How to buy speaker systems: bookshelf, floorstanding, for PC
Start with the room and the job
Speakers are chosen not by the wattage on the box but by the room and what you will listen to. For a desk, compact monitors or an active 2.0 or 2.1 system are enough. A living room of 20 sq m needs floorstanding speakers or a pair of bookshelf ones with an amplifier. For a home cinema you need a 5.1 set, where both the front speakers and the centre channel matter.
Remember the difference between active and passive speakers. Active ones have a built-in amplifier and connect straight to the source. Passive ones need a separate amplifier or receiver, and that must also be counted in the budget.
Power and connections
It only makes sense to compare watts on the same basis, so ask for the RMS value per channel. Don't chase the number: the speakers' sensitivity and impedance, and the quality of the amplifier, often matter more. For active systems, check the inputs: Bluetooth, optical, RCA, USB. If you plan to use a TV or a PC, an optical input or ARC is handier than analogue ones.
What to put in your request
- type of speakers: bookshelf, floorstanding, for PC 2.0 or 2.1, 5.1 set, studio monitors; active or passive;
- model: for example, Edifier R1280T, if you have already chosen;
- new or used: and in what condition;
- power: RMS per channel or total;
- what for: computer, films, music, studio, events, and the area of the room;
- connections: Bluetooth, optical, RCA, whether you need an amplifier;
- colour or finish: for example, walnut;
- warranty, delivery, budget: what you need and where to send it.
Example: “I need passive bookshelf speakers, 2×50 W, for a 20 sq m living room, for hi-fi listening. Walnut colour, a new pair with a warranty. Courier delivery to Toronto, budget up to $270.”
How to compare offers
Check whether cables, stands and a remote are in the price. For a pair of speakers, ask whether it is sold as a pair: single speakers do turn up. For used speakers, the inspection should be honest: condition of the drivers and surrounds, no rasping at high volume, and intact grilles and cabinets. Always ask whether the speakers were tested with the same source you have.
What BlaBlaPrice gives you
You write one request on BlaBlaPrice. It is checked, and sellers of audio equipment reply in the chat with the price, what's in the box and delivery. They see their place among the others and often improve their terms, so the best offer, with the seller's reviews, comes first in the list. Everything is free for the buyer, and your phone is hidden. Details are on the “How it works” page.
You can also look at music systems, if you want a ready solution with everything in one body, or portable speakers for trips.
