker stands at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out speaker stands on Amazon

Loudspeaker Covers

A speaker cover is a protective jacket that goes over the speaker during transportation and storage to help keep the speaker from getting wet, scratched or otherwise damaged.

• Click the link to check out speaker covers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out speaker covers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out speaker covers on Amazon

Speaker Cable

Speakers require speaker level signals. These signals require thicker gauge speaker cables to safely transfer them from a power amplifier output to the speaker input (if the speaker is wired).

The specific gauge of the speaker cable/wire is dependent on the intended speaker level signals.

Once again, I recommend using thicker gauge (lower number) cable for long wire runs, high-power applications, and low-impedance speakers. Conversely, thinner gauge (higher number) cables are typically fine for short runs, low-power applications and high-impedance speakers.

Consider the speaker cable connectors as well, ensuring the cable will connect to the speaker and amplifier properly.

• Click the link to check out speaker cable at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out speaker cable at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out speaker cable on Amazon

Back to the Table Of Contents.

The post The Ultimate Loudspeaker Buyer’s Guide first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

So you're wondering which studio monitors you should buy, rent or otherwise try out. In this comprehensive buyer's guide, we'll go through everything worth considering before you make any decisions about a pair of studio monitors.

If you've found yourself asking, “Which studio monitors should I buy?” this extensive resource is for you.

Please feel free to jump around this article and read all the additional resources I have provided links to.

With that, let's get into this comprehensive studio monitor buyer's guide to help you in your next studio monitor purchase!

Related article:
• Top 11 Best Studio Monitor Brands You Should Know And Use

Table Of Contents

• What Is Your Studio Monitor Budget?
• What Is The Size, Shape & Acoustic Treatment Of Your Room?
• Near-field, Mid-field, Or Far-field Studio Monitors?
• Active Vs. Passive Studio Monitors
• Studio Monitor Size
• Studio Monitor Frequency Response
• Styles Of Studio Monitor Enclosures
• What About A Subwoofer?
• Know The Additional Costs Of Studio Monitor Accessories

What Is Your Studio Monitor Budget?

The first thing to consider when making any purchase is your budget. Money can be a touchy subject for some, so I'll keep this section brief.

I would never advise anyone to overspend on any audio equipment. Know what you can realistically afford, and do your best to stay within those limitations, whatever they may be.

Studio monitors, like many audio devices, range significantly in price. The market is rather large, and so there should be a good selection for any budget.

Note that some retailers offer payment plans, which could be an option.

Consider the cost-to-benefit ratio of the purchase of the studio monitors. For example, if the monitors are needed for business, perhaps stretching the budget is more appropriate. On the other hand, if you don't plan on making money with the monitors, perhaps a more conservative budget is appropriate.

Also, consider any additional accessories or upkeep that may be required for your studio monitors.

Only you can determine your budget. All I'm here to say is that you should consider it.

Related My New Microphone article:
• How Much Do Loudspeakers Cost? (With Pricing Examples)

Back to the Table Of Contents.

What Is The Size, Shape & Acoustic Treatment Of Your Room?

When opting to listen, mix and master with studio monitors, we must consider the acoustics of the listening environment, i.e., the room.

Before discussing the general rules about room dimensions, it's paramount to mention acoustic treatment. Even the best monitors will suffer in performance if the room is poorly treated.

Highly reflective surfaces will cause reflections and standing waves since the initial energy/sound from the monitors is poorly dissipated and absorbed. This will cause issues with echo, reverb, resonance, and overall muddiness in the listening environment.

Highly reflective surface materials include marble, clay brick, ceramic tile, concrete, plaster, metal, glass, hard plastic and even wood.

Acoustic treatment is available to help reduce reflections and “deaden” the room, thereby reducing echo, reverb, resonance, and overall muddiness and greatly improving the listening environment's accuracy.

Acoustic treatment includes:

• Bass traps: designed to absorb bass frequencies that build up in the corners of a room. They are made from porous materials like foam and rigid fibreglass.
• Acoustic panels: designed to absorb full-range frequencies, typically against walls. They are thinner than bass traps and, therefore, not as absorbent with low frequencies.
• Ceiling clouds: designed to absorb full-range frequencies against ceilings. Like acoustic panels, they are thinner than bass traps and, therefore, not as absorbent with low frequencies.
• Diffuser panels: designed in 3D shapes to diffuse sound rather than absorb it. They help to keep some liveliness in the room while reducing resonance greatly.

Related article: Top 11 Best Acoustic Treatment Brands For Home & Pro Studios

So, it's important to have proper acoustic treatment if you want a proper listening environment for your studio monitors. Moving on, how do the size and shape of the room affect the optimal choice of studio monitors?

In general, smaller rooms sound better with smaller monitors.

Though acoustics is deeply complex, my typical recommendations (assuming 8-10 foot ceilings) are as follows:

• Under 150 ft² (14 m²): 5″ monitors or smaller – choose near-field monitors
• Between 150 ft² (14 m²) and 270 ft² (25 m²): 5″ to 8″ monitors – choose near-field monitors
• Over 270 ft² (25 m²): 8″ monitors or larger choose near-field, mid-field or far-field monitors

Of course, these are just guidelines. Large monitors could work in smaller rooms, though the bass frequencies will likely cause issues, especially in poorly treated spaces. Similarly, small monitors could work in large rooms, though they may not fill them the same and may lack in perceived bass.

We'll get into the aforementioned near-field, mid-field and far-field monitors in the following section.

Proper acoustic treatment is important, as is proper monitor placement. Positioning the monitors at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) from the wall will help mitigate bass buildup behind the monitors.

Furthermore, positioning the monitors and listening position within an equilateral triangle with the monitors at ear height will work wonders for focusing the initial sound at the listener. From the other viewpoint, this equal distance between the monitors and the listener will make the listening position much more focused on what the monitors are playing and less on the issues of the room.

The room dimensions or shape of the room come into play when considering acoustics. The more square/rectangular a room is, the stronger the resonances and standing waves will be. If the wavelength of a frequency is equal to the distance between two parallel surfaces (or half, quarter, eighth, etc. the distance), the chance for resonance is increased.

Additionally, oddly shaped rooms will cause more diffusion but will be less predictable in their acoustic nature.

Some studio monitors come with software and DSP to help tune/EQ the monitors to the room. These features are great, but it's rather difficult to optimize any playback system in a poor acoustic space. Remember that when choosing your monitors, and perhaps opt to spend less on the monitors and more on acoustic treatment!

To learn more about EQ, check out my Complete Guide To Audio Equalization & EQ Hardware/Software.

Thanks for reading through this portion of the article. Room acoustics and dimensions may not apply directly to the specs of studio monitors but are critical in the performance of such monitors.

With that, let's focus the discussion on the studio monitors themselves.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Near-field, Mid-field, Or Far-field Studio Monitors?

We briefly touched on near, mid and far-field monitors in the previous section. As their names would suggest, each of these monitor “types” is designed to be positioned at certain distances from the listener.

Near-field Studio Monitors

Most situations call for near-field monitors. These monitors are designed to be positioned close to the listener, often between 2-4 feet away. This proximity makes it so that, ideally, more direct sound from the monitors will reach the listener than indirect sound (from the room reflections).

This high ratio of direct to indirect sound is a great benefit for identifying issues in mixing and mastering applications.

Near-field monitors are designed with smaller drivers (their woofers are generally 8″ or less) and are often 2-way speakers (with a woofer and a tweeter).

The smaller size of these monitors gives them a relatively narrow frequency response, though 8″ monitors will often cover most of the audible range.

Though perhaps not the most accurate across the frequency spectrum, these responses are generally flat/neutral and can even be thought of as beneficial in translating the mix to consumer playback systems.

On the topic of frequency response, near-field monitors often benefit from the addition of a subwoofer, though this addition needs to be considered within the context of the room.

Near-field monitors are generally placed on stands or isolation pads to position and mechanically isolate them better.

• Click the link to check out near-field studio monitors at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out near-field studio monitors at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out near-field studio monitors on Amazon

Far-field Studio Monitors

Far-field studio monitors are generally only found in high-end mixing and mastering facilities. These are larger monitors designed for placement along the perimeter of a mixing room, often 8 feet or more from the listening position, mounted behind the mixing console/desk.

At this distance, much more of the room acoustics will be apparent in the sound. So not only do we need a large enough space to distance the monitors from the listening position, but we also need a properly treated and acoustically pleasant room as well.

For these reasons, far-field studio monitors are generally only used in high-end studios.

In addition to the cost of the physical space, far-field monitors also tend to have high price tags. They have larger, more powerful drivers and must be tuned to have a flat/neutral frequency response that extends across the audible frequency range.

Notably, far-field monitors are tasked with producing low-end bass frequencies, which will actually have the chance to develop in the distance between the far-field monitors and the listening position.

• Click the link to check out far-field studio monitors at Sweetwater

Mid-field Studio Monitors

Mid-field studio monitors aim to be a happy medium between near-field and far-field monitors.

They're larger and more powerful than typical near-field monitors and often employ a 3-way driver system (woofer, mid-range and tweeter drivers) rather than the typical 2-way near-field setup. The drivers and enclosures are bigger, and the amplifiers offer more gain.

Mid-fields are often used in larger rooms where the proximity of near-field monitoring is preferred and/or the room acoustics aren't great. They can be positioned a bit further and offer a better bass response. Before moving on, I'll reiterate my loose recommendations:

• Under 150 ft² (14 m²): 5″ monitors or smaller – choose near-field monitors
• Between 150 ft² (14 m²) and 270 ft² (25 m²): 5″ to 8″ monitors – choose near-field monitors
• Over 270 ft² (25 m²): 8″ monitors or larger choose near-field, mid-field or far-field monitors

• Click the link to check out mid-field studio monitors at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out mid-field studio monitors at B&H Photo/Video

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Active Vs. Passive Studio Monitors

Studio monitors can largely be categorized as either active (requiring power) or passive (not requiring power). The need for power, or lack thereof, has to do with whether the monitor has a built-in power amplifier.

Speakers (including studio monitors) require speaker level signals to be driven properly—most audio equipment works at line level or at least close to line level. Professional line level signals are nominally +4 dBu (1.228 V_RMS). Speaker level signals aren't as standardized (speakers vary significantly in power handling capabilities) but range from just about line level to 100 V_RMS (+42 dBu or +40 dBV) or more.

Speakers need this higher-level signal for two general reasons:

First, speaker drivers are physical bodies that are required to move in order to produce sound. This takes more energy.

Second, line level signals are much more appropriate for making standard audio equipment affordable and compatible. Speaker level signals would overload line level equipment, causing damage. Furthermore, developing standard audio devices (compressors, equalizers, effects units, mixers, consoles, audio interfaces, etc.) to handle speaker levels would cost much more due to the additional electrical requirements and heat issues.

So, that's a long way of saying that studio monitors need power amplifiers to work properly.

Active monitors have built-in power amplifiers, while passive monitors rely on external standalone power amplifiers.

Passive Studio Monitors

By the last statement, we can infer that passive monitors are much more modular, meaning they can be paired with different amplifiers and crossover networks. Passive monitors are also lighter in weight and are often less expensive than their active counterparts.

The downside of passive monitors, though, is their modular nature. Matching the monitors to a compatible amplifier and crossover optimally requires knowledge of impedance and power ratings, along with understanding the preferred responses of the monitor drivers and the crossover points of the crossover.

• Click the link to check out passive studio monitors at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out passive studio monitors at B&H Photo/Video

A Note On Crossovers & Amplification Configurations

While on the topic of crossovers, I should mention single-amp, bi-amp, or tri-amp monitor configurations.

With a single-amp configuration, the incoming audio signal (often line level monitor/speaker output from an audio interface or mixing console) is passed through a power amplifier.

Once amplified to an appropriate speaker level, the signal is sent to a crossover that splits the signal into the appropriate frequency bands for each driver. There is only a single amp stage in this configuration, hence the name.

Bi-amp configurations put the crossover first, splitting the incoming audio signal into two frequency bands (for 2-way monitors). Each of the two bands is then amplified by its own power amplifier before reaching/driving the monitor drivers.

Tri-amp configurations are built on the same signal chain as the bi-amp configuration, but the signal is split three ways (for 3-way monitors).

Bi-amp and tri-amp designs tend to have a flatter frequency response and greater definition since more design detail is put into each driver, which improves performance.

To learn more about speaker crossovers, check out my article What Is A Speaker Crossover Network? (Active & Passive).

Active Studio Monitors

Though active monitors are subject to the amplification configurations mentioned above, they are certainly more convenient than their passive counterparts. The power amp and crossover are built into their design, meaning there's no need for external devices.

