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Sonos is a leading American audio technology company that is best known for pioneering wireless multiroom audio systems, which make it easy for listeners to stream music and other content throughout their homes. The company continues to innovate, creating wireless speakers, home theater systems, headphones, architectural components, and integrated home audio solutions that revolutionize how people listen and connect to sound.

If you’ve never given much thought to the individual components that make up your speakers, you may be confused when you hear the term “speaker driver”. And you may be even more confused when you hear that the speaker driver — not the speaker itself — is what reproduces the sound waves you hear when you listen to music. The “speaker” is the name we use as shorthand for the entire system, which includes not only speaker drivers, but also the circuits that send sounds to the right places, the box that houses everything, and so on.

So, if a speaker driver isn’t a speaker, what is it exactly?

Speaker drivers are the components that actually vibrate to create sound waves — think of them as the engine of your speaker system. Most speakers contain multiple drivers of different sizes, with the largest ones (subwoofers) handling the low bass sounds and the smallest ones (tweeters) taking care of the higher-pitched frequencies

Why do these drivers come in so many different sizes? And how many drivers are “enough” for a 

? To answer these questions, we should start with why drivers exist in the first place.

The purpose of a speaker driver is to convert the electrical signals produced by your amplifier, headphones, or other music player into physical sound waves that can reach your ear. Without speaker drivers, there would be no sound coming out of your speaker — and no purpose for your sound system to exist at all.

 can seem hopelessly complex, speaker drivers produce sound through a simple series of cause-and-effect. When an electrical signal flows from your music player into the driver, it creates a magnetic field. This magnetic field causes the speaker driver to vibrate back and forth. This back-and-forth vibration creates the sound waves that reach your ears.

In a sense, a speaker driver is a kind of sonic translator. Without it, your music would simply be a series of electrical signals that don’t 

like anything. The driver’s job is first to interpret those signals, then to reproduce them as sound waves. It has several specialized components that work together to make this reproduction possible.

It may seem overly technical, but knowing the individual components of a speaker driver can help you visualize how it works. The main parts of a speaker driver include:

, a coiled wire that receives the electrical signal from the music player.

, which creates the magnetic forces that power the driver’s movement.

, a large cone or dome that moves back and forth to create sound waves.

, which surrounds the driver and keeps the voice coil and diaphragm in the correct positions for producing sound.

Hand using touch controls on a white Era 100

Person lounging on a chair listening to Sonos Five with Sonos Sub 4

High- and low-pitched sounds are different because they are produced by sound waves of different lengths and frequencies. Unfortunately, there's no single driver that can produce the full range of sound waves without distortion, as a driver's shape and physical properties make it more or less capable of reproducing specific frequency ranges, such as low or high sounds.

Different types of speaker drivers exist to handle different sounds, with their capabilities determined mainly by their shape and size. Smaller, lighter drivers can vibrate quickly to reproduce high-frequency sounds, while larger drivers are needed for low frequencies. The names of these different driver types helpfully correspond to the types of sounds they make:

 are small, usually dome-shaped drivers that reproduce high-frequency sounds (like birds chirping) by vibrating rapidly. Their shape allows them to spread these frequencies evenly across a room, though specialized designs like directional horns can create different spatial effects.

Midrange drivers are cone-shaped speakers that bridge the gap between low and high frequencies. Though they can't handle extreme frequencies, they're considered crucial because they reproduce the sounds humans are most sensitive to, including human voices and instruments like the guitar and piano.

Woofers are the biggest speaker drivers in an audio system. If you crave 

 is your ticket to paradise. These subwoofers often come in their own, separate enclosures, which are roomy enough to properly support and enhance the (physically very long) bass sound waves that a woofer emits.

As a general rule, the more drivers in a speaker, the more capable it is of faithfully producing sounds across a wide range of frequencies. Additional drivers can also contribute to a 

, as different drivers may be positioned to fire sound in different directions, thereby filling the room with immersive sound.

 has all the drivers you need. It features two angled tweeters to create a crisp and accurate high frequency response and 

, and one midwoofer to handle playback of mid-range vocal frequencies and deep bass.

If a truly immersive spatial audio experience is what you’re after, 

 may be a better option. This premium speaker’s design leaves room for four tweeters to cover high and mid-range frequencies — including a forward-firing mid tweeter, two side-firing mid tweeters, and an upward-firing tweeter to reflect sound off the ceiling and produce a 

. It also has two angled woofers for balanced low-end output.

