Frequency range
The range of audio frequencies supported by acoustics. The wider this range — the fuller the reproduced sound, the lower the likelihood that some of these details at low or high frequencies will remain “behind the scenes”. At the same time, the human ear is able to hear frequencies of the order of 16 – 22,000 Hz, and with age, this range narrows even more. In modern audio equipment, especially at the top level, there may be more extensive ranges, but from a practical point of view, this does not make much sense. In addition, it is worth noting that a wide frequency range in itself does not guarantee high-quality sound — a lot also depends on the frequency response.
Speaker output
Total speaker power rating — the sum of the power ratings of all components (front, rear, centre, etc.)
Rated usually means the highest average sound power that the speakers can produce without overloading and damage. Individual peaks of sound can significantly exceed this figure, but it is the average value that is key — in particular, it is it that determines the overall loudness of the acoustics. However it should be borne in mind here that in sets with a subwoofer, the latter can account for about half of the total power of the entire system, while the actual volume is determined mainly by the main speakers. In fact, this means that with equal total power, acoustics with a subwoofer can sound noticeably quieter than a model without a subwoofer: for example, a 2.0 system at 20 W will have 10 W per main channel, while in a 2.1 model at 20 W with 10- watt subwoofer on the main speakers will have only 5 watts.
As for specific values, in the quietest modern PC speakers, the power
does not exceed 10 watts. An indicator of
10 – 25 W can be called relatively modest,
25 – 50 W — average, and values of
50 – 100 W and
above are found mainly in sets with subwoofers, where a significant part of the power falls on the bass speaker (although there are also ordinary stereo speakers with similar features).
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Theoretically, the power of acoustics also affects its compatibility with a specific amplifier: speakers should not be inferior to it in terms of rated power, otherwise sound distortion and even equipment damage are possible. However, computer acoustics in the vast majority of cases are used with their own amplifiers, optimally matched to the speakers installed in the speakers. So this moment becomes relevant only in some very specific cases — for example, when replacing a complete external amplifier (see below) with another one.Subwoofer
Rated power of the complete subwoofer of the acoustic system.
Recall that a subwoofer is a specialized speaker for low and ultra-low frequencies; such a speaker is especially useful
for games and movies, it is for such content that well-defined bass is most important. Accordingly, the saturation and (to a certain extent) the overall sound quality of low frequencies depends on the power of such a speaker. "Subs" are usually matched to the power of the rest of the system components, however, sets with a similar total power of the main channels may still differ in the characteristics of the subwoofers.
It is also worth noting that the power of this component can be a very significant part of the total power of all acoustics: in some models, about half of the “total watts” (or even more) falls on the subwoofer. This should be taken into account when comparing; see "Total power" for more details.
USB port powered
The ability
to power the speakers from the USB port of a computer or other device. In some models, the main connection is made through the same port, but more often the speakers receive a signal via the classic mini-Jack (see "Connections"). Anyway, the advantage of this power supply over
mains power is that the speakers do not depend on the outlet; this facilitates their
use with laptops and other portable equipment. If there is no free connector on the computer, you can use a USB adapter for an outlet, car cigarette lighter, etc. At the same time, the power supply via USB is initially very low, so this option is typical mainly for small and relatively “quiet” speakers. For the same reason, some models with this feature may require connection to a special type of connector — ports that support USB Power Delivery. This technology allows you to increase the power supply up to 100 W, but even in modern computer technology it is not so common.
Detachable cable
The presence
of detachable cables will save you from possible damage to the device associated with bending the wires. If such an incident occurs, an easy replacement of the wire with a new one allows you to continue using the speakers, and not carry them to a service centre. However, this solution is mainly used in higher-level models, which affects the cost. At the same time, not only audio cables can be removable, for which connectors are provided (according to the classics, this is RCA), but also the power cable.
