Comparison REAL-EL M-540 vs Sven MS-304

Total speaker power rating — the sum of the power ratings of all components (front, rear, centre, etc.)

Rated usually means the highest average sound power that the speakers can produce without overloading and damage. Individual peaks of sound can significantly exceed this figure, but it is the average value that is key — in particular, it is it that determines the overall loudness of the acoustics. However it should be borne in mind here that in sets with a subwoofer, the latter can account for about half of the total power of the entire system, while the actual volume is determined mainly by the main speakers. In fact, this means that with equal total power, acoustics with a subwoofer can sound noticeably quieter than a model without a subwoofer: for example, a 2.0 system at 20 W will have 10 W per main channel, while in a 2.1 model at 20 W with 10- watt subwoofer on the main speakers will have only 5 watts.

As for specific values, in the quietest modern PC speakers, the power does not exceed 10 watts. An indicator of 10 – 25 W can be called relatively modest, 25 – 50 W — average, and values of 50 – 100 W and above are found mainly in sets with subwoofers, where a significant part of the power falls on the bass speaker (although there are also ordinary stereo speakers with similar features)....

Theoretically, the power of acoustics also affects its compatibility with a specific amplifier: speakers should not be inferior to it in terms of rated power, otherwise sound distortion and even equipment damage are possible. However, computer acoustics in the vast majority of cases are used with their own amplifiers, optimally matched to the speakers installed in the speakers. So this moment becomes relevant only in some very specific cases — for example, when replacing a complete external amplifier (see below) with another one.

The power rating of each individual front speaker provided in the speaker system. This parameter can be specified for a system with any number of speakers (see above) — all sound formats used in computer acoustics provide a pair of front speakers.

In the most general terms, the higher the power, the louder the speaker is capable of sounding. For more information about this parameter, see "Total power" above. Also note here that for stereo systems without a subwoofer, the power of one front channel is half of the total power; in more advanced acoustics, the power ratio between the channels may be different.

Rated power of the complete subwoofer of the acoustic system.

Recall that a subwoofer is a specialized speaker for low and ultra-low frequencies; such a speaker is especially useful for games and movies, it is for such content that well-defined bass is most important. Accordingly, the saturation and (to a certain extent) the overall sound quality of low frequencies depends on the power of such a speaker. "Subs" are usually matched to the power of the rest of the system components, however, sets with a similar total power of the main channels may still differ in the characteristics of the subwoofers.

It is also worth noting that the power of this component can be a very significant part of the total power of all acoustics: in some models, about half of the “total watts” (or even more) falls on the subwoofer. This should be taken into account when comparing; see "Total power" for more details.

— mini-Jack (3.5 mm). The 3.5 mm jack is used as a standard analog audio output on almost all modern PCs and laptops. Additionally, it's installed in most smartphones, tablets, and portable players, and is quite common in many other types of equipment. In light of this, the mini-jack plug is equipped on most contemporary computer speakers (except perhaps for Bluetooth models). It can be a plug on a non-removable or removable cable, or an adapter from another connector — for example, "2 RCA — mini-jack".

— RCA. The RCA connector, also colloquially known as "tulip," is used here as a line input for receiving an analog audio signal, similar to the 3.5 mm mini-jack. The differences lie in several important aspects. Firstly, RCA operates on the "one connector per channel" principle, and the number of such connectors will depend on the sound format. For instance, stereo acoustics will require a set of two such connectors, a 5.1 system — six, and so on. Secondly, RCA is quite popular in traditional audio equipment but is relatively uncommon among computers. Therefore, in computer acoustics, this input is relatively rare — mainly found in rather advanced models (including solutions with an external amplifier). Moreover, note that in sets with a subwoofer, an RCA connector may also be provided in the main satellite for connecting the "sub," playing the role of an output in this case.

— USB-A.... Sound transmission from a PC, laptop, monitor, or another device is carried out through a standard USB connector of the USB-A format. In this case, the sound is transmitted digitally, reducing the speakers' dependency on the computer's sound card quality.

— USB-C. Sound is transmitted via the USB-C port, through which the speakers receive a digital audio signal from a compatible device. This format is particularly well-suited for modern electronics, where USB-C has already become one of the main connection interfaces. In practice, this makes the speakers more convenient for new laptops, tablets, and other devices without a separate analog output.

— Optical input. A digital input for transmitting high-quality sound, including multichannel. This connection is notable for being completely immune to electrical interference; however, the fiber optic cable is not well-suited to bends and strong pressure.

— Coaxial input. An input for transmitting sound in digital form, allowing for multichannel sound transmission. It uses the RCA connector (known colloquially as "tulip"), though it is incompatible with the RCA interface described above. Unlike optical connections, coaxial connections are susceptible to electromagnetic interference, but they don't require special delicacy in handling the cable.

— Microphone input. An input for connecting an external microphone, located directly on the speakers' body. The purpose of this function is similar to the headphone output described above: connecting a microphone to a speaker placed on the table is often more convenient than connecting it directly to the system unit. Generally, speakers with this feature have an additional plug connected to the sound card's microphone input.

— Subwoofer output. The availability of a connector for connecting a subwoofer allows further enhancement of the system's lower frequency sound. Naturally, the subwoofer is purchased separately, and the output serves as an option to expand the acoustics as needed.

— Headphone output. An output for connecting headphones, located directly on the body of one of the speakers. This connector is particularly convenient when using headphones with a traditional desktop PC: attaching the headphones to a speaker body located on the table is noticeably more convenient than stretching the cord to the system unit. As a rule, the role of this output is played by a standard mini-Jack 3.5 mm socket, which is exactly what most modern headphones (both for computers and general use) are designed for.

The presence of its own display in the design of acoustics. Such a display is usually located on the front panel of one of the speakers, subwoofer (if any) or amplifier (if it is made separately). Usually, it is a simple black-and-white screen with segment indicators, however, even such equipment allows you to display a very diverse information and greatly simplifies the work with speakers. Note that the display is most often a sign of a model with extensive additional functionality — usually, it does not make sense to install the screen in speakers with basic capabilities.