Are you looking to upgrade your home with a new speaker system to go in your theater or tv room? At Aaron’s Home Tech, we understand that the last thing you want with the crisp images coming from your tv or projector is a speaker system that crackles with static.
Location, Location, Location
For optimal sound, the location of your speakers is just as important as the type of speakers you buy for your home theater. Aaron’s Home Tech are experts in home audio systems and can help guide you through determining the best spot for your new speaker system and which speakers you should install.
What speakers do you need?
At minimum, your home theater audio system should have a 5.1 channel system to give you a full-surround experience. The “5.1” refers to the number of speakers and subwoofers required for that surround sound system. The “5” corresponds to the number of speakers, and the “1” is the number of subwoofers. Many Blu-rays, DVDs, TV broadcasts and streaming platforms are formatted in 5.1. You can upgrade to a 6.1, 7.1, 7.2, 9.1, and so on and so forth, for an even better experience. But a 5.1 is the simplest type of system.
The two most popular speaker systems are Dolby Digital, the most commonly used speakers in movie theaters, and DTS, which is considered to be a slight notch above Dolby Digital in terms of sounding more realistic. There is also Dolby Atmos, which creates 3D sound by pushing specific audio to specific speakers. Dolby Atmos speakers are placed on top of your other speakers or on high shelves so they project sound upward or are installed overhead into your ceiling, with the sound coming down from above. Dolby Atmos speakers are an additional number, so if you have a 5.2.4 system, that means you have 5 speakers, 2 subwoofers, and 4 Atmos speakers. Keep in mind that most home theater systems max out at 11 audio channels, so the combined amount of speakers can’t exceed that number. For instance, you could do a 7.2.2 system but not an 8.2.2.
Where to put your speakers
Once you have decided what type of speakers and how many you want to use for your home theater, you can figure out the best place(s) to put them. For a 5.1 system, three of the five speakers are put in the center of the room, and two are placed in the rear. If you don’t want to worry about having to rearrange furniture, a 5.1 system may be the right fit. If you’re using Atmos speakers, you will need to stack them on other speakers, on a shelf, or hang them from the ceiling. However you do it, there should be no obstruction between any of the speakers and where you and your guests are sitting.
Figuring out what type of speakers to use and where to place them in your home theater is complicated. Let our team at Aaron’s Home Tech take the guesswork out of the equation! We specialize in home sound system installation in Atlanta. Call us today! We will help you choose the right audio equipment and determine the best place to put it so you can sit back, relax, and lose yourself in your new home theater.
