Home theater is a great way to enjoy your favorite movies in comfort and at a fraction of the cost of taking the whole family for a night out at the movies. But home theater setup can be difficult if you haven’t planned carefully, so it pays to learn about the various components and how they all connect up. One of the more important components of any home theater system is speakers, and there are many styles to suit every possible need and budget.
Floor stand speakers are not seen as often today as they were a couple of decades ago. In the 1980s, when stereos came encased in a faux wood panel and glass stand, a speaker was usually found standing on each side of the gigantic stereo system. These kinds of speakers were big, boxy and could easily be used as an end table in a living room.
Today’s speakers have not only changed aesthetically but have also evolved into another purpose entirely. Technology has made stereos shrink in size, along with the speakers, to Bose music players and ipods. However, advancements in the area of home theater have made these systems and their accessories much larger than previous decades. Floor standing speakers now accompany the most expensive and prestigious home movie viewing setups, and can range anywhere from a hundred to ten thousand dollars.
Like any other purchase, you get what you pay for. The cheaper versions may not project sound as well or be as crystal clear as the more pricey models. There is also an option to buy speakers as part of a system or to purchase them individually for specific uses. Buying speakers as part of a set or system typically means you will get a set of instructions or even a store employee to help you with setup. When buying individual speakers and setting them up by yourself in a specific way, some knowledge of the related drivers, connectors and wiring is helpful.
Floor speakers have grown into home theater systems for a reason. They have a definite impact on movie viewers. That is why large speakers still surround movie theaters. While the newer, compact speakers are space-savers and more decor friendly, the larger speakers handle sound more efficiently.