We’ve gathered this list of articles and buying guides about home audio speakers to help you figure out what to look for when shopping for loudspeakers. Even though many of the links are a few years old, there was still enough relevant information to keep this page in our archive. Also, see our latest speaker articles.
- Tips for Better Home Audio Sound – eCoustics.com (10/09)
- Tweeter Dome Material Myths – eCoustics.com (10/09)
- 15 Tips for Better Home Audio – eCoustics.com (8/09)
- Speaker Impedance and Ohms Explained – eCoustics.com (3/09)
- Home Audio Shopping on a Budget – eCoustics.com (8/09)
- Comb Filtering: Popular Misconceptions – eCoustics.com (6/09)
- Choosing Loudspeaker Drivers for DIY – TNT-Audio (10/08)
- Understanding Loudspeaker Sensitivity – GoodSound (2/08)
- How to Translate Speaker Sensitivity Ratings Into Real-World Requirements – GoodSound (2/08)
- DIY Loudspeakers Series – Lining Loudspeaker Cabinet Walls – TNT-Audio (11/07)
- Speakers: Where Do I Put Them? – Home Theater Magazine (9/07)
- How to Pick the Right Stand Height for Your Small Speakers – GoodSound (8/07)
- DIY Loudspeakers Series – Cabinet Wall Materials Under Test – TNT-Audio (4/07)
- Upward Mobility: From 2 Channels to Surround – Stereophile (4/07)
- In Praise of Sat/Sub Sets – Digital Trends (1/07)
- DIY Loudspeakers Series – Loudspeaker Energy Preservation – TNT-Audio (12/06)
- Loudspeaker Voice-Coil Temperatures – Stereophile (11/06)
- Pros and Cons of Active Loudspeakers and Crossovers – TNT-Audio (6/06)
- Loudspeaker Impedance, Series & Parallel Connection Basics – Audioholics (5/06)
- Inductor Coil Crosstalk Basics – Audioholics (3/06)
- In-wall, In-ceiling, and On-wall Speaker Placement – Crutchfield (2/06)
- Speaker Break In: Fact or Fiction? – Audioholics (8/05)
- What Defines a Reference Loudspeaker? – eCoustics.com (6/05)
- Time Dilation, Part 2 – Stereophile (4/05)
- Understanding Speaker Frequency Response – eCoustics.com (4/05)
- Stereo Setup Guide: What the Pros Know – eCoustics.com (3/05)
- Get the Right Speakers for the Job – eCoustics.com (3/05)
- Little Speakers Can Create Big Problems – eCoustics.com (3/05)
- Calibrate Speakers with a Sound Meter – eCoustics.com (3/05)
- Lowering Mechanical Noise Floor in Speakers – Audioholics (3/05)
- Bass Management for Sub/Satellite Integrated Systems – Audioholics (3/05)
- How to Judge Loudspeaker Sound and Accuracy – eCoustics.com (2/05)
- Understanding “Sound Power” with Ian Colquhoun of Axiom Audio – SoundStage (2/05)
- Time Dilation, Part 1 – Stereophile (1/05)
- How Speakers Radiate Sound: Why Wall Units are the Enemy? – eCoustics.com (1/05)
- Terms Used To Describe How A Loudspeaker Sounds – eCoustics.com (12/04)
- How To Shop For Speakers – eCoustics.com (12/04)
- Red Shift: Doppler Distortion in Loudspeakers – Stereophile (11/04)
- The Case of the Invisible Speakers – Sound & Vision (10/04)
- Guide to In-Wall and In-Ceiling Speakers – CEPro (9/04)
- Loudspeakers: When is Good Enough, Enough? Part 3 – Audioholics (9/04)
- How to Hook Up Outdoor Speakers – Tech Living (9/04)
- Back to Basics: Surround Sound Speakers – Sound & Vision (8/04)
- The Ideal Speaker – Ultra Audio (8/04)
- Optimizing Home Theater Loudspeaker Selection – Home Theater & Sound (8/04)
- Loudspeakers: When is Good Enough, Enough? Part 2 – Audioholics (8/04)
