Yes you can stack home theater subwoofers as it offers a 6 decibel increase in output. However doing is isn’t a remedy for an inadequate sub, since it can’t lower the frequency of the bass. You also lose out on smoother & more even bass response when stacked, as opposed to the typical opposite corners dual configuration.
Can you stack home theater subwoofers?
This might be a question you’ve wondered to yourself; especially if you’ve ever been to a movie theater or concert and happened to see this.
But what’s the reason this is done, and could you see any benefit in doing this with your own setup?
Let’s find out!
Why Someone Might Want To Stack Their Subwoofers
To Save Space In The Room
One reason why you might be tempted to stack your subwoofers is it simply saves space.
Let’s face it, subwoofers can be pretty large, and when you use 2 that only adds to the problem.
In a smaller room this can be especially inconvenient as it means you have less room for everything else and to simply move about.
That’s not even accounting for the fact that because every room, and every subwoofer, is different, the ideal place where that subwoofer sounds best might be in a location where it’s simply in the way.
I remember when I was calibrating one of my subs, the ideal location for it was in a place where it just wouldn’t work.
From there I had to compromise by placing it somewhere else.
So for some, placing one sub on top of the other might just be more convenient in terms of saving space.
An anti slip mat cut to size and placed atop the bottom subwoofer can be helpful to secure the top subwoofer in place.
They Think It’ll Give Them More Output
Another reason you might try stacking them is you feel that doing so might give you increased bass output over using them individually in separate locations.
This line of thinking is certainly true to an extent, but due to the way bass works, it’s also not that simple either.
This can vary widely depending on many factors which we’ll get into shortly.
What’s The Benefit In Stacking Home Theater Subwoofers?
As you probably guessed, there is actually some benefit in stacking your subwoofers.
6dB Gain In Output
The first major benefit you gain when stacking 2 subwoofers comes in the form of increased bass output.
In fact, when stacked, it can give about a 6 decibel increase in the volume of bass you get.
This can be a very noticeable jump in the amount of force and depth the bass might seem to gain.
It could also help bring out those infrasonic ranges in the subwoofers that can output below an audible range.
It’s important to remember that when it comes to bigger rooms, how low in extension the subwoofer can go only amounts for so much since what really makes the difference is how loud the subwoofer can actually get without distortion.
Some may prefer to stack their subs rather than opt for a bigger sub with a higher RMS since that might not always be applicable for every person.
If you notice that your subwoofer sounds great but doesn’t get loud enough, getting a second one and placing it on top could be an option to fix it.
Can Offer More Head Room With Less Distortion
Briefly mentioned this, but another benefit to using 2 vertically stacked is you get more headroom in your output.
When using 2 subwoofers, and especially when stacked, there’s less strain on the amplifier at the same volume.
That means it doesn’t have to work as hard, allowing you to get a louder and cleaner bass volume with less effort.
This is not only good for the longevity of your equipment in general, but for the quality of your audio as a whole.
Additional headroom is definitely a good way ensure things don’t become distorted at those higher volumes and ensures your bass drivers last for a long time.
Can Indirectly Help With Port Noise
Another upside to stacking your subs has to do with the noise they produce.
I’m not talking about the bass, but of any unwanted sound that the physical cabinet or internal components might make.
Whether it be from playing the volume too loud or the driver of the sub itself not being up to par, certain subwoofers can make external noise when they’re pushed too hard.
This is especially apparent if it’s a subwoofer that tries to play below its noted frequency range at extreme volumes.
By using 2, they basically don’t have to work as hard individually which can potentially alleviate this issue.
When Should You Stack Your Subwoofer?
It’s all preference really, but if you have a smaller room, then stacking subwoofers might be a viable option to save on space.
Though that being said, there are some caveats to doing so.
Are There Downsides To Stacking Subwoofers?
You Lose Out On Smoother Bass Response
What’s really important to mention is that stacking subwoofers means you lose out on the benefits that dual subwoofers give you.
Now I’ve talked about it before and even did an entire guide on it, but basically when you use 2 subwoofers, it helps to smooth out the frequency response at multiple listening positions in the room.
That means if there are any nulls or zones where it seems like there’s a lack of bass, using a second one in that position can get rid of that.
You can’t do that with stacked.
While them being placed within 1/4 of a wavelength won’t introduce any nulls, it won’t help to get rid of the ones that already exist in the room either.
It Could Make Things Sound Boomy
Another thing that could happen is while it could offer a volume boost in your room, depending on where they’re placed, it could potentially increase your volume by too much.
Whether it being reinforcement from corners, or an overlap in sound waves, it’s always possible that stacking your subs actually gives you a worse bass quality.
Plus, if placed properly, you can still get the volume boost that 2 subs on top of each other would give you, separately.
Is There Anything Stacking Subwoofers Might Not Help?
Already mentioned this, but stacking them won’t improve any holes present in your soundstage.
The bass might sound stronger this way, but if there’s any deadzones, it won’t get rid of them.
This can result in an experience that’s inconsistent for listeners in the room.
Simply put, subwoofers tend to sound better when they’re spaced out.
I will caveat this though by saying one of the few times this isn’t true is when you use multiple stacks of subwoofers.
In that case, you’d be getting more output and improved bass response.
That would then technically offer the benefits of both.
Subwoofers Stacked Or Side By Side?
Now should you use them stacked or side by side?
Again this is going to depend on the room as well as where the subwoofer crawl dictates you place them, but generally it’s not going to matter too much in this case.
Given that they’d be in such close proximity to each other, it would make too much of a difference either way.
Both ways would sound similar.
Final Thoughts
So that about wraps it up for this one.
In short, yes you can stack subs, but it’s generally better to just place them in their ideal spots and enjoy the improved bass quality that dual subs gives that way.
Plus, there’s even the chance that it has just as much of a volume increase that stacked would give while sounding better overall.
You’ll just have to experiment to see what works best for your listening conditions at the end of the day.
But that’s really all I have for now.
Leave a comment below letting me know what you think, or even if you have any questions that you’d want to know.
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
Can you stack bookshelf speakers? It’s a good question really, and might even be one you’ve pondered at some point or another.
But is it actually something that’s viable or that even makes sense?
Let’s find out.
Can You Stack Bookshelf Speakers?
Yes you can technically stack bookshelf speakers, though doing so isn’t a great idea. While it may initially save space and even offer a volume boost of 6 decibels — interference, sound wave cancellation, even comb filtering/lobbing can occur. The exception is when dealing with 3D object based audio, since dedicated speaker modules should be placed atop front soundstage speakers.
Reasons Someone Would Want To Stack Bookshelf Speakers
To Save Space
One reason why someone may want to stack their speakers is they’re simply pressed for space.
Home theaters obviously vary in size since every room is different, but if there’s not a lot of space to work with, then you might feel the need to stack your speakers to save some space.
This of course depends on their size since doing this with say, a tower speaker, may not be realistic.
They Believe They’ll Get Better Output
Another reason someone may try to stack their speakers is they’re of the belief that because they’re using more speakers in tandem, that they’ll get better output overall.
Surprisingly that’s actually true, but we’ll touch on this aspect in a bit.
While I could see why someone would be tempted to do this, it doesn’t take into account the potential drawbacks it could cause.
More isn’t always better, and in this case, there may even be a few caveats to using them simultaneously in this way.
Where Did Idea Of Stacking Speakers Come From?
The earliest account of speakers being stacked came from a pair of speakers called the Large Advent Loudspeaker that many regard as one of the greatest speakers ever created.
Henry Kloss founded the Advent Corporations and launched the pair of loudspeakers in 1969 with nearly instant feverish acclaim from the masses.
His original goal was to build a projection television however this eventually progressed into him developing the first pair of these iconic speakers (which would later be introduced in the smaller variant)
In spring of 1973, a publication called The Absolute Sound first talked about what became known as the Double Advent System.
This basically entailed stacking a pair of the speakers atop one another, tweeter to tweeter, as a way to enhance the overall sound quality.
This was something completely unheard of at the time.
However this configuration would later go on to gain illustrious praise from audio publications & the public alike.
Even to this day, these are one of the very few speakers recommended as both a single pair and a stacked pair due to their impeccable sound quality.
These speakers are basically where the idea of stacking speakers comes from in a nutshell.
However unlike most speakers, these actually improved when used in doubles.
Are There Any Issues With Stacking Bookshelf Speakers?
So what happens when you actually decide to stack bookshelf speakers?
Well besides the fact that it’s definitely not something that’s recommended, you can run into all sorts of issues when it comes to the audio quality.
Lobbing
One such issue you might encounter is lobbing.
Lobbing is basically when the same sound arrives at the listener’s ears at slightly different times in close proximity to each other.
