Types Of Speakers - Sony CMT-CQ1 - Micro Hi Fi Component System Manual

A full 5.1-channel home theater system includes five full-range speakers: Left,
Center, Right, Surround-Left and Surround-Right; plus a Subwoofer for the "0.1" channel.
You've got a range of choices for each.
Front speakers. You can choose from large, floor-standing speakers, smaller
"bookshelf" speakers or tiny "satellite" speakers. Your choice will probably be
dictated by your budget, the amount of space you have and the locations you have for
speaker placement. Most speakers for A/V use are "magnetically shielded." This
will prevent fields from the speakers' magnets from interfering with the picture of
CRT televisions.
Center speakers. The Center channel is important because it carries the dialog. The
Center speaker creates the illusion that the dialog is coming directly from the actors
on the screen. Center speakers are usually sleek designs for horizontal placement
immediately above or below the television. Choose your Center speaker from the
same brand and series as the Left and Right. Most Center speakers are magnetically
shielded to prevent interference with the TV picture.
Surround speakers. For highly motivated home theater enthusiasts, these could be
large, floor standing speakers. But because most of the movie sound track
information is concentrated in the front, smaller "satellite" speakers work very well.
Subwoofer. Most subwoofers are "active," which means they are driven by their
own, internal power amplifier. Because the human ear can't detect the direction from
which deep bass is coming, the subwoofer can be placed almost anywhere, including
under a table or in a corner of the room.
Matched speaker sets. Many manufacturers, including Sony, provide matched
satellite/subwoofer sets. These provide identical or nearly identical speakers for the
five full-range channels, plus a cosmetically and sonically matching subwoofer. The
satellite speakers are often designed to be hung on a wall or to sit on a cabinet or shelf.
Wall mount brackets are a great solution for positioning satellite
speakers.
The Sony Guide to Home Theater

Types of Speakers

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