Audio Speakers for the Home, Office and Vehicle!

Setting Up Your Home Theater

admin — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:45:12 +0000

Setting up your Home Cinema

Creating the ideal home cinema system setup can take many painstaking hours and a little bit of experimentation. This is partly to do with the fact that most rooms will have different qualities and so require specific tweaking and also because home cinema equipment will behave differently depending on the model you choose and the manufacturer which you trust to take your hard earned dollars and turn it into hundreds of hours of entertainment.

Surround sound is a core part of any decent home cinema system and the best advice when picking speakers is to choose ones which are from the same brand as the rest of your kit. Whether you pick all Sony gear or opt for its rival Samsung it is best to choose a unified selection of components, from your Blu Ray player to your amplifier and HDTV set. This is because manufacturers will work hard to make sure familiar components work best when used in unison and a disparate selection of technical goodies will usually be compatible but will not necessarily provide the best experience.

Most manufacturers will provide a diagram to show you how best to layout your surround sound speakers. There will be a different number of speakers depending on the type of set you choose. With 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound speakers on the market you can have eight separate boxes to arrange, which can be a little daunting, but in general there are a few rules to follow to get the best results.

First there should be three speakers which need to be arranged in front of the television. The central speaker, if one is included, should be put directly in front of and as close to the television as possible, perhaps on top of it if this is an option. The left and right front speakers need to be a little closer to where you will typically be sat during a viewing session, make sure that they are positioned at 30 degree angles honed in on your seated position to make the most of the sound and give good stereo effects.

Any surround sound system will typically have a pair of speakers designed to sit behind and to either side of the viewer. These will need to be elevated higher than the speakers in front of the viewer and should be angled in towards them at a much sharper angle than the left and right front speakers. This is what produces the surround effect and a correctly setup system will make the most of surround sound that is encoded onto many Blu Ray and DVD releases.

A subwoofer will be the final component of most surround sound setups and this is necessary to produce the deep bass hits which make action films sound epic and music feel deep. Subwoofers can be placed wherever there is space, usually close to the television, but by their nature it is less essential to work out angles and positioning to get adequate results.

If your home cinema systems is all geared towards a single Berkline lounger then you can do lots of adjustments to get the best possible experience. If many people seated around an area will be enjoying the sound then being precise is a little more difficult but experimenting is rewarding.

Speaker Stand Reviews

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:57:23 +0000

When choosing the correct speaker stand or speaker mounting bracket it is important to know what others are saying in their rating and reviews. here you will find many product with full consumer reviews.

Computer Speakers

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:42:41 +0000

The range of computer speakers that is available to you today has increased manifold. There was a time when choosing a pair of computer speakers was child’s play with limited options available. With the advent of technology and the wide scale acceptance of computers as a multipurpose piece of equipment, the outlook has entirely changed with the demand for sophisticated and specialty built speakers on the rise with manufacturers from all corners of the world seizing upon the opportunity.

Broadly speaking, choosing a pair of computer speakers is much akin to choosing a home theater or an audio speaker system if you’re looking at the quality of sound output. A few years back, a sound card had to be installed on the motherboard as an add-on to generate decent quality sound out of the computer’s external speakers, but with the progress of technology, the norm of the day is integrated sound cards, which are available in 5.1 and 6.1 channels on pretty much every Intel, Asus and other motherboard especially the desktop models. However, for those unconcerned with budgets and those who want their computers to emit sounds resembling real life, an additional sound card is still the better option. Computer speakers are a necessity for laptop users and the sound output from them is severely hindered by the laptop’s small sized, low power speakers which were installed there due to space constraints. Whatever is the case, unless one is attuned to or prefers using only headphones, a set of computer or multimedia speakers are a necessity. The standard audio connection used will be a 3.175 mm (1/8 inch) stereo jack plug often color-coded lime green (as per PC 99 standard). USB speakers are available as well, which are powered by the USB port at 5 volts (200 milliamps). The connectivity for the speakers can be either accomplished through wires or one of the wireless varieties and before you ask, wireless multimedia speaker systems are capable of producing surround sound as well, making a home theater speaker system less desirable.

