I fitted a 5.1 system on my living room and it caught out a lot of people with the sound effects especially from the back while we watching movies. I got so used to it that every time I’d be looking at the people instead of watching a movie. I’d like to experience a full 9.2.2. Must be worth all the money
actually its super simple to remaster down, all you need is a dolby room and 2 mics placed at about 20 inches above ear level when sitting, and roughly 6 feet from any one speaker press record and press play. while some will say this doesnt work, i can assure you it does. and if u want to do it all digitally you can just do it on the pc, no analogue needed but u need the right software. this is also known as SQ Quadraphonic sound or 4.0, but this format didnt have anything to do with Dolby and their gig.
The inverse is more common in my opinion. Ever since I set up my 7.1 system I've noticed how a lot of media just wasnt made with surround sound in mind. Then of course, every so often something comes outta left field that reminds me it's possible for the system to sound great. It's always something odd too, like Shrek on Blu-ray.
This gives so much more qualitative reasoning for why movie theatres provide such a better experience. Without thinking about it, it’s just publicly watching a movie on a big screen; but the sound of the theatre is unmatched in a consumers home.
No way a theater can match a home system for one sitting individual. You can’t make the sound perfect for hundreds of people sitting all over a big room, however you can tune a system to perfection for one person.
And the best part about the movie theatre is how you need to wear earplugs or hearing protection for most of the films. Because they blast your brains with 120 decibels of pain every time a scene has as much as a car driving in it.
Very true... even I feel the same... It's too much of a sound, totally unwarranted ... It's ok for blasts and explosions..but for car chasing and crashing scenes...??? Sound engineers should guide the theatre management after the recording is done...
I have created my own speaker set, which includes 2 above head LR speakers 2 front LR speakers One base below head And two LR tweeters placed into my chair(near rear LR tweeters) And the magic they all produce was literally awesome 😍😍😍. My brother has a branded 5.1 home theatre but my custom made set beats them easily in terms of quality, base, and surround(3D effects). The only thing is my custom set has slightly less volume than the home theatre.
The centre channel can actually be reproduced with just the front left and right channels. Since both ears will hear the same thing, it will sound like it's coming from the centre. This can be helpful because you wouldn't need to have a separate speaker for speech and it might sound better because it's using larger speakers.
I've found that often leads to unclear Dialog. Especially for audibly busy scenes. A well matched center shouldn't sound worse for dialog than your mains.
@@Erowens98 Yeah, that could be a thing too since with a separate speaker you don't need to worry as much about distortion and weird effects that using physical speakers can cause.
Phantom Centre is okay but the dynamics of having an extra speaker that contains the dialog without the need to represent the left and right stereo can make the speakers easier to listen to and increase the dynamic resolution of the stereo tracks
Indeed it can and it works well enough if you sit in the middle of the soundfield. However, in a theatre setting where you might be seated quite a bit off center, having a center channel for dialogue audio is almost essential. Otherwise, for instance if you're seated far to the left of the room, you'll mainly hear dialogue from the left, while the right channel sound arrives slightly late from the right.
And to add, the beauty(though it comes with its own complications) of Dolby Atmos is you can render it to binaural and consumers using headphones, airpods etc can have the surround experience.
For anyone interested, this video has some info on how binaural audio can be immersive through headphones by playing on HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) and other phenomena: ua-cam.com/video/4fPWFAFwIQQ/v-deo.html
Very informative video! I purchased a Yamaha 7.2 A/V receiver with Klipsch Synergy speakers. I have a 7.1 surround sound system. I purchased the system in 2012, but it still rocks and going strong! Never had any issues! Knock on wood! My main front speakers are Klipsch F3s and my sub is the SW-450 downfiring sub. My surrounds are the KLipsch S-2s and my center is the Klipsch C-2. My room size is 21 x 15 so I have been very pleased with the system! And I have a 55 inch TV. I love watching Blu-ray movies in 7.1. So I had to get some large area rugs.
I think you've missed out the Hall effect . Where two rear speakers are connected in series but out of phase (ie the two negatives - are connected together and the +vs are conected one to the left front and the other to the right front ) thus the rear play the sum of the diffrent of the front L&R but out of phase. This is a brilliant effect . Worth a try !
Dolby Atmos is something out of this world when you experience it with all the dedicated setup for it. And no, upfiring speakers that reflect from the ceiling are not even close to dedicated ceiling speakers in a Dolby Atmos setup. I personally like the simple surround system due to versatility and a dual subwoofer system for Hi-Fi capability. A 3.2 is my baseline and a 5.2 is a great setup for anything you wanna play through the system. I come from the live sound industry where most of our work is either stereo or simple surround and it is amazing what you can get out of a system like that. Specially for music.
First sentence of this video is absolutely true and I was wondering exactly that today morning, after watching something about Dolby Atmos. Thank you for your explanations.
You did an excellent job explaining this coming from an audiophile myself and I know this is mildly inappropriate but you are absolutely stunning to look at…
Just finished my 5.2.2 home theatre surround set up. I’m quite happy. Love seeing my Sony STR-DH790 displaying “ATMOS”. Now I’m just fine tuning and trying to watch as many movies and shows in ATMOS. I’m still running a 1080P ultra short throw projector to a 100” screen.
When it came the 2-Channel audio I actually preferred my budget Sony STR DN1080 receiver than a mid-range £2,000 Denon receiver. As far as multi-channel is concerned, the mid price Denon 6500 obviously wiped the floor with the Sony but that still doesn't take away the fact the Sony IMO sounded just as good if not better than the mid-priced Denon with 2-channel music 😲
@@Antibackgroundnoise Sony went out of their way to prove that they can make quality surround receivers with the Str-dn1050 and 1080. They killed Pioneer, Onkyo, Yamaha that year in terms of price/performance/functions. They do this occationally in different tech areas. Most sucessful was when they decided to make a killer dSLR in the A7 series..
