The Complete Guide To Soundproof Curtains

When most people think of soundproofing a room, they think of installing soundproof windows and multiple layers of sound absorption sheets and sound blankets.

Yet, one of the simplest and least expensive ways to soundproof a room is using soundproof curtains (sound reducing curtains). Soundproof curtains offer a number of advantages, they are easy to install, inexpensive and they look great.

 

Do Soundproof Curtains Really Work?

So, if all you have do is buy a curtain and hang it up to soundproof a room, it’s no wonder many people ask the question, do they really work?
Here’s the answer:
The majority of soundproof curtains available on the market are effective when used for reducing internal noises in a room such as echoes, however, most of them are not very good for reducing noises entering a room from the outside environment.

Now, there are several soundproof curtains out there that can reduce noise entering your house from the outside, but to find them you need to be careful when searching. This article is to help you in your search. We have done all the searching for you so if you are looking for a soundproofing curtain that will help to reduce noises entering your home, then read on.

 

So Do Soundproof Curtains Work or Not?

If you are still confused, the quick answer is, it depends, it depends on the following:

1. It depends on which one you purchase.
2. It depends on what you will be using it for.

Most of them will work if you will be using them to reduce echo in a room. Almost all soundproof curtains are an excellent way to deaden or dampen (i.e. absorb) noise in your room and keep it from echoing.

However, apart from a few, most of them are less effective if you will be using them to completely block out all the noise from the outside environment. For example, if you live in a very noisy area, maybe where there’s a lot of traffic with noisy taxis and sirens wailing and that kind of road noise, then soundproof curtains will not be as effective as a soundproof window.

Don’t get us wrong, a good soundproof curtain will certainly go a far way in reducing that noise, but it won’t be as effective as a soundproof window. However, if you are seeking an inexpensive solution to lessening outside noise, then a soundproof curtain is an excellent choice.

Bottom line, unless you suffer from an extremely noisy environment, quality soundproof curtains will be just fine for you. If however, you live an extremely noisy area, you should remember that these curtains aren’t a single solutions for completely blocking heavy outside noise. To do that, you need to use other methods as well, such as soundproof windows or soundproof thermal blankets.

 

 

Benefits of Soundproof Curtains

Though soundproofing curtains aren’t the most effective way to soundproof your home, they can do a great job if you do it right. Moreover, they offer a number of benefits over more professional methods of soundproofing. Many of these benefits outweigh the drawbacks to the point where soundproofing curtains might be the best option for you. Here’s why:

1. Inexpensive: Most other, more professional methods of soundproofing are rather expensive and time-consuming.

2. Blackout Benefits: Most soundproof curtains are also blackout curtains. During summer, these curtains have a darkening effect by keeping the sunlight out which helps to keep the room cool. They are certainly great for blocking out those bright spring and summer mornings when the sun rises before the alarm!

This also means you can sleep well in broad daylight. During winter, these curtains block the cold drafts and therefore keeps the room warm and cosy.

3. Enhanced Ambience: They enhance the look of a room as regular fancy curtains do.

All in all, when you consider the many benefits of soundproof curtains and compare them to other solutions, they are a worthy investment. After all, they are the cheapest and most aesthetically pleasing soundproofing solution!

 

 

How Do Soundproof Curtains Work

Don’t worry, we aren’t going to get into any complicated Physics. It’s quite simple really.
How They Help Block Sounds From Outside
So you probably know that sound travels as waves through the air, right?

Cool.

You may also know that sound travels at different speeds through different materials. For example, sound travels faster through air than it does through wood. It travels faster through glass word than it does through water or metal.

In the same way that sound travels slower through certain materials, there are some materials that slow down sound so much that they essentially block sound. Additionally, hard surfaces such as tiles and metal keep sound travelling by reflecting sound while soft material such as carpets and curtains absorb sound, therefore stopping it in its tracks. Soundproof curtains are made of these materials and therefore help to block sound entering your home as well as absorb excess sound from within your home.

Now outside noise normally enters your home through your windows and doors. Your soundproof curtains act as guards against noises entering from the outside world by absorbing some of that unwanted noise. In addition, these curtains help to cancel excessive noises within your home itself, from your children shouting to things falling, etc.

 

How They Help Reduce Echoes

Let’s says you take your phone into a small room such a bathroom, if you play a song loudly enough, you will notice an annoying echo.
Go on, try it, you’ll see.

Now, let’s say you take that same phone into a walk-in closet and play that same song at the same volume, as long as there are clothes is in the closet, the echo will be far less, or none at all! The experience will be much more pleasing because the room will be significantly quieter in terms of unnecessary noise.

Soundproof curtains work in a similar manner to the clothes in the closet. While they won’t reduce noise entering the room from the outie environment, they make the noise in a room die out very quickly which means that the sound experience in the room itself will be much more pleasing.

 

Choosing A High-Quality Soundproof Curtain

Firstly, don’t be tricked into buying any old curtain just because it is marked “soundproof”. Many curtains are marketed as being “soundproof” but they really aren’t. Many dishonest vendors use the term on curtains which are nothing more than standard curtains except for the fact that they are thick. It’s just a marketing gimmick in most cases. Just because a curtain is thick doesn’t mean it’s soundproof.

So, how do you know if a curtain is really soundproof? There are a few ways. You should consider the width, height, weight and materials used to make the curtain. All of these factors combined determine the sound reduction properties of the curtain:

 

Determining the Size and Type

You can’t just go out and purchase any old curtain just because it is branded ‘soundproof’ and expect it to work. In fact, you can’t just purchase an expensive soundproof curtain just because it’s expensive and expects it to work well either. You need to determine the best solution for your specific case and the best way to do so is to measure up! So get your tape out!

First, measure the window where you will hang your soundproof curtains. Use a tape measure to get the correct length, width and height of the area. The important thing here is to make sure that you leave enough space for the curtain to fall.

1. Weight/Material: They will be heavy weighing at least 15 lbs or about 7kg! (because they are made with heavy material such as faux suede, wool, twill, quilted fiberglass, velvet or rockwool. They may also be coated in vinyl). In general, the heavier the curtain, the better the sound blocking capability.

2. Tightly Woven: It must be tightly woven and solid. Look for layered curtains because the extra lining makes them more effective at blocking out noise.

3. Height, Width and Seal: It must cover as much area around the window as possible so that it completely covers the window. This means it must be long enough to go from ceiling to floor and be wide enough to cover each window on either side. Also, the curtains should fold to completely seal the window at each side.

4. Length: As we just said, the curtains should be long enough to go from ceiling to floor. If you have traditional 8′ ceilings, then you need to purchase 96″ curtains and NOT the 84″ long curtains. Doing this will mean that your curtains will go from ceiling to floor.

5. Thickness: In order to provide a good enough barrier against noise, soundproof curtains should be at least 2 inches (i.e. about 5 cm) thick.

6. Style: Wide curtains with pleats will block more sound. The wider the curtain, the more gather it will have, so there will be tighter creases in the curtain. The creases will help to reflect sound waves and the pleats will thicken the curtain. This combination makes it more difficult for sound to travel through the curtain.

As we have said before, soundproof curtains which will significantly reduce the level of noise entering your home can be found. However, you must be very careful when searching. You must know what you are looking for or you will be disappointed when you make the purchase.

 

 

Acoustic Curtains For Garage Bands And Recording Artiste

If you are a musician or recording artiste looking to start a small recording studio in your garage, then you will face two problems:

1. Noisy neighbours. Yep, they will get especially noisy when you’re ready to record your music!
2. Annoying, crazy echoes from the bare garage walls.

In order to properly drown out noise from outside, you will need sound absorption sheets, sound blankets and soundproof windows. However, you will also need good soundproof curtains to drown out the crazy echoes so you can clearly hear your instruments and hear yourself!

If you fail to do this, you will spend hours listening to endless echoes and will have to do rehearsal after rehearsal. It will quickly kill your enthusiasm for producing quality music. It will be crazy!

