How to Choose Home Theater Speakers

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About Subwoofers

The job of a subwoofer is to produce clear, powerful, deeply extended bass, but that’s only part of the bigger picture. The other job of a subwoofer is to add bass while blending seamlessly with the rest of the speaker system. You can test a sub’s clarity, power, and depth by following the suggestions outlined under “Full-Range Sound,” above.

But, to see how the sub and main system sound when playing together, play some recordings that emphasize mid- and upper-bass sounds. Try recordings that feature kick drums, tom-toms, cellos, the lower range of pianos, or the upper range of basses. Listen for the system to speak with one coherent voice—not two disjointed bass sounds layered on top of one another.

Where to Buy - and How

There is no substitute for going to hear speaker systems before making a purchase. Buying a new speaker system sound unheard is at best a risky proposition, and at the worst a potentially costly mistake.

We encourage you to work with a qualified specialty retailer or custom installer. They can provide speaker demonstrations. which we feel are essential. Their expertise can also help you avoid pitfalls, and guide you toward speakers that will bring you satisfaction for years to come.

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