We watch movies rarely, so the surround hoopla is kinda not that important to us. But it’s nice to have for those moments where it’s needed. We have 7.1, because that was “common state of the art” when I set it up. Subwoofer is hidden as are rear surrounds, the other five speakers are not hidden but not in your face. It works well enough to provide correct sonic motion and dynamics for movies. Then for music I transition the whole thing to multi channel stereo, with a second similar system that feeds other rooms. Wherever you are in the house or garden, you get a decent stereo image with excellent audio quality.
I got a setup for my PC of 2.1 (2 stereo boxes & 1 subwoofer), I hardly see the reason for more since I rarely see audio tracks which have more than 2 channels to begin with. The subwoofer does it's job brilliantly and the audio is awesome with only 2 stereo boxes. They're fairly low power too, 3W each and a 5W subwoofer (if I'm not mistaken) but it's alr as they are pretty much 50cm away from your head at most (the subwoofer included), had to mention this as subwoofers don't need to be in any special direction from you, anywhere is fine, but RANGE matters, I believe 1m away from you is the most this subwoofer is good for. EDIT: Btw, wanted to say. The closest theater from my home seems to use a 7.2 system, with 7 stereo boxes and probably 2 subwoofers or more (of course, they are SUPER powerful stereo boxes and subwoofers). That's the standard hall with only 2D screenings, the ultra hall is probably 9.2.2 but I didn't check it recently (this one has 3D screenings too).
2:35 Hometheater enthusiasts will argue that having 2-sub is always better than one due to how the 2 subs even out the bass response across the listening area if placed right.
My surround sound setup consists of a samsung soundbar/sub that I placed in the corner because it projects better. I also placed the tv there so you are looking towards the source of the audio. I know it's very complicated and absolutely groundbreaking for audio tech.
I've been experimenting with " Dolby PLII music". And this with both a 5.1 and a 7.1. Unbelievable what happens with a stereo recording. And that mainly on the 7.1. Sound on all sides.
I've found that rear speakers create inaudible dialogue on my system so I just add them to the L and R channels and move them up front. I run a 3.1.2 configuration and that works great for me.
Thanks for a very informative video and explanation. The problem is that most manufacturers assume that the listeners all have space behind them for rear surround speaker placement, where in reality, as with myself, most rooms are small/narrow and the surround speakers are then place next to the seating/viewing position. Are the speakers then turned towards the listener, or at an angle towards the center or TV? It may be a good idea to do a video on this situation.
Yeah, well. In my day we just had left and right. That was it. Then they started adding to stereo receivers the subwoofer out and we essentially got 2.1
After I paired a Q90T with a Q800a sound bar and added 9500 satellite speakers gaming is on a new level. It's hard to even put my A40 headset on anymore cause it sounds so damn good.
2:43 overhead surround has been around since late 1960's at now closed down odeon cinema bournemouth that is home to the pigeons now . i like pigeons . the overhead was used for 70mm cinerama in screen 1 that soon was to be phased out and replaced with 35mm and the five screen remained behind the larger curved screen so did the x6 overhead surrounds flush mounted in the high up ceiling . these where later used for 'star wars' when opened nationally in early feb '78 and i actually heard that star destroyer with "immersive storytelling" . the cinema used a Dolby Stereo CP50 speakers behind the screen sort of look like the Altec voice of the theatre , well the pigeons own them now . the overheads i guess unknown and thou still intact in the ceiling and last heard them around 1998 . year later 1999 JBL 8330 mkI was installed x16 of them . i worked as projectionist for UCI cinemas local at tower park 1989 when the new site opened late of 1989 and used "experimental overhead surround" in all ten screens . x8 overhead in larger screens 5 and 6 . smaller screens 1 to 4 and 7 to 10 had x7 overhead experimental surrounds . most on youtube and all those forum sites have no idea that overhead surround as been around since late 1960's and 1989 . i have more clocked overhead surround listening time than most would care for . Dolby Stereo CP55 was used with SRA5 and cinema PA speakers was EV . my atmos overheads goes way beyond even dolby labs own screening room never mind dubbing theatres or cinemas . the speakers height 1 2 3 are just basic stereo pairs stereo with phantom sound imaging that can be distracting if not , not so pinpoint so i used a x3 matrix decoders sort of same like LCR only on the ceiling with extra channels as well at least 12 output channels . the basic surround channel has been sort of not the same and not in fact hardly any home theatre can play the proper surround channel configuration as left-half right-half that is the surround arrays along each sidewall and clusters on the back wall . i recently wired my complex THX sound system and its not the home version its the professional cinema version . i have many surround formats that i can play where common AVR AVP can only play a few of them .
@@AudioUniversity tiny fraction of mentioned . i heard 'Jurassic Park' at UCI dts in screen 6 , ( left in 1990 ) but there it is . last worked for Warner Bros and gave projection up in 1998 , now retired . as you soon will be retired one day we all eventually retire and relax , but don't do it when you want to go to it , relax .
Stereo works with delay between ears, not volume. That's why we can't determine direction of low frequencies - soundwave is too long. Also, good speakers can position directions wider than the speakers separation.
There are actually a number of different factors. Check out these videos: ua-cam.com/video/R8kOp4jYcr4/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/S1SyaDbRqec/v-deo.htmlsi=ruRzhu43kCXpMK-k
@@AudioUniversity thank you! Then, are more than two outs necessary if one is creating say a rock opera with sounds, music and noises approaching the listener from all directions spatially?
@@dubblyewjay1133 if you’re producing sound for stage (or screen), then yes, having more outputs would help in creating that soundscape, and that is sometimes done in theatre, as well as hiding speakers in the sets for incidentals (like a phone ringing, a stereo playing music and such). Although surround sound is not that regularly used in theater, they do often add speakers in the auditorium for sound effects, but music is usually still just mixed in stereo (since the size of the auditorium will make speaker placement hard to make the surround sound image work for all people. Since placement of speakers is key in making the soundscape work, having a large auditorium, and often balconies as well, makes mixing surround in a theater pretty close to impossible.) Movie theaters are a different story as they are built to a standard, so speaker placement and such is set in the standard, so they should (if nobody’s changed any settings) sound pretty much the same from one room to the next
Precise & easy to understand information. However, your explanation of the "wide" channels/speakers isn't exactly correct. "Wide" speakers are most commonly referred to speakers on the front soundstage (i.e. L, C, R) that are placed wider than the front left & the right speakers. They are used to widen the front soundstage. Where you labeled the "wide" speakers on your graphic, would actually be called surrounds. You can have multiple surrounds depending on the size of the room (SL1, SR1, SL2, SR2, etc.). Overall a great video to explain surround sound in a simple/clear manner to individuals unfamiliar with speaker placement & audio formats.
