In a previous article we discussed about the smallest model of stereo speakers, which were the USB speakers. Those were really small and lightweight speakers and quite easy to be carried around anywhere with you. But now we are going to discuss about the largest stereo speakers. And these are the floor standing speakers.



These are usually very big and heavy speakers and most of them are tall with the aspect of a tower (that’s why they are also called tower speakers).  As the name says, they must be placed directly on the floor, because probably a table won’t even hold them. Some of these speakers are really heavy, and it is difficult for even a strong man to move them. So you don’t need to worry about your small kids knocking down the speakers, because it is practically impossible for them to do this. Even though the USB speakers were really small and portable, you can imagine that they didn’t sound so good, and they were not powerful at all (most of them having just about 2 watts of total power RMS).



But it is not the same for the floor standing speakers…they are big, heavy, and also really powerful. Most of the models have much more than 150 watts of power, while others can go even higher. So these are the kind of speakers you might want to use for a big party. The small USB speakers are capable of giving all of the sound ranges, and they usually have a very weak bass. But it’s not the same for the floor standing speakers, that have many drivers on them and some are for the high and mid range frequencies, while others are for the bass. So they will bring a full and rich sound, through all the sound ranges.

Let’s discuss about a model of floor standing speakers, and we’ll choose the ES 100 BK speakers from JBL. JBL is a famous producer, with a lot of experience in this domain, and it makes high quality and powerful speakers. The ES 100 BK speakers look quite simple and elegant…but only if you choose to leave the detachable grills on. If you want a more aggressive look, and you want to see all of the drivers from the speaker, you can take the grills off.



This model of some of the largest stereo speakers comes in three finishes – black, beech or cherry and a speaker has dimensions of: 1083 mm H x 305 mm W x 422 mm D / 42-5/8 " x 12 " x 16-5/8 ". The weight for one speaker…as we have mentioned before is quite big – about 29 kg ( 64 lbs.). So when moving them around the house, you might need someone else to help you out. As we said they give a full and rich sound, and the frequency response for this model is from 32 Hz to 40.000 Hz, which is quite good. The maximum recommended amplifier power is 250 watts RMS, meaning that you can throw quite a good party with these speakers.

There are many big audio producers on the market, and JBL is one of the biggest in the world. It is a unit of Harman International Industries and it makes audio products for home users, car industry and also for the entertainment industry. The company was founded many years ago, back in the 1940’s by James Bullough Lansing. So it has a lot of history and experience in this domain. In time it recorded very good sales all over the world.



Because it produces speakers and other equipments for concert halls or other public events, it is possible that you have already experienced the good sound quality of the JBL products, as a part of a huge crowd. But you can also enjoy its products in the comfort of your room, and for the home users JBL is offering all sort of computer speakers, home cinema systems, outdoor speakers, headphones and others. Through the company’s speakers you can also find some 2.1 audio systems. A 2.1 system is composed out of 2 stereo speakers and a subwoofer.



The two speakers are usually small and they have a rectangular shape. They are specialized in the mid range and high range sounds. The subwoofer is quite bigger than the satellite speakers and usually it also has a rectangular shape. The subwoofer brings the deep and low sound frequencies, in another word the bass. Most of the 2.1 systems are looking like this, but not all of them. JBL offers a really cool and unique system, such as  the JBL Creature computer speakers. These speakers look like they have just been dropped on your desk from some alien mothership, so the name “Creature” fits perfectly. You won’t find any other 2.1 system with such an interesting and futuristic design, and you will really impress everyone with these speakers. The first model of Creature speakers was launched by JBL in 2002, and today the system has reached its third generation.

The creators of these speakers were quite bored with the static, six sided box designs that are so common on everyone’s desk, so they decided to make something new and totally different. Therefore they came with this creative and unique design of the Creature speakers. These speakers are also featuring the Harman’s Odyssey transducer technology to offer high quality audio with a great bass and clear midrange sounds. They also have soft touch tactile controls so the user can modify the volume or mute the speakers with a simple touch. The system will even remember the last volume setting that you have used.



For this great look and good sound quality you won’t even have to pay that much. The official price for this system is $US129.00 , but if you make some research you can find it on some sites on the internet for $US99.00 . So just a few minutes of searching for the best offer, can save you up to $US30.00.

