Surround sound is a category of audio technologies and products that are specifically designed to immerse the listener in audio from all angles, sides, and from all heights too.
We will deep-dive into what it is and how it works by first looking at the technologies that enabled this invention to take place. But before we go into what Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are, let’s go through the other two surround sound ecosystems that are also popular in the home entertainment industry.
Dolby Atmos surround system
It is Dolby Laboratories that developed surround sound technology. The Dolby Atmos Sound System was designed to provide the most realistic sounds one can experience in a modern home theater. it has quickly become one of the most sought-after technologies on the new release market today with many start-ups and established companies developing their technology.
It expands on the capabilities of existing surround sound systems by providing a third dimension, height channels. This allows sounds to be interpreted not only as three-dimensional objects but also as objects with height and depth.
DTS:X Surround System
The object-based audio format, dubbed DTS:X, can have sound placed in more important locations around the room than generic surround sound can. This makes it a huge boon for home theater audio setups that are large enough to get the full effect of this technology. It began life as a feature of home cinema devices (in 2015) before being implemented in cinema theatres themselves.
The aim is not different from the one in Atmos: to enable the sound to move around the room more realistically by reflecting what is happening on-screen, which creates a more immersive and cinematic experience. However, how this is achieved is slightly different.
Types of Surround Sound Speaker Systems
There are many different types of surround sound speaker systems, and each one is designed for a certain purpose. The most common types include:
2.1 Speaker Systems
Although 2.1 audio systems may not technically be regarded as surround sound, they are a step up from the more basic shelf speakers. These often lack a subwoofer, but they are more than capable of delivering a quality sound experience. As with systems that are 5.1, the “2” represents two satellite speakers at either left or right front, and the “.1” stands for one subwoofer.
The 2.1 sound is a great economical solution for those looking to get a good home theater experience without the costs associated with true surround sound, at a minimum of 5.1 speakers. With its quality and dynamic range, the 2.1 sound is a great choice if you want to pick up your audio and not worry too much about pricing or space constraints.
5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
The 5.1 surround sound is a type of sound system commonly stated to as the “True” surround sound type. It consists of six channels and is more immersive than traditional stereo systems. This is because it has three speakers, two in the front and two in the back. There is a quality center speaker and a powered sub for profound, rumbling bass tones.
Whenever digital surround sound signals are played, you enter a new realm of sound, like thundering explosions, and subtle, including dynamic music sound effects all around. You can feel explosions; hear the bass in the music and experience each raindrop just as if it were being recorded live.
10.2, 6.1, and Multi-Speaker Systems
When talking about surround sound, the minimum number of speakers needed to produce it is 5.1 with many movies or games having up to 7.2. Another common configuration is 6.1 (six speakers with a subwoofer), or 10.2 (ten speakers with two subwoofers).
The configuration of the system is largely dependent on your room size, and individual preferences. ( 6.1 system )In a surround sound system, the extra satellite normally goes to the back-center of the area, to steadiness out the front-center speaker.
Surround Sound History
OK, now that you know the basics of what surround sound is and what it can offer the listener, let’s talk about how we got to this point.
It was 1969, we are talking about the first time surround sound became accessible in the home. Quadraphonic sound was first introduced on reel-to-reel recordings and has been used extensively in the entertainment industry. Quadraphonic sound, which provided distinct sound from four speakers put down in each corner of a room, proved to be a confusing and short-lived technology.
To make matters worse, companies were battling over the Quadraphonic sound format causing it to disappear quickly. Immersion in a three-dimensional audio sphere is not something to be given up on and can have a profound effect on the mental state of the listener.
In 1982, Dolby Laboratories launched Dolby Surround which was the first commercially available surround sound system. Initially designed to enable stereo movie soundtracks to be played on stereo TV sets, it later became popular in home theater systems.
the company that pioneered surround sound technology by piggybacking a stereo signal onto a surround sound signal through matrix encoding. This was back in 1976, and since then DTS, Dolby Laboratories, and others have advanced the state of home audio with various iterations. In 2013, Dolby unveiled Dolby Atmos, a modern surround sound method that is currently revolutionizing how we experience movies and games. In this section, we will trace this rise — from standard 5.1 setups to state-of-the-art, object-based surround.
In sum …
While it may seem like the world is becoming more complex, studio-quality home theater sound is now more accessible than ever. With just a single pair of in-wall speakers, a subwoofer and amplifier, and a control system that ranges from simply wireless to extraordinarily complex, the best sound reproduction has never been easier to achieve. Innovations in object-based or 3D surround sound, integrated with the addition of dedicated speakers to the standard 5.1 setups have sure made a difference in terms of creating an immersive home theatre experience for those who are not particularly interested in the technical details. For most people, it should be enough to know that any audio source can now be played back and enjoyed in all its glory on any stereo speaker setup.
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