There is not much advice to give for buying home speakers. The next three lines are unanimously true:
- not all speakers are the same
- not all houses are the same
- not all ears are the same
In this case, when creating your home audio system, experimentation makes the best choice.
Even so, be careful. The sound you get in the showroom will not be identical with the audio output at home. If the dealer doesn't mind, take the speakers home for a free trial.
Another good choice is to bring along some tapes or CDs that you know very well. That way you will easily notice errors in sound. Be careful if sounds are distorted, especially "s" and "t" and if instruments sound strident and unnatural.
If you already have the main speakers and want to add a subwoofer to create your own home theater system, make sure they blend well together. If all the speakers are voice matched, you will get an experience that is similar to the one in a movie theater. Even better, if possible, also try an aesthetic match.
Depending on where you want to place them, you should choose the size of your speakers. If they're to be placed in the living room, 30 to 40 inches tall, floor-standing speakers with one or two woofers of 6 to 8 inches in diameter would probably do.
If it's a smaller room you have in mind, bookshelf speakers would be more appropriate: 10 to 20 inches tall with one tweeter and one woofer.
Finally, if you are a deep bass frequencies lover, you should look for bigger size speakers, with woofers larger in diameter.