Smart Speakers 101: Introduction To In-Home Surround Sound

Modern living room with surround sound set up

Have you always dreamed of having a state-of-the-art home theater system in your home? One of the best ways to feel like you’re sitting in a movie theater and not your living room is by installing a high-quality in-home surround sound system.

However, getting started on a home improvement project like that can be overwhelming. Not only do you have to understand the technical aspects of surround sound systems to install yours correctly, but also you also have to consider many elements to curate the perfect design for yourself and your space. To help make the process seem less daunting, we’ve broken it down for you below.

Understand the Concept of Surround Sound

At the simplest level, surround sound involves the use of multiple speakers in a strategic arrangement within a room. Here’s how to place these speakers to get the best quality sound:

A basic surround sound system consists of five speakers.
Two stereo speakers go at the front of the room on either side of a projection screen or flat-screen TV.
A center channel speaker goes in between the two front speakers usually under the screen or TV. This speaker transmits dialogue.
Two back or rear surround speakers go just behind the seating area on either side of the room, facing the front stereo speakers.
If you would like to go above and beyond, add a subwoofer for the lowest bass sounds that might not otherwise be heard. This can be located in a cabinet or anywhere in the room.
You can also add rear back surround speakers if your room is big enough for a full 7.1 system.

Other Things to Consider Prior to Set-Up

Now that you know how surround sound works, consider all the following items when planning your in-home system.

Products

Maybe even more overwhelming than understanding the technology behind the in-home surround sound system is the infinite number of products out there. Depending on elements like budget or personal taste, any speaker could be the best product for you. Do your research thoroughly before purchasing to ensure you choose correctly.

Budget

If you are buying speakers for an existing projector, or an existing TV, your budget should take the cost of your current equipment into account. If you have a moderate budget level, it doesn’t make sense to buy the most expensive speakers. On the other hand, if you’re building a home entertainment system gradually, think about the other components you plan to buy and what they will cost.

Room Size

Room size is another important consideration. If you have a designated theater room in your home, you’ll have many more options than turning an extra bedroom or a small space in your basement into your media room. You don’t want to overwhelm the sound in the space you choose.

The Process of Set-Up

Once you’ve bought the perfect equipment for your set-up, you need to decide if you’ll set up your in-home surround system yourself or if you’ll have trusted and trained professionals do it for you. Doing it yourself might save you some money upfront, but may never be set to optimal sound and picture quality possible.

Talk to the experts at BriteBox Electrical Services in Atlanta about installing or designing the home theater or audio system of your dreams.