Hi-Fi class audio systems are devices that reproduce high-quality sound. They will give you new experiences from listening to music or watching your favorite movie on a computer, TV or in the car (however, not all acoustics are suitable for cars). Below is a selection of the best audio systems for the home in 2021.
How to choose the right speaker system for your home
Before purchasing an acoustic set, you should decide for what purpose the purchase is being made, in which room the equipment will be placed and the desired sound quality. After which the desired price category is set, since the cost of audio equipment fluctuates greatly. When choosing equipment, pay attention to the following selection criteria.
Type of acoustic design. One of the key characteristics that, in fact, distinguishes one speaker system from another. Let's add: if you are a professional. An ordinary person is unlikely to distinguish the sound of a bandpass type from a closed type. But if you attended a music school as a child or just want to get the best, then know that there are five types of acoustic design:
- Bass reflex. The most common type of home acoustics; the vast majority of devices on the market belong to this category. As professionals say, it has good bass, but the sound detail is not great.
- Passive emitter. About the same as the bass reflex type, but the bass is a little better.
- Open speakers (subtype - horn type). If they are strategically placed around the room, you can create that notorious acoustic zone with one hundred percent immersion. However, the bass from open speakers is poor.
- Bandpass housing (aka bandpass). For loudness lovers, speaker systems of this type sound the most powerful.
- Closed type. The most accurate in terms of sound transmission, but the least powerful. And again the problem is with the bass.
Number of stripes. To greatly simplify it, the more bands, the deeper and more voluminous the sound. And more expensive, of course. For home acoustics, the number of bands can be from 1 to 3.5.
Power. For home use, an AC power of 25-40 W is sufficient; for a large room, you can purchase a more powerful system, up to 150 W,
Frequency range. If equipment is purchased primarily for watching movies or computer games, then you should pay attention to speakers that can transmit low frequencies - from 10 Hz. For music lovers, it is preferable to purchase speakers with a frequency capability of up to 40 thousand Hz.
Material for equipment. Wood conveys sound best.
The highest quality speakers are made from MDF, less preferably from chipboard; the aluminum body ensures good safety of the equipment, but the sound in it is distorted. Plastic is not durable.
conclusions
When deciding to purchase a music center for home use, the buyer needs to remember the following nuances:
- speaker system format, total equipment output power, player type and basic set of options . These are the main indicators that should be given special attention ;
- Additional functionality plays an important role in the choice of technology The presence of Wi-Fi and compatibility of the device with a TV and computer will make the operating process much more comfortable;
- before purchasing, you should study information about the number of channels, support for various third-party media, dimensions and weight of music equipment , as well as configuration;
- you need to take into account the purpose of the equipment, the length of the warranty period, the reliability of the manufacturer and the design of the acoustic device.
The best acoustic systems price-quality
DALI SPEKTOR 2
The ceiling system from DALI is in no way inferior to its floor counterpart. This is the optimal solution for small rooms, for which strong power only harms, and floor-standing speakers cannot be installed so easily. The sound will be very good. Another advantage of this system is that for a pleasant sound you don’t need to mess with the settings, or even use the equalizer. They immediately sound right. Technical characteristics:
2-way AC bass reflex type
frequency range 54-26000 Hz
sensitivity 84.5 dB
ordinary
dimensions 170x292x238 mm
Advantages
- Power is perfect for a small room
Flaws
- sometimes you can get “Chinese” build quality
Dali SPEKTOR VOKAL
Compact active speakers are suitable for home or hardware use. The body of the product consists of wood and will decorate any room. The model belongs to the middle price category and pleases users not only with high-quality sound, but also with simple controls. The system can be installed in any room. Specially used technologies make it possible to obtain diffuse sound functions.
Advantages
- universal use
- stylish design
- comfortable feet for installation
Flaws
- not found
YAMAHA NS-SW050
Floor standing subwoofer for home. Complements speaker systems, complements sounds in films and music. Equipped with mono/LFE line input (RCA). Power: from 50 W to 100 W. Frequency range: 25-180 Hz. There is a removable grille, however, to remove it, you will have to make every effort. In their reviews, owners note the compact size, practical form factor, and excellent sound quality. Among budget subs, he is one of the best.
Advantages
- The device’s power is enough for a room of 20-25 m²
- price
- quality of workmanship
- bass is soft and deep
Flaws
- For greater sound purity, it is better not to set the settings to maximum power
- no cutoff frequency control
- Power cord won't come off
- no sleep mode
- no ON/OFF button
Magnat Tempus Center 22
Center 22 belongs to the new Tempus series from a reliable German manufacturer.
