Before you decide which speaker to purchase, you need to know the most appropriate make and model to have. Online stores are filled with various brands and versions, and it can get highly confusing when you don’t have a clue of the best ones to choose from. While there are more than 500 speakers to delve into, this article aims to discuss the different types of speakers—rustling through the surface—to provide you more insight into the best unit to fit your needs.
The speaker is almost a hundred years old. Developed by Chester W. Rice and Edward W. Kellogg in 1925, its function has remained the same even when it has gone through numerous restructuring to produce the kinds of modern units that we all enjoy today. From that huge floor-standing speaker to the tiny headphones—or earphones—in your hand, these horns all have the same purpose: to drive sounds through an appropriate spectacle, offering you audible frequencies based on your source.
Depending on their specific use, speakers come in all shapes and sizes. You get to use and integrate them in your home studio, computer, or even smartphone. You can even install them in your car or even purchase several for your multi-room system. Each speaker is different because they also have corresponding frequency ranges, sensitivity rates, and impedance ratings. If you plan to buy a speaker that allows you to listen to the bass, for instance, you will have to opt for a subwoofer—a speaker that’s meant to provide you with lower-end frequency sounds.
To give you a more in-depth understanding of the different types of speakers in the market; below is a discussion of each. Read on and identify the speakers that best suit your preferences.
Woofer
A woofer is a type of speaker that adequately reproduces lower-end sounds. Typically, they get to offer you a frequency response range of 20 to 2000 Hz. Hence, if you are into more bass-based music, you should check out woofers rather than the generic types of speakers available.
Mid-woofer
A mid-woofer is a bit different. Implied in its name, a mid-woofer—commonly called a midrange—provides you with sounds that neither belong to the lower-end frequencies nor to the higher-end ones. They detect and reproduce medium frequencies, those that belong in the 200 to 5000 Hz range. In other words, mid range speakers are your run-of-the-mill, basic speakers that offer you a more comprehensive range of frequency responses. They can detect both dialogue and music and are much preferred for regular, non-specific listening.
Tweeter
A tweeter is another speaker that is mainly incorporated into a speaker system. This speaker provides you with sounds that belong to the high frequency sounds, offering you an estimated range of 3000 to 20,000 Hz. Because this speaker has components that give it the capacity to filter out higher-end frequency audio, you get to have top-quality sounds.
Tweeters come in three sub-types, however. They are the following:
- Tweeter Cone
Audio dispersion for this subtype is a bit reduced. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a piece within budget, this speaker is the most affordable in the different music stores. It is the most efficient speaker, as well.
- Dome Tweeter
This subtype offers a wider audio dispersion. It provides highly precise feedback and is widely available in music stores.
- Horn Tweeter
This one offers directional sound. It is also powerful as it is highly capable of providing a high-frequency response.
Subwoofers
Another kind of speaker is the subwoofer. This speaker’s relative of the woofer generally permits you to hear lower-end frequencies that belong to the 20 to 200 Hz range. If you are into bass music—grunge and metal rock, for instance, that covers various sounds, including growls, thunders, and roars, this speaker further enriches your listening experience. It can go as far as providing you with sufficient audio output belonging to the less-than-20 Hz range. So, it may be able to capture frequencies as low as 5 Hz as well, especially if your subwoofer is integrated with a particular component to do so.
When speaking of subwoofers, these speakers are usually far bigger than the other types. A sub’s large size allows it to produce far better audio quality. This speaker may also require connection to an amplifier to enhance further and balance its feedback.
Studio Monitors
Now, if you are an audiophile, you might like something entirely different. This kind of speaker offers you top-quality audio, be it for music or vocals. The studio monitor is superbly optimized to allow you to play instrumental concertos or casual acoustic sounds.
The studio monitor can be either powered or unpowered. The powered variant is a plug-and-play one. You need to plug it into a power source, and it’s ready for use. Nevertheless, you’ll have to make do with its tendency to produce a buzzing sound due, of course, to its built-in power source or amp. The unpowered kind, also popularly tagged as a passive monitor, requires you to connect it to a receiver or an amplifier. Similar to the older speaker versions, this one doesn’t have that buzzing tendency. So, you get to have cleaner audio output as it offers purer audio feedback.