If for no other reason, you need to soundproof the garage so that you won’t give your neighbours headaches. Surely, some consider your music to be nothing but noise. Remember, being neighbourly goes both ways.

 

 

Best Soundproof Curtains For Your Home

Let’s say you live in a big city, with a lot of road noise. I’m talking about loud sirens from fire trucks, ambulances and police, taxi drivers honking their horns, people shouting and noise from other sorts of mayhem. We feel your pain. Maybe you live close to a loud construction site, that’s even worse!

A good sound reducing curtain is a good way to help gain some peace and quiet in your home. Good choices are the NICETOWN Blackout Curtains or the Beautyrest 11239042X095IV Chenille.

 

 

Best Soundproof Curtain For Children’s Room

If you’re a new mom, there are few things more important to you than your newborn sleeping well. With all the noise that will upset your baby, from street noises to other kids in the house to neighbours, you need some good children blackout curtains to ensure your little one sleeps well.

Remember, sound reducing curtain help to block out light as well which will certainly help your little ones sleep much longer and much better. You should know that sleepless mornings are no fun!

An excellent soundproof curtain for your children’s room is the NICETOWN Blackout Curtain (link to Amazon).

We should also mention that probably the most important product to make your life easier when you have a baby is a sound dohm. The Marpac Sound Dohm (link to Amazon) is a great choice, for example.

 

 

High Light Blocking (Energy Efficient) Curtains

Eclipse Suede Energy-Efficient Curtains

If you are seeking curtains that block out a tremendous amount of light then, the Eclipse Suede Energy Efficient Curtains is an excellent choice. These curtains are made of suede and look very classy, as if they could be placed on a theatre stage, yet they aren’t very expensive.

For maximum light blocking, you should double up on the number of panels for your window width. Do not skimp on the length! By just following the directions, you should be able to achieve about 99% sunlight blocking with these curtains. In fact, you should also achieve about three to five times the noise reduction over normal sound reduction curtains.

 

 

Sound Absorbing Blankets

Sound absorption blankets are important for instances when you need full protection for an entire room, for example when you want to soundproof a garage for use as a recording studio.

 

 

Sound Reducing Curtains For Nurseries

One crying baby is bad enough, having several babies crying at once is a nightmare, just ask nursery nannies! Many nurseries are located in busy towns and in areas they are prone to noise from factories and other noisy sources. Sound reducing curtains are good choices to help deaden noises from the outside as well as inside.

Not only do sound reducing curtains help to deaden noise, but they also block out light which makes that afternoon nap easy on the kids. Remember, kids sleep extraordinary long hours and you really don’t want anything waking them up, or they will get testy!

An excellent soundproof curtain for your children’s room is the NICETOWN Blackout Curtain (link to Amazon).

We mentioned this for children’s’ rooms. We will also mention it for nurseries. The most important product to make your life easier when you have a baby is a sound dohm. The Marpac Sound Dohm (link to Amazon) is a great choice, for example.

 

 

Best Soundproof Curtains

NICETOWN Blackout Curtains with Panels for Bedroom

Nicetown Blackout Curtains are not only soundproof curtains, but they are blackout curtains as their name suggests. They do a great job of blocking out excess noise from outside.
They are thermally insulated which means they not only block out sunlight, but they help keep the room warm during the winter and cool during the summer. This means they will help you save on those expensive electricity bills!

Design: These curtains are made of high-quality polyester fabric that is manufactured using triple weave technology. Yet, the curtains are very elegant and rather soft which is surprising for blackout curtains. Moreover, they are available in several varieties, it’s easy to find one to fit the ambience of your home.

 

Beautyrest 11239042X095IV Chenille

Beautyrest darkening curtains are special blackout curtains which are rather subtle and elegant. They are great for darkening rooms and therefore giving you a good night’s or even day’s sleep. Of course, they also help to block noise from the outside helping you to relax in the comfort of your home.

Design: These are made of 100% polyester textured chenille fabric and are quite elegant and of high quality. Additional accessories such as rods (sold separately) may be added which make the curtains even more pleasing to the eyes. Moreover, they are can be easily washed and dried which means they are very durable.

 

Moondream Soundproof Curtains

The Moondream Soundproof Curtains are all about noise reduction. They are designed with three layers to improve noise reduction. Moondream claims that these curtains can achieve noise reduction of up to 7 decibels. The curtains also do a great job of blocking out sunlight and keeping an even temperature within the room.

Design: These curtains are special because they are made of Moondream’s patented 3-in-1 layer technology. These layers combine 100% of polyester on the first layer, with 99.99% of polyester as well as 0.01% aluminium on the second layer and 100% genuine cotton as its third layer.

 

 

Best Home Fashion Thermally Insulated Blackout Curtains

If you have trouble sleeping, then these blackout curtains are ideal for you. The Best Home Fashion Thermally Insulated Blackout Curtains are high quality blackout curtains which create the ideal sleeping environment for your or your kids. Not only that, but they will help to ease they effects of loud noises from outside as well as maintaining an even temperature within the room.

Design: These curtains are made of 100% polyester and are fully machine washable. Even though the fabric is insulated and thick, it is soft to the touch. These curtains are available in a variety of colors.

 

How To Get The Best Sound Reduction From Your Curtains

So now that you have purchased your new, shiny soundproof curtain, should you just go home and put it up and expect complete bliss? No, there are a few rules of thumb that you should follow to ensure maximum effectiveness:

Use Ceiling Brackets: Using ceiling brackets instead of the regular wall brackets to hang your curtain rod will, of course, bring your curtain closer to the ceiling; which will block more sound. This is why it’s important for soundproof curtains to be long and not short.

Use 4X Panels: Most people will purchase two panels for each window. However, to achieve maximum effectiveness, you should use four panels at each window. Using four panels for each window increases the density and therefore blocks more sound.

Position: Who would’ve thought that the position of the curtains also helps with noise reduction? Well, it does. Researchers have found that the ideal position to place your sound reduction curtains is about 15 to 20cm from the window or wall to allow them to absorb up to five times as much sound as a regular curtain.

 

Final Thoughts

By now, it should be clear that quality soundproof curtains are important to dampen noise in a room. While they may not give as much soundproofing as other soundproofing options such as soundproofing windows and other more professional methods, they offer more than enough noise reduction quality for most people, allowing them to continue with their normal lives without the annoyance of loud noises.

Bottom line, there are many ways you can soundproof your home but none are perhaps as convenient and cost-effective as soundproof curtains.
It is our hope that you have found the best option for your home and will enjoy some peace and quiet yourself. All the best!

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What Does RMS Stand for in Speakers?

If you are keen on reading the specifications for audio speakers, then you’ll likely come across the term RMS, which stands for Root Mean Square. This normally raises the question, what does rms stand for? RMS, Root Mean Square is a term used to rate a speaker’s capability in handling audio signal power.

Root Mean Square is a technical terms and we are assuming that you aren’t a mathematician, so we will explain it in simple terms. Moreover, you don’t need to understand the technical details to use RMS specifications correctly and effectively when comparing speakers.

So, What Does RMS Stand For?

Simply put, the RMS value specified on the speaker system indicates the amount of audio signal power that the speaker is capable of taking on a long-term basis. In other words, it’s similar to the average power capacity of the speaker. We say similar because average and RMS are two separate metrics when comparing speakers, however, they are very similar. We will explain further.

 

RMS, Average and Peak Values

Engineers and speaker manufacturers measure audio power in terms of average, peak and RMS watts:

Peak Power: Peak power is the maximum reading obtained when measuring the playback of a regular song. It’s the highest/maximum power that a speaker can handle at any given point in time before it starts to distort or clip.

Average Power: Average power tells you the amount of power that the speaker can manage for a prolonged period.
Technically, it is the alternating current voltage across a speaker’s terminal multiplied by the current through the speaker, times the power factor (that number relates to the efficiency of the system).

RMS: RMS is effective power. RMS power can be obtained by dividing the speaker’s current by 1.414 (square root of 2). It may also be obtained by multiplying the peak value by 0.707. That gives you a number close to the average value and provides a more accurate estimation of a speaker’s sustained power capability.

