While all of the components of an audio system are important, your speakers are the ones that actually deliver the sound to your ears. That's why it's so imperative to pick great speakers that are suited to your needs. Below, you'll find info on how speakers work and some of the different types of speakers out there.

The basics

The basic technology behind speakers is actually quite simple — a speaker is just a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. More specifically, a speaker is made up of a combination of parts, including a voice coil, a speaker cone, and the cabinet that holds all the parts inside.

Sound reproduction begins when your receiver or amplifier sends audio signals to your speakers. When the electrical signal reaches the voice coil inside of the speaker, it creates a magnetic field. This electromagnetic energy causes the speaker's cone to vibrate and move the air in front of it, which our ears perceive as sound.

Today's speakers are engineered to reproduce lively and dynamic sources, and they take advantage of innovative designs to bring you detailed, powerful sound. There's also an astonishing variety of speakers to choose from — everything from large floor-standing tower speakers to great-sounding outdoor speakers that blend in with the natural surroundings. Here's a quick overview of the most popular kinds of speakers:

• Floor-standing
• Bookshelf
• Center channel
• Surrounds
• Subwoofers
• Sound bars
• In-wall and in-ceiling
• Outdoor
• Personal speakers

Floor-standing speakers give you full-range sound. (THIEL CS1.6 shown above)

Floor-standing speakers

Floor-standing, or tower, speakers have been around for years and in many ways remain the standard against which all other speaker types are judged. In general, they

• are larger than other types of speakers,
• reproduce a wide range of frequencies, including deep bass, and
• are usually more efficient, giving you more volume per watt of amplifier power.



Floor-standing speakers tend to be more expensive than other smaller speakers, but they're hard to beat for big, room-filling sound. They're great if you've got a larger room, or if you plan to do a lot of stereo music listening. Check out our articles on choosing speakers for home theater if you plan to integrate them into a larger system, or read about speaker placement for stereo music for helpful tips on positioning to get the best sound in a two-speaker setup.

Save space with bookshelf speakers. (Polk Audio RTi A3 shown above)

Bookshelf speakers

If you're working with limited space (or budget), bookshelf speakers are a good alternative to floor-standing models. With bookshelf speakers, you get

• a smaller cabinet that'll fit on a stand or on a shelf, and
• excellent performance in a smaller box (usually with a smaller price tag).



Bookshelf speakers almost always 2-way — unlike large floor-standing models they contain just tweeter and a woofer or midrange. Some audio fans prefer them because, when stand-mounted, they provide tight overall sound and accurate stereo imaging. However, because of their size, they cannot produce the low bass frequencies that floor-standing models can. As a result, many folks choose to add a powered subwoofer to reinforce the deep bass.

Center channel speakers are imperative if you want to experience movie theater sound in your living room. (Polk Audio CSi A6 shown above)

Center channel speakers

Center channel speakers are the key to getting realistic home theater sound. They're

• designed to handle a wide range of frequencies,
• excel at delivering the precise dialogue, soundtrack, and special effects that accompany movies, and
• can usually be placed on a cradle, or mounted above or below your TV.



Center channel speakers are a must have for anyone putting together a home theater system. In fact, a center channel is so important that it should be the first speaker you choose — and where you spend the largest part of your speaker budget — when shopping. Check out our introduction to home theater speakers and our article on planning out your home theater for more information.

Some surround speakers are so small, that they leave a footprint hardly bigger than your hand. (Mirage MX 5.1 surround speaker shown above)

Surround speakers

Thanks to modern advances in speaker design, surround speakers can often fit in the palm of you hand, and give you surprisingly advanced performance. Because they're so small, they almost always handle only highs and mids. In general, they

• take up very little wall or floor space,
• mount on the wall or ceiling, or can be placed on stands or on shelves, and
• deliver full, wraparound sound.

Because of their size, they're great for anyone looking for home theater sound without detracting from their décor. You can even use surround speakers as both your front and rear speakers in a surround sound system — just be sure to get a good subwoofer to cover the low end, and a good center channel to do your movies justice. Watch our video on speaker placement basics and check out our articles on home theater speaker placement to get a better idea of where to place satellite speakers around your room.

Today's subwoofers are pretty compact, and can be placed almost anywhere in your room. (Definitive Technology SuperCube III shown above)

Subwoofers

The subwoofer serves one purpose: to reproduce the low-frequencies that more compact speakers can't. This does, of course, tend to make the subwoofer one of the larger kinds of speakers, but because of the omni-directional properties of low-frequency sound waves, you can often place the subwoofer in an out-of-the-way location and still get good performance. In general, subwoofers

• reproduce the big, room-shaking booms characteristic of high-action movies and the low frequencies that add nuance to music, and
• can be placed just about anywhere in your room.

