Jesu li skupi zvučnici bolji i isplativi?
Dakle, ako ste poput mene i smatrate se pravim audiofilom, možda mislite da je prihvatljivo potrošiti gomilu novca na dobar set zvučnika.
Međutim, kada sam gledao cijene, počeo sam se pitati vrijede li skupi zvučnici tog novca.
Jesu li skupi zvučnici bolji i isplativi?
Dakle, jesu li skupi zvučnici bolji? Općenito će skupi zvučnici obaviti bolji posao od jeftinih zvučnika, osobito ako tražite najistinitiju kvalitetu zvuka. Međutim, važnije je osigurati da zvučnici rade ono što trebate, a ne fokusirati se na cijenu.
Pogledaj:
Problem je u tome što kada treba odlučiti jesu li skupi zvučnici bolji, na kraju koristite vrlo subjektivan izraz.
Skupo za jednu osobu ne mora biti skupo za drugu. Mislim da je bolje pobrinuti se da zvučnici rade ono što trebate i da i dalje radite unutar proračuna.
Ostatak ovog članka daje vam više informacija o tome što tražiti kod dobrih zvučnika i nekoliko savjeta o pronalaženju najboljeg za vaše potrebe.
Što tražiti kod dobrih zvučnika
Kao što sam spomenuo, skupo je subjektivan pojam, ali za potrebe ovog članka, definirat ćemo ga kao iznos koji je veći od onoga što biste općenito platili za sličan komad opreme.
U isto vrijeme, kvaliteta je subjektivna, budući da bi jedan set zvučnika mogao biti izvrstan za igranje igrica ili gledanje filmova, ali ne baš dobar za slušanje glazbe.
Međutim, kvalitetu je moguće mjeriti objektivnim pojmovima. Postoje određene stvari koje biste trebali tražiti u dobrom setu zvučnika koje ih definiraju kao kvalitetne, uključujući:
Duboki bas
Nevažno je imaju li zvučnici koji namjeravate imati subwoofer ili ne. Pogledajte moje glavne preporuke za subwoofere za svaki proračun na temelju stvarnog testiranja u realističnim kućnim okruženjima. U svakom slučaju trebali biste očekivati duboki bas koji je primjetan pri bilo kojoj glasnoći.
Brisanje visokih tonova
Visoki tonovi su najviši dio spektra zvučnih valova, a dobar set zvučnika trebao bi nastaviti davati jasne visoke tonove bez obzira na glasnoću.
Glasnoća
Visokokvalitetni zvučnici trebali bi imati malo ili nimalo izobličenja zvuka kada ih odmah pojačate.
Zvučnici loše kvalitete počet će distorzirati i vibrirati kada postanu preglasni, a to bi trebao biti pokazatelj loše izvedbe.
Osjetljivost
Kvalitetni zvučnici općenito bi trebali biti osjetljiviji od loših zvučnika. Osjetljivost se odnosi na snagu koju skup zvučnika treba za proizvodnju zvuka, pa je osjetljivijim zvučnicima potrebno manje snage za istu glasnoću.
Decibeli
Osjetljivost zvučnika mjeri se u decibelima razine zvučnog tlaka za svaki vat snage pojačala, obično se mjeri na udaljenosti od 1 m od zvučnika. Sve ovo zvuči vrlo zbunjujuće (i jest), ali sve što trebate znati je da će dobri zvučnici biti između 85 i 91 dB , a sve manje od ovoga nije vrijedno gledanja.
Ovo su neke opće točke na koje treba obratiti pozornost pri odabiru kompleta zvučnika. Mnogi od njih mogu se isprobati jednostavnim slušanjem zvučnika, iako to očito nije nešto što možete testirati prije nego što ih kupite.
Još jedan koristan savjet, osobito ako kupujete online, jest čitanje recenzija korisnika. Forumi su dobro mjesto za ovu vrstu informacija jer mnogi audiofili vole dijeliti svoja iskustva kako bi pomogli drugima.
Ako ove brojke nisu bile dovoljne da vam pomognu u donošenju odluke ili se želite dobro informirati prije nego što krenete na put, evo još nekih stvari na koje trebate obratiti pozornost:
Impedancija
Impedancija zvučnika je mjera snage koja će zvučniku trebati za rad, a mjeri se u ohmima. 8 ohma je prilično standardna mjera i sigurno će obaviti posao.