This not only saves space and cable runs, but if we consider the design of the monitor, the amplifier(s) and crossover should have the ideal specifications to match the monitor's drivers.

Active monitors are heavier and more expensive than their passive counterparts but are more popular due to their simplicity within the studio setup.

• Click the link to check out active studio monitors at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out active studio monitors at B&H Photo/Video

A Note On Power Specifications

Regardless of whether we choose an active or passive pair of monitors, we should consider the power rating. The greater the power rating, the more output level the monitors can produce.

With active monitors, the power amp is built-in, and the specs will not show how much power is available to each driver. Also, note the maximum SPL (sound pressure level) measured at 1 meter from the monitor.

If the specification is in reference to a single monitor, you can add 3 dB to that total to account for the fact you'll be using a pair of monitors.

With passive monitors, the power handling specification will show the maximum power the monitors can handle (typically per driver) from the external power amp and crossover. This spec is usually given as peak wattage. Surpassing this maximum could lead to damage to the monitor.

This power handling specification will help us in matching passive monitors to power amplifiers. It's also worth considering the maximum SPL for passive monitors to know their limits.

Though it's great to crank up the monitors every once in a while to hear your mixes and loud levels, it's actually better for health (hearing damage and ear fatigue) and overall mix quality (ear fatigue, enhanced bass response) to mix at lower levels.

To learn more about monitor/speaker power specifications, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• Complete Guide To Speaker Power Handling & Wattage Ratings
• Why Do Loudspeakers Need Power & How Are They Powered?
• Complete Guide To Power Amplifier Specifications & Data

Consider the following table, which shows the published data from the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regarding safe listening times at defined dB SPL:

Related My New Microphone article:
• What Are The Differences Between Passive & Active Speakers?

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Studio Monitor Size

Though we've already gone into detail about monitor size, I'd like to include this section anyway.

Once again, here are my recommendations for driver size:

• Under 150 ft² (14 m²): 5″ monitors or smaller – choose near-field monitors
• Between 150 ft² (14 m²) and 270 ft² (25 m²): 5″ to 8″ monitors – choose near-field monitors
• Over 270 ft² (25 m²): 8″ monitors or larger choose near-field, mid-field or far-field monitors

When dealing with near-field (and even mid-field) monitors, the driver sizes are important to note relative to our room size.

It's also worth considering the actual physical dimensions of the monitors as a whole. Will they fit on isolation pads on your desk, or will you need proper stands? How big should the stands be to accommodate the monitor footprints and allow for optimal height at the listening position?

The questions above are worth asking.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Studio Monitor Frequency Response

We touched on studio monitor frequency response in previous sections of this article. Let's reiterate a few points and discuss frequency response a bit further.

Frequency response refers to the frequency-dependent sensitivity of the studio monitor. In other words, how well the monitor will respond to and reproduce the frequencies of the incoming audio signal.

Frequency response specifications are generally given as a range from the lowest frequency the monitor can produce effectively and the highest frequency the monitor can produce effectively. The tolerance is often given as a plus/minus dB value (±3 dB, for example).

More accurate frequency response specifications are given on a performance graph, where frequencies (Hz) are along the x-axis, and relative output (dB) is along the y-axis. A response line is graphed to show the relative output across all frequencies of the monitor's response.

These graphs tell us the frequencies at which the monitor will be most and least sensitive and the regions where sensitivity rolls off completely.

To produce the most accurate response possible, in theory, would mean the frequency response graph is perfectly flat. No frequencies would be over or under-represented, and the monitor would reproduce audio perfectly.

However, as discussed, real-world acoustics must be taken into account since monitors produce sound waves in an acoustic environment.

The reflections and resonances of the room won't alter the frequency response of the monitors themselves. Still, they will alter how we ultimately hear the sound from the monitors within the listening environment.

Furthermore, positioning the monitors close to the wall will increase the perceived bass. This is because bass frequencies are fairly omnidirectional (they propagate in all directions at once). A quick reflection from a close wall will effectively add volume to the bass frequencies of the incoming sound waves.

Bass frequencies are also tricky to tame acoustically due to their long wavelengths. The lower the bass frequencies, the longer the wavelength and, therefore, the larger the bass traps must be to absorb them. Furthermore, bass wavelengths will often match the distance between two parallel surfaces in a room (two walls, the floor and ceiling, etc.) and cause standing resonant waves.

Even in acoustically treated spaces, bass frequencies can be a nuisance.

For that reason, it may actually be a good thing to choose a smaller monitor with less sensitivity or capability in its low-end frequency response. To push this point further, monitors with adjustable high-pass filters may also be worth considering to help tune their bass response to your room.

If the bass ends up lacking, an additional subwoofer can be included to cover the low-end frequencies when needed for mixing.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Styles Of Studio Monitor Enclosures

The enclosure type in the studio monitor design will also affect its frequency response. These enclosures can be categorized as sealed or ported.

Sealed Studio Monitor Enclosures

Sealed monitor enclosures, as their name suggests, are completely sealed off. Because the rear sound is completely trapped, sealed monitors are inherently inefficient and only produce half their potential in terms of output level.

That being said, sealed enclosures tend to offer a tighter, more accurate frequency response and a more direct sound, especially at the more directional mid and high frequencies. They're also easier to design and often cost less.

• Click the link to check out sealed studio monitors at B&H Photo/Video

Ported Studio Monitor Enclosures

Ported monitor enclosures, as their name suggests, are ported in the front and/or back. They allow sound to emanate from the front and/or the rear and are more efficient (louder) than their sealed counterparts.

The acoustic labyrinth design within a ported monitor largely depends on the monitor's design requirements. However, nearly all ported designs extend the low-end frequency response, making these enclosure types more capable of producing bass.

I'll bring up monitor positioning again. Placing ported monitors close to a wall or surface can really affect the perceived sound and frequency response, as all frequencies are emitted to the rear of the monitor in addition to the front. Placement of ported monitors, then, becomes an even bigger deal than it is with sealed monitors.

• Click the link to check out ported studio monitors at B&H Photo/Video

Related My New Microphone article:
• Why Do Loudspeakers Need Enclosures?

Back to the Table Of Contents.

What About A Subwoofer?

Let's talk about low-end frequencies once again. They're super important, but how important are they for monitoring purposes? Do you need a subwoofer?

Let's reiterate how bass frequencies act within a room. These low-end frequencies have longer wavelengths, which take space to develop fully and can cause resonances between parallel surfaces and within objects in the room.

For example, the lowest frequency on the audible spectrum (though we can barely hear it, naturally) is 20 Hz. If we take the speed of sound to be 343 m/s, then 20 Hz has a wavelength of 17.15 m (56 ft). That's a long distance to develop!

So, subwoofers may actually cause more harm than good in small rooms where the bass frequencies don't fully develop and interfere with other frequencies.

But even in large, treated rooms, a dedicated subwoofer may or may not be necessary.

Think about what you're mixing and what you plan on mixing.

If you're producing songs to be played at an EDM festival, you may need to invest in a subwoofer (and a room) that can accurately produce the low-end.

If you're mixing a movie, you'll definitely need to be able to monitor the low end accurately.

However, for a lot of music and multimedia, foregoing the subwoofer is perfectly fine. The low-end frequencies are often non-essential. Just be sure to high-pass tracks/signals if you're unsure of what's going on in the sub-bass range, as it can reduce headroom and affect the mix in playback systems that do have subwoofers.

That all being said, the beautiful thing about a subwoofer is that you can turn it off. Perhaps the best bet is to invest in a solid subwoofer and only use it when it's necessary.

• Click the link to check out subwoofer studio monitors at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out subwoofer studio monitors at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out subwoofer studio monitors on Amazon

Related My New Microphone article:
• Top 11 Best Subwoofer Brands (Car, PA, Home & Studio)

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Know The Additional Costs Of Studio Monitor Accessories

• Studio Monitor Stands/Pads
• Studio Monitor Cables

Studio Monitor Stands/Pads

Studio monitors often require stands or pads to optimize their position (especially height) and to mechanically isolate them from the bulk of the studio (the desk, for example).

• Click the link to check out studio monitor stands at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out studio monitor stands at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out studio monitor stands on Amazon

• Click the link to check out studio monitor isolation pads at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out studio monitor isolation pads at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out studio monitor isolation pads on Amazon

Studio Monitor Cables

When connecting studio monitors to your setup (to the audio interface, power amplifier or another device), you'll need cables.

For active monitors, XLR cables and 1/4″ (6.35mm) TRS cables are common for balanced audio, while 1/8″ (3.5mm) TRS is less common. RCA isn't that popular for high-end models but is used for unbalanced audio in some monitors.

Additionally, for active monitors that accept digital audio, XLR is again a popular option, though this time for the AES3 standard. BNC can also be used for digital audio connections, though this is rare.

Passive studio monitors will require speaker wire to connect to their appropriate power amplifier. These monitors often have binding posts or push terminals and require cables with compatible connectors.

Binding posts are flexible, allowing connection with bare wire, pin connectors, spade connectors, banana plugs, and dual banana plugs.

Related articles:
• Top 11 Best XLR Cable Brands In The World
• Differences Between 2.5mm, 3.5mm & 6.35mm Headphone Jacks

Back to the Table Of Contents.

The post The Ultimate Studio Monitor Buyer’s Guide first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

Computers have become ubiquitous in the modern world and provide us with numerous services, including multimedia tasks, where speakers are commonplace. If you've ever wondered how computer speakers work, this article is for you!

How do computer speakers work? Whether external or built-in, computer speakers work as transducers that convert the computer's audio into audible sound waves. By first converting the computer's digital audio to analog audio via a DAC, the speaker drivers (typically electromagnetic) vibrate coincidingly and emit sound.

In this article, we'll discuss the types of speakers used in computers, how computers connect to speakers (internally and externally), and how to incorporate other “non-computer speakers” into a computer setup.

What Kind Of Speaker Drivers Are Used In Computer Speakers?

Loudspeakers are transducers that convert audio signals (electrical energy) into sound waves (mechanical wave energy). Though there are plenty of different parts in the anatomy of speakers, the critical transducer device is called the driver.

So, it's the speaker's drivers that actually act to convert audio to sound.

Computer speakers, like the vast majority of other speakers, typically utilize what is known as electrodynamic, dynamic or “moving-coil” speaker drivers.

These drivers use electromagnetic induction to convert audio into sound. We'll discuss this driver type in greater detail in the next section.

Beyond the transducer type, we can further categorize computer speaker drivers. This is generally done by size and frequency response.

The audible frequency range for human beings is universally accepted as 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Typical electrodynamic drivers have a difficult time covering the entirety of this range, so we sometimes have to incorporate a variety of drivers into a computer speaker system.

If you've even heard the terms subwoofer, woofer, mid-range driver and/or tweeter, you've heard of the various “subtypes” of electrodynamic drivers.

Many computer speaker systems will come with multiple speakers. Typically, this involves a stereo pair (two of the same speakers for the left and right audio channels) and perhaps a subwoofer.

A computer subwoofer will handle the low-end frequencies (often from 20 Hz to about 80-120 Hz) and tend to have a single, large driver and a dedicated amplifier.

Other speakers may have multiple drivers to produce all other frequencies. Regular woofers work well in the low-mid and mid-frequency ranges; mid-range drivers excel at mids, and tweeters cover the high-end frequencies.

A crossover will be designed into these speakers to effectively filter the incoming signal and send the proper frequency bands to their appropriate drivers.

Of course, some computer speakers rely on a single driver per speaker to produce all of, or at least the majority of, the audible spectrum.

These speakers also typically have built-in amplifiers, which we'll discuss in greater detail in the upcoming section, Amplification & Properly Driving The Speakers.

To learn more about driver types and crossovers, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• Differences Between Mid-Range Speakers, Tweeters & Woofers
• What Is A Speaker Crossover Network? (Active & Passive)

How Do Electrodynamic Speakers Work?

As was discussed previously, electrodynamic drivers are by far the most common in computer speakers. Let's discuss how these electrodynamic speakers work, beginning with a brief overview of how they're built.

Here is a simplified cross-sectional diagram of a typical dynamic speaker driver:

As we can see, the dynamic speaker driver is made of many different components. Let's discuss the role of each part.

Diaphragm: the large, movable membrane designed to oscillate back and forth according to the audio signal waveform. As the diaphragm moves forward and backward, it pushes and pulls air, thereby producing the necessary sound waves. The diaphragm is made up of the cone and the dust cap (dome).

Cone: the thin membrane is attached to the voice coil at the inner circumference and is designed to move inward and outward along with the movement of the voice coil. It is attached to the voice coil at its centre and the surround at its outer circumference.

