5.1 surround sound ('five-point one') is the common name for six channel surround sound audio systems. 5.1 is the most commonly used layout in home theatre.[citation needed] It uses five full bandwidth channels and one low-frequency effects channel (the 'point one').[1]Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS, SDDS, and THX are all common 5.1 systems. 5.1 is also the standard surround sound audio component of digital broadcast and music.[2]
Most common speaker configuration for 5.1; used by Dolby Digital, SDDS, DTS, THX, and Pro Logic II. Each black square depicts a speaker. The centre speaker in the top line of the square is used for dialogue. The left and right speakers on either side of the centre speaker are used to create stereo sound for music and other sound effects in the film. The left and right rear speakers create the surround sound effect.
All 5.1 systems use the same speaker channels and configuration, having a front left and right, a center channel, two surround channels and the low-frequency effects channel designed for a subwoofer.
History[edit]A prototype for five-channel surround sound, then dubbed 'quintaphonic sound', was used in the 1975 film Tommy.[3] 5.1 dates back to 1976[citation needed] when Dolby Labs modified the track usage of the six analogue magnetic soundtracks on Todd-AO 70 mm film prints. The Dolby application of optical matrix encoding in 1976 (released on the film, Logan's Run) did not use split surrounds, and thus was not 5.1. Dolby first used split surrounds with 70mm film, notably in 1979 with Apocalypse Now. Instead of the five screen channels and one surround channel of the Todd-AO format, Dolby Stereo 70 mm Six Track provided three screen channels, two high-passed surround channels and a low-frequency surround channel monophonically blended with the two surround channels. When digital sound was applied to 35 mm release prints, with Batman Returns in 1992, the 5.1 layout was adopted. The ability to provide 5.1 sound had been one of the key reasons for using 70 mm for prestige screenings. The provision of 5.1 digital sound on 35 mm significantly reduced the use of the very expensive 70 mm format. Digital sound and the 5.1 format were introduced in 1990, by KODAK and Optical Radiation Corporation, with releases of Days of Thunder and The Doors using the CDS (Cinema Digital Sound) format. 5.1 digital surround, in the forms of Dolby Digital AC3 and DTS, started appearing on several mid 90s Laserdisc releases, with among the earliest being Clear and Present Danger and Jurassic Park (the latter having both AC3 and DTS versions). Many DVD releases have Dolby Digital tracks up to 5.1 channels, due to the implementation of Dolby Digital in the development of the DVD format. In addition, some DVDs have DTS tracks with most being 5.1 channel mixes (a few releases, however, have 6.1 “matrixed” tracks). Blu-ray and digital cinema both have eight-channel capability which can be used to provide either 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. 7.1 is an extension of 5.1 that uses four surround zones: two at the sides and two at the back. A system of digital 5.1 surround sound has also been used in 1987 at the Parisian cabaret the Moulin Rouge, created by French engineer Dominique Bertrand. To achieve such a system in 1985 a dedicated mixing console had to be designed in cooperation with Solid State Logic, based on their 5000 series, and dedicated speakers in cooperation with APG.[4] The console included ABCDEF channels. Respectively: A left, B right, C centre, D left rear, E right rear, F bass. The same engineer had already developed a similar 3.1 system in 1973, for use at the official International Summit of Francophone States in Dakar. Application[edit]Channel order[edit]The order of channels in a 5.1 file is different across file formats. The order in WAV files is (not complete) Front Left, Front Right, Center, Low-frequency effects, Surround Left, Surround Right.[5] Music[edit]
Suggested configuration for 5.1 music listening.