Choosing computer audio speakers on the basis of your specific need offers the following three options. If the primary use of the computer is for data processing, web surfing or sending emails etc, then a simple pair of magnetically shielded speakers will do. For getting the best of sound while playing DVDs and the like, a powered subwoofer in at least a 2.1 channel setup will be fine, but a 5.1 channel will bring you the best of all worlds. For the music enthusiast, with a dedicated add on 3D sound card installed, a multi channel (a 5.1 or a 7.1 setup) will be a rewarding investment. There are special speakers available for gaming purposes and they have proven to be very good once hooked up to your PS3 or Xbox.

Technically, while buying computer speakers, the basics that one needs to look at are the frequency response ( which is a measure of the high and low frequency sounds which the speaker can produce), the Total Harmonic Distortion (which indicates the amount of distortion created as a result of signal amplification) and the Wattage (which is a measure of the amount of amplification possible). In other words, the tonal sound quality of the output should be as natural sounding as possible. No frequency should be automatically and electronically suppressed or exaggerated. The subwoofer shouldn’t be too loud, with the good ones giving the feel that all the bass is coming from the satellite speakers alone. Altec Lansing, Harman Kadron and Creative Labs make some of the most popular computer speakers ever sold.

In simpler terms, the approach to buying should be essentially personalized. Everyone has a different definition for great sound and a different taste for music. Tastes affect the perceived quality of a set of speakers. The speakers should also esthetically blend in with your existing setup. There are many reputed brands available and one should check the configuration and warranties as well as the option for free shipping before buying. Amazon’s top sellers list includes the Logitech S220 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer, the Logitech Z-2300 THX-Certified 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer ( 19% discount and free shipping) as well as the Altec Lansing iMT620 inMotion Classic Portable iPod Dock with Rechargeable Battery and FM Tuner at 31% off of the list price. This makes these speakers the cheapest that are available anywhere online.

Specialty Speakers - Check out more specialty speakers. This Section features speakers from the famous ORB Speakers to Marine Speakers, to Rock Speakers and many specialty speaker types in between! Click below to see more on the specialty speaker that interests you.

Marine Audio Speakers

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:21:33 +0000

Music has been a trustworthy companion of humanity since the beginning and what better can there be than to be able to enjoy music while taking a walk or cooking in the kitchen, taking a shower or even while tearing through the white froth of water while cruising on your boat. However, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to audio speakers. Speakers have evolved to suit the needs and the environs in which they are supposed to function. Marine audio speakers serve exactly that specific purpose which their name indicates. They are meant and designed to be used outdoors in boats or other marine vehicles, an environment which is harsh and humid with the obvious water everywhere.

Typically, people have tried to fit in their car audio systems, speakers and GPS navigation into their boat, which has invariably resulted in a complete ruin of an otherwise good car audio and GPS navigation systems. The cones of marine audio speakers are made of mylar, which are capable of withstanding wet environments. JBL uses polypropylene, which is a rigid material and is capable of surviving moisture and they also use special rubber skirts to cover all the screws used to hold the speaker’s drivers in. Electro Voice even has some marine speaker models which are built up to US Navy specifications. Marine stereo speakers therefore have robust protection against corrosion, have waterproof components and some of them are entirely sealed against external factors, keeping the circuitry housed within completely safe and protected.

There are two main types of marine speakers. Flush mount speakers are space saving in nature and need to be installed in boats by cutting out an appropriate place/hole for them to fit in. It’s important to remember that there should not be any open air space or air path behind the speakers. That will spoil the bass response which is a major component of your acoustic experience. Box speakers on the other hand are pre-mounted in special consoles to offer better protection and to get the best sound out of them. However, they will occupy more space.

Marine stereos would preferably need an amplifier to power them and generate output that can be heard over the noise of the boat’s motor and the splashing of water. You can even add outdoor speakers from Polk Audio and the like from your home audio system to your boat’s setup.

