Computer Speakers:
2.1 and 5.1 speaker systems:
PC speakers are essential and very important for making the most of your PC or laptop, especially if you enjoy listening to music or playing games or any other 3D Works.
In this Post I explain the different speaker systems on the market, along with some straight-forward advice.
Types of PC speakers
There are 3 main types of PC speaker systems on the market:
• Stereo PC speaker system
consists of 2 full-range speakers.
• 2.1 PC speaker system
2 surround sound speakers and 1 subwoofer.
• 5.1 PC speaker system
4 surround sound speakers, 1 centre speaker and 1 subwoofer.
The speaker system you choose will depend on their intended use, below we will have a look at each system in turn and explain the benefits of each.
Stereo PC speaker systems::
The stereo system consists of 2 main full-range speakers providing simple stereo sound, the quality of the sound will vary greatly between different models and manufacturers.
"You get what you pay for" is certainly true when it comes to buying PC speaker systems. Don't expect quality low-frequency sound from the lower priced models, they are often "tinny" and may be unsuitable for some music (especially music with low-frequencies, such as RnB) as they simply cannot reproduce the frequencies accurately.
Which style of stereo speaker?
Although the actual look of the speakers you want will be down to your personal taste, there are a few things to keep in mind, namely the enclosure and cone configuration.
Speaker enclosure:
Although your choice of speaker enclosure may come down to space concerns, the shape and size of the speakers does have an effect on the sound produced. Generally, the larger the speaker enclosure the better the lower frequencies will resonate, which along with a bass port produces a much richer bass sound.
Speaker cone configuration:
Each speaker enclosure will contain at least one speaker (cone). Some models will have just one speaker cone to produce all of the sound, referred to as a full-range driver. They can produce reasonable sound, but if you intend to listen to a lot of music then you may notice the lack of richness in the sound.
Other models have two speaker cones, one small cone to reproduce the higher frequencies, called a tweeter, and one cone for low and mid-range sounds. This physical split of the high frequencies from the mid and low makes a noticable difference to the quality of the sound, it helps produce a fuller sound and clarifies the high frequency sounds, especially when reproducing orchestras or other range-demanding music styles.
Some speaker manufacturers also sell three cone configurations which comprise of a woofer, a midrange cone and a tweeter, which further enhances the sound.
Other enclosure features:
Another feature which helps extenuate the bass reproduction is a bass-port, this is basically a hole in the speaker's enclosure (usually at the back). It allows the sound pressure which is created by the movement of the speaker cone to escape, which creates a smooth bass sound in the same way as a subwoofer.
Active or Passive Speakers?
The difference between active and passive is the way the speakers treat the sound.
An active speaker system will amplify the sound, or apply some effect to the sound, whereas a passive speaker system simply reproduces the signal it is sent, without any amplification or audio effect.
Active speakers need a power source, with some models this will be provided through a USB cable which you connect to your PC, but more likely it is provided by an external power supply which needs to be connected to the mains electricity supply, this can be a concern when it comes to portability.
Passive speakers do not require a power source, they are driven by the audio output from your PC or laptop. Although this is useful when electricity sockets are scarce, it does mean that they are limited to the amount of volume your PC or laptop's soundcard creates, which in some cases can be minimal.
If you are looking for portability then passive are great, if not, choose active speakers
2.1 PC speakers:
The 2.1 speaker system comes with 2 satellite speakers and a subwoofer, when set up correctly they create a nice balanced stereo sound with enriched bass. The two satellite speakers are usually small enclosures, sometimes with a mounting system allowing them to be put on the wall. These provide the mid and high-range frequencies and are best positioned as you would stereo speakers, spaced evenly apart from where you are seated.
5.1 PC speakers:
5.1 PC speakers are the same as you would have with your home cinema system, the configuration consists of 4 satellite (surround sound) speakers, one centre speaker and a subwoofer. The satellite speakers are used for the surround sound and should be positioned around the room, with the rear speakers placed evenly behind, and the two front speakers spaced evenly from your sitting position.
The centre speaker, as its name suggests, sits in the centre position. It provides a fuller range of frequencies than the smaller satellite speakers and is often used for the voice track on a 5.1 compatible movie.
The subwoofer:
Both the 2.1 and 5.1 speaker systems come with a subwoofer, it is a large enclosure with a low-frequency speaker cone (or cones) inside. The subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the room (within reason) and in conjunction with the satellite speakers, produce a full, rich sound. Most subwoofer models have a variable volume control to adjust the amount of bass provided, bear this in mind when positioning the subwoofer, you don't want to have to get under the table every time you want to adjust the bass!
PC speaker specifications
Every speaker system is advertised with certain specifications, which usually includes the system's power output. The amount of power you require will depend on how big your room is, and if you have neighbours or not! Power output figures are stated in Watts and can be a bit confusing, different manufacturers may use different measurements, for example RMS, Music Power and PMPO.
RMS - (Root Mean Square) RMS is about the most accurate figure you can get when it comes to measuring true power output. To put RMS into perspective, a small portable TV regularly comes with a built-in 1 watt RMS amplifier, so one watt RMS is not to be sniffed at! Music Power This value can normally be halved to give an idea of the true RMS output.
PMPO - (Peak Music Power Output) This value can be roughly divided by 4 to give the approximate RMS output.
