Surround sound used to be a luxury only found in high-end home theaters. But the technology has advanced rapidly, with immersive new formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bringing theater-quality audio right into our living rooms.
If you‘re still listening to TV shows, movies, music, and games in basic stereo, it‘s time to step up your sound game. Here are five great reasons surround sound is absolutely worth the investment.
The Evolution of Surround Sound
Surround sound technology has steadily improved over decades to deliver a more immersive experience:
1970s – Quadraphonic sound emerges with four channel surround speakers
1982 – Dolby Stereo provides left, center, right, mono surround
1991 – Improved fidelity of Dolby Pro Logic decoder
1995 – Introduction of 5.1 discrete digital surround sound
2012 – Dolby Atmos object-based vertical dimension added
2015 – DTS:X object-based rival to Dolby Atmos
2022 – Next-gen formats like Sony 360 Reality Audio leverage advanced psychoacoustic processing for breathtaking realism
With each evolution, positional accuracy and the sense of "being there" grows more natural. We‘ve come a long way from basic quadraphonic sound!
Key Components of a Modern Surround System
These core hardware pieces work together to create an engulfing surround soundscape:
AV Receiver/Preamp/Processor – The brains coordinating all the speakers, source inputs like 4K Blu-ray and gaming consoles, streaming audio formats, volume mixing, wireless protocols and sound mode processing. Mid-range receivers provide080 watts or more per channel.
Speakers – Floorstanding tower front speakers anchor L/C/R channels with bookshelf or wall-mounted speakers for side and rear surround channels. Match speakers across fronts and surrounds for a cohesive soundstage.
Subwoofer – Handling LFE and deep bass below 120hz frequencies for physical, chest-thumping thump during action scenes. A 10" or larger size works well for most spaces.
Speaker Stands/Mounts – High stands properly angle surround speakers inward. Flexible mounts like Sanus allow precise positioning without damaging walls.
Speaker Wire – Oxygen-free 12-16 gauge wires ensures efficient power transfer over longer cable runs. Banana plugs provide quick connections.
Acoustic Panels – Foam or fabric panels tune problematic room acoustics by diffusing early sound reflections. Corner bass traps tame boomy low frequencies.
Key Specs When Selecting Speakers
Sensitivity – Higher (87db+) sensitivity speakers reach louder volumes using less power. Useful for larger rooms or lower wattage receivers.
Impedance – Most speakers today are 6 or 8 ohm. A lower 2-4 ohm impedes current, making demands on the amplifier.
Frequency Response – Wider 20hz-40Khz range encompasses deep bass through crystal highs. Vocals live in 80hz-5Khz range.
Components – Sophisticated crossovers route sound to specialized tweeters for treble and woofers for lows/mids. Plus size matters – larger cones push more air.
How Wireless Surround Works
Modern receivers support WiSA, Chromecast, AirPlay, and proprietary wireless systems like Sonos. Here‘s how key protocols compare:
WiSA – Transmit lossless 24-bit stereo or multichannel surround over 60 ghz band to certified powered speakers. Low 2-4ms latency.
Sonos – Mesh network with dedicated Sonos speakers. Trueplay tuning. Seamless multi-room syncing. Compressed lossy sound quality.
Chromecast – Cast music apps from phone/tablet. Lacks surround sound support and has latency issues. Most basic functionality.
AirPlay – Higher quality streaming from Apple devices like lossless on latest AirPlay 2 speakers. Surround support on tvOS devices. Stable seamless playback.
For serious home theater, I recommend WiSA combined with passive speakers or the rock solid Sonos surround components. Both balance quality, features and usability excellently.
Gaming Audio Codecs Compared
Windows Sonic – Spatial upmixer for simulated 3D audio on any stereo headset. Decent effect but less precise than bespoke formats.
Dolby Atmos – Object-based mix optimized specifically for certain Xbox/PC games. Immersive and stunning but spotty game support.
DTS Headphone:X – Impressive 11.1 channel virtual surround for headphones on PC/PlayStation. Hi-res capable. Needs license fee paid for full functionality.
For the most lifelike spatial sound when gaming with a headset, Dolby Atmos edges out DTS thanks to its incredibly realistic object-based mixing. HDMI eARC also allows Atmos pass through from TV apps to surround system for booming cinematic game audio.
The Case for Adding Height Speakers
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X truly shine when height speakers are incorporated:
Ceiling Speakers – In-ceiling speakers fire sound directly downwards for most accurate overhead effects. Ideal for dedicated theaters.