You should cover the migration from Mono to Stereo (1950s to 1970s). Stereo FM (sub channel usage) and LP addition. Film stock was last in mid-1970s (just in time for Star Wars). The 1970s experiment (failed) of Quadriphonic Sound. BUT some Bands tried (The Who).
Great stuff, thanks for this. I've got an odd scenario. I've got an older 5 channel ATI 1505 power amp that I don't need for surround anymore. I'd like to repurpose it as a dedicated 2 channel system. My questions is... can I utilize those other channels in a stereo setup? The amp is not designed with a bridging feature, but I was wondering if there is any kind of DIY hack that might be available. Thanks!
Thank you. What is your opinion on wireless speakers? Would there be a sound loss due to no wires? Should we expect improved quality as the state of technology 'may' have improved such as bluetooth?
For the LFE, Low Frequency, I recommend just stating that this is a subwoofer. More people will know it as that than saying it as LFE. Audiophile and music guru's will know what that is but a regular consumer just wants a decent front left and right, a clear center, and a bassyyyy subwoofer. you know how it goes.
But a subwoofer is the speaker itself, where the number represents a channel. You can hook up more subwoofers to a single LFE channel. I get simplifying things, but this could just increase the confusion down the line.
@@paulelderson934 no no no. I know that but other people wont. What I am trying to say is when you speak with someone who doesn't know what LFE stands for, a simple and easy way to explain to them is just saying a subwoofer and than they will know what you mean. Its about the terminology and not the actual unit or units that you place on the LFE channel. Just changing the acronym "LFE" with "Subwoofer" for others to understand what that bottom unit does.
The LFE (Low Frequency Effects) and the common subwoofer crossover are two separate things! The bass crossover is responsible for taking the incoming bass frequency range away from the main speakers and sending that frequency range to and through the subwoofer. That should be set at around the frequency where your speakers are no longer able to faithfully reproduce bass, which is usually 70-85 Hz or less. This is called the bass crossover frequency. There is an additional bass-only track called the LFE track for special bass sounds and emphasis only. This is channel DOES NOT go to the main speakers. The LFE track is authored to have content up to 120 Hz.
Great video. So back in the day, when I first had an interest in home cinema. Prologic days lol. 5.1 meant- 3 fronts including a stereo pair and a centre. 2 rears that had to be behind you and obviously a sub- can be positioned anywhere. In a 5.1 as you describe it seems that the “rears” are now supposed to be placed at the side of you? Have I got that wrong?
@AudioUniversity --- When designing a home theater room, are their any surround sound standards that require mutually exclusive and incompatible speaker placements?
5.1 or 5.2 will be all I ever need. That's what I tell myself cuz I can't afford to go crazy with more new gear and the wife has said, "Nothing else in this house!" :)
Very helpful! Thank you very much! I have another question now about video. I've noticed on a lot of movies that there seems to be a filter that makes the entire film look like I'm watching it through a dirty glass. I noticed it in this video. At 3:50 the video is clear but just a few seconds later by 3:55 the video is zoomed in just a bit and now it's almost like I'm watching through a slightly dirty glass. It's very noticeable with your black shirt. Can you help me understand what's going on here? I noticed it really badly with the movie Pig staring Nick Cage if you need any other references. Thank you.
Quick question. I am using a stereo system with Wiim, I want to enjoy Netflix movie, - which sound shall I choose on Netflix? - which setting on tv shall I choose? PCM or Dolby?
I've Clearly Taken some important Notes On the training About The Surround System Set-up And How It works THANKS So Very Much Soon I may Require A Certificate Or Diploma in Sound Engineering... I Hope The University will Consider Me
Mixing in surround isn't "easier", its different. A surround format doesn't make it easier to hear a stereo image. 2 channel is the best for 'stereo' imaging. Surround creates music/audio in space.
Very good vdo i get something knowledge in this topic. guy I want making Dolby Atmos sound system how many audio cercuit i can collect please reply love from Imphal kangleipak (Manipur) India
If you had 6 discrete RCA connections, yes. (Left, Center, Right, Rear Left, Rear Right, Sub). But many misunderstood how to properly set up a surround system and only used stereo RCA. In that case, it wasn’t true 5.1…
@@AudioUniversity okay my question I guess is that how did we get surround with DVD that had only rca inputs from DVD player to say your receiver. Also, I get what your saying regarding the rca. The mono rca style cable right? And most people use the stereo style which has both ground left and right and ground
There's some misinformation here about RCA jacks, stereo, and surround sound. Digitial Coax out uses a single RCA for 5.1 surround sound. That's a single RCA cable for all six speakers (to a surround decoder - same as the optical, or toslink). Furthermore, many computer systems and audio receivers use RCA out for surround speakers: one pair for the front, a pair for the rear, and a pair for the center and subwoofer (LFE). Additional pairs may also be present for however many speakers are desired - one cable per channel, or speaker.
1:50 i dont think thats true, the center channel is pretty much the one and only speaker you can leave out without sacrificing much sound fidelity. Most AVRs even have an option to make the front 2 speakers take ofer the task of the center one. I use a 4.1 system in my room because of limited space for a center channel. I once tried it in a 5.1 configuration and 4.1 sound just as good.
So would just 4 speakers suffice? 2 in the front and 2 in the back? I have plenty of "live sound" speakers already, and I'm debating to just use them or to purchase a new fancy surround sound system or soundbar. What do you think?
@@borg386 yes! Although I still recommend a subwoofer. I use a 4.1 system on my pc and there is no difference to when I hook up an extra center speaker. Just make sure that your audio receiver has the option to remove the center channel and to mix it into the front speakers.
