the essentials in brief
Surround sound gives you an immersive and authentic movie experience. More information here.
This is partly a matter of taste. When it comes to movies and video game experience, surround sound is good. They are also suitable for music production.
Both aspects have their advantages and disadvantages. Again, a lot depends on your needs. Here you have more information.
Have you always wanted to recreate a realistic cinema experience at home or hear your music as if you were at a concert? That's what surround sound is for! Using innovative technology and several loudspeakers, the Ton played from different directions and gives you the feeling of being in the middle of the action.
You can find out in this post:
- What is surround sound?
- How surround sound works
- The necessary equipment for a surround system
- The different Loudspeakers
- Good alternatives and advantages and disadvantages
Contents
What is surround sound?
A surround sound, also immersive sound, gives you that feeling of being in the middle of the action. Maybe you know this from the cinema: Der Sound doesn't just come from one direction, but surrounds you. This means that you are more involved and you can lose yourself completely in the music or in the film.
Already knew? There are various surround formats, but most include at least five channels: left, right, center, back left, and back right. Some formats can even have up to eleven or more channels for an even more immersive experience Klang to create.
An example: 5.1 surround sound
5.1 surround sound is an audio format that includes five Loudspeakers and one Subwoofer used to create a spatial sound.
- The "5" in 5.1 surround sound refers to the five channels used in a 5.1 system: left, right, center, rear left, and rear right.
- The "1" refers to the subwoofer, which is responsible for the lower frequencies and makes the sound even more immersive and powerful.
Not to be confused with…
… V-Audio Surround!
V-Audio Surround is a technology developed by Yamaha to produce spatial audio quality similar to that of surround sound is. Often used in Yamaha products such as soundbars or home theater systems, it can provide sound quality similar to a full surround sound system.
V-Audio Surround is based on a technology called "Virtual presence speakers", the virtual one Loudspeakers generated in space to create a spatial sound. The technology also utilizes Yamaha's "Air Surround Xtreme" technology, which helps expand the sound and create a larger soundstage.
Is surround sound good?
Whether surround sound is good depends on your preferences away. Likewise from that Content you hear or see.
- For movies or video games can surround sound really help you delve deeper into the story by creating a more realistic sound.
- It can also be very helpful if you produce or record music as it allows you to place instruments and sounds spatially, creating a wider spectrum of sounds.
The necessary equipment for surround sound
To be able to hear surround sound, you not only need a special facility. We have summarized the conditions that must be met so that you can play the immersive sound here:
- Compatible media files: A system can only play the media that you provide. So if you want to listen to music or a film in surround sound, the media files must have been produced to be compatible with this sound system.
- A fitting amplifier: You may also know the amplifier under the term AV amplifier. It adapts the sound signals of the file (piece of music or film) to the respective Loudspeakers on and amplify it.
- Loudspeakers: To create the immersive sound, you need several Loudspeakers. Often up to ten Loudspeakers used, but six can also be completely sufficient. These should be placed in different corners of the room.
The placement of speakers
- Two front speakers: If you want to use the system in combination with your TV, these two front speakers should be on the left and right of your TV.
- Two rear speakers: These are placed to the side behind the listeners and are usually a bit smaller than the front speakers.
- A Center Speaker: This Loudspeakers is located above or below the TV.
- A bass speaker: The particularly low notes are from this Loudspeakers produced. Also known as a subwoofer, it can be placed anywhere in the room.
The right plant
If you get one Surround system If you want to grow, you should first consider what your budget is and what type of rig you want to buy.
- type of plant: Do you want a classic surround sound system with multiple speakers? Or a virtual surround system? With the former you have a better sound experience, but it is also more complex.
- Wireless or with cable: A wireless system is often handier and more practical. On the other hand, most systems with cables are cheaper and have the advantage of a better sound experience.
- blanket: Not all plants have one Loudspeakers for the blanket. This ensures an even better sound experience, but is also more expensive and more complex to install.
The right amp
The quality of the amplifier is of great importance because the sound experience of Loudspeakers depends on this. So he should have a clean sound to the Loudspeakers deliver which is free from distortions. Here we have put together the best surround amplifiers for you.
