Investing in a Quality Surround Sound System

While most people seem to think the concept of surround sound is relatively new, the truth is that we’ve been experimenting with surround sound for more than 80 years at this point. The earliest known example of surround sound actually dates way back to the 1930s and the invention of the so called “Three-Dimensional” sound system. 

In 1940, the Walt Disney Company incorporated their groundbreaking “Fantasound” technology in order to totally immerse the audiences of the time in the audio sensation of their animation achievement Fantasia. And ever since the famous Stereophonic sound became the standard in mid-50s, people have been trying to create the ultimate home-listening experience.

The Importance of a Quality Sound System

Now, when building a home theater, why should you even be concerned with the quality of your sound system, because logically, the thing you should be the most concerned with is the screen, right? Seeing how the big screen is the first that comes to mind when talking about theatres, it is understandable why so many people are primarily concerned with the screen quality.

But as Walter Disney showed us more than 75 years ago, ambience is one of the most important factors to a true movie-going experience. And when it comes to genres like adventure and horror, the right ambiance can only be authentically captured with a good sound system. So, if you spend all your money a new 4K screen and completely ignore the speakers, you’ll definitely make a big mistake.

The Room Selection is Vital

Before we even start talking about any technical details, you need to understand one thing – the layout and the very nature of your room is as important to your listening experience as the system itself. Cramming a 9.1 system in a small, closet-sized room is logically too much. But the size isn’t the only feature you should be concerned about.

The texture of your walls (no matter if it’s rough or smooth) will undoubtedly affect the way sound behaves in your room. With this in mind, you should put in some extra effort, and try to make your room more acoustic, and if possible, sound-proof it. If your room is too crowded, you should as I did, opt for affordable TV wall mounting found in Brisbane which left me with more free space in my living room.

Surround Sound Formats

You probably already know that these systems are often referred to in numbers like 2.1, 5.1 and so on. This simply lets you know just how many speaker components the system you are talking about has. For instance, a 2.1 setup only has three channels – two discrete main audio channels, which are divvied between two speakers, and one channel fed to the subwoofer for the lower sounds.

But, let’s take a look at some of the more “serious” setups:

·        5.1 Surround System

This setup includes the left and right speakers to sit in front of your screen, a center channel for vocals the subwoofer and two additional speakers for either side of your sitting area.

·        7.1 Surround System

The 7.1 system has the exact same setup as the aforementioned 5.1; however, you’ll also get two additional speakers positioned right behind you that enhance the surround experience.

·        9.1 Surround System

This particular setup adds another pair to the 7.1 mix, each mounted a couple of feet above a corresponding right or left speaker, which gives audio effects another axis and creates a more immersive viewing experience.

It’s All Up to You

While this might sound like a cop out answer, in reality, there is no perfect number of speakers. However, the general rule is – base the number of speaker on what works best for your space and wallet. Try to look for well-crafted components from a well-known, reputable company with a tradition of manufacturing speaker that continue to define the industry.

Simply put, look for home systems built by companies which also build speakers for actual cinemas, because they surely understand cinema-quality sound. And if you can’t afford an expensive 9.1 system, don’t worry, because there’s nothing wrong with starting small. Just keep this in mind – any number of speakers can be right – as long as it isn’t zero.