March 08, 2009 | by ' ); // -->This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " target="_parent"> Todd Bartlett (cinevidia.com)

The goal of modern movie makers is to make you forget for that 90 to 120 minutes where you are and to feel like you actually there as a bystander to what is happening. To help create this experience, specific sounds are sent to the front, sides and sounds of the audience, ‘surrounding them in sound”

That's why all those speakers are needed!

And the .1? Well that is where the bass come from. That is the subwoofer and no surround sound setup is complete without one.

“So what am I looking for in my Speakers?”

Strive for balanced performance. It makes no sense to overspend on one speaker component and skimp on others. Your stereo, center, and surround speakers shouldn't just sound great, they should all sound the same. All speakers in the package should have a consistent character of sound known as timbre. Matching timbre assures a seamless blend of sounds and smooth transition of sound from speaker to speaker

With today's home theater systems, every speaker in the system has a critical job and must do it well

Lets take a look at the speaker types:

The Stereo Pair - Left and Right

In addition to playing music, the left and right "main" channels of a soundtrack carry most of a motion picture's special effects and orchestral score. In order to excel at these tasks, the stereo pair must encompass wide frequency and broad volume swings (dynamic range), reproduce subtle recorded details, and be able to create a convincing "soundstage" (the impression of three dimensions).

The Center Speaker

The first rule of this speaker is don’t skimp on it!!...

Enter speaker of a surround sound system is critical as over 50% of a movies sound is routed to this speaker channel. The speaker must have the ability to produce high volume with no distortion or strain. Almost all the dialog of a movie is heard through this speaker and you want the character to sound a close to natural as possible.

Superior bass handling is not necessity by this speaker. Modern receivers have Bass Management for this channel and allow frequencies below 100Hz to be routed to the Subwoofer and/or the Stereo pair.

The Surround Speakers

Have you ever counted how many speakers you see surrounding you in a movie theater? It’s more than two or three. They do this to surround you in sound and feel like you are in the center of the action. To replicate this experience at home you will also need surround speakers. Now whether you want 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound depends on the room size and budget. Most receivers now a day do both 5.1 and 7.1. . If your room is under 400sqft or you are on a budget and can’t justify a second pair at the moment then 5.1 is a solid setup. If your room is larger and you can swing the cost of an extra pair of surround speakers then do it. The resulting world of sound you will put your self and your family in will make you feel happy you did. Oh and there are a few high end receivers that even do 9.2 and 11.2 if you really want to be the “Go To” place for movies. You make have people come to your place over the local Cineplex.

With 5.1 and 7.1 channel systems, your surround speakers need to reproduce the same high frequency range as your front speakers and bass as low as 80 Hz, minimum. In-wall or in-ceiling speakers are an attractive option for surround channel use. They can offer high performance and take up no space at all.

So do you really need that .1? The Subwoofer

Some people you live with may tell you, you don’t need that loud box in the house. Well the fact of the matter is..YOU DO!! This speaker also has the same rule as the center speaker: Don’t Skimp! Subwoofers are an essential component of a home theater system those DVDs and Blu-rays you watch assign additional low frequency effects to a separate subwoofer track. A small, inexpensive subwoofer added to a pair of large, high quality floor-standing speakers may do more harm than good. Subs should add a deep bass foundation and not just "boom"? It should be tight and well defined with music. Ultimately how much bass you’re looking for in the system. If you want to rattle the walls and feel chest collapsing bass, one or more powerful subwoofers is recommended

There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting your powered subwoofer for your Digital Home Theater system.

· Select a location for your subwoofer and measure the space to see what fits.

· Subwoofers generally perform best when placed near walls.

· The better your front main speakers, the better the subwoofer needs to be.

· The subwoofer should be capable of reproducing very low frequencies so that it produces the bass that your main speakers cannot reproduce efficiently

· The size (volume) of your room is a factor. The bigger the room you want to fill, the better and more powerful the subwoofer you'll need.