Dust cap (dome): keeps dust and other airborne debris out of the voice coil. To do so, it must attach to the cone and, in effect, become part of the speaker's diaphragm.

Suspension: connects the diaphragm to the housing/basket of the speaker. It allows for the proper amount of diaphragm excursion (Z-axis) while keeping the diaphragm and voice coil in their appropriate range of motion (restricting motion in the X and Y axes). The speaker suspension is made up of the surround and the spider.

Surround: the ring-shaped component that connects the cone/diaphragm to the basket/chassis of the speaker driver. It determines the limits of the diaphragm excursion and absorbs energy to reduce resonance.

Spider: the interior portion of the speaker suspension. Its main purpose is to keep the voice coil where it should be, allowing movement along the Z-axis and restrictive movement in the X and Y axes. The spider is connected to the voice coil at its interior and the basket at its exterior.

Voice Coil: a tightly wound (typically cylindrical-shaped) coil of conductive wire. It has a lead wire attached to either of its ends and becomes part of a circuit that passes the AC audio signal.

Magnetic structure: the structure that provides a concentrated permanent magnetic field in the driver and, in particular, the voice coil.

Magnet: the main source of the speaker driver's magnetic field (the pole piece extends the magnetic poles of the main magnet).

Top pole plate: extends one magnetic pole of the magnet to the exterior of the voice coil.

Yoke (bottom pole plate + pole piece): the bottom pole plate and upward-reaching pole piece are often referred to together as the yoke. This component is the back of the loudspeaker and extends the opposite magnetic pole to the interior of the voice coil.

Basket: the stationary physical housing that connects to the magnetic structure at the bottom, the surround at the top, and the spider somewhere in the middle.

So, how does this design come together to function as a speaker driver?

Let's begin with the audio signal. Note that the audio must be analog to drive the speaker, even though computers are digital devices. We'll discuss this issue later in the article in the section The Digital-Analog Conversion Process. For now, just know that the audio signal is analog, which means it's an AC electrical signal.

This AC audio signal passes through the voice coil, and a coinciding magnetic field is produced thanks to electromagnetic induction. Electromagnetic induction states that an electrical current through a conductor will produce a magnetic field. The AC, through the voice coil, then causes an alternating magnetic field.

The varying magnetic field produced in/around the voice coil interacts with the permanent magnetic field of the driver's magnets. As the voice coil's magnetic field alternates, the coil is attracted and repulsed, causing the voice coil to oscillate in a way that mimics the audio signal waveform.

The diaphragm, which is attached to the voice coil, will also move with the voice coil.

The spider restricts the voice coil motion to the Z-axis only and, combined with the surround, limits the excursion of the diaphragm.

So, the voice coil and diaphragm move according to the audio signal. The movement of the diaphragm pushes and pulls the air around it and produces increases and decreases in localized pressure, which are effectively propagated outward as sound waves.

So that answers how computer speaker transducers work.

For more related information on electrodynamic speakers, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• Why And How Do Speakers Use Magnets & Electromagnetism?
• How Do Speakers Produce Sound? (A Helpful Beginner's Guide)
• Do Bigger Magnets Make For Better Loudspeakers?

How Do Speakers Connect To Computers?

In this section, we'll be discussing the methods by which external computer speakers connect to their computers.

There are two general connection options: wired and wireless.

Wired Computer Speakers

As the name suggests, wired computer speakers connect to one of the computer's ports via a cable/wire. Therefore, they must have a connector type compatible with the computer. Typically, this means a USB or 3.5mm “aux” connector.

USB Computer Speakers

USB carries digital audio, defined in 3 different classes named Class 1, 2 and 3.

Class 1 can send up to a maximum of 24-bit 96 kHz, while Class 2 can support up to 24-bit 192 kHz. Class 3 supports the same resolution as Class 2 but uses less power and is less susceptible to jitter and data loss.

USB computer speakers will have their own built-in DACs (digital-analog converter) to convert the digital audio sent from the computer via USB to analog audio that can be amplified, sent through crossovers (if applicable), and used to drive the speakers.

The Logitech S150 computer speakers connect via USB.

3.5mm Computer Speakers

3.5mm wired connections connect the computer speakers via the computer's “headphone jack”. These cables utilize 3.5mm (1/8″) TRS connectors to transfer unbalanced stereo audio signals, much like headphones.

In this scenario, the DAC is within the computer's sound card, which converts the computer's digital audio into analog audio right before the headphone/3.5mm jack. This analog audio is sent through the 3.5mm “aux” cable to the speaker's amp/crossover before driving the individual speakers and drivers.

Note that other wired speakers (“non-computer” speakers) can also be connected to a computer. This is commonly the case with studio monitors, which connect to the computer via a standalone audio interface.

These monitors often connect via balanced 1/4″ TRS or XLR cables, which connect to the monitor outputs of the interface. The interface then connects to the computer via USB, Thunderbolt, FireWire, etc.

The Logitech Z130 computer speakers connect via the computer's 3.5mm jack.

Wireless Computer Speakers

Bluetooth connectivity makes up the vast majority of wireless computer speaker options. Practically all computers on today's market have Bluetooth capabilities, and the technology is perfect for connecting computer speakers.

Bluetooth computer speakers receive digital audio wirelessly via the Bluetooth protocol when paired with the computer.

These speakers accept digital audio via BT wireless transmission. Though there are several data transmission methods within the Bluetooth standard, the typical BT audio transfer between a computer and its computer speakers is as follows:

• The computer's digital audio signal is encoded by a codec (typically SBC “Low Complexity Subband Code,” which is supported by all devices) in the A2DP transfer standard.
• This encoded audio signal is used as the modulating signal that modulates the Bluetooth UHF radio carrier signals.
• The radio carrier waves are transmitted wirelessly as per Bluetooth standards between the audio device’s BT transmitter and the Bluetooth speakers' BT receiver.
• The Bluetooth receiver then decodes the modulation signal from the carrier wave.
• The A2DP encoded signal is then further decoded back to the intended digital audio signal (compression losses apply when encoding and decoding the signal).

The wirelessly transmitted digital audio signal is then converted into analog by the speaker's built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC). It's then amplified and sent through a crossover (if applicable) to drive the computer speaker drivers, which produce sound.

The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 is a 2.1 computer speaker system (stereo pair plus subwoofer) that connects via Bluetooth.

For more information on Bluetooth speakers, connecting other speakers to computers, and standard audio jacks/plugs, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• How Do Bluetooth Speakers Work & How To Connect Them
• How To Connect Speakers To A Computer (All Speaker Types)
• Differences Between 2.5mm, 3.5mm & 6.35mm Headphone Jacks
• Are AUX (Auxiliary) Connectors & Headphone Jacks The Same?

How Are Speakers Incorporated Into Computers?

Let's switch our focus to built-in computer speakers.

Internal computer speakers are also exclusively electrodynamic. They, too, require analog audio, which means that there must also be a digital-analog converter(s) inline between the computer's digital audio playback and its internal speakers.

Much like external speakers, internal computer speakers also require an enclosure. These enclosures are small but necessary space within the computer that allows the speaker to move and push sound waves appropriately.

This is sometimes taken for granted, but a speaker without housing or enclosure would have no directivity and would be incapable of producing adequate sound.

Additionally, these built-in speakers also need amplifiers (also built into the computer) to amplify the computer's audio signal.

The number of speakers within a given computer depends on that computer. Many internal computer speakers are set up to provide stereo sound, though the speakers are often too close and too low of quality to truly give a convincing stereo image.

The Digital-Analog Conversion Process

We've discussed DACs in several sections above, so let's now dive a bit deeper into the digital-analog conversion process.

As the name would suggest, the process involves converting digital audio to analog audio.

DACs can be found as standalone Hi-Fi devices and within dedicated studio-grade audio interfaces but are also built into USB and Bluetooth computer speakers and computer soundcards.

So, the question is: how do digital-analog converters work?

Let's frame this discussion by stating that digital audio is technically a representation of analog audio. DACs read this digital representation and convert it back to the electrical AC analog audio signal.

Analog signals are continuous waveforms between a high and low voltage with frequencies within (and sometimes beyond) the audible range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Digital audio signals are discrete waveforms that are sampled many times per second (sample rate) and given an amplitude value per sample based on a set number of possible amplitude values (bit depth).

Typical sample rates include 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz (samples per second). Typical bit depths include 16-bit (65,536 possible amplitudes) and 24-bit (16,777,216 possible amplitudes).

A digital-analog converter reads these digital audio signals on a per-sample basis and decodes the information to output a smooth, continuous analog signal.

Related articles:
• Are Loudspeakers & Monitors Analog Or Digital Audio Devices?

Amplification & Properly Driving The Speakers

As was previously mentioned, the analog signals must be amplified to drive the speakers effectively. The amplifiers that bring audio signals up to speaker level are largely known as power amplifiers.

The built-in speakers of a computer (if the computer has built-in speakers) will be driven by a built-in power amplifier. Note that these amps will not be overly powerful but are still necessary. Built-in computer power amps are often built onto a printed circuit board within or near the computer's internal sound card.

For all external computer speakers, the power amplifier will be either a separate unit (less common) or built into one of the computer speaker system's speaker units (more common).

With external computer speakers, the audio output is either digital via USB or the headphone output. With USB, the converted audio signal isn't strong enough to properly drive speaker drivers.

The 3.5mm headphone jack, which does have a built-in DAC and amplifier, is strong enough to drive headphones but is generally not strong enough to drive proper speakers.

So either way, the external speakers need a power amp. Since computer speakers are considered “consumer-grade,” they will come with their own amplifiers, keeping things simple for the consumer.

For more information on speaker amplification, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• Why Do Speakers Need Amplifiers? (And How To Match Them)
• What Are The Differences Between Passive & Active Speakers?

Selecting The Appropriate Speakers As The Computer's Audio Output

There must be communication between the two devices for our computer speakers to produce the computer's audio effectively.

First and foremost, ensure any and all necessary device drivers are installed if you're using USB speakers. Fortunately, speakers that connect via the headphone jack and receive analog audio, as well as those that work on the Bluetooth standard, will not require drivers.

Device drivers (not to be confused with speaker drivers) are a set of files that tell a piece of hardware how to function by communicating with a computer's operating system. Many computer speaker systems are “plug-and-play” and will work with stock drivers, but some will require dedicated drivers to work with the connected computer.

Beyond that, we must ensure that the computer is outputting audio to the appropriate audio output device (in this case, the computer speakers).

Connecting Computer Speakers Via USB

When connecting via USB, make sure the connected speakers are set as the computer's audio output device.

In Mac OS, The Path To Choose The Computer Speaker As The Audio Output Is:

• -> System Preferences
• -> Sound
• -> Output

In Windows, The Path To Choose The Computer Speaker As The Audio Output Is:

• -> Control Panel
• -> Sound
• -> Playback

Connecting Computer Speakers Via Headphone Jack

When connecting via the headphone jack, make sure the speakers are connected. The computer's soundcard should automatically toggle between “Internal Speakers” and “Headphones/Speakers.”

If the computer speakers do not connect, turn them off, unplug them from the computer, and plug them back in.

If this does not work, troubleshoot your specific computer model by looking online for forums or contacting the customer service department of your computer's manufacturer.

Connecting Computer Speakers Via Bluetooth

When connecting via Bluetooth, put the speaker in pairing mode. Open up your computer's Bluetooth preferences, and select the computer speakers to pair with.

How To Connect/Pair Bluetooth Speakers To A Computer/Laptop Running Mac OS

1. Make Your Mac OS Computer Discoverable

How to make a computer/laptop running Mac OS discoverable:

• System Preferences>Bluetooth
  • Click “Turn Bluetooth On”

It should read “Now discoverable as “computer_name”

2. Pair The Mac OS Computer With The Speaker

• System Preferences>Bluetooth
  • Under Devices
  • Click “Pair” next to “speaker_name”

3. Unpair/Disconnect The Mac OS Computer From The Speaker

• System Preferences>Bluetooth
  • Under Devices
  • Click the “x” next to “speaker_name”
  • Click “Remove”

How To Connect/Pair Bluetooth Speakers To A Computer/Laptop Running Windows OS

The pairing process in Windows 10 is a two-way process. That is to say that both devices have to accept to be paired.

1. Make Your Windows OS Computer Discoverable

How to make a computer/laptop running Windows OS discoverable:

• Settings>Devices>Bluetooth>Manage Bluetooth Devices
  • Click Turn Bluetooth On

It should read, “Your PC is searching for and can be discovered by Bluetooth devices.”

