Home Theater Audio

In a typical Canadian home theater, the speaker system consists of six basic home theater speakers: the center channel speaker, front speaker, left and right speakers, surround speakers, and the subwoofer. Each speaker contributes a different sound to create a full, well-rounded effect.

Center channel speakers process all the signals from the other speakers to belt out the overall home theater sound. It’s usually located above or below the TV set. The front speaker is often called the ‘second’ speaker to denote its importance relative to the center channel. It is where the main sounds are played back, such as movement effects and dialogues. Because placing it at the front will partially block the screen, most Canadian home theater systems place it on one of the sides.

The side speakers play back some of the dialogue and most of the special effects. They are located on either side of the TV, either freestanding or attached to a wall. Surround sound speakers consist of around four small speakers, each located in a corner of the room. This is what makes the sound seem to come from the walls, creating a more dramatic effect.

Finally, you’ve got your subwoofer, which is responsible for the bass and other low-frequency sounds. The subwoofer can be placed anywhere since the bass is omnidirectional, but most Canadian home theater systems place them near a power source or close to the TV set.