What Is 5.1 Surround Sound?
What Does 5.1 Surround Sound Mean?
In surround sound home theatre systems, "5.1" refers to a setup with five speakers and one subwoofer. The five main speakers comprise the front left, right and centre speakers and the other two are the rear surround speakers. The front left, right and centre speakers are what will make or break the system. Make sure the speakers are large enough with enough power handling for the room they will be used in. They also need to be sonically matched, so buying speakers from the same brand and range is ideal. Otherwise, the sound will change depending on where on the screen it appears.
Speaker Placement For The Ultimate Home Theatre Experience
The “.1” refers to the separate low frequency effects (LFE) channel which is typically handled by a powered subwoofer. This 5.1 configuration is designed to create a more immersive audio experience than stereo by surrounding the listener with sound.
So, three of the speakers are placed at the front of the room. One on the right of the screen, one on the left and one in the centre. The left and right speakers usually handle the most power and are often larger Floor Standing models. The centre channel is normally wider than it is tall and is designed to sit on a shelf under the screen. This is the speaker that handles most of the dialogue you will hear in a movie or show.
The surrounds speakers are normally mounted to either side of the listening position or slightly behind or sometimes above. These speakers reproduce ambient sound and effects and come in a variety of forms such as wall mounted, in-wall or even in-ceiling.
The subwoofer is typically a powered speaker that sits at the front of the room to one side. It handles low-frequency sounds like bass and explosions, adding depth and impact to the experience.
Expanding Your 5.1 System To Dolby Atmos
5.1 Surround Sound is a popular standard for home theatre setups, offering a significant improvement in immersion compared to stereo sound. It is also a starting point which allows expansion with more surround speakers and even the possibility of Dolby Atmos height speakers in the future. If you plan on expanding your setup you will need to ensure your home theatre receiver has enough powered output channels. You are welcome to contact us to discuss a simple 5.1 surround sound system or we can help you explore the possibilities of an expanded 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos system. Remember, we can design a complete home theatre system for your space and have it installed in metropolitan Melbourne by our qualified Installers.