- Loudspeakers: When is Good Enough, Enough? – Audioholics (7/04)
- Do You Really Need a Subwoofer? – Masters on Audio (7/04)
- Cutting Corners: Direct Radiating Loudspeaker Enclosures – Stereophile (7/04)
- Eminence Designer: A Loudspeaker Enclosure Design Program – Enjoy the Music (7/04)
- Outdoor Speakers: Choosing and Installing – Crutchfield (7/04)
- Guide to Loudspeaker Technology – CEPro (7/04)
- How Speakers Work – Aperion Audio (6/04)
- Don’t Buy That Cheap Speaker System – Sound & Vision (4/04)
- Interview: Designing Loudspeakers At Revel – Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity (4/04)
- Matching a Center Speaker for Multichannel Audio – Stereophile (3/04)
- Loudspeaker Dispersion: Designing for Optimum Dispersion – SoundStage (3/04)
- Loudspeakers Filter Types & Crossovers Comparison – Audioholics (12/03)
- Loudspeaker Dispersion: Introduction to a Challenging Design Problem – SoundStage (12/03)
- Sound and Music: Dispersion, Distribution, and Directivity – Ultra Audio (11/03)
- Do It Yourself (DIY) Loudspeakers – Audioholics (10/03)
- Speaker Basics: Part Two – Masters on Audio (9/03)
- Speaker Basics: Part One – Masters on Audio (8/03)
- Buying Guide: PC Speaker Systems – PC Magazine (8/03)
- Surround Speakers: Dipoles and Direct Radiators – Home Theater & Sound (8/03)
- Sound Tips Part 3: Placing Speakers – Revolution Home Theater (8/03)
- Latest Smaller, Flatter Audio Speakers – Popular Mechanics (8/03)
- Active Loudspeakers and More – Ultra Audio (7/03)
- Surround Sound Speaker Placement: Problems and Solutions – SoundStage (7/03)
- Loudspeaker Crossover Networks Explained – Ultra Audio (6/03)
- Ten Biggest Mistakes of Speaker and Home Theater Shopping – Axiom Audio (5/03)
- The Inside Dope on Surround Speakers – Axiom Audio (5/03)
- Bob Hodas on Proper Speaker Placement – Revolution Home Theater (5/03)
- Technical Overview of Three-Way Loudspeakers – Ultra Audio (4/03)
- All About Speaker Stands – GoodSound (3/03)
- Understanding Loudspeaker Frequency Response – Axiom Audio (2/03)
- Speaker Placement: How’s Your Dispersion? – Home Technology Products (1/03)
- The Benefits of Active vs. Passive Speaker Systems – Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity (12/02)
- Setting Speaker Distance – Home Theater & Sound (12/02)
- Maximize the Performance of your In-wall Speakers – Home Toys (12/02)
- No Absolutes in Speaker Placement – Masters on Audio (11/02)
- Loudspeaker Drive Units – Ultra Audio (11/02)
- How Many Watts is That Speaker? – onhifi.com (10/02)
- Understanding How Loudspeakers Work – Ultra Audio (10/02)
- An Introduction to Loudspeaker Technology – Ultra Audio (9/02)
- Listening to Your Room: Solving Acoustical Problems – GoodSound (9/02)
- Holding the Center: The Misunderstood Center Channel Speaker – onhometheater.com (8/02)
- Testing Speakers: Can You Hear the Difference? – Home Technology Products (8/02)
- Speakers, Step by Step – Sound & Vision (8/02)
- Outdoor Speakers: In Tune with Nature – Home Theater Magazine (8/02)
- Eight Simple Steps for Making an Audio / Video Purchase – Masters on Audio (7/02)
- Phase, Time and Distortion in Loudspeakers – esp (6/02)
- Surround Sound Speaker Confusion: Speaker Design – Home Theater & Sound (6/02)
- Newbie’s Multimedia Speaker System Buyer’s Guide – Neoseeker (5/02)