A few points to be considered in conjunction with marine speakers are the power rating of the speakers, the point of installation, whether outside or inside the marine vehicle and the most efficient direction to install them when they are being installed outside. One should also exercise every bit of caution while installing and wiring marine speakers. The connectors and all open soldered wires must be sealed with the proper insulation to avoid corrosion and short circuits from water splashing over them. Using liquid electrical tapes is beneficial. Some of the popular brands of marine speakers amongst others are Bose, Alpine, Rockford Fosgate, JBL, Boss Audio, Jensen, Infinity, JVC and Poly-Planar. The JBL MS6200 6.5-Inch 2-Way Marine Speakers are available for almost half the sticker price over at Amazon where many such amazing deals are waiting to be discovered.

ORB Speakers

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:03:09 +0000

Orb speakers are smaller sized speakers housed in round ball shaped casings ( usually round satellite speakers) of about four inches in diameter. They come in multiple finishes such as copper, bronze, polished steel and more. The unique selling proposition of orb speakers manufactured by Orb Audio is that they are very elegant, small in size and can be put up in places where a larger speaker would not fit in (they can even be kept on table tops or screwed to the ceiling). Their small size should however not be misinterpreted as lacking power, as they can produce all the loud sounds that conventional larger speaker systems are capable of producing, provided they are configured correctly with subwoofers and the right amplifier. At the same time, they cost much less than conventional home theater speakers of similar caliber.

Orb speakers are a great way to achieve good audio output without the hassles and expenses of complicated surround sound receivers. They can be bought in sets of one to four or bundled with a small amplifier and subwoofer from the same stable for optimal surround sound output. There are eight models available, starting from the relatively simple 2.1 channel to a complete home theater setup.

The different models and configurations available are Mod 1, Mod 1 Plus, People’s Choice, Mod 2, complete home theater, Quick Pack, Classic One and Classic Two. Many of these speakers are handcrafted in the USA. The models have matching accessories such as BOSS floor stands, BOSS desk stands and wall or ceiling mounts along with utilities like speaker and subwoofer wires and cables. Moreover Mod 1 can be upgraded to Mod 2 and can easily hooked up to your existing Blu-ray or DVD player.

Orb speakers are modular and can be combined with the Super Eight (200 watts) and Uber Ten subwoofers. The Uber Ten subwoofer support a proprietary 300 watt BASH hybrid digital amplifier. And the company claims that these robust compact subwoofers can produce sound output which is at par with that of the larger models. All the orb satellites have high power neodymium magnets, advanced high excursion speaker drivers and gold-plated binding posts. Mod 1 for example has full range three inch drivers that power the speakers and when paired with a center channel speaker and appropriate speaker placement you’re in for quite an acoustic experience worthy of the press releases that the company proclaims the merits of their products in.

These speakers offer a challenge to conventional heavily armored speaker and amplifier systems. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that the ultimate output will depend on a host of other factors such as the design of the room and the height of the ceiling as well. The good thing with orb speakers from Orb Audio is that the company has a thirty day trial period which allows the buyer to test the speakers at home and to return them if one is not satisfied with the purchase. This provides shoppers with all the piece of mind possible while scouting for their audio needs and there is testimony available from customers of this convenient ‘no questions asked’ return policy. The Mstation 2.1 Stereo Orb Black and the Mstation Orb II Desktop Stereo Speaker System for iPod in blue are the two of the bestselling portable orb speakers available online. The KEF KHT3005BL (SE) 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System in glossy black is a great [air of orb speakers to own if you have guests over! It really will blow their minds away with its superior sound quality and killer looks.

PA Speakers

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:33:48 +0000

The initials P.A stand for public address and a PA system usually comprises of an electronic amplifier with a mic, mixer and loudspeakers. PA systems and speakers find extensive use in auditoriums, bars, institutional and commercial buildings. The most important decision criteria while choosing PA speakers should be to understand and determine the type of music or audio to be played and the space where it is meant to be used. Smaller spaces and a small ensemble dictate a minimalist set of PA speakers whereas full blown outdoor open air performances will require an elaborate full featured PA system. PA speakers like all other speakers, convert the electronic signals into physical sound waves. With the aid of electrical power from the amplifier, the vibrating speaker cone allows the sound waves to travel through the air and reach the audience.

