| With over 500 models of home theater speakers | | | | theater owners or designers must determine |
| available through a generous number of high | | | | the listening requirements and preferences |
| and low-end brands, many consumers rely on | | | | for a specific room in order to create a |
| salesperson to lead them in the right | | | | quality home theater space. Room size and |
| direction. Consumers with only a limited | | | | layout are important factors as this will |
| budget will undoubtedly flock to the cheapest | | | | dictate the speaker configuration. Logistics |
| option available to suit there needs. This | | | | like electrical outlet placement, room size, |
| however, nearly always results in a less than | | | | and useable room space strongly affect the |
| ideal sound system that fails to meet the | | | | type of equipment that can and should be put |
| expectations or needs of the owner. It is | | | | in the room. Home theater speakers are |
| therefore a good idea to educate one's self | | | | available in many sizes. However not all |
| on the best brands, speaker styles and | | | | sizes are meant for all rooms. Large speakers |
| specifications that will fit a home's needs | | | | are not advantageous for small rooms because |
| before making a choice. A home theater | | | | they will need to be played at a much lower |
| speaker system is typically made up of a | | | | volume. This may cause distortion to the |
| front speaker, left and right speaker, a | | | | audio. Lower quality small speakers used in |
| center-channel speaker, a pair of surrounds, | | | | large spaces may produce a tinny or thin |
| and a subwoofer. A home owner may | | | | sound if they are unable to produce enough |
| mix-and-match components but help from a | | | | sound at a decent output level. Speakers of |
| professional is advised to make sure the | | | | similar size may differ greatly in their |
| speakers are all compatible. These speaker | | | | sound output or reproduce different levels of |
| types come in varying sizes, sound output and | | | | sound unequally so it is very important to |
| design. The following are the types of styles | | | | listen to various speaker brands and sizes |
| in which these speakers may be found: | | | | and compare them before buying. Speakers are |
| Floor-Standing speakers are the largest home | | | | available in a variety of encasement types - |
| theater speakers available. They can be | | | | natural or laminated wood, metal, and |
| shifted around the theater area or be moved | | | | occasionally plastic, but often preferences |
| to another home. Bookshelf or Cabinet | | | | may be limited by brand or model. Speakers |
| speakers stand independently, just like floor | | | | are as varied as tennis shoes so make sure |
| standing speakers, but are smaller and can be | | | | you try on several and know how they fit into |
| placed on or in entertainment centers or | | | | your home theater before making a purchase. ~ |
| shelving to save space. In-Wall speakers | | | | Ben Anton, 2008 |
| require no floor space, and can disappear if | | | | |
| matching the walls. Their quality is usually | | | | Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR and writes |
| very good, but they need professional | | | | for Ronny's 5th St. Audio Vision. We invite |
| installation and wiring. On-Wall speakers are | | | | you view the latest on-wall and cabinet home |
| recommended for use with a flat-panel | | | | theater speakers from vendors like Quad and |
| television. They provide exceptional sound as | | | | Dali at Ronny's home theater speaker and home |
| well as a pleasing aesthetic component. Home | | | | theater system store. |