Rated power
The total power rating of the sound projector speakers (including subwoofer, if present).
This parameter is often used to estimate the overall sound volume of the device, but this is not entirely true. The fact is that the actual sound volume is determined mainly by the power of the main speakers of the sound projector, and the total power is the sum of this power and the power of the subwoofer. Therefore, models with the same power rating can vary markedly in actual volume: for example, a 150-watt soundbar with a 50-watt subwoofer will be louder than a 100-watt projector with a subwoofer of the same power, although in both cases the rated power will be equal to 200 watts.
Summing up, we can say that it is possible to evaluate the volume by rated power only if the sound projector is not equipped with a subwoofer — in such models, the rated power is equal to the power of the main speakers. In other cases, it is worth focus on the power of the soundbar and the power of the subwoofer directly stated in the characteristics (see below for both).
Soundbar speaker power
The nominal power of the speakers installed directly in the soundbar, excluding the subwoofer (in models with a built-in subwoofer, respectively, only the power of the main speakers is taken into account).
This indicator directly determines the overall volume of the sound projector; It is worth choosing according to this parameter taking into account the specifics of the room in which the projector is planned to be installed: the larger the room and the greater the distance to the viewer, the higher the power should be, otherwise the soundbar will not be able to effectively sound the scene. Detailed recommendations on the optimal power for different situations can be found in special sources.
Wireless subwoofer
The presence of a
wireless subwoofer in the design of the sound projector.
Any subwoofer enhances the bass response, delivering rich bass. The advantage of a wireless subwoofer is the ability to install it almost anywhere in the room without the hassle of laying wires — this makes it easier to adjust the sound to specific conditions. In addition, such subwoofers can have a fairly solid speaker size — 200 mm or more (see below for more details). However note that wireless acoustics require their own power source and significantly affect the cost of the projector.
Subwoofer power
The rated power of the subwoofer included in the design or delivery of the sound projector.
The higher the power, the louder the sub can sound, the richer the bass it can provide. On the other hand, an increase in power inevitably promises an increase in the size and cost of the speaker. Therefore, an overly powerful subwoofer is just as undesirable as one that is too weak. Detailed recommendations for selecting power for the size and acoustic characteristics of a particular room can be found in special sources.
Note that the external subwoofer in soundbars should be approximately twice as powerful as the soundbar in order to prevent sound sags at maximum volume. So, if the total output power of the speaker system is 300 watts, then 100 of them should come from the soundbar alone, and 200 should go directly to the subwoofer.
HDMI output
The number of
HDMI outputs in the design of the sound projector.
HDMI is the most popular modern interface for working with HD content, it allows you to transmit high-definition video simultaneously with multi-channel audio over a single cable. If you have multiple outputs, you can connect multiple signal receivers to the projector at the same time and switch between them from the remote control without touching the wires.
Number of speakers
The total number of speakers installed in the sound projector housing (external subwoofer is not taken into account in this calculation).
Given the same audio format (see above), more speakers typically provide greater fidelity and more precise localization of individual sound sources. This is especially true for models with virtual surround sound.
Tweeter size
The diameter of the tweeters ("tweeters") installed in the sound projector. The larger the speaker diameter, the higher its power can be, but the lower the operating range. Therefore, tweeters, usually, are small in size, and the required power can be provided by their total number (see above).
Woofer size (LF/MF)
The diameter of the woofers (or combined woofers, in two-way systems) of the speakers installed in the sound projector. For speakers in this range, large size is especially important - it is the cones of large diameter that work best at low frequencies, while providing good power. It is believed that for a head operating in the subwoofer format, a size of at least 200 mm is desirable. But the low-frequency speakers of the general range can be relatively small.
Full range speaker size
The diameter of the full range speakers installed in the sound projector. Broadband speakers are called speakers responsible for reproducing the entire main frequency range — from bass (with the exception of the lowest) to treble. They are used in single-lane projectors. The general rule of acoustics says that the larger the speaker, the higher its power can be and the lower its operating frequencies. Accordingly, the size of full range speakers is usually relatively small.