This can cause certain sound waves to cancel each other out while others get reinforced and peak.
So when you place a speaker on top of another, you lose varying levels of fidelity in the quality of the audio.
Comb Filtering
Comb filtering while similar to the lobbing, is basically how the listener perceives the sound at a certain axis.
Think of it like the result of lobbing.
Various wave cancellations and peaks cause the audio to seem uneven and distracting.
These dips in frequencies also resembles a comb on the frequency chart (hence the name)
When placing 2 speakers on top of one another, it’s likely you might experience some form of comb filtering depending on your room.
Worse Off Axis Performance
Similar to what what happens when you use 2 bookshelf speakers for a center speaker, stacking 2 speakers atop one another would give listeners off axis a generally worse experience.
Due to inconsistencies in the output, listeners off to the side would likely experience peaks and dips in volume that would really not provide a pleasant experience.
This would become more apparent in side sweeps when the sound pans from left to right, where you would almost notice holes in the sound.
Can You Avoid Problems With Stacking Speakers?
So with all of this being said, is there anything you can do to mitigate any of these problems.
Again I wouldn’t really recommend it, however if you’re determined to still try then there are a few things you should keep in mind.
One thing to remember is an old adage in speaker placement that certainly applies here.
The speed of sound divided by the center to center distance equals the highest frequency that both speakers should play together.
Placed at about 1/4 the wavelength distance, the speakers shouldn’t entirely cancel each other out.
In other words, taking the speed of sound in inches, and dividing that number by the distance between one driver on your bookshelf speaker and the other should give you an idea of what frequency you’ll run into issues.
The resulting number denotes this.
You could also place the top speaker upside down on the bottom one so that that waves aren’t interacting with each other negatively.
Surprisingly there is actually one benefit to stacking speakers that comes in the form of a volume boost.
In fact when placed together, there tends to be a 6 decibel volume boost that occurs.
While it might even boost bass output of the speaker, considering the actual quality of sound can degrade, it’s not really a worthy tradeoff.
Multidimensional Sound Through Speaker Modules
There is one application where speakers can be stacked and that’s when using speaker modules.
These modules are specialized speakers designed to sit on top of your front speakers.
Their primary purpose is to reflect sound waves off the walls to your ears to provide an almost 3D sound field around you.
They typically utilize object based sound formats like Dolby Atmos & DTS:X, and are a respectable substitute for actual ceiling affixed Atmos speakers.
So to summarize, while you can technically stack speakers, it’s probably not a good idea.
You’re better off either substituting with larger speakers if your concern is proper volume output, or using an extra pair of height speakers angled downward towards the listening area.
But there’s always the off chance that it actually sounds decent so you’ll have to see how everything interacts with your particular room.
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
Can I Use 2 bookshelf Speakers as a Center Channel?
I remember being recently asked the question can I use 2 bookshelf speakers as a center channel.
This led me to wonder how many people might have tried to do that or something similar.
So I figured I’d answer this very question in detail to hopefully shed some light on whether it’s a good idea to do this — along with whether a dedicated center channel speaker is better for quality sound.
Let’s find out!
Can I Use 2 bookshelf Speakers as a Center Channel?
Using 1 speaker as a center channel is acceptable as 3 identical speakers in a line array can produce a more realistic result when the sound pans from one side to the other. It generally isn’t a good idea though to use 2 bookshelf speakers as a center channel since audio cancellation can occur from nulls.
The Function Of A Center Channel Speaker
Just to reiterate, a center channel speaker’s function is to reproduce a large portion of the dialogue and sound effects present in the content.
In fact, it can in some cases be tasked with up to 80 percent of the sound mix.
This makes it an extremely important component in a home theater since a good center channel speaker will immerse you in your content.
The kind of speaker you use as a center channel speaker though will depend on your listening conditions, the quality of that speaker, the type of left & right speakers you’re using with that center, and even the amount of power they have.
Equally important is the right center channel speaker placement in your home theater.
These are important things to remember — especially if you’re thinking about using a bookshelf variant as a substitute, since there are various do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.
Using 1 Bookshelf Speaker As a Center Channel Speaker
So is it a good idea to use a single bookshelf speaker as a center channel speaker?
Yes if you don’t have a dedicated center, using a bookshelf speaker of the same model is perfectly acceptable.
In fact some audio professionals and even Dolby Labs use this configuration for their audio.
The biggest between the two is that traditional center speakers will have two mid drivers and a tweeter.
Whereas a single bookshelf speaker will typically have one.
This can have implications as far as the reproduction of certain frequency ranges, but even that’s dependent on the exact equipment you have.
If you do use one in this manner, it’s highly recommended that it tonally matches the other 2 front speakers to maintain a cohesive soundstage.
It’s particularly important that the speakers are of a similar make and model to uphold seamless audio quality.
Otherwise that sense of immersion falls apart when sounds pan from left to right.
The only reason bookshelf speakers aren’t used as often is because the horizontal orientation of center channel speakers often better accommodate for space when accounting for sufficient space in a home theater.
A vertical speaker is not practical a lot of the time since a vertically placed speaker would likely block the screen; so people simply opt for the alternative.
But surprisingly, using 3 of the same speaker for the front stage can actually work better in some cases — even offering better uniformity.
That’s not definitive though, as there’s so many factors that can influence this either way.
Ultimately you’ll have to listen for yourself to see how it sounds in your particular environment.
Where To place The Bookshelf Speaker If You Use it For The Center Channel?
However if you do try this, don’t place the bookshelf speaker in the middle of this configuration on its side.
Not only is it not designed for that, it can also cause issues with audio quality.
This can cause the sound to seem inaccurate and inconsistent where sometimes it might sound fine where other times it might just seem off.
You want place the speaker right side up and as even with the L&R speakers as possible without blocking the screen.
More specifically, the reason why center channel speakers can be placed sideways while bookshelf speakers can’t has to do with their very design.
When you place a speaker sideways that only has 1 driver and 1 tweeter, the sound dispersion gets shifted causing peaks and dips in volume, problems with the crossover, etc.
This basically causes problems with the resulting audio quality.
You can technically aim the tweeter at the listener in the sweet spot (the ideal listening area) to help mitigate this, but the problem is any listeners off axis would then experience lesser audio quality as a result.
Center speakers bypass this crossover issue common with horizontally aligned speakers by implementing a WTW (woofer, tweeter, woofer) design.
This basically allows the listeners in the middle, and off to the side, to experience the same high quality audio by dispersing sound evenly around the room.
So long story short, while you can use a single bookshelf speaker, I would recommend leaving it standing up vertically rather than laying it down.
As a sidenote, make sure you set your speakers to small in the receiver settings rather than large.
Large is typically better suited for speakers with driver sizes of 6.25 inches and up.
Setting it to small and to 80hz ensures proper crossover with your subwoofer giving a better blending of sound across the frequency range
Using Two Bookshelf Speakers as a Center Channel
Now what about the original question, can you use 2 of them instead of just 1?
Honestly I’d advise against it.
The problem that arises when you use 2 bookshelf speakers rather than 1 is sound cancellation can occur due to what’s known as lobbing and comb filtering.
These are basically time delays in the frequency range caused from 2 drivers radiating those same exact frequencies.
Using 2 speakers for this application would simply cause issues with nulls and boundaries around the room.
Having 2 of the same speakers stackedwould also only raise the the dB output by 3 at most, and would simply do more harm than good.
A single speaker would have ever so slightly less output, but would sound much better overall.
Is a Bookshelf Speaker Or Dedicated Center Channel Speaker Better?
But if you have the option of both, is a dedicated center channel or a bookshelf the better choice?
Not to sound cliché but it depends.
Hypothetically speaking, because of the fact the traditional center has 2 bass drivers rather than 1, it’s likely to have better output in certain lower frequency ranges than the bookshelf will.
That’s not a guarantee since it really depends on the speaker, but since center speakers are generally bigger, they’re often capable of more.
However that sentiment changes when using floor standing speakers because in that case, there’s a decent chance that those could be better.
Using 3 of the same speaker would have the additional advantage of the most accurate timbre matching which could portray things like voices and dialogue more realistically.
But like I always say, your room type holds a massive bearing on how any of this truly shakes out.
Really it’s going to be down to preference because there’s so many factors that it really could go either way.
The only way to definitively know is to test for yourself since the same speaker could sound different in 2 different rooms.
Besides depending on the room, the kind of setup you plan on doing is important too since some even opt for their center channel speaker in their ceiling when using overhead speakers, or using a center channel speaker stand for further clarity.
Some even have their center channel speaker in wall to be able to enjoy surround sound while still retaining their space.
