Full Answer
What's the difference between 5.2 and 7.2 surround sound?
5.2 – The same as a 5.1 system but the . 2 now refers to there being 2 subwoofers. 7.2 – 7 Channels of surround consisting of a left speaker, centre speaker, right speaker, a rear-left and right-speaker, and two additional surround speakers typically installed on the side walls.
What's the difference between 5.1 and 7.2 surround sound?
A 5.1 surround sound system consists of a front left, front right, front center, surround right and surround left speakers along with a subwoofer. A 7.1 surround sound system is the same as a 5.1 system, except it has an additional set of rear surround speakers.
Which surround sound mode is best?
5.1-channel surround is the most common home theatre configuration because it is the simplest of the three, will work in most rooms, does a great job creating a true surround sound experience, and is typically the least expensive. The two most popular types of surround sound in 5.1 systems is Dolby Digital and DTS.
Is 5.1 or 7.1 surround better?
A 5.1 surround sound system uses 6 channels (feeding into 6 speakers) to create surround sound. 7.1 surround sound systems use 8 channels. The two extra channels of sound (and two extra speakers) provide a slightly better audio quality.
How big of a room do you need for 7.1 surround sound?
How big is your room? If it's larger than around 350 square feet, consider a 7.1 speaker setup. If it's smaller, a 5.1 may be more appropriate.
How many speakers can I connect to a 7.2 receiver?
A 7.2 receiver will handle two front speakers, two back speakers, an additional set of back/side speakers, a center speaker and a subwoofer.
Which is better Dolby or DTS?
Which is better: DTS or Dolby Digital? Based on the specs alone, DTS beats its rival with higher bit-rates that promise a more realistic movie experience. That said, other factors such as signal-to-noise ratio and speaker calibration mean that plenty of audiophiles would rate Dolby above DTS.
What do surround sound numbers mean?
The numbers actually represent the amount of speaker channels in your home cinema. In a configuration from 7.2 down, the first number defines how many standard speakers are at ear level. The second number represents subwoofers for low bass notes.
How can I make my surround sound louder?
The best way to adjust the loudness and quality of your surround system is to simply adjust your setup manually....Check Your Media SourceMake sure your stream is set to its highest quality. ... Program your equipment to accommodate 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound audio formats.More items...•
Which speaker is the most important in surround sound?
center channel speakerA center channel speaker is the most important speaker in a surround sound setup because it does most of the work. Most of the action, and conversation, in a movie, happens front and center on your screen, meaning that the center channel is the one reproducing it.
How many speakers do you need for surround sound?
For true home theater sound, you need a minimum of 3 speakers (left, right, and center). For true surround sound, a minimum of five (left, right, center, and two rear.)
Which brand is best for home theater system?
Thus, we have listed the best home theatres in India to ease your buying journey.Sony HT-S40R Real 5.1ch Home Theatre System. ... Sony HT-S20R Real 5.1ch Home Theatre System. ... Philips Audio Multimedia Speaker System. ... JBL Bar 5.1 Wireless Home Theatre. ... ZEBRONICS Zeb-Juke Soundbar With Wireless Satellites.
What is the difference between 7.2 and 7.1 surround sound?
The main difference between 7.1 and 7.2 surround systems is that the latter has an additional sub that should give more oomph to the sound. But you should not be fooled. A true 7.2 systems should have two separate channels for the subs, so that the two subs may not be outputting the same signal.
Can a 7.1 receiver be used with 5.1 speakers?
Well yes, a 7.1 AV receiver will be fine to use with this type of speaker system. You will just connect the center, front left/right, surround left/right and subwoofer speakers as normal, and you will leave the two extra rear left/right speaker outputs disconnected.
Is 7.1 or Dolby Atmos better?
7.1 Surround: What's the Difference? Dolby Atmos adds overhead sound and improved calibration software, which makes the sound deeper and more precise than traditional Surround 7.1 systems.
How many speakers do you need for Dolby Atmos?
We recommend installing four Dolby Atmos enabled speakers whenever possible. The use of four speakers will make the placement of overhead sounds more accurate, and you'll get more precise, realistic sounds when an object, such as a helicopter, passes overhead.
What is the most common surround sound speaker layout?
The most common surround sound speaker layout is “5.1”.
What is Surround Sound?
The term “surround sound” is used to describe sound systems capable of producing a sensation of sound from all directions surrounding the listener (i.e., 360 degrees) at ear level.
What is DTS 5.1?
DTS Coherent Acoustics is DTS’s base codec for 5.1 Surround. It is based on ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation). As a result, DTS typically has higher bit rates than Dolby AC-3 which uses MDCT. Conversely, the higher bit rates also mean that it is generally less lossy than AC-3.