They are usually larger audio speakers accounted for together within the sound cabinet, with one or two midrange speakers housed in the cabinet as well having powerful drivers capable of producing astoundingly high output to the tune of 400 watts to 1000 watts. The choice of a PA system will depend on the style of music and the size of the venue or the application to which it is to be put to. Off the shelf portable PA speakers and systems should preferably have 200 watts of output and a 12 volt rechargeable battery which should last you for at least 8-9 hours. The speakers can be placed on the ground or mounted on tripods.

PA speakers too can be classified as active speakers and as passive ones. The unique point of distinction for active PA speakers is that amplification and all other circuitry are built into the speaker’s cabinet. Examples such as Mackie’s SRM450 feature sophisticated internal circuitry, including a phase accurate electronic crossover while the Yamaha MSR 100 Pro Audio system has a simple but effective mixer built into the rear of each unit, providing 3 inputs with master EQ for precise sound control. Many brands of PA speakers are available such as Bose, Mackie, QSC, Behringer, JBL, Yamaha, Peavey and the like just to name a few. Many of these speakers can easily replicate the bass guitar that you would hear at a live sound stage.

Since the main purpose of PA speakers is to address a large gathering, laws of physics dictate that the height and the angle at which they are placed will have a very important bearing on their effectiveness. The higher that they can be placed, the better. This goes without saying that the walls and ceilings in an enclosed venue too have a part to play in reflecting the sound waves. Similarly, speakers when angled downwards achieve better sound distribution. Good PA speakers powered independently should only increase the level of the sound source and do nothing else to change it in any other way. Powered speakers controlled by appropriate stage monitors make for quite the acoustic experience.

It should also be remembered that loud noises can be irritating and an environmental hazard as well as against the law in some states. Moreover, prolonged exposure to high decibel output can damage hearing and one needs proper ear protection. Amazon offers free shipping on a number of the products it carries and the one that you picked out of the buying guide or your wish list probably is in there as well. The PYLE PWMA230 200W VHF Wireless Battery Powered PA System combined with the Pyle PMDK-102 Pro Audio Speaker Stand and Cable Kit makes for a killer kit. If you’d like a standalone PA system that is capable of playing music from your iPod then the Alesis TransActive Live Portable PA System for iPod would be a great buy as well.

Pillow Speakers

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:18:09 +0000

Pillow Speakers / Helping You Sleep

Quite a revolution and an example of the advanced thinking faculties of the creature called man. Pillow speakers are, just like the name says pillows with speakers incorporated inside them. There are two main advantages of pillow speakers. The listener is not required to get up to adjust the volume and therefore this does not disturb the other occupants of the bed. The user can softly listen to something private without disturbing the person sleeping next to them. At the same time, there is no need to use inconvenient headphone strapping over the head or wear ear plugs. Avoiding headphones will make a person to stay alert of any external noises that usually get blocked out when using headphones. Apart from these, medical practitioners suggest that mild music has the potential to transform sleeping experiences, especially for patients suffering from insomnia and allies sleep disorders. Just remember that pillow speakers have no intention to please or impress audiophiles with their loud and deep outputs and therefore do not complement or supplement home theater or other audio requirements. The use that they are intended to be put to is entirely different.

There are many different types of pillow speakers available in the market. The popular varieties include standard sized soft foam hypo allergenic pillows with in built speakers, small neck pillows with embedded speakers which are popular while traveling or padded foam speakers which are placed underneath the pillow. Pillow speakers can be used with many domestic electronic items such as a television, music systems and even alarm clocks so long as the speaker’s audio jack can be plugged into them. It is indeed a great way to rest your head and relax while listening to something of your choice.

Apart from listening conveniences, sleep therapists and doctors are of the opinion that this sort of listening device can have a very positive experience while sleeping. Sleep inducing, meditation or relaxation inducing music can be played over the stereo pillow speaker very privately. Research has also proven that pillow speakers are a positive treatment for Tinnitus, which is commonly described as the ringing sensation in the ears. Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the human ear without a corresponding external sound and therefore with the speakers playing beside the ears, the perceived internal sound gets masked by a real external sound.

