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How to properly power your speakers

So, you’ve just got yourself a swanky new pair of loudspeakers and can’t wait to listen to them, but we want to make sure you hook them up to get the most out of them. Ensuring that your speakers work with optimum efficiency, accuracy, and volume isn’t difficult these days, but there are a few tips worth knowing. We’re here to help you learn everything you need to know about connecting and powering your speakers, plus the importance of impedance matching.

Editor’s note: this article was updated on March 22, 2023, to address reader-submitted questions.

What’s the difference between active and passive loudspeakers?

Active loudspeakers have built-in amplifiers and require a power source.

Loudspeakers are available in three formats: passive, powered, and active. Powered loudspeakers have a built-in amplifier that is appropriately powered and matched to the speakers’ driver units. They can also incorporate active crossovers (that’s a topic for another day!) which makes them active speakers. Smart home and Bluetooth speakers are always powered, as they require power for their additional features. If you have powered speakers, you can simply plug them into a power outlet (or rely on the internal batteries), connect your audio source, and stop reading here, unless you’re curious of course!

The first type, passive loudspeakers, don’t have built-in amplification, so there’s no provision to connect them to a power outlet or other power source. Instead, the back of each speaker will have a pair of binding posts or wire clamps that you’ll need to connect to an external amplifier or receiver with some appropriate wire.

Now, to figure out which amplifier to use and how to hook everything up: that’s where this guide comes in.

Why is speaker impedance important?

Aside from the Ai40, the package includes a remote control, an 18-guage speaker wire, and a three-foot RCA cable.

Passive loudspeakers are essentially electrical circuits that can have inductive, capacitive, and resistive elements and follow the rules of impedance. Impedance matching the amplifier’s output with the speaker’s input maximizes power transfer and allows the amplifier to work in its optimal range. Failure to match these correctly can result in under-powered speakers and low volume, or worse, an overheated and failing amplifier. Don’t worry if you never took Electronics 101, we’re not going to need to do any math. Audio engineers have made the whole process simple enough.

To start, look for something called the speaker’s nominal impedance (in ohms, Ω). You’ll usually find this measurement on the back of your speakers, or you may need to look it up. Typical values are 4Ω, 8Ω, and 16Ω.

Match your speaker’s impedance to your amplifier’s corresponding output channel. Simple.

Next, check out your amplifier or receiver and find the corresponding minimum load impedance information. This should be labeled on the back or in the specifications. If your speaker is 4Ω you’ll need an amplifier that has an output load rating for 4Ω and above. Yes, it’s really that simple!

What do you need to know when wiring multiple speakers to a single amplifier channel?

Where you really need to pay attention is if you opt to wire up multiple speakers to a single amplifier channel (we don’t generally recommend this). In this instance, you’ll need a little bit of math to calculate the combined impedance of all the speakers you have connected. For serial connections, this is very simple as impedance adds. Two 4Ω speakers connected in series have an impedance of 8Ω, two 6Ω speakers become 12Ω, and so on.

Connecting speakers in parallel is more complicated, as impedance actually reduces for each speaker connected. You’ll need the formula 1/Ωtotal = 1/Ω1 + 1/Ω2 + 1/Ω3 + … For example, two 4Ω speakers in parallel have a combined impedance of 2Ω. Or a more complex connection of two 4Ω and one 6Ω speakers have an impedance of just 1.5Ω. This is important to know, as parallel connections can easily load down your amplifier, causing it to overheat or shut off.

Does the type of speaker wire matter?

Speaker wire comes in different gauges and can be terminated with bare connections or connectors like the gold-plated banana plugs shown here.

After buying an expensive speaker system, don’t let overpriced speaker cables tempt you. These specialty cables promise superior sound but with no scientific backing. Save your money and stick to basic cables, or those that came with your speaker system. As we’ve shown, even a wildly impure zinc alloy coat hanger sounds perfectly fine powering speakers. What is actually important is that your speaker wires aren’t any longer than necessary—cut them to the right length once you have your speaker placement finalized.

How much power should your amplifier provide?