2. Pair The Windows OS Computer With The Speaker

• Settings App>Devices>Bluetooth & Other Devices
  • Click Add Bluetooth Or Other Device
  • Click “speaker_name”

Alternatively

• Control Panel>Hardware And Sound>Devices And Printers
  • Click Add A Device
  • Click “speaker_name”

3. Unpair/Disconnect The Windows OS Computer From The Speaker

• Settings App>Devices>Bluetooth & Other Devices
  • Click “speaker_name”
  • Click “Remove Device”
  • Click “Yes”

Using Other Speaker Types With Computers

There are plenty of speakers on the market that are not designed specifically for computers. In fact, most professional audio, public address, high fidelity, and portable speakers are not designed specifically for computers.

So, how can we connect these other speakers to our computers?

We've already discussed how studio monitors are typically connected to computers via studio-grade audio interfaces.

Much like how Bluetooth “computer speakers” connect wireless via Bluetooth, so too do the other (often portable) Bluetooth speakers on the market, including soundbars and Bluetooth PA speakers.

High-fidelity and audiophile-grade speakers will usually connect to a computer via an equally high-end external DAC. These digital-analog converters are top-of-the-line in maintaining the truest signal possible.

Note that high-resolution (hi-res) digital audio formats are required for an optimal listening experience (such as FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, and DSD).

Home theatre and other entertainment system speakers are generally connected to a central AV receiver or integrated amplifier. In this case, we can often connect our computer to the receiver/amp in order to effectively connect the computer to the speakers.

Connecting your computer to your car speakers is as easy as connecting your smartphone to your car. Plug it in via the auxiliary cable or use Bluetooth if possible.

Related articles:
• Top 8 Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker Brands On The Market
• Top 11 Best Soundbar Brands On The Market
• Top 11 Best Car Audio Speaker Brands In The World
• Top 11 Best Studio Monitor Brands You Should Know And Use
• Top 11 Best Home Speaker Brands You Should Know And Use
• Top 11 Best PA Loudspeaker Brands You Should Know And Use
• Top 10 Best Loudspeaker Brands (Overall) On The Market Today
• Top 11 Best Subwoofer Brands (Car, PA, Home & Studio)
• Top 11 Best Power Amplifier Brands In The World
• Top 11 Best AV Receiver Brands In The World
• Top 11 Best Desktop DAC (Digital-Analog Converter) Brands
• Top 9 Best Portable DAC (Digital-Analog Converter) Brands

Related Questions

How do we connect a microphone to a computer? Connecting a microphone to a computer requires an audio interface. Audio interfaces physically connect mics to computers and convert analog audio signals into digital info. USB mics contain simple but limited interfaces, whereas standalone interfaces can connect entire studios to a single computer.

Continue reading: How To Connect A Microphone To A Computer (A Detailed Guide)

Do audio interfaces improve computer audio? A quality audio interface will nearly always outperform a computer's built-in stock sound card in terms of audio quality. This is true in terms of digital-analog conversion (and analog-digital conversion), amplification, and latency.

The post How Do Computer Speakers Work? (Built-In & External) first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

So you're wondering which PA speaker(s) you should buy, rent or otherwise try out. In this comprehensive buyer's guide, we'll go through everything worth considering before you make any decisions about public address system loudspeakers.

If you've found yourself asking, “Which PA speakers should I buy?” this extensive resource is for you.

Please feel free to jump around this article and read all the additional resources I have provided links to.

With that, let's get into this comprehensive PA speaker buyer's guide to help you in your next PA speaker purchase!

Related article:
• Top 11 Best PA Loudspeaker Brands You Should Know And Use

Table Of Contents

• What Is Your PA Speaker Budget?
• What Is The Intended Application & Size Of The PA System?
• How Loud, How Much Power & How Many Speakers?
• Powered Vs. Unpowered PA Speakers
• Speaker Power Handling, Sensitivity, Max SPL & Coverage Angle
• Main PA Speakers
• Subwoofers
• Foldback/Stage Monitors
• Understanding Speaker Connections
• Understanding Speaker Driver Configurations, Crossovers & Bi-Amplification
• Know The Additional Costs Of PA Speaker Accessories
• Beyond PA Speakers Into General PA System Design

What Is Your PA Speaker Budget?

The first thing to consider when making any purchase is your budget. Money can be a touchy subject for some, so I'll keep this section brief.

I would never advise anyone to overspend on any audio equipment. Know what you can realistically afford, and do your best to stay within those limitations, whatever they may be.

PA Speakers, like many audio devices, range significantly in price. The market is rather large, and so there should be a good selection for any budget.

Note that some retailers offer payment plans, which could be an option.

Consider the cost-to-benefit ratio of the purchase of the PA speaker(s). For example, if the PA speaker(s) are needed for business, perhaps stretching the budget is more appropriate. If, on the other hand, you don't plan on making money with the PA speaker(s), perhaps a more conservative budget is appropriate.

Also, consider any additional accessories or upkeep that may be required for your PA speaker(s).

Only you can determine your budget. All I'm here to say is that you should consider it.

Related My New Microphone article:
• How Much Do Loudspeakers Cost? (With Pricing Examples)

Back to the Table Of Contents.

What Is The Intended Application & Size Of The PA System?

As the name suggests, a public address system addresses the public. The setting and the size of the “public” varies widely from one application to the next.

For example, if you're looking to buy PA speakers for your garage band jam sessions, you'll likely need a lot less than if you're setting up sound reinforcement for a huge music festival.

So, knowing the size and intended applications is the first step in deciding what PA speakers to buy. Opt for bigger or more speakers if there are opportunities to use them, even if only a smaller setup is required most of the time.

Generally speaking, there are three size ranges for PA systems. Let's list them and discuss the typical applications and speakers:

Personal: Personal PA systems have one or more speakers or small speaker arrays that act as main speakers and monitors. These setups are often found in jam spaces, coffee shops, and other small venues.

Medium-size: Medium-size PA systems consist of two or more main speakers (on either side of the stage), speaker monitors, and even subwoofers in some instances. These setups are found in small-to-medium-sized clubs, halls, outdoor venues and other venues.

Full-scale: Full-scale PA systems consist of multi-speaker line arrays, subwoofers, and elaborate monitoring systems. These setups are found in theatre halls, stadiums, large clubs, large outdoor music festivals, and other venues that require high sound levels.

Of course, these systems also require mixers, amplifiers (unless you have a small system with a single powered speaker), and cables. A lot more goes into a public address system than just the speakers, and knowing the intended application(s) will help you choose the best speaker and other components.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

How Loud, How Much Power & How Many Speakers?

When choosing your PA systems, it's critical to have an idea of how loud you'll need it to be.

An outdoor 100,000-person festival is going to need magnitudes more power than your local coffee shop open-mic night.

Small rooms need less power, and the fewer people in the room, the less power is needed. Though far from standardized, I recommend the following loose power requirements for small rooms:

• Under 500 square feet: 200 Watts RMS or less
• Under 1,000 square feet: 800 Watts RMS or less
• Under 2,000 square feet: 2,000 Watts RMS or less
• Under 4,000 square feet: 4,000 Watts RMS or less

Large stadiums and outdoor events often require hundreds of thousands of watts to be sent to large numbers of speakers, including subwoofers.

Unfortunately, there are no hard rules for the optimal amount of power for a PA system. That being said, here are some points to keep in mind:

• Indoor spaces require less power than outdoor spaces
• The more absorptive material in the space (including people), the more power is needed
• Subwoofers need more power

Related article: Is Playing Music Loud Bad For (Damaging To) Speakers?

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Powered Vs. Unpowered PA Speakers

Powered and unpowered speakers, often called active and passive speakers, respectively, are easy to understand. Powered (active) PA speakers require power to function, while unpowered (passive) PA speakers do not.

What would a speaker need power for? Powered/active speakers have internal amplifiers. Amplifiers require a good amount of power to amplify line level signals to speaker level signals to move the speaker drivers and produce sound effectively.

Additionally, powered speakers tend to have built-in volume control (control over the internal amplifier), along with EQ and even wireless connectivity in some cases.

Powered speakers do not need external power amplifiers to drive them. There's no need for an additional power amp, nor is there no need for a powered mixer (which, like a powered speaker, has a built-in power amp). We can plug line level signals directly into powered speakers and have them work.

As we'd expect, powered speakers are generally heavier and more expensive than their unpowered/passive counterparts.

However, they benefit from the ease of use as standalone units or as parts of a larger system.

Since each powered speaker has its own power amp, there will be no extra strain on any external power amp from connecting more speakers. The built-in amplifier is also designed specifically for the driver(s), so we don't have to worry about matching the two.

• Click the link to check out powered PA speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out powered PA speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out powered PA speakers at Amazon

Unpowered/passive speakers do not have any active components. They are essentially driver(s) in an enclosure with passive crossovers.

Therefore, passive speakers require an external power amp to amplify the audio to a level adequate to drive them properly. These amps can either be standalone units or built into the powered mixer.

When choosing one, two, or more passive speakers for a PA system, it's essential that the amplifier(s) is capable of driving them. Matching amplifiers and speakers is a science of its own.

Passive PA speakers tend to be lighter, making them easy to set up and transport.

• Click the link to check out passive PA speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out passive PA speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out passive PA speakers at Amazon

So which should you buy? My advice would be to consider the application.

When setting up huge full-scale PA systems or even medium-sized systems, opt for passive/unpowered PA speakers with dedicated power amplifiers. Many passive speakers make for a lighter setup, and having separate power amps allows for better control over the system.

An active/powered PA speaker (or several) will likely be best for all smaller setups. They're heavier, but with a small setup, this isn't a huge deal. With no external amps or need for a powered mixer, they're also easier to set up.

Related articles:
• Why Do Loudspeakers Need Power & How Are They Powered?
• What Are The Differences Between Passive & Active Speakers?

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Speaker Power Handling, Sensitivity, Max SPL & Coverage Angle

Let's discuss a few important specifications to consider when choosing PA speakers:

• Power handling
• Sensitivity
• Maximum sound pressure level
• Impedance
• Coverage angle

PA Speaker Power Handling

What is speaker power handling (wattage rating)? The speaker power handling specification (aka wattage rating) is the measured or theoretical limit of electric power the speaker is capable of handling before burning out. The spec is given in watts and can be measured/calculated as a continuous, peak, or root mean square (rms) value.

Power handling applies mostly to passive speakers, which need separate power amplifiers to drive them. It's critical that we do not exceed the rated power handling/wattage rating to keep our PA speakers working properly. Exceeding these levels, especially over extended periods, will cause irreversible damage to the speaker's driver(s).

Unfortunately, there are numerous ways in which the power handling spec of a speaker is given (peak, RMS, average, continuous, program, and nominal power/watt values can be given).

Some manufacturers bend the truth to make their speakers look more powerful than they actually are. Do your research to find out exactly what the specification means according to the manufacturer's datasheet.

Additionally, power handling doesn't tell us how loud a given speaker will be. That information is to be found in the sensitivity and max SPL specifications.

For more information, check out my Complete Guide To Speaker Power Handling & Wattage Ratings.

PA Speaker Sensitivity

What is speaker sensitivity? Sensitivity is a specification/measurement of how well a speaker converts amplifier power (electrical energy) into acoustic (mechanical wave) energy. Sensitivity specifications are generally given as decibels of sound pressure level per 1 watt of power at 1 measurement distance of 1 meter.

Put differently, speaker sensitivity is generally given as a dB SPL / 1 W @ 1-meter rating.

Higher sensitivity PA speakers will produce more volume given the same amount of power. Therefore, if two speakers have the same power handling/wattage rating, the more sensitive speaker will have a higher maximum level.

Note that the sound pressure level produced by the speaker is halved (-6 dB) for every doubling of distance. This is why the 1-meter unit is critical in the sensitivity specification.

Confusingly, the perceived loudness is doubled or halved for every +10 or -10 dB change. Additionally, a doubling or halving of power is defined by +3 or -3 dB. The math is rather complex, but it's important to note.

As an example, a maxed-out 500-watt speaker with a sensitivity of 93 dB SPL / 1 W @ 1 m will be the same volume as a maxed-out 1,000-watt speaker with a sensitivity of 90 dB SPL / 1 W @ 1 m.

The main takeaway is that sensitivity should be considered when choosing a PA speaker.

For more information on speaker sensitivity and decibels, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• The Full Guide To Loudspeaker Sensitivity & Efficiency Ratings
• What Are Decibels? The Ultimate dB Guide For Audio & Sound

PA Speaker Maximum Sound Pressure Level

What is the maximum SPL specification of a speaker? The maximum SPL specification of a speaker refers to the maximum sound pressure level (typically at a distance of 1 metre from the speaker) the speaker is capable of producing before burnout.