Regarding music, the main goal of 5.1 surround sound is a proper localization and equability of all acoustic sources for a centered positioned audience. Therefore, ideally five matched speakers should be used. For play-back of 5.1 music recommendations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have been released and propose the following configuration (ITU-R BS 775):[6]
See also[edit]References[edit]
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I'm an audio/video enthusiast, so much of my day is joyfully spent researching and writing about home speakers, amplifiers, and A/V components. My goal is to boil technical jargon down to plain language that helps make choosing new gear a smooth experience for you. I spent the first half of my career designing A/V systems for our customers. I'm proud to be part of a team of industry experts that truly cares about helping people. Outside of Crutchfield, I own a small business that specializes in landscape photography. My work has been featured by Southern Living Magazine, the University of Virginia, the city of Charlottesville, and the state of Virginia. About Kramer
![]() More from Kramer Crane How you arrange your home theater speakers has a big impact on how your system sounds. Proper speaker placement can elevate an average-sounding system to an elite home theater experience. In this article we’ll show you where to place your speakers to get the best performance. And we’ll tackle some common room challenges that often get in the way of lifelike sound. Whether you have a new speaker system or just want to get more out of your existing gear, we can help. Front left and right speakers5.1 Surround Sound Setup ComputerYou want your front left and right speakers to focus their sound field at your listening position. Angle your speakers slightly towards the seat that’s directly in front of the TV. The tweeters should be at ear level when you’re seated. Have some fun with your listening! Play around with how far your speakers are from the wall. The closer they get, the more that bass is reinforced. That can be good to a degree. But your overall sonic performance can improve if your speakers are pulled away from the wall. Try a few different positions to see what delivers the best results. Angling your front speakers towards you locks in tight, accurate sound at your seating position. Center channel speakerPlace your center channel right above or below your TV, and line it up with the midpoint. If possible, tilt it to direct the sound to ear level. Here are some center channel shelves that go above your TV if you don’t have a shelf available. Surround speakersYour surround speakers can be placed on speaker stands, or you can mount them to the wall. To keep your wires and cables neat and clean, check out our room-friendly tips. 5.1 surround soundIn a 5.1 system, your surround speakers are best placed to the left and right of your listening position. Aim them directly towards you for the best sound. If side placement isn't practical, place your surround speakers a few feet behind your listening position and face them forward. You’ll want your surrounds one to two feet above ear level to get the best sound effects. Place your surround speakers 1 to 2 feet above ear level for immersive special effects. 7.1 surround soundIn a 7.1 system, surround speakers are positioned beside and behind your seating area. Just like in a 5.1 setup, the side speakers are placed to the left and right of your seating position and face directly towards you. The rear speakers are positioned behind you, facing forward. Position both pairs of speakers one to two feet above ear level for best performance. A 7.1 system utilizes side and rear surrounds. Direct each speaker towards you for wraparound sound. SubwooferSince bass frequencies are omnidirectional, you have flexibility where your subwoofer goes. Placing your subwoofer near a wall will generally result in more bass. Placement near a corner where three room boundaries come together will get you even more. Most people put their sub in the front of the room, so that it’s easier to connect it to their home theater receiver. If running a cable to where your sub sounds the best is impractical, use a wireless subwoofer kit. Placing your subwoofer near a wall reinforces bass. Corner placement delivers even more low-end punch. Add a second sub for better bassUsing two subs improves bass distribution by filling in gaps where bass response may be weak. A second sub also provides more impactful dynamics and greater system headroom. The layout of your room will determine where the second sub should be placed. Some rooms get the best results by having a sub in each of the front corners of the room. Others get more even bass distribution from having one sub in the front of the room, and the other in the back. Try a few different arrangements to see where you get the best bass in your room. Once you've got your subwoofer(s) in place, check out our home theater subwoofer setup article for tips on getting deep, room-filling bass. Add a second subwoofer for more evenly-distributed bass in your room. Tips for odd-shaped roomsNot every room will easily accommodate a surround sound system. Ideal speaker locations may be taken up by doors, windows, or furniture. And some floor plans are notoriously tricky. Use the system layouts shown below to get the best sound in these challenging rooms.
Have an L-shaped room? Arrange your system using standard 5.1 system guidelines. Pulling the couch away from the wall will improve sound quality.
TV in a corner? This arrangement makes the best use of your space. Have seating along both walls? A sound bar or 3.1 system is a better option since there are no good placement options for surround speakers.
Have an open floor plan? Consider in-ceiling speakers for your surrounds. Place them slightly behind your seating area for exciting overhead effects.