Loudspeakers will have a power rating in watts (W)—you’ll find this in the specs online, in the manual, and possibly on the back of the speaker. Likewise, amplifiers also have a maximum output power rating. This is often quoted in watts-per-channel (WPC). Consider your loudspeaker’s sensitivity (in dBSPL per W at 1M), the listening distance from your loudspeaker, and your desired volume (75-85dB is usually plenty). Plug them into an online calculator like this to get you in the right ballpark.

alvaro ortiz Too little power can actually be a bad thing.

You’d be surprised by how little power most speakers actually need to sound decently loud. Just 10W to 20W is more than enough for typical loudspeakers in modest listening spaces. Generally speaking, a 50W amplifier is more than enough for home listening with plenty of headroom. Of course, distortion and frequency characteristics are just as important when looking for a good amplifier, so don’t let power be your only deciding factor.

You might think that an amplifier with a slightly lower power rating than your speakers ensures that you won’t blow them out at max volume. This actually isn’t the case because when you push your amp to the point where the output clips, the produced waveform becomes far more likely to damage the attached loudspeaker—the tweeter that produces the high frequencies is most sensitive to this and may get fried under these circumstances.

You’d be surprised by how little power most speakers actually need to sound loud in your living room.

You’re actually better off looking for an amplifier with a higher power rating than the speakers and exercising some common sense in how loud you push the system!

What is speaker polarity?

Speakers each have two input terminals, which are labeled either with a + or – symbol, or are color-coded red and black respectively. It’s important to ensure that the positive (red) terminal on the loudspeaker connects to the corresponding output terminal on the amplifier. Many speaker cables sport an identifying feature on one of the conductors to help keep track of what’s what.

Pay attention to polarity at both the speaker and amplifier ends of the cable.

It’s absolutely essential to make sure that positive and negatives are matched up on both the left and right speaker channels. If you don’t do this, you could end up with one channel out of phase with the other. If that happens, any mono content will effectively cancel out at your listening position—meaning centrally panned elements of the mix (like bass, snare and lead vocals) will also cancel—leaving you with a “thin,” compromised sound.

Putting it all together

There’s a lot of info there, but powering passive speakers isn’t that complicated. Fortunately, standardization in the audio industry means that it’s generally a plug-and-play affair. Even so, here are a few key tips to make sure your new purchase works at peak performance.

• Make sure your amplifier can handle your speaker’s impedance. Check the spec sheets and make sure your loudspeaker’s input impedance isn’t lower than the matching amp channel’s minimum load specification.
• Triple check your impedance math when connecting speakers in serial or parallel.
• Avoid cable snake oil, stick with basic cable or what comes in the box.
• Buy an amplifier that suits your power needs. More watts aren’t necessarily better, and under-powering can be a problem too.
• Pay close attention to polarity.

With all that in mind, you’ll have no problem powering your speakers properly.

Frequently asked questions

Assuming that the impedance is compatible as explained in the article, you can power a 3000 watt speaker with a 100 watt per channel amp.

Unless your source device has a built-in amplifier, you don’t. Speakers need a certain level of power to operate and passive speakers need an amplifier.

9 tips for choosing wireless Bluetooth speakers

Do you like listening to your favorite songs at full volume? Smartphones are the most convenient devices for playing music anywhere, but in most cases they do not provide the desired quality. To get first-class sound and volume, you need speakers, but it’s not so simple here either. They are bulky, have wires and require an outlet. Alternative – Portable Bluetooth Speakers , which allow you to enjoy the sound of hits anywhere. Some of them even fit in a jacket pocket, which allows you to enjoy the concert of your favorite band while walking around the city or having a family picnic in the woods. Now high-quality sound of music is everywhere with you. It remains only to choose a speaker that fully meets your requirements. Forza Plus has prepared 9 tips for choosing the perfect portable speaker for your device.