Can You Skip Using A Center Channel Speaker All Together?
But what if you wanted to enjoy home theater without a center channel?
Could you just skip one all together and opt for a 2.1 channel setup?
Interestingly enough you actually can.
This is called running a phantom center, and what happens in this case is your mains in the front will take over and replicate the same sounds that the missing speaker would be originally tasked with.
A lot of modern receivers have this virtual center feature and balances volume between the left & right channels to provide convincing spatial imaging.
While you would lose some imaging with this particular usage of stereo sound if you sat off to the side, it wouldn’t be so bad to the point where it’s unlistenable.
The main advantage with using a dedicated physical one though is a wider sweet spot in terms of listening area.
For music it’s perfectly fine to forgo one, but for movies I would still personally recommend a center channel.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this answers your original question regarding using 2 speakers for one center channel.
In short, it’s not a good idea, since it can cause issues with sound waves cancelling each other out.
It’s better to either simply use 1 orientated vertically, or use a traditional center channel speaker.
Anyway since that does it for this one. Until next time.
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
Can I Leave My Subwoofer On All The Time? (Revealed!)
At some point you may have wondered, can I leave my subwoofer on all the time?
It’s definitely a good question to ask since home theater can be a complex topic and one that seems to often be changing.
So with that said, the answer to that question is actually really interesting.
But it also depends too.
Let’s get to it!
Can I Leave My Subwoofer On All The Time?
Yes you can leave your subwoofer on all the time as long as it properly utilizes an auto standby feature. Subwoofers in standby last longer & use less power. Older subwoofers that don’t have this function should be turned off when not in use as electricity escapes in the form of heat, causing the amplifier to get hotter than normal.
Reasons You’d Want To Keep Your Subwoofer Powered On
Convenience
So one reason why you might want to keep your subwoofer powered on is it’s simply more convenient.
Having to get up to manually turn the sub on every time you want to watch a movie can become an annoyance rather quickly.
With it remaining on, you don’t have to worry about constantly toggling it on and off.
No Need To Access The Power Toggle
Another reason for leaving it on is you won’t have to constantly access the power toggle to power it on — especially if it’s hard to reach.
If your subwoofer is setup in a way where it’s placed up against the wall or is situated behind something, accessing the back panel of the unit can be difficult.
You may even move an adjustment dial accidentally when attempting to power it on, which would then throw the entire sound signature out of whack.
Simply leaving it on forgoes that all together.
When Can You Leave Your Subwoofer Powered On?
Has An Auto Standby Feature
However there’s a lot more nuance than for me to just broadly recommend leaving your subwoofer on as there’s a few things to keep in mind.
The most important thing to remember is you’ll only want to leave your subwoofer on if it has what’s called an auto standby feature or auto/on.
Auto standby is basically a feature included in most modern subwoofers that turns the device on automatically when it senses the actual signal coming to it.
When it no longer detects that same signal after a period of time (typically around 15ish minutes or so) it’ll go back into standby mode to save power.
This is helpful because not only do you not have to worry about constantly turning the subwoofer on and off which can prolong the life of it, using auto standby also turns the unit off automatically when it’s not being used.
It also uses less electricity.
Most modern subwoofers have this feature since they typically have class D amplifiers which are much more efficient when it comes to power.
How Can You Tell If Your Subwoofer Has an Auto Standby Feature?
You can tell if your subwoofer supports this feature by taking a look on back panel and seeing whether there’s a knob or toggle that has an off, on, and auto setting.
Turn it to auto so that the sub automatically turns on or off when content is playing.
Again the internals of most modern subwoofers usually incorporate some kind of standby feature to make things easier for the user.
Should You Turn Your Subwoofer Off If It Doesn’t Have An Auto Standby Function?
But what if you have an older subwoofer that doesn’t have a standby feature, what should you do then?
Well in the off chance that you have a subwoofer that doesn’t support this feature, I’d recommend turning it off honestly.
I say this because if it doesn’t have a standby function, there’s a decent chance it has a class A amplifier (especially if it’s an older subwoofer)
The problem with this is that when a sub of that type is left on, regardless of whether it’s receiving a signal or not, the amplifier inside will be running at full power.
If electricity isn’t going to the speakers, it’ll be transferred to the amplifier which can heat up as a result.
This is due to the fact that the electricity escapes as heat.
So the internals of subs without a standby mode can get hot when left on for extended periods because the the excess electricity has nowhere to really go.
Not only this, but it’ll use more power consequently.
So in short, if your subwoofer doesn’t have an auto on or standby function, turning it off when you’re not using is highly recommended.
But Does Anything Happen Over Time If You Turn It Off & On?
But does anything actually happen to the sub if it’s turned off & on?
Well there’s actually a few things that can unfortunately go wrong.
The Knob/Toggle Could Wear Out
The first thing that could technically go wrong is the knob or toggle that controls the power of the sub could wear out.
While not immediate, the more you use it, the higher the chance that over time, parts of it like a power switch could wear out and simply stop working in some fashion.
Inside Components & Wires Could Weaken
When constantly turning your subwoofers off and on all the time, the internals off the subwoofer itself might weaken.
Now whether it’s better to power cycle or leave a subwoofer on that doesn’t have that function really depends on how often you do it, the type of sub, and its quality since each one is different.
It Becomes More Susceptible To Large Surges Of Electricity
Another thing that can technically happen when constantly left on is they could be affected by the electricity from storms (typically in older subs).
While not common, it can very well happen and can permanently damage the internals of your device.
What you can do to mitigate this is using a smart power strip that only turns on when sensing a certain amount of power.
This is helpful for the units that don’t have standby because it’ll turn off the sub when not in use while protecting the circuitry from anomalous electrical surges.
Some even have outlet timers to turn electronics off after a certain period of time to save energy which is helpful (not to mention pretty cool in my opinion)
How Long Does A Subwoofer Last?
So then with all of this said, how long does a subwoofer last?
Well the answer to that depends on a number of factors including how well the subwoofer cared for in the room it’s in, the materials of the sub’s cabinet, the materials of the driver (being that rubber is more durable than foam), the environment of the room it’s placed in, the volume it’s played at, etc.
I wouldn’t say there’s any one specific answer since there’s so many different factors that could affect it.
From my experience though, I’ve found that with proper maintenance, if a subwoofer is high quality, it can last many years (often 15 years plus barring any defects)
Sometimes it can even be a lot longer.
But again it really depends since that length of time can be longer or shorter due to it really depending on the subwoofer itself and how well it’s taken care of.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully with this article you now have a better idea of when it’s best to leave a subwoofer on and what steps you can take to prolong the life of your sub.
As long as there’s a standby feature, it can be left on as long as it’s properly cared for.
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
In this Presonus Eris E3.5 Nearfield Studio Monitors review, we’ll go over how they sound and whether they’re the right pair of speakers for you.
Having used many speakers over the years, I figured it might be helpful to share my experience with you on how they might compare to similar bookshelf speakers.
So we’ll answer all of that and more in this helpful review!
Presonus Eris E3.5 Review – A Quick Summary
The Presonus Eris E3.5s are fantastic sounding nearfield speakers that are particularly great with music. Their gripping clarity and minimal distortion makes them great for the casual listener simply wanting something that sounds good without the hassle. Their sonic fidelity is also great for desktop setups. Plus bluetooth capabilites, and their smaller stature gives them additional versatility with placement.
The appearance of the Presonus Eris E3.5 can best be described as subtle yet refined.
Up top you’ll notice the 1 inch silk dome tweeter hidden behind a black metal guard.
Under that is the 3.5 inch woven composite woofer that’s a subtle blue in color that I think looks really cool.
Towards the bottom of the speaker you’ll notice a volume knob, auxiliary inputs for mobile playback, and a toggle power button.
There’s also a small Presonus insignia to the right that adds a splash of color and flair.
On the back you have acoustic tuning knobs that control bass and treble, and under that are 2 sets of inputs – 2 balanced TRS inputs and 2 unbalanced RCA inputs.
Interestingly, amplification is only in the left speaker meaning you have to connect the included cable to the right speaker for them to both work.
It’s the reason why one speaker has acoustic controls and the other doesn’t since it’s to control them both.
The cabinet of the speakers themselves are made of a medium density fibreboard with black vinyl laminate that actually looks premium in person.
The front is made of plastic though I did notice that they tended to pick up fingerprints so you’ll want to occasionally wipe them down.
There’s also no XLR input like the higher end Eris models so that’s something to keep in mind.
They’re also pretty small in stature at 6.4 x 5.6 x 8.3 inches making them great for smaller spaces.
Over I’d say they’re a good looking speaker that blends in; though there’s no speaker grille which would have been a nice inclusion admittedly.
