Audio technology has advanced a lot in the last few years, and surround sound is a staple nowadays. You don’t have to go to the movies to enjoy this technology; you only need the proper surround system. Also, you can have the same experience at home and for a very reasonable price tag without sacrificing space.
Buying anything that we don’t understand is always tricky, and we could make the wrong decision. Not every surround system has the functions or will work well in your place. Here we will answer almost every doubt you might have about this equipment and what can you do with them.
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How does surround sound work?
Before buying anything labelled as a surround system, you should know how to surround sound work. It’sIt’s a way to provide any space with a more realistic and engaging sound experience. We are used to a basic stereo audio experience. This is mostly fine, but the surround system will provide you with a more immersing sound. In other words, a surround system will use the spaces and the location to channel sound from your TV or your computer in different directions.
We are used to two types of recording sound, mono and stereo. Mono means that the recorded sound travel in one channel or one track- In other words, you will hear the entire track or the whole compilation of sound in your one speaker. On the other hand, stereo has two channels, and it’s the simplest and the most popular type of recording right now.
Even though stereo is very popular, there is a more accurate recording. Surround sound add more channels, taking a step even further in and add three or more channels. Dolby Laboratories designed this multi-channel system, but many brands use the word to let you know it works with their technology. Still, it’s more common nowadays, and many systems use the term. For example, home theatres use multi-channel sound systems to create an environmental effect.
To create these effects, every movie and videogame track is edited in a mixing studio. Then, sound editors and mixers will separate the audios and decide on different channels for them. This way, they travel in different directions through the speakers, creating a better environmental effect.
Common surround sound formats
Every surround system has a specific format that fit better the type of channels it works. Knowing more about every format will help you pick a surround system that works better for you or in your place.
Dolby surround
This format is one of the most popular because it’s the original version of the original Dolby. In other words, it’s the analogue version for films Dolby ever produced that used four channels of sound. The original Dolby encoded two stereo tracks that were distributed in those four channels. Most videotapes and TV broadcasts can decode the tracks, but overall it offers a very regular experience.
Dolby Digital
As the name let you imagine, this is the surround digital audio standard. Every digital-related format like DVD uses it, and it uses six channels instead of four. Sometimes is called surround sound or #D sound because it uses 5.1 configurations, including the subwoofer.
Dolby–Digital EX
Digital EX takes the 5.1 digital formats one step further, adding an additional centre channel. The extra depth guarantees a more realistic, immersing audio, making this the key format for movies. Nowadays, this is the most common format for 5.1 channel satellite and HQ TV broadcasts.
Dolby TrueHD
TrueHD is the most recent generation and will be the new standard. This technology was developed for HD based media and support eight different channels. All of the most recent HDMI ports and devices use this format.
How to match the speaker to your room?
You won’t appreciate the magic of the surround sound if you keep all of the speakers close to each other. So before buying any home theatre, we recommend you to design the surround system according to the space you want to put it in. Another thing that you should keep in mind is what you do in the room, so you can decide where to mount the speakers.
If you want a more immersive experience and you will put the theatre in a small room, your best bet will be an on-wall or in-wall speaker. They are perfect for small rooms because they don’t need too much space. On the other hand, if you want a more cinema-like experience and have the space, floor-standing speakers are better.
Every type of speaker will have its channel. Floor-standing speakers work best if they surround you, yes, and they have a better acoustic feeling. However, it would help if you still considered where to put some of the speakers. Bigger, centre channels work best above or below your TV; but left and right speaker; and surround speaker should be on a bookshelf or behind/beside the area you will sit.
Speaker functions
Center channel speakers are most of the time the most important in the set. 50% of the movie or TV sound will be on these channels, including the dialogues. This piece is the centre of all of the set, and it will match all of the others pieces. We recommend you to have this one in front of you on top or below the TV.
Left and right speakers have a channel dedicated to the soundstage and environmental sound. In other words, they will reproduce the score of most of the movies or the special sound effects of your video games. They will help you to feel inside of the story with sounds of steps, soft environmental music or will draw your attention with the special effects. They work better when they are somewhere slightly above you, in the sides.
Finally, surround speakers should go behind or beside your seat. These speakers complement the rest of the pieces in the set, playing ambient sound, like rain, wind, leaves sounds and the likes. They also reproduce directional effects, so try to keep them close to you to appreciate this.
How to buy the best surround sound speaker?
You should consider many things, but some others are basic, and you should always have them in mind. With this being said, we made a shortlist of some of the most important things that you should look for when you buy a home theatre.
Know well your TV
Before buying a theatre, you need a TC, and if you don’t have one, well, get it. Many models will encode the newest video formats, which is important to know if you have a 4K HDR TV, which is a standard nowadays, try to get a Dolby TrueHD set. If you have a smart TV, this is even better because they have Bluetooth and WiFi connections built-in.
Think about the size of your room
As we said before, the best speakers are almost always floor-standing speakers, and they are big. Unfortunately, the subwoofer and other set pieces are huge and not well suited for smaller rooms, which is important to consider. There are speakers in multiples forms and sizes; however, smaller, on-wall, or in-wall speakers might not deliver as good as some bigger ones.
Think ahead
With this, we mean to say that you should think deeply about what you want to do with the speakers. Most of the speakers in surround systems can be paired with almost all of our gadgets; this means that they are perfect for streaming. However, some cheaper options won’t do this, so try always to think ahead of what you want.
Pick one easy to set up
Well, speakers with surround sound aren’t rocket science, but sometimes they are hard to set. There are easy to set, home-theatre boxes that you can put together in five minutes, and you will have everything there. That alternative is one of the best to save time, but their sound quality isn’t always the best. Try to buy separate components and set them one by one.
Our best pick for surround sound systems
Picking a surround sound pack of speakers can be very challenging, and we know it. However, we want you to save time, so we pick some of the best surround systems in the market and put them in here.
Sonos Arc
As a speaker, this is a standalone choice because it’s incredible and is a do-it-all. Sonos arch is one fantastic piece of technology that works flawlessly. It has excellent connectivity, capable of being paired with AirPlay 2 and most TVs. Besides this, it uses 11 drivers to create a high-quality surround sound field.
Q Acoustics 3050i 5.1 Cinema Pack
If you want your cinema at home, this pack is your go-to. This speaker package will give you snappy timing and fast but natural-sounding performance. Its components work together incredibly, making every movie more engaging and every game more immersive. Maybe its size might be a problem, but you will get a very high-quality set, so you should consider it.