Pillow speakers such as the Sound Oasis Sleep Therapy Pillow which has two hi fidelity speakers embedded deep inside the hypo allergenic pillow foams make for great buys. With clear output, these stereo pillows are great to rest your head on while trying to sleep. These speakers are also washable and have a standard 3.5 mm jack attached which enables them to be hooked up to a variety of audio players. A number of pillow speakers can be availed of from most of the local stores or ordered from online e-commerce websites of the likes of Amazon which has special offers running all the time and with amazing products like the Sleepsonic Executive Black Quilt Stereo Speaker Pillow available for sale, there is little reason to look elsewhere.

Portable Speakers

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:02:53 +0000

Portable speakers are meant for enjoying music on the go. Portability essentially translates into light weight, smaller sizes and an independent and integrated source of power to drive the speakers without compromising on the quality of sound output. It would also not be out of place to note that although headphones provide a good alternative, it just doesn’t suffice or replace the pleasure of listening to music in a carefree manner without a strapping over the head or plugs inside the ear. Portable speakers can be hooked up and used with desktops, laptops, MP3 players, Apple iPods, cameras camcorders, cell phones and many more electronic devices.

Portable speakers will have a set of wires connecting the player to each other or can also be wireless in nature. Most of the portable varieties have an AC outlet to power them or have powerful batteries, mostly rechargeable ones built into them. They can be powered by the USB port as well, without the need of either an AC outlet or batteries. However, the USB port will provide only 5 volts (200 milliamps) and hence, the wattage of the speakers cannot be too high because higher wattage will require more power for amplifying the sound waves.

The essentials that need to be considered when deciding upon a set of portable speakers would therefore be portability (size and weight), power requirements, quality of sound as well as appearance. The lighter and more compact they are, the more convenient it is to carry them around. Power can be derived from an external AC source or from built-in rechargeable batteries or from the computer system itself through the USB port. The USB port can also recharge the speakers’ batteries. The standard speaker works in the range of 20 to 70 Hz and its desirable to have treble and bass controls on they system. A built in amplifier of 7 watts would be a good addition as well. A 2.1 channel system would be good too, but the subwoofer will require a source of power which the player will not be able to provide. The tonal quality should be as natural as possible and the audio signal should not be automatically and electronically suppressed or exaggerated. Looks also matter and it’s nice to own a set of portable speakers which blend well with the player, whether it’s a laptop, an MP3 player or an iPod (dock) or even a cell phone, heck you could even connect it to you iPod or your home theater if it tickles your fancy.

With technology improving day by day, more powerful yet lightweight speakers are being made available with each passing day. It would be wise not to go for cheap models as the money saved will not be able to able to compensate the poor sound quality of the output. There are many well known brands available, manufactured by reputed companies such as Sony, Logitech, Macally, Isound, Harman JBL, Philips, Creative, Altec Lansing and Bushnell. Most of these speaker system varieties will be available at the local store. The Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2 Compact Docking Speakers for iPod and iPhone as well as the Bose® SoundDock® Portable digital music system in Gloss Black (product available with free shipping) are two of the bestselling portable speakers on Amazon and a glance at their specs will prove how worthy they are of that mantle.

Powered Active Speakers

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:53:43 +0000

Powered Active Speakers

Powered speakers in audio parlance are also known as active speakers and are differentiated from passive speakers by the presence of amplification circuitry housed within the speaker’s cabinet. With active or passive crossovers built into them, they offer direct connectivity to an audio playing sound source or a mixing console. Powered speakers offer the advantages of eliminating complex ancillary gadgetry such as amplifiers and the need to mix and match the configurations of separate amplifier and speaker units. Thus, they reduce shelf space and are available at potentially less expense. The shortened cable length from the amplifier to the speaker’s driver is also said to affect the maximum slew rate (reduces loss of signal and power). Powered speakers should not be construed as meaning self powered, but need to be connected to an external power (AC) source to run the built in amplifier. Powered speakers are a little heavier due to the presence of additional circuit boards, components and a power transformer which steps down the input AC current to work with the electronics within.

A passive speaker on the other hand does not have its own source of amplification. They need to use power from the external amplifiers, with lengths of wires connecting the two.

This variety of speakers is largely used by professionals in recording studios, mastering labs and the like. Powered speakers however act as a limitation in the path of upgrading existing speaker systems and amplifiers and therefore lack the inducement to buy for those who have already set up elaborate amplification systems which need matching and configured speakers and the rest.

