The Basics of Surround Sound Systems

When we hear the term surround sound system, we often associate this with a sophisticated device capable of producing better sound or music. This is actually true since surround sound or multi-channel systems, are entire speaker systems that encircle the listener, thus immersing him or her in the sound from the movie or any audio source. These speakers must be situated at the right positions in order to provide the immersive experience. These type of devices are actually a lot common today and we see them being used in various set-ups. Theatres, movie houses, for gaming purposes, home theatre system, and other applications all use surround sound system for an enhanced audio experience. If you are the type of a person who loves music, then these surround sound systems can surely give you top quality audio that will upgrade your enjoyment. With the effective layout of the devices as well as its accurate calibration, your enjoyment will be at its highest.

Given the fact that surround sound systems are so common nowadays, it is only logical that we know some of the basic information there is to know with these devices. Basically, in order to create a surround sound effect, you can employ any of the many available systems. The oldest and simplest way is to set up many speakers surrounding the listener. This way, the sound will come from different directions and this improves the audio experience of the listener. Another method is to combine the use of headphones with any localized audio production with psychoacoustics. The combination of these three elements results in a 3D effect of sounds. Ambisonics is just another method of creating a surround sound system where there is a reconstruction of the sound at a central point. However, you may observe that there is a gradual decline in the quality of the audio as you move away from the center.

Yet another means is by the use of WFS or Wave Field Synthesis. This method is accompanied by the use of multiple loudspeakers as well as the aid of the computer. Lastly, a popular means of creating a surround sound system today is the use of everyday devices like stereo, PC soundcards, and AV receivers.

So we have established the different means of creating a high quality audio experience. Now we need to know what type of speakers we need in order to create a surround sound system. The most common set-ups feature 3 different models: 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1. This gives you an option between having as few as five speakers to as many as 7 speakers. More speakers mean a greater ability to improve your audio-digital feel, although it does not necessarily change the quality of the sound despite the greater number of speakers. A 5.1 Surround is also referred as Matrixed Prologic II and these have 5 audio channels. 6.1 Surround, or discrete Dolby Digital EX, has 6 audio channels in its installation. Lastly, the 7.1 Surround or discrete SDDS, has 7 digital audio channels. All of these types have 1 subwoofer in its application.

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