They have a really likeable design though, and feel solid while still remaining light weight at 6.39 pounds.
Features
Quality 3.5 Inch Drivers
Made of Kevlar, these 3.5 inch woven composite drivers output a powerful bass response. The weave pattern on the drivers specifically gives them a more balanced sound that’s also cleaner overall.
1 Inch Silk Dome Tweeters
The Eris E3.5 monitors have 2 ultra low mass silk dome tweeters that allow it to put it out crystal clear sound without any harshness. They also have a wide dispersion pattern that allows the sound to emanate more freely around the room.
3 Different Types Of Audio Inputs
Through the 3 different types of audio inputs; 1/4 inch TRS inputs, a pair of RCA inputs, and a front panel 1/8 inch unbalanced line inputs for mobile devices. you’re able to connect to pretty much any line level sources. This gives you flexibility with how you use the speakers.
Even Frequency Response
An even response makes these speakers a great choice for near field listening and continues the prestigious audio that Presonus speakers are typically known for.
Easily Adjustable Sound
With high and low frequency controls, you can adjust the sound to your liking for your specific listening conditions.
How To Set Up The Presonus Eris E3.5 Speakers
Setting up the Eris E3 luckily is pretty simple.
First take the included speaker wire and connect the corresponding red and black wires from one speaker to the other.
Then connect the included power cable. From here you can either connect via bluetooth or connect an external device to pair with it.
Turn it on and adjust the sound to your liking.
Thoughts On The Sound Quality
Initial First Impressions On Them
To put it simply, I would say that the Presonus Eris E3.5 speakers sound really great.
If anything their sound signature could be described as neutral (or at least that’s how they sounded to my ears.
Sometimes I like to see what the frequency response of a speaker is like so as a fun little experiment I decided to measure the frequency response to see what it would look like with these speakers.
Interestingly enough, there was a slight dip in the midrange that I didn’t notice by ear.
Everything else was a pretty flat line.
I thought that was pretty interesting since it wasn’t something I noticed in every day listening.
For an audio professional or recording artist, that would be something to either test for yourself or just be aware if you’re meticulous about accuracy.
I haven’t seen similar sentiments echoed on forums or reddit or anything, so maybe that isn’t even the case and it was simply my room acoustics.
But again as far as the audio quality itself goes though, it was definitely pristine, and a lot louder than I initially thought they’d be.
Everything sounded crisp and clear, and content played through the speakers was really enjoyable.
As a general overall assessment, the speakers honestly sounded great. But let’s dive deeper..
Their Performance With Music
For casual nearfield/desktop listening with music, these speakers definitely shine.
Instruments are represented with precision, and the vocals come through really prominently.
Even with regards to the bass quality, each kick of a drum or drop of a beat came through with a satisfying thud.
The bass didn’t sound muddy or lacking and was actually really substantive I felt.
It wouldn’t replace a fully dedicated subwoofer obviously, but they perform really well all on their own.
For listening to music in a larger room, surprisingly I found the speakers to still hold their own in terms of clarity.
Now I did notice a slight drop off in the force of the bass at those higher volumes, however never once did they distort which is really worth commending.
But another interesting I found was they responded to EQ really well.
The acoustic tuning controls on the speaker itself worked with adjusting how things sounded too, but using EQ software for bass and treble really opened these speakers up even more.
So It really seemed like these speakers work particularly well with equalization which is nice.
Their Performance With Movies
Their performance with movies was similar to music. Everything sounded crystal clear and immersive.
However given that the speakers only go to about 80 Hz normally, I’d definitely recommend a subwoofer if watching movies is your primary reason for considering these speakers.
Luckily Presonus actually makes really good subwoofers and one in particular, the Eris sub 8, actually pairs with these speakers.
But besides the bass aspect, the midrange and treble sounded incredible, and worked really well with movies.
There was no harsh sibilance, no hard to hear vocals — just good clean sound that was hard not to appreciate.
Are Presonus Eris 3.5 Good For Mixing?
Now are the Presonus Eris 3.5 good for mixing?
Honestly if your intention is to specifically mix and record audio, I would probably opt for the larger variant in the lineup, the Eris E5 BT 5.25 monitors since the drivers are larger and the class D amplifier allows it to output more power.
I’d say the Eris 3.5 is still good for mixing, just keep in mind the smaller drivers may not be able to output as much volume.
The BX3 monitors are technically more powerful than the Eris 3.5s so with that in mind, they technically might get louder.
But sound quality wise, the Presonus are still pretty comparable, it’s just the former gets louder.
Who Are They For?
The Presonus Eris E3.5 are for the more casual listener that just wants something that sounds good without the hassle.
They work best as nearfield monitors meaning they’re better for desktop or close range listening, rather than as a main component in a large room home theater.
Recording artists or audio professionals would probably find the E5 BT-5.25 inch a more suitable option.
Pros/Likes
Suprising clarity
Solid bass
Adjustable bass & treble
Ample volume
Easy to setup
Not very large
Nice design
Cons/Dislikes
Can’t be wall mounted
Bass rolls off at 80 Hz
Picks up fingerprints
Final Thoughts
That about wraps it up for this Presonus Eris E3.5 review.
In short, they’re great nearfield speakers for content creators or even the causal listener & manage to surprise with gripping clarity and precision.
They’re particularly great with music and have a sonic accuracy that makes them fun to listen to.
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
A home theater can be maintained through various means that includes checking for loose connections, watching for failed components, keeping your equipment clean, making sure components are secure, and even adjusting picture quality should it deviate over time.
Following these, and the rest of the tips in this article should help prolong the life of your home theater!
It’s probably not a stretch to assume that like me, you find home theater to be some level of fun and engaging.
But over time you may have wondered, how can you actually maintain your home theater?
Well here’s something you may not have known; over time, heat, temperature swings, dust buildup, and even electrical issues can have a big impact in the preservation of your home theater.
From connections that might become loose, to a display that might shift its color over time, a number of things can go wrong in your entertainment space that you might not even immediately notice.
Eventually, these start to have a direct impact on not only your system performance, but its overall longevity as well.
So what I wanted to do is talk about a few home theater maintenance tips that’ll hopefully help you avoid issues with your system, and keep your speakers and equipment in great shape for years to come.
These will be easy to implement and direct ways you can maintain the life of your home theater setup, while further optimizing what you currently have so that you’re confident you’re getting the best home cinema experience possible.
Do keep in mind you’ll also want to monitor the following items talked about in this guide at least once a year.
That way the health of your sound system is kept in pristine condition.
This article should be a helpful reference so without further ado, let’s get to it!
Whether it’s the vibration from the speakers themselves or just general movement, it’s actually possible for the components within to loosen
You might hear some sort of noise not normally associated with the speaker which can be indicative of this, and sometimes it might just happen and you don’t necessarily notice it.
Ultimately this may result in a muddy and stifled sound.
So to fix this, and ideally prevent this, there’s 2 things you can do.
The first is the more obvious answer of checking for any loose screws.
But besides just manually checking each speaker, another more efficient way to see if something is awry is through what’s often known in the audio world as frequency sweeps.
Frequency sweeps to put it simply, are specialized tones that run through the frequency range from high to low (or vice versa) to detect any abnormalities with your speakers, ie. (an unwanted resonance, a spike in volume, etc.)
The volume should remain the same at every frequency and if it doesn’t, then it’s indicative of an issue and could be something as simple as a screw loose in a driver somewhere.
This one is pretty simple, but occasionally check that the connections in your audio equipment are also secured.
When they aren’t, problems with audio quality and even audio volume can arise which can be problematic since things wouldn’t be performing at their optimal levels.
Also make sure that the connections on the back of your receiver aren’t touching as that can cause issues too from what I’ve noticed.
3). Watch For Any Failed Devices In Your Home Theater
Another thing to watch for are failed components.
Over time, different parts in your home theater from speaker drivers, to even the receiver can give out for a number of reasons.
One way to see if a something has failed is by playing pink noise individually speaker by speaker to actually notice whether they’re functioning correctly or experiencing some sort of issue.
This can helpful with regards to ascertaining the level of functioning of the receiver and the subwoofer too.
Remember, playing your volume too loud can definitely speed up component failure so be mindful of that.
Anything higher than reference level volume especially (85 decibels) since that surpasses the agreed upon audio standards, and approaches the upper threshold of the speaker’s capabilities & general listening comfortability.
Luckily electronics equipment, especially when it comes to home theater, often have some kind of warranty included when purchased — so the manufacturer may be replace to replace it within an alloted time period if anything should happen to fail.
Plus there’s various options available with regards to extended warranties for audio equipment.