 

How To Convert From Peak To RMS

By now, you should have a clear answer to the question, “what does RMS stand for”. Now that you know what RMS means and how it relates to the peak value, you should look out for these metrics when seeking to purchase speakers.

Ideally, there should be a clear distinction among these values on the speaker’s specifications, but will not always be the case. However, it essential to know the difference, especially when you want to pair your system with an amplifier. For example, if the speaker indicates an average of 150W RMS, then it means that it can comfortably run with 150 watts of continuous power and handle a peak signal from a 213 watts amplifier.

Consequently, if the 150 watts value is the peak value, then the amount of power the speaker can handle is about 106 watts. Bear in mind that most manufacturers usually indicate the peak power, as it sounds impressive for marketing purposes.

However, don’t be fooled into comparing RMS of one speaker to peak power of another speaker. You should always measure RMS values and if a manufacturer only indicates peak values, then convert it to RMS. However, as long as you are cautious with the volume controls, then you can pair different speakers with any amplifier, no matter the power.

 

Comparing Speakers

As we’ve already established, most speaker manufacturers will usually indicate the peak power to make the product look superior to the buyer, though that may not be the case. However, using RMS values (the lower numbers), you can get a better idea of the speaker’s capabilities in handling power over a long-term period.

When choosing the type of speaker to buy, you want to compare the RMS rating of one model to another. If you make the mistake of equating RMS with Peak values, then you will most likely end up making the wrong choice.

The truth is, when comparing speakers, only use the RMS, the others are useless to you. This is because RMS refers to clean power/wattage. Think of RMS as a true listening rating.

 

Selecting An Amplifier Based On RMS

If you carefully go through the specification of many speakers, you will note that there is a range of amplifier power ratings indicated by the manufacturer. That shows the amount of power that the speaker can comfortably take. This range is usually 50-200 watts per channel; so you will have to acquire a powerful amplifier before you can cause any significant damage to the system.

The suggested amplifier range is a simple way of describing the speakers’ capabilities, and it makes it clear what will comfortably drive them without ruining its coil. It also makes it simple to understand what you need for your sound system, without the need to understand a lot of technical issues. It also indicates that you have a wide range of choices in matching the power of your speakers to the amplifier.

Ideally, you should try to find a close match between the RMS values of your speakers to that of the amplifier. That makes the point that you don’t necessarily have to match a 150-watt amp with 150 Watt speakers. Anything that is reasonably matched will be great, provided you don’t push your system to the extreme to avoid having problems. However, we recommend getting a slightly lower amplifier rating vs the speakers it will be driving just to play it safe.

However, you can have an amplifier that’s more powerful than the speaker’s RMS ratings, rather than less. That’s because you can regulate the amount of volume that goes into your speakers, and you can quickly note when you are starting to exceed their limits, before causing any significant damage.

On the other hand, a low powered amplifier will most likely require you to adjust the volume controls upwards to achieve a reasonable sound level. When you do this for a long time, the amp will start sending clipped waveforms and damage the speakers. Bear in mind that you want to get a comfortable listening volume that can handle the odd musical peak, without any stress.

 

Bottom Line

So whenever you hear the question what does RMS stand for? You are now equipped to answer effectively.

Though the RMS and peak values may sound complicated, you can comfortably use them while creating your ideal sound system (even without understanding the technical terms or the calculations involved). It’s crucial that you know the distinction between the two rating systems.

Of course, you should only use the RMS value to know the ideal speakers to buy. Keep in mind that most manufacturers don’t put a clear distinction, so it’s always safer to assume the number disclosed is a peak value (unless otherwise stated). Don’t forget to match your amplifiers correctly using the same values, if you like to crank up the volume of your audio for prolonged periods.

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What Does PPU Mean on Craigslist?

In a world of advanced technology, it is common to use acronyms during communication. Whether it’s a simple “LOL” (Laugh Out Loud) or “ASAP” (As Soon As Possible)), acronyms have been and will continue to be part of our communication. You have surely seen acronyms in newspaper classifieds.

In ads, acronyms are especially important because they save space and therefore save on ad costs. Acronyms are also useful in cases where there are word limitations. Finally, they help to improve the general readability of ads.

 

What Does PPU Mean on Craigslist?

Unfortunately, the use of acronyms is limited to readers that understand the full meaning. It is easy to misunderstand a message, or not understand the message altogether. For this reason, this article will focus on the meaning of PPU, and different contexts it may be used to give various meanings. With all the definitions at hand, it becomes easier to understand information.

PPU is a common acronym advertisers use on Craigslist. Craigslist is a website that acts a local list for everything in demand within your area. With easy access to advertisements for jobs, housing, items and goods on sale. The use of PPU is standard which explains item transfer methods and item availability.

 

• Item Transfer

Ad creators use PPU to tell interested buyers that they are expected to pick up items on sale in specific locations. If the advertisement is a sale by an owner, PPU means “Please Pick Up.”

The owner of the object on sale is, therefore, unwilling to deliver the item on the ad. As a buyer, you should, thus, arrange for your means of collection.
However, many sellers will be willing to handle delivery as long as you can pay for insurance and freight fee. Contact the seller to agree, before giving up on an item you are interested in.
On the other hand, free category advertisements use PPU to refer to “Porch Pick Up.” This means that the seller will leave the item on your porch for pickup.

 

• Item Availability

Sometimes, a customer may decide not to pick up an item, thereby creating a “no show” situation. In this context, an ad creator may be forced to repost the item for other interested parties to see, but still, indicate that the item may still get picked up. PPU in this instance means “Pending Pick Up.”

In most case, the date and time will be indicated to help other parties make inquiries. It is advisable to contact the seller to confirm the details of the item.

 

Does PPU Mean No Shipping

Based on the meanings we have already described for PPU, it basically means that the seller of the item intends for the buyer to pick up the item. However, if you are interested in shipping, don’t let this prevent you from inquiring about the item.

In many cases, even though people use PPU in their ad, they will be willing to ship the item if you are willing to cover the cost of shipping.

 

 

What Does PPU Mean on Facebook?

Fortunately, PPU has similar meanings on Facebook as earlier described, that is, “Please Pick Up,” “Porch Pick Up,” and “Pending Pick Up.”  For this reason, it is common to see it on pages that feature items on sale.

However, since PPU has different meanings, remember to check the ad for details. Usually, a date and time next to PPU means “Pending Pick Up”. If the meaning is still unclear, contact the ad creator. Some ad creators use PPU because they cannot cover shipping and insurance costs. Reach out to them and come to an agreement.

 

 

What About Other Meanings?

What we have already featured above are the more popular meanings of PPU. However, there are many other meanings that you will come across on the internet and other places.  Since we have featured the most popular meaning of PPU, let us go through some of the less popular definitions.

Some of these meanings are particular to specific groups and are less likely to feature on buy-and-sell websites, or on Facebook selling pages.

 

 

 

PPU in Computing and Technology

Peripheral Processing Unit: These are devices used for input, output, or storage, and are controlled by the Central Processing Unit. Examples are the mouse, keyboard, and hard disk.

 

Physics Processing Unit: This is a device that is used in computers to help with Physics algorithms and games and therefore offloads the computer’s CPU. Though not popular nowadays the most popular and commercialized model is PhysX by Ageia.

 

Picture Processing Unit: This is a microprocessor responsible for generating video signals from graphics data stored in the memory.

 

Power Processing Unit: These are circuit devices that are used to convert electricity from an input source to the appropriate voltage required by the device in question.

 

Portable Production Unit: This is a device used by broadcasters and camera operators for onsite production, and can comfortably fit into the back of a van. Portable Production Units are required for live events and recordings.

 

Portable Pilot Unit: This is a computer-based navigation system used by mariners when onboard a vessel. Mariners use PPUs to see their locations, environment, and to know more details such as water depths, current, and security zones.

 

Packet Processing Unit: This is used in packet processing in computers where it refers to the variety of algorithms that are applied to a packet of information as it flows through different elements of a communications network.

