What to consider when choosing a sound system?
Daniel Foster
Published Apr 05, 2026
What to consider when choosing a sound system?
Your choice of speakers should be based on coverage requirements and the size of the venue. There are some things to consider regarding the shape of the room and how the speakers will interact with boundaries, such as the walls, the ceiling, and the floor. You want to get the best speakers your budget will allow.
How is the sound level of a speaker determined?
The sound pressure level of a speaker will determine how loud a speaker is at a given distance (typically 1 meter). Most spec sheets will show Peak and Continuous outputs. The peak is how loud the speaker is on loud transients, while continuous output is the average loudness. This is a good indication of how the speaker performs, dynamically.
Can a sound bar be connected to a surround sound system?
There are passive LCR speakers that look like soundbars that are designed to replace the three front speakers in a surround system. There is absolutely no point in playing them at the same. The soundbar would screw up the surround sound regardless of how it’s connected.
What kind of audio is used in a paging system?
25 volt audio is primarily used for School Paging/ Intercom systems. This provides the correct speaker impedance for intercom audio at lower wattage levels. When there is a 2 way intercom audio connection to the classroom speaker, the speaker acts as a microphone during listen function of the intercom audio connection (half duplex).
Your choice of speakers should be based on coverage requirements and the size of the venue. There are some things to consider regarding the shape of the room and how the speakers will interact with boundaries, such as the walls, the ceiling, and the floor. You want to get the best speakers your budget will allow.
How can I tell if I have a surround sound system?
With a surround sound system, you will be able to hear sounds coming from multiple directions. There are several types of speaker setups systems. You can tell how many speakers or audio channels and subwoofers that a particular system has by the number in its name.
Which is the best way to set up a surround sound system?
You should place the center channel speaker directly in front of the listener. This center channel adds more depth and clarity, especially to dialogue. This is the ideal setup for anyone who wants to elevate their home theater on a budget, but doesn’t have enough room for a full surround sound system. What is 5.1 Surround Sound?
How many speakers are in a 7.1 surround sound system?
A 7.1 surround sound setup has two front speakers, a subwoofer, a center channel, two surround speakers, and two rear speakers. With this setup, you should place rear speakers behind the listener at a 135-150-degree angle.