10
A
Introduction to Home
and Place
Introduction to Home Theater
This introductory section will help you to familiarize yourself with some basic concepts
unique to multichannel surround-sound
up and operate your A
T
A home theater typically includes an audio/video receiver (AVR),
the system and supplies amplification for the loudspeakers; a disc player; a source
component for television broadcasts (cable box,
antenna connected to the
Multichannel Audio
The main benefit of a home theater system is its ability to produce “surround sound.”
Surround sound uses multiple speakers and amplifier channels to immerse you in the
audio/video presentation for a dramatically increased sense of realism.
Y
Each main speaker is powered by its own amplifier channel inside the A
with more than two speakers is called a multichannel system.
speaker types in a home theater system are:
• The front left and right speakers are used as in a two-channel
system.
main action,
• When you are watching movies and television programs,
reproduces most of the dialogue and other soundtrack information that occurs on the
screen,
center speaker helps to create a seamless front soundstage, creating a more realistic
“you-are-there”
• The surround left and right speakers produce ambient
sounds that help create a realistic and immersive surround-sound environment.
also help recreate directional sound effects such as aircraft flyovers.
Many people expect the surround speakers to play as loudly as the front speakers.
Although you will calibrate all of the speakers in your system to sound equally loud
at the listening position, most artists use the surround speakers for ambient effects
only
•
bass).
the other channels.
Digital,
The LFE channel packs the punch of a rumbling train or airplane,
explosion,
subwoofers for additional power and for even distribution of the sound.
Surround Modes
There are different theories as to the best way to present surround sound and to distribute
the individual channel information to the surround-sound system’
of algorithms have been developed in an effort to recreate the way we hear sounds in
the real world,
different surround-sound technologies,
your AVR:
• Dolby T
Dolby Pro Logic
®
II.
•
®
: DTS-HD™ High Resolution
• Logic 7
®
,
• two-channel stereo and five-channel stereo.
Appendix T
sound options available on your A
Digital and DTS systems,
as those available via HDTV
television.
a different surround presentation or to use a different number of speakers. Surround-
mode selection depends upon the number of speakers in your system,
are watching or listening to, and your personal tastes.
Place Y
Determine the locations for your system’
directions and the layout of your listening room.
5.1-channel systems.
T
your speakers in a circle with the listening position at its center
speaker so it directly faces the listening position.
TV
C
FL FR
SL SR
SUB
Placing the Left,
Place the center speaker either on top of,
the
about 30 degrees from the center speaker and angled toward the listener
Place the front left,
about the same height as the listener’
2 feet (0.6m) above or below the left/right speakers. If you’re using only two speakers
with your
Placing the Surround Speakers
Y
the center speaker
place them behind the listener
front speaker
higher than the listener’
NOTE: Y
loudspeaker is used for all positions.
Placing the Subwoofer
Because a room’
performance,
that produces the best results in your particular listening room.
rules will help you get started:
•
the room.
•
room.
•
speakers can produce the best integration between the sound of the subwoofer and
that of the left and right speakers.
•
behind the listening position.
A good way to determine the best location for the subwoofer is by temporarily placing
it in the listening position and playing music with strong bass content.
to various locations in the room while the system is playing (putting your ears where
the subwoofer would be placed),
performance is best.
