For the uninitiated, home theatre audio comes with a confusing set of technical terms like DTS, SDDS, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, to name a few. But all the lingo boils down to something rather basic -- the number of speakers that surround the viewer, providing an immersive, enveloping experience.
The main goal "is to feel like you're actually sucked into a movie," said Dave Pedigo, senior director of technology at the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association.
And newer technology, such as high-definition Blu-Ray players, can deliver an even more impressive effect. You can even get rich surround sound from game systems such as the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.
The most popular surround sound system is known as a 5.1 channel system, which uses five speakers to create three-dimensional whooshing sound effects. The next level up is a six-speaker, 6.1-channel system, and then there's the maximum 7.1-channel system with seven speakers.
Included in all three varieties is a subwoofer for thumping bass and other low-frequency sounds. A 5.1-channel system includes three speakers in front of the viewer and two rear speakers, while 6.1-channel and 7.1-channel systems add more rear speakers.
One easy option is to buy a "home theatre in a box" system that -- for US$200 to US$1,000 -- includes a receiver, speakers and sometimes a DVD player. Consumer Reports gives top ratings to systems made by Onkyo, Sony and Yamaha.
For the true audiophile, putting together your own stereo component system is the best option. Speakers made by Infinity, Bose, Polk Audio and Sony all get good ratings from Consumer Reports. Basic bookshelf speakers sell for as little as $95, but high-end speakers can sell for thousands. In Canada, Canadian-made Paradigm speakers are also a top choice. Britain's Monitor Audio also makes top-notch speakers at reasonable prices.
Picking which one is best for you really depends on the size of your room, experts say. If you have a relatively small basement and your couch is backed up against the wall, a 5.1 channel system works just fine.
"A lot of times people will say 'I want the biggest and the best,' rather than finding what's appropriate for them," said John Wanderscheid, vice-president at Aperion Audio, a Portland, Ore.-based designer of speaker systems ranging from US$1,200 to US$4,500.
In rooms where there is more than 4.5 metres of space between the rear speakers, Wanderscheid recommends a six- or seven-speaker system. But to have the best surround sound experience, they should be at least one metre behind your couch. Otherwise, he said, "in a small room it doesn't really add to the performance."
Another issue to consider is what kind of cables to use on your system. The latest and greatest audio and video equipment comes with a new cable that is designed to simplify the process.
High-Definition Multimedia Interface, or HDMI, cables can transmit digital high-def. video and surround sound audio signals over a single cable. That's far simpler than the older analogue standard, which required three video cables (usually coloured red, green and blue) to transmit high-definition signals and separate audio cables.
HDMI, however, doesn't work with older televisions sets and DVD players. Most of the time, HDMI works pretty well, experts say, especially if your setup is relatively simple.
But home theatre installers say they sometimes run into problems with repeated images using HDMI cables over long distances. And HDMI comes with a built-in copy protection so you might not be able to record some programming.
-- The Associated Press