The case is reliably assembled, characterized by durability and protection against corrosion. Specifications:
| Location | Shelf |
| Acoustic type | Passive |
| Purpose | Home |
| Peak power | 150 W |
| Frequency range | 34-45000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 91 dB |
| Impedance | 8 ohm |
| Weight | 6 kg |
Advantages
- availability
- loud speakers
- clear sound
- suitable for home and garden
- increased frequency range
- compact dimensions
Flaws
- not found
YAMAHA NS-F140
The acoustic circuit is two-way. Low and mid frequencies are taken over by a 16-centimeter speaker, while the “top” frequencies are taken over by a 3-centimeter dome tweeter. The sensitivity is not the highest - 86 dB, which must be taken into account when choosing an amplifier. The polar pattern is narrow, so you will have to tinker with the choice of speaker orientation, but you will definitely be pleased with the low distortion (they cross the 1% threshold only at frequencies below 60 Hz, which is expected with such a woofer design), and the frequency response is from 100 Hz to 10 kHz by the standards of budget acoustics, it’s very decent: if you distribute the sound by frequency on an amplifier or receiver, adding a good subwoofer to these speakers and not forcing them to pass through the very bottom part of the spectrum, then the result will definitely please you. Especially for this money.
Advantages
- Design
- Price
Flaws
- Sensitivity to spatial orientation
- The “highs” are rather weak – but in comparison with acoustics of a higher class
Let's summarize
The principles described will help you choose several speaker models that are most suitable for you. And the final choice of the “very, very” suitable acoustics is best made based on the listening results. Don’t be lazy, stop by your nearest salon and listen for yourself.
And not so much a consultant as a technician. If the certainty with the dimensions and manufacturer of your potential speakers did not bring satisfaction and left too many options to choose from, in the second part of this article we will try to deal with the purely technical side of the issue.
Continuation: Part two - about speakers
Prepared based on materials from the Barnsly Blog portal, December 2017
blog.barnsly.ru
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The article is included in the sections:
How to choose. Buyer's Guide
The best floor-standing acoustics for the home
Sony SA-CS9
The model is designed to be a quality addition to a home theater or gamer's corner. This is a silent subwoofer that produces vibrations in the range of 28-200 Hz. Together with a subwoofer, it provides surround sound special effects. Thanks to its size of 34.5x29.5x40 cm, you can install the Sony SA-CS9 anywhere, but preferably on a hard and slightly flexible surface.
Advantages
- Takes up very little space
- Attaches firmly to the floor
- Doesn't annoy neighbors with loud noise
Flaws
- Heavy, weight about 11.5 kg
- It is necessary to select a suitable location for installation
YAMAHA NS-F150
Best price. Good voice transmission. Country: Japan (manufactured in Indonesia) Budget HI-FI model of passive type. It features a stylish design and reliable assembly. Connects to a receiver or amplifier and works great in conjunction with subwoofers and other audio equipment. This floor-standing acoustics covers the entire frequency range. There is bass, but not as pronounced as on the sub. Still, the NS-F150 is no longer intended for listening to music, but for watching TV, movies, and games. The middle is not hollow, the tops do not squeak. True, distortion is clearly felt at high volumes. In reviews, owners say that it requires careful setup and a good amplifier/receiver. Out of the box it is unlikely to provide good sound quality.
Advantages
- stylish design
- reliable assembly
Flaws
- rear bass reflex (it is better to place it away from the wall)
- weak tweeters
- complete thin wires
SVEN SPS-750
Double-cavity speakers have a convenient shape and can be installed on the floor or shelf. Externally they have an attractive appearance and will decorate any room. Reproduces sounds of both high and low frequencies with high quality. Wireless connection allows you to place the speakers even outdoors. The system can be controlled using a small remote control.
Advantages
- high-quality sound reproduction
- remote control
Flaws
- Fingerprints remain on the glossy surface
The best powerful budget speakers (loud)
Pioneer S-DJ50X
Monitor speaker measuring 197x301x262 mm, capable of playing music at volumes up to 107 dB. Suitable for parties with electronic music. Low-frequency speakers with modest sizes reproduce dense and clear sound.
Advantages
- Provides automatic shutdown after 25 minutes
- Great bass
- Good design
- There are white and black color options
Flaws
- They may make noise when plugged into an outlet.
Heco Victa Prime Center 102
Heco Victa Prime Center 102 is a center channel speaker system. It is best suited for watching videos. The human voice and vocals sound natural in the audio system, which is valuable for use in a home theater. It is worth noting the quality of the external finish: the matte surface, made to look like dark wood, highlights the polished metal of the speaker rim.
