10
AV
Introduction to Home
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Introduction to Home Theater
This introductory section will help you to familiarize yourself with some basic concepts
unique to multichannel surround-sound receivers,
set up and operate your A
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A home theater typically includes an audio/video receiver
and supplies amplification for the loudspeakers; a disc player; a source component for
television broadcasts (cable box,
to the
Multichannel Audio
The main benefit of a home theater system is its ability to produce “surround sound.”
Surround sound uses multiple speakers and amplifier channels to immerse you in the
audio/video presentation for a dramatically increased sense of realism.
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Each main speaker is powered by its own amplifier channel inside the A
with more than two speakers is called a multichannel system.
types in a home theater system are:
Front Left and Right:
system.
action,
Center:
reproduces most of the dialogue and other soundtrack information, anchoring it with the
picture.
a seamless front soundstage, creating a realistic
Surround Left and Right:
that help create a realistic and immersive surround-sound environment.
recreate directional sound effects such as aircraft flyovers.
Many people expect the surround speakers to play as loudly as the front speakers.
Although you will calibrate all of the speakers in your system to sound equally loud at the
listening position,
they create their programs to steer relatively little sound to these speakers.
Subwoofer:
bass).
other channels.
contain a low-frequency effects (LFE) channel that is directed to the subwoofer
channel packs the punch of a rumbling train or airplane,
adding realism and excitement to your home theater
Surround Modes
There are different theories as to the best way to present surround sound and to
distribute each audio channel’s sounds to the surround-sound system’s speakers.
A variety of algorithms have been developed in an effort to recreate the way we hear
sounds in the real world,
have developed different surround-sound technologies, all of which can be accurately
reproduced by your
Dolby Laboratories:t Dolby
EX.
DTS:t DTS-HD High Resolution
and Matrix), DTS Neo:6
®
,
™
.
HARMAN International:t Logic 7
®
,
Stereo Modes:t 2CH Stereo and 5CH Stereo.
Appendix T
sound options available on your A
Digital and DTS modes,
available via HDTV
Other surround modes may be used with digital and analog signals to create a different
surround presentation or to use a different number of speakers. Surround-mode
selection depends upon the number of speakers in your system,
watching or listening to, and your personal tastes.
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Determine the locations for your system’s speakers according to their manufacturer’s
directions and the layout of your listening room.
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your speakers in a circle with the listening position at its center
speaker so it directly faces the listening position.
TV
C
FL
FR
SL
SR
SUB
Placing the Left,
Place the center speaker either on top of,
the
about 30 degrees from the center speaker and angled toward the listener
Place the front left,
about the same height as the listener’s ears.
2 feet (0.6m) above or below the left/right speakers. If you’re using only two speakers
with your
Placing the Surround Speakers
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the center speaker
them behind the listener
speaker
than the listener’s ears.
NOTE:
is used for all positions.
Placing the Subwoofer
Because a room’s shape and volume can have a dramatic effect on a subwoofer’s
performance,
that produces the best results in your particular listening room.
rules will help you get started:
Placing the subwoofer next to a wall generally will increase the amount of bass in Ř
the room.
Placing the subwoofer in a corner generally will maximize the amount of bass in Ř
the room.
In many rooms, placing the subwoofer along the same plane as the left and right Ř
speakers can produce the best integration between the sound of the subwoofer and
that of the left and right speakers.
In some rooms,Ř
behind the listening position.
A good way to determine the best location for the subwoofer is by temporarily placing
it in the listening position and playing music with strong bass content.
to various locations in the room while the system is playing (putting your ears where
the subwoofer would be placed),
performance is best.