The maximum SPL specification of a speaker refers to the maximum sound pressure level (typically at a distance of 1 metre from the speaker) the speaker is capable of producing before burnout.

That being said, some manufacturers will give ratings at different distances and even include long-term maximum SPL ratings that are analogous to the continuous power handling ratings.

Maximum SPL ratings are sometimes measured but are often calculated theoretically.

Obviously, choosing a PA speaker with a higher max SPL will give you more perceived volume.

PA Speaker Impedance

What is speaker impedance? Speaker impedance, measured in ohms (Ω), is the electrical impedance (AC resistance) encountered by the audio signal (electrical AC) at the input of the speaker driver. Impedance affects the load a speaker places on an amplifier and is an important spec when matching speakers and amplifiers.

Speaker impedance is a significant specification when connecting passive speakers to power amplifiers. Impedance specs matter less with active speakers, which accept line level or even mic level signals.

A speaker with a lower impedance will require more power to achieve the same voltage (signal level) across its driver.

The power amplifier output driving the passive PA speaker should ideally have less than one-tenth the nominal impedance of the speaker input for proper signal transfer.

Amplifier output impedance specifications are generally given as “rated impedances,” which refer to the speaker impedance(s) the amp can drive properly. The real output impedance of a power amplifier is usually less than 0.1 Ω, but this is rarely specified.

Impedance is also critical when connecting multiple speakers to a power amplifier. Speakers can be connected in series or parallel.

Speakers connected in series are connected along a single conductive path. The same current flows through all of the speakers, but voltage is dropped across each of the speakers (due to the speaker's impedance).

The combined impedance of the series speakers is as follows:

Z_T = Z_1 + Z_2 + \ldots + Z_n

Speakers connected in parallel are connected along multiple paths so that the current is split up, but the same voltage is equal across each speaker.

The combined impedance of the parallel speakers is as follows:

\frac{1}{Z_T} = \frac{1}{Z_1} + \frac{1}{Z_2} + \ldots + \frac{1}{Z_n}

For more information on speaker and amplifier impedance, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• The Complete Guide To Speaker Impedance (2Ω, 4Ω, 8Ω & More)
• What Is Amplifier Impedance? (Actual Vs. Rated Impedance)

PA Speaker Coverage Angle

What is speaker coverage angle? The coverage/dispersion specification refers to the directionality of the speaker’s sound output. The coverage spec is often given as an angle along the horizontal plane that cuts through the on-axis line of the speaker and another angle along the vertical plane that cuts through the on-axis line.

The coverage can be imagined as a 3-dimensional conical-shaped sound front emanating from the speaker. The coverage limits are often defined as a -6 dB drop from the on-axis (directly in front of the speaker) SPL.

If we're planning on projecting sound to an audience with our PA speakers, we should note the coverage angle(s) of the speaker to help position them for optimal performance across as much space as possible.

To learn about all the specifications related to loudspeakers, check out my article, The Full List: Loudspeaker & Monitor Specifications w/ Examples.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Main PA Speakers

The main PA speakers are the audience-facing full-range speakers tasked with projecting sounds to the audience. In smaller systems, there may only be one main speaker or, usually, one on either side of the stage.

In large venues, main speakers may be more numerous on stage and even positioned along the sidewalls and ceiling. In even larger venues, including stadiums and outdoor stages, large speaker arrays may carry multiple main speakers in several locations.

These are the most important in the system, so choose wisely.

If you're forgoing a subwoofer, choosing a larger main speaker (or speakers) will help produce some of the low-end that would otherwise be produced by the sub. 15 and 18-inch main speakers will typically cover a good amount of the low-end frequency response.

Smaller main speakers (8 and 10″ are common) work as well, especially if a subwoofer is included.

The size will play a role in the overall weight of the speaker, which may be a concern.

• Click the link to check out PA speakers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out PA speakers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out PA speakers at Amazon

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Subwoofers

Subwoofers are essential for producing the low-end audio information of bass guitars, kick drums, and other bass elements.

The long wavelengths of bass frequencies require a lot of power to be heard (and mostly felt) by the audience. A separate subwoofer with a separate amplifier will perform the task of producing the low-end, leaving the main speakers to cover the clarity of the mids and highs.

Bigger subwoofers tend to have more extended low-end frequency responses. As we'd expect, they also require more power.

• Click the link to check out subwoofers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out subwoofers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out subwoofers at Amazon

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Foldback/Stage Monitors

Foldback or stage monitors are wedge-like speakers positioned on stage that allow the performers to hear/monitor themselves.

Since the main speakers and subwoofer face away from the stage toward the audience, the sound on stage may be a bit lacklustre for the performers. Monitors tend to have performer-specific mixes, allowing those on stage to hear what they need to hear to perform at their best.

When setting up foldback monitors, we must be aware of the potential for feedback between the monitors and microphones. Positioning the monitors and microphones appropriately is paramount.

To read more about microphone feedback, check out 12 Methods To Prevent & Eliminate Microphone/Audio Feedback.

• Click the link to check out foldback monitors at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out foldback monitors at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out foldback monitors at Amazon

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Understanding Speaker Connections

There are plenty of different connectors in audio equipment. This is, of course, true of loudspeakers. When it comes to PA speakers, the typical options are minimized to 4 main connection types:

• TS
• TRS
• XLR
• SpeakON

TS

TS stands for Tip-Sleeve, a connector type that has two conductors and carries unbalanced audio signals. These connectors are typical for instruments like electric guitars but are rare with PA systems.

That being said, TS cables (typically 1/4″ form factor) can be used with 1/4″ TRS jacks, which we'll get to next.

TRS

TRS stands for Tip-Ring-Sleeve, which is a 3-conductor connector that carries balanced audio signals. These connectors are also typically 1/4″ (though some speakers may have 1/8″ options).

XLR

XLR is a common circular connector with 3 pins (yes, there are other pin counts, but they are not used with PA speakers). These connections are often used to carry balanced mic level or line level signals to powered speakers but are also used in unpowered speakers (typically with lower power ratings).

SpeakON

SpeakON is a multi-pin connector popular on PA speakers and power amplifiers with high wattage ratings. These connectors are reliable and can handle high-level speaker level signals better than the previous options.

Combo Jacks

Note that combo jacks off the combination of 1/4″ TRS and XLR in a single jack.

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Understanding Speaker Driver Configurations, Crossovers & Bi-Amplification

A speaker driver is a transducer responsible for converting audio signals into sound waves. Many speakers have multiple drivers, each with its own designated frequency range where it performs optimally.

Much like how separate subwoofers will improve the bass response of a system, separate drivers within a single PA speaker will likely improve its overall frequency response.

A single driver tasked with producing the entire frequency range will suffer in one way or another due to the physical nature of drivers and the wide range of audible frequencies. A speaker with multiple drivers will be able to reproduce the entire frequency spectrum with greater accuracy so long as those speakers are configured correctly.

Typical drivers include subwoofers (generally in their own speakers), woofers (produce low-mids and mids), mid-range drivers (produce mids), and tweeters (produce high-end frequencies).

A proper PA speaker will typically have at least a woofer and a tweeter. The number and style of the drivers included in the speaker are known as the speaker driver configuration.

To send the proper audio signal frequencies to the proper drivers, we need a crossover. The crossover effectively splits the audio signal frequencies with filters.

Crossovers can be passive or active and can be built into the speaker or in a separate unit. Knowing the frequencies at which the crossover splits the signal can help you hone in the mix in the sometimes-awkward crossover points of the system.

Note that a speaker with 2 different driver types (and, therefore, a single crossover frequency) is called a 2-way speaker. A speaker with 3 different driver types (and, therefore, two crossover frequencies) is called a 3-way speaker.

Bi-amplification is the process of splitting an audio signal into two frequency ranges and sending these two new signals to separate amplifiers, which drive their own speakers.

This is similar to a crossover, except the process happens mostly outside the speakers and offers additional control over the system's gain stages. It is, therefore, largely a practice of large-scale PA systems.

Bi-amplification is ideal for a separate subwoofer and main speakers. Tri-amplification, quad-amplification, and so on are also possible.

Related articles:
• Differences Between Mid-Range Speakers, Tweeters & Woofers
• What Are Speaker Drivers? (How All Driver Types Work)
• What Is A Speaker Crossover Network? (Active & Passive)

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Know The Additional Costs Of PA Speaker Accessories

• Speaker stands
• Speaker covers

Related article: How Long Should Loudspeakers Last (Typical Lifespan)?

PA Speaker Stands

A PA speaker stand holds a PA speaker in place, off the floor/ground or even, in some cases, the wall.

Stands are often adjustable, allowing users to select the ideal height for the speakers. They also work, to some degree, to mechanically isolate the speaker from the floor, thereby minimizing the transfer of mechanical vibrations to and from the speaker.

• Click the link to check out PA speaker stands at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out PA speaker stands at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out PA speaker stands at Amazon

PA Speaker Covers

A PA speaker cover is a protective jacket that goes over the speaker during transportation and storage to help keep the speaker from getting wet, scratched or otherwise damaged.

• Click the link to check out PA speaker covers at Sweetwater
• Click the link to check out PA speaker covers at B&H Photo/Video
• Click the link to check out PA speaker covers at Amazon

Back to the Table Of Contents.

Beyond PA Speakers Into General PA System Design

This article is far from providing a full picture of an entire PA system.

A PA system can be super-simple or ultra-complex. There are all-in-one/pre-designed systems on the market, and there's really no limit to how involved you can become with PA system design.

Though the main focus of this article is to help you choose the loudspeakers for the PA system, there are plenty of other pieces worth considering. In addition to the speakers and the speaker accessories mentioned above, PA systems may include any of the following items:

• Microphones
• Wireless microphone systems
• Microphone stands
• Cables & snakes
• Mixing console
• Equalizers & other processors/effects units
• Power amplifiers
• Crossovers

Back to the Table Of Contents.

The post The Ultimate PA Speaker Buyer’s Guide first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

Portable Bluetooth speakers provide incredible flexibility when it comes to listening to audio and general entertainment.

Whether you're connecting to a cell phone on the lake or to your laptop in your room, a quality Bluetooth speaker can improve your listening experience wherever you go.

With so many options and features to choose from, it can be tricky to find the optimal portable Bluetooth speaker for your needs. Though the brand is far from the most critical factor, knowing the top players regarding portable Bluetooth speakers is relevant. In this article, I've assembled what I believe to be the top 8.

Though obviously subjective and prone to biases, I've done my best to list out these brands based on the following metrics (in no particular order):

• Company reputation
• Performance of the portable Bluetooth speakers
• Longevity of the portable Bluetooth speakers
• Availability of the portable Bluetooth speakers
• The company must currently be in operation

With all that being said, let's list out the brands.

The Top 8 Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker Brands Are:

1. JBL
2. Sonos
3. Bose
4. Ultimate Ears
5. Sony
6. Beats
7. Bang & Olufsen
8. Tribit

Let's get into each of these brands in greater detail and explain why they belong in the top 8 best portable Bluetooth speaker brands. I'll share their country of origin, a bit of history, an example of a standout speaker, and a link to their official website.

Click here to return to My New Microphone's articles on musical equipment brands/manufacturers.

JBL

What started as a sonic revolution among professional musicians, music studios, and musical instrument amplification became a worldwide phenomenon when Harman International bought the company in 1969.

All the leverage of creating the best speakers in the world for the highest demanding scenarios spread through homes around the globe, and, nowadays, JBL is a synonym of great sound, reliability, and performance.

Moreover, JBL Bluetooth speakers are among the best-selling globally and played a key role in the widespread of the idea among travellers and youngsters. JBL is an audio brand you know you can trust.

Notable portable Bluetooth speaker: JBL Lifestyle JBL Charge 5

This is a powerful speaker bearing a tweeter and a long excursion driver between dual JBL bass radiators. With this speaker configuration, this unit that can deliver greatly detailed sound for 20 hours on a single charge covers most frequencies in any music style.

Also, it is a Bluetooth speaker with IP67 water and dust-proof rating, meaning you can take the fun with you everywhere.

But it doesn't end there. Using JBL's PartyBoost, you can connect several units together to uplift the party atmosphere around you.

Finally, it features a built-in power bank that allows you to charge your phone while playing music.

Sonos

Mutually connected devices for households are commonplace today, but to come up with such a concept in 2002 was, at least, groundbreaking.

A lot has happened in the last decades.

As much as technology moved forward in the ground of wireless speakers, the competitive advantage of being a pioneer still makes a difference between Sonos and the rest of the brands.

If you want to truly unleash the power of wireless audio technology, you have to give Sonos a try.

