Frequently Asked Questions

What is Needed to Surround a Listener in Sound Through a Two Speaker Playback?
A Multichannel source
To replicate the sensation of being surrounded by sound, as opposed to simply being surrounded by multiple speakers, it is necessary to use a multichannel audio source. A multichannel source provides discrete, independent audio information for specific speaker locations. A multichannel audio system necessitates at least three speakers, however four to six speakers are needed to take full advantage of the multichannel source. These speakers are traditionally configured as follows:

Figure 1

For illustration purposes, it is necessary to name each of these speaker locations found in Figure 1. Starting from the upper left corner, rotating clockwise:

L = Left Front
C = Center (on top of the TV)
R = Right Front
SR = Surround Right
LFE = Low Frequency Effect or subwoofer (behind couch)
SL = Surround Left

The benefits and limitations of a multichannel source
A multichannel source provides an abundance of audio material, creating an enhanced listening experience over a traditional, two-channel (L and R only) stereo playback. However, this enhanced listening experience was designed for having multiple speakers (see Figure 1) in the playback environment. Often times, it is not possible to include all of the necessary speakers for this type of playback experience due to limited physical space, cosmetic considerations and the cost associated with purchasing at least four additional speakers.