What is object based audio?
The term “object-based audio” is also used for immersive sound technologies as they allow modeling of sound sources along with their coordinates in 3D space as “objects.” This differentiates them from earlier “channel-based” surround sound technologies where directors had to mix the sounds from a scene into pre-determined channels.
What is immersive sound?
Immersive sound aims to provide a close-to-real sensation of the visuals on the screen, placing you in the middle of the action.
How does surround sound work?
Surround sound systems extend the “sound field” to all directions surrounding the listener, including the sides and rear, by using additional speakers placed strategically.
How many speakers are in a 7.1 system?
A 7.1 system, less common than 5.1, uses four surround speakers apart from left, right, and center. The idea here is to split the side and rear sound effects. In this layout, two of the surround speakers are placed to the side of the listener (close to 90 degrees) and another two to the rear.
How many speakers are there in surround sound?
Surround sound, at its most basic, involves a set of stereo front speakers (left and right) and a set of surround speakers, which are usually placed just to the sides and just behind a central listening position. The next step up involves the addition of a center channel: A speaker placed between the front left and right speakers that is primarily responsible for reproducing dialogue in movies. Thus, we have five speakers involved. We’ll be adding more speakers later (lots more), but for now, we can use this basic five-speaker arrangement as a springboard for getting into the different formats.
When was surround sound first available?
It was the summer of ’69. We’re not talking about the Bryan Adams song here; we’re actually referring to the first time surround sound became available in the home. It was called Quadraphonic sound, and it first appeared on reel-to-reel tape. Unfortunately, Quadraphonic sound, which provided discrete sound from four speakers placed in each corner of a room, was confusing and short-lived — no thanks to companies battling over formats (sound familiar?). Immersion in a three-dimensional audio sphere was not to be given up on, however.
What about 7.2, 9.2, or 11.2?
As we mentioned previously, the “.1” in 5.1, 7.1, etc., refers to the LFE (low-frequency effects) channel in a surround soundtrack, which is handled by a subwoofer. Adding “.2” simply means that a receiver has two subwoofer outputs instead of one. Both connections output the same information since, as far as Dolby and DTS are concerned, there is only one subwoofer track. Since A/V receiver manufacturers wanted to market the additional subwoofer output, the notion of using “.2” was adopted.
How does Dolby surround work?
Using the matrix process, Dolby’s Pro Logic surround was developed to encode separate signals within the main left and right channels. Dolby was able to allow home audio devices to decode two extra channels of sound from media like VHS tapes, which fed the center channel and surround speakers with audio. Because of the limited space, however, matrixed surround signals came with some limitations. For instance, the surround channels in basic Pro Logic were not in stereo and had limited bandwidth. That means that each speaker played the same thing and the sound didn’t involve much bass or treble information.
Why is matrixed surround sound limited?
Because of the limited space , however, matrixed surround signals came with some limitations. For instance, the surround channels in basic Pro Logic were not in stereo and had limited bandwidth. That means that each speaker played the same thing and the sound didn’t involve much bass or treble information.
How many speakers are needed for Auro 3D?
Multiple speakers really showcase this kind of layered sound. We recommend eleven speakers to get the most out of the sound, making Auro-3D the most expensive setup you can recreate at home. Because Auro-3D usually uses a single overhead channel, its speaker configurations aren’t optimal when used with Dolby Atmos sound.
What is matrix sound?
No, we’re not talking about the sci-fi franchise starring Keanu Reeves. In this case, matrix refers to the encoding of separate sound signals within a stereo source. This approach was the basis for early surround-sound formats like Dolby Surround and Dolby Pro Logic and was motivated in part by the limited space for discrete information on early audio-video media, such as VHS tape.
How to set up 7.1 surround sound?
To set up a 7.1 system (the format that has replaced the 6.1 tracks of yesteryear and is the base layer of all Atmos tracks), you simply add a pair of speakers behind the listening position. Well, almost. If you're keen to follow Dolby's guidelines, the introduction of rear surrounds necessitates slightly moving your existing surround speakers.
What angle should surrounds be in 7.1?
In a 7.1 array, the rear surrounds should be positioned at an angle of 135-150 degrees in relation to the listening position. And because 135 degrees is rather close to the recommended 120-degree maximum of Dolby (and the ITU), the suggestion is to move the surrounds further forward, to between 90 and 110 degrees. The result is a more even spread of surround and rear surround effects.
How many speakers are in Dolby Atmos?
A better, more enveloping Dolby Atmos experience is delivered by a system with four overhead speakers. Here, the front pair (Top Front) should be at 45 degrees (or between 30 and 55), and the rear pair (Top Back) should be at 135 degrees (125-150).