If you have a room that doesn't naturally lend itself to surround sound, consider using a high-end sound bar or a 3.1 system. A 3.1 system uses a left, right, and center channel along with a powered subwoofer to create a dynamic front soundstage. These systems are often better options than putting surround speakers where they are in the way, or look strange. Dolby Atmos® and DTS:XYou can set up a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X system with in-ceiling speakers or Dolby Atmos enabled upward-firing speakers. An Atmos system starts with a conventional 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound speaker setup. Then you add two or four speakers to project sound that rains down from above the listening position. DTS:X works with any traditional surround system. Simply arrange your speakers to best fit your space. Then let your receiver’s auto-calibration and object-based surround processor sort out the details. It will determine where to best send dialogue and sound effects. For specifics on where to place your Dolby Atmos speakers, check out Dolby's speaker setup guide. For tips on where to install your overhead speakers, check out our in-ceiling speaker placement guide. Don’t worry about perfectionThe good news is that you don’t need to find the “perfect spot” for each speaker. Many home theater receivers offer automatic speaker calibration that takes care of things for you. An included microphone gets placed in your seating positions. It listens to test tones that are played through each speaker at different volume levels. The receiver is then able to compensate for less-than-perfect placement by automatically adjusting timing, output level, and equalization for each speaker. Watch our short video to see how this works. Let us help you get startedIf you’re still choosing your equipment, check out our guide to home theater speakers. Want friendly, one-on-one help choosing the best gear for your new system? Our expert Advisors can help you design a surround sound system for your home. Call or chat with us today for free, personalized advice. Free lifetime tech support is included with every Crutchfield purchase. When it matters5.1 passthrough is only useful when you have the following:
Note that some TVs can only pass 5.1 through over a certain connection (either digital optical or HDMI ARC), and some can only pass through certain signal types (DTS or Dolby Digital), so make sure you pick a TV that supports both the connection and signal type you wish to use. If you use the TV’s speakers, or just use a 2.0 (two speakers) or 2.1 (two speakers + one subwoofer) sound system, you don’t need to worry about 5.1 passthrough. And keep in mind that 5.1 passthrough isn’t a necessity. This image is an example of a 5.1 surround sound setup with a TV that doesn’t support passthrough. In short, 5.1 passthrough is just an option that allows you to get surround sound for multiple source devices, with few cables. Here are a couple of examples of home entertainment setups that take advantage of a TV's 5.1 audio output and passthrough. Our testsDTS 5.1 passthrough via digital opticalDTS 5.1 passthrough via digital optical capability means a TV can accept a DTS 5.1 signal from a source device, and then pass that along to the receiver over a digital optical cable. DTS is pretty much only found on DVDs and Blu-rays, so it’s only useful for those media. This is only really an important test if you want to do this exact connection and transfer in your setup. To test for DTS passthrough via optical, we connect a Blu-ray player to our TV via HDMI and play the 5.1 audio test found on the Spears & Munsil HD Benchmark and Calibration Disc (2nd Edition), outputted via DTS 5.1. We then output the TV’s audio to our 5.1 receiver via digital optical and see whether the receiver receives a 5.1 signal, or if it is downgraded to 2.1. DTS 5.1 passthrough via HDMI ARCDTS 5.1 passthrough via HDMI ARC capability means a TV can accept a DTS 5.1 signal from a source device, and then pass that along to the receiver via an HDMI ARC connection. This is only really an important test if you want to do this exact connection and transfer in your setup. To test for DTS 5.1 passthrough via HDMI ARC, we connect a Blu-ray player to our TV via HDMI and play the 5.1 audio test found on the Spears & Munsil Calibration Disc, outputted via DTS 5.1. We then output the TV’s audio to our 5.1 receiver via HDMI ARC and see whether the receiver receives a 5.1 signal, or if it is downgraded to 2.1. Dolby Digital 5.1 passthrough via digital opticalDolby Digital 5.1 passthrough via digital optical capability means a TV can accept a Dolby Digital 5.1 signal from a source device, and then pass that along to the receiver over a digital optical cable. Dolby Digital is found on DVDs, Blu-rays, most streaming media, and even some TV channels, so it’s useful for a variety of sources. This is only really an important test if you want to do this exact connection and transfer in your setup. To test for Dolby Digital 5.1 passthrough via digital optical, we connect a Blu-ray player to our TV via HDMI and play the 5.1 audio test found on the Spears & Munsil Calibration Disc, outputted via Dolby Digital 5.1. We then output the TV’s audio to our 5.1 receiver via digital optical and see whether the receiver receives a 5.1 signal, or if it is downgraded to 2.1. Dolby Digital 5.1 passthrough via HDMI ARCDolby Digital 5.1 passthrough via HDMI ARC capability means a TV can accept a Dolby Digital 5.1 signal from a source device, and then pass that along to the receiver over an HDMI ARC connection. This is only really an important test if you want to do this exact connection and transfer in your setup. To test for Dolby Digital 5.1 passthrough via HDMI ARC, we connect a Blu-ray player to our TV via HDMI and play the 5.1 audio test found on the Spears & Munsil Calibration Disc, outputted via Dolby Digital 5.1. We then output the TV’s audio to our 5.1 receiver via HDMI ARC and see whether the receiver receives a 5.1 signal, or if it is downgraded to 2.1. Dolby Atmos via Dolby TrueHD passthrough via HDMI eARCDolby Atmos via Dolby TrueHD passthrough via HDMI eARC capability means a TV can accept a Dolby Atmos signal from a source device, when Dolby TrueHD is used as the carrier signal, and then pass that along to the receiver over an HDMI eARC (Enhanced ARC) connection. This is only really an important test if you want to do this exact connection and transfer in your setup. To