You can combine Era 300 with a standalone subwoofer like 

 and a soundbar that features even more drivers, all of which contribute to the overall sense of clarity and immersion. In the case of a premium soundbar like 

 — with its seven tweeters, six midwoofers, and four-motor, dual-membrane woofer — a high number of drivers firing sound in different directions enables innovative spatial audio technologies such as 

Speaker drivers come in all sizes and a number of different shapes that help - produce sounds across a wide range of frequencies.

A single speaker may house just one driver if it’s part of a multi-speaker system with various specialized components. More versatile speakers, like Era 100 and Era 300, will likely feature several drivers that work together to reproduce and blend different aspects of a song’s sonic profile.

Just remember: Drivers aren’t only responsible for the range of frequencies a speaker can produce, but also for the immersive quality of 

. If you’re interested in a speaker that brings you deeper into your music, get in touch with a Sonos expert by 

What is a Speaker Driver?

Sometimes, watching TV calls for a more private listening experience. Maybe there's construction noise outside that only Active Noise Cancellation can drown out, or maybe your viewing partner has fallen asleep and you don't want to disturb them. In these moments, switching your TV audio to headphones lets you watch what you want in peace — and in total immersion.

 can sound every bit as rich as a traditional audio setup. And even if you already have a surround-sound system at home, there are plenty of reasons to periodically swap audio from your TV speakers to your headphones. In this guide, we'll explain how to connect headphones to your TV. There are a few ways to do it, but some of the most obvious options (using Bluetooth or a traditional audio jack, for example) may not be the best or even the simplest.

Can you use Bluetooth headphones to connect to your TV?

Most modern televisions are Bluetooth-compatible. You should be able to use your Bluetooth headphones with your TV if you own at least a mid-range model dating back to 2015 or later.

Each television model has its own configuration instructions, so if you’ve kept the user manual around, look in there for the specifics. If not, don’t worry — the same general walkthrough applies to most TVs. To connect headphones to your TV via Bluetooth:

Enable “pairing mode” on your Bluetooth headphones

. You can usually do this by pressing and holding the power button, or by pressing a dedicated pairing button.

Navigate to your TV’s “Settings” menu. 

When you’ve found the menu, look for a key phrase like “Bluetooth”, “Sound”, or “Connected Devices” and click on it to open up the Bluetooth device settings.

Enable Bluetooth on your TV (if it isn't already on).

 If you’ve never used Bluetooth with your TV before, you must enable it. You can usually do this via a toggle on-off switch.

Look for an option like "Add Device" or "Pair New Device".

 When you click on this option, your device should show up in the list if it’s in “pairing mode”. Simply click on your device, and wait for pairing to complete.

Even if you can connect your headphones to your TV via Bluetooth, better options may be available. While Bluetooth has a lot going for it, it shines best when WiFi isn't readily available. And since WiFi isn't usually a problem in most homes, a 

 typically offers higher bandwidth, better sound quality, and a more extensive 

 in case you need to move around while keeping one eye on the TV.

White Sonos Ace tile on light gray background

Two people sitting on a couch watching sports on TV with Arc Ultra and one person wearing Sonos Ace Headphones

Can you use an audio jack to connect headphones to your TV?

The 3.5mm audio jack (also known as a headphone jack or aux port) has been the traditional way to connect headphones to TVs since the 1980s. While many newer TV models have eliminated this port in favor of wireless solutions, you can still find adapters for digital optical output or RCA ports if needed.

Though a wired connection offers some advantages—no charging, zero latency, and freedom from wireless interference—it comes with serious limitations. The cable length restricts your movement, and a standard 3.5mm connection may not support 

. For most people, a WiFi-powered headphone connection is a superior alternative to the wired audio jack of yore.

, the best and simplest way to connect your headphones to your TV audio is via the 

This WiFi-powered connection offers the best of all worlds: immersive surround sound quality, the range and portability of a wireless connection, and a simple and easy setup.

Setting up TV Audio Swap for the first time

 and connect it to your iOS or Android device. You must also enable WiFi on your Sonos home theater speaker in order for it to work with TV Audio Swap. Once that’s done, follow these steps:

Navigate to the “Settings” menu in the Sonos app and select your Sonos Ace in the “Headphones” section.

Under “Home Theater”, select “+ Add TV Audio Swap”.

