Team Electronics carries a vast array of speakers including: Floor standing, bookshelf, component and every thing in-between. Whether you’re building the most extreme home theater, the most dynamic 2-channel system, or that whole house music system you have been dreaming about, we have the products and the staff with the knowledge to meet your needs. We have provided some basic info for you below but as always stop in to our Manitowoc showroom for your hands on Speaker demo today.
How to: Auditioning speakers
In the final analysis, just as there is no one “best” speaker, there is no one way to audition speakers. In your personal quest for audio nirvana, you’ll ultimately seek out the speaker that best suits your aesthetic tastes, your personal music preferences, and most of all, your ears. Whether it hits you with the first pair of speakers you hear, or the fiftieth, when it’s right, you’ll know.
In that spirit, here are some suggestions to, perhaps, make the process a bit easier…though no less fun!
First of all, come to the audio retailer of your choice armed with music that you know and love. Even if you’ve listened to it a thousand times, different speakers will reveal the recording in different ways. Whether it appears as a richer vocal, a deeper, fuller bass line or a wider, more realistic soundstage, great speakers have the ability to bring out the best in your favorite songs…and not-so-great ones will ultimately disappoint.
Even if you have a specific—and smaller—budget in mind, it doesn’t hurt to start by listening to the store’s flagship speaker line. In fact, it may help you establish a baseline for the lower priced models you might subsequently audition.
Remember, whether you’re on the sales floor of a giant electronics retailer or (preferably) a small, intimate listening room, the speakers you select will most likely sound different in the confines of your home. Once you’ve narrowed your choices, you might want to determine the retailer’s return policy and consider an in-home test as well. It can be a minor (or major) pain unpacking and repacking speakers, let alone shuttling from home to store, but a purchase this significant certainly justifies it.
If you’re not an audiophile, you’ll discover that a lot of the language you read in trade magazines or hear at retailers is somewhat esoteric. An understanding of some basic terms should make it easier to establish a dialogue with your salespeople and help them help you.
TREBLE: We’ve all experienced speakers that overemphasize the treble—the result is a sound we often refer to as “thin” or “tinny”. Well-defined treble integrates with the rest of the sound, providing fullness. If the treble lacks power, the sound is dull and lifeless.
MIDRANGE: What we tend to hear most clearly and distinctly occurs in the midrange. It stands to reason that imperfections here will generally stand out. Clear, powerful vocals will generally indicate a good midrange; if you’re uncertain, it might pay to listen to a spoken word recording and listen for a muffled or nasal sound quality, which would come from poor midrange response.
BASS: Despite what you may hear on the city streets, good-sounding bass should not overwhelm treble and midrange. Clarity is the key; the bass notes should not be too heavy or too thin. Remember, though, that, if you like the sound of the treble and midrange on a given speaker, a weaker bass sound can be enhanced using a subwoofer.
A couple of other considerations enter into the mix…and you’ll get bonus points for being able to discuss them intelligently with your salesperson!
SOUNDSTAGE: The best thing about great speakers is that they give you the sense of listening to the music in a concert hall, arena or coffeehouse. If the speakers accurately reproduce the soundstage, you should be able to pinpoint the location of the individual musicians from left to right…and even derive a pretty accurate sense of depth.
DYNAMIC RANGE: Virtually any speaker can play loudly. Excellent speakers can play loudly—or at a whisper—without losing the clarity of each instrument. That ability defines its dynamic range.
Using these categories, the more obsessive of you might develop a “cheat sheet” that would allow you to rank the speakers you hear as you audition them; the advantage is that it will increase your recall as to what you liked from each and allow you to quickly narrow your choices from a potentially large field.
Armed with this set of tools, terms and goals, you should be able to successfully audition any number of speakers and select the ones that best suit your taste. Best of all, the process is a great way to rekindle your love of music and, perhaps, take it to new levels.
In that spirit, here are some suggestions to, perhaps, make the process a bit easier…though no less fun!
