There are eight main types of loudspeaker for the home: bookshelf, floorstanding, centre, surround, subwoofer, in-wall, in-ceiling and outdoor. Bookshelf and floorstanding speakers carry music in a stereo pair. A centre speaker anchors dialogue in home cinema, surrounds add the sound around you, and a subwoofer handles the deepest bass. In-wall, in-ceiling and outdoor speakers do the same jobs while staying out of sight or out in the weather. This guide explains what each type does, where it works best, and which Wharfedale range fits.
The types at a glance
| Type | What it does | Best for | Wharfedale range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookshelf | Full-range sound from a compact cabinet | Stereo in small to medium rooms, surrounds | Bookshelf speakers |
| Floorstanding | Full-range sound with deeper bass and more volume | Stereo in medium to large rooms, front speakers in cinema | Floorstanding speakers |
| Centre | Dialogue and on-screen sound | Home cinema, under or above the TV | Centre speakers |
| Surround | Effects and ambience beside or behind you | 5.1 and 7.1 home cinema | Bookshelf speakers from the same series |
| Subwoofer | The deepest bass, below what the main speakers reach | Home cinema, and music in larger rooms | Subwoofers |
| In-wall | Main or surround speakers built flush into a wall | Clean, furniture-free installs | In-wall series |
| In-ceiling | Background music and surrounds from the ceiling | Kitchens, living areas, multi-room | In-ceiling series |
| Outdoor | Weather-resistant sound for outside spaces | Patios, alfresco areas, pool decks | Outdoor series |
Bookshelf speakers
A bookshelf (or standmount) speaker is a compact, full-range speaker designed to sit on a stand, shelf or sideboard. It is the most flexible type: a pair makes a complete stereo system in a bedroom, study or modest lounge, and the same models work as surround speakers in a home cinema. For the best sound, place them at ear height on stands, a little away from the wall (see do you need speaker stands?). Wharfedale makes bookshelf speakers from the Crystal CR4.1 and Diamond 12.1i up to the Aura 1 and Elysian 1R.
Floorstanding speakers
A floorstanding (or tower) speaker stands on the floor and uses a taller cabinet with more, or larger, bass drivers. That gives deeper bass and more volume than a bookshelf speaker, so a pair can fill a larger room and often play music well without a subwoofer. They need floor space and some room from the rear wall. Popular choices include the Diamond 12.3i, the EVO 5.4 and the Aura 4. Not sure which of the two suits you? Our bookshelf vs floorstanding guide goes through it by room size.
Centre speakers
A centre speaker is a horizontal speaker that sits directly under or above your TV. In a film, most of the dialogue comes through the centre channel, so it keeps voices clear and locked to the screen even for people sitting off to the side. Choose a centre from the same series as your front speakers so the voices sound the same as they pan across the room. Most Wharfedale series have a matching centre, from the Crystal CR4.C to the Aura C.
Surround speakers
Surround speakers sit beside or slightly behind your seating and carry the effects and ambience in a 5.1 or 7.1 soundtrack: rain, crowds, a car passing behind you. They do not need to be large, so most systems use a pair of bookshelf speakers from the same series as the fronts, which keeps the sound consistent as it moves around the room. In-wall and in-ceiling speakers also make tidy surrounds when stands are not practical.
Subwoofers
A subwoofer is a speaker with its own amplifier that reproduces only the lowest notes, the bass you feel as much as hear. It is the ".1" in a 5.1 system and gives explosions and film scores their weight, and it can also fill out the bottom end of a stereo system with bookshelf speakers. Wharfedale makes subwoofers from 8 to 15 inches, including the new NOVA series. Choosing a size depends mostly on the room: see What size subwoofer do I need?
In-wall and in-ceiling speakers
In-wall and in-ceiling speakers are built into the wall or ceiling, so only a slim grille shows. They suit rooms where floor space matters or where speakers on stands would not work, and they are usually fitted during a build or renovation. In-wall models such as the WWS-80 work well as front or surround speakers in a home cinema. In-ceiling models such as the WCM-80 spread sound evenly across a room, which makes them the usual choice for background music in kitchens and living areas. See the full architectural range, or read in-wall vs in-ceiling speakers.
Outdoor speakers
Outdoor speakers are built to handle sun, moisture and temperature changes, with weather-resistant cabinets and brackets for mounting on an eave or wall. The WOS-65, for example, is IP67 rated, with a UV-protected enclosure and rust-proof hardware. They bring music to a patio, alfresco area or pool deck, and you can run them from the same amplifier as your indoor system on a separate zone. Wharfedale's outdoor models are the WOS-65 and WOS-53; our outdoor speakers guide covers mounting and wiring.
Inside the cabinet: 2-way, 3-way and bass ports
Speakers are also described by how they split the sound between drivers. A tweeter handles the high frequencies and a woofer the mid and low frequencies, with a crossover inside the speaker sending each driver its share.
- 2-way: one tweeter and one woofer. The usual layout for bookshelf speakers, such as the Diamond 12.1i.
- 2.5-way: a tweeter and two woofers, where both woofers play bass but only one plays the midrange. Common in slimmer floorstanders.
- 3-way: a tweeter, a dedicated midrange driver and one or more bass drivers, so each driver covers a narrower range. Found in larger floorstanders such as the Aura 4.
Many speakers also have a bass port, a tuned opening that lets the cabinet reinforce the deepest notes so a modest woofer reaches lower. A port at the back needs some space from the wall; a front or downward-firing port, such as Wharfedale's slot-loaded designs, is easier to place close to a wall. Speakers without a port are called sealed, and some subwoofers use a passive radiator instead of a port to do the same job.
How the types fit together
- Stereo (2.0): a pair of bookshelf or floorstanding speakers. The best place to start for music.
- Stereo with a subwoofer (2.1): a pair of speakers plus a subwoofer, for fuller bass from smaller speakers.
- Home cinema (5.1): two front speakers, a centre, two surrounds and a subwoofer. Our home theatre packs put a matched 5.1 system together for you.
- Whole home: in-ceiling speakers in living areas and outdoor speakers outside, each on its own zone.
Whatever the layout, keep the front three speakers (left, centre and right) from the same series. That matters more than anything else for a seamless sound.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a bookshelf and a floorstanding speaker?
Both are full-range speakers. A floorstanding speaker has a bigger cabinet and more bass drivers, so it plays deeper and louder and suits larger rooms. A bookshelf speaker is more compact and easier to place, and suits small to medium rooms.
Do I need a centre speaker?
For home cinema, yes. The centre carries most of the dialogue and keeps it anchored to the screen. For music in stereo you do not need one.
Can I use bookshelf speakers as surround speakers?
Yes, and it is the most common way to do it. Use bookshelf speakers from the same series as your front speakers so the sound stays consistent around the room.
Do I need a subwoofer for music?
Not always. A pair of floorstanding speakers usually has enough bass for music. With bookshelf speakers, or in a larger room, a subwoofer adds the bottom octave they cannot reach.
Are in-ceiling speakers good enough for a home cinema?
They work well as surround speakers. For the front left, centre and right, in-wall or freestanding speakers aimed at the seating give clearer dialogue and better imaging.
Which type of speaker do I need?
Start with the room and what you will use it for. For music in a small to medium room, choose bookshelf speakers. For a larger room, floorstanders. For movies, add a centre, surrounds and a subwoofer. If you are still unsure, contact us or book a demonstration at a Wharfedale dealer near you.