A subwoofer is a must for anyone creating a home theater system, and some movie enthusiasts even add a second sub to get the full effect of being in the middle of an explosion or high-speed car chase. Check out our article on choosing a subwoofer for more information.

Sound bar speakers sit or mount below your TV, and can give you much better sound than your TV can produce. (Polk Audio SurroundBar®50 shown above)

Sound bars

Sound bars offer great performance in rooms where traditional home theater systems won't fit. Many have sophisticated processing that helps them deliver full, rich sound despite their smaller size. Sound bars

• are designed for people with very little floor space,
• can come with a subwoofer or give you the option to add one for deep bass, and
• offer either virtual surround sound or enhanced stereo sound in a single speaker.

Sound bars are a great alternative for people looking for unobtrusive home theater sound, but who may not have the option of adding rear speakers. Most sit below your TV on a stand or mounted on your wall, and connect to your TV via a single cable. For more information on choosing sound bars, check out our article on how to choose a single-speaker solution.

In-wall speakers mount flush with your wall for a clean look. (Artison Sketch in-wall speakers shown above)

In-wall and in-ceiling speakers

In-wall and in-ceiling speakers work in the same way as regular speakers, but they're mounted in a frame and set into the wall (or ceiling). Instead of a separate speaker cabinet, they use the wall itself as the cabinet. With proper installation, these speakers sound great and can blend seamlessly into your room's décor — they even have paintable grilles. Plus, you won't fill up your floor space with speakers. They're a great option when

• you're building a house or are able to cut holes in your wall to install them and run in-wall wire,
• looking to create a multi-room music system, and
• want to impress your friends with near-invisible sound.



Though most in-wall speakers cover a wide frequency range, you'll probably want to add a powered subwoofer to your system for deeper bass, especially for home theater or for serious music listening. Some manufacturers produce in-wall and in-floor subwoofers as well. Also, keep in mind that you'll need to run your speaker wire inside the walls. For more information, watch our video on the basics of installing in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, get more tips on how to choose in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, and take a look at our comprehensive in-wall wiring guide.

Outdoor speakers are designed to stand up to the elements. (Niles RS6 shown above)

Outdoor speakers

Outdoor speakers are a popular way to bring your favorite music outside, without having to lug speakers out to the patio every time you want music. They're either weather-proof or weather-resistant, so they can be placed under the eaves of your house as well as on covered porches or decks — some can even be placed out in your yard. Outdoor speakers

• are designed to perform well despite rain, heat, snow, and ice,
• can come in cabinets that blend into the outdoors, and
• have plenty of power handling and a wide frequency response to perform well in large, open spaces.



Outdoor speakers are great for anyone looking to add sound to an outdoor deck, patio, or pool area. They can really liven up summer barbecues or pool parties. For more help selecting outdoor speakers, see our article on choosing and installing outdoor speakers or watch our helpful video on outdoor speaker installation.

Personal speakers give you great sound in tight spaces or temporary locations.(Bose® SoundDock® 10 shown above)

Personal speakers

Personal speakers are the go-anywhere, play-anything models of the speaker world. From portable radios and CD players, to shelf systems that let you dock your iPod®, there's a speaker system out there to serve most any need. In general, these speaker systems

• are incredibly mobile, usually requiring either a set of batteries or a standard power outlet,
• play a variety of sources from iPods and MP3 CDs to HD Radio® stations, and
• make great sound solutions for small spaces.



These kinds of speakers are great for anyone who wants to easily share music with friends wherever they go. They're also generally the most convenient sound solution for people residing in small or temporary living situations, like a college dorm room or a vacation rental. For more ideas on other ways to use your iPod or MP3 player, check out our article on accessorizing your MP3 player.

Get Everything You Need




Speaker cable is vital — you'll need it to connect your speakers to your receiver.

Speaker stands and speaker brackets let you raise your speakers to the appropriate levels for listening.

Power protectors help save your speakers from everyday power dips and rises, and unexpected spikes that can potentially damage them.

A few last thoughts

If at any time you stumble over any speaker-related terms, try looking them up in our speaker glossary. And if you've still got unanswered questions, our speaker FAQ can be a big help.

If you're thinking about combining any of the types of speakers above into a whole-house audio system, then you should check out our intro to multi-room systems. We offer a number of articles and videos to help you get started planning, all the way through tips on installation.

Another thing to consider when choosing the kinds of speakers you want in your home is what role your room plays in the sound. Our article on room acoustics will give you a good idea of how you can expect sound to behave in your particular room, and has some helpful tips on getting better sound in your room.