7.1 Speaker System Explained
If you are planning to setup a home entertainment system or just want to have the best audio experience while playing PC games then a 7.1 speaker system is a must to use. With 7 satellite speakers surrounding your room and 1 subwoofer you can recreate a true theater experience at your own home.
So what is 7.1 speaker system by the way? It is called 7.1 since you will be using 7 speakers plus 1 subwoofer. Each of the 7 speakers will be positioned in different areas in your room to achieve the most optimal experience from your home theater system.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the system
• Left and Right Speaker (2 pcs.)
• Center Speaker (1 pc.)
• Subwoofer (1 pc.)
• Left and Right Surround Speaker (2 pcs.)
• Left and Right Back Speaker (2 pcs.)
The best setup for a 7.1 speaker system according to Dolby, the authority in sound systems, is based on your viewing distance from the monitor. This distance is taken from how far your ears are to the monitor.
Here are the functions of each of the speakers.
Left and Right Speakers: These are your main speakers that reproduce most of the music and sound effects from the movie. They are positioned equidistant from your monitor, usually 3 feet apart, and should be placed at your ear level.
Center Speaker: This speaker outputs a considerable amount of the soundtrack and most of the voices. Whenever a person in the movie speaks then it the sound should come out at your center speaker. This can be placed above or below your monitor.
Subwoofer: This speaker reproduces the low frequency sounds of the movie such as the bass sounds. It can be positioned anywhere in your room.
Left and Right Surround Speaker: This speaker reproduces the ambient sounds in the movie which creates a sense of space. If you are watching a concert video then the audience reaction will be heard through these speakers.
Left and Right Back Speaker: These speakers provide the final enhancement in providing the surround experience. Anything left out by your Left and Right Surround will be reproduced by these final speakers. They are normally positioned at your back.