Surround Sound Configurations - What do all the numbers mean?
What is Surround Sound?
Just like the term suggests, the soundtracks from your favourite shows and movies places you at the centre of the action thanks to the immersive sound which surrounds the listener.
Imagine an explosion happening to the rear of the scene on screen, with surround sound your ears should be able to place the sound as it appears on the screen. Similarly, if a car rushes from left to right you should feel the sensation of sound moving from left to right behind you.
💡 The greater the number of surround sound channels you add, the more pronounced and immersive this audio experience will be. For example, a 7.1 system will be more immersive than a 3.1 system. More on this below...
Surround Sound Configurations
The number of speakers in a surround sound system is defined by a simple combination of numbers, such as 5.1.
The first number denotes the number of main speakers (front left & right, centre and 2x rear surrounds). The number after the decimal point refers to the number of subwoofers.
Here’s a list of the common types available...
2.0 - Stereo sound from a pair of speakers
3.1 - 1x front left, 1x front right, 1x centre speaker paired with 1x subwoofer
5.1 - The same as above for main speakers, but with 2x rear surrounds and 1x subwoofer
7.1 - Like the above configuration, with the addition of 2x side-surround speakers
Dolby Atmos & Height Channels
Dolby Atmos utilises additional overhead surround speakers to create a realistic 3D soundstage. The number of overhead speakers is noted after the number of subwoofers used in the system.
For example, 5.1.2 denotes 5x main and surround speakers, 1x subwoofer and 2x overheads.
We realise that surround sound systems can become a bit of a minefield, so if you'd like any help navigating the different types available - please reach out on 0800 677 1100, Live Chat or info@smarthomesounds.co.uk