Advantages
- Clearly reproduces the human voice
- Looks like a premium product
- Compact monoblock
Flaws
- For comfortable listening to music, it is better to complement with other speakers
JBL Control 62P
JBL Control 62P is an exception to the rule that powerful inexpensive speakers only come in large sizes. The small and durable speaker has a power of 50 W and a sensitivity of 103 dB. It can be used as a portable one, as it comes with convenient mounts and durable cables for connection. There is no need to throw away your hard-earned money trying to achieve the ideal sound of your audio system. As you can see, for every task there is a solution with high-quality sound and ease of use at a low price.
Advantages
- Very loud for a size just over 12x12x12 cm
- Good sound even in rooms with high ceilings
- Shockproof housing
- Hanging systems included
Flaws
- Single lane
Hanging
DALI ALTECO C-1
pros
- Excellent stereo sound
- Directional Sound
- Various installation options
- Closed case
Minuses
- Not for all genres of music
From 17,990 ₽
A good speaker for home. Suitable for inexpensive home theater and listening to music that uses acoustic instruments. To play “heavy” genres, it is better to purchase an additional subwoofer. The type of mounting installed allows the DALI ALTECO C-1 to be used both as suspended and floor-standing equipment.
APart MASK4
pros
- Moisture protection
- Convenient sound direction adjustment
- Housing made of durable ABS plastic
- Bracket included
Minuses
- Outwardly it may seem quite unattractive
From 6,144 RUR
APart MASK4 is a portable outdoor loudspeaker that is not afraid of rain. It is convenient to mount it outdoors on a swivel bracket: you can rotate the speaker on the mount, choosing the direction for the sound. The playback quality is decent for all genres of music.
Polk Audio OWM3
pros
- High sound quality
- There are different installation methods available
- Connection via banana connectors
Minuses
- Insufficient development of low frequencies
From 18,990 ₽
The plastic body of this model should not scare away the novice audiophile: ABS plastic is used, which does not give sound resonance. Therefore, with small dimensions (178x254x104 mm), the sound remains clear and smooth. In terms of sound quality, the Polk Audio OWM3 should definitely be at the top of the list of budget home speakers. A nice bonus is that there are many installation options. Polk Audio OWM3 can be mounted in different positions in a corner, on a wall or on a shelf.
Expert advice
In order for the acoustics to fully fulfill all its characteristics, it is necessary to carefully approach the choice.
- Type. Acoustics are divided into passive, active and hybrid. The first does not require a line signal and power supply to all speakers, but requires an external amplifier. The second is portable, compact, and easy to set up. Hybrid systems include passive speakers and an active subwoofer.
- Number of stripes. The optimal option is two: one is responsible for the lows (and the bottom of the midrange), and the second is responsible for the highs (and the top of the midrange). Of course, a 3-way speaker system provides better sound quality, since different drivers are responsible for the lows, mids and highs. But the average user is unlikely to be able to notice serious differences, but he will have to overpay for such speakers.
- Power. The sound quality depends on this parameter. Based on the area of the premises, a speaker with a power of up to 70 W is sufficient for rooms up to 20 m2. If you need to cover 30 “squares”, then 100 W will be the best option. Rooms over 30 square meters will require 150 W or more.
- Sensitivity. Determines the sound volume taking into account the specified power. As a rule, indicated in dB/W/m: the sound pressure of a radiator with a power of 1 W at a distance of a meter. Sensitivity up to 88 dB is considered low; with a value from 89 to 92 – average; in the range of 94-102 dB – high.
- Frequencies. Conventionally, frequencies perceived by the human ear can be divided into three categories: high, medium and low. If acoustics are purchased for cinema, then they must cover the range from 100 Hz to 20 kHz. For universal models it should be wider (about 20-35000 Hz).
- Interfaces. RCA is necessary for single-channel audio transmission, but the connector's noise immunity is low. XLR, on the contrary, is highly immune to interference. It is considered a professional interface. The acoustics can also be equipped with TRS (3.5 and 6.35 mm), Speakon (needed in concert equipment), etc.
Shape Audio Organic Harmony
These speakers were born in 2007. They are made of 18-karat gold and exist in a single copy. There is also a version in silver and bronze with a more modest price tag - the total number of copies is 105.
The system is 5-way and weighs 215 kg. The size of the speakers is impressive - 1.35 x 0.27 m. A class D amplifier with a power of 1 kW is provided. There are several ports: USB, XLR, S/PDIF and Ethernet.
Shape Audio's Organic Harmony is priced at $7 million.
