Improving Your Home’s Surround Sound System: Essential Tips
So, you’re ready to take your home entertainment experience to the next level. You want each tender movie moment to sound crystal clear and each action scene to deliver the bone-crushing intensity that only the best surround-sound systems can give. If you’re just getting started, don’t worry. There are some great strategies to follow to make sure you’re getting the most out of your surround-sound system.
Determining the Size of Your Surround-Sound System
Entertainment center sound systems are usually associated with the numbers 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, etc. The numbers correspond with the amount of speakers (plus the subwoofer) your receiver is equipped to broadcast to. If you have a 5.1-channel receiver, it is equipped for 5 speakers and a subwoofer. A 6.1-channel receiver would be equipped for 6 speakers, and so on.
The Equipment
You’ll need to choose a receiver (which is the device that broadcasts the movie sound to the speakers) that is equipped for the amount of speakers you want. You can generally buy speakers as part of a system, meaning they are all made specifically to work together with each other, delivering the same level and quality of sound. If you’re rustling up a hodge-podge speaker system, however, you may want to take some time for adjustment (one might be a little too tinny, another might have too much bass, etc.)
As part of a 5.1 system, you’ll be working with a center speaker, two front speakers, two surrounding speakers, and a subwoofer. The center speaker, as the name suggests, is placed at the center of all the action, above or below your television. Its placement also depends on what kind of television mounts or brackets are being used.
Experts recommend placing the front speakers at equal distances and angels from either side of the television. It is also recommended that they are placed so that they are even with or behind viewers. As for the subwoofer, one recommendation for finding the ideal spot is to wander through the room while some bass-heavy music or sound is playing and listening for where it sounds best. Place it there to get the best low-frequency sound.
Determining the exact setup of a surround-sound system will vary depending on the layout of the room it is being set up in, individual preference, and much more. But, knowing what to consider during your setup your process is essential to getting that perfect sound you, your family, and your friends will enjoy.