On Apr 29, 2011, at 5:41 PM, Cherie <cherie21362@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I was not pushing the little thingy in hard enough to hear external
> speakers..so I'm in business...I'm going to buy speakers for my
> iPad...am I wrong to assume I'm not going to get much quality sound
> from speakers that DONT plug into an electrical wall socket?? Does
> the iPad (1) push out enough power to get a decent sound out of
> speakers without any help from electricity?
Are you defining "quality sound" as sound that has sufficient volume to be heard in a room or outside when you're relaxing on the chaise while sipping a mint julep? If So, then you'll want to buy a good pair of AMPLIFIED speakers. These may be powered by batteries, just like your iPad, or may be powered by the electric mains, or have the option of being powered from either source.
Look for a brand with a wide frequency response. This is what provides superior sound; it usually equates to larger full range speakers or several limited range speakers (tweeter, mid-range, woofer, subwoofer) in the system. Don't expect too much sound quality from the twenty dollar a pair type of speakers that the big box stores sell - although you'll get volume. Conversely, don't think that paying lots of bucks will necessarily equate to a better product.
The most misleading specification is the power rating of the system. "Peak Music Power" or some variant is often used. This is a high number and represents an output level that cannot be sustained for any reasonable time. Also, many power outputs are specified at 10% distortion levels which your ears would probably not appreciate. If possible, look for RMS power at a distortion of 1% or preferably 0.1%.
If you've already got a good audio system, you may want to purchase an airport express unit, connect it to the audio system, and use AirPlay to send the sound to it. I'm doing that and am quite happy with the results.
Jerry Jankura
So many toys.... So little time...
Sent from my iPad