First of all, come to the audio retailer of your choice armed with music that you know and love. Even if you’ve listened to it a thousand times, different speakers will reveal the recording in different ways. Whether it appears as a richer vocal, a deeper, fuller bass line or a wider, more realistic soundstage, great speakers have the ability to bring out the best in your favorite songs…and not-so-great ones will ultimately disappoint.
Even if you have a specific—and smaller—budget in mind, it doesn’t hurt to start by listening to the store’s flagship speaker line. In fact, it may help you establish a baseline for the lower priced models you might subsequently audition.
Remember, whether you’re on the sales floor of a giant electronics retailer or (preferably) a small, intimate listening room, the speakers you select will most likely sound different in the confines of your home. Once you’ve narrowed your choices, you might want to determine the retailer’s return policy and consider an in-home test as well. It can be a minor (or major) pain unpacking and repacking speakers, let alone shuttling from home to store, but a purchase this significant certainly justifies it.
If you’re not an audiophile, you’ll discover that a lot of the language you read in trade magazines or hear at retailers is somewhat esoteric. An understanding of some basic terms should make it easier to establish a dialogue with your salespeople and help them help you.
TREBLE: We’ve all experienced speakers that overemphasize the treble—the result is a sound we often refer to as “thin” or “tinny”. Well-defined treble integrates with the rest of the sound, providing fullness. If the treble lacks power, the sound is dull and lifeless.
MIDRANGE: What we tend to hear most clearly and distinctly occurs in the midrange. It stands to reason that imperfections here will generally stand out. Clear, powerful vocals will generally indicate a good midrange; if you’re uncertain, it might pay to listen to a spoken word recording and listen for a muffled or nasal sound quality, which would come from poor midrange response.
BASS: Despite what you may hear on the city streets, good-sounding bass should not overwhelm treble and midrange. Clarity is the key; the bass notes should not be too heavy or too thin. Remember, though, that, if you like the sound of the treble and midrange on a given speaker, a weaker bass sound can be enhanced using a subwoofer.
A couple of other considerations enter into the mix…and you’ll get bonus points for being able to discuss them intelligently with your salesperson!
SOUNDSTAGE: The best thing about great speakers is that they give you the sense of listening to the music in a concert hall, arena or coffeehouse. If the speakers accurately reproduce the soundstage, you should be able to pinpoint the location of the individual musicians from left to right…and even derive a pretty accurate sense of depth.
DYNAMIC RANGE: Virtually any speaker can play loudly. Excellent speakers can play loudly—or at a whisper—without losing the clarity of each instrument. That ability defines its dynamic range.
Using these categories, the more obsessive of you might develop a “cheat sheet” that would allow you to rank the speakers you hear as you audition them; the advantage is that it will increase your recall as to what you liked from each and allow you to quickly narrow your choices from a potentially large field.
Armed with this set of tools, terms and goals, you should be able to successfully audition any number of speakers and select the ones that best suit your taste. Best of all, the process is a great way to rekindle your love of music and, perhaps, take it to new levels.
How to: Choosing the correct speakers for a room
While size is one determining factor in selecting home speakers, the
most important factors are personal preference in regard to sound,
speaker type and the amplifier/receiver you’ll use to power your
speakers. There is no objective rule of thumb because a wide range of
speaker sizes can provide room-filling audio.
Ultimately, whether you choose small bookshelf or towering floorstanding speakers, choose those that fit your tastes, as much as they fit your room.
That will ensure your long-term satisfaction.
If performance is your first criterion, either floorstanders or bookshelf speakers will generally fill the bill, because the speakers and enclosures are matched.
In instances where available space is a serious consideration, the floor space they’ll consume must be analyzed. For large rooms, floorstanding speakers are a good option, if they can be placed out of the room’s traffic flow. Some larger floorstanding stereo speakers present a tip-over risk, so keep this in mind if you have young children or pets. If you want unobtrusive speakers, bookshelf-style speakers are preferable, as they can be tucked away on a bookcase.