 

Parallel Processing Unit: In this case, PPU is used within the constraints of parallel computing where several calculations or different processes are performed simultaneously.

 

 

 

PPU in Business

 

Pay Per Use: This a favourite payment plan established for metered connections where customers have access to unlimited resources, but only pay for what they use. The concept can also be used in service provision through cloud-based computing to reduce software piracy.

 

Price Per Unit: This is a common business term that refers to the amount a vendor charges for items. It refers to the price consumers pay for good and depends on the cost-per-unit of the item in question. The price may be subject to changes by the vendor and is mostly a percentage of the cost-per-unit.

 

 

 

Issues With Other Meanings

As you can see by now, PPU has several meanings, whether you see it on the internet or somewhere else. Since there are several meanings for PPU, you should always check the ad which you see the acronym in for details that reveal its meaning. What do we mean by this? Here’s an example:

Let’s say you see an add with PPU and next to PPU is a date and time. This usually means “Pending Pick Up.” That’s just a simple example where additional details in the ad reveals the exact meaning of PPU.

 

 

Wrap up

The meaning derived from PPU heavily relies on the context in which the acronym is used. With an understanding of some of the meanings above, it will be easier for you to navigate web pages, and communicate efficiently.

However, since the definition is subject to changes, it is always advisable to ask for more details if the meaning is vague. All in all, it should be easier to use the acronym PPU confidently.

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The Complete Guide To The Best Earplugs For Concerts

 

Your Guide To Protecting Your Ears While Attending Concerts – The Best Earplugs On The Market In 2018

Concerts, music festivals, live performances – if you attend these events regularly you may be familiar with the negative effects of the loud music on your hearing. We all enjoy experiencing our favourite musicians on stage – seeing them perform live. However, when the music really ‘hits’ and you hear that ringing in your ears you know the pain is about to begin!

What many people do not realize is that damage to the ears does not always cause immediate signs and symptoms. Sometimes, the damage occurs over a long period of time and leads to complete hearing loss later in life.

We love our music here at BoomSpeaker, but we are serious about safety as well, so we have taken the time to prepare our top picks of the best concert ear plugs. Whether it may be for a nightclub, festival, concert or whatever else, these devices will protect your hearing and provide a better overall better experience.

 

Why Wear Earplugs To Concerts? How Loud Is Too Loud?

You may be asking, bow loud is too loud anyway? While the purpose of this guide is to present our readers with the best earplugs they can buy in 2018, we should really start out by taking a look at why you should definitely consider wearing earplugs when going to a music concert in the first place. Knowing the consequences of not wearing the adequate ear protection at a music concert is vital – this will help you realize just how important wearing earplugs is and also help you make the decision to wear a higher-quality type of earplug that will offer improved protection against the high-volume sounds.

Data published by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders explain that as much as 17% of teenagers in the United States, and as much as 24% of all adults within the country, suffer from some level of hearing loss in either one ear or both ears. What caused this? The data shows that one common cause was an attendance of music festivals and concerts, where millions of people are exposed to music at volumes much higher than what is considered safe.

The American Hearing Research Foundation explains that, on average, a rock concert usually exposes the human ear to a sound of 115 decibels, which is EXTREMELY LOUD!. They continue to explain that it is advised to avoid exposing the ears to more than 15 minutes of sound at 115 decibels on a daily basis, or damage may occur to the ears. A post on NPR Music’s blog explains that 90 minutes is a good average length of most music concerts. This means your ears are exposed to excessively loud sounds at approximately 115 decibels for around 75 minutes more than what is considered your daily safe limit when you choose to attend a rock music concert. Hey, this is some serious stuff!

 

Types Of Earplugs

There are many different types of earplugs on the market, but many people do not realize this. Walk into your local convenience store and you’ll find a limited selection of foam-based earplugs. These are the most common and also the cheapest option. They are, however, not the most comfortable and not the most effective option when it comes to providing an adequate level of protection for your ears.

Don’t get us wrong – foam-based earplugs are better than nothing. If you are on your way to a concert and the only place that’s open is a convenience store, then stop by and grab a pair of foam earplugs, sure. Even though these earplugs are unable to provide a maximum level of protection and comfort, they are still useful.

Let’s take a look at the most common types of earplugs that you can find on the market.

 

Foam-Based Earplugs

As mentioned, foam-based earplugs are extremely common. They are used by millions of people for a variety of reasons. Your partner snores in bed? Drive to your local convenience store and you’ll be able to buy a pair of these earplugs for only a few dollars. These earplugs offer a universal fit, instead of a custom-fit, which means anyone can buy them as they should fit in all ears, large or small.

Foam-based earplugs are inserted easily into the ear and they are usually comfortable to wear. This is usually the most important benefit of these earplugs for most people. The issue is however, it can be difficult to find the perfect fit that will completely block out the majority of noises. In fact, these earplugs don’t normally reduce noises to a completely safe level, they just lower noises to a ‘tolerable’ level.

 

Flanged Earplugs

When it comes to affordability, flanged earplugs falls just after foam-based earplugs. These earplugs also offer a universal fit, which means there is no need to have your ears measured, you don’t have to spend a significant amount of money and you don’t have to wait for a pair of earplugs to be made. Flanged earplugs are readily available at numerous locations, but they will most likely not be as readily available in your local area as foam-based earplugs.

It should be noted that, when it comes to comfort, foam-based earplugs offer a more comfortable fit than flanged earplugs.

These earplugs are designed with rims which are formed into cone-like shapes. When placed into the ear, the cones create a seal inside the ear canal, therefore blocking outside noise. This is why flanged earphones tend to be popular among musicians.

 

High-Fidelity Earplugs

Now let’s talk about hi fi! They are often used by musicians to help them protect their ears against extremely loud noises experienced while performing. They are also used by “behind-the-scene” crews such as photographers, videographers and other professionals.

High-fidelity earplugs offer numerous benefits over the cheaper options available on the market, including flanged and foam-based earplugs. While these are somewhat more expensive than the previous two options we mentioned, the benefits outweigh the price difference.

The purpose of high-fidelity earplugs is to reduce the intensity of the sound that is exposed to the wearer’s ears – the quality of the sound remains the same. When buying high-fidelity earplugs, you can either buy a universal one, which fits any ear, or visit an audiologist, who will be able to take measurements of your ear and have a set of custom high-fidelity earplugs designed for you.

 

Custom-Molded Earplugs

Custom-molded earplugs offer the highest level of protection among the different options available on the market at the moment, but they also fetch for the highest price. To obtain a set of custom-molded earplugs, you will first have to make an appointment and pay a visit to an audiologist. The audiologist will take measurements of both your ears, and then create a special mold from the measurements. The mold will then be used to create a special set of earplugs that will be designed to offer your ears the perfect fit.

Custom-molded earplugs are produced by a limited number of companies, including Sensaphonics and JH Audio. These options usually go for a minimum of $100 per pair of earplugs. It should be noted that the $100+ does not include your appointment with the audiologist, which will incur further costs. While custom-molded earphones do tend to cost a lot more than any other option on the market, the level of protection combined with the level of comfort, is usually well worth the money. As noted previously, custom-molded earplugs can also be obtained in a high-fidelity option to help reduce the volume of outside noise, but without affecting the clearness or quality of the sound.

 

The Best Earplugs For Concerts And Live Music

Now you should see the need for adequate hearing protection while attending concerts and other live events.  You should also be able to distinguish between the different types of earplugs that are available on the market, and recognize a more adequate option for the particular type of music concert you are planning to attend.

So, without further delay, here are our top picks for the best earplugs for concerts and live events…

 

 

1. Greatest Protection: Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs For Concerts Musicians

First on our list of top earplugs in 2018 is Eargasm’s High-Fidelity earplugs. These are state-of-the-art, top-quality earplugs that deliver some of the best protection you can possibly wish for when it comes to attending live events. The High-Fidelity earplugs by Eargasm are used by over 100,000 happy customers so far, and is trusted by many musicians. These earplugs are often recommended by associations that provide information and management services for music festivals and music concerts. The best feature of the Eargasm High-Fidelity earplugs is that these earplugs offer the ability to enjoy listening to your favorite musician performing live or even hear people talking with clarity, but not hearing any excessive noise!

