The great thing about stereo speaker setups is that they work in a lot of different settings. You can get great sound without sacrificing much floor or table space. And whether you plan on putting them in your dorm, home office, bedroom, or home theater room, there are stereo speakers that fit each application. But you wouldn't want to choose giant floor-standing speakers for a dorm or compact computer speakers for your home theater room. In this article, we'll go over a few things that you should consider before you look at stereo speakers, as well as some features to look for. And for more information about setting up a stereo speaker system, check out our article on speaker placement for stereo music listening.

Speaker types

Floor-standing speakers give you excellent performance. They reproduce a wide range of frequencies, including deep bass, and are usually more efficient than other types of speakers. They're the largest type of speaker for stereo music setups and, as such, cost the most. But they're hard to beat for big, room-filling sound. They work best in large rooms or in systems that are also used for home theater. [Shop for floor-standing speakers.]

High-end computer speakers can really improve the sound you hear with your music library in your home office. (Harman Kardon GLA-55 shown above)

Bookshelf speakers deliver great performance and come in a wide variety of sizes, with most being small enough to fit on a cabinet or shelf. They're best for small- to medium-sized rooms or for music-only listening systems in a den or bedroom. Just be aware that bookshelf speakers generally can't produce the low bass frequencies that floor-standing models can, so many folks choose to add a powered subwoofer to reinforce the deep bass. [Shop for bookshelf speakers.]

Custom flat-panel TV speakers are kind of like on-wall speakers that attach directly to your TV. They have the ability to product more powerful, detailed sound than your TV's speakers, because the drivers are contained in their own cabinets and are made of better-quality materials. They generally work best if you don't have the floor or shelf space for other types of speakers or if you simply prefer the visual appeal of custom TV speakers. [Shop for custom flat-panel TV speakers.]

Three-speaker systems generally come with two speakers and a subwoofer. The two speakers tend to be smaller, satellite speakers, and they make room-friendly options for a home office or dorm. The subwoofer that comes with the system also tends to be compact and adds punchy bass to the mix. They can give you better sound than just computer speakers alone, and buying the three speakers in a package takes the guesswork out of component matching.

Computer speakers are designed specifically for connecting to your desktop computer. They bypass your computer's built-in speaker(s), and generally give you better sound quality thanks to larger cabinets and better quality materials. They're your best bet if you want better stereo music in your home office or in places like a dorm room where space is limited. [Shop for computer speakers.]

Considerations

Before you start looking at speaker models, there are a couple of things you'll want to consider.

Bookshelf speakers can give you great sound without taking up much floor space. (PSB Imagine B speakers shown above)

What do you plan to do with your speakers?
Stereo speakers make a great addition to a dorm room or a computer desk. They can really add richness and depth to your music that your computer's tiny built-in speakers just can't. Along the same line, stereo speakers can really improve your TV sound, especially if you're used to listening to the flat, wimpy sound coming from your TV's built-in speakers. Just about any pair of speakers and receiver combination that you buy — whether satellites, custom flat-panel speakers, bookshelves, or floor-standing models — will sound better than the tiny speakers built into your TV's cabinet.

If you plan to use your stereo speakers as part of a larger surround sound system, then check out our article on choosing speakers for home theater instead. Just bear in mind that you'll want to adjust the budget percentages there (see our section on budget), and spend a little more on your front left and right speakers, then the remaining amount on your center and surrounds, with more going to your center than your surrounds.

What size room are you putting your speakers in?
If you're setting up your stereo system on a desk, in a smaller room, or making this a second system in addition to main audio system, then it's OK to go with bookshelf speakers or a three-speaker system. Bookshelf speakers or smaller satellites can give you clear, dynamic sound and are easy enough to place on stands.

On the other hand, if you're putting your speakers in a larger room or plan to use it as your primary audio system, then go for larger floor-standing speakers. They can give you more spacious sound and generally cover a wider frequency range than bookshelf speakers.

