What’s in a brand? In many cases it’s an image that has been etched in your conscience through an elaborately-conceived media plan; a cute cartoon bunny, a catchy slogan, an irrepressible jingle—all with the intent of making you go out and BUY. In the case of speakers, however; a brand is something much more true and tangible— a mixture of experience, research, design and technology.
Save for a few exceptions, there is no vastly-construed media agenda when it comes to speakers—speakers stand on their own performance. There is a vast depth of speaker brands out there though, many of which you’ve probably never heard of, let alone seen in the store.
With so many brands out there how do you narrow down which one is right for you? You want a great sound, a great price and a great brand to ensure quality and support. You’re greedy, but the good news is you should be. Make sure that you get the most for your money by choosing a quality manufacturer.
My first bit of advice on this topic is to eliminate any pre-conceived notions you may carry into the store. Many of the top names in speakers are ones that you would never come across before getting serious about audio equipment. Brands like Sony and RCA might make a nice TV but that doesn’t mean that they make a quality speaker.
In fact, speakers are items that demand a good deal of specialization so I would forego general electronics names. Leave Sony and RCA to TV’s. Leave Yamaha to receivers and so on. Not to say the speakers offered by these companies are terrible, but there are so many brands that focus all of their expertise into a speaker, why not take advantage? After all, great selections of specialized brands are what make shopping for home audio so addictive. I can honestly say that all the best sounding speakers I’ve ever come across were made by speaker-specific brands, most of which I had never heard of until walking into the A/V shop.
One thing you may notice—not all brands are easy to find. Most A/V shops only carry a handful of brands, same with electronics giants. You may read all kinds of great reviews about a given name in speakers but be unable to find them anywhere. Since you want to actually test your speakers out before purchasing them, some brands will be off limits. Don’t worry; you shouldn’t have a problem finding something that you like.
An important consideration when it comes to brand names is how long the company has been in business, and their degree of service. Many speaker companies have come and gone, so it’s important to find a brand with a solid history. Longevity not only means that they have had years to build and improve their design, but it limits the worry that you will be left high and dry if you need repairs, replacement, etc.
A company’s warranty policy is also something to consider. Although speakers generally last a long time, it never hurts to have some insurance. A long, solid warranty policy also indicates a company that is confident in its product and willing to support it.
Depending upon what you are looking to purchase you might also consider what other products the manufacturer has to offer. If you are buying some front speakers, but might want to add surrounds later, take a look at the whole product line. Does this company offer a compatible surround speaker in my price range? Is it the type of surround that I want? Also, do they offer a compatible upgrade, in case my fronts will later become rears? Questions like these might help you to pick a brand that will keep your system current for years on end.
One of the best ways to gauge the overall quality and service of any brand is to read the reviews. This will allow you to see the experiences of others in relation to a given brand. It will also give you some insight as to how the speaker’s sound and how they hold up outside of the retail store. Be sure to check out our staff’s takes on various brands and products for these very reasons.
Overall, we all seek the same basic thing—sound. If it doesn’t sound good, who cares about how good the brand looks on paper? The aforementioned brand considerations are just that: some ideas to consider. Of course, sound is the first and foremost consideration. In the end, though, it is good to know that your sound is backed up by a reputable, quality company. It pays to consider the brand you purchase and know a little bit about it prior to pulling out your wallet.
-Chriss Weiss
Chris Weiss
Chris has had audiophile blood running through his veins since birth. As a small child his father’s component-based stereo system was the source of much gloating over friends whose fathers had run-of-the-mill mini-systems.