As my article on audio home theater systems describes, any all-in-one "HTiB" that you purchase will include the following components: a control center, an amplifier, and speakers. Home cinema speakers are quantifiably different from other types of speakers, and it is important to know exactly what you're looking for BEFORE you rush out and buy the flashiest, most expensive models with the biggest numbers on the specs sheet.
Understanding home cinema speakers is not difficult, but failing to do so is probably the number one cause of dissatisfied buyers of home theater audio systems. What does "5.1" mean? Is 7.1 better than 6.1 simply because it has a higher number? This webpage breaks down everything you need to know about home cinema speakers in order to make an informed decision on your next purchase.
Components
Home cinema speakers are actually part of a larger system that has two components:
The "Satellites," which are the 5 to 7 smaller speakers;
The Subwoofer, or bass module.
Satellites
The number of satellites ranges from between five and seven, depending on the type of system. Every system will have the following three categories: front left and right, center, and surround sound. The center speaker, as you might imagine, is located directly below or above the TV screen (it is common for it to actually sit on top of the TV.) The frontal speakers are placed to either side of the TV, equidistant away from it. The surround sound speakers are often labeled as "rear speakers" which is essentially true, however whenever it is feasible they should be located along the sides and slightly behind the sitting area. A very simple system might include only one surround sound speaker, but nowadays this is increasingly rare.
The satellites are often very uniform in appearance, however it is not unheard of for the shape or size of the speakers to be slightly different depending on the location they are used in. A center speaker, for an example, may be designed specifically for horizontal placement.
Subwoofer
A subwoofer can be put almost anywhere that you have room for it. Depending on the acoustics of the room you're using, the sound of the woofer may vary slightly though usually not in a way that is detrimental to performance. There are many different design details for subwoofers that are largely irrelevant, such as whether or not the cabinet is seal, but in this particular situation size is actually a factor. A smaller subwoofer will have a much harder time producing a good, deep, rich bass sound than a larger one. This doesn't mean you have to buy the most gigantic subwoofer on the market, just don't expect a minute one to make a big difference.
Imitation Surround Sound
A growing trend in the sound system industry is in speaker systems which mimic the surround sound effect using only one or two actual speakers. They do this with what is called "virtual-surround circuitry" or other speaker configurations, which can honestly produce a surprisingly effective result. However, most aficionados agree that these options are not a real substitute for a true surround system; if you're considering buying one making sure you listen to and thoroughly gauge the quality of the sound, both from the direct front as well as to the sides of the speakers.
Author Resource:
Wunna is a longtime provider of net-based content and an experienced scribbler, and nowadays covers themes like audio home theater systems and home theatre review .
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