test for Dolby Atmos via TrueHD passthrough via eARC, we connect a PC to the TV via HDMI and play a Dolby Atmos via TrueHD test file (mkv video) using the MPC-HC media player software, set to bitstream audio. We then output the TV’s audio to our 5.1.2 receiver via HDMI eARC and see whether the receiver receives a Dolby Atmos via TrueHD signal, or if it is downgraded to normal Dolby Digital. DTS:X via DTS-HD MA passthrough via HDMI eARCDTS:X via DTS-HD MA passthrough via HDMI eARC capability means a TV can accept a DTS:X signal from a source device, when DTS-HD MA is used as the carrier signal, and then pass that along to the receiver over an HDMI eARC (Enhanced ARC) connection. This is only really an important test if you want to do this exact connection and transfer in your setup. To test for DTS:X via MA passthrough via eARC, we connect a PC to the TV via HDMI and play a DTS:X via MA test file (mkv video) using the MPC-HC media player software, set to bitstream audio. We then output the TV’s audio to our 5.1.2 receiver via HDMI eARC and see whether the receiver receives a DTS:X via DTS-HD MA signal, or if it is downgraded to normal DTS. Additional information5.1 surround sound setup‘5.1’ is the typical surround sound setup, and involves five (5) ‘regular’ speakers, and one subwoofer (which is the ‘.1’ in '5.1'). The speakers are ideally positioned as follows. In front: One speaker to the left of the TV, one in the center (either just above or just below the screen), one to the right. For the most part, these handle dialogue and the sound of onscreen action. To the sides: One speaker each to the left and right of the seating area. These are mostly for playing sound from action occurring to the side and rear of the camera’s point of view. Subwoofer: Should be placed on the floor to the side of the TV. Plays deep bass. All six speakers receive and play their own unique audio channel, and having five speakers in different places, each playing different sounds, adds a sense of space and direction to the audio that you would not get with stereo setup (2.0). You also benefit from having a dedicated subwoofer, as that provides deeper bass than you would get from regular speakers. How 5.1 surround sound passthrough worksIn a typical setup, multiple source devices will be connected to the TV via HDMI, a cable which can transmit both video and audio. With 5.1 passthrough, instead of needing to connect a separate wire from each source to the AV receiver in order for the audio signal to make it to the receiver, a single audio connection is established between the TV and the receiver. The 5.1 audio signal is transmitted via the existing HDMI connection from the sources and into the TV and then sent by the TV down the audio output and to the receiver. Depending on the number of sources you have, and whether they all support the 5.1 signal types you want to use, this kind of setup can eliminate several extra cables, and without noticeable impact on sound quality. 5.1 surround sound signal typesThere are several different kinds of audio encoding used to deliver surround sound in a video. The three most common are Bitstream formats called Dolby Digital and DTS, which are both compressed, and then PCM, which is uncompressed. Bitstream Bitstream audio is compressed, meaning information that is deemed less important to the sound is removed from the signal. This does reduce the quality somewhat, but it’s important to note that compressed audio still sounds very good – good enough that the average person is not going to hear much difference between it and uncompressed audio. With Bitstream, the audio signal (basically instructions telling the speakers what to do) is encoded (packaged) by the source device, and then sent to be decoded (unpacked) by the receiver, with the resulting information then telling the speakers what they are meant to play. This delivery method makes for a smaller signal size, and so it is easier to send multiple channels of audio. It also means that a receiver needs to have the ability to decode a particular Bitstream audio format in order to play it. Without that ability to decode the signal, a receiver will not be able to unpack and play a given Bitstream audio signal. At present, you must use a Bitstream signal if you wish to pass 5.1 audio through a TV. You can do this both via HDMI ARC and digital optical. There are two main kinds of Bitstream signals. There is Dolby Digital 5.1, which is a very common audio format, found on DVDs, Blu-rays, and most streaming media, and is a bit more heavily compressed. The other is DTS, which is also a common audio format and is also found on most DVDs and Blu-rays. It is very uncommon with streaming media, though. It isn’t quite as compressed as Dolby Digital. When to use DTS & Dolby Digital You need to use either DTS or Dolby digital in order to pass a 5.1 signal through a TV. While DTS is somewhat preferable in terms of audio quality, Dolby Digital is more widely available.
PCM PCM is an uncompressed audio format, which means it will theoretically have the best overall sound quality, as no information has been removed to facilitate transmitting the signal. PCM is sent unencoded by the source, meaning the full, unpacked ‘instructions’ for what sounds to play are sent directly from the source to receiver, and then on to the speakers. Unfortunately, this makes for a signal that is more difficult to transmit. No TV seems to be able to pass a 5.1 PCM signal through to a sound system, so sending a PCM signal to or from a TV will downgrade the signal to 2.1 (two speakers + one subwoofer), thus eliminating the extra channels necessary for surround sound. PCM 5.1 can work with a receiver that supports the format, so if you want uncompressed sound, you’ll need to forego passing the audio through your TV, and instead output the sound directly from the source (one that outputs PCM 5.1) to the receiver. Note that only HDMI can transmit a 5.1 PCM signal. Digital optical is only capable of transmitting a 2.1 or 2.0 PCM signal. When to use PCM For 5.1 audio, use PCM sound only if you
How to get the best resultsHere are the steps you need to complete to enable 5.1 passthrough on compatible TVs.