Great point, Toby! I think it’s important to check compatibility with limited systems. However, I resist the notion that we should limit our mixes altogether to that standard. Many people still listen with better systems. I agree with you that you want to make sure a mix sounds good in mono, even if it can sound better in stereo or surround!
@@AudioUniversity yeh you’re right in regards to not limiting ourselves or the true potential of music/sound production. Don’t look at the music on my current channel as I’ve got tonnes of songs I haven’t released yet and most of my music will be on @perplexedmusic but ultimately all of my songs are mixed in stereo although majority of them have two tracks per vocal both going 100% to the right and left to make the sound more full, not necessarily to pan or send parts of the mix to different areas of the room although the way you’ve described in this video is the best way create full ambiance in a high quality house, car or theatre stereo system. So I think the main decision to make is shall the music mixed in stereo sound terrible to 30% of listeners through their phones and sound ambient and full to 70% of listeners that value music enough to invest in having a decent sound system in their lives. Or sound boring and flat in a good system but sound good out of a phone. I vote stereo all the way because if someone loves music enough to buy or stream your music, they should have at least 1 if not multiple ways to play high quality music mixed in stereo. Thanks for your videos though man, I started a business and realised if I put as much time into music as I did into my business I’d be a lot happier and a lot better off financially so instead of fumbling my way making mistakes as good as an ear my ego likes to think I have for good music, I’ve learnt the behind the screen theory behind music production in about 2 seconds for free thanks to you. I hope you’ve monetised your streaming because you deserve it as employment 🙏🏼🙏🏼
there are no stereo lfe channels. lfe is mono. 5.2, 7.2, etc may have 2 lfe outputs but they are both mono. stereo lfe may come in the future but not yet. another thing, optical/coax can not carry dolby atmos or dts hd ma or dolby truehd they don't have the bandwidth. those require hdmi.
bro made a video about surround and made it in mono
Never forget your roots
😂😂😂😂
UA-cam Doesn't Support Surround Sound, Only Mono & Stereo.
@@inkyencore0429incorrect, I’ve watched nightwish lives and other types of stuff on youtube with my 5.1 setup
@@inkyencore0429 stereo is literally the default I'm everything
Bruh
He chose to put it in mono
I fitted a 5.1 system on my living room and it caught out a lot of people with the sound effects especially from the back while we watching movies. I got so used to it that every time I’d be looking at the people instead of watching a movie.
I’d like to experience a full 9.2.2. Must be worth all the money
If something is mixed in surround sound and you don't have the system to reproduce it you'll never get the effects of the mix.
Exactly! This is why early radio and recording "dumbed down music reproduction so joe average could listen "somewhat" on his car speakers.
actually its super simple to remaster down, all you need is a dolby room and 2 mics placed at about 20 inches above ear level when sitting, and roughly 6 feet from any one speaker press record and press play. while some will say this doesnt work, i can assure you it does. and if u want to do it all digitally you can just do it on the pc, no analogue needed but u need the right software. this is also known as SQ Quadraphonic sound or 4.0, but this format didnt have anything to do with Dolby and their gig.
The inverse is more common in my opinion. Ever since I set up my 7.1 system I've noticed how a lot of media just wasnt made with surround sound in mind.
Then of course, every so often something comes outta left field that reminds me it's possible for the system to sound great. It's always something odd too, like Shrek on Blu-ray.
@@josephzado2377The Shrek part caught me off guard. Got me proper laughing.
@gtjack9 It's probably because animations have more control than regular movies.
So you can make more adjustments accordingly especially in sound. 😊
How awesome is this kid! We need more people in the world like him. I feel smarter after watching his videos. A great education. Thank you
Thanks for watching!
He did a great job but pretty sure he is a grown ass man.
@@garrydye2394 grown ass-man you say?
Yes, you are 100% right !
@@RicardoVermeltfoorthe’s either 17 or 32
This gives so much more qualitative reasoning for why movie theatres provide such a better experience. Without thinking about it, it’s just publicly watching a movie on a big screen; but the sound of the theatre is unmatched in a consumers home.
You haven't been to my theater room 😎
No way a theater can match a home system for one sitting individual. You can’t make the sound perfect for hundreds of people sitting all over a big room, however you can tune a system to perfection for one person.
And the best part about the movie theatre is how you need to wear earplugs or hearing protection for most of the films. Because they blast your brains with 120 decibels of pain every time a scene has as much as a car driving in it.
Very true... even I feel the same... It's too much of a sound, totally unwarranted ... It's ok for blasts and explosions..but for car chasing and crashing scenes...??? Sound engineers should guide the theatre management after the recording is done...
*Rerecording
clear, straight , on point, very easy to understand. big thanks, Kyle!
Thanks for watching, Dewa!
@@AudioUniversity my pleasure. thanks for your contents about audio. all the best and keep movin' 😉
What happened to Quadraphonic sound? I had Chicago album in quad. LOL!
what if he isn't straight
I have created my own speaker set, which includes
2 above head LR speakers
2 front LR speakers
One base below head
And two LR tweeters placed into my chair(near rear LR tweeters)
And the magic they all produce was literally awesome 😍😍😍.
My brother has a branded 5.1 home theatre but my custom made set beats them easily in terms of quality, base, and surround(3D effects). The only thing is my custom set has slightly less volume than the home theatre.
The centre channel can actually be reproduced with just the front left and right channels. Since both ears will hear the same thing, it will sound like it's coming from the centre. This can be helpful because you wouldn't need to have a separate speaker for speech and it might sound better because it's using larger speakers.
A phantom centre.
I've found that often leads to unclear Dialog. Especially for audibly busy scenes. A well matched center shouldn't sound worse for dialog than your mains.
@@Erowens98 Yeah, that could be a thing too since with a separate speaker you don't need to worry as much about distortion and weird effects that using physical speakers can cause.
Phantom Centre is okay but the dynamics of having an extra speaker that contains the dialog without the need to represent the left and right stereo can make the speakers easier to listen to and increase the dynamic resolution of the stereo tracks
Indeed it can and it works well enough if you sit in the middle of the soundfield. However, in a theatre setting where you might be seated quite a bit off center, having a center channel for dialogue audio is almost essential. Otherwise, for instance if you're seated far to the left of the room, you'll mainly hear dialogue from the left, while the right channel sound arrives slightly late from the right.
