The Correct Speaker Set Up Will Give You the Best Surround Sound Experience

Bose Surround Sound speakers

Oaky Dokey Folkies,

Yes I know that doesn't make sense but this is the Maxman coming at yah and the only thing that makes sense here is home theater not my grammar.

You may have purchased the best available HDTV, but your desire to experience theater-like surround sound effects will not get fulfilled until and unless you select the right home theater speakers. Now you need not get confused about all the various components that usually make up a home theater audio system such as subwoofers, wireless speakers, bookshelf speakers, center channel speakers, in wall speakers, and tower speakers. You can have all these components if your budget allows you to do so, but in case you are looking for cost-effective products then it is recommended that you look out for a brand that offers all the necessary features minus the frills. Explained below are some of the must-have components you need to look out for when buying a home theater speaker system.

Front Left and Right Speakers

These speakers form the core of your home audio system as they create sound effects that are in sync with the images on the screen. These are a must-have for your home entertainment system, especially if you plan to use it mostly for watching your favorite movies. These speakers are also a must in case you plan to utilize your home theater system for listening to your favorite audio tracks. Explained below are some of the things you need to look out for when buying Front Left and Right speakers:

Speaker type: Depending on where you plan to install your home theater system, you can opt from available options such as tower speakers, bookshelf speakers, and wall-mountable satellite speakers. Tower speakers are probably the best but the problem is that they occupy plenty of space. Bookshelf speakers may occupy less space, but they do not offer as much bass as a tower speaker. Wall-mounted speakers can become your best bet if you combine them with a subwoofer.
Voice matching: Before buying these types of speakers, you need to ensure that they are compatible with other speakers in your home theater system, especially the center channel speaker.
Video shielding: Make sure that the speakers that you select are video-shielded because if you do not do so, your HDTV may flicker due to static current generated by these speakers.

Center Channel Speaker

The size of these speakers may lead you to believe that they are not important, but you will be surprised to know that these speakers are responsible for processing more than fifty percent of the audio content and almost all the dialogue. This means that if you do not select the right center channel speaker, you might end up getting a story that is completely different from the actual story in the movie. Explained below are some of the things you need to look out for when buying center channel speakers:

Placement: It is important to place these speakers very close to your TV. So, if your TV is kept on a stand, make sure the stand has enough space for the center channel speaker. In case you have a wall-mounted TV, then you would require a wall-mountable center channel speaker. You will never get the desired sound quality if you place the center channel speakers away from your TV.
Speaker size: Just like the Front Right and Left speakers, the center channel speakers are also available in different sizes. There are no standards for selecting the right size as it all depends on whether the center channel speakers are compatible with other speakers in your home theater system or not. For example, smaller sized center channel speakers perform best when they are combined with subwoofer/satellite systems whereas the relatively larger center channel speakers perform best when combined with tower speakers.

Surround Speakers

These are the speakers that are responsible for recreating the same sound effects as you experience in a movie theater. They are designed to create special surround sound effects that make you feel as if you were a part of the movie and not just a passive viewer. A 5.1 surround sound system may come quite close to reproducing theater-like surround sound effects, but if you want to experience something much more than the usual and then try a 6.1 or 7.1 surround sound system. Explained below are some of the things you need to look out for when buying Surround Sound speakers:

Speaker type: For selecting the right type of Surround Sound speakers, it is recommended that you use the same criterions as recommended for buying Front Left and Right Speakers. This means that depending on where you plan to install your home theater system, you can opt from available options such as tower, bookshelf, or wall-mountable Surround Sound speakers.
Dipole/Bipole capability: If you want to recreate theater-like surround sound effects, then it is recommended that you opt for speakers that have Dipole/Bipole capability. These speakers are a must for your home theater system because no other speaker can perform advanced functions such as amplifying special sound effects as we experience in movies.
Placement: Getting the right placement is the most necessary for these type of speakers because if you do not do so, you will never be able to recreate the same sound effects as you experience in a theater. Placement for these types of speakers depend on room size and the brand you select and as such you should read the instruction manual careful before installing these speakers.

Subwoofers

The ‘boom’ of a cannon will sound like a gunshot if subwoofers do not power your home audio system. These are the speakers that make the difference when it comes to experiencing high-fidelity sound effects enabled by ‘Dolby Digital’ and ‘DTS’ soundtracks. Explained below are some of the things you need to look out for when buying subwoofers:

Power: Deciding on the wattage of subwoofers is easy because you just need to consider the size of your room. This is not to say that if you have a large room, you need to opt for subwoofers that have higher wattage whereas if your room is small, you should opt for low-watt subwoofers. However, if you can never do without the ‘bass’, then it is recommended that forget about the size of your room and opt for 10" or 12" subwoofers.
Placement: Subwoofers are usually installed for increasing ‘bass’ output. So if you want to treat your ears to the best possible ‘bass’, then place the subwoofer somewhere near to your couch or sofa that you use for watching TV. You can experience maximum ‘bass’ by placing the subwoofer near to a wall or in a corner.

Final Word

Well I've taken up enough of your time today so until next time.

Maxman Out