We all love going to the cinema to see the latest releases in all of their glory, however with the pandemic restrictions it’s been tougher to enjoy the cinema experience. How about bringing the cinema home? You can get the same immersive experience with a surround sound system.

To get started, you’ll need a TV or projector, something to play movies on like a streaming box or games console, and a set of surround sound speakers with an AV receiver.

First of all, you’ll need to know about speaker channels. Left and right channels sit at the sides of your TV and is used for on-screen action and music. A centre channel sits in the middle, either above and below your TV and delivers on-screen dialogue. Lastly surround channels are usually placed behind or at the side of you, completing a near 360º of surround effects. Lastly, there’s the subwoofer, this delivers heavy bass and the booming sounds that the cinema is known for.

Now it’s time to plan the speaker configuration. The most common and best known surround sound setup is called 5.1, this means that there are 5 speaker channels and 1 subwoofer in the setup which can be found in sets like the Monitor Audio MASS Surround Sound System. It’s supported by almost every movie release, as well as a lot of TV shows.

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Next up is the 7.1 speaker configuration. You guessed it, it contains seven speakers and 1 subwoofer. The extra two speakers are used at the side of the audience, further filling in that sound gap between the front and rear speakers, creating an even greater 360º sound effect. Only some movies use this system, especially the latest releases.

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Last but definitely not least is the newer Dolby Atmos configurations. This adds an extra dimension to the regular 5.1 or 7.1 systems, with sound coming from above. You can either use built-in ceiling speakers or special Dolby Atmos enabled up-firing speakers like in the Monitor Audio Bronze AMS AV system that side atop the front left and right speakers. Many movies, video games and even music streaming platforms are starting to support Dolby Atmos, making it a future proof solution.

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Whatever you pick for your surround sound set up, you’ll be able to replicate the magic of the cinema without the guy behind you kicking your chair.

www.monitoraudio.com