Multi-channel audio has become mainstream and manufacturers have come up with many types of basic and more sophisticated technologies like wireless surround speakers, virtual surround sound to simplify the setup of home theater kits. I will take a look at several of the most recent technologies that were designed to make installing home theater systems a breeze. I will illustrate what to look out for when making your buying decision.
While previously installing a TV has been relatively easy, the emergence of multi-channel sound has made installing home theater systems a great deal more challenging by requiring a number of external speakers to create surround sound. In case of 5.1 surround, 6 speakers are utilized: center, left and right front, left and right rear and a subwoofer. More recent 7.1 systems need a total number of 8 speakers by adding 2 extra side speakers.
As a result, home theater installations have turn out to be fairly complicated. Running cables to remote loudspeakers also is often undesirable due to aesthetic reasons. Several technologies have appeared to simplify this process.
This technology minimizes the quantity of needed loudspeakers and eliminates long speaker cables but each human will process sound slightly differently due to the shape of the ear. The signal processing is based on measurements which are done using a standard human ear model. If the form of the ear changes, sound will travel in a different way. Consequently virtual surround will not function equally well for every person.
This technology minimizes the number of required speakers and eliminates long speaker wires but each person will process sound somewhat differently due to the shape of the ear. The signal processing of these virtual surround systems is based on a standard model which was calculated with a standard ear. However, virtual surround will not function equally well for each person. Another method for eliminating long speaker cord runs is to use wireless surround sound devices or wireless loudspeakers. A wireless kit includes a transmitter and one or a number of wireless amplifiers. The transmitter connects to the source. The wireless amplifiers connect to the remote speakers. The transmitter will normally have amplified speaker inputs along with line-level inputs and come with a volume control to adjust it to the source audio level.
Some wireless products have wireless amplifiers that connect to two loudspeakers. This still requires wire runs between the two speakers. Other products come with separate wireless amplifiers for every loudspeaker. The most basic wireless devices use FM broadcast. FM transmission is susceptible to noise and sound degradation. More sophisticated devices make use of digital audio transmission to perfectly maintain the original audio. In multi-channel audio devices, it is vital to choose a wireless option with a latency of merely several milliseconds. This will make certain that the sound of all loudspeakers is in perfect sync. Otherwise there will be a noticeable echo type result. Most wireless devices work in the 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz frequency bands. Some products utilize the less crowded 5.8 GHz frequency band and consequently have less competition from other wireless devices.
Another solution are side-reflecting speakers. These systems are also named sound bars. There are additional loudspeakers positioned at the front which broadcast the sound for the remote loudspeakers from the front at an angle. The sound is then reflected by walls and appears to be coming from besides or behind the viewer. The effect heavily is dependent upon the interior, in particular the shape of the room and the decoration. It will work well for square rooms with no obstacles and sound reflecting walls. However, realistic scenarios often will be different from this ideal and reduce the effect of this approach.
While previously installing a TV has been relatively easy, the emergence of multi-channel sound has made installing home theater systems a great deal more challenging by requiring a number of external speakers to create surround sound. In case of 5.1 surround, 6 speakers are utilized: center, left and right front, left and right rear and a subwoofer. More recent 7.1 systems need a total number of 8 speakers by adding 2 extra side speakers.
As a result, home theater installations have turn out to be fairly complicated. Running cables to remote loudspeakers also is often undesirable due to aesthetic reasons. Several technologies have appeared to simplify this process.
This technology minimizes the quantity of needed loudspeakers and eliminates long speaker cables but each human will process sound slightly differently due to the shape of the ear. The signal processing is based on measurements which are done using a standard human ear model. If the form of the ear changes, sound will travel in a different way. Consequently virtual surround will not function equally well for every person.
This technology minimizes the number of required speakers and eliminates long speaker wires but each person will process sound somewhat differently due to the shape of the ear. The signal processing of these virtual surround systems is based on a standard model which was calculated with a standard ear. However, virtual surround will not function equally well for each person. Another method for eliminating long speaker cord runs is to use wireless surround sound devices or wireless loudspeakers. A wireless kit includes a transmitter and one or a number of wireless amplifiers. The transmitter connects to the source. The wireless amplifiers connect to the remote speakers. The transmitter will normally have amplified speaker inputs along with line-level inputs and come with a volume control to adjust it to the source audio level.
Some wireless products have wireless amplifiers that connect to two loudspeakers. This still requires wire runs between the two speakers. Other products come with separate wireless amplifiers for every loudspeaker. The most basic wireless devices use FM broadcast. FM transmission is susceptible to noise and sound degradation. More sophisticated devices make use of digital audio transmission to perfectly maintain the original audio. In multi-channel audio devices, it is vital to choose a wireless option with a latency of merely several milliseconds. This will make certain that the sound of all loudspeakers is in perfect sync. Otherwise there will be a noticeable echo type result. Most wireless devices work in the 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz frequency bands. Some products utilize the less crowded 5.8 GHz frequency band and consequently have less competition from other wireless devices.
Another solution are side-reflecting speakers. These systems are also named sound bars. There are additional loudspeakers positioned at the front which broadcast the sound for the remote loudspeakers from the front at an angle. The sound is then reflected by walls and appears to be coming from besides or behind the viewer. The effect heavily is dependent upon the interior, in particular the shape of the room and the decoration. It will work well for square rooms with no obstacles and sound reflecting walls. However, realistic scenarios often will be different from this ideal and reduce the effect of this approach.
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