4). Occasionally Remove Dust From Your Speakers
Another thing that’s almost inevitable is that at some point dust may begin to accumulate on your speakers.
Something you may not have been aware of however is that dust not only affects the look of your speaker, but its performance as well.
Dust can infiltrate the wire connectors and disrupt the electrical signal that runs between the loudspeakers and their source, muddying the sound.
Not only that, dust can also get under the speaker grille itself.
In order to properly clean your speakers, a dry or even slightly damp microfiber clothe can be used to gently remove any dust or marks on the cabinet.
If it’s an older speaker or really bad, a tiny drop of a gentle wood cleaner should suffice.
You can wipe the other parts of the speaker too as long as long as you’re careful.
Over time and over the years, old clothe surrounds (the lining around the drivers) may dry out and become brittle, potentially tearing as a result.
What you can do to remedy this if this has happened and they are really old speakers, is taking a very small amount of silicon sealant and rubbing it into the clothe which might help strengthen the material and help it perform like it use to.
Just keep in mind to not directly touch the dome tweeters on the speaker since that can actually damage it.
If you do happen to notice dust on the surface though then a photographic lens blower can be used to remove the dust.
5). Cleaning Things Like Switches & Knobs
Analog switches & the knobs on your equipment can experience a number of issues from becoming brittle to even breaking off.
Things like humidity, moisture, temperature, and usage all play a big part in how long these particular components last.
Try to keep equipment in temperate & dry conditions to avoid corrosion.
Furthermore, test tones through your equipment like speakers, subwoofers, etc. can help spotlight potential problems with any of the dials or switches when sat close to it.
It might sound like some sort of ringing if this is the case.
Once that problem has been found, you have multiple choices.
The most obvious choice would be replacing the module with a new one, but if this isn’t possible then you can technically treat the corrosion with a cotton swap & isopropyl alcohol.
There are also many other options you can use including baking soda, white vinegar, and even lemons!
As for preventing the corrosion of these components, you also have a myriad of ways in achieving this that includes applying a protective coating, using a dehumidifier, and cleaning any accumulated dust present.
Excess dust can actually accelerate the corrosion process due to fact that dust absorbs water.
This unintentionally invites water to come in contact with these parts, which speeds corrosion along.
So by taking these steps, you can prolong the life of your equipment.
6). Using A Surge Protector Can Be Helpful
Speaking of prolonging the life of your equipment, another often overlooked aspect of home theater/entertainment is caring for the components that power it.
More specifically, implementing proper power management to protect your devices while ensuring you’re getting the best possible performance is really important in my opinion.
Surge protectors are often used to do this while, like the name suggests, protecting your stuff against things like electrical surges that might otherwise overload and potentially damage them.
This surplus of power can also cause your home theater receiver to randomly shut off too.
I also speak from personal experience since a lightning storm a few years back actually fried my equipment when I wasn’t using one.
Safe to say I learned my lesson with that one lol.
Line conditioners are also a helpful aspect of power management since some of them can actually benefit your sound by making the connection cleaner though whether it’s noticeable is of course subjective.
Still they can be helpful and sometimes there’s even devices that combine the 2 that make this an easy thing to implement.
Power conditioners are definitely helpful to consider for your equipment.
The important thing to remember when it comes to receivers is that allowing them space and enough airflow can be an integral part of them continuing to actually function correctly.
This includes remembering to never put any objects on top of them as it can block the ventilation of the unit.
Barring defects they typically last quite a while when properly taken care of.
But what if you don’t have much room, what then?
Well then you could use some type of fan that actually keeps them cool in the space they’re placed in.
There’s many different types so you’ll want to decide on the one that best fits the particular space the unit is in and where it’ll actually fit.
8). Cleaning Blu-ray Players & Receivers
Over time, it’s likely that some amount of dust may begin to collect on some parts of your receiver and other devices like Blu-ray players and the like.
You’ll want to keep them clean so that they continue to function properly but how exactly do you do that?
Well it’s actually pretty simple.
First make sure everything is unplugged, then, using a microfiber clothe, gently wipe the outside of the device to remove any dust that may have accumulated on the outside of the chassis.
Make sure you do so gently without pressing on the device in any way.
If you happen to notice that there’s dust and stuff that won’t come off, then you can use a small bit of water on the clothe itself, just enough to make it slightly damp to help clean it.
Never use any kind of chemicals or anything like that as there could be the possibility that it could damage the device which certainly isn’t good.
If you happen to notice that there’s dust inside, I wouldn’t necessarily use a compressed air can for getting dust out the device since it’s possible it could leave some amount of moisture behind briefly which isn’t good for electronics.
What may help is some sort of electronic duster that uses dry air instead which can be helpful to remove the dust. Just be careful since the internals of these devices are delicate and start on the lowest setting first.
9). Making Sure Your Cables Are Situated
Not only does having wires all over the place take away from the aesthetic of your home theater, it can also be a tripping hazard as well.
There’s also the fact that it’s easier to troubleshoot should something go wrong, coupled with it allowing for proper AV performance in your system.
There’s many ways to do this, and it’ll really boil down to personal preference I feel, but you just want to make sure that all of your cables that connect your stuff is situated.
Not doing so can not only take away from the look of your home theater, but also could damage the wires themselves over time if they somehow get tangled.
To help you with more specific ways on hiding speaker wires by the way, be sure to check out the guide I also did on that very thing a while back.
Some speakers have the ability to bi-wire (using 2 sets of speaker wire for treble & bass) and have what’s called bi-wire jumpers that allow the user to connect those wires.
It’s often thought that better quality audio can be experienced when using wires in this way but it might be subjective and depend on the person.
But unfortunately though, over time these these parts can sometimes experience issues for a number of reasons.
Beforehand, playing a pink noise track can be a helpful way to ensure that this are actually working the way they should be.
But if you do notice something is off, then they can be lightly cleaned with a soft and dry clothe.
Every year or so, I’d recommend removing and cleaning them to ensure your audio quality remains pristine. Just make sure your equipment is off before doing so.
11). Cleaning Your Projection Screen & Projector Chassis
Like with anything, you may notice dust begin to accumulate on you projector screen and even in the device itself.
What makes it difficult for me to recommend any one solution to this is the fact that each screen is different — meaning each will have different cleaning needs.
So what I would recommend is referring to the manufacturer’s guide to see what cleaning solutions can be used with your particular screen since using the wrong one could damage it.
As for the projectors chassis, pretty much the same thing — you can use a dry micro fiber cloth to clean any excess dirt it may have though every so often.
12). Cleaning Dust & Fingerprints On The TV
The way you clean your television is definitely important as doing this wrong can result in you damaging the screen.
I’ve found using a microfiber clothe to helpful as it tends to remove excess dust pretty effectively in my opinion.
When cleaning it, make sure that you don’t apply any kind of pressure or anything to the screen since that could damage the panel.
If the screen is dirty and the microfiber clothe doesn’t help, then an easier way to clean the television though I’ve found is using electronic wipes.
These are specialized wipes specifically designed to clean delicate electronics.
It’s definitely personal preference, but I’ve found them to be a more efficient way to clean the screen without worrying about streaks.
13). Preventing & Remedying OLED Burn In
Renowned for their superior picture quality, OLED screens are definitely something to behold.
However there’s one drawback to these displays, and that’s screen burn in.
Screen burn happens when a stationary image on screen remains there for a prolonged period of time which causes that portion of the screen to permanently retain that element.
This can stem from a static logo from a specific channel, to a news ticker on a TV station.
While these sets have certainly gotten much better in recent years, burn in is still a thing that can technically happen.
So what can you do to avoid this, and how can you fix this if it does happen?
Well there’s a few things to remember.
Screen retention is a prior form of burn in that may show as a stuck pixel, or even line of stuck pixels, and is something that can potentially be fixed by turning down the brightness on your display or using anti burn in software on your device.
It can may even be remedied by simply playing the TV.
However burn is something that typically can’t be fixed.
So once you have it, it’s permanent.
You’ll want to avoid getting to this point though, and thankfully there are ways you can prevent this from even happening.
The most obvious would be not leaving stationary images on your television for long periods of time.
The amount of time your TV is on daily may have an impact with regards to this.
You can also lower the brightness to half, or even turn the TV off when it’s not in use.
This color inaccuracy can result in the picture quality becoming washed out & dull, or even the opposite happening; the image looking over saturated and bright.
To remedy this, try adjusting picture related settings as it’s dependent on the particular device since these settings might help shift the tone back to normal (unless the device or panel itself is failing)
Keep in mind that using the right color temperature setting may affect your perception of the image too.
Here’s more insight regarding optimizing the image quality.
