TrueScaleAudio
Guides · 14 guides
HiFi guides.
Plain-language guides to choosing, understanding and placing HiFi speakers — written to make sense of the specs and the sizes, not to sell you anything.
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Why a real hi-fi system is worth it (and how to move on from mainstream audio)
What separates a real system from a soundbar, and what the step up actually buys you.
6 min read
Specs & numbers
How to read a speaker spec sheet
Every number on a spec sheet in plain language — and which ones actually matter.
7 min read
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How big is that speaker, really?
Why product photos lie about size, and how to picture a speaker in your room.
5 min read
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Bookshelf vs floorstander: which one for your room?
Which format suits your room, your budget and how loud you actually listen.
6 min read
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How to choose your first hi-fi speakers
A practical path to your first serious pair, without overspending.
7 min read
Specs & numbers
Sensitivity and impedance: what amplifier you need
The two numbers that decide whether your amplifier can drive a speaker.
7 min read
How they work
Tweeter types explained: domes, ribbons, AMTs and horns
Soft domes, metal, ribbons, AMTs and horns — what each one changes in the sound.
8 min read
How they work
Driver cone materials: paper, metal, Kevlar and beyond
Paper, aluminium, Kevlar and sandwich cones — and why the material is only a hint.
8 min read
How they work
The box and the brain: cabinets, ports, damping and crossovers
The box, its ports and damping, and the crossover that ties the drivers together.
9 min read
How they work
Active vs passive speakers: which kind of system do you want?
Amplifier inside or outside? Two systems, two costs, two upgrade paths.
8 min read
System & context
Home hi-fi vs studio monitors: two briefs, one goal
What a studio monitor is built to do, and the brands that sell to both worlds.
9 min read
System & context
Amplifiers explained: a century of designs, and what the numbers mean
A century of amplifiers: integrated, monoblocks, classes, watts and impedance.
15 min read
System & context
Sources: analog and digital
Where the music comes from: streaming, CD, vinyl, tape and radio — and what actually reaches your speakers.
12 min read
System & context
Bi-wiring and bi-amping: what the extra terminals are for
Those two pairs of terminals on the back of a speaker, and whether bi-wiring or bi-amping is worth it.
9 min read
How these are written: drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed, corrected and edited by hand before publishing. Every brand and model named is cross-checked against the manufacturer’s own specifications. Spotted something wrong? The contact page reaches us directly.