How to Choose A Loudspeaker

mikesorensen06

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Dec 22, 2011
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Choosing the correct speaker for the room you are going to be using it in involves many factors. All of these factors must be considered when selecting a loudspeaker for your listening room. We are just referring to two channel sound sound with a left and right channel speaker. We need to consider low frequency driver diameter, total speaker size and amplifier.

The size of the low frequency driver must be "matched" to the room volume. Why room volume? Because room volume or in this case, lack of room volume, is critical to the pressure created by the sub woofer diameter. In other words, we must match the volume of the room to the woofer diameter. A 10" woofer will produce a certain amount of energy into the room. A 12" woofer will produce proportionally more sound energy into the room. A 15" even more. Where can all of this low frequency pressure go but into a room with a certain volume. If the volume of the room or its ability to handle low frequency pressure amounts is too small we will receive all types of low frequency issues. With excess, low frequency energy into the room our middle and high frequencies will be blurred if we are lucky or smothered which is usually the case.

The physical size of the loudspeaker must also be considered. Is the width of our room wide enough to accommodate a wide dispersion sound pattern from a tall cabinet? If it isn't, we have primary reflections that will bounce off the side walls and interfer with the direct, wanted sound from our loudspeaker at the listening position. We must have the correct width distance in the room for the desired speaker height in order to achieve a balance between direct and reflected energy. If we have a tall, tower type speaker and a lower ceiling height, we will have a comb filter effect created between the energy out of the top of our speaker and the ceiling. This comb filter effect blurs and smears our middle range frequencies where our vocals and instruments are.

The output of our power amplifier must be adequate to cover the resistance produced by the speaker and speaker cable.The energy from the amplifier must flow through the speaker cables no matter what the load resistance range is.Our amplifier must have enough reserve energy to cover transients in our music presentation. If we hear a bass drum followed by a flute, we must be able to hear the attack and decay of the bass drum and the attack and decay of the flute. All instruments must be heard whether they are played together or separately. Bass energy output needs from our amplifiers can not rob energy from the middle and high frequencies. Bi- amplification or tri- amplification will solve these issues quickly.

Choosing the correct loudspeaker for your two channel listening room must be approached as a total decision involving the room volume and dimensions, the desired speaker height, and even the amplifier power levels, damping, and dynamics.
 

musical marv

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Feb 26, 2011
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The best way to choose speakers is by your own ear and listening to the midrange which 80% of your music. Not by reviews! Some are biased.