Bring Music and Movies to Life with a Surround Sound System

When you envision your designated home theater, do your thoughts turn to the wall-sized screen and the lifelike images that immerse you in the latest movie? For many people, this is their first concern and an important one. 

What some consider an even greater element in the immersive cinematic experience is the theater surround sound. This system engulfs you, taking you into the setting. It's critical for disentangling from the world for a while and journeying to another place in time. If your movie takes place in the Amazon rain forest, you’ll hear the birds overhead, the rustle of the leaves off to the right, and feel the howler monkey’s call echo through you. 

Today’s surround sound systems come in many shapes and sizes. Let’s explore the makings of these systems that bring movies and games to life in your Camas, WA, home theater.

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A Surround Sound System

To achieve an immersive experience and enhanced sense of realism, you’ll need media with audio mixed for surround sound and strategically installed and calibrated speakers and subwoofers. Standard speaker configurations include 5.1, 7.1, and 9.2.2. The latter format refers to nine ear-level speakers placed throughout the room, two subwoofers that deliver the all-important bass, and two overhead speakers. 

The center channel speaker is one of the most critical components in the system, providing about 70% of the dialogue. These typically wide speakers help broaden the soundstage and are often installed below or above the screen.

Many of our clients prefer nearly invisible in-wall and in-ceiling speakers and subwoofers. These maintain the theater's aesthetics and leave the listener uncertain just where the sound originates. Others enjoy the massive Hi-Fi tower speakers on either side of the screen and the hidden speakers to complete the surround sound effect. 

Dolby Atmos Technology

This state-of-the-art surround sound system offers object-based or 3D sound technology. This type of audio brings sounds to the space surrounding you, with professional audio mixers determining the distinct locations. Now, you hear the airplane taking off in front of you, flying overhead, and then disappearing behind you into the distance. 

This immersive sound field is made possible with AV receiver channels added for ceiling-mounted or ceiling-facing speakers. Today, most quality AV receivers support object-based surround sound, and high-performance audio manufacturers produce Atmos-capable soundbars with up-firing drivers that bounce the sound off the ceiling. 

Movies with Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also very common on Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, streaming services, and 4K Ultra HD and HDR movies on the Kaleidescape movie service system. Other similar object-based sound systems on the market include DTS:X and Auro-3D.

Unless you’re a certified audiophile or home theater movie buff, we know that today's surround sound systems can seem confusing. That's where Encore Audio Video comes in. We’ve been creating home theaters that exceed our clients’ expectations for over 30 years. Specializing in the latest state-of-the-art audio, video, and home automation, we ensure the best image, sound, and theater design that’s also effortless to control. To learn more about today’s theater surround sound or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact Encore Audio Video today.