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Creating your very own home cinema is one of the biggest perks of having a spacious home. Besides choosing the movie seats, one of the most fundamental and crucial thing that can make this cinema of yours perfect is the home theatre system you buy. While the TV, receivers and power supplies play a huge role in how good your cinema room will be, it is the sound system i.e. the speakers that can make or break your overall experience. In other words, when buying speakers, your main focus should be their quality. Although it might be a costly investment at first, the benefits you will get from it, in the long run, cannot be denied.
Reasons to Invest in Quality Floor Standing Speakers
Improved Speak Drivers
The drivers (which are the domes and cones at the front of the speaker) are the main ‘culprits’ for producing the sounds you hear when watching something. They, in fact, play a major role in the speaker’s quality which is why opting for a quality model is your best bet. Inexpensive woofers can produce a good sound, but only on lower frequencies. These woofers also can’t put out couch-shaking deep bass, which is another reason why investing in high-end floor standing speakers is so important.
Quality speakers usually have drivers that are made from materials designed to improve the quality of the sound. It is said that the best woofers and midrange drivers have stiffer cones because they are less likely to produce distortion. Additionally, the sound will be clearer and better. Generally speaking, they can be made from titanium, aluminium, carbon fibre, wood-fibre pulp or a combination of several different materials.
When talking about tweeters, they can be made from metal, fabric and plastic, out of which, the plastic tweeters have become most popular. However, nowadays, many manufacturers use a ‘ribbon’ tweeter that is made from a thin film or mylar, aluminium, etc. Made from quality materials, they can produce clear treble, making high-pitched acoustic instruments sound clearer.
Sturdier Enclosure
The speakers’ enclosure is the box-shaped structure that holds the speaker and all of its parts. The enclosure can play a huge role in the sound quality. For instance, if the enclosure of the chosen floor speakers isn’t sturdy, they will vibrate at certain sound frequencies. This condition is called ‘resonance’ and is one of the most common problems in poorly made enclosures.
When made of quality materials, the enclosure will minimise resonance through the use of denser materials like Corian (a material mainly used for designing countertops), aluminium or laminated panels. The enclosure of high-end floor standing HiFi speakers is stiffer with more internal bracing which can also improve the sound quality.
More Bass
What you need to know about bass and speakers is that the larger the speakers the more bass they’ll produce. And as we all know, more bass is good as it makes music and movies more realistic and exciting. While in the past, the bass was something that was hard to regulate, nowadays, the improved version of speakers allow you to adjust the amount of bass with the help of a separate amplifier with volume control for the woofer.
Improved Crossover
The crossover is the circuit that is designed to split the audio signal into the bass for the woofer, midrange for the midrange driver and treble for the tweeter. The crossover also allows for adding extra electrical filters in order to improve the sound and make it more even when transitioning from bass to midrange to treble.
Given the fact that crossover cannot be seen with the naked eye as it’s placed on the inside, unfortunately, this is the first thing manufacturers compromise when they need to cut costs. In other words, to meet the demand of their accounting departments, they simplify the crossover circuit which is something buyers can’t notice. This, on other hand, will make the speaker spread a sound in a narrow pattern in the midrange frequencies. This can certainly affect the sound quality which is not what you need when looking for a good and quality floor-standing speaker.
Better Appearance
When looking for home theatre speakers, you will be spoilt for choice. While both expensive and the more affordable options can look appealing, the truth is, the latter speakers are usually wrapped in a thin vinyl covering that, later on, is painted, stained or varnished in order to imitate wood grain. The biggest downside of poorly made speakers is that they can get easily damaged and the vinyl can even peel off if it’s not carefully applied.
The more expensive and quality speakers, on the other hand, are usually made with book-matched wood veneers. They can also have glossy finishes done with hand-rubber lacquer, and some of them can also give you the option to choose a custom finish. But as you may know, all of these little but significant details can cost, so it’s up to you whether you’ll choose a more pricey or more pocket-friendly speaker. Keep in mind that not all appealing and carefully made speakers can give you the needed sound. So, before making any buying decision, make sure to carefully check the speaker’s description and if possible, listen to the sound it produces before you buy it.
Do You Need a Subwoofer with Floor Standing Speakers?
Floor-standing speakers do not need a subwoofer and they can work without one. However, if you want to experience every sound, starting from the powerful and intense deep bass, then investing in one can definitely improve your listening experience.
Where to Place Floor Standing Speakers?
The general rule says that speakers should be placed far away from the rear and side walls, otherwise, they could mess up the bass quality. Ideally, you should place them 90cm away from the front wall.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