And what about the headphones?
You don't want to do without the luxury of spatial sound? But at the same time use a mobile, practical model? Then it's worth taking a look at Headphones with surround sound to become!
Advantages of the headphones:
- realistic effect: Since you are shielded from the outside world by the headphones, you can fully concentrate on the music.
- Privacy: You can listen to your favorite music all by yourself without disturbing anyone.
- handiness: Surround headphones are particularly practical and versatile.
Disadvantages of the headphones:
- No community experience: If you want to watch a film in surround sound with friends or family or impress with impressive party music, headphones with a spatial music sensitivity are not the right choice.
- Better sound experience: A good surround system provides a significantly better sound experience than that of headphones.
Tip: When using headphones, make sure to limit the volume to a safe level. Excessively loud music can damage hearing and lead to permanent hearing problems. A good guide is to adjust the volume to a level where you can still talk to others without shouting.
The practical alternative: virtual surround sound
A facility with Virtual Surround Sound creates one spatial sound without a multitude of speakers. It works based on psychoacoustic effects, but is not quite as realistic as real surround systems. However, if you're looking for a no-fuss alternative, this plant could be for you!
psychoacoustic effects
Psychoacoustic effects are changes in human hearing and the perception of sound that are due to certain properties of the auditory system and brain.
These effects are closely related to psychoacoustics, a subfield of perceptual psychology. This deals with the perception of sound and the way the human brain processes sound information.
A well-known example of a psychoacoustic effect is the phenomenon of the Doppler effect. In this, the tone of a moving object appears to change to a listener as the object moves toward or away from him or her.
Digression: stereo vs. surround
Both stereo and surround sound are Audio formats, which are used to transmit and reproduce sound. Both formats use several Loudspeakersto create a spatial sound experience.
The Main difference consists in how many channels used become and how the sound is distributed to these channels is.
- stereo uses two channels, usually one for the left and one for the right, to carry the sound. This creates a spacious sound, but it is limited as there are only two channels.
- In a Surround Sound System there are at least five channels, typically left, right, center, back left, and back right. This allows the sound to be spatially represented much more precisely.
- In a stereo system the sound is usually distributed so that it comes out of the two speakers evenly.
- At a Surround Sound System on the other hand, the sound is distributed to come from different directions to create a more immersive experience.
Note: Some surround formats also use additional ones Loudspeakers, such as center loudspeakers for dialogues or height loudspeakers for an even more immersive sound.
Ultimately, the choice between stereo and surround sound comes down to your needs. If you want a more immersive experience, surround sound can be a good choice, but if you're listening to music that's specifically optimized for stereo, stereo may sound better.
In short: Surround Sound
In summary, surround sound is a great way to create a more immersive and realistic listening experience. By using multiple speakers that produce sound from different directions, movies, music, and other audio content can be played in a way that more closely resembles human hearing.
However, surround sound also has some disadvantages. For example, it is often more expensive than stereo systems and requires more space and installation. It's also important to note that not all audio content is optimized for surround sound, and some may not sound as good as it does in stereo.
Despite these disadvantages, there are many situations where surround sound is a better choice. Surround sound can provide a truly immersive experience, especially in movies, video games, or any other application where it is important that the viewer or player be fully immersed in the action.
Overall, surround sound is an intriguing technology that can enhance the listening experience and is worth exploring. Whether or not you choose a surround sound system ultimately comes down to personal preference and the content you listen to or watch.
Such a system can turn your living room into something very special and enhance your interior. If you are interested in the innovations in music usage, you might as well this study be interesting for you!
FAQ: Surround sound
If a realistic sound experience is very important to you, it is worth considering purchasing such a system. This can play music as well as the sounds of a film and put you directly in the action.
While the first number determines the number of speakers, the second number stands for the number of bass speakers (subwoofers). If there is a third number, this indicates the number of height speakers.
Setting up several Loudspeakers can involve a great deal of effort. The necessary cables can also get in the way in the room. On the other hand, if you opt for a wireless version, you have to dig a little deeper into your pocket and usually have a poorer sound experience. So you should decide whether more convenience (wireless) or better sound (wired) is more important to you.