Studio Monitors VS Normal speakers

[EmeraldAcid]

Can someone explain the difference between using Studio Monitors and normal speakers (such as Logitech, Bose etc..).

I use my pc as a DAW and for games. I have a logitech 5.1 surround sound setup. As well as 2 Yamaha msp5's.

I read something about normal speakers having frequency rates all over the place. If you could explain this in more detail that'd be awsome, im curious.

Also is there a way to switch between using my 5.1 setup, to using the Yamaha's? Right now im not recording much so i dont have the yamahas hooked up. But if there was a way to press a button and just route sound between the 2 that'd be awsome.

Im using windows XP pro, a delta 10/10 sound card.


Thanks for all your help in advance!

[KX]

Cheap speakers or home speakears usually have a frequency response.
to give a sense of warmness to the input material
i.e. bass and hi-end emphasis.
Studio monitors will aim at "flat" frequency response and
nominal phase linearity between components.
Their are many other aspects that are considered in studio monitor such as diffusion angle, damping factor....
The things is: studio monitor can be seen as a clear
glass (in the best case) that will output "exactly"what comes in while home speakers would be sunglasses filtering what comes in.