Another thing that can happen over time is the focus of the projector itself can shift, causing the image to either look blurry or become titled off axis.
It may even be a subtle change that you don’t notice initially that eventually becomes more apparent.
Thankfully it’s pretty easy to fix this as it simply requires adjusting the sharpness or repositioning so that the image is represented correctly.
The text on the screen should appear sharp and if not, this could be the case.
Depending on the particular projector, it may even have specific settings to fix this very thing so check to see if yours does.
16). Fixing The Alignment Of The Projector Unit
I touched on this previously, but the projector’s alignment can possibly shift and change with extended use through the years.
A good way to test this is by looking at the image on screen an making sure it isn’t tilted one way or another when looking directly at it.
If the image appears even slightly out of the frame, then it’s likely it needs to be adjusted either physically or in the settings.
17). Fixing The Panel Alignment Inside The Projector
With use, sometimes the panels inside the projectors themselves can change or even move which can also potentially affect how the image on screen looks.
Make sure you inspect them regularly and adjust them if needed.
18). Correcting Projector Lens Shift
It’s possible that through normal usage in your home theater, the lens in the projector itself can loosen – which can then throw the presentation of the entire image out of whack.
Occasionally check to make sure the lens is fitted securely and properly aligned in its housing.
The screws should be tight and everything should feel inert.
19). Cleaning The Projector Lens
While checking for lens tightness, another thing you should make sure of is that the projector lens is actually clear of any dust or debris on or near it.
Having any kind of dust on the lens can be projected on to the screen which would impact resulting image quality.
In order to actually clean the lens of the projector, this can be done with a very gentle micro fiber clothe, however when there’s significant dust present, a lens brush can be helpful in my opinion to restore clarity.
The brush should be used in light strokes since the lens is especially sensitive and can easily be scratched if you’re not careful.
I would first check in the product guide or seeing what is recommended by the manufacturer of the projector with regards to whether water or any other specific fluids can be used for your specific projector — since the lens is sensitive and the wrong one can potentially damage it.
I definitely recommend first checking what fluids can be used according to the manufacturer since each projector is different and thus will each have individual needs (this is very important to remember)
20). Fixing The Mount Of The Projector Unit
With longterm use, it’s possible the mount of the projector itself can become loose which is really important since that’s what helps keep the projector secured when mounted.
You’ll want to periodically make sure the screws themselves remain tight since you want it to remain as secure as possible.
Fixing this is pretty easy since it’ll simply involve tightening a few screws.
Using a washer under each screw might help too since it’ll ensure the mount remains sturdy and holds the projector in place.
21). Cleaning & Replacing The Projector Filter
Finally, one of the most important ways that to maintain the health of your projector is by cleaning and replacing its filter.
An obstructed filter impedes the proper air flow and ventilation that the projector needs to properly function which can affect it’s longevity and how well it actually performs.
So my recommendation to you is at about the 180ish watch time hour mark, look at the filter for any accumulated dust or debris and clean it — & if it’s really bad, I’d replace it.
From that point, occasionally check the filter to make sure that it remains clear over time.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this comprehensive list of home theater maintenance tips & tricks is something you’ll find useful.
With these tips, you can get help to prolong the wellbeing of your equipment and avoid mistakes that could potentially hamper them.
Speaking of mistakes, be sure to check out this guide I did on 25 of the worst home theater mistakes that people often make (some even experienced people make!)
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
The factors that help with choosing a great soundbar depends on what the person is looking for.
For example, one person might go to the store or online, & the information they use to decide could be reviews, the price, or even features.
So in this review of the Sony HT-S100F, we’ll take a look at a soundbar I feel offers great sound quality & clarity — and has a small enough design to fit in a variety of rooms.
But is it the right one for you?
Let’s find out.
Sony HT-S100F Soundbar Review
The Sony HT-S100F soundbar delivers clear sound with its dual tweeters & bass reflex speakers. If you have trouble hearing dialogue in your shows, or you’re just looking for a casual system to watch TV or the occasional movie with in a smaller room, it’s awesome in my opinion.
It’s good for movies too in my opinion, but do note there’s no internal or exterior subwoofer so if you’re looking for a soundbar for heavily watching movies specifically, then the Sony HT S400 model might be more your speed.
The upper ranges of the frequency response in particular were clear without being too shrill or sibilant.
I think that was one of my favorite things about it since I’ve heard soundbars before that had this issue.
Luckily this one doesn’t, and it maintained awesome clarity even at a volume without distortion.
It made an appreciable difference that I felt made watching content more enjoyable overall.
Despite being a smaller soundbar, it was still capable of getting loud while holding its composure at those higher volumes.
With 120 watts of power though, I feel it definitely makes sense why.
Sitting about 6 feet from it in average sized room, I didn’t have any issues with hearing it adequately.
I did notice that where I sat had an impact on perceived loudness though, since it didn’t sound as loud when I sat to the side of it.
The Soundstage
In terms of the HT-S100F’s overall soundstage, I felt that it did well for a soundbar.
Keep in mind though, that the sound is still technically coming from a singular direction.
The S-Force Pro feature that emulates surround sound I found to be pretty good, but it may not be a complete substitute for something like an Atmos emulation or even a traditional surround setup.
But that being said, there was some semblance of an enhanced soundstage with that feature that I felt added to the experience.
The Bass Quality
It’s important to note that this soundbar connects to the TV via HDMI or optical connection; meaning it can’t be connected with a subwoofer.
There isn’t an integrated or included subwoofer, so it reaching those thunderous lows that dedicated subs are known for isn’t probable.
However there are 2 bass reflex speakers, and I thought they performed reasonably well.
Sometimes the bass seemed a little quieter when there was a really action heavy sequence or a bass drop from what I noticed, but that was in really busy scenarios.
But for what bass is there actually does sound good.
It was authoritative and present, which added depth to the audio mix in scenes.
Music Sound Quality
I thought the soundbar performed well when it came to music too, and it did a good job with clarity and representing separation between instruments.
Even with bass heavy music, the bass had a pretty good punch and accuracy to it which was nice.
The music mode added a little more dynamism to the audio, making it feel more lively.
Overall, if you just want a soundbar for a bedroom or smaller room in the house to simply watch TV, the occasional movie on, or to listen to music with, then the Sony HT-S100F is an awesome choice to go with in my opinion.
My Experience With The Setup & Bluetooth Connectivity
Setup of the device was really easy, only requiring a single HDMI cable, and what was really cool was being able to control the TV and soundbar with the same remote.
Speaking of remotes, the remote control it came with had a beginner friendly button layout, and felt solid in the hand.
Plus, it even came with batteries!
Bluetooth connectivity worked without issue, and it easily found whatever device it was paired to.
Using my phone, the bluetooth connection with streaming remained solid with the HT-S100F.
But there were some things I noticed about this soundbar that you’ll want to consider in your decision process.
For example, there isn’t support for the DTS format, and there aren’t HDMI inputs; only outputs for connecting it to the TV via HDMI ARC.
Thoughts On Its Appearance & Design
The one thing I really liked too was the device’s slim form factor.
This made it really easy to place or wall mount which was convenient.
Plus it’s subdued aesthetic in its all black colorway allowed it to blend in.
There’s a metal grille that wraps around the front and stops mid way on the sides.
On top of the device is a textured material with the Sony logo off to the left; and controls for the unit in the middle.
On the back there’s an HDMI output, optical input, and a USB input.
As for the size of the sound bar itself, it’s relatively small about 37.8 x 14.7 x 9.2 inches so finding space for it shouldn’t be an issue.
Other than that, there’s really not much else to say about the appearance of this soundbar.
It’s slim, compact, and forgoes any fancy touches that would make it stand out.
I still thought it looked nice though, since it wasn’t too big and build quality of the product felt premium in the hands.
I’d say if you’re looking for something that’ll blend in rather than call attention to itself, this would be a good soundbar to consider.
Pros/Likes
Great clarity
Music sounds awesome on it
Low profile design
Really easy to set up
Bluetooth works well
S-Force Pro enhances soundstage
Can be wall mounted
Cons/Dislikes
Lack of Dolby Atmos
Missing support DTS format
Would like more bass
Final Thoughts
Summing up my thoughts on the HT S100F, it’s a massive step up from your typical television speakers that delivers clear and concise sound.
If you’re having trouble with hearing dialogue in your shows, or just looking for a casual system to watch movies with, this is a good choice to go with.
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
Audioengine A1 Review – Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers
This is the Audioengine A1 review, a deeper insight into compact, 2 speaker music system that offers Bluetooth capabilities and premium audio.
It can also be connected to a receiver and used as a traditional sound setup too.
