Components of a Home Theater Audio System

A lot of people today consider themselves to be music experts, but the first thing that should come to your mind is that no one can hear exactly the same way as you can. That’s the same with color and other physical manifestations, our interpretation of sensory reality will always differ from one another. So whenever you ask for advice, first and foremost trust your ears when buying a home theater audio system.

So, if you wish to compare music and movies with quality speakers, remember that there is undisputedly a difference between a simple audio file of a song and sound integrated in the whole movie. I won’t bore you with formats and frequencies, but, to an expert, those final exported files that are used for either commercial or private purposes differ in many ways, simply because they know to what they should pay attention to, but, believe me, once it’s pointed out to you, you will be able to hear those differences, too.

One thing that is certain is that movies have more dynamic range, meaning that it can jump from quiet scenes to really loud ones very quickly and sometimes even unexpectedly. Nevertheless, it all depends on the author’s choice how the audio file will enter your senses, so make sure to adapt your system’s performances to your preferences with the right combination of speakers and electronics.

Next thing you should worry about is your surroundings, or where will you put your newly bought speakers, because that also has a huge impact on your overall audio-theatric experience. Speakers can be divided into some categories, for instance, you have front left and right speakers, which I’m sure you’re familiar with. They provide a sense of wideness, creating a realistic effect, as well as handling a bulk of special effects, like giving a sense of motion. They simulate an environment, or movement, making you hear moving things, even though you’re comfortably sitting in you room, all static and motionless. Just imagine an aeroplane that’s passing just in front of you, that’s how it works actually. Oh, and these speakers are important for listening music, reproducing the stereo image of an audio recording.

Central speakers are also crucial for hearing those dialogues properly and they deliver more than half of the soundtrack. They usually sit below your TV, or monitor, giving you a well-balanced sensation of sound, so make sure you have enough space to fit this audio-component underneath your screen. Besides placing them below, you can mount them above, on the wall, or if you have the means, you can place them inside the wall, too. Also, depending on the size of your room and your television set, choose the size of the central speakers wisely... Don’t go overboard, it won’t do you much good.

Surround speakers are the real deal for creating a sense of ambience. They produce an atmospheric effect, as if you’re physically there in the movie. Rain drops, cars rushing by, guns firing, wind blowing, magic being cast, etc. It’s, simply put, giving you a full 3D auditory sensation. 5.1-channel systems are most common, but if you have a large theater room, you can add additional “back surrounds” that improve the whole impression of space, upgrading your channel system to a 6.1- or 7.1- configuration.

Subwoofers are a crucial, an inevitable part of the whole home theatre audio system experience! Bass is what drives us, those low frequencies raise your hair and send the chill up and down the spine, making the entire soundtrack seem larger, fuller, thicker. A thundering sound, or an explosion would not be the same without that low-end rumbling that you can feel in your stomach.

Powered subwoofers are usually placed near a corner, but you can always experiment with other positions to find that location which suits your home best. If you don’t have a lot of room, do not buy a big-inch woofer cone, because it’s pointless to shake your entire house. 10’’ or 12’’ radius cones are excellent for large spaces, so everything below that is optimal for a more modest environment in terms of size and acoustics. You can also buy woofers with built-in amplifiers, or you can buy another box to boost your subs, but everything else is between the remote controller and you. Enjoy!