Rear
Rated output of the rear speaker. See "Front" above for details on power rating.
Centre
Rated power of the centre speaker. See "Front" above for details on power rating.
Maximum amplifier power
The highest power rating of an amplifier that the loudspeakers can handle safely. Too much input power can damage the speakers, so when connecting, make sure that the amplifier's characteristics do not exceed the capabilities of the speakers. It is worth noting that this parameter may be slightly higher than the total nominal power of the acoustics (see below), since in this case we are only talking about the safety of the equipment, and not about the absence of distortion in the sound.
Total rated power
The total rated power of all speaker components, in other words, the sum of the powers of all speakers. As a nominal one, they usually indicate the highest average (rms) power at which acoustics can operate for a long time without overloads and damage. In this case, individual power surges can significantly exceed this value, however, it is the rated power that is the main characteristic of any speaker.
First of all, the sound volume depends on this characteristic: the more powerful the speakers, the louder the sound they can produce if there is a suitable amplifier. In addition, in passive and passive-active models, compatibility with an external amplifier also depends on the power: the output power of the “amplifier” should not exceed the power of the acoustics connected to it, otherwise overloads and even breakdowns are possible.
Detailed recommendations regarding the choice of speakers for power for a particular situation can be found in special sources. However, in general, an indicator of up to
100 W by the standards of modern acoustics is considered quite modest,
100 – 200 W — average,
200 – 300 W — above average, and the most powerful sets give out
up to 500 W or even
more.
In conclusion, we note two more nuances. Firstly, when comparing different systems according to this ch
...aracteristic, one must also take into account the sound format in which they work. In particular, if there is a subwoofer, it can account for a significant part of the total power — up to half or more. As a result, for example, a 2.1 set of 50 W with a 20-watt subwoofer at the main frequencies will not be able to pull out the same volume as a 40-watt 2.0 system: in the first case, each main channel will have only 15 watts, in the second — 20 watts. Secondly, in multichannel systems, the total power can be distributed among the channels in different proportions; so, say, two 5.1 systems with the same total power can differ markedly in front and rear balance at maximum volume.Rear
The range of audio frequencies that the rear speaker is capable of reproducing. See "Total Frequency Range" below for details on this setting.
Centre
The range of audio frequencies that the centre speaker is capable of reproducing. See "Total Frequency Range" below for details on this setting.
Overall frequency range
The total frequency range that the speaker is capable of reproducing. Specified from the bottom of the range in the lowest frequency component to the top of the range in the highest frequency: for example, in a 2.1 system with main speakers at 100 – 22000 Hz and a subwoofer at 20 – 150 Hz, the total value will be 20 – 22000 Hz.
The wider the frequency range — the fuller the reproduced sound, the lower the likelihood that some part of the low or high frequencies will be "cut off". It is worth noting here that the human ear perceives frequencies on average from 16 Hz to 22 kHz, and from a practical point of view, it makes no sense to provide a wider frequency range in speakers. However, quite a few models go beyond this range, sometimes quite significantly (for example, there are speakers with a range of about 10 – 50,000 Hz). Such characteristics are a kind of "side effect" of high-end acoustics, and they are usually given for advertising purposes.
Thus, the lower limit of the range in modern speakers can be within frequencies
up to 20 Hz, however, higher values \u200b\u200bare more common —
30 – 40 Hz,
40 – 50 Hz, or even
more than 70 Hz. In turn, the upper limit in most modern speakers lies in the range
19 – 22 kHz, although there are deviations both upwards (see above) and
downwards.
Power
The rated power of the subwoofer provided in the speakers.
The more powerful the subwoofer — the louder and richer bass the acoustics can produce. In addition, this characteristic determines compatibility with an external amplifier (if its connection is provided by the speaker design): the output power of such an amplifier on the bass channel should not exceed this indicator. And best of all, when the power ratings of the amplifier and subwoofer are the same — this allows you to fully realize all the capabilities of the woofer and at the same time avoid overloads.
Also note that the overall colour of the sound depends on the ratio of the power of the subwoofer and the main speakers, especially at maximum volume. For example, if in one 100-watt 2.1 set the subwoofer has 50 watts, and in another — only 30 watts, then the first speaker at maximum power will produce richer bass, but with a lower volume of the main channels.
Frequency range
The frequency range that a subwoofer speaker can reproduce.
Recall that subwoofers are originally intended for bass frequencies. Therefore, the upper limit of the operating range in such speakers usually does not exceed 200 Hz — the main acoustic components can cope with higher frequencies; however, there are exceptions. Regarding the lower limit, it is worth recalling that for human hearing it is at a level of about 16 Hz. In modern subwoofers, the minimum reproducible frequency is usually somewhat higher — most often from 22 – 24 Hz; however, exceptions are possible here too — in particular, there are models with a lower limit of 13 Hz and even 8 Hz, that is, already at the level of infrasound. Such indicators are not only a sign of a high-class subwoofer — they also have a certain practical meaning, especially if the acoustics are used for a cinema. The fact is that many sound phenomena at low frequencies — explosions, earthquakes, etc. — are accompanied, among other things, by infrasonic vibrations that are not directly audible, but are still perceived by a person in one way or another .. Accordingly, a subwoofer with an extended infrasound range is able to convey such sounds as reliably as possible.