So what I wanted to do is quickly go over what these speakers actually offer, my real world experience with them, and most importantly, whether they’re actually the right speakers for you.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Features
Powered Bluetooth Speakers
The Audioengine A1 are powered Bluetooth speakers with a range of up to 100 feet that can be used for your desktop or as home theater speakers
60 Watts For Powerful Sound
Despite their small stature, the A1 have 60 watts of power to work with a variety of rooms.
Can Also Be Used With A Receiver
Should you prefer, you can also use these speakers with a receiver for a more traditional setup
Setup of the Audioengine A1 is going to depend on what you plan on using them for, but it’s mostly done the same way for the most part.
To make it simple though, here’s how it’s done.
You’d first connect the AC power cord, then connect the included wire from the (powered) left speaker to the (passive) right speaker.
Then press the pair button on the back of the speaker, and pair the bluetooth device from within that menu and that’s it really.
Or if you wanted to connect a device, you could do so with any of the included cables.
You’re also able to connect these speakers to a receiver as an analog connection too which is nice.
Thoughts On The Sound Quality Of The Audioengine A1
What’s most important though is sound quality, and you’ll be relieved to hear that the Audioengine A1s don’t disappoint in that area what so ever.
Sound quality is crisp and balanced, not erring one way or another in terms of tonal presentation.
Everything is just crystal clear and quite frankly, makes them a real joy to listen to.
What I like about these speakers in particular is the fact that they utilize a vent design rather than just going for ported one.
Even with subwoofers, I’ve always been a big proponent that vented design is the best for a clean sound over ported and sealed designs, and the fact that it’s being used in a budget speaker is absolutely fantastic.
It’s also a big contributer in why these speakers work so well for big rooms despite their smaller size.
The claims that these are small speakers with big sound was something I definitely found to be true, and was just amazed by how much output they actually had.
Even at louder volumes there was no straining or distortion, everything just sounded really clean.
What I think also makes these great is that because of their smaller form factor and easy setup, these would be great desktop speakers for the occasional music listening session or even gaming.
Of course the bass doesn’t get as deep as a dedicated subwoofer, but for a bookshelf speaker, I definitely found the bass to be better than I expected.
It was a really punchy and upfront bass, meaning these would be great for music.
However they also did really well with movies too — and because of the fact you can still use a receiver & separate subwoofer with these speakers, it makes them really well rounded in general.
In terms of negative gripes when it comes to this particular speaker, there aren’t many that immediately come to mind to be quite honest.
The only minor things I could really think of is it’d be nice if it had an attachable speaker grille or maybe if it had wifi capabilities although the A1-MR has that if that’s what’s important to you.
But other than that, there’s really not much bad to say.
In general, they’re just a great pair of speakers and are definitely worth a look in my opinion.
Funnily enough, the A1’s are actually pretty compact in size despite their big sound.
At only 6”H x 4”W x 5.25”D, fitting them in your entertainment won’t be much of a hassle at all.
Taking a closer look, the design of the speaker you could say is..well.. A1!
With a dark gray furniture grade finish on the exterior that skips any kind of outward branding, it’s a speaker that I feel values subtlety over standing out.
However it’s understated design is one to be commended as it won’t call attention to itself in your room since it’s focus is the audio.
That being said though, it’s still a really nice looking speaker in person.
At the top you’ll find a .75 inch silk dome tweeter, and underneath that 2.75 aramid fiber woofer.
The cabinet itself is made of a thick high-resin MDF wood with extensive internal bracing to reduce unwanted reflections inside.
The edges of the A1’s speaker cabinet are also rounded and besides just looking cool, they also help to reduce high-frequency diffraction effects on the front baffle.
In other words they result in a cleaner audio.
On the back is the Audioengine logo along with a volume dial and various connection options for the speaker.
Other than that, there’s really not too much else to say in regards to the appearance.
It’s a speaker that looks good, and is small enough to make space for in your entertainment space.
Likes/Pros
Big boisterous sound in a small package
Good bass quality
Bluetooth capabilities worked without issue
Easy to set up
Dislikes/Cons
No wifi capabilities
Final Thoughts
In summation, the Audioengine A1 are great speakers for not only their quality stereo sound, but for those that are more budget conscious as well.
They look great, sound great, and are a great fit in most rooms sizes.
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
In this DALI SPEKTOR 2 review, I wanted to highlight a speaker that I believe truly punches above its weight in a way that I haven’t seen in a really long time.
In fact the very reason for this review was to share my thoughts on it because of that.
So let’s take a closer look and see why this is a speaker that’s certainly worth your time.
DALI SPEKTOR 2 Bookshelf Speakers Review
The DALI SPEKTOR 2s are fantastic passive speakers that combine an almost retro look, with spectacular audio and a premium feel. Their auditory precision, tonal balance, and expressive sound signature gives them the proficiency to deliver a quite memorable home theater experience. Provided you have the ability to power them given their low sensitivity, they’re strong performers.
It’s a distinct looking design that really adds to the speaker’s individuality.
But what really adds to the unique aesthetic of the SPEKTOR 2 is its woofer.
Made of a mix of fine grain paper and wood fibre pulp, the woofer’s cone actually has visible flecks of of these fibers dotted all around it.
Besides just looking cool, it actually has real world utility that we’ll go over in a sec.
In terms of size, this is actually a relatively compact speaker at 11.5 x 6.69 x 9.37 inches so while not tiny by any means, it’s not necessarily gargantuan either.
That means finding space for this speaker shouldn’t be difficult if you’re in an average sized room.
The one thing I kind of do wish was that the driver color matched the speaker in the black and white variants but that’s a minor nitpick honestly.
As a whole, the SPEKTOR 2 is a very aesthetically pleasing looking speaker that looks even better in person.
Features
Improved Audio Output
Improved from the Spektor 1 line, the Spektor 2 boasts a larger inner volume that allows it to output greater sound quality without drastically increasing its size
Wide Sound Dispersion
Using purpose designed driver materials and shape, the sound from the Spektor 2 is dispersed more widely, providing better cohesion and audio quality even off axis
Soft Dome Tweeter For Highly Accurate Sound
Made from a light weight woven fabric, this soft dome tweeter is nearly half of the weight of similar tweeters which allows it to reproduce every part of the frequency range for highly accurate sound quality
5 1/4 inch Woofer For Increased Sound Pressure Levels
A 5 1/4 inch woofer increases sound pressure levels allowing it to get louder at a smaller size
Unique Fibre Cone Woofer Enhances Sound Quality
A unique fine-grain paper and wood fibre pulp woofer allows it to be light weight and rigid, while minimizing unwanted resonances for better quality sound
Low Signal Loss
By using custom built drivers, signal loss is kept minimal for a cleaner resulting audio
Can Be Wall Mounted
Besides being able to place it on a stand, the SPEKTOR 2 can also be wall mounted for even further placement options
How To Set Up The DALI SPEKTOR 2
Being that the DALI SPEKTOR 2 is a passive speaker, this means you’ll have to connect it to an AV receiver since it doesn’t have WI-FI or Bluetooth.
Luckily this process is pretty easy.
You will need separate speaker wire though since it doesn’t come with it.
But basically, what you’d do is measure the length of speaker wire you’d need, cut it, strip the wire, attach it to the back of the speaker, then attach the other end to the appropriate terminal on the receiver.
While that’s oversimplifying it, that’s basically the entire process in a nutshell.
Here’s how to fully set up a speaker if you’re curious about the entire process.
Also with regards to their placement, given that they’re rear ported speakers, I feel that they’re best placed a little bit from the wall in my opinion.
The Sound Quality Of The DALI SPEKTOR 2 Speakers
Initial First Impressions
But how do the DALI SPEKTOR bookshelf speakers sound?
Well you’ll be happy to know that their audio quality is really amazing.
Having previously heard the Spektor 1 some time ago, these feel like a sensible step up from the prior line in every way.
While those were decent, this second generation offering feels like a massive improvement comparatively.
Gone is the slightly brighter nature of the first line, and is instead evolved into something much more mature and refined.
It’s now more tonally balanced speaker, with substantive bass and delicate treble blended together beautifully.
The sound signature definitely leans on the warmer side of the spectrum, but make no mistake, it’s still able to capture even the most subtle details in the sound stage amazingly.
I think that’s partially due to its stiffer drivers that allow it to produce those really difficult high frequencies with precision.
It’s pretty impressive honestly.
Their Performance With Music Playback
During music playback, what was immediately noticeable was just how seamlessly its punchy bass and crisp highs came together.
Everything just sounded right.
What was also suprising was just how much sound these things were able to belt out given their smaller stature.
Of course they aren’t exactly small by any means, but the quality of the sound and the volume & degree at which they played would really make you think it’s coming from something much bigger than this.
