The Importance Of Audio in the Home Theater
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Do you know what is the most important aspect of a home theatre system? Yep! You guessed it! It is the sound! The quality of sound can transform your home theater system from good to bad or mediocre to excellent!
To really understand this, think back to your visits to the movie theater….. While you obviously enjoyed the moving picture, it was the audio was the audio that brought it all together and enhanced your overall experience. With the right equipment and the right installation, you can create a home theater that is just as good, if not better, than heading out to the movies. This is what we refer to as the Immersive Home Theater experience. Without the sound, the scary movie isn’t quite as scary, and that edge of your seat feeling just isn’t quite as edge of your seat-y.
Ever notice how a flat screen tv picture goes right to the edge? Did it ever make you wonder where the speakers must go? Well, they are super thin, and they point out the back......this is why the sound on flat screen tv’s isn’t the greatest. With the TV mounted to the wall, the sound is going to be pointed to the wall, and you aren’t going to hear much. This is why for a good home theater quality sound, you are going to need to invest in a separate audio system.
Soundbars Vs. Surround Sound
There is not really a right answer here because it is a personal preference and and it is often going to be based on the layout and the space available.
Most of the movies, television shows, concert and sporting events that are currently being produced today, are being produced using surround sound technologies. This means that the audio is recorded in 5 separate channels of information, but most TVs have just two speakers in them - so nothing is ever going to sound great without some additional speakers.
Typically, you build a surround sound system by placing speakers spread out around the room, including center, left, right, and rear channels. There is a proper formula for surround sound speaker placement? Proper placement is the key for optimal surround sound experience for your home theater system.
The truth about soundbars:
One misconception is that the bar is only one speaker. It has multiple speakers within the one bar. Since all the speakers are fitted in that bar, it can comfortably sit on a shelf or be mounted on the wall with your television. Soundbars are easy to install, easy to connect, super convenient, and take up little space. They are also very capable of creating a magical auditory experience. With more channels, you can enjoy a more immersive audio experience in multiple dimensions. 7-channel sound bars are common today that offer great depth to the audio.
In addition to the soundbar, to have a fully immersive sound experience you will need a subwoofer. The subwoofer is often one of the most important speakers in the room. Subwoofers are important because most speakers in an audio or home theater system are not capable of reproducing all the frequencies needed. Without the sub, you will miss out on some of the deeper bass sounds.
Each home theater is personal, and there is not one perfect design! We recommend a consultation in your space. Our design team will take the time to consider your specific design conditions, budget, and wants/needs. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you so contact us anytime to schedule your consultation.