Those considering the idea of investing in a new set of speakers must leave behind the preconception that an increase in size and power also means an increase in sound quality.
Mini and
compact speakers too can offer a good, clear sound and, furthermore, their installation doesn't present the user with special concerns. They are meant to be used in smaller spaces and to play music with high frequency content. To compensate for the low-frequency deficiencies it is advisable to output the bass separately using a subwoofer. Large
floorstanding systems are basically only suitable for filling very large areas and it's only here that their decisive advantage comes into play: better bass reproduction. A small box will never be able to represent bass frequencies correctly due to the reduced response of its smaller body and diaphragms. For an excellent bass response, one should therefore take the floorstander route - and in a room around 20 to 30m², so that the sound may develop accordingly. Ideally the speakers should be mounted on spikes, so that the bass has no feedback effect on the speakers themselves.
Trends and development
The development of speaker systems is far from reaching its end. Manufacturers are still looking for the perfect audio experience and try to reach it, for example, through the development of new materials for cabinets and diaphragms as well as through speaker design. More and more organizations and magazines are appearing which are all about the DIY of the perfect loudspeaker, but this is extremely difficult - playing high and low frequencies at their best through one and the same box is still the hardest challenge of loudspeaker design, because the physical properties of the different tones demand different properties from the cabinet and diaphragms. Bass frequencies need diaphragms as large as possible; however, high sounds at wavelenghts which are shorter than the diameter of the diaphragm can lead to a partial vibration of the membrane itself. The result is an unnatural and unpleasant sound.
Therefore, over the course of time a separation of the "working areas" of a speaker has taken place. In this context we speak of a 1- to 4-way system, each working area being a separate cabinet and a separate diaphragm in the speaker. This way, contradictory requirements can be be met simultaneously. In a typical 3-way system, each cabinet of the loudspeaker has the task of covering a typical operating range: treble, midrange and bass. Systems with even more ways can be found, but they are very rare. Two-way systems, however, are very common - in most cases, they consist of mid and bass in a single cabinet. This requires very good build quality, but allows for definite savings both in space and cost.
The reason for the poor sound quality of many so-called "mini boxes" is therefore easy to understand: they are often a simple 1-way system in which a single cabinet is supposed to represent all the frequencies simultaneously. Due to physical limitations this is almost impossible, even more so than with 2-way systems. Therefore, when purchasing a mini speaker, care should be taken to ensure that, despite the small size, at least a 2-way system is installed in it.
Active speakers are more expensive, but they are worth it
Even if passive speakers are rapidly catching up, active ones are still regarded as the best option. With powered speakers, the amplifier is already integrated in the cabinet and controlled by a preamplifier, which makes it possible for the path of the amplified signal to the speaker and back to be relatively short. This avoids signal loss and allows the music to be reproduced without restrictions. In the area of hi-fi systems these speakers are among the most high-end and expensive devices, however they offer a brilliant sound. Active speakers are also found frequently as computer accesories, as here they can help offset the disadvantages of mini 1-way boxes.