- The Best Things in Life are Free: Speaker Placement – GoodSound (5/02)
- How Do You Improve The World’s Best Sounding Loudspeakers? Part 1 – Enjoy the Music (5/02)
- Impedance & Sensitivity – Home Theater Insider (4/02)
- What You Should Know about Loudspeakers – AVguide (3/02)
- About Home Theater Speaker Systems – Cinema Source (3/02)
- Installing In-Wall Speaker Systems – Cinema Source (3/02)
- Speakers: A Rich Vein of Mythology – Masters on Audio (2/02)
- Advice on Placement and Positioning of Speakers – Audio & Music Bulletin (2/02)
- Home Speakers: How to Choose – Crutchfield (1/02)
- Home Speakers: Frequently Asked Questions – Crutchfield (1/02)
- Home Speakers Glossary – Crutchfield (1/02)
- Home Theater Speakers: How to Choose – Crutchfield (1/02)
- How Many Loudspeakers? What Kind? Where? (pdf) – Harman (1/02)
- Making a Good Loudspeaker: Imaging, Space and Great Sound in Rooms (pdf) – Harman (1/02)
- Loudspeakers and Rooms: Getting the Bass Right (pdf) – Harman (1/02)
- Bi-wire, Not Only An Advantage – Sonic Design (1/02)
- Controlling Brightness – Ultra Audio (12/04)
- Fixing the Weakest Link: The Listening Room – Audiophilia (12/01)
- Upgrading Your Home Theater System Loudspeakers – Home Theater & Sound (10/01)
- Standardized Loudspeaker Testing – Sound & Video Contractor (9/01)
- Loudspeaker Phase Distortion: Is It Audible? – Beat Reviews (9/01)
- Speaker Diagrams: Conventional, Bi-Wiring, and Bi-Amping – AudioLinks.nl (9/01)
- Investing in Sub/Sats – Gary Raskin (8/01)
- Buying Second Hand Loudspeakers – TNT-Audio (8/01)
- How Many Speakers Will You Add (5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 10.2)? – Home Theater & Sound (7/01)
- Effects of Source Impedance on Loudspeakers – esp (7/01)
- Why Do Tweeters Blow When Amplifiers Distort? – esp (7/01)
- Horn Loudspeakers Explained – 1388.com (7/01)
- Loudspeaker Basics: Part 4 – GoodSound (7/01)
- Speaker Positioning and Hook-Up – DIY Network (6/01)
- Surround Sound Technologies and Installing Zone Speakers – DIY Network (6/01)
- How Speakers Work – How Stuff Works (6/01)
- Where do I place my loudspeaker to get the maximum sound quality? – 1388.com (6/01)
- Surround Sound Speaker Placement: The Home Theater – Surround Professional (6/01)
- Loudspeaker Basics: Part 3 – GoodSound (6/01)
- Loudspeaker Basics: Part 2 – GoodSound (6/01)
- Loudspeaker Basics: Part 1 – GoodSound (5/01)
- White Van Scam: Beware of Vans Bearing Gifts – Acoustic Image, Acoustic Lab Technology, Acoustic Response in Canada, Denmark, Digital Dogg Audio, Dynalab Speakers – Scam Shield (5/01)
- Why Bose Suck! – Liquid Theater (5/01)
- How To Get The Best Sound From Your Stereo System – Home Theater Talk (4/01)
- Your Room’s Acoustics Are as Important as Your Speakers – Masters on Audio (3/01)
- Placement Suggestion for Cubed Speakers – Audioholics (1/01)
- Blind Speaker Testing at NRC – Masters on Audio (1/01)
- Speaker Set-Up Tip: The Tower Speaker and the Subwoofer – Audioholics (12/00)
- Loudspeaker Construction – Art Ludwig (12/00)
- Loudspeaker Room Placement, Toe in, and Stands – onhifi.com (11/00)
- Understanding Speaker Measurements – Home Theater Magazine (10/00)
- Installing a multiroom in-ceiling speaker system – Home Theater Magazine (10/00)
- Multimedia/Computer Speaker Buyer’s Guide – AnandTech (9/00)
