5.1 Reasons Why Sound Matters

I get asked frequently if it is really worth it to invest in a surround sound system in addition to that nice new HD TV.

Short answer… Yes, yes it is, and here are 5.1 reasons why.

Reason 1: Dimensions

Let’s compare sound to sight for a moment. You have two eyes, and those two eyes allow you to see a three dimensional world. The same can be said for sound. Stereo, (two speakers) allows you to listen to three dimensional audio.

Think back to a concert you’ve been to, if you were lucky enough to sit front row center, you could close your eyes and point out where each instrument or voice was coming from. It is stereo which makes this possible.

While most all TVs out there come with stereo speakers built right in, I could argue that (aside from being underpowered, which I will get to later) they are often too close together to duplicate proper stereo… and since this is pretty much the limitation of the screen size, there isn’t a whole lot a TV manufacturer can do about that.

This is where separate speakers can really bring out the dimensions in your listening. Giving each ear something to hear, and providing a differentiation between left and right will improve most any TV, movie, or music experience.

Reason 2: Power

Take a look at your TV, can you see the speakers? My guess is that some of you out there can’t. That’s no surprise, most TV manufacturers go out of their way to hide a TVs speakers; this is especially true of most new HD flat screens.

Not only are they small and hidden, or sometimes on the bottom or even back of the TV for that matter -they’re quite underpowered compared to even a modest standalone speaker powered by an equally underpowered receiver.

TV speakers tend to be around 5-20 watts. If you’re looking to rock the house… this just isn’t going to cut it.

Try this too, find a music channel, or something else you’d like to listen to, and turn your TV up. No, I mean really turn it up! How does it sound as you get a bit higher in volume? A little distorted? Not as clear? Like it’s trying to make you happy, but can’t quite muster the strength?
And just to prove I’m not some rock music blaring metal-head, now turn on a sitcom, and turn the volume down low - low like you’re in bed and your spouse has already fallen asleep, but you still want to catch the rest of the show.

Can you hear all the voices clearly? Do you need closed captioning?

This is where adding speakers to your system, with adequate power of course, can really improve your listening experience. Not only will you be able to rock the house when you wish, but a properly powered speaker will also sound better at lower volumes too.

Reason 3: Dialogue

Those first two reasons primarily dealt with stereo setups, but now we get to the really fun stuff. Surround sound!

Let’s take 5.1 surround sound for instance. One of those 5 main speakers happens to be one of my favourites. The center channel.

Ah the center channel speaker, this ladies and gentleman, is where the really important audio comes from. Don’t get me wrong, I love those surround speakers behind me which make me feel like I’m in the middle of the action, but when I want to know what’s going on in a movie, I ask the center channel speaker.

This is where dialogue lives. When someone is speaking on screen, their voice is dead center, and so is the center channel speaker. When people talk to you, they aim their voice right at you, and so does the center channel speaker.

Dialogue is important. Without it, we may as well be watching piano-accompanied silent movies.

Reason 4: Envelopment

5.1 surround sound is more than just having multiple speakers surrounding your head. When you are watching a movie, DVD, video game, etc which has been recorded and made available in 5.1 or some other form of surround sound, what is really happening is that each speaker gets its own identity.

If I hook up 100 speakers and play the same thing through all of them, that is not surround sound.

Think of a basic example. You’re watching a movie and a plane flies into frame from behind you. The sound will first be noticeable from behind you - or at least that’s what the director would have wanted.

That airplane sound is only present in the rear speakers until the plane gets closer and closer, then the front speakers start to pick up the sound, giving you the illusion that the source of that sound is also moving.

Same goes for left to right -think of being at a race, the cars come in from the left, and zoom past you heading off into the distant right. Your left and right speakers aren’t playing the same thing at the same time are they?

This is what envelopes you and makes you feel like you’re right there in the middle of the action!

Reason 5: Mood

Let’s talk more about those little unappreciated speakers in the back of the room. Those surround speakers are what take you from watching a movie to being in the movie.

Your ears hear sounds all around you. Imagine walking through a park on a sunny day. Audible sounds are all around you.

You don’t stop hearing the birds once they’re behind you right? And if you did, it would be downright odd.

In TV shows and especially in movies, things are happening all around the actors. There’s the creek babbling in the background, the wind blowing, and the birds chirping, and unless you were actually there during the filming, won’t get to hear it the way it should be heard without those rear surround speakers.

Reason “.1”: Bass

I won’t even use a clever title for one simple reason: bass is important, there’s no point in denying it.

Whether it’s an action film, or a romantic comedy, you had better believe that there are low frequency sounds that you are meant to hear, and without a subwoofer, or another speaker capable of producing those low notes, you are not hearing them.

Ever have someone tell you that you sound different in person than you do over the phone? I thought so, don’t worry, happens to me too.

The reason is because phones do not reproduce certain frequencies. They purposely cut off low (and high) frequencies. How would you like to walk around in real life sounding like you do on the phone?

Frequency range is important. Have you ever taken a speaker, and turned it around to face away from you? Muffled huh? Well without getting into the boring details about high frequencies being more directional, I’ll just say that when you can’t hear a certain range, the change in the audio can be drastic.

If you want a demonstration of how important sound really is (maybe even some of what you're missing in your current setup!), give me a call at 847.471.4420 or email me at keith@inspired-electronics.com. I'll be happy to set up a demo for you in our showroom.

Or, visit us on the web at http://www.inspired-electronics.com to get more information about how Inspired Electronics, Inc. can help you get the most audio and video bang for your buck.

Thanks -
Keith Rose