Technically, all speakers fall under 2 categories; Passive speakers (which require separate power amplifier to produce sound) or Powered speakers (contain internal power amplifier, and can be connected to a mixer).
Speakers are also categorized based on what frequencies they handle; Woofer drivers (called just Woofers or Sub-Woofers, focussing mainly on bass range) handle low frequencies (below 200 Hz), Mid-range speakers handle frequencies between 200 to 2000 Hz, and for high frequencies (above 2000 Hz, focussing on Treble range), Tweeter drivers are used.
Coming to the different shapes and sizes of speakers available;
- Floor standing (or Tower) speakers are the real deal, offering the entire range of audio frequencies. Used typically for the front channel (i.e. Left and Right to the viewer alongside the display), they can be as tall as you (!) and occupy a lot of space in the room. These add to the impressive look and feel of your Home theatre, provide unmatched power and performance, but are usually more expensive than other types of speakers.
- Book Shelf speakers can usually fit in a cabinet or shelf, or can be mounted on the wall. While they don’t offer the same range of frequencies as Floor standing speakers, they tend to be favoured when the room size is small, or you prefer a more minimalist design to your theatre. They are usually supplemented by a subwoofer to produce bass sounds.
- Subwoofers handle the low pitched frequencies range (called bass), and are heavier than bookshelf speakers. They’re usually placed on the floor for this reason, but are considered indispensable since most Movies/Video Games or Music tracks have a channel earmarked for deep bass as it gives the sound a more lifelike feel.
- In-Wall speakers, as the name suggests, are designed to be ‘invisible’ by blending in with the walls (the speaker can be installed in-wall) and out of sight, thereby saving valuable floor space, and more importantly refining the aesthetics of your room. Specs wise, they’re similar to book shelf speakers, but are typically used as the surround speakers in the system,
To experience for yourself these different speaker types in Bangalore itself, do visit our offices in Bangalore (KR Puram, JP Nagar or Sanjaynagar) for a free demo.
Read more