Loudspeakers
A loudspeaker is your typical household speaker. This type of speaker has been around for decades. It is typically used to drive audio from every kind of source, including your radio and television. Most of the older generation grew up with this kind of speaker. It already has a tweeter, a mid range or mid-woofer, and a woofer incorporated into this system.
Nowadays, you can still use this speaker for any affair. Many loudspeakers are highly portable—you can fit them into your pocket or even use them to power up your voice in the middle of an impromptu gathering. Think of the standard PA system usually used in rallies and sorties. This is the type of speaker they use.
Computer Speakers
Now, for the techy type—the computer speaker. When computers started having built-in speakers, they were small ones attached to the computer’s motherboard. Then, they got redesigned to come up with sound cards that permitted you to listen to sounds via your tiny desktop speakers or earphones. While these didn’t have powerful feedback, it wasn’t essential since computers were merely 8-bit or 16-bit at that time.
At present, computer speakers are more complicated than their earlier counterparts. They now have a combination of the loudspeaker and the subwoofer. This modern version is perfectly suitable for listeners who may want to use Spotify or YouTube while they work. However, for avid gamers, they can purchase more powerful speakers that provide them with surround sound capability. These gaming variants are easy to use as they are plug-and-play versions that merely need you to plug its subwoofer component via USB to your computer and attach all the others to it.
Floor Standing Speakers
A floor-standing speaker is tagged as the cornerstone speaker. This speaker is an essential part of any efficient home theater or studio. Also called a tower speaker, this unit typically stands at about 4 feet in height. Others are even far taller, allowing you to see them in any room immediately. They provide you with numerous capacities and are capable of providing you with broader audio coverage. Depending, of course, on its placement, it can give adequate surround sound and enrich your listening experience.
Like some of the speakers already mentioned, this speaker already has a tweeter, mid-woofer or mid range, and woofer. So, you get to have a wide range of frequencies, especially when you purchase a model of the highest audio quality. Some of these floor-standing speakers have subwoofers, as well. Such higher-end varieties offer you a full range of frequency responses, permitting you to play just about any audio file. Nevertheless, these speakers are passive—they require you a receiver or an amplifier to work.
Bookshelf Speakers
A bookshelf speaker, of course, is one that’s typically placed on a bookshelf. However, they can also be placed in different areas of your home—on top of a desk, for instance. When used as part of a home audio system, the bookshelf speaker is one of the medium-sized ones as it generally is 5 feet in height. This type requires careful placement as it is a directional variant that needs to be facing you to be efficient. You can use a pair of bookshelf speakers, one on either side of your television or even at the backend side of your room, to achieve that surround sound effect. Typically designed as a two-way speaker, this speaker already has a built-in tweeter and mid range or mid-woofer. However, like a floor-standing speaker, this passive unit requires an amp or receiver to power it up.
Center Channel Speakers
A central channel speaker is generally integrating three speakers—two mid range ones with a tweeter in between. Hence, it is termed MTM, as well, because of this typical setup. While this isn’t a necessary component of a regular home theater or studio, it can provide audio enhancement, especially when it’s placed in front of or on top of your TV set. This speaker offers you a central audio output for better surround sound, further enriching your studio or theater experience.
In-Wall/Ceiling Speakers
An in-wall speaker or an in-ceiling speaker is a bit expensive and is difficult to set up. While an in-wall speaker or an in-ceiling speaker is a bit expensive and is difficult to set up. While it can provide you with high-quality audio, it requires you extra technical assistance, mainly because embedding wires in walls or ceilings can be a tad hard. You might not be too enthusiastic about cracking open some parts of your wall or ceiling, for example, or even go crawling across your attic floor for several days just to set up this type of speaker correctly.
Commonly part of a multi-room system, this type of speaker is recommended when space isn’t adequate. This speaker comes in various configurations and sizes, but one of the most common is the two-way variant. Most of these speakers are provided with covers that enable you to protect their flush. They offer top-grade audio feedback, especially when they are placed appropriately.
