Home Speakers and Subwoofers

Shelf, ceiling, wall or center: placement sets the type

Bookshelf speakers sit on shelves or stands and suit stereo music and desks. A center channel sits under the TV and carries dialogue in a surround system. In-ceiling and on-wall speakers save floor space and suit built-in installs, and indoor/outdoor models are made to resist weather. Powered models with Bluetooth, optical or coaxial inputs need only a source and power; passive models need an amplifier or receiver with matching impedance.

Subwoofers, frequency range and sealed or ported designs

A powered subwoofer adds the lowest octaves through its line-level or LFE input, fed from the subwoofer output on your receiver. A sealed cabinet gives tighter, more controlled bass, while a ported one goes louder and deeper for its size. Frequency range shows how low and high a speaker plays, so 35 Hz at the bottom reaches deeper than 80 Hz. A bookshelf speaker often rolls off early and benefits from a sub. Size and range tell you more than a headline wattage figure.

Questions about Home Speakers and Subwoofers

Are bookshelf speakers enough without a subwoofer?

Often yes for music. Bookshelf speakers play music well on their own, but they drop off in deep bass. A subwoofer helps for movies, electronic music and loud listening. Choose one with a line-level input that suits your amplifier.

Can I plug bookshelf speakers straight into a TV?

Only powered ones, through an output your TV offers, such as optical or analog. Passive speakers need an amplifier or receiver between the TV and the speakers. Check the TV's output ports and the speaker's input list.

What is the LFE input on a subwoofer?

LFE stands for low-frequency effects, the dedicated bass channel in movie soundtracks. A subwoofer's LFE or line-in socket connects by RCA cable to the subwoofer output of a receiver, which sends the bass to it.