Notable portable Bluetooth speaker: Sonos Move

This Bluetooth speaker by Sonos is not only weatherproof but also drop-resistant. Moreover, it is made for the audiophile on the go since it delivers top-notch audio quality through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wherever you go.

Furthermore, such is Sonos' expertise in this field that the speaker adapts to its surroundings, and thus, you get to enjoy a rich bass, wide mids, and crisp highs indoors and outdoors.

Finally, it is also compatible with built-in voice control assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri. If you are a music lover on the move, you have to give the Move a chance.

Bose

As another pioneer in the field of Bluetooth audio, Bose is a brand that is often associated with high-end audio on the move. Although they started the wireless revolution early on, their main focus was headphones.

By the time they moved on to portable speakers, they had already gained leverage that placed them among the best in the industry almost automatically.

If you want to test the amazing sound of Bose in the most comfortable and portable shape possible, try one of their wireless speakers and learn why they are a sound legend.

Notable portable Bluetooth speaker: Bose SoundLink Revolve II

One of the keys to understanding what makes this a great Bluetooth speaker is the concept of 360-degree sound that delivers uniform audio in every direction.

The music played by this speaker can be on for 17 hours on a single charge, and with an IP55 rating, you don't have to worry about water or dust either.

Also, this speaker is made to be used with smartphones, and hence, the company included a built-in microphone that allows you to take or make hands-free calls.

Finally, use Bose's SoundLink technology to connect several Bluetooth speakers in Party or Stereo Mode.

Ultimate Ears

For this company, it all started because Eddie Van Halen played guitar too loud on stage. Jerry Harvey was Van Halen's monitor engineer and couldn't get drummer Alex Van Halen to hear the band through regular monitors.

Thus, he created a custom earpiece for him to wear and resolved the problem.

e didn't know he was starting a revolution, and soon after, the know-how of working with some of the most demanding musicians in the world allowed him to create his own company and apply all the knowledge to creating amazing-sounding household equipment.

If you want a brand that is not afraid of going loud and capable of some serious Bluetooth rumble, you have to give Ultimate Ears a chance.

Notable portable Bluetooth speaker: Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3

The legacy of endless touring with rockers is a new concept of the word loud. When applied to Bluetooth speakers, the result is something close to this MEGABOOM 3 that excels in low frequencies while keeping clean and crisp mids and highs.

Also, the cylindrical design allows the unit to play even sounds in 360 degrees, allowing everyone around to enjoy the music equally.

Speaking of which, the oversized woofer takes care of the beat and rumble to make everybody move. If you are looking for a rocking loud Bluetooth speaker, this is your best bet.

Sony

Being on the podium as one of the largest manufacturers of professional and consumer electronic products in the world is, by itself, a huge achievement.

That being said, the company's main focus (and the reason it earned most of its reputation) is sound quality.

In this sense, Sony has an advantage over other brands because it is capable of mixing cutting-edge technology with sound know-how and the budget to invest largely in research and development.

The result is nothing short of a worldwide legend you can depend on for outstanding audio quality.

Notable portable Bluetooth speaker: Sony XG500

This IP66 rating unit is water and dust-resistant and capable of playing your favourite music loud and proud for 30 hours on a single charge.

Plus, the X-Balanced Speakers by Sony are responsible for some serious rumble since they are very rich in low frequencies. Nevertheless, the mids remain clear while the top end delivers chime with no harshness.

Also, the great news about this Bluetooth speaker is that it features an input for a microphone or guitar, making it the perfect companion for musicians on the road.

Finally, you can link up to 100 of these utterly portable, lightweight speakers in Party mode.

Beats

Hip Hop legend Dr. Dre and record label executive Jimmy Iovine joined forces with Monster Cable Products to create the ultimate line of headphones and speakers for music lovers in 2006.

The products were so amazing that by 2011, 64% of the headphones above $100 sold in the US were Beats. In 2014, Apple made the biggest move in the company's history and acquired Beats for $3 billion.

Nowadays, Beats headphones and Bluetooth speakers continue to cause a revolution in the market as the combined effort of one of the world's leading computing companies and the know-how of sound gurus.

If you haven't already, you have to check Beats out.

Notable portable Bluetooth speaker: Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Pill+

Power and definition aren't words you see together all the time, especially when talking about small Bluetooth speakers like this.

Thanks to this speaker's active 2-way stereo crossover, it sounds like a speaker twice its size. Also, this effect creates a wider dynamic range, and music in every genre sounds just as lively.

With a single charge, the Pills+ can offer 12 hours of uninterrupted music. Also, you can connect two to create a real stereo image and make or receive calls with its built-in speakerphone. Before purchasing your next speaker, give the Pill+ a try.

Bang & Olufsen

Denmark's reputation for stylish design and precision is part of this company's DNA. Indeed, they have been creating and selling top-notch audio equipment with a revolutionary approach for almost a century.

During that time, the know-how increased exponentially, and nowadays, they are one of the most sought-after companies in Europe.

Such is the case that Audi, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, among many others, trust the audio in their high-end models to Bang & Olufsen to this day.

If Bang & Olufsen is good enough for a car such as the Audi R8 ($140,000+), it might be good enough for you as well.

Notable portable Bluetooth speaker: Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1

Don't be fooled by this near-weightless, small unit because it packs some serious specs under the hood.

To begin with, it is weather and dust-proof and omnidirectional-sounding, which makes it perfect for outdoor reunions and music on the go. Also, it can be your perfect travel companion, playing non-stop for up to 18 hours on a single charge.

The A1, as small and portable as it is, not only sounds powerful, but it also features integrated voice assistance, a speakerphone, and the audio quality you would expect from a brand like Bang & Olufsen.

Finally, it comes in many colours and is equipped with a comfortable carrying cord.

Tribit

Thousandshores Inc. is a company dedicated to making high-quality consumer electronics to enhance people's lives.

Within that scope of work, they came up with this subsidiary to make easy-to-carry, great-sounding speakers that could make it easy for people to take killer beats with them everywhere they go.

Tribit represents the excellence of making top-notch consumer electronics and the know-how of the hired group of notables that designed and built some of the best portable Bluetooth speakers in the market today.

Notable portable Bluetooth speaker: StormBox Pro

This is a revolutionary design capable of delivering 2.1 sound in a single speaker. It is possible because of the company's own X-Bass technology that enhances the low frequencies while keeping the mids and highs clear and bright.

Specifications of the StormBox Pro include IP67 water resistance and a battery life of 24 hours on a single charge.

Finally, the QCC Bluetooth chip delivers flawless connectivity, and it is possible to use two of them in stereo pairing for enhanced sound capabilities. Tribit makes the best-sounding beat-oriented Bluetooth speakers on the market; it is high time you check them out.

The post Top 8 Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker Brands On The Market first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

A quality soundbar can save listeners a good amount of money versus buying HiFi floorstanding or bookshelf speakers for their entertainment system.

Soundbars are a considerable improvement over stock television and computer speakers, and many are of great value when the price is factored in.

Though the brand is far from the most critical factor when choosing the optimal soundbar for a given system, it’s relevant to know the top manufacturers of soundbars. In this article, I’ve assembled what I believe to be the top 11 brands.

Though obviously subjective and prone to biases, I’ve done my best to list out these brands based on the following metrics (in no particular order):

• Company reputation
• Variety of soundbar options
• Performance of the soundbars
• Accessibility of the soundbars (how easy they are to find/buy)
• The company must currently be in operation

With all that being said, let’s list out the brands.

The Top 11 Best Soundbar Brands Are:

1. Sonos
2. Klipsch
3. JBL
4. Bowers & Wilkins
5. Denon
6. Sennheiser
7. Sony
8. Yamaha
9. Goldenear
10. Samsung
11. Bose

Let’s get into each of these brands in greater detail and explain why they belong in the top 11 best soundbar brands. I’ll share their country of origin, a bit of history, a notable soundbar model, and a link to their official website.

Click here to return to My New Microphone’s articles on musical equipment brands/manufacturers.

Sonos

The Company started manufacturing mutually connected audio devices for households in 2001 when it was unheard of. After critical acclaim, they expanded not only their production capacity but also the scope of their work.

Nowadays, they own offices in Australia, Germany, Denmark, China, France, USA, Netherlands, UK, and Sweden, besides a store in London and another in New York City.

Sonos solidified itself in the niche of smart speakers. Its soundbars are among the most advanced, technologically speaking, while also providing some of the best audio quality on the market.

Notable soundbar: Sonos Arc

The Sonos Arc features eleven high-performance speakers to create a fully immersive experience.

First, the dual woofers on the sides provide rich bass and rumbly lower tones.

Second, the precisely-designed tweeters and drivers are specially tuned to make voices and dialogue crispier and more intelligible.

Finally, it all comes in a wireless soundbar compatible with voice controls, the most famous music platforms, and Dolby Atmos, ready to hang under your TV.

Furthermore, utilizing AirPlay 2, you can stream straight from your phone even if the TV is off. This magnificent soundbar is available in black or white.

Klipsch

Committed to Hi-Fi speakers since day one, Klipsch represents the best set of speakers money can buy for many audiophiles around the world.

Indeed, they have provided high-fidelity systems, loudspeakers, enclosures, and drivers to companies and end-users since 1946. In January 2011, the company was acquired by Voxx International.

Klipsch's lineup of products features fantastic soundbars that, without a doubt, give the brand a top spot on this list.

Notable soundbar: Klipsch Heritage Theater Bar

To begin with, the looks on this soundbar are unlike the rest because the company decided to on real wood (black ash or walnut), and it adds an elite touch to the finish.

Although a beautiful piece, this handmade unit also features serious power, reaching the sonic performance of a three-speaker system in an easily mounted single design.

Finally, the sound is what you would expect from a world-class brand like Klipsch. It utilizes Tractrix Horn-Loaded technology, six cerametallic woofers (the pinnacle of the Klipsch line), and titanium tweeters for crisp, crystal clear results over that strong bass.

This soundbar looks great and sounds even better.

JBL

JBL products are the trademark sound of a generation sounding loud and proud in studios worldwide, including the legendary Capitol Records in Hollywood. The company was sold to Harman International in 1969 and successfully expanded to the household market, creating legendary pieces that sound amazing and don’t break the bank.

JBL has a spectacular catalogue of speakers, and the brand's soundbars add to the company's reputation as one of the best for home audio needs.

Notable soundbar: JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Speaking of sounding great and not costing a fortune, this robust piece by JBL fits that bill with grace.

For starters, it is a 250-watt unit that supports Dolby Virtual Atmos, can connect to most streaming services, and can be controlled via Alexa and Google Assistant as well.

Connection-wise, this soundbar is also very versatile since it can support HDMI (in & out), ethernet, and optical connections, as well as Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, and Google Chromecast.

Sound-wise, the powerful delivery comes from five 50-watt speakers capable of a frequency range going from 50Hz to 20kHz, covering most of the audible frequencies for humans. If you are looking for performance on a budget, this might be your best choice.

Bowers & Wilkins

Very well-known for being one of the pioneers of using Kevlar for audio, this company has a strong commitment to research and development.

Moreover, they have an entire facility dedicated only to that called SRE or Steyning Research Facility.

Because of being always a top-notch, audiophile-grade brand, its line grew to include some of the most cutting-edge technology in audio. In 2020, it was acquired by Sound United LLC.

Bowers & Wilkins doesn't have the most extensive collection of soundbars. However, we shouldn't mistake quantity for quality. The B&W Formation Bar is near the top of the best soundbars on the market.

Notable soundbar: Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar

The Formation system by Bowers & Wilkins is a group of products that can provide any home with a multi-room, multi-channel system in which to play either their favourite music or watch movies with immersive, amazing sound.

The heart of the system is the Formation bar, which houses 9 different drivers, including a three-driver center channel for increased detail.

Plus, you can easily link it to Bass and Flex products to create real surround sound at home.

Finally, it is 100% compatible with Roon, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth, as well as Bower & Wilkin’s own music app.

Denon

Denon is a high-end audio company dedicated to building systems for the most demanding audiophiles in the world.

Denon merged with another audio giant, Marantz, to form D+M Holdings Inc. By March 2017, D+M Holdings was acquired by Sound United LLC, which remains the parent company to this day. Such was Denon’s and Marantz’s expertise that during mergers and acquisitions, no structure was modified.

With a great depth of knowledge and resources, the company has produced several high-end soundbars under the Denon brand.

Notable soundbar: Denon DHT-S716H

Inside this great-looking soundbar, Denon set up a performance-tuned driver array capable of delivering Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master surround sound.

Denon made it possible to have a fully immersive experience with a single apparatus. That being said, it is also compatible with Denon’s subwoofer in case you want to push the low frequencies a little further.