No. 1. The sound quality of the is one of the most important parameters that should provide sound quality that exceeds the capabilities of a smartphone. But how do you know that portable acoustics have good sound quality? There are 4 parameters that help to understand that the speaker will sound good:

• The output power of the is measured in Watts and directly affects the volume of the speaker. Small Bluetooth speakers cannot deliver too much power due to their compact size. 15-20 watts will be enough to get around 80 dB, enough volume for good outdoor listening. Keep in mind that you will not be able to turn on the wireless speaker at full volume, as this will cause distortion. The maximum volume level is 80%.
• Frequency range – the larger it is, the clearer the reproduced sound. Recall that the human ear is able to perceive sounds in the range of 20-20000 Hz. You simply will not hear more, unless of course you have unique abilities. Therefore, if the manufacturer writes that the frequency range is 40,000 Hz, this is just a marketing ploy and you should not overpay for it. Choose the maximum value within the specified range.
• Sound system. Most Bluetooth wireless speakers are made up of Wither 2.0 system (two full range speakers) or 2.1 system (2 speakers + subwoofer), which boasts top-notch quality.
• Impedance – the lower it is, the better the sound quality.

No. 2. Weight and dimensions. If you love cycling or walking a lot, choose a lightweight speaker that fits in your pocket or bag. If you want to buy portable acoustics that you can take with you on a trip or for training, choose a size not exceeding 15 cm.

No. 3. Battery capacity and fast charging. Just imagine, you are sitting by the fire in the evening with your friends and enjoy your favorite music. And suddenly the speaker went off. To prevent portable acoustics from letting you down at the most crucial moment, pay attention to the battery capacity. There are wireless speakers that play music for 10 hours without recharging. Standard continuous playback time is 6 hours. It is also important to consider the charging time. You don’t want to wait 10 hours for your gadget to charge. Therefore, pay attention to the fast charging function.

No. 4. Connection. The most popular connection type is Bluetooth. The newest is NFC, which makes pairing devices even easier. Just bring your smartphone to the Bluetooth speaker and leave it there for a couple of seconds, they will connect automatically. The main thing is that the NFC system is present on both devices – a smartphone and a speaker.

No. 5. Compatibility. The latest models of wireless Bluetooth speakers are equipped with the latest versions of Bluetooth 5.0 and 5.1. If your smartphone has an older version, there is a risk of problems.

No. 6. Handsfree function. You are listening to music through a Bluetooth speaker connected to a smartphone and suddenly receive an incoming call. If your speaker has a built-in microphone, you can talk hands-free. The song is interrupted, you answer the call by pressing the button on the speaker. When you hang up, music playback resumes automatically.

Interesting read:
• What are wireless calls and how they work

• What is USB hub

• What are wireless headphones? 7 Pros of a Forza Bluetooth Headset

No. 7. Connecting multiple speakers. The ability to connect multiple speakers allows you to create the most loud and surround sound. You can connect and use multiple speakers at the same time to have a real party.

No. 8. Simple control. Choose models with an intuitive control system that even a small child can quickly master. Turn on, turn off, answer the call, adjust the volume, connect to the phone, pause the music – and nothing else is needed.

No. 9. Application area. First, ask yourself why do you need a wireless speaker? Whether it will become the main source of music in the house or your travel companion. If you’re planning on taking your speaker to the beach all summer long, get a model with a waterproof case. Such acoustics are not afraid of splashes or immersion in water. If you plan to use wireless speakers exclusively at home, then portability is not the main choice. You can take a larger model that produces a loud sound. For the garden, choose a speaker with an indicator of 85 dB or more. If you plan to listen to music while camping, then you need to play music for a long time without recharging. Here it is important to consider the capacity of the battery.

The manufacturer of portable acoustics Forza Plus offers wireless speakers for every taste. Bright and classic design, large and small dimensions, different volume levels and battery capacity – here every music lover will find the perfect option for himself.

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How to Choose a Branding Portable Speaker

A good sounding portable speaker is an effective gift in a business environment. The Bluetooth speaker just says: “Declare yourself!” The reason for its presentation may be:

• competition among fans and customers of the brand or company employees,
• professional or public holiday,
• company anniversary,
• conference,
• team building,
• sports events.

In order for business partners, customers and employees to receive the best Bluetooth speakers as a gift from your company, we have compiled a guide on how to choose a portable speaker with examples from the ADMOS catalog.