Također možete nabaviti zvučnike koji rade na 4 ohma, ali oni su puno skuplji i trebat će vam puno bolje pojačalo da biste ih iskoristili u punom potencijalu.
Ukupno harmonično izobličenje
Ovo je brojka koja mjeri koliko točno zvučnici reproduciraju zvuk iz audio izvora. Ovdje morate tražiti niske brojke kada birate zvučnike dobre kvalitete, a trebali biste očekivati da ćete vidjeti između 0,05% i 0,08% .
Prostor za glavu
Time se mjeri vrsta glasnoće koju zvučnici mogu proizvesti u kratkim rafalima, na primjer skokovi zvuka tijekom gledanja filma. Ako to želite, potražite zvučnike s velikim prostorom za glavu.
Možete koristiti kombinaciju (ili sve) ovih brojki kako biste odlučili je li set zvučnika dobre kvalitete. As I mentioned, the most important thing is to make sure they do what you need them to, and this should be more important than the price or objective quality.
For example, a cheaper set of speakers might be perfect for gaming, but would be useless for music. Pay attention to your priorities to narrow down your search, and then bring in objective measures to make your choice.
Now that you have a sense of what to look for, follow the advice in the video below on speaker selection.
How To Select The Right SpeakersWatch this video on YouTube.Do Different Audio Tracks Make The Same Demands On Speakers?
Realistically, sound waves are sound waves, and so one set of speakers should be appropriate for all jobs. However, this isn’t actually the case due to the different demands audio will put on the speakers.
I looked into this because I mainly wanted to use my speakers for music, but also wanted ones that performed well when watching films.
So, in a nutshell, sound waves come in a wide range of frequencies. Music, as a general rule, contains a much wider range of frequencies than a film’s audio track would, but conversely you typically won’t find many lower frequency tones in music tracks.
Sure, songs will have bass in them, but unless you’re listening to church pipe organs, you won’t be going that low.
On the flipside to this is film audio. Special effects will tend to use much lower frequencies than music, and need to do so at much higher volume.
If you think back to the last explosion you saw in a cinema and remember how deep and resonant that bass was, then you’ll understand what I mean.
The other thing to bear in mind is that the dynamic range, which is the difference between the ends of the volume spectrum, and the frequency range, which is the range between bass and treble, are both generally much larger in films.
Music stays within a reasonably confined range of both frequency and dynamics, whereas there’s much more scope in a film.
So, what does this mean for you when it comes to choosing a set of speakers? Basically, it means that if you want to watch films and have good quality audio, make this your priority. A set of speakers that has the range needed for good audio quality will have absolutely no problem keeping up with any music you play through them.
You obviously need to make sure that the speakers are also capable of handling dialogue, which means they need to be very clear, regardless of the volume.
Also, all speakers should have a subwoofer installed somewhere (whether this is integrated or separate doesn’t matter), otherwise they won’t be able to handle the bass needed for either films or music.
Does The Size Of Speakers Make A Difference?
One of the things I noticed when researching different speakers is that there’s a growing market for very compact speakers, both in stereo and surround sound systems.
When it comes to a home theater setup, you might be thinking smaller is better, simply because it can offer a cleaner and less cluttered look.
However, when it comes to speakers, size does tend to matter. Bigger speakers will generally be more powerful, and capable of putting out louder audio.
Also, bigger speakers give manufacturers more room to include bigger, and often better, parts. They also tend to put out better and deeper bass, and can do so at pretty much any volume. You should also find that proportionately, large, high quality speakers will be cheaper than small ones.
That said, you can still get compact speakers that pack a punch, but they will be much more expensive. Some high-end models can really deliver excellent bass and do so at very high volumes, but these are usually top of the line speakers, and will be outside most people’s price range.
You should also bear in mind the size of your room. Large speakers will do a much better job at filling a big room, and you’d probably find that small speakers wouldn’t be capable of delivering the volume and bass needed.
The reverse isn’t true in small rooms though, and if you’ve got the space, stick with larger speakers. You’ll have better sound and will probably be able to go much louder than necessary.
Surround Sound Vs. Stereo, Which Is Better?
When it comes to picking the right speaker system for your home theater, the type you choose will have a big impact on the price you can expect to pay.
Remember, more expensive isn’t always better, but there will be quality increases with price increases. As a general rule, surround sound systems will be more expensive simply because they have more speakers.
Choosing the right speaker system for your home theater should be one of the most important decisions you make, and you should ideally build the rest of your setup around this decision. So which is better, surround sound or stereo?