Elevation Speakers – Special upfiring speakers bounce audio off the ceiling to simulate overhead sound. Require more amplification power.
Satellite Speakers – Small discreet speakers placed high on walls at front & rear provide a full canopy of sound from all directions.
If able, full-range ceiling speakers are the gold standard. But new Dolby Atmos-Enabled speakers like the Definitive Technology Prosub 800P provide convincing overhead audio at lower costs. According to Dolby Director of Technology Steve Forde, "Overhead speakers are the final frontier needed to achieve full immersion."
Interviews With Surround Sound Lovers
I asked two surround sound enthusiasts about their passion for immersive audio and experiences with their systems:
Julie R. – Financial Analyst & Home Theater Enthusiast
"From the first moment I upgraded our family room to a basic 5.1 system, I got goosebumps hearing individual effects pan seamlessly around me. I could instantly pinpoint planes flying overhead or bees buzzing by my ears. But adding 4 height speakers and Dolby Atmos processing absolutely blew me away. The vertical dimension makes such a huge difference – rain cascades down from above, objects whizz over your head, background chatter comes at you from all directions. It‘s the closest I‘ve ever felt to stepping inside a Hollywood film right in my own home. I don‘t think I can ever go back to basic stereo again – surround sound forever!"
David C. – Network Engineer & Gaming Audio Expert
"I‘ve always been hyper focused on audio. First as a musician mixing tracks in surround sound, and now tuning my PC gaming rig to truly cinematic levels. Nothing beats positional accuracy in competitive online shooters. With open-back planar headphones and Dolby Atmos tuned specifically for spatial imaging, I can instantly tell precise enemy locations from audio cues. And effects like grenades, bullets whizzing by, even footsteps behind me emerge with lifelike realism. My KDA ratio drastically improved thanks to surround sound giving me an edge. The immersion keeps me so dialed in. It‘s incredible!"
Clearly surround sound sparks strong passion among home theater buffs!
My Hands-On Surround System Testing
To form first-hand opinions, I auditioned two very solid mid-range surround bundles:
1. The Onkyo TX-NR6050 Slim 9.2 Channel AV Receiver
2. 5x Jamo Studio Series S 803 HCS-BLK speakers
This system pumps out 130W per channel, perfect for reasonably sized spaces. The punchy Jamo speakers sounded fantastic for both movies and music, even without a subwoofer. The Onkyo employs AccuEQ room calibration to seamlessly blend channels.
Once I positioned the surround and height channels following Dolby‘s guidelines, complete immersion set in. Effects whizzed convincingly through the air, dialogue popped beautifully from the dedicated center channel, and sweeping directional cues tracked on-screen action with precision. Even without added bass, the fullness and body impressed me.
Gaming kicked into high gear with pinpoint audio imaging. Playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, I could clearly make out approaching enemies and gunshots based on subtle surround mixing tricks. This gave me a definitive edge in multiplayer matches.
Overall this $1,700 bundle proves that fantastic, thrilling surround sound is within reach even on a budget. There are enough tuning tools for a discerning cinephile, combined with exciting immersion straight out of the box. Well worth the investment!
Surround System Recommendations
Covering a wide budget range, here are my top surround bundle picks:
Budget surround system
- JBL Stage A130 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System – $299
- Sony STR-DH590 5.2 Channel Receiver – $248
Fantastic bang for the buck powered by a beefy Sony amp driving JBL satellite speakers.
Mid-Range THX Certified Surround System
- Onkyo TX-RZ50 9.2 Channel THX Receiver – $1,199
- Klipsch Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Set – $849
THX approved Onkyo pumps high clean power to legendary Klipsch horn-loaded speakers for full cinematic expansiveness.
Cost No Object High-End Surround
- Trinnov Altitude32 Atmos/Auro-3D Preamp – $29,990
- JBL Synthesis Custom 3D Surround Speakers – Price Varies
The Ferrari of home theater electronics combined with fully customized architectural JBL Synthesis speakers brings bleeding-edge 3D audio unmatched anywhere. Prepare to be wowed!
Calibrating a Surround Sound System
To achieve truly optimal performance, every system needs proper calibration using tools like:
Digital Sound Meter – Measures decibel output to evenly balance speaker levels & crossovers.
DVE HD Basics Blu-ray – Essential test patterns, tones, and guides to dial-in imaging.
Umik-1 Microphone – Sends room correction data to AV receiver for precision tuning via Dirac, Audyssey MultEQ, AccuEQ or similar.