Select the speaker you’d like to use, then follow the instructions to complete the setup.

Once you’ve set up TV Audio Swap, it’s easy to switch your audio source from your TV to Sonos Ace:

Make sure your TV is on and that your TV audio is playing through your home theater speaker.

Swap TV audio by long-pressing the “Content Key” on the right ear cup of Sonos Ace. You can also swap audio directly from the Sonos app by using the “Swap” button on Sonos Ace’s info screen.

When to swap audio to Sonos Ace for a better listening experience

TV Audio Swap is the best way to optimize your sound experience to your viewing situation. For example, if you’re dealing with a lot of external noise, you can swap to Sonos Ace and benefit from 

. This can be an especially effective way to 

And while you may worry about a loss in sound quality when swapping audio from a premium soundbar like 

, Sonos Ace offers a singularly immersive experience for individual watchers. That’s thanks to 

, which creates a virtual soundstage that surrounds you in hyperrealistic sound from every direction. It even tracks your head dynamically, adapting the sound to keep you in the middle of every scene.

Sonos-quality sound, from your soundbar to your headphones

, it’s important to consider how your headphones connect to the media devices you use the most. An otherwise great pair of headphones may not be ideal if it can only connect to your TV via Bluetooth or an audio jack. For a truly seamless and top-quality sound experience, you’ll want headphones that can connect to your TV via WiFi at the push of a button.

 with a full range of audio experiences in mind — from listening on the go to watching a movie in the privacy of your home. Wherever you take Sonos Ace, you’ll enjoy lossless audio streaming over Bluetooth and USB-C, plus connectivity with Sonos home theater, Active Noise Cancellation, and up to 30 hours of battery life.

If you’re interested in headphones like you’ve never heard them before, get in touch with a Sonos expert by 

Person sitting on a couch wearing Sonos Ace watching TV with Arc Ultra

How to Connect Headphones to Your TV

Does something sound “off” with your speakers or headphones? Do the stringed instruments sound like clinking silverware, or is the bass so overpowering that it feels like you’re listening to music underwater? If so, the equipment itself may not be to blame. You may be dealing with an equalization issue — one that’s easily corrected by adjusting the loudness of the specific frequencies in your sound’s source signal.

It can help to think of equalization, or EQ, as a kind of volume control, only instead of adjusting the overall loudness of your music, EQ lets you tweak specific frequencies independently. This can be a powerful tool when you want to correct problems like muddiness or harshness, but EQ can also be used in more creative ways, allowing you to shape the perfect blend of lows, mids, and highs for your sonic preferences.

If you’ve ever come across an “EQ” or “Equalization” setting in your various audio apps, you may have felt overwhelmed by all the settings and sliders. The good news is that it’s actually pretty simple. With some basic knowledge about frequency ranges and a sense of what sounds good to 

, you can start using EQ to improve your listening experience.

Equalization (EQ) is a tool that lets you adjust the volume of specific frequency ranges within audio. It's like having separate volume knobs for the deep bass, midrange vocals and instruments, and high-pitched sounds that blend together to create an audio track.

So, why use EQ? It’s a good question, especially when you consider that most audio tracks have already been EQ'd multiple times before they reach your ears — at the mixing and mastering stages of recording, but also when they’re converted to 

. You may simply prefer your music with more pronounced bass, or with crisper mids and highs. But there are a few other reasons to tweak EQ as a listener.

One common reason is to accommodate different listening environments. The acoustic features of a room — its space, furnishings, reflections off of surrounding walls, even the materials in its walls — can affect how you hear different frequencies of sound. (This is why Sonos lets you 

tune your speakers to your room with Trueplay

.) If your music tends to sound muddy or harsh in certain listening environments, EQ can help clean this up. Another reason to tweak EQ is to optimize for different activities or media types. Listening to music during a workout? You may want to boost the bass for a more high-energy experience. Having trouble 

 despite its relatively loud volume? Try boosting the middle frequencies around 1–3 kilohertz, which can make voices ring out clearer. The bottom line is that different situations may benefit from different EQ settings

Person placing a record on a turntable next to a white Era 300

Black Era 100 next to a turntable on a console

You really don’t need to be an audio expert to adjust EQ. Most apps and streaming services these days offer an EQ in their playback settings menu under sections like “playback”, “content settings” or “audio settings”.

