This was a quote overheard at a conference for the audio industry, and we’re inclined to believe it since speakers can cost a small fortune. As we stifled our laughter, we began to consider how true it is that speakers are an investment and why more people don’t take them as seriously as they do a vehicle.

When properly cared for, a good pair of speakers may outlast even the longest-lasting automobile. Knowledge is power, so do your homework and put in some time listening to demos before making a final decision.

To aid you, we are here. Read on for our complete, step-by-step guide to purchasing the best speakers money can buy. Now that you have this guide, buying speakers will be simple, entertaining, and rewarding.

Talking to Audiences: The Basics

It’s possible that you’ve encountered some unfamiliar terms when reading audio or home theatre publications. Feel free to skip this paragraph if you already know the difference between a satellite and a monitor, or between a surround and a rear surround. Check out our home audio dictionary for a quick rundown of what’s new in the world of speakers if you’re playing catch-up.

For what use will you put them?

Having a large speaker setup or a complete 7.1 channel surround system is not required to have a satisfying listening experience. Consider your listening habits for a second.

Even if you sometimes watch movies or TV, a single set of speakers may be sufficient if music is your primary listening preference.

If you don’t plan on sitting down and listening to music for long periods of time, then bookshelf or in-wall speakers may be the best option for you. Lacking bass? You can get the additional bass with a compact subwoofer.

A pair of monitors or floor-standing speakers may be in order if you are an active listener or if you just desire the option of having your hair blown back on a whim. Keep in mind that a tiny floor-standing speaker with numerous drivers may provide a wonderfully full-sounding, extremely pleasant music experience despite its little stature.

A sound bar or sound bar plus wireless subwoofer combo might be a good solution if you merely want to improve the sound of your TV for watching TV and movies and listening to music on occasion. Our reviews area features a number of top-rated products available now.

Let’s pretend you’re a movie enthusiast for whom 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound is essential. The time has come to consider optimal placement for a full surround sound system’s speakers. As such, let’s examine the aspects relevant to your bedroom.

Exploring the confines of your environment

Your search for the perfect speaker might be narrowed down a notch or two by thinking about the environment in which they will be presenting. Here we will examine the most vital aspects of the new location for your speakers. Both may be substantial financial commitments, satisfy both essential and hedonistic wants, and come in a wide range of sizes, styles, qualities, and prices. Yet most individuals we know will spend weeks or even months researching, test-driving, negotiating, and finally acquiring a new automobile, whereas the same consumers have been known to just stroll into a big-box electronics store, hear a demonstration, and walk out with a pair of speakers.

Size of the room:

If you go to an expert for help, they would probably ask you, “How large is your room?” They shouldn’t be gauging how large of a speaker they can sell you so much as how your room’s qualities will affect the sound coming out of your speakers. However, the physical dimensions of the room are not the only thing to think about. We should also consider how closed off the area is.

In most cases, extremely big speakers aren’t suited to being played in confined spaces that are completely surrounded by walls. The first is that they need a lot of room. To add insult to injury, they have a tendency to “pack” the room with bass, which may make everything seem muffled. On the other hand, a tiny speaker will sound even smaller and more contained in big, open environments (such as “great rooms”). In order to maintain a natural, smooth, and immersive sound-stage—three crucial aspects of home theatre sound—larger speakers might be used.

Audio system fixtures:

Do you plan on hiding any of your speakers inside of a TV stand or bookcase? If so, you probably shouldn’t use big bookshelf or monitor speakers, especially if they have ports that create a lot of bass. A cabinet can only hold so much bass before it begins to resonate unpleasantly. If you must install best bass speakers for home within a cabinet, look for bookshelf speakers with a bass response that rolls off around 80 Hz. To continue on this theme, placing a ported subwoofer within a cabinet is one of the worst possible options. Find a place to hide your submarine, or seek for one designed specifically for that purpose.

Loudspeakers over there:

It might be tricky to position full-range floor speakers on each side of a corner TV. This setup may reduce the value of a full-range, floor-standing speaker by effectively cancelling out the bass. More often than not, bookshelf speakers plus a dedicated subwoofer will provide the best value in such a scenario.

Ceilings and ground:

In general, hard surfaces are detrimental to sound quality. It doesn’t matter how well a speaker is designed; the sound will be altered if there are enough huge, flat surfaces for the sound to bounce off of. Clap loudly in the middle of the room if you’re afraid that the energy level is too high. If you’re experiencing excessive echoes or ringing, try moving your system to a different room or taking other measures to reduce the reverberation. Anything that helps break up long, hard, flat surfaces, such as furniture, draperies, rugs, or plants, can aid the performance of whatever speaker you may choose.

Décor:

Consider speakers that will blend in with the décor rather than stand out if you or your significant other put in a lot of work (and money) into making the area appear attractive. We promise you, hearing complaints about how your speakers detract from the aesthetics of the room on a frequent basis will make you regret buying them. The good news is that you can get some stunning speakers with furniture-grade finishes that will look great in any environment.

A variety of locations for the speakers are available:

It’s time to start considering possible speaker locations once again so that we can calculate how many can be included into the system. For instance, there is no use in trying to squeeze in a 7.1 system if your sofa and chairs are against a wall. The rear surrounds, which need to be at least three or four feet from where you’re seated to be effective, will just add to the difficulties you’ll already be facing when trying to find an optimal location for your surround speakers. To get the most out of a 5.1 setup, you need think about where you can place the surround speakers. The interior design should also be taken into account.

On the other hand, you may have trouble locating a suitable location for your surround speakers if there is neither a back nor side wall (or if they are really far from you). If you can install them, speakers in the ceiling might be a stylish choice for surround sound.

That said, these are just a handful of the many potential considerations. To get the most out of your speakers, plan out their intended purpose, the space they will be installed in, and where you want them placed. Now that you have a decent notion of how many and what kind of speakers you need, it’s time to do some research and go shopping.