Demystifying Surround Sound Terminology
The first and probably most common thing you will see in these circles is Dolby Digital. While there are many complicated definitions of this term the one that will matter most to you, as a consumer is that right now it is the leading format on the market when it comes to processing the digital data that your system will need to process. There are better brands such as DTS when it comes to musical sound for this function but the vast majority of television broadcasts and DVDs are optimized for Dolby.
Speaking of DTS, at the moment they are Dolby's primary competition. While most items you find on the market such as DVDs are viewable in both DTS and Dolby you need to make sure that they system you purchase whether Dolby or DTS can read both formats for those times when your favorite flick just might not be enhanced for both.
Now perhaps the most confusing of terms when it comes to surround sound systems would be 5.1. It looks so innocent just sitting there but most people are ready to pull out their hair when they realize that it really stands for a system that includes 6 speakers rather than five. The ".1" in the name refers to the frequency of the subwoofer (or Low Frequency Effects-LFE), which is .1. Despite the existence of 'better' systems on the market today, most movies are optimized for this particular set up so this will be of the most value to you with the current products on the market rather than spending more for systems that the DVD makes haven't yet caught up with.
DTS ES refers to a format commonly referred to as 6.1. In this format there is one additional speaker moved to the center rear of the configuration and the two-rear left and right speakers are moved forward. And THX EX 7.1 is what happens when you add yet another speaker. There aren't too many films at the moment that use this particular format some notable exceptions would be the Star Wars movies. This means that movies haven't really caught up to the technology of either of these systems but they are on the market and some people simply must have them. I recommend going with a superior 5.1 channel surround sound system for the time being and adding speakers when there are more reasons to do so.
This list is by no means exhaustive but will give you a basic overview of the information that is relevant to you as you look into the various surround sound systems on the market today. You shouldn't have to weed through volumes of confusing terminology in order to find out that the system you are interested in actually has 6 speakers rather than 5. My hope is that you can go in armed with basic knowledge that will help you make an informed buying decision.
Comments
Menu
Articles
DIY Surround SoundThe AV Receiver
Surround Sound For Meager Budgets
Proper Surround Sound Setup
Pieces Parts Components And Sound
Why Surround Sound?
Surround Sound Gaming Blows The Competition Away
Professional Installation Or Sweat Equity?
Playing The Name Game
Common Surround Sound Formats
Surround Sound Basics
Cables Wires And Chords Galore
Haste Makes Wastes Of Time And Money
Space Saving Surround Sound Solutions
Surround Sound For The Little Ones
How Much Is Too Much?
Surround Sound Possibilities
Surround Sound Speakers
Budget Friendly Surround Sound
Speaker Quality Speaks Volumes
Excellent Example Of Electronic Evolution
Selecting The Right Speakers
Upgradeable Surround Sound
Demystifying Surround Sound Terminology
Articles Haste Makes Wastes Of Time And Money It's a jungle out there, especially when it comes to the wonderful.. Surround Sound Gaming Blows The Competition Away In the worldwide realm of online gaming surround sound is.. Space Saving Surround Sound Solutions Space has become the final frontier when dealing with many things on this.. |
|
|
|