Are you considering adding some surround sound speakers to your home? If so, then it is very important that you know the basics. There are several pieces of equipment you need to create the right effect. Plus, you also have to know how to set them up together to give you that full theater experience you want. If you are not sure how to install surround sound speakers on your own, there are plenty of options for help out there, including the experienced professionals here at ClarionAV. If you have a question, we have the answer.
The Components That Make Up Surround Sound Speakers
There are quite a few pieces of equipment that make up surround sound systems. Each piece of equipment has a specific role. It takes all of these pieces working together to create the noise and feel of being immersed in whatever is on your screen. The first component of your surround sound system is your receiver. This is what processes everything that goes out to the speakers. It receives the signals from your DVD or Blu-Ray player or your projector, and distributes the sound accordingly.
Next, you have a center speaker. This will either sit right above or directly below your screen. This can be mounted, or simply sit on the shelf. Most of the time, the voices from whatever you are watching come from this speaker. From there, you have two front speakers. One is on the left, and the other is on the right. These speakers provide the background noise of whatever is on the screen. For example, if you see an explosion, you will hear the noise of the explosion come from these two speakers.
The final components of your surround sound speakers are the back speakers and the subwoofers. The speakers that go behind you are meant to provide extra ambient noise to help you feel like what’s happening on the screen, is actually happening in the room with you. The subwoofer is meant to give off that base which rattles your windows and helps you feel as though you are a part of the action. Getting each of these components as part of a set is the most common setup.
Matching the Right Surround Sound Speakers to Your Room
You want to make sure that you consider the size of your room when picking out your surround sound speakers. For smaller rooms, smaller speakers and subwoofers are ideal. If you go too big, you miss out on some of the benefits the larger systems have to offer. Plus, the sound coming out of those bigger systems can get a bit distorted. If you have a large room with lots of open space, you want a bigger system. Smaller speakers would not give you the right feel for this larger room. The noises would sound fake, and the immersive feeling would be lost.
Larger rooms can have speakers that sit on the floor since the room is large enough to accept the power those speakers put out. Plus, a larger room can handle the vibration that may come with larger speakers. Smaller rooms, on the other hand, should have smaller speaker sets since they do not have the same amount of space. Matching the right size unit to the room is one of the keys to making sure you get the most out of your surround sound system.
How Many Channels Do You Need for Your Surround Sound Speakers?
There are two options when it comes to surround sound systems. You have the 5.1 channel system, and you have the 7.1 channel system. The difference is in the number and location of the speakers. Both of them have the same front three speakers, plus the subwoofer. This helps create the noise that is in front of you and what creates the voices that you hear. The difference comes in what goes behind those speakers.
In the 5.1 channel system, you have one set of speakers that either will sit on the side of the back seating area, or directly behind that seating area. These speakers are meant to create the extra ambient noises that make you feel like you are part of the scene. They will create noises like rain and leaves rustling on the ground behind you. It is these speakers that will help a thunderstorm on your screen come to life in your living room.
In the 7.1 channel system, you get both sets. You get two speakers that sit beside the furthest back seating area to help with those noises. Plus, you also get two speakers that sit behind that seating area. This gives you twice the ambient noise, which helps you feel like an active part of what is going on. While most homes will do perfectly fine with a 5.1 channel system, larger homes or theater rooms that are exceptionally large would do well with the 7.1 channel surround sound system.
Do You Prefer Visible Speakers or Incognito Style Surround Sound Speakers?
You also have to consider how you want the surround sound speakers set up in your room. Some people do not mind having large speakers around the room. To them, it feels more like an experience to see those speakers set up in the room. To others, they like having a more minimalistic look. The choice is yours, depending on which look you prefer more.
You can also choose to have some speakers visible and some surround sound speakers installed in your walls or the ceiling. If you like a bit of how both look and feel, you can pick and choose which speakers go where. This is also a great idea when you want to put those rear speakers behind you, but your room offers limited space. Then, you put those speakers into the wall or the ceiling, and you can leave the rest mounted, on shelves, or on the floor, depending on the style of speaker you choose.