Stereo
- Stereo speakers are the typical and most common choice, and come in pairs (this is where the stereo part comes in).
- Stereo speakers divide sound into two channels, which are generally labeled as left and right.
- All music tracks are recorded in stereo, so this is their default output. Music can be played through surround sound, but it obviously doesn’t use all the speakers.
- What does this mean for you? If your home theater is mainly going to be a music listening station, stick with stereo. You won’t get full use out of a surround sound system.
- Stereo is also fine for films because it’s the standard audio track for these too. So if you just want a good set of speakers that don’t break the bank, stick with stereo.
- Stereo speakers can also be paired with a separate subwoofer to make them a 2.1 channel system. This is still recognized as stereo, so won’t have any impact on your music (apart from making the bass much deeper).
Surround Sound
- Surround sound systems typically come in 5.1 and 7.1 channel systems. This refers to the amount of speakers (5 and 7 respectively) that are connected to the system. The .1 refers to the subwoofer.
- These are the best choice if you want a home theater that prioritizes films over everything else.
- Many film audio tracks offer surround sound (particularly Blu-Ray, which may even give you several options).
- Surround sound systems can still play stereo tracks, but the audio will only come from the two main speakers, and the rest will remain inactive.
- Surround sound is generally more expensive, but you’re paying for the extra equipment.
The main takeaway from this is that surround sound is great for films, but will still only play music in audio. So if you want a music heavy home theater, go with stereo. If not, go for surround sound.
Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Speakers
Hopefully I’ve made it clear that price isn’t always the thing to look at, and that while quality and price are both subjective, there are some things to look for when choosing speakers.
You might decide to spend that little bit extra on some speakers to make sure you’re getting as much as possible from your audio. However, they won’t be worth the investment if you cut corners elsewhere, so here are some helpful tips for getting the most out of your speakers.
1. Don’t scrimp on audio cables
You’re probably going to need to connect things up to your system, and for this you might need to buy some wires. If this is the case, make sure you don’t cut corners.
Poor quality wires will lead to loss of sound quality, and might not be able to keep up with the demands your speakers are making on them.
You ideally should look for wires with the best conductivity. The best metals for this are copper, silver, and gold. They might cost a bit more, but it’s definitely worth the investment to get the most from your speakers.
2. Room acoustics are everything
Why spend hundreds (maybe even thousands) on a good speaker system, only for the sound waves to bounce around the room?
Hardwood floors are one of the worst culprits for reflecting sound waves, and should generally be avoided in home theaters.
If you can’t do much about this, lay down a rug to help absorb sound better. You can also buy acoustic panels to help deal with reflection issues.
Read my article on acoustic panels
3. Nothing should sit in front of the speakers
This should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway:nothing should block the speakers. There should be a clear path between the speaker and your sitting area, so if this isn’t the case, make it so.
While it might not have a noticeable effect on volume, it can massively impact clarity, making your expensive speakers essentially worth it.
Read my article on which way a subwoofer should face
4. Be very careful with your speaker placement
This point basically follows up from the previous two points, and is the most important. Speaker placement is crucial, and should provide appropriate coverage for the whole room. If you notice any quiet spots, reposition and try again, or add more speakers.
There’s no real correct placement for speakers in terms of layout, but you should always aim for balance. For example, if you have 2 speakers, make sure they’re equal distances away from your seating area.
The same is true for 5 and 7 channel systems, but these require a bit more work. All rooms are different, so trial and error is your friend here.
5. But also be careful with your seating placement
You’ve probably noticed that I consider setting up a home theater to be a military exercise, but it is. Everything needs to be carefully positioned to get the most out of the potentially expensive equipment. Seating is important here too, as you need to be able to enjoy your home theater.
The most important rule is don’t place your seating in the middle of the room if using a single subwoofer. There will be a massive bass void directly in front of the sub, meaning you’re missing out on the best bit.
Either position your seating slightly off center, or install 2 subwoofers to compensate for audio gaps.
Final Thoughts On Expensive Speakers
When it comes to speakers, expensive isn’t always better, but you will generally get better performance from higher end equipment.
While there are objective measurements you can use to test a speaker’s quality, it’s much more important to ensure they do what you need them to.
There’s little point in getting a set of speakers that are fine for music, but can’t keep up with the demands of film audio. After all, don’t you want to get your money’s worth from those expensive speakers?