LCD and Plasma displays will usually have built-in speaker system but these do not always provide the best sound quality. Home cinema systems provide you with impressive audio quality that can match the superior images of LCD and Plasma screens.
Home cinema system creates a sound experience similar to the one which you experience in your local cinema - you hear the music, sound effects and dialogue from all around you. Home cinema systems use a number of speakers to reproduce audio channels recorded from different directions in movies and programmes. This way you get a more lifelike sound experience. Installing a home cinema system will let you fully enjoy the benefits of the latest Dolby and DTS surround sound technology. This technology is designed so you can hear the soundtracks exactly as the filmmakers had intended.
Home cinema systems use AV receivers to decode the audio signal from your source (Blu-ray, set top box etc.) and send each audio channel to the correct speaker. Systems can contain 2, 5, 6, even 7 separate speakers to split the audio in to separate channels to literally surround you with sound. In addition a subwoofer helps enhance the bass sounds such as thunder or booming explosions.
5.1 System (Dolby Digital, DTS)
Probably the most popular set up for home cinema systems, this is the same setup used in cinemas around the world. Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS consists of five separate audio channels that reach your ears from five different directions. It consists of two speakers behind you, one to your left and one to your right. There also two speakers in front of you, one to your left and another to your right, with the final speaker situated in the centre. The .1 refers to a subwoofer which is also added to enhance the booming lower bass frequencies.
DVDs, Blu-ray discs, modern games consoles and SkyHD support Dolby Digital 5.1 while certain other sources will support DTS.
6.1 /7.1
In 6.1 there is one additional rear channel speaker (or in some cases a pair) placed directly behind you whereas in 7.1 there are two additional middle channel speakers placed between the front and rear speakers of the 5.1 system.
A number of surround sound technologies listed below utilise the additional speakers. Both 6.1 and 7.1 add to your surround sound experience if the movie provides effects in the additional channels. Remember that DVD movies do not support 7.1 and cable and satellite providers do not transmit sound above 5.1. However an increasing number of Blu-ray discs do.
6.1/7.1 is available in: Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-ES, DTS-HD Master Audio
2.1
2.1 home cinema systems use two separate speakers and a subwoofer for bass frequencies with a built in surround sound decoder. This setup creates the illusion of surround sound by mixing the audio to distribute sound around the room. This allows you to enjoy multi channel surround sound without having to install additional rear speakers and have the clutter of speaker cable around the room.
All in One (Soundbars)
A soundbar is a long all in one speaker surround sound system. It is roughly the same width as a larger flat panel screen and is designed to attach to the wall or be placed on a shelf below your screen. A Soundbar does not require any speaker cables to be run.
They contain multiple speakers and can produce high quality audio without the need for various speakers located around your room. Some Soundbars can replicate the audio experience of 5.1 surround sound systems by using multi-directional speakers that bounces sounds off your walls.
The can also contain a built in AV receiver, a subwoofer and additional USB connections and iPod docks. Soundbars are very good if you want to enjoy home cinema sound but you don't have the space for a multi-speaker system or do not want the hassle of running speaker wires for the surround sound system.
Speakers
Speakers can vary in type, size and style. The following are the three main speaker formats used for surround sound and home audio:
Front & Rear
These come in pairs and make ideal standalone Hi-Fi speakers or as your two front or rear left and right surround sound speakers. Front and rear speakers can be long, tall and floor standing or smaller "bookshelf" speakers which can be placed on shelves, cabinets or speaker stands. Floor-standing speakers can be mounted on spikes to reduce bass vibrations.
Centre-Channel
These wide, horizontal speakers are designed mainly for the dialogue part of the soundtrack in home cinema.
Subwoofer
The Subwoofer's job is to make bass, ensuring low frequencies and deep sounds stand out -great for enhancing home cinema sound and for added bass in music. Subwoofers usually are floor-standing, cube shaped speakers.
Tweeter, Midrange Drivers & Woofer
Speakers are usually constructed using a number of separate loudspeakers - tweeter, midrange and woofer. Each of these varies in size and handles different frequency ranges. A good quality speaker will have at least one of each of these loudspeakers in one single enclosure.
There are three types of loudspeakers:
Tweeter - Normally smaller in size than the other two types of loudspeakers, the tweeter reproduces high frequency sounds.
Midrange Drive - Reproduces middle frequency range of the sound spectrum. Not all speakers may contain this loudspeaker.
Woofer - Normally the largest of the three loudspeakers, this reproduces low frequency sounds.
Speaker Size, Weight & Mounting
When choosing a speaker it is a good idea to consider your room layout and how much space you have. Smaller speakers can be mounted on speaker stands while certain speakers can be wall mounted to help save space. If you wish to place a speaker on a surface such as a shelf or cabinet, make sure to check its weight first.
Wireless Speaker Systems
Wireless speaker systems have the benefit of not needing long cables to connect the rear speakers to the AV receiver. The two rear speakers need to be connected to a wireless receiver and will require their own separate power source. These systems are perfect if you do not want the hassle of running speaker cables.
THX
Home cinema systems featuring the THX symbol means they have been certified by THX a company set up by film director George Lucas to ensure a high reproduction standard in cinema audio. The THX symbol is an "internationally recognised endorsement of quality" and confirms that the home cinema system's production and performance is of a high standard.