Especially for the first time buyer, powered speakers offer an extremely good value proposition in terms of good sound output, lower cost and an easier set up (there is always less pain in hooking up individual units). Powered speakers that are available today are well designed both for looks and easy configuration and are available to suit a wide range of applications, from home music automation to theaters and are capable of reproducing a live sound experience – ask the pros who play at Juilliard in New York if you don’t believe me.

Powered speakers are available for all varieties, for use with computers to home audio to larger P.A speaker applications. There are even solar powered power speakers available which effectively solar energy into electricity to power the built in amplifiers. An example of the above are the Gramo Speakers (with in built battery) or Tom Pritchard’s solar powered iPod dock. Pritchard’s otherwise passive speaker becomes powered when sufficient sunlight falls on the solar cells to activate the built in amplifier.

There are many brands of powered speakers available and can be found on Amazon. Examples of some of them are the Meridian, Genelec, Meyer sound, Linn, Definitive Technology, Martin Logan Loudspeaker Systems hooked up to decent studio or stage monitors with a powered subwoofer in tow would make for quite the setup. For the home user, the JBL Creature III Self-Powered Multimedia satellite and subwoofer system as well as the Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Monitor Series Powered Subwoofer in black are both amazing speaker though you might want to look at the Harman Kardon SoundSticks II 2.1 Plug and Play Multimedia Speaker System if you’re looking for something that is lighter on the wallet.

Replacement Speakers

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:20:01 +0000

Replacement Speakers / Speaker Repair

Speakers may need to be replaced or repaired for a multitude of reasons. It may either be because of a speaker being blown out or if the factory installed speaker is simply inadequate to ones needs or maybe because the listener is just plain bored of using the speakers for a long time and now wants to upgrade them. Choosing to replace speakers can be an important decision because the choice gets narrowed down as a result of the other peripherals like a guitar speaker or pro speakers as well as components which are already present such as the subwoofer and more importantly the amplifier and assumed that they are not going to be replaced as well. Buying replacement speakers will depend on one’s perception of sound and the budget.

Factory installed speakers for cars, as many would agree, are just not that great. Therefore replacing them would mean choosing speakers of the same wattage as that provided by the lead. A four channel output would require all four speakers to be replaced by compatible ones or in accordance to the amplifier. Moreover, the replacement speakers should preferably be of the same dimensions to fill in the void created as a result of removing the previous set of speakers. Otherwise, new holes need to be cut and the earlier ones have to be patched up and speaker repair can turn out to be quite expensive sometimes. However, speaker repair services like speaker reconing can be performed at home with the aid of speaker reconing kits as well as replacement diaphragms that can be bought online. This is definitely cheaper than buying a set of replacement speakers.

If you are a musician then the need to upgrade or replace parts is very important. Bass guitar speakers often need recone kits or other aftermarket speaker parts to make them perform their best for you. Other speaker systems many times need replacement high frequency diaphragms. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s diaphragm replacement instructions

For home entertainment purposes, replacing speakers should consider whether they should be floor standing or in shelf or in wall speakers. Floor standing would be the best for larger rooms and powered by high caliber amplifiers. Likewise, shelf speakers would justify limited space whereas with wall speakers would require chiseling the wall to install the wires. Audio systems having subwoofers which can produce all the bass that will be required can go for smaller speakers with appropriate drivers. With a pre-installed amplifier, one should check the watts per channel of output and the impedance level to decide upon replacement speakers, which should essentially match with the output level of the amplifier. With wireless speakers, one additionally needs to ensure that the radio frequency transmitter and the radio frequency receiver match in transmission frequency.

While replacing speakers, considerations such as looks and power should not be prima facie important. Good music and sound are perceptions and vary from person to person. Therefore, sufficient time must be set aside to hear out different speakers and this may be best done by playing the type of music one prefers to listen to, ideally the same track over different speakers.

Stores such as Wal-Mart and Target generally offer low to medium quality replacement speakers from several different brands. Not much of a choice though and high end replacement speakers will probably not be found over there. For specialized requirements try Amazon, also one should visit specialized audio and electronics stores with some even offering free shipping and the like. Some brands to consider are Boss, Pyle and Kenwood.