When did Dolby Digital 5.1 come out?
Skip forward some 40-plus years, through the introduction of Dolby Digital 5.1 in 1992, the 6.1-channel Dolby Digital Surround EX format in 1999, Dolby 7.1 Surround in 2010 and Dolby Atmos in 2012 (with Brave, pictured above) and, amidst the changes, much remains constant. With a few rare exceptions, all new movies are mixed and released in multichannel, with left, centre, right, left surround, right surround and LFE – and these remain the starting point for any discrete, multichannel home cinema setup.
What kind of stereo was used in Star Wars?
Lucas’s Star Wars would ship out in both Dolby Stereo 35mm and Dolby 70mm Six Track Stereo prints. Along with 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and 1979’s Apocalypse Now (the first movie with split surround channels), it marked the birth of the surround sound era.
How high should a tweeter be?
For the front left and right speakers, tweeters should be at ear height , or as close as is practicably possible. Floorstanding models aren’t all the same height (some are less than 1m), and neither are our sofas and our own heads, so what’s important, given the greater directionality of high frequencies compared to those in the mid and low ranges, is to make sure tweeters aren’t too high or too low, or all that audio information will pass right by you.
What angle should the acoustic overhead be placed?
In a 5.1.2 or 7.1.2 setup, the Atmos overheads – termed Top Middle – should ideally be placed in line with the front L/R pair and slightly in front of the listening position, at an angle of 80 degrees (although the wider spec is 65-100 degrees, which allows for an installation a little way behind the head).
What is AC 5.1?
AC 5.1 is a generic description of a multi-channel sound system. All of these surround sound types use 5.1 channel decoding to provide surround sound. The 5.1 channels are as follows: 1. Left Front.
Is DTS surround sound the same as Dolby Digital?
DTS surround sound is an alternate AC 5.1 surround sound which DTS states is not as compressed as Dolby Digital.
What is the difference between 5.1 and 5.2 surround sound?
5.1 and 5.2 surround sounds in home theater have one main difference: the number of subwoofers. While 5.1 includes a single subwoofer, 5.2 surround sound setup offers two subs to boost the low-frequency audio signals creating a clear and even bass effect.
What is 5.1 Surround Sound?
The naming system may be intimidating if you’re new to all things concerning home theaters. But don’t worry, this nomenclature is pretty simple to understand.
What is the difference between 5.1 and 5.2?
Thus far, it’s undeniable that the defining distinction between 5.1 and 5.2 is pegged to the dual subwoofer setup of 5.2 surround sound systems. So let’s zero in on the benefits of having two subwoofers for your home entertainment layout.
How many speakers does 5.1 have?
So, in this case, 5.1 means the home theater has five speakers and one subwoofer. One example of the 5.1 surround sound is the Yamaha Yht-4950U (see it on Amazon). Subwoofers are responsible for the low-frequency signals in the soundtracks played. This is what produces the booming bass. On the other hand, the five speakers are responsible ...
How to set up a 5.1 surround sound system?
We’ve already mentioned that there are five standard speakers for both 5.1 and 5.2 surround sounds. The five speakers should be placed according to the channel positions as follows: 1 Center: The center speaker should be placed either under or above the TV set directly in front of the listener. 2 Front left and right: At about a 30° angle from the listener’s position, place the front right and left speakers on either side of the center. 3 Surround left and right: At about a 110° angle from the listener’s position, place the two surround speakers on the right and left side to the listener.
What does 5.1 mean in a home theater?
And the second digit, “.1” represents the number of subwoofers in the layout. So, in this case, 5.1 means the home theater has five speakers and one subwoofer. One example of the 5.1 surround sound is ...
Why is a 5.2 subwoofer important?
The extra subwoofer in a 5.2 home theater beefs up the sound quality of the deep bass audio signals. Admittedly, this improvement may not be apparent in all listening rooms. It’s often more distinct if the home theater is set up in a big-sized room because the room acoustics of a smaller space may not be able to clearly affect the extra low-frequency signals.
What is the decibel scale?
To express levels of sound meaningfully in numbers that are more manageable, a logarithmic scale is used, rather than a linear one. This scale is the decibel scale.
What Do Different Decibel Levels Mean?
Most sound within this range is practically inaudible. Sounds that produce decibel levels between 0 and 30 comprise whispers as well as the ticking of a watch.
What is the ability of the ear to handle sound?
Written by Chris in Soundproofing Home. The ear has the remarkable ability to handle an enormous range of sound levels. The effects of noise on hearing vary among people. Some people’s ears are more sensitive to loud sounds, To express levels of sound meaningfully in numbers that are more manageable, a logarithmic scale is used, ...