The system is great for listening to music, but it also behaves very good in a movie or in video games. They also feature a stereo mini-jack connection that will allow you to connect it to many audio sources such as computers, laptops, CD, DVD, MP3 players and others. They are not even that big, and they won’t fill up all the space on and under your desk. Each satellite has dimensions of : Width: 75 mm (3 ") Height: 70 mm (2-3/4 ") Depth: 75 mm (3 ") and the subwoofer has Width: 230 mm (9 ") Height: 230 mm (9 ") Depth: 230 mm (9 ").  Each satellite speaker has a 40 mm (1 “ ) driver and the subwoofer has a 75 mm (3 inch) bass driver. You can buy the system both in black or white, and in each version it will look really good.

It has quite a good frequency response, from 50 hz to 20.000 hz, meaning that it will give a deep bass, and also some good high sounds. The input impedance for this system is 5 kohms and the total power is 25 watts RMS. Each satellite speaker has 5 watts and the subwoofer has 15 watts RMS. Well this is not something really powerful, but let’s not forget that it is a small, quite cheap and very good looking system, so you won’t even need more power. The signal to noise ratio is > 80 db and the weight of the system is 2.1 kb (4.6 lbs).



The ratings for this system are quite good, and most of the users are giving 4 or even 5 stars out of 5. One user was so pleased with the system that he made a review on amazon.com about them. He said he was not a bass guy or audiophile, and probably these speakers would not satisfy this kind of person. But for the simple day to day music, they are just perfect! They are small, lightweight (he was even surprised when he received them and though that the mail man made a mistake and brought him another package)  and they are very cool looking. The sound is clear and the price is really good. He just can’t believe that they cost just $US100.00 , and after knowing how they sound he would pay even three times this price. So if you are searching for a good looking sound system, that seems to come from out of this world with a nice sound for the day to day music, then you should definitely choose the JBL Creature 2.1 system. In case you are looking for some classic good looking speakers, but with a great power and sound quality, then you should pick another model.

JBL is among the biggest and oldest producers on the audio market in the world. The company (which is a unit of Harman International Industries) produces audio devices for the home users, for the entertainment industry and also for the automotive industry. Like we said is one of the oldest companies, and it appeared many years ago, in the 1940’s. Since that period the company evolved a lot, and recorded great sales all over the world. Like we said it is also making speakers for concerts and other type of public events, so you might already have enjoyed the sound quality brought by JBL when being on a concert or another big event such as the 2008 Olympics. For the home users it makes all sort of devices such as computer speakers, home cinemas, outdoor speakers, headphones and also ipod speakers.

So today we are going to focus on one of these products, and we’ll choose the JBL ipod speakers. If you don’t already know this, the ipod is a very popular music player. Actually it is the best selling portable music player, and it sold millions of copies all over the world. It is a small, easy to use device, which is also able to store hundreds of songs. Some iPods are even more complex, being capable of storing other files such as pictures, movies, calendars, documents and so on. Usually an ipod comes with included headphones, but sometimes you may want to share the music with your friends. And in this case you will have to use some ipod speakers or docks. These devices had become quite famous today, and any big audio producer is offering some type of ipod speakers or docks. It’s the same with JBL, which offers 8 different models of ipod docks. So let’s take some of them, and discuss more about each one.

Let’s begin with the one called “JBL on stage 200 ID” or OS – 200 ID. It is a simple docking device, with a grey and elegant design. You might think that it is a mono device, but actually it has 2 pheonix neodymium drivers in it. So it means it is a stereo device. The power for each speaker is 6 watts RMS, meaning that the total power of the dock is 12 watts. This is not so much, but it can be enough for a small hotel room, a picnic or for school. We said these places because you will probably want to take the dock with you when you are traveling, and not just use it at home. It is quite small and lightweight, making it easy to be carried around.  It has dimensions of: Width: 359mm (14-1/8") Height: 64mm (2-1/2") Depth: 110mm (4-5/16") and weighs about 0.7 kg (1.5 lbs). It has quite a good frequency response, which goes from as low as 40 hz to as high as 20 khz. This will mean that the speaker will have quite a nice bass, and also good high sounds. Other technical details are: an input impedance of > 10 kohms and signal to noise ratio of > 85 db.



Now let’s move on to another model, the JBL On Stage Micro Silver. This one is quite even smaller than the previous model, and it also runs both with AC or batteries. This means that you will easily be able to carry it with you, and use it anywhere you want, no matter if there is a power source around or not. But being small, does not mean that it won’t sound good. Actually it sounds really good, bringing a full spectrum sound for your ipod music. But you can also connect it to your computer, and combine it with the speakers that you already have. It is also compatible with CD and mp3 players, game consoles and other music devices. It has dimensions of Width: 150mm (6") Height: 38mm (1-3/4"). This one also has 2 included drivers, and a frequency response from 70 hz to 20.000 hz. The power is smaller  than the previous device – 3 watts for each speaker, so 6 watts of total power RMS. But the weight of this one is really small, just 0.5 kg (1 lbs).