These EQs typically come with simple sliders or buttons you can experiment with to tweak the character of your sound. Many apps provide simple presets with names like “bass booster” or “treble reducer” — simply toggle these on and see if they’re to your liking.

Popular streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music tend to offer genre-specific presets as well, so you can play around with “jazz”, “rock”, or “classical” settings tailored to the music you listen to most. Just beware that these presets aren’t always perfectly labeled, and you may end up preferring the “classical” setting for rap or heavy metal.

We suggest testing out different settings on a track you already know well, as you’ll be more in tune with how the track should sound to your ears.

Of course, there’s a problem with adjusting EQ within an app or streaming service: Your saved settings are limited to that app or service. That’s why it’s better to adjust EQ on a system level, so that your music sounds great across all of the platforms you may use.

. Here’s an overview of what each setting does:

 Adjusts the lower frequency sounds, such as bass, or a kick drum.

 Adjusts the higher frequency sounds, such as guitar or vocals.

 Adjusts the volume level on the left or right audio channel. This
option will only be available for rooms that can output stereo sound.

 Boosts certain frequencies, including bass, during low
listening volumes. This is designed to compensate for normal changes in
the ear’s sensitivity when listening to audio at low volumes.

Simply drag the sliders to make adjustments, and your settings will be saved for all of the 

, and other components in your Sonos system. You can also create custom EQ settings for individual rooms in a 

, giving you the ability to tailor your sound to different listening environments.

How EQ affects different frequency ranges

Though many apps make it easy to adjust EQ with minimal technical knowledge, it may help to understand what an equalizer is actually doing to change the character of your sound.

As we noted above, EQ essentially works by raising or lowering the volume of specific frequency ranges within your music. But what types of sounds are produced by those specific ranges?

At a general level, we can break frequency ranges down into three bands: low, middle, and high. These frequency bands are measured in hertz (Hz), or the number of sound wave cycles that occur in one second. If that sounds too technical, just remember that lower numbers mean lower-pitched sounds and higher numbers mean higher-pitched sounds:

 associated with subwoofer speakers. These can add a welcome dose of “oomph” to a track, but too much bass can lead to instruments that sound muddy or ill-defined.

 are where the vocals and lead instruments tend to hang out. If your mids are drowned out, vocals and guitar solos may seem a bit lost in the mix and a general sense of flatness may pervade.

, also known as treble, may sound harsh or tinny when overrepresented in a mix. But there’s nothing like a crisp snare or cymbal crash to make a song come alive, so treble certainly has its place in the mix.

Some equalization apps will only allow you to adjust frequency levels along these general lines, though others may let you tweak smaller frequency bands to craft a more fine-tuned sound. Parametric equalizers, for example, allow you to adjust minute aspects of the entire sound curve, rather than breaking the curve down into ranges that can be adjusted individually.

Regardless of the type of EQ you use, it’s good to know how raising or lowering different frequencies can affect your music’s overall sonic profile.

By now, you should be able to guess that there’s no magical EQ setting that’s best for all types of music. The best EQ setting for you depends on your personal preferences as well as the type of music you listen to most.

We recommend playing around with different levels and seeing what works for you. And remember, it’s not always intuitive. You may 

 an EDM track demands more booming lows, but that track may already be mixed to emphasize the bass (and further boosting may do it no favors).

Here are a few additional guidelines to keep you on track:

 may benefit from enhanced bass around 60–100 Hz for the kick drum punch. But also try giving it a boost in the mids (around 2–3 kHz) to keep the driving vocals front and center.

 tracks tend to sound more powerful with a boost around 100–250 Hz, which brings out the low snarling sounds of guitar and bass. An additional boost around 2-4 kHz can bring a little bite to go with all that bark.

 tends to require gentler adjustments to EQ, or even none at all. Adjustments here should be more focused on molding the sound to your space, with perhaps a small boost around 10 kHz to enhance the sense of room.

Equalization can smooth out the ragged edges of your music and even highlight the parts you gravitate toward the most. Alas, there’s no EQ setting that can make up for poor-quality headphones or speakers. Instead of frustratedly fiddling with the levels on a subpar system, it’s worth upgrading to sound components that do your music justice in the first place.

At Sonos, we’ve designed premium headphones, speakers, and soundbars that redefine what’s possible with sound. Whether you’re taking music on the go with 

 or settling in with an immersive home-theater experience courtesy of 

, you never have to compromise on finding the perfect sound.