Satellite, or mini, speakers take up even less space, and can be mounted on stands, placed on bookcases or wall-mounted. In-Wall and in-ceiling speakers have advanced dramatically in recent years and can provide excellent sound. Most of these are paintable, so they blend seamlessly into the wall—and, of course, take up no space at all.
Small speakers, obviously, work well in small spaces. Bookshelf and mini speakers provide excellent stereo sound in a speaker that takes up virtually no space. They can be used as the basis for a compact stereo system, or combined with a mini-subwoofer to create an unobtrusive home theater system.
Again, no one size fits all…you can find room-filling performance in virtually any speaker, from the smallest mini-sized satellite to the tallest floorstanders. The choice ultimately comes down to your personal taste.
Ultimately, whether you choose small bookshelf or towering floorstanding speakers, choose those that fit your tastes, as much as they fit your room.
That will ensure your long-term satisfaction.
If performance is your first criterion, either floorstanders or bookshelf speakers will generally fill the bill, because the speakers and enclosures are matched.
In instances where available space is a serious consideration, the floor space they’ll consume must be analyzed. For large rooms, floorstanding speakers are a good option, if they can be placed out of the room’s traffic flow. Some larger floorstanding stereo speakers present a tip-over risk, so keep this in mind if you have young children or pets. If you want unobtrusive speakers, bookshelf-style speakers are preferable, as they can be tucked away on a bookcase.
Satellite, or mini, speakers take up even less space, and can be mounted on stands, placed on bookcases or wall-mounted. In-Wall and in-ceiling speakers have advanced dramatically in recent years and can provide excellent sound. Most of these are paintable, so they blend seamlessly into the wall—and, of course, take up no space at all.
Small speakers, obviously, work well in small spaces. Bookshelf and mini speakers provide excellent stereo sound in a speaker that takes up virtually no space. They can be used as the basis for a compact stereo system, or combined with a mini-subwoofer to create an unobtrusive home theater system.
Again, no one size fits all…you can find room-filling performance in virtually any speaker, from the smallest mini-sized satellite to the tallest floorstanders. The choice ultimately comes down to your personal taste.
How to: Creating ideal surround sound
To get the most from your favorite movies, you have to have surround sound. But for many people, this can be daunting…with five speakers to place (not including the subwoofer, which we’ll deal with separately), finding the ideal placement might seem like a major undertaking.
Actually, though, you can get the most from your speakers by following a few simple tips.
Center channel placement is important because it is responsible for delivering dialogue, which, obviously, should seem to come directly from the characters onscreen. For that reason, the center channel speaker needs to be centrally located. It can be placed directly above or below the monitor, as closely to it as possible. If you’re using a rear projection television, the most likely option is to place it above the screen. If you have a front projection system, you have choices—stand mounting, or placement on furniture, for example. It is important, though, to place the speaker so that its front edge is even with the edge of the shelf or the stand that supports it. Unwanted diffraction occurs when the center channel is too far back into a cabinet or other surface with edges that could impede sound dispersion. If you’re using a center channel speaker with a traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) television, the speaker should have magnetic shielding to prevent interference.
For the left and right front channels, the distance between the speakers should be 6-8 feet at minimum, and form an equidistant triangle to the primary listening position for the best stereo imaging. The optimum room shape is rectangular, with the speakers usually along one of the shorter walls, facing the opposite side. If possible, do not place speakers against a wall or at the rear of a bookshelf. Try to keep the speakers—especially rear vented models—at least two feet from the surface behind it, unless you use a vent plug.
For best results when mounting surround speakers on a rear wall, position them so that they flank the main listening area and point toward the front of the room. They should be raised to a height of approximately six feet and should ideally have a minimum space of six feet between them, as well.
By following these basic rules, it’s possible to create the ideal “sweet spot”—one that makes hearing your favorite films as much fun as watching them!
Actually, though, you can get the most from your speakers by following a few simple tips.
