The Final Voice
Speakers are where the system ends and the music begins. They are the final, and most personal, component in the chain, translating an electrical signal into a physical event that fills your room and moves your soul.
A Philosophy in a Box
Every speaker design is a series of compromises, an attempt to solve the impossible problem of recreating a live musical event with a handful of vibrating cones in a wooden box. The specific approach a designer takes defines the speaker's character. Understanding these core philosophies is key to finding the voice that speaks to you.
Acoustic Suspension: The Sound of Control
The sealed box. The air trapped inside acts like a spring, precisely controlling the woofer's movement. This results in bass that is exceptionally tight, accurate, and articulate. It is not the deepest bass, but it starts and stops with a precision that reveals the texture and nuance of a bass guitar or the skin of a kick drum. This is the sound of honesty in the low frequencies, championed by classic brands like Acoustic Research (AR) and Advent.
Bass Reflex: The Sound of Breath
The ported design. A carefully tuned port or vent allows the speaker to "breathe," using the energy from the back of the woofer to reinforce the low frequencies. The result is often deeper, more powerful bass and greater efficiency, a sound with a sense of scale and weight. It is the dominant design in modern speakers, a versatile approach that can deliver both thunder and nuance.
Horn-Loaded: The Sound of Live
The megaphone. A horn acts as an acoustic transformer, taking a small amount of amplifier power and turning it into a huge, dynamic sound. This is the most efficient way to make music, delivering the raw, visceral energy of a live performance with startling impact and clarity. The sound is immediate, forward, and unapologetically dynamic, a philosophy perfected by Paul W. Klipsch.
The Great Houses of Sound
Klipsch
The American evangelist of horn-loaded efficiency. The sound of a live rock show in your living room.
Acoustic Research
The innovators of the acoustic suspension speaker. The sound of tight, controlled, honest bass.
KEF
The masters of British monitoring, famous for their Uni-Q driver and a sound of stunning clarity.