Buyers guide to speakers

What kind of speaker is right for me?
Where should I position my stereo speakers?
Should I use a loudspeaker stand?
Where should I position my home cinema speakers?
How should I run my speakers in?
What is bi-wiring?
What is bi-amping?
Can I damage my loudspeakers by playing them too loud?
Are my loudspeakers safe next to a television?

• The size and therefore the frequency range they cover. Big speakers as a rule have a deeper bass response, but are often not practical, especially in a home cinema system. A compromise usually has to be made and the question is essentially one of practicality.
• The sound quality. This is a function of the materials used and hence the lack of distortion in the finished loudspeaker. All speakers distort a little, but as materials science and our understanding of acoustics have advanced, we have been able to control many of the unwanted artefacts and hence make better speakers.
• The bandwidth. This is the frequency range at which they can produce a useful output. In some cases this could be well beyond the boundries of human hearing (about 18kHz in most circumstances), however there is growing evidence to suggest that these supersonic frequencies to have an influence over our perception and can dramatically improve the sound quality.
• What they are being used for. Not everyone has similar tastes. If you like to party a lot or listen mostly to loud music, then there are special ranges, which can produce high outputs with little effort. If your tastes are a little more relaxed and you enjoy critical listening, then an audiophile hi-fi speaker will be more suitable
• Positioning is also a factor. If the speaker needs to be placed close to a wall, then a front ported model will be preferable.