You always give detail explanation with simple easy to understand even for layman novice to audio equipment.
This helped me tremendously, I was so confused when looking for a new soundbar for my TV. But this explains so much. Thank you!
Glad it helped!
And to add, the beauty(though it comes with its own complications) of Dolby Atmos is you can render it to binaural and consumers using headphones, airpods etc can have the surround experience.
No, they can't.
There's just no way to simulate surround over 2 speakers, each in your ear.
@@tomaszzalewski8135 as someone who's experienced it personally, you definitely can.
@@tomaszzalewski8135 throught speakers no, with headphones yes. If you disagree go read
@@tomaszzalewski8135 Why? You only have two ears.
For anyone interested, this video has some info on how binaural audio can be immersive through headphones by playing on HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) and other phenomena: ua-cam.com/video/4fPWFAFwIQQ/v-deo.html
Very informative video! I purchased a Yamaha 7.2 A/V receiver with Klipsch Synergy speakers. I have a 7.1 surround sound system. I purchased the system in 2012, but it still rocks and going strong! Never had any issues! Knock on wood! My main front speakers are Klipsch F3s and my sub is the SW-450 downfiring sub. My surrounds are the KLipsch S-2s and my center is the Klipsch C-2. My room size is 21 x 15 so I have been very pleased with the system! And I have a 55 inch TV. I love watching Blu-ray movies in 7.1. So I had to get some large area rugs.
Never fail to learn something new from this channel. Thanks Kyle!
Glad to hear it, Richard! Thanks!
I think you've missed out the Hall effect . Where two rear speakers are connected in series but out of phase (ie the two negatives - are connected together and the +vs are conected one to the left front and the other to the right front ) thus the rear play the sum of the diffrent of the front L&R but out of phase. This is a brilliant effect . Worth a try !
Dolby Atmos is something out of this world when you experience it with all the dedicated setup for it. And no, upfiring speakers that reflect from the ceiling are not even close to dedicated ceiling speakers in a Dolby Atmos setup. I personally like the simple surround system due to versatility and a dual subwoofer system for Hi-Fi capability. A 3.2 is my baseline and a 5.2 is a great setup for anything you wanna play through the system. I come from the live sound industry where most of our work is either stereo or simple surround and it is amazing what you can get out of a system like that. Specially for music.
First sentence of this video is absolutely true and I was wondering exactly that today morning, after watching something about Dolby Atmos. Thank you for your explanations.
Glad to help, Korkenknopfus! Thanks again for watching my videos!
I'm sticking with 2 channel stereo until 18.8.4 comes available.... And 32k TV's.
If you're going beyond 5.1 you have more money than sense
@@tzenophilebro has not experienced 7.2.4 💀
@@goldendemon1015 i have 7.1 and the difference to 5.1 is barely audible. Of course my wires are not 2000USD per foot so that may be the problem
@tzenophile I was kidding ik the difference isn't huge but if you switch from 7.1 back to 5.1 in a 7.1 setup it's way worse
@@goldendemon1015 I disagree. 5.1 is plenty. those extra 2 speakers in the back adds very little
There's also, DTS and Auro-3D out there. Slight differences but regardless they're surround formats.
Thanks for mentioning these, Mike.
You did an excellent job explaining this coming from an audiophile myself and I know this is mildly inappropriate but you are absolutely stunning to look at…
cheers from England, its always good to see a young dude with a brain doing great things,
its rare these days since tik tok and stuff lol
Thanks, MAK-1!
Imagine if we had this kind of video back when r/hometheater was still alive and well. The amount of sticky posts this would've saved is astounding.
Just finished my 5.2.2 home theatre surround set up. I’m quite happy. Love seeing my Sony STR-DH790 displaying “ATMOS”. Now I’m just fine tuning and trying to watch as many movies and shows in ATMOS. I’m still running a 1080P ultra short throw projector to a 100” screen.
When it came the 2-Channel audio I actually preferred my budget Sony STR DN1080 receiver than a mid-range £2,000 Denon receiver. As far as multi-channel is concerned, the mid price Denon 6500 obviously wiped the floor with the Sony but that still doesn't take away the fact the Sony IMO sounded just as good if not better than the mid-priced Denon with 2-channel music 😲
@@Antibackgroundnoise Sony went out of their way to prove that they can make quality surround receivers with the Str-dn1050 and 1080.
They killed Pioneer, Onkyo, Yamaha that year in terms of price/performance/functions.
They do this occationally in different tech areas. Most sucessful was when they decided to make a killer dSLR in the A7 series..
I just bought a DH790. Haven't purchased LfRfs yet but its handling my 3.1 setup nicely.
Have you experimented with 7.2 instead of 5.2.2?
❤
We watch movies rarely, so the surround hoopla is kinda not that important to us. But it’s nice to have for those moments where it’s needed. We have 7.1, because that was “common state of the art” when I set it up. Subwoofer is hidden as are rear surrounds, the other five speakers are not hidden but not in your face. It works well enough to provide correct sonic motion and dynamics for movies. Then for music I transition the whole thing to multi channel stereo, with a second similar system that feeds other rooms. Wherever you are in the house or garden, you get a decent stereo image with excellent audio quality.
I got a setup for my PC of 2.1 (2 stereo boxes & 1 subwoofer), I hardly see the reason for more since I rarely see audio tracks which have more than 2 channels to begin with.
The subwoofer does it's job brilliantly and the audio is awesome with only 2 stereo boxes. They're fairly low power too, 3W each and a 5W subwoofer (if I'm not mistaken) but it's alr as they are pretty much 50cm away from your head at most (the subwoofer included), had to mention this as subwoofers don't need to be in any special direction from you, anywhere is fine, but RANGE matters, I believe 1m away from you is the most this subwoofer is good for.
EDIT: Btw, wanted to say. The closest theater from my home seems to use a 7.2 system, with 7 stereo boxes and probably 2 subwoofers or more (of course, they are SUPER powerful stereo boxes and subwoofers).