Related settings
Other notes
Conclusion5.1 surround sound passthrough allows a TV to accept a 5.1 signal and then pass it along to a speaker system. It’s not the most important feature, but in some situations, it can help cut down on the number of cables required for a surround sound setup. We test whether each TV is able to receive and pass both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 signals to a 5.1 receiver. We also test passthrough over HDMI eARC of the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based formats. Different TVs require different settings in order to enable 5.1 audio, and the requirements differ slightly for HDMI ARC and digital optical. If you want 5.1 passthrough, be sure to get a TV that supports the feature for the signal type you use, and then make sure your TV’s settings are such that they will allow the process to happen. Above, we list some of the steps required for the more common brands. Recommended ArticlesBest TVs By SizeIn this article, we help you figure out exactly where all your speakers should go and how to adjust the necessary settings. We’re going to be talking about a 5 speakerhome theater setup which consists of a center, front left and right, and 2surround speakers. When you hear theterm, “5.1 speaker system,” the .1 refers to the subwoofer. ![]() We’ve already talked about positioning asubwoofer, so for help with that check out our subwoofer placement guide. In this educational video, we take you on a tour of a typical 5.1 speaker system which includes (front left, front right, center, left surround, right surround, and a dedicated powered subwoofer). We show you where each speaker should be placed and also discuss proper set up and calibration to ensure the best performance. ![]() Tips to Keep in MindTip number 1: Your speakers probably came with a user’smanual that has manufacturer recommendations for placement of your specificspeakers. While our video will giveadvice that we’ve found to be pretty universally applicable, we also recommendthat you consider the manufacturer’s advice on placement. This is especially true if you have nontraditional speakers, like MartinLogan electrostats or Definitive Technology bi-polar speakers. Tip number 2: Try to keep your speakers and seat out ofcorners and away from walls. Placingyour speaker, or head, in a corner or near a wall will reinforce low and midfrequencies, making explosions way too loud, or dialogue difficult tounderstand. Two to Three feet away from walls is recommended, but if thatdoesn’t work in your room, just try to give yourself as much distance aspossible. Tip number 3: Woodand tile floors are easy to care for, and look great, but hard surfaces bouncehigh frequencies back up towards your ears making them too loud. Those bounced, or reflected frequencies,also arrive a fraction of a second later than the ones that headed straighttowards your ears from the speakers, so you get a very short echo that can makeit difficult to understand dialogue and can mask small ambient details. The same goes for a hard coffee table infront of you. Use a thick area rugbetween you and your speakers if you have hard floors, and try to use smallerend tables to the side instead of coffee tables to the front. Tip number 4: We’llrefer to “ear-level” at times during this video. That’s the distance of your ears from thefloor. This will vary, but for mostfolks it’s somewhere between 32 and 36 inches. Before you begin, you might want to get out a tape measure and find thedistance from your ears to the floor when seated in your favorite seat. With those few tips in mind, we can move onto the center speaker. Center ChannelThis one’s pretty easy. It should be directly in front of you,centered above or below your display. Try to keep it as close to your TV or display as possible. The center channel (we use center speaker and center channel interchangeably) will reproduce almost allof the dialogue. So, If it’s too faraway from the display, it won’t sound like the voices are coming from themoving lips on the screen, it will sound like they are coming from your flooror ceiling. Also, it’s tempting to stuff that center channel on a shelfinside your media center. But, the sidesof your furniture work just like the walls in your room, or cupping your handsaround your mouth: it changes thetonality of the speaker, and can sound unnatural. Buy a speaker that you’re okay looking at,and get it out of your furniture where it can get some breathing room. If you must put it in a media center, move itas far forward as possible so that the front of the speaker is even with thefront of the furniture, and for the audiophile looking to go the extra mile,line the space around the speaker with acoustic foam from a company likeAuralex Acoustics to absorb reflections. Aim your center speaker at your ears Ideally your center channel’s tweeter, that’s the smallestdriver that reproduces the highest frequencies, should be at ear level. This is because it is the most directional;the more it is pointed above, below, or to the sides of your ears, the morelikely it is the frequencies you hear will not be accurate, and you may have ahard time understanding dialogue. However, this just isn’t practical with a center channel becauseear-level is pretty close to eye-level, and is typically in the middle of yourdisplay. You don’t want your centerchannel blocking your view, so angle the speaker up or down slightly to aim thetweeter at your ears. Some centerchannels are designed to fire at an upward or downward angle based on the shapeof their cabinet, or may have an adjustable foot for just this purpose. You can also use a professional product likethe Auralex MoPAD for this, or one of my favorite budget tweaks, a pair ofrubber door stoppers. To recap, your Center channel should now be: ● Directly in front of you centered above or below yourdisplay. ● The height should be as close to ear-level as possiblewithout blocking your display. ● Tilted with the tweeter aimed at your ears. ● Out of furniture and away from walls, if possible. Front Left and RightSpeakersLet’s move on to the Front Speakers. These go to the left and right of your centerchannel and should be set up symmetrically, each