Surround Sound Explained
When investing in a Plasma or LCD TV a good sound system is as important as having a good screen. One of the first things you need to be familiar with when researching surround sound is 5.1 Audio.
Put simply 5.1 Audio means sound that comes from five speakers, plus a subwoofer (the .1), which is non-directional. If you have a bigger budget to play with and want additional speakers you can also get 6.1 or 7.1 audio
(which simply adds one or two speakers at the back of the system).
An important thing to know is that a DVD player alone cannot power your
speakers, as it only produces a line-level (non-amplified) signal.The
signal then needs to be split-up into six separate signals, and prepared for
amplification (a job done by a processor).
From this point the signal needs
amplification before your speakers use it. A five-channel amplifier will
suffice, as most subs have their own built-in amplifier. |
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Integrated amplifiers offer a one-step solution to audio, offering an amp and processor in a single box, allowing multiple sources to be connected and switched easily. Then attach your DVD player, and your speakers and your surround sound is ready to go.
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