That's the standard hall with only 2D screenings, the ultra hall is probably 9.2.2 but I didn't check it recently (this one has 3D screenings too).
2:35 Hometheater enthusiasts will argue that having 2-sub is always better than one due to how the 2 subs even out the bass response across the listening area if placed right.
He's talking about the number of LFE channels, not the number of subs. Many dual sub systems are run from the same channel in either 5.1 or 7.1.
@@altosack Sorry, I was totally misheard him about that.
I'm using 7.1 I can't imagine 9.2.2
Just imagine 2 more speakers, one more sub and 2 more speakers above your head. Its not that hard.
@@JanSzedlak fr tho
@@JanSzedlakyou misunderstood his statement
This is wonderfully informative. Thank you so much for posting this and explaining it all in such a clear and concise way.
My surround sound setup consists of a samsung soundbar/sub that I placed in the corner because it projects better. I also placed the tv there so you are looking towards the source of the audio. I know it's very complicated and absolutely groundbreaking for audio tech.
I am happy with a jbl center and a 10" yamaha sub!
I've been experimenting with " Dolby PLII music". And this with both a 5.1 and a 7.1. Unbelievable what happens with a stereo recording. And that mainly on the 7.1.
Sound on all sides.
I've found that rear speakers create inaudible dialogue on my system so I just add them to the L and R channels and move them up front. I run a 3.1.2 configuration and that works great for me.
I don't usually comment unless it's really good. This one was on point and easy to understand.
Glad to hear that! Thanks for watching.
The best video on surround sound. I used to be confused about speakers and sound systems. Flawless presentation ! Tq bro🙂
Thanks for a very informative video and explanation.
The problem is that most manufacturers assume that the listeners all have space behind them for rear surround speaker placement, where in reality, as with myself, most rooms are small/narrow and the surround speakers are then place next to the seating/viewing position.
Are the speakers then turned towards the listener, or at an angle towards the center or TV?
It may be a good idea to do a video on this situation.
5 min and 13 sec, i'm not falling for that one
what do you mean?
Yeah, well. In my day we just had left and right. That was it. Then they started adding to stereo receivers the subwoofer out and we essentially got 2.1
After I paired a Q90T with a Q800a sound bar and added 9500 satellite speakers gaming is on a new level. It's hard to even put my A40 headset on anymore cause it sounds so damn good.
2:43 overhead surround has been around since late 1960's at now closed down odeon cinema bournemouth that is home to the pigeons now . i like pigeons . the overhead was used for 70mm cinerama in screen 1 that soon was to be phased out and replaced with 35mm and the five screen remained behind the larger curved screen so did the x6 overhead surrounds flush mounted in the high up ceiling . these where later used for 'star wars' when opened nationally in early feb '78 and i actually heard that star destroyer with "immersive storytelling" . the cinema used a Dolby Stereo CP50 speakers behind the screen sort of look like the Altec voice of the theatre , well the pigeons own them now . the overheads i guess unknown and thou still intact in the ceiling and last heard them around 1998 . year later 1999 JBL 8330 mkI was installed x16 of them .
i worked as projectionist for UCI cinemas local at tower park 1989 when the new site opened late of 1989 and used "experimental overhead surround" in all ten screens . x8 overhead in larger screens 5 and 6 . smaller screens 1 to 4 and 7 to 10 had x7 overhead experimental surrounds .
most on youtube and all those forum sites have no idea that overhead surround as been around since late 1960's and 1989 .
i have more clocked overhead surround listening time than most would care for .
Dolby Stereo CP55 was used with SRA5 and cinema PA speakers was EV .
my atmos overheads goes way beyond even dolby labs own screening room never mind dubbing theatres or cinemas . the speakers height 1 2 3 are just basic stereo pairs stereo with phantom sound imaging that can be distracting if not , not so pinpoint so i used a x3 matrix decoders sort of same like LCR only on the ceiling with extra channels as well at least 12 output channels .
the basic surround channel has been sort of not the same and not in fact hardly any home theatre can play the proper surround channel configuration as left-half right-half that is the surround arrays along each sidewall and clusters on the back wall .
i recently wired my complex THX sound system and its not the home version its the professional cinema version .
i have many surround formats that i can play where common AVR AVP can only play a few of them .
Wow! Thanks for taking the time to share this info.
@@AudioUniversity tiny fraction of mentioned . i heard 'Jurassic Park' at UCI dts in screen 6 , ( left in 1990 ) but there it is .
last worked for Warner Bros and gave projection up in 1998 , now retired . as you soon will be retired one day we all eventually retire and relax , but don't do it when you want to go to it , relax .
Stereo works with delay between ears, not volume.
That's why we can't determine direction of low frequencies - soundwave is too long.
Also, good speakers can position directions wider than the speakers separation.
There are actually a number of different factors. Check out these videos:
ua-cam.com/video/R8kOp4jYcr4/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/S1SyaDbRqec/v-deo.htmlsi=ruRzhu43kCXpMK-k
Thank you! This was a clear and concise explanation of surround sound.
Awesome explanation!! I'm learning so much from your channel. 👍
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching, Lihterature!
Thank you so much. Honesty I should be watching a video from your channel every day of the week!
Thanks, Medard! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos!
Nice video ...thnx
Pls giv some tips about mastering plugging to final mix of any audio
Thanks! I highly recommend iZotope Ozone for mastering!
There are a few levels depending on your budget: imp.i114863.net/kj2BMM
Confused about interfaces. Why are most musical and recording interfaces 2 outs? Is it because they are stereo?
Thanks Kyle!
Yes. That’s right! Music is most commonly mixed in stereo. Good question, Jay!
@@AudioUniversity thank you! Then, are more than two outs necessary if one is creating say a rock opera with sounds, music and noises approaching the listener from all directions spatially?
