AudioReputation - Your Audio Electronics Guide

Sep242021 by James LongmanNo Comments

Speaker Wire – The Beginner’s Guide

Finding the right speaker wire for your speaker system seems easy. You just have to find the wire that’s thick enough to fit the speaker terminals, right? Well, not exactly. There’s a little bit more to speaker wire than you may think. But don’t worry - it’s not too complicated. We are here today to tell you everything you need to know about speaker wire. We will discuss the gauges, wire materials, important electrical characteristics, installation process, and tell you about some tricks and marketing gimmicks the manufacturers use to sell their wire. Let’s go! What is Speaker Wire? Speaker wire is a cable used to connect amplifiers to speakers. This cable sends amplified audio to the speakers. It has a core, which is usually made of copper and can be either stranded or solid and a

Sep202021 by James LongmanNo Comments

IPX8 Waterproof Rating Explained

Blog

Whenever looking for waterproof or water-resistant equipment, whether it's audio equipment (headphones, speakers) or any kind of electrical/electronic equipment, the most important thing to look for and the thing that can actually tell you the level of water resistance is the IPX rating. In our previous articles, we dealt with IPX ratings in general as well as IPX4 (splash-proof) and IPX7 (waterproof). Today we’re going to discuss the meaning and importance of an IPX8 waterproof rating. IP/IPX Ratings – The Basics IP stands for Ingress Protection (also referred to as International Protection). It is an internationally standardized rating that describes the level of protection against the ingress of solid particles, dust, and water. An IP rating has a general form that you can see

Sep132021 by James LongmanNo Comments

Are Home Theatre Power Managers Worth It?

Miscellaneous

The only people who think they don’t need a power manager are those who have never had to deal with dirty electricity, lightning surges, or power outages. Power managers are useful and convenient devices that can be very beneficial to your home theater system. In this article, we will talk about power managers, discuss their purpose, compare them to other similar devices (like surge protectors, power regenerators, UPS units, etc.), analyze the benefits of using power managers, and present you with our selection of best home theater power managers. Let’s start with the basics. What is a Home Theater Power Manager? Home theater power manager (aka home theater power conditioner) is a more or less complex device that regulates AC power distribution, provides you with surge protection,

Oct42021 by James Longman1 Comment

IPX Rating Explained

Blog

If you are looking to buy an outdoor speaker or sports headphones/earbuds and you did your research, you have probably seen some IPX rating in the specification list or on the box of the device you want to buy. Most of today’s outdoor speakers and sports headphones/earbuds have at least IPX4 rating and some even have IPX7 or IP67 ratings. In case you are not sure what those ratings actually mean, this short article will help you understand the purpose and meaning of each IP/IPX rating. What is IPX Rating and Why is it Important? IP stands for International Protection or, in some cases, Ingress Protection. IP (or IPX) rating is the marking that describes the level of protection (provided by the enclosure of the device) against dust, water, and ingress of other particles or fluids. You

Sep52021 by James Longman1 Comment

Coaxial Speaker Cable – The Beginner’s Guide

Blog

Coaxial cables are quite common these days, and you can find them in every home. They are used for the transmission of audio and video signals, for TV antennas, modems, cable boxes, and they can even be used as speaker cables. If you want to learn more about coax cables, you've come to the right place. In this article, we will give you an in-depth analysis of the physical and electrical characteristics of coaxial cables, talk about different types of coax cables, and list various use scenarios. We will also discuss the idea of using coaxial cables as speaker wire and analyze the pros and cons of coax speaker cables. What is Coaxial Cable? Coax cable is a type of electrical cable that can transmit RF signals from source devices to input/destination devices. The radiofrequency range ...

Oct62021 by James Longman491 Comments

18 Best Wireless Surround Sound Systems In 2021

Speakers

If you are tired of all the cables lying randomly all over your home and you are searching for a hassle-free surround sound system for your home theater, the best thing you can do is to go wireless. Our article on 18 best wireless surround sound systems in 2021 is designed to help you understand all the important things you need to know about wireless surround sound systems and make the best possible choice based on your needs and your budget. We have also made a list of 18 best wireless surround sound systems in 2021 so you don’t even have to spend hours reading about different features of different products – you can read our reviews and find out everything you need to know to make a decision. We have tried to list all the upsides and downsides of these surround sound systems and make

Oct42021 by James LongmanNo Comments

Multi-Channel Home Theater & Everything You Need to Know

Speakers

Is multi-channel home theater really that better than a stereo system or a soundbar? What are the benefits of upgrading your existing stereo system to a home theater? Are home theater systems worth it? In this article, you will find the answers to all these and other related questions. Keep reading and find out everything you need to know about multi-channel home theaters. Basic Terminology Before we dig deeper into the magical world of home theater systems, you need to become familiar with some basic terms related to sound reproduction, speaker systems, and sound formats. Stereo sound Stereo sound (aka two-channel audio) is the most popular and most common type of audio. It’s still used for both music and movies. With stereo sound, you have two channels – left and right. G

Oct42021 by James Longman175 Comments

8 Loudest Bluetooth Speakers In 2021

Speakers

Certain events, like parties and other group gatherings (both indoor and outdoor), require and depend heavily on the speaker quality and loudness. You can’t throw a large party without a big and powerful speaker (or speakers). That is simply unacceptable. Today, we are here to help you get a better understanding of all the specs related to speaker loudness and to present to you our selection of the biggest, most powerful, and loudest Bluetooth speakers in 2021. We may also give you a few tips on what to look for and what to pay attention to when looking for a loud Bluetooth speaker. Ready? Let’s go. Fun Facts About the Human Perception of Sound Fact 1: The human ear is a very complex and very sensitive organ. The smallest change in loudness (aka SPL or Sound Pressure Level) an

Apr142021 by AudioReputation TeamNo Comments

Difference Between AC & DC Amplifiers

Blog, Comparisons

If you've been trying recently to get a deeper understanding of power amplifiers, you have probably come across terms AC amplifier and DC amplifier. What was your first thought? Was it Alternating Current and Direct Current? Well, terms AC and DC in amplifiers don't exactly refer to current. These terms refer to the coupling method between different stages of amplification. Our article is designed to help you understand the working principles of each of these two amplifier types, and explain the differences between AC and DC amplifiers. What is The Meaning of AC and DC in AC/DC Amplifiers? AC in AC amplifiers tells us that different stages of amplification are coupled with a capacitor or a transformer. These capacitors/transformers are, therefore, known as coupling capacitors/tr...

Apr142021 by AudioReputation TeamNo Comments

Should Speaker Wattage Be Higher Than Amp Wattage?

Blog

To some people, looking for the matching amp for their stereo speaker system and trying to achieve the best possible synergy, is an adventure. They love doing it, they love trying different combinations, and they enjoy every moment of that journey. To others, it’s just too confusing and annoying. They don’t know what to look for, what’s acceptable and what’s not, what specs are important, and what all those specs even mean. Our article is here to answer not only the question from the title but also all the other questions related to amp/speaker matching. Even if you don’t have any relevant knowledge about audio equipment, you don’t have to worry. After reading our short guide, you will know exactly what to look for. Let’s start with the basic terminology and most important specif