SPEAKERS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pairing: Not all speakers and amplifiers are compatible, so do check the impedance, measured in ohms. Most amps will be fine driving an eight-ohm speaker (referred to as load) but you’ll need a powerful amp to drive a four- or two-ohm speaker without damage.

Cables: Keep clear of the cheapest cable in the shop, especially if you need to run it along the length of a room. Audiophiles would recommend that you spend ten per cent of the value of your system on cables. For goodvalue cables, try QED (qed.co.uk) or Chord (chord.co.uk).

Placement: While it can be tempting to tuck speakers away on a bookshelf, they’ll sound better placed away from the wall. To avoid vibration, make sure the surface is solid. If you have the space (and budget), go for dedicated speaker stands with spikes for carpets; you’ll really hear the difference.