These earplugs have been designed to reduce extreme noise without having any type of effect on the quality of the sound. Another neat feature of the design if that it is made with hypo-allergic soft silicone which will allow you to wear them comfortably for very long periods of time.

 

Pros:

• Offers a high-level of protection against outside noise.
• Available at a very affordable price. These earplugs can be purchased on Amazon for about $30.
• Ergasm’s High-Fidelity earplugs are trusted by some of the top music festivals around the world.
• The plug-part of these earplugs are made from a soft silicone that is hypo-allergic, which means they are perfect for extended wear.

 

Cons:

• These earplugs are not as readily available as some other options, especially when comparing the availability to foam-based earplugs.
• Eargasm’s products are not sold in all countries, which means individuals interested in these earplugs who reside in a country where the brand’s products are not stocked will not to pay extra fees for shipping.

 

2. Most Reusable: DownBeats Reusable High Fidelity Hearing Protection

Next on our list is the DownBeats Reusable High-Fidelity Hearing Protection earplugs, another excellent option if you are looking to buy a pair of high-fidelity earplugs. These earplugs are similar to the Eargasm earplugs meaning they are filters.

What do we mean by filters?

We mean instead of blocking outside sound like some other options on the market, these earplugs are able to help you hear the high-quality sounds from the environment but without allowing you to be exposed to the harmful noises that are also out there. Yep, unwanted noises are left out in the crowd!

These earplugs are able to reduce the intensity of the sound by approximately 18 decibels, and deliver a sound between 87 decibels and 92 decibels, which gives you up to eight hours of harm-free listening.

 

Pros:

• The earplugs come with a durable and convenient aluminum carry case that makes it easy to carry them with you, no matter where you go.
• Two different options are available when buying DownBeats Reusable High-Fidelity Hearing Protection earplugs. The Long Stem DownBeats provide an easier and more convenient way to insert and remove the earplugs on-the-go.
• DownBeats offers a Long Stem version for larger fit.

 

Cons:

• The original version of these earplugs might be difficult to insert and remove while on-the-move. This means you may have to spend more money to buy the Long Stem version of the product if you need the added convenience.
• DownBeats products are not sold in all countries.

3. Most Affordable: Hearos Ultimate Softness Series Foam Earplugs

If you are looking for a more affordable solution to protecting your ears when attending a music concert, then the Hearos Ultimate Softness Series earplugs may be the perfect option for you. The Hearos Ultimate Softness Series are general purpose soft foam ear plugs for all noise reduction and hearing protection so they aren’t the most effective (as we have already explained about foam earplugs) but they are good enough if you aren’t going to be using them for long periods in an event where the noise isn’t very loud.

These are some of the best foam-based earplugs that you can find on the market, and they offer a higher level of comfortability and protection than many of the other foam-based earplugs that are currently available. The Hearos Ultimate Softness Series earplugs come in packs of 20 earplugs, and only costs about $7 on Amazon. See, pretty inexpensive!

 

Pros:

• The earplugs offer a neutral color, which means they will blend it with your skin and not make it obvious that you are wearing earplugs.
• Hearos utilizes a special polyurethane foam that provides a premium experience to the wearer, which includes a higher level of comfort as compared to some of the other foam-based earplugs you can buy.
• These earplugs offer a noise reduction of approximately 32 decibels, which is much higher than many of the other options out there.

 

Cons:

• These earplugs are disposable, which might make them convenient, but it also means you’ll have to continuously buy more of them.
• The Hearos Ultimate Softness Series earplugs have been designed to block sound, and not filter sound, as with a High-Fidelity earplug. This means you will not be able to preserve the quality of the sound you are exposed to.

 

 

4. Most Convenient: Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs

Finally, this one is for those of you who are looking for a higher-quality option. The Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs have numerous benefits to offer over other options on the market. One of the most significant features is the fact that there is no need to visit an audiologist in order to use these earplugs. You can easily mold them to the shape of your ear at home! This is very convenient and allows for a more comfortable, customized fit.

Another major benefit would most certainly be the price – at only $25.99, you get a custom molded pair of earplugs! After purchase, you simply use warm water to heat up the earplugs, and then shape them to your ears. The earplugs will retain the shape of your ears, which means, in the future, you can easily pop them into your ears whenever you need protection. Good stuff!

 

Pros:

• These earplugs offer you the convenience of custom-molded earplugs without the large price tag often associated with these earplugs, and without the need for visiting an audiologist.
• Since these earplugs are shaped to your unique ear, they will offer a more comfortable and perfect fit as compared to earplugs that feature a universal fit.
• The earplugs can be easily remolded – if you do something wrong during the initial process, simply heat and mold again.

 

Cons:

• These earplugs are not available at local convenience stores, so there is no way to obtain them when you are in a hurry. You will have to log on to the official online store of the brand to order a pair.
• Since you first need to heat and mold these earplugs, the first application is not for those on-the-go.

 

Are You Suffering From Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?

If you suspect that you are suffering from hearing loss, then you have our sympathies as we will try our best to assist you below.

Firstly, we are not doctors, but there are some tell take signs that may be used to identify hearing loss. When these signs are detected after you have attended a music concert, you should ideally make an appointment with your doctor to have your ears checked out and to have your hearing tested.

The Better Hearing Institute explains that particular signs that individuals should be wary of include:

• No being able to hear what someone is saying, especially if they are standing within three feet from you.
• After leaving the concert, experiencing a sensation of “fullness” in either one or both of your ears may be a sign of damage.
• If you are able to hear what someone is saying, but find it difficult to understand and process the information they are sharing with you, it may also be a sign of damage to your ears.
• Signs of tinnitus also signals hearing impairment. This usually includes a buzzing or ringing sound in the ears. If damage has occurred while you attended the music concert, then signs of tinnitus may develop soon after you leave the noisy area.

Now, if you are experiencing these symptoms after a live event, then you are likely suffering from noise-induced hearing loss.

In addition to noting the symptoms, it’s important to realize that damage that is dealt to the ears due to exposure to high decibel sounds can be either temporary or irreversible. In case of temporary hearing loss or impaired hearing, the reduction in hearing ability may restore to an optimal level by allowing the ears some rest from exposure to loud noises. In a case where irreversible damage has been suffered, the affected individual would be affected by the level of hearing loss they have suffered from for the rest of their life. While hearing aids are available to assist with improving hearing abilities, the natural hearing ability would not be restored, even with extensive rest and with preventing future events where the ears are exposed to loud noises.

Of course, with rapid advances in technology, there is always new hope. Of course, it is always recommended that you speak with your doctor to get medial advice.

Conclusion

If you are planning on attending a concert or festival in the near future, then I’m sure by now you see the need for a good pair of earplugs. Your ability to hear is a gift. Your ears are sensitive structures that allow you to hear the world around you can be damaged easily.  If you do not take care of your ears by exposing them to significant levels of strain from loud noise during concerts other live events, you may end up with severe problems.

This can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, which may often include temporary hearing problems but, in some cases, may also lead to more permanent impairments in your ability to hear. Like us here at BoomSpeaker, we know you enjoy your music, we know you enjoy live events, but we are also sure you like hearing as well, so ensure you grab one of the best earplugs for concerts from this list and take care of your ears!

 

The post The Complete Guide To The Best Earplugs For Concerts appeared first on Boom Speaker.

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Best Budget Speakers For Vinyl Record Players

In an era where the music industry is drowning in free downloads and low-pay subscription services, to most people, vinyl sounds like an old technology. If you have a vinyl record, you probably bought it yourself way back when or perhaps had it handed down to you. On the other hand, if you’re an audiophile, you’re well aware that vinyl is making a strong comeback.

For good reason too, firstly because vinyl generally sounds better than compressed digital formats, secondly there’s that special hum of the needle and of course, the nostalgia of it all. It’s a truly unique sonic experience.