being equal distances fromyour center channel. Experiment with angle and distance You will want to experiment with the angle of the speakersto your seat, and we’re going to help you do this as easily as possible. Dolby and THX standards state that yourspeakers should be 22-30 degrees off-center from your listening position, but,at Audioholics, we’ve found that this is not a hard and fast rule, and ourspeakers sound better a little closer together in our room. While you can eyeball this, a tape measure, acalculator, and some simple math will help you be more precise. First measure the distance from the center seat to thecenter channel. Multiply this distanceby 0.3. Let’s call this new distance“x”, or “gumdrops” or whatever makes you feel good about trigonometry. By putting the middle of your front speakerseach this far away from the middle of your center speaker, you now have yourspeakers 17 degrees off-center, which is near the minimum that we like here atAudioholics. Now repeat that math, butthis time, multiply that original distance by .6 and you have 30 degreesoff-center. Use a rug to absorb reflections Tweeter should be at ear level Experiment within this range to see what sounds and worksbest for your room. Having a friend movespeakers while you sit in your chair and listen may be helpful. Put your receiver into “stereo” mode so thatit’s only playing sound out of the left and right speakers. Try to find a position where your speakersare wide enough apart that the sound fills the whole room in front of you, butnot so wide that you don’t get a good center image where a singer or spokendialogue sounds like they’re directly in front of you in the middle of yourdisplay. If you can’t move yourspeakers, try moving your seat. Also tryexperimenting with “toe-in” or aiming the speaker directly at the center seat,versus having them firing straight out, to the left and right, of the seat. For your front speakers, the height of the tweeter should beat be at ear level. This means thatBookshelf Speakers should be placed on stands. Once again, speakers like to breathe. Try to keep them away from walls and out of actual bookshelves unlessthey are specifically designed for that type of placement. For tower speakers, the tweeter should already be at anaverage height, but you can always double-check, and raise or tilt them ifnecessary. Surround SpeakersAnd lastly, the surround speakers. Per Dolby and DTS standards, your surroundspeakers should be 90-110 degrees off center, directly to the side or just alittle but behind your seating position. Also, as opposed to our front speakers, the tweeter of the surroundspeakers should be 2-3 feet above ear-level when seated as this makes it themharder to localize. In other words, itmakes it harder to hear exactly where the sound is coming from, which creates amore realistic surround field. This willlikely necessitate wall mounting or using tall stands. ConclusionAfter following these steps, even if you weren’t able toplace your speakers in their ideal locations due to room and furnitureconstraints, you can rest easy knowing that your system can still soundgreat. You’re now ready to fire up yourreceiver and set speaker Level,Distance, and Equalization. We’llguide you through that in our next set up article. Whether you are setting up your computer speakers or a complex home theater bundle, understanding the art and science of speaker channels and placement is the most critical step in enjoying your new sound system. Read on as we guide you through a crash course in surround sound setup. Why Should I Care?The other day a friend of ours was showing us his new HDTV setup and new speakers. While he had researched his HDTV purchase tirelessly, he hadn’t put much thought into the speaker setup. When it came time to set up the speakers he had purchased to go with the TV he simply plugged them in and set them all on the shelf under his new TV. The only way for that setup to be less optimal would be if the speakers were inside a nearby closet. There is an enormous amount of energy invested in giving you a great home theater and listening experience. Everyone from speaker designers to audio engineers to foley grips—the people who add sound effects into movies—have all contributed to recreating realistic and enjoyable sound in your home. In order to take advantage of all that energy invested in producing awesome soundtracks and movie scores, however, you have to invest a little energy of your own. Don’t worry, we have already done the research for you. Simply follow along as we explain what each speaker does and where you want to place it. Understanding Stereo, Surround, and Audio ChannelsTo start our speaker placement journey, let’s first start out with the most familiar audio setup around—simple stereo sound. When you’re listening to your iPod with a pair of headphones, watching television on a set with no attached theater or speaker system, or listening to the radio, you’re experiencing audio in stereo. Stereo audio is simply two channels of audio, one for the left speaker and one for the right speaker. It’s the most minimal setup required to provide the illusion of sound directionality and perspective for the listener. In surround sound notation, this simple two channel setup is referred to as a 2.0 system (or, 2 channels with no subwoofer). Adding in a subwoofer changed the notation to 2.1—the .1 represents the subwoofer and the accompanying Low Frequency Effects channel that powers it. More complex audio systems build on the 2.1 system and add additional channels to create a 360-degree envelope of sound around the listener. Unlike simple 2 channel systems that are usually driven by hardware on the main device (such as the portable music player or television set), multi-channel surround sound systems generally require a separate component known as an receiver to amplify and distribute the audio signals from the source (like the Blu-ray player or cable box) to the speakers. Current consumer audio receivers support anywhere between 5.1 to 11.2 channels of audio (five speakers with one subwoofer and eleven speakers with two subwoofers, respectively). The vast majority of receivers currently support 