Wireless Bluetooth speakers and important features

Depending on the reason for donating and the characteristics of the target audience, pay attention to the following characteristics:

• power – the volume of the wireless speaker depends on it;
• range which affects the sound quality;
• battery capacity and operating time ;
• availability of call functions . For conference participants, for example, hands-free models will be preferred;
• waterproof . Waterproof speakers are great for sports-themed gift sets;
• availability of fasteners . It may be important for your audience to be able to mount the speaker on a bicycle handlebar or backpack;
• additional functions: radio, lights, clock, wireless charging, etc.

In the case of merch and business gifts, it is not enough to choose a wireless speaker. It needs to be branded. The most popular options for drawing on Bluetooth speakers are:

• pad printing and screen printing . Suitable for housings made of plastic, metal, silicone or wood;
• laser engraved with glowing logo . This branding option, for example, is available on the futuristic Xoopar wireless speaker;
• UV full color . Currently only available on a small number of models.

More emotions and meanings can be added to the design of a gift package or a shuber on the “native” box of a portable speaker.

The most powerful speakers in the ADMOS catalog

Wireless speakers can be ranked based on power data. This parameter is measured in watts and affects the volume. More power, louder sound:

1. 1.5-2 W is enough for listening to podcasts in a quiet room;
2. 10 W – for a bike ride or a small picnic;
3. 15-20 W – for watching movies, videos and listening to music at home;
4. 20-40W – for a small company on the street;
5. from 40 W – for a noisy party.

A good sounding portable speaker must have a wide frequency range. The wider it is, the better the sound quality. A person recognizes frequencies in the range from 16 to 20,000 Hz, and manufacturers are guided by these indicators. However, a low-frequency emitter of the right size simply does not fit into the compact “bluetooth” housing of the speaker, so even the best portable speakers give out a minimum frequency of 50 Hz.

And the third important technical parameter is the battery capacity. It determines how many hours the speaker will delight you with your favorite songs, movies and podcasts:

• 1500 mAh – 4-5 hours;
• 4000-6000 mAh – 8-10 hours;
• 20,000 mAh+ – up to a day.

And here are the most powerful and pumped models of portable speakers from our catalog.

Top portable speaker companies in the ADMOS catalog

INDIVO

The INDIVO brand loves non-trivial solutions and non-standard design. Our bestseller is the waterproof suction cup wireless speaker. For a WOW effect, we recommend a column lamp for soft awakening and a column flower pot that you can play with right on the leaves of the plant.

Uniscend

Stylish, minimalist cabinets, good sound – these are Uniscend speakers. The brand also has an ultra-modern solution – a wireless speaker that does not need to be paired with a phone either via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You just need to turn on the track on your phone and put your smartphone on the top panel of the speaker.

XD Collection

Stylish, fashionable, youthful. The brand boasts a super miniature portable speaker and an eco-collection made from recycled and renewable materials for followers of sustainability.

Rombica

Bold trendy design, modern materials and high-quality sound. The female part of the audience will be delighted with a wireless speaker in the form of a funny cat.

Xoopar

The brand likes to experiment with the form and method of branding (Xoopar is the one with illuminated logo columns). The business card is a portable speaker in the form of a robot boy.

💡 I have an idea!

Support sports fans by donating a bottle with a speaker.

Portable speaker models with dust and moisture protection

If the concept of the set is dedicated to extreme sports, summer parties, or the characteristics of the target audience indicate that the speaker can be used in non-standard conditions: hiking, on the beach or even in the bathroom, choose a waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

The degree of protection is indicated by the IPXX marker: the first X indicates the level of dust protection (from 0 to 7), the second – the degree of protection against fresh water (from 0 to 9). Thus:

• IPX3 – portable speaker will withstand light splashes;
• IPX7 – such a heavy rain;
• IPX68 is a titanium speaker that is resistant to dust and moisture.

These waterproof bluetooth speakers are in our catalog.

Do I need a Bluetooth radio speaker?

Judging by the number of radio stations, the end of the radio era will not come soon.