Record player with speakers

So, if you have a record player or turntable, you may want to hold on to it. In fact, if you’re obsessed with audiophile-quality sound, you may want to purchase a few speakers for your record player. Some people may even be surprised by the term ‘speakers for record player’ as not everyone knows record players use speakers, but they surely do.

A pair of quality speakers attached to your record player is the perfect mix of old-school charm and modern cool. Whether you have a single Bob Marley record or a hundred albums from The Flying Club Cup to Blonde on Blonde, adding a good set of speakers is a great way to improve your music system. These are our pics for the best speakers for vinyl. Take your time to find the best one for your own setup.

 

Why Don’t I Buy A Record Player With In-built Speakers?

Before we get into the list, people sometimes ask the question, why don’t I just buy a record player that already has a speaker?

When record players and turntables are designed with built-in speakers, it is done for portability and convenience. In other words, they are not designed for high fidelity, so most hi fi record players aren’t designed with speakers. This is because record players with built-in speakers tend to be tiny and as such, the speakers are also small and therefore can’t play as loudly and powerfully as other, larger more powerful speakers.

Record player with built in speakers

In fact, they tend to produce some distortion and poor bass. These all in one solutions just don’t deliver the best experience.
In addition, most all in one record players aren’t upgradable. You can hook them up to a better speaker, but you won’t be able to change certain components such as the arm or cartridge.

 

Easiest Speakers To Setup For Your Record Player

Klipsch Reference R-15PM Monitor

If you are like most people, you are looking for the easiest way out. You want a speaker that is easy to set up, plug and play! You don’t want to mess around with manuals and wires and tape. Moreover, if you’ve never owned a record player or haven’t owned one for several years, it’s rather daunting figuring out where to even start.

The R-15PM is your best bet if you are looking for the easiest way to get your speaker hooked up to your record player. Taking less than 5 minutes, it is really a breeze to set up. Why? The R-15PM only includes the following:

1. A belt-driven turntable
2. Powered stereo bookshelf speakers
3. Connected wires

In other words, it’s the makings of an excellent starter system. As Klipsch boasts… just add vinyl. It’s really that simple! Literally, plug and play.

 

Build and Design

The R-15PM is a small medium bookshelf speaker at 12.5 inches high and 7 inches wide. Probably the most obvious feature about them is those big bold gold speaker covers.

Don’t they look cool? Those are Klipsch’s 5.25-inch “Spun Copper Cerametallic Cone Woofers”, designed to deliver awesome sound with huge dynamic swings. Accompanying the woofers is a 1-inch horn-loaded Tractrix tweeter.

One of the major advantages of the R-15PM is its connectivity. While you might be buying the speakers for your record player, you can also connect it to your computer, TV or even a cell phone.

The R-15PM was designed with a brushed black vinyl wrap which is often used for budget speakers. The downside is that it’s easier for the vinyl wrap to mark and scuff easier than wood veneer/vinyl wraps.
The speakers are accompanied by a small remote/clicker which offers basic controls such as volume, skipping, etc.

 

Performance and Sound Quality

As mentioned before, the R-15PM is a bit smaller than most medium-sized bookshelf speakers, so it’s relatively small. However, don’t use its size to judge its performance. This little device delivers strong range and excellent dynamic punch that even some larger speakers don’t come close to.

On the low end, the speakers deliver a fair amount of bass, but there is some room for improvement at the lowest bass frequencies. If you are looking for maximum bass output, we definitely recommend adding a subwoofer. We had excellent results with the SVS SB-1000 – 12”, 300 Watt DSP Controlled, Sealed Box Subwoofer (Black Ash). Pairing the SVS SB-1000 with the R-15PM produces powerful bass and a strong overall performance.

The issue is, the SVS SB-1000 will set you back about $500, so you may want to go with a cheaper option such as the Dayton Audio SUB-800 8-Inch 80 Watt Powered Subwoofer (Black). At less than $100, this subwoofer is a good, inexpensive option to pair with the R-15PM.

At the medium and high end, the R-15PM delivers high energy, punchy and lively sound. There are other speakers which deliver less excited, smoother sound, but the drawback is that most of these devices also sound a bit harsh, especially at the high end.

The R-15PM made this list partially due to its phono preamp. However, if your record player already has a pre amp, bypass the preamp on the R-15PM and see how it sounds when you plug it directly into the record player’s preamp. In some cases, you’ll notice that the sound quality is improved. This is especially noticeable for those vinyl lovers who are keen on smooth, clean sound.

 

Pros

• Easy to setup
• Simple operation
• Abundant features
• Integrated phono pre-amp
• Solid build and design
• Bluetooth wireless technology
• Speakers sound larger than they are
• Analog RCA and USB inputs

 

Cons

• While it’s easy to set up, you’ll have to deal with four different connections that may look messy unless you spend some time organizing them.
• You may need to purchase a subwoofer for maximum bass output

 

Verdict

At a little less than $500, this speaker does offer performance above its price class. The key advantage of the Klipsch R-15PM is the ease of setup. If you’re looking to get into vinyl for the first time or just looking for simplicity and convenience, this is the speaker for you. Moreover, it offers an abundance of features that most lovers will appreciate.

 

 

 

Best Passive Home Theatre Speaker Your Record Player

Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-160 Home Theater System

One of the main reasons people get into vinyl is the desire to free themselves from overly compressed music. Klipsch has had a long tradition of being different. The RP-160M bookshelf speakers provide over top-level performance and true audiophile-grade quality. Like all Klipsch Reference Premiere speakers, they feature 90×90 hybrid Tractrix horns, Tractrix ports, Linear Travel Suspension titanium and spun copper Cerametallic woofers. With the RP-160M, old school meets new school in the best possible way.
Klipsch has really distinguished itself as one of America’s premier home theatre device manufacturers. With the RP-160M, they provide bold, theatre-quality sound in a compact, bookshelf speaker.

 

 

Build and Design

Like other speakers in Klipsch’s premium speaker line, you’ll notice that the RP-160M features titanium tweeters and copper-toned cerametallic woofers. Of course, you’ll also notice the trademark Tractrix Klipsch horn which spirals out from the tweeters to meet the sleek and stylish “Brushed Polymer Veneer Baffle Finish”. This design of the circular horn throat is to create enhanced sound staging.
The striking 6.5-inch woofer is also designed with the company’s “cerametallic” material. The sub helps the speaker achieve the acclaimed frequency response of 45Hz to 25kHz (+/- 3dB).

The RP-160M is not the smallest speaker you’ll find. In fact, it’s rather bulky, when compared to other speakers in its class. At 16.67 inches tall and 8.81 inches wide, they are fairly large for stand-mounters.
As an all in one system, the RP160 is the centrepiece, but the system also includes the RP-250C centre channel, RP-250S bipole surround speakers and R-110SW subwoofer. What are these items?

Let’s break them down:

R-110SW subwoofer: Has a 450-watt amplifier and 10-inch cerametallic woofer.
RP-250C: 1″ Linear Travel Suspension Titanium Tweeter
RP-250S: Surround Sound Dual 1″ Linear Travel Suspension Titanium Tweeter

 

 

 

Sound Quality and Performance

Before we mention anything else, we should point out…
When it comes to setting up the Klipsch RP-160M, it is wise to note a few rules of thumb. The speakers should be placed in an equilateral triangle (i.e. a perfect triangle of equal sides). If you can’t place them in an exact equatorial triangle, try to get as close to it as possible. In addition, try to get the tweeters at or about ear level. Finally, for good spatial sound image, these speakers are designed to be placed on a rear side wall, but not too close.

The RP-160M is widely used for home theatre systems. People trust these speakers for their home theatres because they deliver bold, high quality and powerful sound that you would expect from a dynamic and impactful surround system.

The advantage of this speaker is its efficiency. Even when it’s modestly powered, the RP-160M can deliver enthusiasm and power and will make you feel as if you are witnessing a live event. If you’re concerned about power usage, then this speaker is a great choice.
“The RP-160M monitor also meshes satisfyingly with vinyl…” – Mark Fleischmann

 

Pros

• Delivers excellent performance
• Very efficient
• High sensitivity – doesn´t require a lot of power.
• Frequency response of 45Hz to 25kHz (+/- 3dB).