5.1 and 7.1 channel surround sound—very few Blu-ray movies currently ship with audio support for anything higher than 7.1 so there is little reason for consumers to incur the expense of outfitting their homes with larger speaker systems. (If you are curious what happened to 6.1 sound, it was never widely adopted, there are very few home theaters configured for it, and even fewer 6.1 mastered media sources to use with it.) Let’s get started with your speaker setup. We will begin with a simple 2.1 setup and move to a 7.1 setup. The tips and tricks for each setup section will build on the advice from the previous one so we strongly suggest reading straight through. How Do I Configure Optimum Stereo (2.1) Sound?Now that we’ve got a little terminology under out belts, let’s take a look at how we can best configure the most common speaker setups, starting with a 2.1 channel system. Speaker layout diagrams courtesy of the Dolby Surround Sound Speaker Placement Tool. Placing the Subwoofer: First, let’s place the subwoofer (4 in the diagram above) as it’s the simplest speaker to place. The low-frequency sound generated by the subwoofer is omnidirectional and as such you can place the subwoofer just about anywhere you want that’s convenient within the room and easy to link to the receiver. The only caution to observe in placing the subwoofer is to avoid placing it directly into a corner or inside any sort of recessed cabinetry or architectural detail. Placing the subwoofer very close to walls and in semi-enclosed spaces changes the speaker from an omnidirectional one to a more directional one and usually results in the subwoofer sounding overpoweringly loud and boomy compared to its companion speakers. If you cannot avoid such placement we strongly suggest dialing down your subwoofer (either at the physical speaker if possible or via your receiver’s interface) to compensate. Placing the 2 channels: In a 2.1 channel setup all audio (save for the low frequency effects generated by the subwoofer) will be produced by the left and right channels. All the sound effects, music, and dialogue from the speakers will be broadcast into the room towards you from the front. The two primary channel speakers, left and right, should be placed roughly 3-4 feet off the center of the viewing screen (feel free to shrink these offsets if you have a particularly large screen to contend with) and at roughly ear height with the listener. Keep in mind that ear height for the listener is dependent on their height when seated—around 3.5-4 feet for most situations. You don’t need the speakers to be adjusted in height precisely for the height of the listener but they should be within 6-8 inches—any higher or lower and you will get the unsettling sense that the actors you see on the screen are throwing their voices from a higher or lower location. In addition to positioning the speakers off to the sides of the screen and at listening height to the viewer, you want to angle the speakers inwards towards the listener (known as toe-in, as opposed to facing them toe-out or straight ahead). The ideal angle for your toe-in speakers is between 22-30 degrees. Place your speakers accordingly to create this cone-of-sound directed towards the center of the listening area (e.g. the middle seat in your couch). A note on precision: It’s important to note that we’ are aiming for optimum home theater sound (within reason), not getting our sound system certified for an IMAX Theater. While the Internet is filled with audiophile and home theater discussion boards teeming with people obsessed with angle increments, half-inch adjustments in speaker height, and other minute details of speaker setup we firmly ascribe to belief that if it falls within the general specs the audio engineers assume a home theater will have and it sounds good to our ear then it’s good enough. Just moving your speakers to the proper position and recommended arc off the viewer will radically increase the quality of your experience. How Do I Configure Optimum 5.1 Channel Surround Sound?5.1 channel sound is widely regarded as the absolute minimum speaker setup required to create immersive surround sound. The 5.1 channel setup builds on the arrangement of the 2.1 setup but adds in a center channel and a left and right surround sound channel. In order to configure a 5.1 setup, first start by placing the subwoofer and the left and right front channels (the 2 channels from the 2.1 setup outlined above). Hindi songs rajesh khanna. Once you have placed and angled the left and right front channel, it’s time to add in the center and surround channels. Placing the center channel: In the 2.1 setup, the left and right front speakers are responsible for delivery of all the music, dialogue, and sound effects. In the 5.1 setup the sound delivery is spread around to the additional speakers. The center channel’s most important role is that of dialogue delivery. Since the actors are generally in frame and roughly around the center of the screen the new center channel is perfect for delivering their dialog so that the speaking sounds as if it is coming directly from the actor on screen. The center channel should be placed dead center to the main viewing seat and should be toe-out (no angle to either the left or right). The center channel should be as close to ear height as your setup allows and can be placed either above or below the screen. If you cannot place the speaker as close to the bottom or top of the screen as you would like, you can angle the speaker up or down slightly to direct the sound more towards the listener’s head. Placing the left and right surround sound channels: Just like the addition of the center channel offloads some of the work from the original left and right channels of the 2.1 setup, the addition of the left and right surround sound channels also spreads out the load. The surround sound channels are responsible for environmental and ambient sounds. If you are watching a concert recording, for example, the cheers and whistles of the audience would be delivered over these channels—creating the auditory illusion that you’re setting in the front row of the concert. In order to place the left and right surround