A more complex ipod speaker from JBl is the JBL on time 400 IHD. This is also pretty small, compact and lightweight with dimensions of Width: 361mm (14-3/16") Height: 78mm (3-1/16") Depth: 127mm (5") and a weight of 0.9kg (2 lb). But beside giving a good sound, this one also has a display screen that will show you the time, the song that is playing and other information. But another feature that is not included on the previous ipod docks is that it also has AM and FM multicasting capability and also a clock with a dual alarm. The power is also bigger, with 12 watts for each speaker so 24 watts of total power RMS. The frequency response is from 75 hz to 20 khz  and the signal to noise ratio is > 85 db.



So these were just 3 models of ipod speakers from JBL, but as we mentioned before there are 8. You can find all the useful information about each model on the official site of JBL, but also on many other sites. It is recommended to make some research before buying a model, and see which one is the best, and also the cheapest. The prices can vary from one store to another, so always search for the best deal. Good luck!

The computers had evolved a lot in the last years, and now they are very complex devices capable of advanced operations. Along with the development of the computer, all of its components had evolved too. And here you can also include the computer speakers. Some years ago there were just one speaker, integrated on the main board. But today the speakers are external (except for the laptop integrated speakers) and they come in many different shapes, sizes and prices. There are also many audio equipment producers in the world, and here are some of the biggest name : Creative, Harman Kardon, JBL, Bose, Logitech, Genius, Altec Lansing, Boston Acoustics and others. They each have a wide variety of products, from stereo speakers to surround sound systems, from outdoor speakers to iPod speakers, headphones and many more.

Some of the best companies, with a great history and experience behind it, is the JBL company. It offers all kind of speakers and audio systems, and one of its products are the E Series E 90 computer speakers. These are floor standing speakers so that means you can place them directly on the ground.

They are pretty tall, with a height of 40.2 inches. The width is 9.9 inches and the depth 14.5 inches so that means they are pretty big and will not quite fit into a small and crowded room. They are not even recommended for a small room because of their high power and quality...unless you are really passionate about  loud and powerful music, and your neighbors are ok with it :). They have individual compartments for each of the sound ranges and these are: two 8 inch woofers, 4 inch midrange and 0.75 inch tweeter. The price for these speakers is about 400 dollars. It may seem pretty high to some, but considering the good sound quality, they worth the money.

Even though there was a period of time when people forgot about the tall floor standing speakers and they were interested only in the systems with satellites and subwoofer, not these speakers are making a comeback. The Northridge  E series E 90 speakers can be used both as individual speakers to form a stereo system, but they can also be combined with a center channel, a subwoofer and some satellites to make a powerful surround system. The speakers are actually pretty lightweight, considering their big size. They have somewhere around 48 pounds. You can even assort them with your room, so they come in three different colors : Black Ash, Beech or Cherry vinyl.

As we mentioned before they are not quite suited for a small and crowded room, and these speakers are needing some space to fully release their power and quality. Beside the compartments for all the sound ranges that we mentioned before (for the high, mids and bass) they also have a 2.5 inch FreeFlow flared port. Among the technologies used for these speakers you can find the bi-amping (which means one amplifier drives the woofer, while another one goes to the midrange and the tweeter) and the bi-wiring ( they have a double set of cables for each speaker). These technologies can really improve the sound quality. If you use some special testing softwares for the audio quality, you will see that these speakers will pass all the tests. So they are good for any kind of music you want to listen, from hard rock to classical music or house music. Also the sound from the movies and the games will seem very realistic

Some users are saying that at very high volumes the grid that covers the loudspeakers begins to rattle and vibrate, and they are suggesting to take them off. For some users the speakers are looking much better that way. Anyway, it is a matter of personal tastes.

Now let's talk about the technical specifications for these speakers. We already mentioned the weight and dimensions and the nominal output power is 110 Watts RMS. But when used with an amplifier, they can give much more, with the maximum output power of 440 Watts RMS. These is the maximum power, but it's not recommended to use them all the time at this power. The recommended amplified power is 225 watts RMS. The - 3 dB frequency response is between 36 - 20.000 Hz, and the input impedance is 8 ohm. They have a sensitivity of 91 dB, and crossover frequencies of 500 Hz, 3 kHz - 24 dB / octave; 12 kHz - 18 dB / octave. They are floor standing speakers, and the connectivity technology is wired. The grilles are detachable and some additional features are the bi-wiring and the gold plated connectors. JBL is also trying to reduce the quantity of network components as much as possible. They believe that the most direct way from the input terminals to the drivers will result in the purest sound possible with the lowest distortion. The essential network components have the best quality and they are selected to ensure minimal distortion and signal loss.

