Floor-standing loudspeakers hold their ground.

Speakers are the most important component in a sound system. Making an appropriate investment here will go a long way toward your overall enjoyment of music, movies and more.

Options Abound Today's manufacturers offer speakers to fit a variety of needs and budgets. Main speakers are the main left and right stereo speakers in a sound system. Main speakers come in two sizes: floor-standing models (generally over 2 feet in height) for medium to large rooms, and bookshelf models (under two feet) for smaller rooms.

The next category is "subwoofer/satellite" speakers. These speakers use small "satellite speakers" for mid- and high frequencies and a subwoofer dedicated to bass. The resulting sound rivals that of high-quality floor-standing speakers. Subwoofers come in two types: passive, which draw their power from the receiver; and powered (also known as active), which contain their own amplifiers and require an external power source.

Home theater surround-sound speaker systems are used in conjunction with a Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital or DTS receiver to produce surround sound.

How Much?

Speaker prices vary greatly. As a general rule, more expensive speakers produce better sound, particularly in the bass frequencies. The key to smart spending is determining the optimal point between the speakers you want and the speakers you need.

When shopping for speakers, you should consider three basic criteria: How you will use the speakers, where you will use the speakers, and the power rating of your receiver or amplifier.

If you like listening to loud rock music, you'll probably be best served by large floor-standing speakers. They maximize bass and can be played at high volume. But if you're more into classical music, you might find that a set of bookshelf speakers is sufficient.

The size of your living space is another important factor to consider. Bookshelf speakers, powered by receivers with 30 to 50 watts per channel, are sufficient for rooms up to 150 square feet. But in rooms of 400 square feet or larger, you'll do better with floor-standing models or systems powered by 80 watts or more per channel. You will also want to consider the amount of available space in the room. In tight-fitting rooms, subwoofer/satellite speaker systems can provide maximum sound with minimum size.

Lastly, consider the power of your receiver when choosing speakers. If it does not have enough power for your speakers or listening tastes, you may get poor sound quality—and even damage your equipment. If anything, err on the side of having a more powerful receiver or a discrete outboard amplifier.

Stereo or Surround?

Stereo sound means music comes out of two speakers, and is also known as two-channel. These speakers are usually used for listening to music. In addition, stereo speakers can be connected to your TV and in most cases will provide better sound than the speakers that came with the TV.

If you are after the best home theater experience, you'll want surround-sound speakers, also called multichannel sound. This system comprises five or more speakers (channels) and includes a center-channel speaker (for dialogue), two surround speakers (for the left/right rear), in addition to the left and right main or front speakers, and sometimes a subwoofer. Such a system would be called 5.1. Now, surround formats are being delivered in more channels that utilize even more surround speakers, such as 6.1 and 7.1.

Surround-sound systems that can be used for music as well as home theater include a center-channel speaker and two surround speakers, in addition to the main or front speakers.

Road Test

Always use familiar CDs and videos to test speakers. In particular, vocal music recordings are a great test of musical accuracy. The showroom will provide a good basis for comparison from one system to another, but speakers can sound very different when you bring them home.

Find out what the return policy is where you are purchasing the speakers. Many reputable dealers will allow you to exchange them if you are not happy with the results.

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