5 Signs You May Need To Upgrade Your Music Speakers

For an audiophile, there’s nothing more satisfying than having music speakers that produce drool-worthy and ear-busting sounds. Whether you’re binge-watching movies via your home theater and listening to music through your headphones, speakers play an important part.  

Speakers either have a mono or stereo sound, and they work by converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. Speakers compress air and convert the mechanical energy into sound energy. Have you ever wondered why a speaker radiates back and forth? That’s because when a speaker moves, it pushes on air particles that change the air pressure, creating sound waves. Simply put, speakers produce sound, and amplifiers, which are important components of a sound system, too, make speakers sound. 

From home-theater speakers to audio and computer speakers, subpar sound performance is simply annoying and unacceptable. If you suspect that your music speakers need to be tweaked or replaced, check out these warning signs. And for your home, car & marine audio needs, we highly recommend Soundhub NZ. You can also visit https://irnpost.com/6-best-ways-to-test-audio-equipment/ to learn the best ways to test various audio equipment. 

1. Your music speakers aren’t loud enough 

This is one of the most obvious telltale signs that you need an upgrade. As with any other device or equipment, the quality of your speakers will eventually deteriorate with age and use. So, don’t expect to purchase a speaker giving you the same performance as they did ten years ago.  

If you crank the volume knob to the highest setting and find that your music speakers don’t produce sounds that are loud enough, it’s possible that your speakers might be suffering from power issues.     

As the “driver” for the speaker, an amplifier should be checked for power efficiency, too. Ideally, the bigger the speaker, the louder sounds it can play, and thus higher power consumption and audio signal processing are needed to experience maximum sound volume and clarity.    

Thus, consider replacing your amplifier if your speakers are failing in the volume department.    

2. You hear distortion even in low volume levels 

There are a few reasons why a sound becomes distorted, but one major cause is when your speaker can’t handle the volume level from the source. As speakers are being pushed above and beyond their limits, they don’t have a choice but to produce an undesirable and distorted sound. Amplifiers play a part, too, as they’re responsible for making the speaker produce sound. When pushed to its limits, the power and voltage- handling amplifiers are unable to produce the ideal sound, only an annoying, cracking sound.     

A faulty sound or audio card in your computer or laptop can also distort the sound coming from your speakers, even if you have the best monitor speaker in the market.  

However, if your distortion problem persists in low volume settings, it’s time to look at a speaker upgrade. In the same vein, Likewise, if the distortion problem continues or gets worse even when you’ve replaced your amplifier with a new and more powerful (higher voltage) unit, the speaker likely needs to be replaced, as well.  

3. You’re missing out on streaming  

Some people still rely on their trusty old stereos in this digital age, carrying the mantra: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There are, indeed, speakers that can stand the test of time, still performing well after all these years. In fact, some speakers are capable of producing better sounds than newer ones.    

Sure, most old stereos can play Internet audio streaming services by attaching wires connected to your mobile phone or computer or adding peripherals and audio accessories. For a seamless experience, however, you may want to upgrade to a newer speaker that can directly access music from the internet.   

4. Sound quality suffers with your computer as the source 

A high percentage of working adults listen to music while working. While some are contented with using the speakers built into your laptop or personal computer, for some, built-in speakers just don’t make the cut. It’s probably due to the fact that ultra-thin screens and lightweight laptops correlated directly with the “ultra-thin and lightweight” sound they’re capable of producing. 

It could also be due to the fact that the analog connection often used to link a PC or laptop to an amplifier dramatically degrades audio performance and quality. Of course, there are a lot of other factors that can impact audio quality, such as unstable internet connection (if you’re streaming) and audio software issues. But investing in high-quality music speakers is really what can make or break your listening experience. 

5. You want to use it for other purposes  

Music speakers should also be able to play from multiple sources, including your home theater. Besides listening to music, which you can also do using your TV, by the way, you can replace your bare-bones home-theater speakers for the best viewing experience.   

By attaching music speakers to your home theater receiver, you can have access to more advanced equalizer settings, greater volume and fewer chances of distortion, and overall better audio quality, regardless of the source input.  

The Bottom Line  

These signs are things you need to look out for when thinking of upgrading your speakers. However, you shouldn’t rush to your favorite electronics store and buy the newest unit right away. Before thinking about replacing your old speaker, make sure that you know what’s wrong with it, as in some cases, you may only need to replace specific parts.