Speaker packs have come a long way since the first two-speaker stereo systems were introduced in the 1960s. With the rapid improvements in digital technology, you can now have Cineplex quality speaker packs in your own home at a price you can afford.

The hardest part about finding speaker packs is selecting just one from the vast range of available choices. Do you need to buy top-of-the-line to get a quality sound system? How do you know what you're getting unless you first listen to every speaker pack on the market? What do all those names and numbers in the specs data mean?

Why Choose Speaker Packs?

There are two ways you can buy a home theatre system. The easiest thing to do is buy a complete system. A Home Theatre in a Box (HTIB) kit gives you everything from your receiver to your speakers. However, you usually sacrifice a degree of quality when you purchase an HTIB kit. This is why so many people prefer to buy their speaker packs and other system components separately rather than in a complete package.

How to Choose Speaker Packs: The Basics

First of all, choose your speakers before you choose your receiver. The speakers are the most important component of an audio system, but all speakers are not appropriate for all receivers. If you buy a receiver or try to use your existing receiver with your new speakers, you are likely to be disappointed with the results at best or damage your receiver at worst.

When choosing your speakers, you need to keep two basic considerations in mind:

Room Size

If you live in a studio apartment, don't buy an expensive 200 watt 7 speaker pack. Not only will it probably take up too much space, it is unnecessary. The size of a room is an important aspect of acoustics. A smaller, 120 watt speaker pack with a combination of floor and bookshelf speakers will be more than adequate for a smaller room.

Quality of Components

Speaker packs range in price from under a hundred dollars to well over ten thousand dollars. The quality of the components largely determines the price of the speaker system. To make the best decision at any price range, you will need to study and understand the specifications information for speaker packs

Understanding the Specifications

Every brand and model of speaker pack comes with a features and specifications sheet. The problem with these is that many people don't understand what they mean. These are the basic elements of a specs sheet:

Number of speakers

The number of speakers in a pack usually reads like this: 5 (4.1), 6 (5.1) or 7 (6.1) speakers. What are those numbers in parentheses? The first number signifies how many speakers are in the pack, while the number after the 'dot' is the number of subwoofers. Sometimes, the specs will say something like this; "1 centre speaker, 4 satellite speakers." The centre speaker is the one that goes in front of the screen, while the satellite speakers are those that you place strategically around the room.

Watts

As a rule of thumb, the greater the watts, the greater the cost and quality. Smaller, inexpensive units often have a 100 or 120 watt centre or main speaker and 2 or more 40 watt shelf speakers. The speakers in mid-range packs are usually all between 100-120 watts. High end speakers really pack a punch with 200 watts of power. Higher wattage is not just good for higher volume: it also contributes greatly to sound quality.

Speaker impedance

Impedance is the amount by which the speakers restrict (impede) the flow of current. Impedance is rated in ohms. The lower the ohms, the less restriction of electrical flow. You will see a range of between 2 to 8 ohms on spec sheets. Impedance becomes an important issue when choosing devices that connect directly to your speakers, because without the proper balance between electrical flow and impedance, the receiver can overheat and be damaged or destroyed.

Other Features to Consider

Since you will be choosing speaker packs of up to 8 (7.1 or 6.2) speakers, they will add up to a big portion of your room furnishings. In today's digital world, bigger is not always better. If space is at a premium, you can get a very powerful compact speaker system with small shelf satellite speakers. Ultra-slim floor speakers are also popular and look great in most settings. If space is not an issue, then strike a balance between style and functionality. There are plenty of styles to choose from, in every price range, so you shouldn't have to make any sacrifices there.

Subwoofers became the rage in the 1970s after the release of the spectacular Sensurround movie, "Earthquake." Today, they are almost obligatory in speaker packs. A subwoofer picks up and transfers only the low bass sound frequencies. 20-200 Hz is most common for consumer products, while below 100 Hz is used for professional systems. Woofers are either passive or active. Passive subwoofers are powered by an external amplifier while active ones have their own built-in amp. Subwoofers require more power than normal speakers. At the high end of the price range, where speakers will be able to handle 200 watts of power, their subwoofers will be in the 500-700 watt range. Mid-range subwoofers are usually about double the wattage of their corresponding speakers. If you love that deep, rich bass rumble, then make your subwoofer (or subwoofers - some speaker packs have two) a priority and consider getting active subwoofers.

And finally. . .

Speaker packs are like fine wine: only connoisseurs can really tell the difference between a good one and a great one. If you are looking for $10,000 quality on a $1000 budget, don't take out a second mortgage on your home. Today's speaker packs are so good; you are not likely to be disappointed.