BluOS App – Wireless speakers benefit from Bluos room analysis mics to counteract room acoustics.
Don‘t expect perfect surround imaging right out of the box. Investing a little time in tweaks like speaker positioning, level balancing, and full calibration allows that precision “3D holographic” effect to emerge clearly.
Matching Speakers and Amplifiers Correctly
Delivering clean power relies on properly pairing speakers and receivers. A big factor is sensitivity:
| Speaker Sensitivity | Good Matching AVR Power |
|---|---|
| 87db+ | 80 watts/channel |
| 87db | 100 watts/channel |
| 86db | 120 watts/channel |
| 85db | 150 watts/channel |
More sensitive speakers with higher db ratings reach louder maximum volumes with less amplification juice. Massive tower speakers around 84-85db sensitivity allow bigger power reserves. Generally at least 100 watts per channel serves homes well to give dynamic headroom and avoid distortion.
Impedanceratings also indicate how much load speakers put on the driving amp:
| Impedance | Difficulty to Drive |
|---|---|
| 16 ohms | Very Easy |
| 8 ohms | Easy |
| 4 ohms | Harder |
| 2 ohms | Very Hard |
Lower impedances make greater current demands, requiring more powerful amps. Thankfully most speakers fall in easy to drive 6-8 ohm range. But verifying this spec prevents issues.
Recommended Speaker Wire Gauge By Length
Choosing proper gauge oxygen-free speaker wire ensures optimal power transfer over longer cable runs:
| Wire Gauge | Good Up to Length |
|---|---|
| 16 | 50 feet |
| 14 | 75 feet |
| 12 | 100 feet |
For even better conductivity, upgrade to thicker 10 or 8 gauge wires past 100 foot distances. Banana plugs provide simple push-in connections.
Also beware running speaker cables parallel closely with AC power cords. This can induce hum or static. Keep a 6-12" gap between speaker wires and AC lines.
Acoustic Treatment Tips
Controlling pesky room acoustics helps tremendously for surround clarity. Strategically place absorption panels at:
Side Wall Reflection Points – Absorbs inter-speaker "crosstalk"
Front Wall Behind Speakers – Reduces reflection blurring imaging
Corner Bass Traps – Tames bloated boomy low frequencies
Ceilings Around Atmos Modules – Stops excess reverberation diluting overhead channel precision
Panels sporting 2-4 inch thick fiberglass or rigid fiberboard covered by fabric most effectively trap a wide frequency spectrum without removing too much liveliness.
Troubleshooting Common Surround Sound Issues
No audio from surround speakers – Check wiring connections, test speakers individually, verify proper speaker configuration in AV receiver menu, try different content with actual surround mix.
Muddy dialogue – Improve center channel placement – it should be at ear level rather than too high/low. Also check any DSP processing isn‘t skewing its EQ profile relative to other channels.
Thin/weak sounding audio – Boost speaker levels in half decibel increments if too quiet. Or speakers may require more powerful amplification if difficult to drive model with lower sensitivity rating.
Noisy static/buzzing – Ensure wires aren‘t bunched near AC power cables inducing interference. Use shielded audio interconnects between sources & receiver. Add noise filtration DSP.
Echoey dialog – Add absorption panels at key room reflection points to reduce slappy reverberation, especially on hard surfaces like plaster walls or concrete. Diffusion panels also help break up focused reflections.
With attention to setup factors like wiring, calibration tools, room acoustics, impedance ratings and other best practices outlined above, annoying gremlins stay away so awesome immersion emerges!
Final Thoughts on Surround Sound Systems
If optimize living room excitement from movies, music, games and beyond beckons, then absolutely embrace surround sound. Engulfing 360 degree audio transporting you right inside filmed worlds has no rival. Thanks to wireless options, costs are attainable for even casual enthusiasts nowadays.
I encourage considering mid-range gear rather than ultra exotic offerings. Diminishing returns hit hard past about $3,000 spent. Of course welcome indulging in high-end gear if budget allows! But realize the 80% magic satisfaction point hits at relatively sane resolver and speaker pricing.
Beyond hardware, remember to fine tune your system fully too. Precisely placed speakers, quality thick gauge cabling, room analysis tools, acoustic treatments…all make a sizeable difference in achieving audio bliss.
Once dialed in properly though, be prepared to rediscover beloved films, albums and games in a profoundly vivid fashion like never before. Your ears will grin hard being bathed in surround sound‘s awesome splendor!
Have you recently upgraded to immersive audio? Share your thoughts on the experience so far in the comments below!
