Choosing New Audio Equipment

Posted on: 20 June 2023

Everyone wants to have movie theater quality sound at home, but they often settle for a sound bar instead of a proper 5.1 speaker setup once they see the wiring that is involved. However, only surround sound can offer the high quality sound you seek because of the amount of speakers it uses. Here is what you need to know about the role of each speaker.

Center Speaker

The most important speaker in a 5.1 surround sound system is the center speaker. If you are going to splurge on any single speaker, that is the one to ensure is the nicest and has the biggest dynamic range. The center speaker is positioned below or above the TV and points directly toward the center seating position. It has the role of anchoring the sound effects and dialogue by bringing them to the viewer in a way that is focused and clear so that they don't miss a single detail.

You'll find that the dialogue in TV and movies comes from that center speaker rather than the sounds that surround the room. When people often complain about not being able to hear the dialogue in something they are watching, chances are it is because they have a poor center speaker that is not configured properly. 

Stereo Speakers

In a typical sound setup, two speakers are at the front of the room to the left and right of the TV. These are the stereo speakers. They deliver audio elements that support the scene, such as sound effects, music, and ambient sound. The sound can also shift from left to right, to simulate the direction that the sound is coming from on screen.

You need those stereo speakers to accurately place the sound in the room, and they can work with the center speakers to deliver dialogue in a way that makes it sound as if it's coming from the side. Even though just a small amount of dialogue comes through a stereo speaker at times, it creates a virtual space of sound that tricks your ears.

Surround Speakers

There are two surround speakers that are positioned behind the entertainment setup, which help envelope the listener in sound. They create the three-dimensional experience that surround sound creates, since they deliver the sounds from action that is off-screen to create movement and depth. As the viewer, you want to sound as if you're in the center of the action that you are watching, and surround sound speakers create depth that you can't get from a sound bar. 

For more information on speaker options, such as Paradigm speakers, contact an audio equipment provider.