@@dubblyewjay1133 if you’re producing sound for stage (or screen), then yes, having more outputs would help in creating that soundscape, and that is sometimes done in theatre, as well as hiding speakers in the sets for incidentals (like a phone ringing, a stereo playing music and such). Although surround sound is not that regularly used in theater, they do often add speakers in the auditorium for sound effects, but music is usually still just mixed in stereo (since the size of the auditorium will make speaker placement hard to make the surround sound image work for all people. Since placement of speakers is key in making the soundscape work, having a large auditorium, and often balconies as well, makes mixing surround in a theater pretty close to impossible.)
Movie theaters are a different story as they are built to a standard, so speaker placement and such is set in the standard, so they should (if nobody’s changed any settings) sound pretty much the same from one room to the next
Nice vid, do something like this about the differences in IMAX, THX etc. too please?
Precise & easy to understand information. However, your explanation of the "wide" channels/speakers isn't exactly correct. "Wide" speakers are most commonly referred to speakers on the front soundstage (i.e. L, C, R) that are placed wider than the front left & the right speakers. They are used to widen the front soundstage. Where you labeled the "wide" speakers on your graphic, would actually be called surrounds. You can have multiple surrounds depending on the size of the room (SL1, SR1, SL2, SR2, etc.). Overall a great video to explain surround sound in a simple/clear manner to individuals unfamiliar with speaker placement & audio formats.
Thanks for clarifying this, double T!
My Pioneer vsx 422 doesn't have wide. Yet my ancient Yamaha DSP has wide?🤫
@@dragan3290 if I had a model number for your ancient Yamaha I could probably explain.
Thank you so much for this video.
Your channel is literally my school of audio👍
Glad to help, Charles! Thanks for watching.
You should cover the migration from Mono to Stereo (1950s to 1970s).
Stereo FM (sub channel usage) and LP addition.
Film stock was last in mid-1970s (just in time for Star Wars).
The 1970s experiment (failed) of Quadriphonic Sound. BUT some Bands tried (The Who).
Great explanation in 5 minutes. Does PL IIz heights count as x.x.2 ? Or, do those speakers add to the main speaker count?
Great stuff, thanks for this. I've got an odd scenario. I've got an older 5 channel ATI 1505 power amp that I don't need for surround anymore. I'd like to repurpose it as a dedicated 2 channel system. My questions is... can I utilize those other channels in a stereo setup? The amp is not designed with a bridging feature, but I was wondering if there is any kind of DIY hack that might be available. Thanks!
Great video. My production company is moving into Atmos.
This video made it so simple to understand it.
Thanks a lot 🙏
Thank you. What is your opinion on wireless speakers? Would there be a sound loss due to no wires? Should we expect improved quality as the state of technology 'may' have improved such as bluetooth?
For the LFE, Low Frequency, I recommend just stating that this is a subwoofer. More people will know it as that than saying it as LFE. Audiophile and music guru's will know what that is but a regular consumer just wants a decent front left and right, a clear center, and a bassyyyy subwoofer. you know how it goes.
But a subwoofer is the speaker itself, where the number represents a channel. You can hook up more subwoofers to a single LFE channel.
I get simplifying things, but this could just increase the confusion down the line.
@@paulelderson934 no no no. I know that but other people wont. What I am trying to say is when you speak with someone who doesn't know what LFE stands for, a simple and easy way to explain to them is just saying a subwoofer and than they will know what you mean.
Its about the terminology and not the actual unit or units that you place on the LFE channel. Just changing the acronym "LFE" with "Subwoofer" for others to understand what that bottom unit does.
The LFE (Low Frequency Effects) and the common subwoofer crossover are two separate things! The bass crossover is responsible for taking the incoming bass frequency range away from the main speakers and sending that frequency range to and through the subwoofer. That should be set at around the frequency where your speakers are no longer able to faithfully reproduce bass, which is usually 70-85 Hz or less. This is called the bass crossover frequency. There is an additional bass-only track called the LFE track for special bass sounds and emphasis only. This is channel DOES NOT go to the main speakers. The LFE track is authored to have content up to 120 Hz.
bro what mic u use it sounds super clean, nice video btw! loved it.
Excellent and Clear summary of the subject. thanks!
Great video - everything I ever wanted to know but was afraid to ask - in 5 minutes!
Great video. So back in the day, when I first had an interest in home cinema. Prologic days lol. 5.1 meant- 3 fronts including a stereo pair and a centre. 2 rears that had to be behind you and obviously a sub- can be positioned anywhere.
In a 5.1 as you describe it seems that the “rears” are now supposed to be placed at the side of you? Have I got that wrong?
You have the voice that sell !
Thanks……………But more info about how to get around the Dolby ATMOS format on a computer ore an inverter will be nice
I love your videos though I don’t understand fully
Thanks, ESA!
@AudioUniversity --- When designing a home theater room, are their any surround sound standards that require mutually exclusive and incompatible speaker placements?
why is the subwoofer in the front left top in your guide? find it very interesting !
you can place it where you want, its just for simplicity
I've been to a cinema with I guess a 9.2.2 Dolby damn its a whole new experience!
i have had a quadrophonic setup for a little bit, my desktop has support for up to 7.1 speakers.
If I Really Have To Know, 5.1 Channel Sounds Very Divine and Incredible!!!! Don't you Think?
should be
@AudioUniversity --- What's the highest speaker count in a surround sound system configuration?
Should you have a professional place your speakers or can a novice learn to do it?
You can learn to do it yourself! Check out the link to a free speaker placement guide in the description of the video.
thank you for sharing your knowledge of surround sound
Glad to help!
5.1 or 5.2 will be all I ever need.
That's what I tell myself cuz I can't afford to go crazy with more new gear and the wife has said, "Nothing else in this house!" :)
Informative. On the point, NO gimmicks or goofs just shared knowledge!!
Glad you enjoyed it, Biff! Thanks for watching.
Woof woof
Thank you Bud, well explained !
Glad to help. Thanks for watching, Johnny!
I've never cared for surround. Good ol' 20th century stereo is good enough for me. Besides it makes more sense, 2 speakers, 2 ears.