I think that’s a testament to a quality speaker, and this one proudly carries that moniker.
This would also make them a good fit for most room sizes since they’re small enough to fit in more size constrained environments, but have the necessary power to excel even in larger rooms.
Plus their musical capabilities even makes them suitable as stereo speakers if that’s your focus.
How They Perform Off Axis
What was also particularly impressive was just how well they performed off axis.
Typically when you sit off to the side, the audio experience diminishes quite a bit,
However due to the Spektor’s wide dispersion design, there wasn’t nearly as much fall off in quality which was surprising.
Dialogue was still discernable, and it didn’t feel much like a compromise if at all which was nice.
That means you have more versatility with seating in the room with this speaker.
Quick Note About Powering Them
Something to note is that they do have a lower sensitivity at around 84dB/W/m and an impedance of 6.
That means it’ll take more power to get them really loud since they have a lot in the tank so to speak.
I’d say partnering them with a proper amp/receiver that can sufficiently drive them is is likely preferable, but not exactly necessary either.
They’ll perform great either way, just something to note if output in a larger room is a concern.
Their Performance With Movies
These speakers also excell when it comes to movies, with action on screen being represented with lifelike accuracy.
In busier scenes, sound effects of the lower end had an almost weighty feel to them.
While in the quieter scenes, subtle details were articulated with convincing precision.
Their dynamic nature allowed them to switch from delicate to powerful on the fly without skipping a beat.
I found that this also allowed them to be proficient as surround sound speakers too.
When using them as part of a surround setup, I was surprised by how much ambience they added to a scene with their attention to detail.
Gaming
Interestingly, that characteristic is what also makes them great for gaming since gaming typically involves instant changes in volume.
To put it simply, games sounded incredible on these.
So for the gamers out there, this is a solid choice to go with.
DALI SPEKTOR 2 VS Elac Debut B6.2
A common comparison and question I’ve been asked is how they compare with the Elac Debut B6.2 speakers.
Well one difference is the Elac B6.2 is bigger at 10.6 x 7.7 x 14.8 inches so if you don’t have much room space, that’s something to keep in mind.
Also the DALI SPEKTOR 2 can be wall mounted so there’s that.
In terms of their tone, I would say that the Elac Debut B6.2 had a slightly warmer sound signature than the SPEKTOR 2, at least to my ears.
But sound quality wise, both sound amazing so whether you prefer one or the other will really boil down to preference.
Overall Sentiments On Them
So long story short, with an almost retro look that combines spectacular audio with a premium feel, the DALI SPEKTOR 2 is an easy choice if you’re in the market for a pair of new speakers.
They’re really performant and are suitable as front, surround or even stereo speakers in my opinion.
Overall, the DALI SPEKTOR 2 are a fantastic set of speakers — with the auditory precision, tonal balance, and expressive sound signature to offer a truly memorable home theater experience.
They’re also a beautiful looking speaker too, with a meticulous build quality that tells you a lot of care was put into them.
It’s an outstanding performer and is a speaker I wholeheartedly recommend.
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
In this Zidoo Z1000 Pro review, we’ll take a quick look at a 4k HDR Android multimedia player that poises itself as a great solution to playing your favorite content.
It has great performance, the ability to use 3.5 inch disks, great image quality, and is pretty simple to use in my opinion.
Although it can’t play physical discs like CDs, in terms of digital prowess, it works great in terms of a quality streaming device.
Zidoo Z1000 Pro Review – A Quick Summary
The Zidoo Z1000 Pro boasts amazing audio & picture quality, along with the helpful ability to expand storage externally. It uses android, which in turn allows it be a versatile multimedia player when it comes to all kinds of content. Its rich feature set and incredible build quality makes this an excellent device.
That’s a quick summary of course, but for those with more time, we’ll dive a bit deeper to see whether or not this is the right device for you.
Appearance
The appearance of the Zidoo Z1000 is certainly quality, with a matte finish in black which I feel allows it to really blend in with an entertainment center due to its subdued look.
On the front of the device, there’s an LED display to the left, a power button situated in the middle, and a hidden HDD over to the right.
Under the device is 4 metal & rubber feet for balance, and on top is the company’s logo.
On the back you’ll find a vent for keeping the device cool along with various connection options, and on the side are 2 USB ports and a SATA drive for SSD expansion.
Even better, is the fact that the units antennas are built into the chassis, meaning you won’t have to deal with unruly antenna sticking out the back.
It’s a really streamlined yet bespoke design that offers an attractive look in one neat package I feel.
In terms of size, the Z1000 is actually pretty compact at 13.78 x 9.45 x 2.36 inches and only 8.48 pounds which is definitely something to appreciate, especially if space is a factor in your decision.
In the box you also get a remote control, power adapter, user manual, sata cable, and an HDMI 2.0 cable.
Features
4K Support
Full support for 3840 x 2160 (4K) 60Hz output ensures pristine picture quality
Support For HDR
With full support for most formats of HDR, enjoy visually stunning content with a vibrant dynamic range
12 Bit Color Support
Support for up to 12 bit color allows the Z1000 Pro to produce beautiful picture quality with stunning color accuracy
Ability To Expand Storage
The Z1000 Pro has a SATA 3.0 and hidden HDD bay, conveniently allowing you to expand the storage
Large LED Display
An easily visible LED display provides a wealth of information at a glance
Convenient Mobile App
A convenient mobile app allows you to control every part of the Z1000 Pro wirelessly
Lossless Music Playback
Whether it’s FLAC, WAV, APE,DTS etc., enjoy lossless music playback
Intuitive Home Theater UI
An Intuitive HomeTheater3.0 UI provides easy navigation and helpful features like custom classifications and automatic posters scanning
How To Set Up The Zidoo Z1000 Pro
Luckily, setting up the Z1000 Pro is pretty easy.
There’s a plethora of different connection options thanks to its many ports however for simplicity sake, we’ll just cover HDMI since that’s how most will do it anyway.
If you’re using a receiver, the first thing you’ll do is take one HDMI cable and plug it into the HDMI-Out output on the back of the device, and plug the other end into one of the receiver’s inputs.
You may need to also use an optical cable for the sound if your receiver doesn’t support eARC.
If you’re not using a receiver, then you’ll need 2 HDMI cables to run from the device to your TV using both the Input and output on the device respectively.
After you turn the device on, you’ll be greeted by a very helpful boot wizard that’ll take you through the installation process.
When that’s done, you’ll be brought to the home page where you’re presented with options for media centre, poster wall, music player, apps and settings.
Thoughts On the Zidoo Z1000 Pro Itself
So with all that being said, is the Zidoo Z1000 Pro worth taking a look at?
I would say yes it absolutely is.
It actually starts up really fast, (merely 20 seconds) and actually using the menus and getting around the settings was really simple from what I noticed.
Everything is on the homepage being only a click away, and is a serious step up when compared with similar media players and even it’s predecessors.
On the homepage you’ll find the media centre which is basically your file explorer to help you easily find and edit specific files installed on your media player.
It includes options like showing files that might be hidden, scrolling to the next page, showing how long you watched something, showing helpful notifications for your storage.
Then there’s the poster wall which displays the information and artwork for each movie along with custom recommendations and the ability to search according to categories which is pretty awesome.
You also have the music player which is pretty advanced and gives you a great degree of control when it comes to your music library.
It’s able to display lyrics, categorize according to the genres, allow you to adjust the menus to how you prefer, etc.
It’s really robust, and I found it to be a huge help when searching for a specific song or even creating a folder.
The 4th icon on the homepage is the apps icon, and as you would guess, contains the applications that are installed on the device.
Lastly is the settings menu which is has an impressive amount of settings options too numerous to go through here.
But it has everything you’d want for specifically tailoring the experience for you which is certainly nice.
I’m personally a big fan of how simplistic the homepage looks, as it’s really easy to navigate, understand, and find the things you’re looking for — while still being really helpful too.
When it came to wireless connectivity, there were no issues and performance was completely smooth during playback.
The fact that it supports up to 4K resolutions and most forms of HDR was something I really appreciated as it was able to produce a beautiful looking image.
Even music files like MP3 and FLAC worked without issue, and I was able to enjoy all my content normally.
All in all, it’s a solid device, and if you’re in the market for a quality streaming device, the Zidoo Z1000 might just be worth having a look at.
Hey everyone it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jay, writer & founder of the site Easy Home Theater. I’ve been with the hobby of home entertainment for many years now. I decided to create this site to be a helpful resource, and share everything that I’ve learned from personal experience with you. I also happen to be a huge gamer, lover of all things tech related, and a major fitness buff (love weightlifting)
