Floorstanding speakers
Even from a purely physical perspective, floorstanding speakers have many advantages over smaller speakers. They operate across the full frequency range, and it is not only audiophiles who can hear the difference. Floorstanding speakers are therefore the most popular and generally highest-quality type of speaker.
Compact speakers
This type of speaker does not always have to be "compact," but it usually is. A large compact speaker can have even more volume than a small floorstanding speaker. The models and names offered are therefore very different.
Compact speakers are speakers that, due to their short height, are not placed on the floor, but require more floor space for proper placement. For this purpose, special speaker stands are often used.
Shelf speakers
The term shelf speaker is often used as a synonym for compact speakers. However, it refers to a specific product group as a subcategory of compact speakers that has been acoustically optimized for placement on shelves, i.e., near a wall.
These "true" shelf speakers only offer a balanced frequency response if the adjacent surfaces support the low and mid frequencies. They also have a maximum height of 50 cm.
Surround speakers
The goal of surround sound systems is to provide a sound experience that is as realistic as possible, namely surround sound. For this reason, multiple speakers are used and a medium with multiple audio tracks (e.g., Blu-ray) is naturally required.
Subwoofer
To produce low frequencies, speakers require a large diaphragm area. The lower the frequency and the higher the desired volume, the larger the required diaphragm area. Instead of equipping every speaker with large woofers, you can also use a single woofer, the subwoofer, which produces the low frequencies for all channels.
Front speakers
The front speakers are the main speakers of a home theater system, located to the left and right of the screen or display, and also reproduce the left and right audio channels. They must reproduce the frequency spectrum with sufficient differentiation, as they provide the soundscape of the cinematic music.
Center speaker
The center speaker is primarily responsible for speech and dialogue in a home theater system, as well as for playing a certain amount of music and effects. This type of speaker is characterized by a particularly wide dispersion angle and magnetic shielding against interference from a nearby television.
Effect speakers
The effect speakers are located to the left and right behind the listener and create the acoustic illusion of three-dimensional spatial depth. They are mainly used for sound reproduction and usually only cover a limited and mid-range frequency area.
Satellite speakers
A satellite speaker is a small or very small speaker without full bass reproduction. It plays mid and high tones, while a subwoofer plays low frequencies.
Soundbar
The soundbar is a rod-shaped speaker with a very low overall depth. It is placed in front of a TV or on or above the wall below it. The main purpose of a soundbar is to improve the sound of the television.