Center channel placement is important because it is responsible for delivering dialogue, which, obviously, should seem to come directly from the characters onscreen. For that reason, the center channel speaker needs to be centrally located. It can be placed directly above or below the monitor, as closely to it as possible. If you’re using a rear projection television, the most likely option is to place it above the screen. If you have a front projection system, you have choices—stand mounting, or placement on furniture, for example. It is important, though, to place the speaker so that its front edge is even with the edge of the shelf or the stand that supports it. Unwanted diffraction occurs when the center channel is too far back into a cabinet or other surface with edges that could impede sound dispersion. If you’re using a center channel speaker with a traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) television, the speaker should have magnetic shielding to prevent interference.
For the left and right front channels, the distance between the speakers should be 6-8 feet at minimum, and form an equidistant triangle to the primary listening position for the best stereo imaging. The optimum room shape is rectangular, with the speakers usually along one of the shorter walls, facing the opposite side. If possible, do not place speakers against a wall or at the rear of a bookshelf. Try to keep the speakers—especially rear vented models—at least two feet from the surface behind it, unless you use a vent plug.
For best results when mounting surround speakers on a rear wall, position them so that they flank the main listening area and point toward the front of the room. They should be raised to a height of approximately six feet and should ideally have a minimum space of six feet between them, as well.
By following these basic rules, it’s possible to create the ideal “sweet spot”—one that makes hearing your favorite films as much fun as watching them!
How to: Buying and setting up your first home theater system
A home theater system can totally change the way you and your family watch movies or play video games. How do you choose the right audio system? There are a number of considerations.
Logically, the most important is your budget. Many people spend the largest share of their home theater budget on a big screen video monitor, only to be disappointed by the sound. At first glance it makes sense. The flat screen technology makes them more attractive and versatile in terms of placement. However, their design leaves little room for suitable audio speakers.
A good rule of thumb is to devote at least half of your budget to audio. Once you’ve established this baseline, you have a number of options from which to choose: everything from a simple, cost-effective soundbar system or home theater in a box (HTIB), to a full-blown system assembled with individual components. The advantages of the two former categories include matched components, good-to-excellent performance, depending on the product, and a generally reasonable price. With separate components, the sky’s the limit—both in terms of performance and cost.
For most people, home theater audio consists of a 5.1 system—that is, two front speakers (left and right), a center channel (which is primarily responsible for dialogue), left and right side speakers to create surround sound, and a subwoofer which handles low frequencies.
For smaller budgets, there are economy-priced 5.1 receivers, which could be paired with reasonably-priced bookshelf speakers for front and surround placement, a dedicated center channel speaker and a subwoofer.
Once you’ve selected your components, the right setup will enhance your viewing experience. If you’ve not set up a home theater audio system before, here are some tips:
Place the center channel speaker immediately above or below the screen, directly facing the listening area. If the speaker is being set on a shelf or stand, be sure that the leading edge of the speaker is flush with the edge of the stand, to maintain dialogue clarity.
The left and right front speakers should be placed at an equal distance from the screen and at least six feet apart; these should form an equilateral triangle with the primary viewing position. To further enhance the experience, some toe-in might be desirable. If so, be sure to identically angle each speaker and maintain the equal distance from the viewing position.
Left and right surround speakers should also be about three feet above (and slightly behind) the seated listeners’ heads.
The three most common subwoofer locations include corners, placement along a wall, away from the corner, or beside a front speaker (which can create a better blend with the front speaker, at the cost of possibly sacrificing overall volume). Experimentation with subwoofer placement is highly encouraged; slight adjustments can create big differences in bass reproduction.
For a 7.1 system, all the speakers mentioned above would be placed in the same positions. Then add two rear speakers on the back wall located an equal distance from the two side surrounds, and at the same height.
Logically, the most important is your budget. Many people spend the largest share of their home theater budget on a big screen video monitor, only to be disappointed by the sound. At first glance it makes sense. The flat screen technology makes them more attractive and versatile in terms of placement. However, their design leaves little room for suitable audio speakers.
