How to choose a professional speaker system?

There are many professional loudspeakers on the market. How to avoid getting lost in this variety and make the right choice? We will try to help!

First of all, let’s understand what a loudspeaker system is. A loudspeaker is a device for sound reproduction. As a rule, they consist of a cabinet (except for some cabinetless ceiling systems) and radiators – speakers.

Conventionally, all acoustic systems can be divided into the following types: active speakers, passive speakers, active subwoofers, passive subwoofers, active stage monitors, passive stage monitors, studio monitors, as well as broadcast systems: ceiling speakers, wall speakers, subwoofers.

Therefore, first of all, you need to decide what kind of system you need. For background sound in the restaurant need broadcast systems, while for roadshow events will need active systems and subwoofers.

Having decided on the type of speakers, you need to understand how they differ from each other within the same class.

Active speakers differ from passive speakers by their built-in amplifier. In other words, an active speaker is a ready-made complex. You plug in a sound source and you can work. A passive speaker needs an amplifier (you can read about how to choose an amplifier here).

Active speakers are more convenient for mobile sets, when unnecessary wires and devices complicate the work. Passive speakers are more convenient to use in stationary sets, when the distance from the signal source to the system is large, and it is more convenient to control the sound reproduction parameters from one place.

Next we look at the technical specifications. There are quite a lot of them, let’s deal with the main ones.

Speaker size. The larger the speaker, the larger the area it voices. Choosing, for example, between a system with speakers 12 and 15 inches should take into account that the low frequencies will be more from the 15-inch system. Consequently, it is preferable for discos, live music, etc.

Sound pressure. Everything is simple here. More pressure – more powerful system. Sound pressure is one of the main parameters you should pay attention to, because the specified power can be measured in conditions that you can never get, while sound pressure is a quite specific value.

Power. There are many names for speaker power – program, music, constant, peak (AES, EIAJ). Of all the options, we advise you to look at the nominal power, aka RMS. RMS is the most honest representation of the speaker’s power. As for choosing a system depending on the power, there are two options: conditional and correct. The conditional option is 1000W (1kW) of power per 100 people. That is, if you have a hall for 100 people, then for its sounding will require 1kW of power, for a hall of up to 50 people – 500 watts and so on.

The right option is to choose the acoustic system depending on the volume of the room, because we live in a three-dimensional world, and the height of the ceiling matters.

Frequency range. This is measured in Hertz (Hz) and indicates the range a speaker system can reproduce. The wider the range, the better. For broadband speakers, the range can range from 45Hz to 20kHz.

Consider this new knowledge!

Enclosure material. A distinction is made between plywood and plastic enclosures. Plywood enclosures resonate better, bringing more frequencies to the listener. But, at the same time, plywood enclosures are more capricious, drying out and cracking without proper care.

Plastic enclosures are wear-resistant, they are not afraid of shocks and scratches. They are lighter and easier to carry. But the sound of speakers in plastic enclosures is slightly worse.

Dimensions and weight. Not everyone is able to lift a subwoofer weighing 60 kg. And if it weighs 100 kg? Calculate your strength and take into account what you need acoustics for in the first place.

Manufacturer. Miracles, alas, do not happen. Acoustics from well-known European manufacturers are more expensive than Chinese analogs, but for this money you get quality. You should also take into account that many companies have moved their production to China. And if before Chinese Electro-Voice could only be a fake, now it is the order of the day. Read forums, ask around, who trusts which brand. Don’t buy unknown systems with burrs on the case and crookedly glued nameplates from obscure sellers.

These were the main points that you should pay attention to when choosing a speaker system. We hope that you have found it easier to navigate the world of professional sound. Follow our updates, there are many more interesting things to come!