- Ideally Elsewhere – Other room better sound? – AudioEnz (9/00)
- Speaker Tweaks – Tweak Audio (9/00)
- Loudspeaker Room Placement – Part 3 – onhifi.com (9/00)
- Loudspeaker Room Placement – Part 2 – onhifi.com (9/00)
- Loudspeaker Room Placement – Part 1 – onhifi.com (8/00)
- The Art and Science of Audio System Tuning: Part 4 – Stereo Times (8/00)
- How to buy a PC speaker system – Smart Computing (8/00)
- What should I listen to when evaluating speakers? – Web Audio Magazine (7/00)
- 4 Ohm Speaker Load Consideration – Audioholics (7/00)
- Top Ten Gimmicks To Look For in Loudspeakers – Audioholics (7/00)
- Matching the right loudspeaker to a room – SVC Online (7/00)
- A Primer on Speakers, Listening, and Design – Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity (6/00)
- The Art and Science of Audio System Tuning: Part 3 – Stereo Times (6/00)
- Biamping/Biwiring – Audioholics (5/00)
- Surround Sound: What do you need? – IGN (5/00)
- The Art and Science of Audio System Tuning: Part Two – Stereo Times (4/00)
- Top Ten Reasons To Buy Cubed Speakers – Audioholics (3/00)
- How Many Channels Do We Need In Order To Be Able To Believe That We Are There? – Harman (3/00)
- The Art and Science of Audio System Tuning – Stereo Times (2/00)
- How to design a speaker – Decware (3/00)
- Setting up speakers in a rectangular room – Cardas (1/00)
- The Art of Tuning Your Room – Audio Video Revolution (1/00)
- Connecting Additional Speakers in Parallel? – Audioholics (1/00)
- Principles and Techniques of Speaker Placement – IMMEDIA (1/00)
- Speaker Basics and Buying Guidelines – Audioholics (12/99)
- How to build a dedicated listening room – Audio Video Revolution (11/99)
- Audiophile tweaks and checkup – Hi-inFidelity (9/99)
- Tweaking two channel systems – Audio Survey (8/99)
- Do Measurements Matter? Designers Speak Out – Ultimate Audio (4/99)
- DIY Audio Speaker FAQ – Lalena.com (11/98)
- DIY Audio Box Building FAQ – Lalena.com (11/98)
- How to Audition Speakers – Stereo Review (9/98)
- What We Hear vs. What We Perceive – Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity (9/98)
- Installing Outdoor Speakers – Sound & Video Contractor (8/98)
- Professional Loudspeaker Array Theory – Sound & Video Contractor (7/98)
- Speaker Tips – Decware (7/98)
- Bi-Amp or Bi-Wire Bi-Golly! – SoundStage (3/98)
- Direct vs. Reflected Energy – Decware (12/97)
- Sub-woofer Purchasing, Positioning and Calibration – SMR Home Theatre (11/97)
- Tweaks for your speakers – Decware (10/97)
- Insights about subwoofers – Decware (10/97)
- The two major speaker principles – Audio Outlet (9/97)
- 100 Years of Cinema Loudspeakers – AMPS (4/97)
- Getting Good Sound: What Matters? – SoundStage (6/96)
- Audio’s Most Cost Effective Tweak – Audio Ideas Guide (2/94)
- Under Pressure: Loudspeakers at Altitude – Stereophile (5/90)
- Kevin Voecks: Loudspeakers, Crossovers, & Rooms – Stereophile (3/90)
- How to Buy Speakers? – Technofile
- Speaker positioning – What Hi-Fi
- Matching speakers and amplifiers – What Hi-Fi
- A Guide to Speaker Placement – Galen Carol Audio
- Speakers: Buying Guide – Amazon.com
- Do those tall, skinny speakers work differently than regular speakers – How Stuff Works
- What is a decibel, and what is the loudest sound I can listen to before it hurts my ears? – How Stuff Works
- Measuring Speaker Impedance – ePanorama.net