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If you’re considering a premium speaker, you should learn about the type of speaker that would most benefit your setup. There are many speaker options to consider, but understanding the common types can help narrow your choice. For instance, you’ll find great bookshelf speakers and nice floor-standing speakers, but connection, setup, and overall sound quality are what you should look for, too.
In addition to sound quality, you should understand how other factors affect your listening experience. For example, you know you’re looking for a quality listening experience when you’re comparing Klipsch Reference vs Reference Premiere: you want the best sound. If you want to understand the types of speakers on the market today, read this guide.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
As you learn what a speaker is, you’ll start to understand what gauge wire for a speaker is best for different types of speaker systems. Additionally, multiple brands are offering similar loudspeaker designs, which you can see comparing KEF vs. Bowers and Wilkins sound systems.
Moreover, many speaker types exist, including soundbars and bookshelf speakers, wireless speaker solutions, and Airplay vs Bluetooth connectivity options. Keep reading to learn more about speaker types.
Insider Tip
You can place a conventional speaker on a horizontal plane if you need a center channel for middle frequencies.
You can also learn how to connect a Bluetooth soundbar to a TV if the built-in speakers aren’t good enough. Additionally, some audio systems connect to the internet and offer a digital assistant to find your favorite songs. Even if you’re unsure why is my iPhone sound not working, a wireless speaker can offer sound output through Bluetooth.
Whether you want convenience or high-quality sound production, a wide variety of speaker systems maximize your setup.
Studio monitors feature multiple loudspeakers and typically serve in professional producer sound systems. This type of loudspeaker system offers a flat frequency spectrum for accurate sound production in radio, television, and music production.
The often-rugged enclosure makes studio monitors great for traveling performers, and the full-range driver speakers can stand up to loud input signals from musical instruments and vocals. That said, the flat frequency response won’t deliver dynamic sound for entertainment purposes.
Portable speakers typically use battery power and wireless connectivity to deliver a convenient listening experience on the go. These speakers offer a good range of frequencies with distortion-free performance on the high and low ends of the audio spectrum.
Most portable speakers use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to connect to smartphones, laptops, tablets, and Bluetooth-enabled TVs. Additionally, these units are built for travel, and many feature decent water resistance ratings.
Warning
Your Hi-Fi speaker system can encounter sound output problems if you use audio cables with cheap insulation.
Smart speakers offer strong sound quality and a suite of wireless connectivity options. These mid-range speakers can accept audio sources through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and link to smart home devices. Internet connectivity allows for virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
STAT: A 2019 Pew Research Center survey showed that 24% of Americans making between $30K and $75K use a smart speaker at home. (source)
Outdoor speakers are a durable option for users needing music or TV audio around the pool or on a covered porch. These speakers can be built into structures or furniture, but many are free-standing models. Outdoor speakers deliver omnidirectional sound to distribute audio in an outdoor space evenly.
Surround sound speakers deliver a dynamic soundscape with multiple powered speakers that cover the entire range of frequencies. Surround systems are most common for home theater setups, but their use of separate speakers offers a full sound for music and games.
Surround sound systems usually consist of a center speaker, left and right speakers, rear speakers, and a woofer.
Soundbar speakers are loudspeakers in a slim enclosure that usually sits below a TV. You can also mount most soundbars on a wall, often supporting wireless audio sources. These models are an affordable speaker option for a living room or gaming setup.