3 Things to Know about Surround Sound System Design

Is a surround sound system just a matter of putting together some audio components and speakers? If you want a truly immersive surround sound experience that fulfills the promise of suspension of disbelief, you need to plan for it. Equipment is indeed important, but so many other factors go into a great surround sound system design for your Atlanta, GA theater. While it can be technical and sometimes daunting, we will simplify and cover three key aspects for you to consider here. 

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SEE ALSO: Three Ways to Get the Best Performance from Your Surround Sound System

Matching Amplifiers and Speakers

Any good amplifier can drive any good speaker, but some combinations are going to sound better than others. Why? Some speakers are more efficient than others, and they require less power to drive them. Other speakers have more complex designs and crossovers, and they might require more power from an amplifier than others. Then, there are nuances of amplifier designs, and some will impart a better sound to some speakers. How can you figure all this out? A good home theater design company can tell you what equipment matches up well. With so many options available in freestanding and architectural speakers for home theaters, it’s impossible to listen to all the combinations, but a pro can help you sort through them. 

Surround Sound Formats

While nearly all new audio components offer Dolby Atmos for immersive surround sound, there are a couple of other formats that deliver an even more impressive audio experience. For example, the newest Marantz home theater receivers and processors offer a format called AURO-3D. While this format is similar to Dolby Atmos, it calls for a slight difference in the surround speaker plan. To support both, you need both front-height and rear-height speaker pairs, where with Dolby you might have only one set of height speakers. Of course, the right speaker setup for these effects depends highly on your seating configuration and the dimensions of the room. For the best results, a professional can design the right system based on your preferences and the layout. 

Acoustic Treatment and Calibration

Even great speakers and components may not be enough to obtain the optimal sound from your home cinema. Depending on your room’s layout, finishes, and furnishings, you may have sound reflections, especially with all the speakers in a surround sound system. In addition, subwoofers may not produce bass evenly at every seating position even with the best placement. The solutions? Calibration and acoustic treatment work to round out the sound. Good calibration, using both manual and software tools, set speaker levels and frequency response to the optimal settings for the room. To tame speaker reflections and bass issues, acoustic treatments like diffusers and bass traps ensure that your room’s surround sound is natural and impactful without unwanted resonances.

Want a pro to help you with your surround sound system? GHT Group is your local home theater company with over 30 years of experience in the metro Atlanta area. Contact us here or click the chat box below to quickly connect with one of our experts. We look forward to working with you!