This soundbar not only looks exceptional, but it is also an outstanding performer in any living room. In that sense, connectivity-wise, this soundbar can connect to HEOS, which opens up a whole universe of possibilities at hand.

Finally, it can do it all in style without any cables in sight.

Sennheiser

Although Sennheiser started as a microphone producer (which it's still largely known for) right after WWII, it soon branched out into sound design and research.

After sustained decades of non-stop growth, the company now has offices in Germany and the USA and factories in Germany, Ireland, the USA, Romania, and China.

They manufacture and export state-of-the-art equipment to over 50 countries around the world to critical acclaim. To this day, it is still a family-owned business. Sennheiser's soundbars, like their mics, are among the best money can buy.

Notable soundbar: Sennheiser AMBEO

Rather than a soundbar, a good description for the Sennheiser AMBEO is “a multi-speaker home cinema system capable of delivering 3-D audio experiences”. The only catch with that definition is making it clear that all of it is packed in one sleek-looking, easy-to-install bar.

The AMBEO is made of elegant, tuxedo black, brushed aluminum featuring nothing but minimalistic details. But looks are not all since this great-sounding piece is compatible with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and MPEG-H and can deliver 5.1 audio.

Finally, the AMBEO is fully compatible with Bluetooth technology and features a built-in Google Chromecast. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Sony

Sony is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of professional and consumer electronic products. The company excels in each of the niches it participates such as video, photography, and video games.

That being said, its strongest field has continually been audio; they are responsible for cutting-edge technology and many innovations that have changed the way we listen to music today.

Within Sony's deep catalogue of world-class audio devices are some of the market's best soundbars. So whether it's your first Sony product or another piece to the collection, choosing a Sony soundbar will surely improve your system.

Notable soundbar: Sony HTX8500

This dual-subwoofer design, complemented by dual front speakers, delivers deep bass and horizontal surround sound with defined, crystal-clear mids and highs. These four speakers are all this exceptional soundbar needs to provide the feeling of being immersed in a 7.1 experience with sound coming from every direction.

This unit by Sony is compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and capable of reproducing 4K HDR sound while taking the smallest real estate possible in your living room.

Furthermore, the patented Sony technology applied to voice enhancement can make vocal performances cut through even the most hectic action scenes.

Yamaha

Yamaha is a corporation that needs no introduction in any of the industries they excel at, from musical instruments to motorcycles. The leverage of over a century of crafting the best instruments on the planet gave Yamaha the know-how to create some of the best-sounding audio devices in the market today.

Yamaha's soundbars build upon its deeply impressive catalogue of top-notch technology. Expect nothing but the best from this brand when it comes to choosing your soundbar.

Notable soundbar: Yamaha MusicCast YSP-5600

The best way to begin describing one of the most monstrous and great-sounding soundbars in the world is by saying that it houses 46 state-of-the-art speakers specially built to create the feeling of a 7.1.2 system immersing the user in 3-D surround sound.

But it isn’t all about the astonishing power and definition; this soundbar is also compatible with the latest technology, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Moreover, you can connect it with Bluetooth or AirPlay and stream your favourite music all day long. Finally, all the fine-tuning can be done with Yamaha’s own MusicCast app; you can even direct the sound beams straight to your chair!

Yamaha did it again.

GoldenEar Technology

Sandy Gross founded three audio companies that changed the landscape of high-end audio: Polk, Definitive Technology, and Goldenear.

His expertise and leverage in the audio field took him to the highest standards, and his creations are still sought-after audiophile-grade units that can enhance any sound system.

Despite his past achievements, he believes he is doing his best work today with Goldenear; critics and fans agree. Superb soundbars are among this incredible work.

Notable soundbar: GoldenEar SuperCinema 3D Array XL

The SuperCinema 3D Array XL is the biggest model of the series, comprising 8 speakers capable of creating a surround effect and achieving 3-D audio performance in a single unit.

Plus, this soundbar comes with High-Velocity Folded Ribbon tweeters for uncanny definition, especially in the human voice and the mid-high frequencies.

Also, the Mag-X Coupling Crossover Technology allows this soundbar to offer greater detail while delivering an improved 3D image that goes full 180 degrees and covers the entire room. In this case, the sound is not only larger than the source; it is also an immersing experience on its own.

Samsung

Samsung is another company that needs no introduction. They have exceeded customer expectations in every niche they've decided to involve themselves in.

As was mentioned earlier, Samsung even owns the JBL brand, though the Samsung brand of soundbars also deserved recognition in this list.

The company builds large ships as well as tiny Bluetooth headphones with the same passion for excellence. The consistent results in the electronic and audio industry are just what you would expect from a company its size with such leverage and know-how.

Notable soundbar: Samsung The Terrace HW-LST70T

Unlike all the models above, this soundbar was designed to work outdoors and bring vibrant, powerful sound to gatherings without the need for walls or a ceiling. That is exactly where the name comes from, and it is the perfect companion for Samsung’s Terrace TV.

This soundbar is not only capable of some serious rumble with 210 watts of rich, deep tones coming from the central subwoofer, but it is also unaffected by high temperatures and best-in-class IP55-rated for water and dust resistance.

Finally, it is effortless to stream any content you want to this device via Bluetooth or AirPlay.

Barbecues and sports get to a different level with Samsung's The Terrace soundbar.

Bose

Bose is a synonym for some of the best audio equipment for home use and the best companion on the road in the shape of noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds. The brand's soundbars extend its notoriety as one of the best in the business when it comes to delivering exceptional sound to listeners.

Nowadays, the Bose Corporation employs over 9,000 people around the world and is one of the leading companies in the home audio segment. You really can't go wrong choosing Bose for your soundbar needs.

Notable soundbar: Bose Soundbar 700

This powerful soundbar by Bose is the perfect living room sound system.

To begin with, it comes with built-in Alexa, Google Assistant, and Bose’s Voice4Video technology to use only your voice to access all of its features. Plus, you can connect to it via Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, your home’s Wi-Fi, and Spotify Connect.

Another great feature of this soundbar is that you can sync it with your favourite wireless headphones or add any other satellite speakers, making it a part of Bose’s Smart family of products.

Finally, it is also compatible with the Bose Music App, which allows you to fine-tune all sound preferences and set up the entire system in your house.

The post Top 11 Best Soundbar Brands On The Market first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

A studio monitor and a bookshelf speaker may share similar form factors and aesthetics, but do they serve the same purpose? Furthermore, can you use them for both endeavours?

What are the differences between studio monitors and bookshelf speakers? Studio monitors are designed for monitoring the sound of a mix in studio environments and are, therefore, intended to represent the authentic sound of the audio. Bookshelf speakers, though similar in size, are designed for entertainment and are not as precise in their audio recreation.

In this article, we'll discuss the differences between studio monitors and bookshelf speakers and deepen our understanding of their intended purposes.

What Are Bookshelf Speakers?

Let's begin by defining what bookshelf speakers are. They are speakers meant to be placed on a shelf (hence the name), a tabletop, or any other elevated surface other than the ground. They need this location because they are specially designed and manufactured to produce sound in small and medium-sized spaces.

The term “bookshelf” is largely used as a way to discern these speakers from floor-standing speakers, which are designed to be placed on the floor.

There are plenty of different audio setups that bookshelf speakers can be a part of, and they can be voiced to suit different uses and tastes.

For example, you may want a system of bookshelf speakers to accompany your movie setup. On the other hand, you may opt for a pair of audiophile-grade bookshelf speakers to listen to your favourite records.

Regardless of the type you choose, bookshelf speakers are for sound appreciation. This means that they are made for people who love sound but don't necessarily require the most precise sound reproduction.

The emphasis is always on enjoyment when it comes to bookshelf speakers. They are typically designed to make them sound more dynamic and interesting.

For example, newer brands concentrate a lot of their effort on providing an enhanced low-end response to match the trends of bass-heavy musical genres.

This means that the “voicing” or “colour” of the bookshelf speaker (their frequency response curve) has to match the taste and need of the person buying them.

Moreover, many brands have a reputation for having a particular character in some frequencies.

In this sense, those who acquire, for example, an integrated amplifier and bookshelf speakers from the same specific brand could very well be buying a specific tone and flavour they prefer for their sound system.

The NTi A3 was a popular (now discontinued) bookshelf speaker from Polk Audio. This 2-way speaker has a 1″ dome tweet and a 6.5″ woofer and is a superb and affordable option for home audio applications.

What Are Studio Monitors?

Now that we have clearly defined what bookshelf speakers are, we must address what studio monitors are. Studio monitors are tools used by sound professionals who produce audio products. From recording to editing, mixing and mastering, studio monitors help pros work with audio.

They are not made to colour the sound or even necessarily to appreciate the sound. Rather, good studio monitors are designed to clearly represent the audio, giving the audio engineer a proper sonic picture of the audio in question.

Studio monitors are also typically suspended in the air or placed on sound-isolating stands (more on this later) and work in small to medium environments.

Yet, the big difference is the functionality they need to accomplish. So, again, studio monitors are tools, not entertainment.

In this sense, we can say that they don't necessarily engage the “fun factor” for the listener. Moreover, they are specifically designed to avoid that kind of response. They should be as clear and transparent as they can possibly be. Otherwise, audio engineers may be misled in their efforts, mixing into an already coloured monitoring system.

Of course, it's a good idea to monitor your mixes on as many different playback systems as possible to ensure the mix sounds good across all listening environments. Studio monitors are intended to be the most accurate transducers but are rarely employed by end-users (listeners).

Some engineers even opt to switch between monitors and bookshelf speakers to A/B their mixes from the same listening environment in their control rooms.

Other engineers invest in multiple pairs of proper studio monitors to gather even better A/Bing to help ensure mix translatability.

The term used to define the relatively boring characteristic of studio monitors is “flat response”.

More specifically, studio monitors should have a flat frequency response, whereby no specific frequencies are over or underrepresented compared to others.

Of course, this is easier said than done, as it's incredibly difficult (practically impossible) to construct the perfect speaker from 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz. Different studio monitors will offer varying frequency responses, though they are designed to be much more flat and transparent than bookshelf speakers.

Designing and building a studio monitor with a flat frequency response takes a great deal of effort. For this reason, you'll typically see higher price tags on studio monitors than on bookshelf speakers.

The KH 420 is Neumann’s flagship studio monitor. It's a 3-way tri-amplified (class AB) midfield studio monitor, ideal for listening distances of 1.5 to 3 metres, offering extraordinary bass depth (26 Hz) with high sound pressure (122.4 dB).

Active Or Passive?

The active/passive design of speakers is another huge difference between studio monitors and bookshelf speakers, especially in high-end products.

On the one hand, the best quality, most expensive audiophile bookshelf speakers are often passive. This is because audiophiles usually use their own pre and power amplifiers to push them with music.

This ensures they'll get the flavour they need without anything adding noise to the line. Indeed, swapping speakers and amplifiers will alter the sound of an entertainment system.

For more information on the relationship between amplifiers and speakers, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• Why Do Speakers Need Amplifiers? (And How To Match Them)
• Which Is More Important, Speakers Or Amplifiers?

On the other hand, the best-quality, most expensive studio monitors are always active. This means that they have internal amplification and do not require an external power amp to drive them. Having an internal amp helps to ensure the monitors will reproduce sound as intended.

No amplifier swapping means no adjustments to the sonic character of the monitors.

Now, when we go to the multimedia, movie lovers, gamers, and people looking for a good pair of speakers to listen to music in the living room, we encounter passive and active bookshelf speakers.

Though based on similar design principles, active bookshelf speakers are intended mainly for easier playback without the need to connect them to a designated external amplifier.

To learn more about active and passive speakers, check out my article What Are The Differences Between Passive & Active Speakers?

Flexibility & Connections

The flexibility and connections offered by studio monitors and bookshelf speaker types will vary.

Most high-end powered studio monitors have balanced connections for line level signals. These connectors are generally either ¼” balanced TRS or 3-pin XLR. Balanced connections/cables offer superior noise performance thanks to EMI shielding and common-mode rejection.

The Dynaudio Core-47, for example, has 2 XLR inputs and a USB input.

Many multimedia-intended bookshelf speakers have an assortment of features onboard, like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Physical connections are mostly done with unbalanced coaxial RCA, though other connections may be used as well.

The Klipsch Reference R-51PM is an affordable pair of bookshelf speakers with Bluetooth wireless technology and the following wires connectivity:

• 1 x Stereo RCA Input
• 1 x Optical TOSLINK Input
• 1 x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm Input
• 1 x USB Type-B (Audio)
• 1 x Micro-USB (Service)
• 1 x RCA Output (Subwoofer)
• 1 x Binding Post Pair Output
• 1 x Binding Post Pair Input

Audiophile bookshelf monitors usually employ the highest quality connectors available.

