Speaker Jargon Explained

📸 Active - self-powered speakers that get plugged into the power socket and can take audio sources directly.

📸 Passive - speakers that require a separate amplifier for power and audio signals - delivered through a paired 'speaker wire'. 

Watts - shorthand measurement for the 'power' speaker power. Hugely misleading as more watts doesn't always mean more volume.

Frequency Response - indication the sound spectrum that pair of speakers can produce. Humans can hear 20hz-20khz, although most HiFi speakers will begin around 50-60Hz - anything lower would usually require a large subwoofer.

📸 Bass Driver - the speaker cone that produces the lower-end of the sounds. Larger diameter usually means more bass tones.

📸Treble Driver - the small speaker cone that produces the higher-end of the sounds. Often called "tweeters"

EQ / Bass / Treble - separate dials that let you 'dial in' the specific sound you like.

📸 Monitors - a type of speaker with a deliberately flat frequency response, as not to 'colour' or change the sound from the source. Usually found in music studios and high end systems.

Book Shelf

Floor standing

Sub Woofer