sound channels for maximum impact, you want them positioned at roughly 90-110 degrees relative to your listening position—in other words, right beside each of your ears or slightly behind them by 10-20 degrees. In addition you want to place them slightly above the head of the viewer. If you have to compromise on the placement of the speakers because of the shape of the room or location of furniture within it, it’s better to position the surround sound channels further back and higher rather than forward and lower (it’s disorienting to have ambient background noise sound as if it is coming from in front of you instead of from the sides and background where it belongs). How Do I Configure Optimum 7.1 Channel Surround Sound?If a 5.1 channel system is the absolute minimum for surround sound, 7.1. channels is definitely the return-on-investment sweet spot for consumer home theater setups. While there are currently more 5.1 channel DVD and Blu-ray discs released than discrete 7.1 channels discs, more and more releases are coming out with 7.1. sound and most receivers will intelligently split the surround channels on a 5.1 mastered media source between the two additional surround sound channels in the 7.1 setup for an even more immersive experience. To setup a 7.1 system you will first place the subwoofer, front left, right, and center channels, and the two surround sound channels (labeled 4 in the diagram below). In addition to those five channels and woofer you now have two more channels: the left and right back speakers (labeled 5). Placing the left and right back speakers: The 7.1 setup adds even more auditory realism to your home theater experience via the addition of two more surround sound channels. These channels should be placed roughly 135-150 degrees behind the viewer and just above head level. Again, if you have to compromise with the placement of the back speakers we recommend you move them further back, closer together, and/or higher. Doing so will affect the sound quality and envelope of sound you are striving to create less than if you moved them forward/further apart (and thus risked rear-placed sounds seeming out of place and other sounds just blending in with the left and right surround channels) or lower (ambient noise emanating from near the ground can be disorienting to the listener and would end up partially blocked by furniture). Further Tweaks to Enhance Your Home Theater ExperienceSimply placing your speakers within the rough guidelines put forth here will ensure you are getting a better sound experience than most (we’re looking at you, guy-with-all-7-channels-balanced-on-the-TV set). To take things a step further and consider the following free or nearly-free tips and tricks. Automatic Calibration: Most of us have our home theaters in our living rooms or other multipurpose rooms—in other words, less than acoustically idea settings. While it’s possible to sit and fine tune the output of each individual speaker using only a well-trained ear and a good chunk of time, we prefer to do things the easy (and generally more accurate way). Check the documentation that came with your receiver to see if your receive supports microphone-enhanced optimization. While each company calls their system something different—Yamaha calls their system YPAO, or Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer, seen above—the general premise of the systems is that a small microphone is hooked up to the receiver, placed where the listener’s head would be during routine use, and then a series of tones and signals are sent over the speakers to test for things like echo, muddy sound, and other artifacts. The receiver then dynamically adjusts the speakers for these problems to produce a more balanced listening experience. Although many automatic calibration systems allow you to take anywhere from 2-10 additional measurements from the additional seats located in the listening area, we recommend against measuring very far outside the center of the listening area—measurements on the fringe of of a large seating area or along the walls can lead to distorted results, lower-than-necessary speaker output, and diminished subwoofer response. Adjust the Center Channel: Although we’re big fans of using the manufacturer’s automatic calibration, if you find yourself turning the volume up really loud during movies to hear the dialogue—and then getting blasted when the action scene come—it’s time to adjust your center channel. At the receiver, increase the the output to the center channel until dialogue is clear and bright even at the lower general volume setting—then when the rocket and hand grenades go off you won’t have to duck and cover. Upgrade Your Speaker Wire: This absolutely does not mean going out and buying some coated-with-Unicorn-blood $50 a foot wire. What this does mean is that if you’re using the super cheap noodle-thin wire that came with your equipment you’d be well served to upgrade to some thicker wire. You can order 100 feet of 16-gauge speaker wire for ten bucks. Demo Clips/Discs: Although just about every receiver under the sun will have a built-in tone test, that’s not exactly a fun demonstration of surround sound capabilities. Sure you can calibrate your speakers with it, but you didn’t go to all the work of setting up a home theater system to listen to some beeps and boops. For more of a wow-factor you want to check out surround sound demos included with many movies—here’s a list of all 300+ THX-certified movies that include a THX surround sound test/demo. Alternatively you can grab individual demo trailers courtesy of Demo-World. The best demonstration, of course, is a good movie. Grab your favorite movie with a suitable number of explosions and other surround sound show stoppers and fire away. Not sure where to start in the movie selection process? Allow us to suggest some classic showing-off-the-theater clips:
Armed with the knowledge of proper speaker layout, you can easily adjust and upgrade your listening experience in under an hour or two. Have a home theater tip or trick to add to the conversation? Sound off in the comments below. Comments are closed.
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