A good rule of thumb is to devote at least half of your budget to audio. Once you’ve established this baseline, you have a number of options from which to choose: everything from a simple, cost-effective soundbar system or home theater in a box (HTIB), to a full-blown system assembled with individual components. The advantages of the two former categories include matched components, good-to-excellent performance, depending on the product, and a generally reasonable price. With separate components, the sky’s the limit—both in terms of performance and cost.
For most people, home theater audio consists of a 5.1 system—that is, two front speakers (left and right), a center channel (which is primarily responsible for dialogue), left and right side speakers to create surround sound, and a subwoofer which handles low frequencies.
For smaller budgets, there are economy-priced 5.1 receivers, which could be paired with reasonably-priced bookshelf speakers for front and surround placement, a dedicated center channel speaker and a subwoofer.
Once you’ve selected your components, the right setup will enhance your viewing experience. If you’ve not set up a home theater audio system before, here are some tips:
Place the center channel speaker immediately above or below the screen, directly facing the listening area. If the speaker is being set on a shelf or stand, be sure that the leading edge of the speaker is flush with the edge of the stand, to maintain dialogue clarity.
The left and right front speakers should be placed at an equal distance from the screen and at least six feet apart; these should form an equilateral triangle with the primary viewing position. To further enhance the experience, some toe-in might be desirable. If so, be sure to identically angle each speaker and maintain the equal distance from the viewing position.
Left and right surround speakers should also be about three feet above (and slightly behind) the seated listeners’ heads.
The three most common subwoofer locations include corners, placement along a wall, away from the corner, or beside a front speaker (which can create a better blend with the front speaker, at the cost of possibly sacrificing overall volume). Experimentation with subwoofer placement is highly encouraged; slight adjustments can create big differences in bass reproduction.
For a 7.1 system, all the speakers mentioned above would be placed in the same positions. Then add two rear speakers on the back wall located an equal distance from the two side surrounds, and at the same height.
How to: Receivers and amplifiers
To give you the best balance of power and performance, select an amplifier or receiver that delivers continuous watts (many times erroneously referred to as “RMS”) in accordance with the speaker’s rating.
For example, a Klipsch RF-83 floorstanding speaker is rated at 250 watts. So, any amplifier that delivers 250w/channel would be a good match. Don’t be misled, by the way; although a speaker’s peak power rating can be much higher—in the RF-83 example, it’s a whopping 1000 watts—remember that peak power means exactly that…a momentary exposure. Trying to make any speaker perform for more than an instant at peak is to invite disaster!
The right amplifier, one that has its power well matched to the speakers, will also eliminate the need to overdrive components, which can induce clipping, which at best distorts the signal and at worst can cause serious damage. Believe it or not, underpowering speakers carries as much danger as too much power.
Horn-driven speakers, such as Klipsch, are much more efficient than their direct radiating counterparts, and require less power to create great sound. Just be sure to keep the receiver’s output closely matched to speaker specifications to ensure years of trouble-free performance.
For example, a Klipsch RF-83 floorstanding speaker is rated at 250 watts. So, any amplifier that delivers 250w/channel would be a good match. Don’t be misled, by the way; although a speaker’s peak power rating can be much higher—in the RF-83 example, it’s a whopping 1000 watts—remember that peak power means exactly that…a momentary exposure. Trying to make any speaker perform for more than an instant at peak is to invite disaster!
The right amplifier, one that has its power well matched to the speakers, will also eliminate the need to overdrive components, which can induce clipping, which at best distorts the signal and at worst can cause serious damage. Believe it or not, underpowering speakers carries as much danger as too much power.
Horn-driven speakers, such as Klipsch, are much more efficient than their direct radiating counterparts, and require less power to create great sound. Just be sure to keep the receiver’s output closely matched to speaker specifications to ensure years of trouble-free performance.
