Audio is an essential element in an immersive home theater experience, with the emotional impact, energy, and atmosphere coming primarily from the sound. Imagine sitting in your home theater with directional speakers that drive the audio at you from the front of the theater.
Now, imagine immersing yourself in the moment with audio that surrounds you. The storm engulfs you, the door creaks behind you, and the helicopter lifts off in front of you and flies overhead. Suddenly, you’re no longer sitting in a room; you’re on the small fishing boat, in the rain and wind, being tossed over 80-foot waves.
Accomplishing this requires accurately covering the audible bandwidth from the deepest bass to the highest treble with the latest Hi-Fi home theater systems and surround sound technology.
Let’s explore how far we’ve come, where we’re headed in home theater audio, and how it’s transforming home theaters in Santa Monica, CA, and the surrounding areas.
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There was a time, in the not-too-distant past, when the latest home theater audio consisted of a 5.1-channel configuration. This is still a standard speaker layout, despite the audio advancements that have left this technology far behind. In a 5.1 sound system, there are six speakers, usually two in the front, one in the center, two on the sides, and a subwoofer.
From there, we head to the 6.1, 7.1, and 9.1 sound systems. The 7.1 surround sound system arrived with Blu-ray discs and HD. It adds two more rear speakers that provide depth and a more full, well-rounded sound experience. The 9.1 system adds two front-height speakers. These systems require many components and specs and an expert to set them up properly.
In 2012, Dolby Atmos changed the cinematic experience forever when the new sound technology was released in Disney-Pixar’s movie Brave. This object-based audio enables sound engineers to place up to 128 simultaneous audio objects in a 3D sound field, creating the most realistic audio you’ve ever heard and placing the listener in a sphere of sound that envelops them.
A Dolby Atmos-enabled 7.1.2 setup consists of two in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers. This enables the overhead audio critical to Dolby Atmos surround sound. Every sound—a helicopter, a howler monkey, a multi-car pile-up, the break of a branch, a hummingbird’s wings—is a separate sound object placed in a specific location in a scene and, in some cases, moving through three-dimensional space. This precise, detailed audio suspends your disbelief and makes viewers feel like what they’re watching is real.
Your home theater also requires a Dolby Atmos-capable receiver and content encoded with Dolby Atmos, which is becoming widely available as Dolby Atmos becomes the standard for home theaters.Our partners at Beyond Home Theater include the world’s finest acoustic and home theater designers. We create home theaters for Hollywood professionals on the Bel Air Circuit—amazing screening rooms for amazing filmmakers. To learn more about the latest in surround sound technology or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact Beyond Home Theater today.
Call today to schedule a free consultation and see the possibilities for yourself.
3155 Donald Douglas Loop S.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: 1.877.717.6863