If you’re interested in taking your sound experience to the next level, get in touch with a Sonos expert by 

Person lounging while listening to a black Five and Sub 4

What is Equalization (EQ) for Music and Audio?

Some people look at a wall and see only a boundary, a limitation. Others look at a wall and see a vast sea of possibilities — at least as far as sound is concerned. For those in the latter group, installing in-wall speakers is perhaps the most logical way to turn their audio dreams into stunning, immersive reality.

In-wall speakers are generally installed at (or slightly above) ear level within the walls of a home. Because they share the same horizontal plane with the listener’s ear, they’re capable of delivering a level of sonic clarity that’s ideal for home theater and surround sound applications. And in-wall speakers can also blend in seamlessly with your home’s decor.

This combination of premium audio and clean aesthetics makes in-wall speakers an enticing option — either as a standalone system or as part of a larger audio setup. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about in-wall speakers so you can decide if they make sense for you.

The question of whether in-wall speakers are “worth it” implicitly acknowledges an important fact. Yes, in-wall speakers generally require more time, energy, and forethought to install than traditional floor or wall-mounted speakers.

With that said, in-wall speakers can certainly be worth it to those who don’t want to compromise on sound or aesthetics. 

 combine a premium sound experience that perfectly blends in with your home.

In-wall speakers seamlessly integrate with your home and sound system

One advantage of in-wall speakers is that they can sound great as a standalone speaker solution for both music and home theater. Their shape, design, and positioning within the room all contribute to a focused sound with crisp high frequencies and rich mid and low ranges.

You can also integrate Sonos In-Wall speakers with other Sonos speakers to build a 

 for home theater. You have two options to use in-wall speakers as part of your home theater setup:

Sonos In-Wall speakers + a Sonos soundbar + Sonos Amp.

 In-wall speakers cover the rear and surround channels, while a Sonos soundbar covers the front channels. Sonos Amp connects to the soundbar and supplies power to the rear and surround speakers (including your in-walls).

Sonos In-Wall speakers + two Sonos Amps. 

This setup involves (at least) two pairs of Sonos In-Wall speakers. One pair serves as the front channels, while the other pair serves as the rear/surround channels. Each pair is powered by its own Amp. If you add a subwoofer, this would be a 4.1 surround sound system, as Amp produces a “phantom” center channel with the front two speakers.

In-wall speakers require special installation

Installing in-wall speakers is not as straightforward as setting up a wireless speaker that does not require installation. You’ll likely need to 

, as you’ll also need to install Sonos Amp, cut holes in your walls for the speakers, then run speaker cable from the speakers to Amp. Different wall materials and space dimensions may affect what’s possible in terms of installation, and a pro can help you design a custom configuration you’ll be happy with for years to come.

The realities of installation mean that you’ll want to consider if you’re actually ready for in-wall speakers. If you’re renting your home or plan to move out in the next couple of years, it may not make sense to invest in architectural speakers just yet. When you uninstall them and move them to a new space, you’ll likely incur additional costs for the removal, repair, and reinstallation.

There’s a flip side to this. If you do own your home, installing architectural speakers can be well worth the investment. Not only will you get high-quality sound and clean aesthetics, but you may never need to uninstall or reinstall your speakers again. This applies even if you decide to move or sell, as a great pair of installed architectural speakers can even raise the value of your home.

A professional installer installing Sonos in-wall speaker in the bathroom

 or AV receiver to power your in-wall speakers.

Like other architectural speakers, in-wall speakers are 

speakers. This means they don’t have a built-in amplifier that provides power. If you want an all-in-one speaker solution that doesn’t require an external amplifier, you may 

Why don’t architectural speakers come with built-in amplifiers? Wouldn’t that be easier?

What is a Speaker Driver?

How to Connect Headphones to Your TV

What is Equalization (EQ) for Music and Audio?

The Beginner’s Guide to In-Wall Speakers

The Beginner’s Guide to In-Ceiling Speakers

Why Buy Refurbished Sonos Products

Speakers vs. Soundbars: Which Is Best for You?

WiFi vs. Bluetooth Speakers: Key Differences Explained

Sonos Pro and Era 100 Pro: An Integrated Sound Solution for Commercial Spaces

What Are Height Channels for Speakers and Home Theater?

Introducing Arc Ultra - Our Most Innovative Soundbar Yet

The Ultimate Guide to a Sonos Home Theater

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