Very helpful! Thank you very much! I have another question now about video. I've noticed on a lot of movies that there seems to be a filter that makes the entire film look like I'm watching it through a dirty glass. I noticed it in this video. At 3:50 the video is clear but just a few seconds later by 3:55 the video is zoomed in just a bit and now it's almost like I'm watching through a slightly dirty glass. It's very noticeable with your black shirt. Can you help me understand what's going on here? I noticed it really badly with the movie Pig staring Nick Cage if you need any other references. Thank you.
Quick question. I am using a stereo system with Wiim, I want to enjoy Netflix movie,
- which sound shall I choose on Netflix?
- which setting on tv shall I choose? PCM or Dolby?
Now I know what all those crazy numbers are for ...😎
great video I can share to noobies.. thank you!
Your thumbnail has all the information itself
I've Clearly Taken some important Notes On the training About The Surround System Set-up And How It works THANKS So Very Much Soon I may Require A Certificate Or Diploma in Sound Engineering... I Hope The University will Consider Me
Dear kayl sir every video of Audio University is a great source of sound engineeriring thank you sir
I'm very glad to hear that, Shivkumar! Thank you for watching!
Does mixing in 5.1 surround or 9.1 surround make it easier to mix or easier to hear a stereo image than 2.1?
Mixing in surround isn't "easier", its different. A surround format doesn't make it easier to hear a stereo image. 2 channel is the best for 'stereo' imaging. Surround creates music/audio in space.
I agree with double T. Surround extends the sound stage beyond the limits of stereo.
This was very helpful, thank you for making this video.
I have a Nakamichi 9.2.4 and it’s insane. 🔥
I want my voice like him man!! 🥲
This video was EXCELLENT! Thank you!
What a great presentation man👌👍👏👏👏
Excellent information that is easy to understand. Thanks!
Very good vdo i get something knowledge in this topic. guy I want making Dolby Atmos sound system how many audio cercuit i can collect please reply love from Imphal kangleipak (Manipur) India
Mu question is how did we used to get all that 5.1 sound to the speakers back in thebday when all we had was rca?
If you had 6 discrete RCA connections, yes. (Left, Center, Right, Rear Left, Rear Right, Sub). But many misunderstood how to properly set up a surround system and only used stereo RCA. In that case, it wasn’t true 5.1…
@@AudioUniversity okay my question I guess is that how did we get surround with DVD that had only rca inputs from DVD player to say your receiver.
Also, I get what your saying regarding the rca. The mono rca style cable right? And most people use the stereo style which has both ground left and right and ground
There's some misinformation here about RCA jacks, stereo, and surround sound.
Digitial Coax out uses a single RCA for 5.1 surround sound. That's a single RCA cable for all six speakers (to a surround decoder - same as the optical, or toslink).
Furthermore, many computer systems and audio receivers use RCA out for surround speakers: one pair for the front, a pair for the rear, and a pair for the center and subwoofer (LFE). Additional pairs may also be present for however many speakers are desired - one cable per channel, or speaker.
1:50 i dont think thats true, the center channel is pretty much the one and only speaker you can leave out without sacrificing much sound fidelity. Most AVRs even have an option to make the front 2 speakers take ofer the task of the center one. I use a 4.1 system in my room because of limited space for a center channel. I once tried it in a 5.1 configuration and 4.1 sound just as good.
So would just 4 speakers suffice? 2 in the front and 2 in the back?
I have plenty of "live sound" speakers already, and I'm debating to just use them or to purchase a new fancy surround sound system or soundbar.
What do you think?
@@borg386 yes! Although I still recommend a subwoofer. I use a 4.1 system on my pc and there is no difference to when I hook up an extra center speaker. Just make sure that your audio receiver has the option to remove the center channel and to mix it into the front speakers.
@@codname125 great, thanks so much
Thank you so much Bro
I had asked about this video
Thanks u noticed & made a clear cut video 😇
Glad to help, Nikhil! Thanks.
seems like receivers equipped with analog in jacks handle SACD surround just fine.
Learnt something new as usual. Thanks Kyle
Thanks, Dmitry!
I was subscribed to this channel and I didn't remember 😂 great video, thank you so much!
For vocal or music production, it’s always best to mix in mono because most people still listen through their phones right?
Great point, Toby! I think it’s important to check compatibility with limited systems. However, I resist the notion that we should limit our mixes altogether to that standard. Many people still listen with better systems. I agree with you that you want to make sure a mix sounds good in mono, even if it can sound better in stereo or surround!
@@AudioUniversity yeh you’re right in regards to not limiting ourselves or the true potential of music/sound production. Don’t look at the music on my current channel as I’ve got tonnes of songs I haven’t released yet and most of my music will be on @perplexedmusic but ultimately all of my songs are mixed in stereo although majority of them have two tracks per vocal both going 100% to the right and left to make the sound more full, not necessarily to pan or send parts of the mix to different areas of the room although the way you’ve described in this video is the best way create full ambiance in a high quality house, car or theatre stereo system. So I think the main decision to make is shall the music mixed in stereo sound terrible to 30% of listeners through their phones and sound ambient and full to 70% of listeners that value music enough to invest in having a decent sound system in their lives. Or sound boring and flat in a good system but sound good out of a phone. I vote stereo all the way because if someone loves music enough to buy or stream your music, they should have at least 1 if not multiple ways to play high quality music mixed in stereo. Thanks for your videos though man, I started a business and realised if I put as much time into music as I did into my business I’d be a lot happier and a lot better off financially so instead of fumbling my way making mistakes as good as an ear my ego likes to think I have for good music, I’ve learnt the behind the screen theory behind music production in about 2 seconds for free thanks to you. I hope you’ve monetised your streaming because you deserve it as employment 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Any opinions on 4.1? Sony did a pretty good job of it with their HT-A9. Could that translate well when using an AVR?
This video was very great, thank you
there are no stereo lfe channels. lfe is mono. 5.2, 7.2, etc may have 2 lfe outputs but they are both mono. stereo lfe may come in the future but not yet.
another thing, optical/coax can not carry dolby atmos or dts hd ma or dolby truehd they don't have the bandwidth. those require hdmi.
If Queen still made songs, and Freddie Mercury was alive, it would be amazing listening to one of their songs