As you may have noticed, most movie theaters use a row of at least four speakers on each side wall, and two on the rear wall for a total of 10 surround speakers. Those are usually conventional forward-radiating speakers, whereas the best home installations use a bipolar or quadpolar surround speaker.
In respect to this, what Surround Sound do movie theaters use?
Movie theaters mostly provide 6.1 surround sound, and it can even be higher than that, but the least that a theater can go for is the 6.1 playback. A mixing engine takes the place of the central console that you usually would find in smaller setups.
Additionally, what is the most important speaker in a home Theatre? A center channel speaker is the most important speaker in a surround sound setup because it does most of the work. Most of the action, and conversation, in a film happen front and center on your screen, meaning that the center channel is the one reproducing it.
Subsequently, one may also ask, can you use any speakers for surround sound?
Yes you can use any type of speaker as a surround.
How do I choose home theater speakers?
Choose speakers that match the size of your room. Floor-standing speakers are ideal for large, open spaces. Stand-mounted, on-wall, or in-wall speakers are well-suited for smaller rooms. Another consideration is what else you’ll be using the room for.
19 Related Question Answers Found
What is the modern cinema sound system called?
Dolby Digital They came out with Dolby Surround in 1982. They also developed a digital coding system in 1984 known as AC-1, but AC-3, aka Dolby Digital, wouldn’t be invented until 1991. Dolby Digital 5.1 digital audio is used in movie theaters, homes, and Internet websites.
Which movie theater has the best sound system?
If you’re “that person” who wants the best movie experience possible, with the best image quality and sound available today, there’s only one theater that you should be going to. It’s a Dolby Cinema at AMC.
What sound system does IMAX use?
‘IMAX is a six-channel discrete sound system plus sub-bass. This means our soundtracks are custom-mastered to work with our theatres, with the filmmaker. In other systems, the cinema sound has to work at drive-ins and all other auditoriums on the one mix; the worst and the best.
How much does a movie theater sound system cost?
Acoustic treatments can make average equipment sound great, and great equipment sound amazing! You can spend as little as $500 for some basic panels up to $10,000-$30,000 depending on the size of your room and how far you want to take it. At Audio Advice, we have been designing home theaters for over 25 years.
What is Atmos in a movie theater?
Dolby Atmos Cinema Sound. Dolby Atmos creates powerful, moving audio by introducing two important concepts to cinema sound: audio objects and overhead speakers. Dolby Atmos creates powerful, lifelike sound that flows all around you.
Is it OK to mix speaker brands?
As a general rule, we do not recommend mixing and matching different brands of speakers in a surround sound system. Even mixing different lines within a particular brand can present problems. In fact, there is rarely any reason to keep your subwoofer the same brand as your main speakers, perhaps other than cosmetics.
Do I need a center channel speaker?
You don’t need a center channel, but it is by far the most important speaker to have. All of the dialogue is sent to the center in a properly mixed audio stream, and having a center channel does wonders for overall clarity.
Can I use front speakers as rear speakers?
Actually, for that system, the tall speakers are the rear speakers – and the smaller speakers are the front speakers. BTW, the front and rear speakers used the same size drivers and have the same frequency response, so I would think that they would be interchangeable.
Can home theater speakers be used for music?
For home theater the subwoofer’s prime responsibility is supplying room-shaking low-frequency effects; for music you need a sub that delivers pitch-accurate, tightly controlled bass, perfectly integrated with your speakers. That ups the power requirements for home theater over music-oriented systems.
Can I use tower speakers for surround?
Tower speakers can be used with a modern surround sound system—in fact, they should be. Not exclusively, but a pair of floor standing speakers, augmented by smaller, strategically located speakers, will result in the ideal setup for surround sound.
Are rear speakers necessary?
In this application, rear speakers are not very important, and in most cases, the money saved by not purchasing and installing rear speakers at all will allow you to buy better front speakers. You may want to go without rear speakers in a mobile audio system.
What do you do with old surround sound speakers?
You probably have an old set of speakers lying in some corner. Dust them off, it’s time to breathe new life into those trusty woofers. If the Speakers Still Work Turn Old Desktop Speakers Into a Loud Charging Station. Make an Internet Radio. Turn Car Speakers Into a Boombox.
Is 50 watts per channel enough?
A 50 watt per channel amplifier will work fine with speakers rated at 100 watts. The biggest problem would be if the 50-watt amplifier didn’t give you enough volume in your room.
Can I use 2 center speakers?
As far as putting two speakers on the center channel on an existing 5.1 or Surround Sound setup, it could be to kludge together the right impedance or just to get a unique sound, who knows. For the Hafler effect (the only way to do this, BTW) connect the third speaker to the positive of each channel.
Is heat bad for speakers?
If it is placed in direct sunlight, the rising temperatures can be very damaging to the delicate electronics inside and can cause the speaker to malfunction and break down beyond repair. The heat can also cause the speakers themselves to stiffen and crack, seriously distorting the sound quality.
What happens if you connect speakers the wrong way?
Accidental reversal of speaker wires can happen when the wires are not properly labeled for polarity. Although this is not dangerous to a speaker or amplifier, proper power delivery and speaker response is not possible with reversed speaker wires. Reversing speaker wire polarity is a common audio error.
What is the best sound system?
Here are the best home theater systems: Best home theater system overall: Klipsch Reference speakers and the Pioneer receiver. Best mid-range home theater system: Yamaha YHT-5950U. Best budget home theater system: Vizio 36-inch 5.1 SmartCast Sound Bar System. Best wireless home theater system: Enclave Audio CineHome HD.
Do rear speakers make difference?
Distinguished Member. It makes the sound more three dimensional. There is a reason it is called Surround sound, and that is because you are surrounded by sound. So, the rear speakers help give a greater sense of the room being filled with sound, and they enhances some of the special effects.
Can I use normal speakers for Dolby Atmos?
If you currently have a 7.1 system, you can just take two of those surround speakers and mount them to the ceiling. Dolby recommends at least four height speakers for the best result, and any speakers will do. Even better, you won’t need a special Blu-ray player, since all current players support Dolby Atmos.