Speakers

Portable Speakers

Smartphone Speakers

Compact active speakers with battery power and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth, sometimes with NFC support. In most cases, they also include a 3.5mm line input for connecting an external audio source with a cable. Other features include a SD card slot, radio, and water/dust resistance. Smartphone speakers generally recharge via USB, so you can use the charger from your phone/tablet.

Wireless Speakers

Active speakers enable direct music playback from Bluetooth-compatible smartphones, tablets, and laptops, or streaming from your home network, music services (e.g. Spotify, Deezer, Tidal) and Internet radio via WiF. The models with WiFi support are designed for home use, where you will only carry them from one room to another. They are not supposed to be taken to school or work on a daily basis.

Party Speakers

Powerful active loudspeakers for indoor and outdoor parties. They can play music from USB flash drives, memory cards, analog inputs, or devices connected wirelessly via Bluetooth. They also usually include inputs for a microphone and musical instruments. They also often have a rugged construction, sometimes coupled with increased dust and water resistance. Party speakers draw their power from a built-in battery or the mains. Pull-out handles and wheels make them easy to transport.

Speakers for Home and Business

Multiroom Systems

With multiroom systems, you can control playback throughout the entire house directly from your phone or tablet. Individual units don’t necessarily have built-in speakers. They may only contain an amplifier for connecting passive speakers or a stereo analog output for an external amplifier. Multiroom systems play content from music services (Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, etc.), Internet radio (vTuner) or home/business WiFi/LAN networks (DLNA, UPnP, desktop apps, phones or tablets).

TV Speakers

Active multichannel home theatre systems and soundbars. They are usually connected to a TV via HDMI or an optical/coaxial cable. They also often include a wireless Bluetooth/WiFi adapter for playing audio from phones, tablets, laptops, and home networks. These speakers come with a wireless remote, but sometimes they also support volume adjustment using the TV remote (when connected to a TV of the same brand).

PC Speakers

Active speakers generally contain only one audio source input. The most common configurations are 2.0, 2.1, and 5.1 (the first number indicates the number of centre speakers and the 1 after the period means there is a subwoofer). Sometimes they may have an extra headphone output and an additional 3.5mm input for MP3 players or a smartphone. To control the volume, use the rotary knob (potentiometer) located directly on the speaker or a wired—or in rare case wireless—remote.

Hi-Fi Speakers (Speaker Systems)

Hi-Fi speakers are usually passive speakers for an amplifier or receiver. These are particularly useful when you need better audio quality, intensity, and dynamics. Hi-Fi speaker systems include stereo speakers, active subwoofers, and special 5.0/5.1 channel home theatre sets.

In our Glossary, you can find a more detailed explanation for the terms speaker system, passive vs. active speakers, impedance, sensitivity (SPL [dB/W/m]), sound pressure (sound power), 2-way vs. 3-way speakers, peak sustained speaker power (RMS), speaker diaphragm, and electroacoustic transducer.

Car Speakers

Standalone passive speakers (drivers) for in-car installation, associated amplifiers and subwoofers. Coaxial car speakers are suitable for ordinary users. More expensive component systems with a separate tweeter are for audiophiles who need their high-quality audio.