 

 

Cons

• Bulky design (a bit too big for a bookshelf)
• Not a budget system

 

 

Verdict

Klipsch’s has successfully trickled down a lot of its technology in ultra-high-end speakers to the RP-160M. They have been able to do so without the heavy price tag normally accompanied by ultra-high-end models. The speakers deliver lively and thoroughly enjoyable home theatre dynamics and efficiency like no other.

 

 

 

 

 

Best Budget Speaker For Your Record Player
Reference R-14M
If you know anything about Boomspeaker.com, you’ll know that we are all about getting the best deals. Affordability is one of the most important factors we consider when making recommendations. Speakers for record players and turntables are generally expensive. However, if you are on a budget, you still want the best bang for your buck, after all, vinyl isn’t cheap. That’s where the Reference R-14M comes in. It’s the best speaker for record players and turntables on a budget.

Build and Design
The Reference R-14M is undoubtedly a small package. In fact, compared to other speakers in its class (bookshelf), it’s rather tiny at 5.88 x 7.5 x 9.75 in and weighing 14.1 lbs.
Like other Reference speakers, the R-14M features a cool looking 1″ aluminium Linear Travel Suspension horn-loaded tweeter and an even cooler looking 4″ copper-spun high-output IMG woofer. Encompassing both is a brushed black polymer veneer cabinet.
Sound Quality
Don’t be fooled by the small size or the small price. Here at Boom speaker, we only recommend quality. The R-14M may be small, but believe us, it is very efficient and can easily fill small to medium rooms with powerful, lifelike performances, playing beautifully as a left, centre, right or surround speaker. In fact, lit can play louder with less distortion than many larger speakers. Yes, it can deliver a surprising amount of output to really own the room.

Verdict
Quite simply, the R-14M is generally a good mix of sound and affordability. It is attainable on a budget and is good enough to comfortably entertain an entire room.

Pros
Powerful
Affordable

Cons
Nothing really at this price point

Q Acoustics 3020
That massive success of Q Acoustics is no less than astounding, especially considering that the company was just started in 2006. This success is largely due to the company’s history in producing affordable, yet class-leading speakers, such as the Q Acoustics 3020. The Q Acoustics 3020 may be on the smaller side when compared to other speakers in its class, but make no mistake, this little device packs a powerful punch! Very few speakers as affordable as the 320 deliver the kind of dynamic range and engagement that this device produces.
Build and Design
From first glance, you can tell that the 320 was carefully designed. It is minimal, yet includes intricate concepts that can only come from careful attention to detail. At just 10 inches tall by 9 inches deep and 6.7 inches wide, this is a small speaker. However, the design is intricate enough to deliver good sound from the small cabinet enclosure. The speakers are designed so that the Aramid Fibre driver and soft dome tweeter are acoustically decoupled from the enclosure which is made of 15mm MDF panels. The panels are even braced in certain places to control resonance. This allows the delivery of excellent sound from a small device. It’s a truly well-engineered box and feels very solid.
As mentioned, even the tweeters are specially designed. The 25mm tweeter is a hybrid of ring and dome designs and uses ferrite magnets rather than the regular neodymium. Moreover, the tweeter itself if fully decoupled from the cabinet structure by butyl rubber to reduce resonance. All this has the effect of creating smoother highs with low distortion and wider dispersion.
Along with the normal matt enclosure, the 320 is also available in four other finishes – white, graphite, walnut and leather. These colors are also available in glossy finish for a higher price of $329. This selection of four different finishes plus its small size means it’s a good fit for any décor, home or office.

Performance and Sound Quality
Firstly, if you are planning on placing the speaker in the corner of a room, on a stand for example, that may not work out so well. The 320 has a rear port, so if you jam it up against the wall, the sound may be muffled a little. Apart from that, you should be fine.
The first thing you’ll notice about the performance of the 320 is how dynamic it is, for such a small device. These speakers really excel at the high end and offer good mid-range with minimal to no strain or harshness. For a speaker this small, its ease with dynamics is impressive. However, the low end is not very impressive. The 320 is not a bass performer. It’s easy to see why, the speaker just has a 5-inch driver. Of course, you can achieve better low-end results if you hook it up to a stereo receiver. We had pretty good results with the Onkyo TX 8020. Should you go as far as purchasing a subwoofer? It’s a good idea, especially if you are going to be using the speakers in a larger room. Adding a sub make the 320 sound much more accurate and natural, after all a good sub should take care of everything below 75hz. Hey if you want to stick with Q Acoustics, the Q Acoustics 3070S subwoofer is a great option.

Pros
Delivers dynamic and detailed performance
Excellent design and build
Four colour options
Compact size
Excellent build and design
Frequency response is measured at 64Hz – 22kHz (+/- 3 dB) and the rated sensitivity is 88db

Cons
Weak low end (bass isn’t very strong)

Verdict
The Q Acoustics 3020 speaker delivers lively performances with distinct ‘audiophile’ quality. Not many speakers can match it in terms of sound clarity. When we consider the performance and precision that this speaker delivers, the low price tag is quite surprising. While larger Q Acoustics models such as the Q Acoustics M2 offer better bass and in some cases a fuller mi-range, the 3020 is the one to get if budget is low and space is tight.

Best For Bass To Mid-Range Setup
Wharfedale – Diamond 220

If you are familiar with the Diamond 121, then you’ll know that the biggest issue most people had with it was its poor design finish. It just didn’t impress as far as design and build were concerned. The Diamond 220 has come to rectify the design flaws of the 121 along with a slew of additional, really cool features.

Build and Design
The Diamond 220 is an upgrade to the 121 in all respects, especially design. The speaker is designed with a generally layered cabinet construction. Two thin layers of MDF sandwich the chipboard section, then vinyl is glued onto the smooth MDF surfaces. The combination of the clipboard and MDF create a smooth, ripple-free finish that the 121 lacks. Moreover, both materials help to dampen resonance, limiting the cabinet’s influence on the sound of the speakers. This way, you hear more of the drive units coming through and there’s less distortion from the cabinet.

Performance and Sound Quality
In addition to the redesign of the cabinet, Diamond made several other changes that influence the sound and general performance of the speaker units.
Firstly, the 13cm woven Kevlar mid/bass driver was designed with a much larger margent. Of course, this makes the speaker more responsive, meaning it’s much easier to drive. Secondly, a ferrite magnet is used rather than the regular neodymium, not just because ferrite is cheaper, but because it produces a smoother, clearer sound.
Finally, Wharfedale has put in a lot of work to improve the speaker’s bass performance. For one, they designed a downward firing reflex port instead of placing it at the rear or front as is usually done. The benefit of this improved port efficiency and gives you the ability to place the speakers almost anywhere without worrying about bass performance. Still, it’s best to place the speakers close to a rear wall as possible for best sound balance.
Finally, the ports have been redesigned to reduce distortion and increase efficiency.
With all the upgrades that Wharfedale has made to the Diamond 220, the quality of the sound is still the most important factor as far as we are concerned. Due to the arrangement of the reflex port and other factors, the 220 has a powerful low end. The bass is deep, maintained and agile. In fact, the mid and high ranges deliver extreme power, the kind of power you wouldn’t expect from a speaker this size.
Of special note is the high degree of audio substance delivered through the frequency ranges with excellent stereo imaging and good, dynamic projection.

Verdict
If you are looking for an exceptional speaker with good bass and powerful mid to high range, then the Wharfedale – Diamond 220 is your best bet. Truly one of the best hi-fi speakers you can purchase for less than sub-£200.

