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