Are you thinking of renovating your entertainment system? Are your current speakers a crackling mess? Are you sick of them constantly warping and distorting sound? Whether you’re planning on buying new speakers for your television or your computer, 7.1 surround sound speakers are an ideal choice when it comes to getting the most for your money.
Why 7.1 surround sound speakers? In order to understand that, first you should learn how surround sound speakers work. In most cases, you can choose from 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 speakers. The first number indicates how many speakers you will be buying, while the second number tells you how many subwoofers you’ll receive. Subwoofers are an important addition to any home entertainment system, as they are what provide the bass undertones to your listening experience. You may not initially notice its contribution while all of the speakers are playing, but once you take it away, its absence is very noticeable indeed.
What makes surround sound systems so special is their ability to immerse you in sound. Rather than beam the sound from the front of the room, you are treated to crisp, perfect sound from all sides. Furthermore, you can experience movies and music in a whole new way as certain specific sounds are programmed to come from one certain speaker, making it a more realistic experience.
For example, if one character calls to another from off-screen on stage right, you would hear it from your right, just as the actor would. Many audiophiles choose 7.1 speakers because they give you more opportunities to fine tune the sound. Rather than having just one speaker behind you, for example, you can position two, which allows you to spread out different sound manipulations even more.
However, the only downside to 7.1 surround sound speakers is that they can be a bit of a hassle to set up. This is mostly due to all of the wires that result. Unless your entertainment system is in a convenient spot or you have a lot of places to hide your wires behind, oftentimes many users are stuck with messy, unattractive wires spanning across their floors and walls. This is not only untidy—it can even be dangerous as it puts you at risk of tripping, which can hurt both you and your speakers.
Wireless 7.1 surround sound speakers may help this problem somewhat. While the entire system isn’t wireless, oftentimes manufacturers design systems so that the back speakers are wireless, allowing you to plug them into adjacent wall sockets instead of the stereo system’s main source of power. If this doesn’t tame your wires, try tying them away with pipe cleaners or twist ties. Many users also attach them along the border of the wall, keeping them as out of the way as they possibly can. Some entertainment systems even come with designs that allow you to tuck much of the wiring away, leaving your speakers pristine and neat.