Pros
Excellent balance and powerful sound
Minimal design
Deep, controlled bass

Cons
Nothing major to note

JBL Studio 230

If you are American, then you are likely familiar with JBL. Founded all the way back in 1946, JBL manufactures speakers and related electronics. As such, they have extensive experience in developing devices for audiophiles. The Studio 230 is no exception. The Studio 230 is a 2-way bookshelf loudspeaker and is part of the of the revolutionary and innovative JBL Studio 2 loudspeaker series.
The sound is as bold as its physical presentation. Genres such as rock and heavy metal do well with these speakers. We are talking about loud, powerful sound that is ‘wide’ enough to fill a large room. You may want to use it to power your next party!

Design
The Studio 230 is a minimal, yet elegantly designed speaker. If you look closely, you’ll realize that the device was designed with black gloss panelling, and soft-touch paint, which is quite pleasing when you see it up-close.
The first thing you’ll probably notice about the Studio 230 is the High Definition Imaging (HDI) (horn) enclosure on the tweeter. Each Studio 230 features a 2-way design that integrates a 1″ CMMD Lite High-Frequency dome tweeter and a 6.5″ PolyPlas woofer. Combined with that is a rear-firing bass port with a slipstream designed enclosure and the already mentioned ‘horn’ designed to deliver optimum frequency response and balance. These design specs combine to deliver dynamic, powerful sound and reduced port noise and distortion.

Sound Quality
The features a number of design details to ensure optimum frequency response ranging from low bass to the bright, yet non-harsh high-end. What do we mean by a bright high end? We mean the high end offers the kind of etched detail that some listeners crave. However, some people may not like the tonal balance at the high end. Possibly the most impressive sound comes in at the mid-range, so the trade-off is that the 320s often seemed to be at their best at low to moderate levels.
How does the Studio 230 deliver such high output at the mid-range and high end? It’s the 6.5” PolyPlas midrange driver. It brings pitch-perfect clarity with accuracy and strength. When that is combined with the 1” CMMD Lite high-frequency driver, the Studio 230 is capable of delivering a masterful performance. In fact, if you require additional power, with a recommended power handling of 20 – 150W per speaker, the JBL Studio 230 is compatible with a wide variety of amplifiers. As an example, the SMSL SA50 should be just fine, but if you want to go for the overkill, you could get something like the SMSL SMSL SA-98E.

Verdict
If you are searching for efficiency, then the JBL Studio 230 is right up your alley. After all, JBL has established itself as a worthwhile brand capable of building masterful products. This one unrivalled efficiency and excellent, high output midrange.

Pros
Efficient, high output
Affordable price

Cons
Thin top end
Best at low-to-moderate volumes

TANNOY Eclipse Three Floor standing HiFi Speaker

The truth is, most floor standing speakers in this price range *** require that you purchase more than one (normally two or three) to completely fill a room. The fact is, a single speaker in this price range often lacks the kind of focus that you will require to completely immerse a room with good music. In fact, most don’t offer the kind of punchy low end that bass lovers will appreciate. Worse yet, many of them just sound bloated and unwieldy. The Tannoy stands out as an exception.
Build and Design
Straight out the box, the speakers aren’t necessarily the most impressive. They don’t look like they offer the class-leading performance of which they are certainly capable. But on closer inspection, you’ll realize that they are actually of good build quality and the finish is quite good.
The cabinet houses a 28mm (1.1″) soft woven polyester dome tweeter and twin 127mm (5″) mid/bass drivers for a deep and wide audio range.
Standing nearly a metre tall, stability is important for these speakers. This is why they are shipped with plinths (these are essentially speaker stands which you screw to the bottom).
Finally, if you are looking for a cool variety of colours, you’re going to be disappointed. At this price point, the designers limited the choices of finishes to just one, and that’s Black Oak.

Sound Quality
As we mentioned, the Tannoy Eclipse is a performance beast! The low end is powerful and offers sustained, punchy bass. The mid-range is articulate and strong and the high end offers enough oomph and refinement to prevent any harshness from creeping in. Talk about enjoying that crisp, non-compressed vinyl sound! Simply put, the Tannoy Eclipse delivers a good dose of scale along the entire musical range.
In fact, Tannoy did something special with the Eclipse 3. They placed the tweeter between the two bass/mid drivers which allows smoother audio dispersion through the critical crossover region at 3.2kHz. The result is a refined musical performance. Moreover, the speakers are astonishingly efficient, rated at 90dB/Watt sensitivity and 240 Watts peak power handling.
The only issue we could say is noticeable is in terms of tonality. Tonally, the Tannoy Eclipse is not the most impressive, but the combined balance, clarity and smoothness do help to make up for the disadvantages in tonal stability.

Pros
Delivers audio on a grand and agile scale
Agile and articulate presentation
Expressive midrange
Good detail and dynamics
Good build and finish
Cons
Not the best tonally

Verdict
The truth is, even with a good budget, finding good floor standing speakers can be difficult, especially finding those that can are perfectly suited to medium and larger rooms like the Tannoy Eclipse 3. Yet nothing else in this price range comes close to the powerful of Tannoy Eclipse 3. Nothing else offers the kind of clean and expressive sound that the Eclipse 3 surely delivers. This is truly impressive value.

Q Acoustics 3050
The award-winning Q Acoustics 3050 is an excellent pair of budget floor standing speakers. Let’s see why…
Firstly, Q Acoustics is a giant in the music industry, having designed some of the best speakers on the market today.
Build and Design

The visually striking Q Acoustics 3050 is the flagship of the new 3000 Series speakers. As such, the build and design have drastically improved over the 2000 series.
In an attempt to deliver more natural tonality, Q Acoustics has changed the material its uses to make speaker cones from a paper/mica mix to a paper/aramid composition (known as Kevlar). In addition to delivering better tonality and midrange openness, they say it also strengthens the cone. Moreover, the new ‘2 in 1’, Concentric Ring Dome tweeter adds astonishingly clear and smooth high frequencies.
Interestingly, the tweeter is designed with a hybrid design which integrates ring radiator and dome to improve treble performance. Additionally, it is not directly attached to the cabinet, but decoupled by butyl rubber which reduces resonance and ensures a cleaner sound.
Even the crossover has been improve in this model. It uses higher grade components which limit phase problems and reduces distortion. In fact, the 3050 features ultra-low levels of distortion, typically found of much more expensive speakers.

Q Acoustics has also made changes to the placement of various components such as the connecting wires. Even the cabinet bezel has gotten an upgrade, not only in aesthetics but the material reduces vibration and resonance. In terms of aesthetics, a few gorgeous colour finishes are available, i.e. matt black, walnut (brown) and while black or white gloss lacquers. An off-the-wall black-leather finish is available for a £150 premium.

Performance
The 350 is one of the reasons Q Acoustics is the redoubtable leader in the sub-£500 floor stander market.
Music lovers have come to love the agile and crisp sound and dynamic shits for which Q Caustics is known. The 3050 not only embodies that quality, but also presents more solidly and is robust across the frequencies. This device is capable of commanding any room with ease. They can be placed far apart without losing that tight stereo image.

Verdict
If you’re looking for a budget floors standing speaker that offers the quality and performance of a $1000+ model, then the 3050 is an excellent bet. When you consider the cost, this is a sure bargain for its powerful delivery and balanced nature.
Pros
Rich and refined
Class-leading subtlety
Powerful, authoritative
Good rhythmic drive
Quality build and finish
Ultra-low levels of distortion

Cons
Nothing of note

Best Overall Speakers For Your Record Player or Turntable
If you are just looking for a general purpose speaker that will be a great partner for your record player, then almost any pair of Klipsch, Q Acoustics or JBL bookshelf or floor standing speakers would be a good fit. However, chances are, you have a specific situation and need a speaker to fits that situation. We have broken down those situations below and the best speaker for each need.

Conclusions
There you have it, the best speakers for record players and turntables for those in search of the purest, most powerful embodiment of legacy sound. It’s your escape from harsh, over-compressed music.
With these speakers, you will find that vocals were natural, believably present and delivered with exceptional finesse. We are talking about delivery that rivals fail to match. It’s time to enjoy your wonderful vinyl collection in all of its glory.

The post Best Budget Speakers For Vinyl Record Players appeared first on Boom Speaker.

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