Just remember that putting small speakers in a big room can be just as bad as putting big speakers in a small room. Small speakers just don't have the ability to fill larger rooms, while speakers that are too large can overwhelm small spaces where they really don't have enough room to do what they're designed to do. That's why it's important to go with the right size speakers for your room.

If you have a mid- to large-sized room, floor-standing speakers can give you the best performance for your two-channel movies, music, and concert videos. (THIEL CS3.7 speakers shown above)

Your speaker budget

If you're choosing speakers for your home office or a dorm, then there's no general rule about budget. Just spend as much as you feel comfortable with, and be aware that there are high-end speakers available to give you better quality sound even from your MP3s.

Stereo speakers for music listening or home theater are another matter entirely. While better sound quality has a lot to do with your audio components, your speakers also play a huge role in sound reproduction. And they can sound drastically different among listeners, brands, and models within brands, so they tend to be more of an investment. Chances are that you may want to replace your receiver or disc player in five or ten years for a new one with more features. Speakers, on the other hand, do their job regardless of whether they're reproducing sound from an old vinyl record or a CD — they're designed to last for many years.

That's why we recommend that you spend approximately half of your budget on your front left and right speakers for stereo audio and the rest on the other components you may need. And whether you're shopping for bookshelf speakers or floor-standing models, try to purchase the best you can afford. For more information on the difference between bookshelf and floor-standing speakers, check out our article on the types of speakers.

What to look for

In general, you don't want to get too hung up on driver materials. When it comes to speakers, every combination of cabinet and driver material has a different sound, and every speaker sounds slightly different to everyone's ears. However, you will want to look for solidly built speakers. Any speaker needs to have good internal bracing and a solid cabinet, so when you knock on it, it should sound like a brick. Any hollow sound or rattle can add noise to your music.

Specs can be a good indicator of how speakers will perform, but don't get too hung up on them either, because it's your ears that need to have the final say. One spec that may help you more than the others is the frequency range. The human ear can generally detect sounds in the 20-20,000 Hz range. Frequencies below this range are felt, while frequencies above it add more nuance to your music. If you're serious about sound quality, then your stereo speakers should be able to comfortably handle most of the sounds in this range.

Other than that, there are a few additional factors to consider:

• You may not need a subwoofer for large stereo music setups — most floor-standing speakers do a remarkable job at reproducing upper and midbass. But of course depending on the genre of music you prefer and your own personal listening tastes, you might want to add one. If you plan to go this route, you might also want to consider floor-standing speakers with built-in subwoofers. They can give you the deep bass that you want without sacrificing your floor space.

Use high-quality speaker wire to get the best sound possible. (Monster XPHP™ MKII Clear Jacket Speaker Cable shown above)

• Cables are also a big part of the equation. Cheap cables will allow the signal to degrade, especially over longer runs, causing your sound to lose detail and dynamics. For more information, check out our articles on why cable quality matters and speaker wire for more help in choosing high-end speaker wire.
• It's important to consider what kind of flooring you plan to place your speakers on. A wobbly foundation can introduce unwanted vibrations into your music, not to mention you don't want your new speakers easily tipping over when you accidentally run into them with the vacuum cleaner. If your room is carpeted, then look for floor-standing speakers or speaker stands that come with carpet spikes to improve the speakers' stability. If your floors are made of hardwood, vinyl, stone, or any other flat material, then look for padded feet to come with your speakers or stands.
• Remember that your room may also have an effect on your speakers' sound. Just because a pair of speakers sounds great in the store or in your friend's home, doesn't mean they'll sound the same in your room. Glass windows, doors, coffee tables, and bare walls or flooring can all introduce unwanted effects that can color your sound. There are several simple steps you can take to get better sound, like installing curtains or putting down a rug over bare floors. And if you want to turn your room into an audiophile's haven, then there are special sound damping materials that you can install on your walls and ceiling. Check out our article on room acoustics for more information.