Bring the Cinematic Experience Home: A Guide to Surround Sound Systems

You're sitting in a theater, watching a high-speed car chase on the screen. You can hear tires screeching to your right and police sirens blaring from behind you. How does this happen? It's thanks to surround sound, where speakers are placed strategically around the theater to project audio in different directions, creating a realistic and immersive sound experience. In this guide, we'll show you how to bring this cinematic experience to your home and feel like you're in the middle of the action.

What is Surround Sound?

Surround sound makes you feel like you're part of what's happening on screen. As the name suggests, it creates an immersive audio experience that surrounds you. In theaters, many speakers—sometimes up to 64—are positioned around the room to project sound from all directions. While this experience is common in cinemas, you can achieve the same immersive surround sound at home with the right speakers and placement.

Common Surround Sound Setups

You can set up your surround sound system in various ways depending on your room size, the sound experience you want, and your budget. The two most common setups are 5.1 and 7.1.

First, what do these numbers mean? They indicate how many audio points, or "channels," are in a surround sound system. The first digit represents the number of channels, and the second refers to the presence of a subwoofer. For example, in a 5.1 system, there are three front speakers (or a soundbar delivering the left, right, and center channels), two rear speakers, and one subwoofer.

Generally, the more channels in a setup, the more immersive the surround sound experience. Let's take a closer look at each.

5.1 Surround Sound

A 5.1 system is a standard layout, with most movies mixed for this experience. In this setup, dialogue sounds crisper, effects and ambient audio come from behind and in front of you, and you'll feel surrounded by the on-screen action. This is thanks to five channels of audio and one subwoofer. Imagine having three channels in front and two behind for all-around sound, plus a subwoofer for low-frequency sounds like explosions or deep voices.

For most home theaters, this system is a solid choice, easily filling your room with sound.

7.1 Surround Sound

Surround sound aims to envelop you in sound, so more channels create a more immersive experience. The two additional channels in a 7.1 setup fill in the gaps in your sound experience. However, some speakers can cover multiple audio points without needing extra speakers. For example, a soundbar can deliver your three front channels (left, right, and center) despite being a single speaker. Some rear speakers can also cover multiple audio points, reducing the need for individual speakers and extra wiring.

Does Surround Sound Actually Sound Better?

Yes, surround sound makes a noticeable difference when you're watching a movie and want to be fully immersed. Here's why:

Surround Sound vs. Stereo Sound

With a stereo system, all your sound comes from two channels: left and right. This works well for listening to music in the car or on headphones. But when watching a movie, you want to feel like you're in the middle of the action, and surround sound achieves this. Unlike stereo sound, which is more directional, surround sound is dynamic, sending audio from the front, above, and behind you. This creates a more realistic sound, mimicking how you experience action in real life.

Surround Sound vs. a SoundbarAdding a soundbar to your TV will give you clearer dialogue, enhanced clarity, and deeper bass. However, all the sound comes from the soundbar in front of you. Adding rear speakers for surround sound provides an all-encompassing effect, with audio coming from different angles and even behind you.

Theater-Quality Surround Sound

Imagine you're in the theater again, watching that car chase. Now, a police helicopter is hovering above the cars, and it feels like the propellers are whirring overhead. How do you replicate this at home? This is where height channels and spatial audio technology come in.

Understanding Height Channels

In more advanced home theater systems, like a 7.1.4 setup with Dolby Atmos, you'll notice a third digit representing the number of overhead speakers. These speakers are typically placed in the corners of the room, adding a sense of height to your viewing experience.

While this may seem like a lot of speakers for one room, advanced technology and acoustic hardware can help create this experience with fewer speakers using virtualization techniques.

Surround Sound vs. Dolby Atmos

At its core, Dolby Atmos is a spatial audio technology that allows sound objects to be placed on a three-dimensional canvas and moved around. This adds a third overhead dimension to 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound setups, making sound travel more naturally around the room, just like in real life.

How to Create a Surround Sound System

Start with a Soundbar

Soundbars offer many benefits. They perform the job of right, left, and center speakers, saving space and possibly money. They create an immersive surround sound experience without needing three separate speakers (and their wiring) in front of your TV. Plus, soundbars are sleek and blend in with your decor, fitting nicely under your TV or easily mounting on a wall.

However, not all soundbars deliver the same experience. If you plan to place your speaker in a media stand, choose a soundbar with forward-facing acoustics to avoid blocking the soundwaves. For a truly immersive theater experience, opt for a Dolby-Atmos-supported soundbar with upward-firing drivers that project sound throughout the room.

Add Rear Speakers

A soundbar alone can significantly improve your audio quality, whether you're streaming a movie or listening to music. But for sound that comes from all directions, consider adding rear speakers. Rear speakers amplify ambient sounds that draw you into the movie, like rustling wind, a dripping faucet, or coffee-shop chatter. If you're a fan of scary movies, you know how important these details are for creating suspense.

For the best sound from your rear speakers, place them on either side of your seating or behind you. Ensure the side and upward-firing drivers are unobstructed. Depending on the speaker, you can also mount them higher and angle them towards your seating area. WiFi-enabled speakers can connect to your soundbar without the need for hardwiring.

Pair a Subwoofer

Subwoofers are excellent additions to your surround sound setup because they let you feel the audio. They also enhance your other speakers' sound by taking on some of the work. Subwoofers handle the lower sound frequencies, allowing your other speakers to focus on midrange sounds. When choosing a subwoofer, remember that they come in various sizes and power levels. The right size for you depends on your setup, room size, and budget.