There are a number of common problems we’d like to address that don’t seem to fit into any particular category, so we’ve saved them for last. At this point, however, we hope you feel empowered to take a chance on a sensible speaker. Remember, it’s supposed to be fun! You’ll find that everything you do is fun in the process. The moment the fun stops, you know you’re on the wrong track. No one can hear things the way you can.

Trust your judgement and find some speakers that will impress you. Good luck!

Can I mix and match speaker brands?

You certainly can, but it’s not a good idea. Different speaker brands will sound different, and when the sound is transferred from one speaker to another in a surround sound scene, you want the character of the sound to remain consistent throughout. This is fine if you need to cobble your system together. Just know that the more you add a matching speaker, the better your system will sound. The one exception to this rule is the subwoofer, which leads us to our next question.

Can I buy a subwoofer from a different brand to my speakers?

Yes, you can, and in many cases it is a very good idea. Not all speaker manufacturers are great subwoofer manufacturers (and the converse of that phrase is also true), look at reviews of subwoofers that go with the speakers you are considering. If they’re less than glowing, consider buying a subwoofer from a company that specialises in subwoofers. Subwoofers are an essential part of a high-performance home theatre system and should not be skimped on.

Do I need two subwoofers?

In many cases, one subwoofer will produce a lot of bass and be able to stand on its own. However, there are times when the area you have to put the subwoofer in is not ideal from a performance point of view. There are some benefits to adding a second subwoofer. The two subwoofers will work together to balance out the ‘dead space’ in the room. Each subwoofer in a dual subwoofer system doesn’t have to work as hard, so the resulting sound tends to be cleaner. It is also possible that your desire for bass is completely insatiable. A twin system should work well to satisfy your need for big, bad bass.