5.1 Speaker System

• A cinematic experience at home
• How does a high-quality 5.1 surround sound system work?
• Where to place it?
• How to connect the 5.1 surround speakers

Enjoy a cinematic experience at home with our 5.1 surround sound system

DVD players, smart TVs and consoles have become common objects in our homes. If these entertainment systems allow you to enjoy your favourite movies and games, one of the elements that should not be missing in such a device is a complete hi-fi system to reproduce the best soundscape. The function of so-called surround sound systems or 5.1 home theater is precisely to recreate the scene of the movie or concert in your listening room, allowing a better and more realistic immersion in the action. To do this, they will reproduce all kinds of effects, but also music and even secondary dialogues from different parts of the room, from the back, the front and the sides, giving the impression that these come from different places.

Surround sound systems provide surround sound, using five full bandwidth channels and a dedicated channel for low frequencies. Some systems, such as Dolby Digital, are standard in this type of speaker, typically configured with a left and right front element, a centre channel and two channels of surround sound and a subwoofer.

How does a high quality 5.1 surround sound system work?

A surround system works by a simple principle. The sound is divided between a total of five different speakers, while a subwoofer delivers the basses. By using one speaker in the front and one speaker in each of the four corners of the room, you can create a genuine spatial sound experience. If your source media contains the relevant information, the sound is optimally divided between the different speakers. If a helicopter in a movie flies past the camera from the front, a surround sound system allows you to track that motion acoustically. The result is a much more immersive movie experience, allowing you to enjoy movies almost as you would in a cinema. A home theater sound system is a highly worthwhile purchase for most people.

Where should your surround sound system be placed?

When installing a surround sound system in the living room, there are several aspects to pay attention to. On the one hand, you have to consider the size of that room, as well as the power of the speakers. Depending on the type of 5.1 speakers, you can place them on the floor, on a shelf or even hang them on the wall. In this case, if hung on the wall or placed on a shelf, if it is not a wireless surround sound system, it is important to leave some space for the cables, as well as for one person to install or configure them if necessary.

When using a dolby surround system with 5.1 speakers, correct positioning is an essential factor to achieve the desired sound: the central speaker should always be placed under the TV screen, while the subwoofer should stay close to the centre speaker, but a little further ahead. Then one speaker should be placed to the right and one to the left of the TV, both slightly oriented towards the listener. As for the other speakers, usually two more should be placed to the left and right of the chair or where you sit. This is the only way to achieve a perfect surround effect.

How to connect the 5.1 surround speakers

The accessories required for this depend, of course, on both the type of TV and surround sound system you wosh to install, as different methods can be used depending on whether it is a more or less advanced model. In some cases, it is possible to use the optical digital output to connect the 5.1 speakers to the TV; this is a simple solution, but one that can work well and will allow you to enjoy this equipment at all times.

On the other hand, when using wireless devices it will be sufficient to connect via Bluetooth to the TV, after pairing the two devices, as you would normally do with a as with a normal Bluetooth speaker. Some models also have WiFi connectivity, although they are rare, so you can use this option at any time when available. A third option is offered by HDMI cable connection: most TVs on the market are equipped with HDMI ports, which makes connection extremely simple and fast. In this case you can also connect a Blu-Ray player. HDMI allows you to use the 5.1 surround speakers with other devices, such as a PC for example, although the sound in these cases is not always the best, and for this reason the advice is to use it only for playback with a TV.

Do surround sound systems need to be configured?

Normally this is not necessary: if you have already connected your 5.1 speakers to your TV or computer, this device usually offers a sound test procedure to check that they are already connected and set correctly. Many of these systems are equipped with a control to adjust certain parameters, such as the balance between low, mid and high frequencies, but in general use is quite intuitive and no complex installation procedures are required. You will just need to adjust the volume or select the type of sound on your TV depending on the content you are watching.

This is where home theater systems are most useful

Not all media offer a way to use surround sound systems. For regular TV programming for example, the benefits of a home theater system are more limited. DVDs, Blu-ray and many streaming providers however will certainly allow you to get your money's worth. The current console generation also frequently offers support for the best surround sound system, allowing you even better immersion in different games. A 5.1 speaker system is therefore definitely a worthwhile purchase if you value good sound quality and a home theater atmosphere.

Find the best surround sound system, on auna

If you would like to purchase a sound system for your home theater, it should always be tailored to your personal requirements. Considering the large range of prices at which products are available, spending a bit of time to familiarize yourself with different products is definitely a good idea. After all, you don't merely want to enable the desired surround sound in your home theater, but rather choose an option that will delight you with its sound quality.

Volume itself is not the sole consideration here. Even cheap surround sound systems have enough base power to make you feel the impact of bullets and explosions while watching action movies. High-quality systems that come at a higher price point can truly shine during quiet moments. A regular transmission of sounds, including quiet ones, well balanced mids and highs and a clear overall mix are especially important here. After all, home theater systems also allow you to listen to music and enjoy regular TV programming in addition to watching movies at cinematic quality levels.

Consider the room size

It's important that you pick a 5.1 surround system that perfectly fits your requirements. Larger rooms for example require more powerful systems. But the connections between the system and the individual speakers should also be considered. If you would like to wirelessly install your 5.1 sound system, you should look for a 5.1 sound system that supports Bluetooth. This allows the system to connect to all individual speakers completely free of wires. No need for concerns - thanks to short distances, information can be transmitted without audible delays. Such a system allows you to integrate the individual speakers much more easily into the room.