On-Wall Speakers
Nevertheless, if you don’t want to dig into walls and ceilings to embed your precious speakers in them, you can also opt for an on-wall speaker. While you might need to disguise their protruding wires, on-wall variants do not require you any lengthy installation process. These speakers can be placed on any wall, allowing you to decide the best place for them.
Nonetheless, if you want to acquire a better surround sound experience, placing them at ear level is recommended. This speaker isn’t powered, however. So, you will need to connect it to an efficient receiver or amplifier to make it work. As with other passive speakers, this unpowered setup reduces unwanted buzzing noise—a common occurrence when you opt for a powered or active speaker.
Satellite Speakers
A satellite speaker is much smaller than your typical bookshelf speaker or floor-standing speaker. Generally used as part of an audio system, this speaker already contains a tweeter and a mid-bass or mid range. This type of speaker is wired. It needs a power source to work. Unlike other speakers, however, that mostly connect directly to an amplifier, this connects to a subwoofer. Thus, in this kind of setup, you can have a full frequency response range. When speaking of this speaker being part of a bigger sound system, this unit can be placed anywhere as a mounting bracket accompanies it. So, you can install it in your ceiling or wall, as well. An essential piece of equipment, this one improves your audio system’s audio quality.
Bluetooth Speakers
A Bluetooth speaker is a popular variant, primarily since it uses one of the most modern technologies—Bluetooth technology. A portable speaker, this one can easily connect to a variety of audio equipment, including your smartphone, computer, and tablet. It can also connect to a bigger audio receiver and may have various added features, including voice control and a dedicated app. You can also check out Bluetooth speakers that can be brought along during sporting events or camping trips. While most Bluetooth wireless speakers require connection to an electric outlet, some have built-in batteries that merely need charging.
Outdoor speakers
One of the most recommended speakers for such undertakings is the outdoor speaker, speaking of sporting events and camping activities. Because it is designed for the outdoors, this speaker is made to be weatherproof. They are highly resistant to various disturbances, including water, humidity, and ultraviolet rays. These units are also placed inside weather-resistant encasements or enclosures.
Some of these outdoor speakers can even be disguised as part of the environment. They may even appear as stones in your yard. They can be bought as single units or as a whole audio system. They can provide you with a superb outside audio experience as a typical outdoor system already has a subwoofer, a tweeter, and a mid range.
Surround Speakers
Who doesn’t want to have an audio system that gets to provide more than sufficient listening experience? Surround speakers are speakers capable of offering audio immersion—an excellent feature specifically for a home theater or studio setup. Generally composed of more than one speaker, consisting of even up to five or seven units at a time, surround speakers typically operate with specific functions for each. These speakers tend to have an included subwoofer, permitting the whole system to operate at full frequency range. They are placed in different locations and levels, aimed at offering you audio feedback from various directions.
Soundbars
A soundbar is different because it’s a hybrid type of speaker. This unit is similar to a floor-standing speaker, although it’s typically placed horizontally on the surface, plus it’s thinner than your average floor-standing variant. This speaker is a system on its own because it already has a tweeter, a mid range or mid-woofer, and a woofer inside it.
Thus, it can reasonably accomplish surround sound even without additives. However, the sound quality is a bit off, especially as regards its lower-end frequency responses. Nonetheless, later versions of this speaker type are promoted as accompanied by subwoofers and extra surround speakers to enhance music quality and adequately offer you that immersive audio capability.
Conclusion
There are a variety of speakers in the market. However, you need to find one that’s appropriate for you and your specific needs. While all these different types of speakers provide you with sound, you have to identify one that capably offers you the frequency response range in line with your audio tendencies. Nevertheless, a speaker that already has a built-in tweeter, mid range, and woofer is an excellent option specifically because it can adequately play a broader coverage of frequency responses. You need, however, to look for a speaker—or speaker system—that’s durable enough to withstand the inevitable wear-and-tear of everything.