Audio Information
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- Bob 413-374-8000
- Rich 413-374-8300
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What is the biggest upgrade I can make to my system to get the best sound? i.e. speakers, receiver, cables, etc.
About 60-70% of the sound we hear comes from the room! If you put the most expensive equipment you can buy and put it in a racquetball court it is still going to sound lousy. There are four basic things you can do to improve your sound, after you get these as best as possible for your situation then see if you still want to upgrade your equipment. You might be surprised!
1. Seating placement - in corners or against the wall are usually not good locations. Putting a console or sofa table behind a couch to move the couch away from the wall can help significantly.
2. Speaker and Subwoofer placement - This can vary depending on the situation. Ideally, the speaker should be at ear level and not near any surfaces. Do NOT put speakers in corners or recessed in cabinetry. Subwoofers shouldn't be in corners unless you want maximum Boom.
3. Acoustical treatments - These don't have to be ugly foam panels on your walls. There are many aesthetic solutions. For the floors carpeting is best but throw rugs can also benefit. If these aren't possible choosing a speaker that is designed for these application will help.
For walls: tapestries, draperies, pictures or paintings done on fabrics with acoustic foam behind them, there are MANY solutions.
4. Equalization - if the room has done 1,2 and 3 very well then this is the final tweak and only minor adjustments would be needed. Unfortunately, equalization is often used to compensate for problems with 1,2 and 3. Too much equalization can be harmful.
Can small speakers sound as good as big ones?
There are many factors with speaker design that attribute to the sound. But, in general smaller speakers have trouble playing the lower frequency sounds loud enough for us to hear very well. A small speakers with a 3" midrange won't be able to play a deep male's voice as well as a speaker with a 5" midrange. Also, large tower speakers can be difficult to place, so the biggest speakers are often not the best solution either. You need to decide what is the correct speaker for your situation. Often small speakers is an aesthetic compromise but speakers built into a wall or cabinetry might be a better solution for good sound and aesthetics.
What does 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 represent?
The first number is the number of speakers and the second number after the decimal point is the number of subwoofers. Most movies are created in the 5.1 format. For consumers it is mixed into either Dolby Digital (DD) or Digital Theater Systems (DTS) format. Some movies are mixed in the 6.1 format and is know as Dolby Digital EX or DTS ES. Dolby Prologic IIx can take these formats and create 7 channels of audio from them. Also, some of the newer high definition DVDs (HD-DVD) or Blue-ray disc can contain true 7.1 format.
What should I get 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1?
I'd go 7.1 if possible, it gives better envelopment of the surround field. However, I wouldn't sacrifice quality just to get 7 speakers. I would much rather have a good 5.1 system then a poor 7.1 system. You can always add the other speakers later.
Contact Information
Please feel free to contact us. We are normally available seven days a week between 8AM-8PM. Do leave a message as we answer them promptly.
- Bob (413) 374-8000,
bob@a-v-tech.com
Rich (413) 374-8300, rich@a-v-tech.com - FAX:
- 801-305-8000
- Postal address:
- AV Tech
- 205 Barry Street
- Feeding Hills, Ma 01030
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