For example, it isn't strange to spot binding posts for gold-plated banana or spade plug connectors at the amplifier and the speaker(s).

The Bowers & Wilkins 705 S2 is a 2-way bookshelf speaker with two binding post pairs per speaker.

Adding to these differences, most audiophile-grade passive bookshelf speakers have a strong aesthetic element to the design. In other words, they either look otherworldly and utterly cool or solid, vintage, and classy.

Studio monitors and multimedia speakers usually utilize a more practical approach and traditional look and focus more on the flat response than aesthetics. Of course, this is only a rule of thumb to which there are countless exceptions.

Let's Talk Stands

Before concluding the article, we must address one more topic: stands.

Whether we talk about multimedia, studio, or audiophile speakers, they need to be on a stand for optimal performance if they are not designed to be sitting on the floor. The reason being is that there is sound transference between the bottom part of the speaker and the surface where they are.

This might translate sonically into a muddy-sounding piece of equipment.

Moreover, you'd be throwing your hard-earned money away because the research and development of these specific designs envision some kind of isolation in the base (provided by a high-quality stand).

So, if you are going to spend some money on getting the best speakers possible, you should invest a little more and get them some stands, too. This will indeed enhance your experience as a listener and prevent you from working with a non-existent bass frequency coming from the rumbly bottom instead of the music itself.

This is true of studio monitors and high-end bookshelf speakers, even though the term “bookshelf” doesn't necessarily refer to speaker stands.

There are plenty of speaker stands on the market with a variety of designs. Check out popular options at Sweetwater by clicking here.

Final Words

A good pair of bookshelf speakers or studio monitors is a near must-have for music lovers and sound engineers, respectively. They play a big part in how you experience audio.

In the case of studio engineers, proper monitoring can play a significant role in the quality of their work.

Additionally, music lovers who invested their money in a record collection, a great turntable, and good cables should never compromise their system because of inferior-quality bookshelf speakers.

Finally, in audio, just like in many other areas of life, the chain is only as good as the weakest link. Invest wisely, make the most out of every penny, buy great speakers, and enjoy music at its absolute best.

The post Differences Between Studio Monitors And Bookshelf Speakers first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.

When choosing any piece of audio equipment, including loudspeakers, it's useful to understand the expected lifespan of the product(s).

How long should loudspeakers last? Quality loudspeakers will last several decades when properly cared for. Lifespan factors include design/material, placement and environment, connected amplifier(s) and usage time. Though safe operation will improve speaker longevity, some components (i.e. surround and spider) will eventually fail.

Over time, parts such as its surround, cone, tweeter ferrofluid, crossover capacitors in the crossover, and more may degrade, reducing the speaker’s overall sound quality. While some of the components of your gear are more likely to deteriorate, a handful of steps can be taken to avert the effect.

In this article, we'll discuss the typical lifespans of speakers. Whether you've got an eye on a set of better-sounding speakers or you want to know the typical lifespan of your current sound system, let’s tune in and find out how long loudspeakers last.

Related My New Microphone articles:
• The Ultimate Loudspeaker Buyer’s Guide
• Top 10 Best Loudspeaker Brands (Overall) On The Market Today
• Do Loudspeakers Wear Out & If So, How?

The Typical Lifespan Of Loudspeakers

The obvious answer to “How long will my loudspeaker last?” is “It depends on how it's treated and the quality of its parts”.

Loudspeakers, like all audio equipment, will eventually wear out. Higher-quality parts will offer longer lifespans than lower-quality parts.

However, the most important factor when it comes to speaker longevity is the general care of the loudspeaker.

Cheap computer speakers may last five years or more under regular use. These super-affordable models are often constructed with subpar components that will eventually wear out.

High-end speakers, conversely, ought to last several decades when cared for properly. Some 50-year-old speakers continue to perform optimally without having had any repairs. Others will perform for extended periods but require parts to be replaced throughout their lifespan (notably surrounds and cones).

Much like any other material, components that make up a speaker last longer than others.

While each piece is designed and built differently, deciding on which material to use in its development is of utmost importance. Depending on the budget and the speaker’s targeted final price, some manufacturers opt to use low-quality materials, making them prone to deterioration, repairs, and replacements in a much shorter period.

So what can we expect?

Well, under normal circumstances, cheap speakers can be expected to work for up to five years or longer if they're cared for. High-end speakers will last much longer, extending to several decades if they're well taken care of.

Of course, any specific number will be arbitrary at best and false at best. This is why I've strayed away from giving strict answers.

What Causes Speakers To Deteriorate?

A better strategy for discussing how long speakers will last is to consider the ways in which they degrade (over time) or become damaged (accurately).

Let's begin with the ways a speaker can be damaged instantaneously:

• Burn-out
• Physical trauma
• Power surge
• Loosened connections

Now, here are some of the factors that may cause speaker degradation over time:

• Cone and surround deterioration
• Electronics wear out
• Ferrofluid dry up

Let's discuss each of these factors in a bit more detail.

Speaker Burn-Out

Speakers can burn out when the power level of the inputted audio signal surpasses the capabilities of the loudspeaker.

Typically, this causes the speaker's voice coil to burn or melt due to the excessive heat that comes from the speaker driver transduction.

Speakers convert electrical energy (audio signals) to mechanical wave energy (sound waves) but do so at very low efficiency (typically below 4%). This produces lots of heat around the voice coil, which will have negative consequences on the speaker's health.

Speaker blow-out can also occur due to overloading, though it typically refers to mechanical damage from over-excursion.

The solution? Ensure the amplifier output never exceeds the speaker's maximum power/wattage rating, and keep the speakers as cool as possible (with proper ventilation and in shaded positions, for example).

To learn more about speaker power ratings and efficiency, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• The Complete Guide To Speaker Power Handling & Wattage Ratings
• Full Guide To Loudspeaker Sensitivity & Efficiency Ratings
• Loudspeaker Blow-Out: Why It Happens & How To Avoid/Fix It

Physical Trauma

This goes without saying, but physically damaging the speaker (like puncturing the cone, for example) will reduce its overall performance and longevity.

Power Surges

Power surges can lead to spikes in electricity being sent to audio equipment. Keeping active speakers on, for example, can lead to blow-out during brownouts or power surges that can damage the internal amplifier, crossovers and drivers.

Keeping active speakers powered off can help reduce the risk of power surges damaging the speakers.

Power conditioners are designed to protect all sorts of electrical devices, including audio equipment, and are valuable additions to any audio system.

To learn more about active speakers and keeping speakers off when not in use, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• What Are The Differences Between Passive & Active Speakers?
• Is It Bad/Damaging To Keep Speakers On When Not In Use?

Loosened Connections

Loose connections are relatively easy to fix on their own. If your loudspeaker sounds crackling or pops regularly, chances are it's a loose connection.

Fixing these loose connections is often as easy as soldering or tightening a connection. However, if left unresolved, these loose connections can lead to damage due to improper conductivity within the overall circuitry of the speakers.

Related article: What Causes Speakers To Pop And Crackle, And How To Fix It

Now, let's consider a few common ways in which a loudspeaker will eventually deteriorate.

Cone/Surround Deterioration

The speaker's cone is the diaphragm that ultimately pushes and pulls the air around it to produce sound waves.

To work properly, these cones must be lightweight to move effectively and durable enough to withstand such movement and environmental factors.

However, there are still potential issues with speaker cones.

Their relative thinness makes them sensitive to physical trauma. The cones can be torn or otherwise damaged by excessive force. Some speakers protect their drivers' cones with a grille.

Related article: Why Do Some Speakers Have Grilles/Mesh & Others Don’t?

The material of the cone can be worn out by environmental factors over time as well.

For example, aramid fibre tends to absorb moisture and will wear out more quickly in more humid environments. Conversely, paper cones are more sensitive to UV rays and will wear out faster when exposed to direct sunlight.

The surround, which is the ring-shaped material that connects the cone/diaphragm to the speaker housing, will also suffer from mechanical wear and tear over time. Movement and flex cause friction, heat and mechanical stress, which build up in the surround, thereby fatiguing the material.

Of course, speakers are designed with this repetitive stress in mind, and high-quality speakers will often perform for a long time (decades) before noticeable surround wearing occurs. That being said, the surround is typically the first part of the speaker to wear out since it's under the most repetitive stress.

For more information on how speakers work, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• How Do Speakers & Headphones Work As Transducers?
• How Do Speakers Produce Sound? (A Helpful Beginner’s Guide)

Wearing Out Of Electronics

Electronic components all eventually wear out after extended use. The timeline of such wearing is sometimes given in MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures), measured in hours.

Of all components, the capacitors of the speaker crossover networks are the most susceptible to wear out.

As they are consistently activated to hold and disperse charge in the crossover, they eventually (often after thousands of hours) wear out, resulting in improper frequency band splitting, which can, in turn, cause distortion and damage to the individual speaker drivers.

Drying Up Of Ferrofluid

Some tweeters are designed with ferrofluid (a magnetic fluid) to improve damping and keep the voice coil cool.

Ferrofluid can eventually dry up, leaving behind its magnetic particles, which causes a slew of different problems ranging from distortion and low-pass filtering to complete seizure of the tweeter. While the use of ferrofluids is still common, there are designs that avoid the issue entirely by not having them at all.

How To Properly Care For Your Loudspeakers

Now that we understand the typical factors that affect a loudspeaker's lifespan, let's focus on improving this lifespan by properly caring for the loudspeaker.

Keep It Out Of Direct Sunlight

Apart from sunburns and skin rashes, the sun's harsh UV rays can damage the speaker’s cones or grill fabric if exposed for long periods. Sunlight can also heat the speaker’s voice coil, acting as a catalyst to overheating and burn out when the speaker is in use.

Maintain Favorable Humidity

Moisture can no doubt do immeasurable damage to the speaker’s cones and surrounds over time. Keeping your equipment in a humid environment can help wear away its metallic parts faster, as well as damage the speaker’s power amp, which speeds up the speaker driver’s perversion.

Keep It Dust-Free

Allowing dust to settle on your speakers can potentially cause extensive harm. By letting swaths of dust bed down on your speaker, immeasurable damage can be done to its cones, speaker cabinets, and surrounds, negatively affecting the system’s function, sound quality, and durability.

Tiny particles of dust can be relatively sharp, causing microscopic damage to the elements of the speaker. Furthermore, the dust build-up will impede the proper movement of the speaker while also causing greater friction and providing insulation for unwanted heat.

Ensure Ample Ventilation

Placing your speakers in areas where there is suitable airflow helps cool them down as they work.

Placing speakers at least several inches away from walls or tight spaces helps prolong your speakers' service life and lessen distortions from vibrations and excessive heat, ultimately improving their sound quality.

It also enhances the overall acoustics of the room, resulting in a win-win situation.

Guard Against Power Surges

Much like TVs, refrigerators, and air conditioners, sudden surges in power can be highly detrimental to your sound system. Investing in a suitable UPS or voltage regulator is both wise and cost-effective as it protects your speakers from damage and your pockets from unexpected repairs and replacements.

Watch Out For Static Electricity

While it is relatively easy to keep your speakers safe from particles and the sun, static electricity is challenging to avoid yet hazardous to the longevity of your system.

By getting a hold of anti-static floor mats, you avert the build-up to what could be hazardous levels of static energy, which could result in speaker blow-out similar to power surges.

Like any piece of quality equipment, taking good care of your loudspeakers will keep them sounding their best. Whether it is a fully functional vintage piece or the latest in sound system innovation, keeping your unit in tip-top condition assures you of high-quality sounds for years to come.

How Long Should Loudspeakers Last?

Depending on the materials they're made of and the environmental conditions where the equipment is used, high-quality speakers typically last up to 40-50 years before showing any signs of damage.

As audiophiles and enthusiasts would attest, they are likely to tell you about a fantastic set of speakers they have that still works perfectly even after all this time.

Taking proper care of your speakers will allow for countless years of enjoyment. Additionally, speaker technology has continued to advance, making way for new and innovative materials such as Kevlar and carbon fibre to help increase modern speaker durability even further.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that excellent quality loudspeakers will provide great sound for a long time, so long as they're cared for properly.

From keeping the speakers free from dust and away from direct sunlight, to staving off power surges and static electricity, giving your speakers proper care and maintenance will help ensure the speakers will continue to perform optimally for years to come.

The post How Long Should Loudspeakers Last (Typical Lifespan)? first appeared on My New Microphone and is written by Arthur Fox.