As we said earlier the official price is 400 dollars, but you can get them much cheaper from the internet, from sites like applestore.com, amazon.com and others.

After all, the E 90 E series computer speakers from JBL are very good speakers, that will give a great sound experience, whether if you are watching a movie or listening to some loud and powerful music. They will not let you down, and can satisfy even the most pretentious customers. Enjoy!

Since the creation of personal computers, many years ago, people were also interested in attaching a sound device to the computer. The first computers had a very small speaker, integrated on the main board. But the quality of those kinds of speakers wasn't so good, so people wanted more. And this way they created the computer speakers. First there were only 2 small ones, but in time the technology has developed a lot, and now we have many types of computer speakers, beginning with simple ones, sound systems or home cinemas.

There are also many types of sound systems, depending on the number of speakers they have. You can find 2.1 systems (2 speakers and a subwoofer), 5.1 systems (5 speakers and a subwoofer) or 7.1 systems (7 speakers and a subwoofer).

The most common system that home users are buying is the 5.1 system. It is made usually out of wood, and it includes four small satellites, a big center speaker and an even bigger sub woofer. The central speaker usually gives the voice sounds, such as the actors in a movie or the singers in a concert, and that's why it is one of the most important speakers in a home cinema, and it really needs to be placed in front of the listener. The small satellites usually give the mid range sounds, and it is really important to respect the arrangement suggested by the producer, to have the best audio quality and sensations. For example if you are playing a video game, and a monster will attack you from your behind, that specific sound will be heard in the rear speakers, to give you the feeling that you are there in the game. But if the rear speakers are placed in front of you, you won't have the same sensation. It's also important to respect the correct placement: the right speakers must be in your right, and the left ones must be on your left side. And this kind of arrangement will give you great feelings when playing a game, or watching an action or horror movie.

And the last component of an audio system is the one which really completes the sound set. It is called the sub woofer. These kind of speakers are the "basso profundo" of all speakers, and they render the lowest and deepest sound frequencies, which are below 80 hertz. They can offer great movie experience, and can also give you the feeling that you are in your favorite club or disco, even though you are in your own room. To enjoy it at it's maximum intensity, it is recommended to place it in the corner, under your desk. But you have to be really careful with the volume of the bass! You can easily upset your neighbors, because the deep bass will really make their windows pump and would get them really mad :) But of course, when you are at a party you turn the volume at the maximum level, and you forget all about them and you just enjoy yourself.



The most common 5.1 audio system, that is used by many people all around the world is the Genius 5.1 SW-HF 5000.

It is made out of wood, and it has a simple but nice appearance, and it can bring the club straight to your room. If you are using the right sound card, you'll be very satisfied with this system, and you won't need anything else. It has 150 W RMS, and this is more than enough for a room. Sometimes you won't even have to turn the volume upper than it's half, because it would be too loud for you and the persons you are living with. It's the same thing with the sub woofer, if you turn the volume up above the middle level, you will start to feel the windows pumping, and the neighbors knocking on your door :) So it has a good quality of sound, a good power, and also the price is really attractive. It doesn't cost more than 100 or 150 euros, and that makes him so available and so demanded by most of the home users.

Of course, there are many other computer speakers producers, and you have a wide variety of products to choose from.

The biggest company worldwide in the production of entertainment products for the personal computers is Creative. It offers many good products such as computer speakers, sound systems, sound cards, mp3 players, headphones, digital and web cams, and also revolutionary music keyboards.


Like we mentioned before, another big producer of computer speakers for personal computers is Genius. It produces many kinds of devices for your computer such as keyboards, mouse, web cams, but it also has great quality audio devices such as speakers, surround audio systems and headphones.



Another famous and respected producer of audio equipment is JBL. Besides the production of computer speakers it is also making car speakers and professional equipments for the entertainment industry. Either if you knew it or not, you might have enjoyed the quality of JBL products at a concert, as a part of a big crowd. Some big events that used JBL sound systems were: the rock concerts of Eric Clapton, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, the 2008 Olympics and many more.



Logitech is also one of the leaders on the audio equipments market. Just like Genius it produces other devices for computers such as mouse, keyboards, joysticks or gaming wheels, but it also has many good audio products. First of all there are the simple, stereo speakers, and also sound systems such as 2.1 or 5.1 systems. The company also builds headphones and speakers for iPod-s.



These were the biggest producers of computer speakers, but of course there are many others. Some examples would be: M Audio, Harman Kardon, Altec, Klipsch, or Boston Acoustics.