An ultimate guide on the types of speakers

When consuming content, audio plays a far bigger role than one would realise. To put it another way, bad audio will ruin a movie faster than bad video would. Audio quality can make or break immersion, and it’s important that we find the right type of speakers to maximise the experience.

Speakers come in various sizes and designs. Some setups are more complex than others – often requiring amps, pre-amps, and DACs – while others can be simpler. Here we’ll look at the most popular speakers and go over their pros and cons, helping you make an informed decision.

Different types of speakers

1. Passive speakers

2. Active speakers

3. Subwoofer

4. Surround sound

5. Bookshelf speakers

6. Tower speakers

7. Soundbars

8. Misc.: Wireless and smart speakers

1. Passive speakers

Passive speakers cannot function without an amplifier or AV receiver powering them. Essentially, the output audio signal from your PC, phone, TV, or other source doesn’t have enough energy to power your speakers. An amplifier is needed to accept this signal and then amplify it so your passive speakers can produce audio.

ALSO READ: 5 cool things you didn’t know your speakers could do

These speakers are great if you want more control over your experience and as they give you a great deal of flexibility when it comes to the design of your audio setup. That said, such a system takes considerably more effort to set up and might not sound right without a lot of tweaking

2. Active speakers

To put it simply, these are passive speakers with a built-in amplifier. You connect your source to these speakers and listen to music. It’s a simple and convenient setup that sounds great, and you’ll find that most speakers available today are active speakers.

While you might get less flexibility when it comes to fine-tuning your setup, do bear in mind that some of the best speakers in the world are also active speakers and only your budget will limit your experience.

3. Subwoofer

When it comes to bass – the boom of a gunshot or the muted thumping of a helicopter blade – the need of the hour is size. A lot of pressure needs to be generated in the room to produce good bass, so you need a speaker with a large driver – the moving part of the speaker that generates the sound – to move more air. Most speaker setups are quite small, so a dedicated speaker called a sub-woofer is often available to add that low-end thump we all crave.

4. Surround sound: 2.1, 5.1, 7.2, and beyond

The layout of the speakers is denoted by terminology like “2.1”, “5.1”, etc. The two in 2.1 indicates that you have two speakers that handle mid-range and high-range frequencies (these are called satellites), and the one indicates that you have one subwoofer.

Similarly, 5.1 indicates the use of five satellites and one subwoofer, while 7.2 indicates the use of seven satellites and two woofers. Generally, you want two speakers and a woofer for music, and at least a 5.1 setup for movies and video games. When you use more satellites, you can place speakers in front of you, behind you, and even above you to create a more immersive experience.

5. Bookshelf speakers

These are relatively compact speakers designed to be placed on shelves, stands, and tables, hence the name. Depending on their size, they can get quite powerful and are best suited for small to medium-sized rooms. Larger and more expensive variants are also available. Bookshelf speakers do tend to have less bass and we’d recommend getting a matching subwoofer for a more complete experience.

6. Tower speakers

These are large, floor-standing speakers that, arguably, produce the best sound quality. They feature multiple speaker drivers, sometimes integrate woofers into the design, and can fill a large hall with sound. They’re best suited for large, dedicated media rooms.

7. Soundbars

Where normally you require two or more speakers to create stereo separation, soundbars attempt to do the same thing in one, long bar. Multiple speaker drivers are angled outwards and upwards to bounce sound off walls and ceilings to create the illusion of spaciousness. Soundbars are great if you’re looking for a compact upgrade for your TV speakers, but do not sound as great as dedicated bookshelf or tower speakers in the same price range.

8. Misc.: Wireless and smart speakers

A relatively new entrant these. Wireless and smart speakers visually simplify your setup by eliminating the need for connecting cables between your TV or home theatre setup and the speakers themselves. They connect to your devices via various wireless protocols like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

ALSO READ: How to pair multiple Bluetooth speakers to a single device

Smart speakers are a variation of wireless speakers that integrate a computer and voice-based operating system to allow you to control them directly via an app or voice commands. These are generally compact and discreet, and great for bedrooms, kitchens, and other areas where a complicated audio setup will not look nice.

Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it boils down to your need and preferences.