Buying HiFi Speakers

What are HiFi Speakers?

HiFi speakers are designed to deliver the most balanced, accurate, and natural sound possible. The term "High Fidelity" refers to the high accuracy of sound reproduction, aiming to preserve the details and dynamics of the sound as it was recorded. These speakers are intended for serious music listening and for discerning users who appreciate sound quality.

But what exactly are stereo speakers? A traditional stereo speaker system consists of three parts: a left speaker, a right speaker, and an amplifier. Before the invention of stereo (or "stereophonic" sound, as it was initially called), sound was reproduced in a single channel, meaning one speaker played all the sound. The sound was fine, but it lacked much of the depth and excitement of the music. With stereo, the sound is divided between the left and right speakers based on the data encoded in the track. Think of it this way: if the track was recorded with a piano playing on the left side and a guitar on the right, you should hear them in those respective positions when they play through your speakers. This is where the term "soundstaging" comes from. Soundstaging is an imaginary three-dimensional "stage" created by stereo speakers.

Speaker specifications may initially seem like a confusing mix of numbers, abbreviations, and strange symbols. However, there are only a few key things you really need to keep in mind when looking for speakers. Let’s go over them one by one.

Frequency range

A speaker’s frequency response is measured in Hertz (Hz) and indicates the range of frequencies the speaker can reproduce. The first number tells you how deep the bass response is, while the second shows how high the frequencies can go. The wider the frequency range, the more dynamic and full the sound will be. Therefore, frequency range refers to the span of sounds a speaker can reproduce, from low bass to high notes. A typical HiFi speaker may cover a range from 20Hz (bass) to 20kHz (high frequencies), which corresponds to the range of human hearing.

Impedance (Ohms)

Impedance is measured in Ohms and indicates how much power the speaker needs to operate. HiFi speakers typically have an impedance of 4-8 Ohms. It's important to pair your speakers with an amplifier that can support this impedance to get optimal performance.

Sensitivity (dB)

A speaker’s sensitivity tells you how efficiently it converts power into volume. The higher the number, the louder the speaker will be with less power. This specification is derived from a test where the speaker is fed with 1 watt of power, and its sound level in decibels (dB) is recorded by a microphone placed one meter away. The rule of thumb is that the higher the number, the better. For example, if you compare two speakers, one with 89dB sensitivity and the other with 92dB, the 92dB speaker requires half the power to produce the same volume as the 89dB speaker.

2-way, 3-way Design

Speakers can be 2-way or 3-way, depending on how many drivers they use to reproduce sound. 2-way speakers have two drivers, one for low/mid frequencies and one for high frequencies, while 3-way speakers have three drivers: one for low, one for mid, and one for high frequencies, offering better frequency separation.

Power Handling

You also need to consider how much power a speaker can handle. Power ratings are listed in the technical specifications of each speaker. This gives you a good idea of how powerful an amplifier you should buy, or whether your current amplifier can handle the speakers. The first, lower number tells you the minimum power required to drive the speaker. The second, higher number tells you the maximum power the speaker can handle over an extended period.

It's crucial to match your speakers to your amplifier's output power. If you underpower your speakers, the sound will be hollow and weak. If you overpower them, you may cause distortion, which over time can damage the speakers and, most importantly, harm your ears. Matching speakers and amplifiers isn’t difficult; just make sure your amplifier’s output is within the range listed in the speaker's specifications.

Impedance (Resistance)

The final spec to consider is the speaker’s impedance. Without diving too deep, impedance is the electrical resistance that the speaker presents to your amplifier, and it fluctuates. For simplicity, manufacturers provide a single impedance rating.

Most speakers have an impedance of 8 ohms, making them compatible with most amplifiers. Higher-end models may have 6 or 4 ohms. These lower impedances can cause amplifiers that aren’t designed to handle large amounts of continuous current to overheat and shut off. If you're eyeing speakers with a 6- or 4-ohm impedance, just make sure your amplifier is rated to support them.

This is a very complex and yet very important question. Rest assured, we won't settle on a definitive and conclusive answer here. However, this question is worth asking, and it certainly deserves an attempt at providing some answers.

In practice, as we mentioned above, the loudspeaker is an electromechanical device that converts a complex electrical power signal into acoustic vibrations. To explain it better, let's make a comparison with a car. As strange as it may sound, this moving chemical converter (gasoline) has many similarities to loudspeakers. There are many good cars, at all price points... yet the choice that suits you is ultimately quite limited. The behavior of the speaker is also significantly influenced by the room in which it is placed.

A good approach to the ideal speaker is undoubtedly one with good tonal balance, meaning all frequencies are reproduced in the same way without some being more pronounced than others. This way, the reproduction of a recording will be much closer to what the artist and sound engineer intended, with the speaker itself not coloring or distorting the sound. Another important factor is low distortion. The human ear is sensitive to distortions. The absence of distortions leads to more relaxed listening and a more natural sound result, closer to the true sound, which is the essence of Hi-Fi reproduction. It should give us the impression that we're not listening from two boxes but that a musical event is unfolding before us.

Stereo imaging also enhances the realism of a musical event in our living room. It should be expansive in both depth and height. Moreover, it's good for speakers to have wide sound dispersion, so you don't need to sit in just one position to enjoy the music, but the sound can fill the room regardless of where you're moving. Obviously, you'll hear better when sitting symmetrically in front of the two speakers, just as you would in a live performance if you're seated in the center. But it’s important that you don’t lose much detail if you're not in the ideal spot, and that the sense of live performance is maintained across different points in the room.

A good speaker should also be capable of conveying the emotion of a performance, the different interpretations of singers, be rhythmic when needed, and make you want to tap your foot rhythmically as you would in a concert!

While browsing our website, you may come across speakers that cost thousands of euros each. You might wonder if there's really such a big difference between these and the €500 or €1000 models you were considering. If you have a discerning ear, it might be worth considering higher-end speakers, as there is usually a reason for the price difference. Having listened to many different levels of speakers, we can confirm that they certainly offer better sound than most speakers. But let's take a closer look at why these speakers are worth your attention.

First of all, high-end speakers are built with significantly better materials. They use advanced cone designs and materials, unique internal construction, furniture-grade finishes, custom crossovers, and sound isolation platforms. Some even feature multiple driver arrays for even greater separation and soundstaging. It’s not uncommon to see high-quality gold binding posts or silver wires throughout their circuitry, and overall, in this price range, they are designed to stand apart from the rest, and that's exactly what they do. However, it's worth mentioning that high-end speakers often require high-quality amplifiers as well. Most of these speakers demand more power—and cleaner power—and need an amplifier capable of meeting those demands. If your budget is somewhat flexible and you want the best of the best, you won’t go wrong looking at audiophile-grade speakers.

In Conclusion

Listen before you buy: Listening to the speakers either in-store or at home before purchasing is crucial. Every space sounds different, and you need to ensure the speakers match your acoustic environment.

Pair with a good amplifier: The compatibility between the speakers and the amplifier is just as important to achieve the best sound quality.

Placement: Don’t underestimate the importance of proper speaker placement for optimal acoustic performance.

With all of the above in mind, we believe you’ll be able to make an informed choice for the HiFi speakers that best suit your needs and space, while providing you with the ultimate listening experience.

Need help?

If you need assistance in selecting the right pair of speakers and matching them with preamps, amplifiers, etc., one of our expert advisors can discuss your needs and offer advice. They are knowledgeable, friendly, and love music as much as you do. Feel free to contact us, and don’t hesitate to call if you encounter any issues during the installation process.