Faced with the problem of choosing a speaker system, you do not always have the necessary arsenal of knowledge for a competent purchase. After all, acoustics is a whole science that requires not only serious endurance, but also the availability of appropriate knowledge about sound.
Choosing a speaker system is not an easy task. And not only because the sound is fraught with dozens of nuances that you should pay attention to when buying. The price segment of acoustics has a very wide range, from several hundred rubles to hundreds of thousands. Arriving at the store, you can see that there are almost the same speakers nearby, but three times more expensive, although they have less power. This is often misleading. To understand everything, you need to decide something for yourself.
Why do you need a new speaker system? Sounding system sounds of programs or listening to music? Maybe watching movies? Oddly enough, but it is the appointment that will set our choice the whole further tone.
When quality doesn't matter
If you need to connect the speakers to a computer and sound only the clicks of Windows folders and sometimes watch a video with sound (and it doesn't matter with which one), then you can safely choose the cheapest speakers. It doesn't matter what their characteristics are, the main thing is to decide on the design and price, well, pay attention to the assembly. It should be said right away that the internal electronics here are of very poor quality, so strong interference from a mobile phone is quite normal. Sometimes at high volume in the absence of a signal, some kind of radio can be caught.
Acceptable quality
In the considered ultra-budget segment, the frequency range is not the most favorable for human hearing - even with an hour of listening to music, the sound can be very tired. For long-term listening, it is still better to choose more serious models. The most suitable option is a two-way 2.0 system (just two speakers). Most often, such systems are active - the amplifier is hidden from view in one of the speakers. Speaker 2.0 is especially well suited for music due to the spatial distribution of sound, but for movies and video games it is also a good option. If you are not a music lover, but a movie fan or a gamer, take a look at 2.1 speaker systems (2 tweeters and 1 subwoofer). The presence of a subwoofer will provide realistic explosions, thanks to the low frequency spectrum. Cheap 5.1 systems are better to prefer a decent 2.0.
By the way, home acoustics of this level can already be considered as speakers for a TV or video player - the sound quality will obviously be better.
Good quality
If you consider yourself a music lover, like to often listen to audio recordings in good quality, or are demanding on the detail of acoustics in films, then you will have to spend money. Good acoustics are always expensive. As a universal option, again, it is better to look towards a decent two-channel speaker system, for example, the Microlab Pro 3 or Sven Royal 2R. This option can fully satisfy the sound needs of most users, it is perfect for listening to music and watching movies. In games, the sound will also be great. But pay attention, in order to realize the full potential of such a speaker system, think about purchasing a good sound card.
If spatial sound is important to you, then 5.1 is exactly what you need. The channels can be arranged to your liking, in games and films there will be a clear difference in the spatiality of actions: if the car is driving from left to right, then the sound will move from the left channels to the right. Of course, you can listen to music, the sound will be good, but the purpose of 5.1 is still somewhat different.
Home acoustics of this level will already be able to unleash the potential of Lossless formats - special formats without quality loss (in contrast to the familiar mp3). As a sound source, you can try a CD-player or a high-quality media player - the result will be tangible.
Premium quality
It is impossible to tell in one article all the nuances of choosing acoustics for a house of this level, but it is worth noting that with such requirements, an ordinary computer in an ordinary room is not the most suitable option. It requires not only a spacious room for proper channel placement, but also a dedicated computer with low noise and a premium sound card (HTPC), or a dedicated CD / vinyl player. A good Hi-Fi system (this segment is called that way) can cost under a thousand dollars, and even more: a separate external amplifier is required, which can be 35-40% of the cost of the entire system. People who are interested in such home acoustics already know the brands Monitor Audio, Canton, Meridian, so recommendations here are superfluous.
A little about power
So how many watts are required? It is safe to say that if you are not going to arrange a disco, then 25 watts per canal is quite enough for an average apartment. For a large room in a private house, 40 watts will be more than enough, but if a party is planned, you need at least 60 watts for indoor and 100-120 watts for outdoors. By the way, it is for parties that there are special music centers, where more attention is paid to power and low frequencies, rather than the general sound picture, for example, the Sony Shake-66D or LG CM9540. Of course, you can buy such an acoustic system in a room for private use (the appearance is captivating), only the potential will not be revealed, the money is overpaid, and the sound will not "hold out."
Build quality
When choosing acoustics for your home, it is recommended to pay attention not only to the appearance and characteristics, but also to the materials and build quality. Even at high volume, there should be no extraneous sounds, be it the crackling of the speaker, the rattling of the case, and others. If the speakers have legs, then they must be exactly the same length and firmly attached to the body. It should also be remembered that a wooden case (more precisely MDF) always "sounds" better than a plastic one.
Outcomes
In order to get the most out of your funds, it is important to decide what they are being spent for. It is the purpose of your future home acoustics that will be the main vector when choosing. And remember, louder and more is not always better.
