| Depending on your total budget and the priority
you place on audio, your speaker budget may be between a few hundred
and several thousand dollars. Remember, if you spend extra on
a great receiver and go cheap on the speakers (or vice-versa!),
you're essentially throwing away your money.
If you refer back to the budget
section, you'll see that I had receiver/speakers listed in one
category. Within that amount, I'd probably spend 30-40% on the
receiver and the rest on speakers.
You'll want to get a 5.1 system (at least). This means 5 speakers
(front left and right, a center channel, and 2 surround speakers)
and 1 subwoofer. While you don't need to have all speakers of
the same brand, it's a good idea. It is especially important to
have your front (left and right) speakers be from the same company
as your center speaker.
 The
subwoofer is a critical part of the package. It will deliver the
low end sound effects that will have your room rumbling! People
that skip the sub don't know how much they're missing!
It's less critical to have the sub be of the same brand as your
other speakers. Some subwoofer companies don't even sell regular
speakers.
Speaker shopping tips
Here are some things to keep in mind when you go speaker shopping:
- Listen to several brands at the same volume to get a feel
for the ones that appeal to you. Each company has its own unique
sound.
- Your final purchase will be a compromise between price, sound,
and size. While full size tower speakers in the front may sound
the best, their SAF (spouse acceptance factor) may make them
a prohibitive purchase.
|
I
have a 5.1 Aperion 422 system with an 8" sub that I purchased
($799) just over a year ago for bedroom sized room- our family
'lounge'. I just LOVE the sound! The clarity and tonal qualities
are magnificent, and despite their diminutive size (4" woofer)
they sound AWESOME! There's nothing like popping in chapter
4 of "Master and Commander" and cranking it up!