Although most people that watch television appear happy with the inbuilt sound systems there is much to be said for a television that is linked to it’s own dedicated sound system. It might mean anything to a soap viewer, but for gamers, movie and DVD watchers and those who se blu-ray, this could mean a world of difference. Most modern televisions come supplied with reasonable speakers (nicam stereo) but they cannot compare with a specialist surround sound system that you can buy. The main reason to opt for a HD television set is not just its massive publicity but being influenced by sets viewed at a friend or relative’s home.
The two things to consider before you buy a HD television set are to be sure of your expectations and your budget. Be prepared to spend 10 percent of the TV price on cabling for the speakers in case you are contemplating to buy or already have surround sound speakers. The external speakers ought to be controlled with the help of amplifiers or av receivers. This is also an extra cost from several hundred upwards into the thousands but warrants another article altogether.
1 upwards – this is 5 speakers to 1 sub-woofer. The speaker system has one speaker at the center followed by one left and one right surround speakers which are placed at the far front corners from the seat, and two rear speakers one right and one left. Though these have independent and separate functions, it is essential to place them strategically with the seating place in the middle. You can configure the av receivers and amplifiers to optimize the volume output and place the speaker accordingly.
The basic function of a sub-woofer is to give the movie sound a real-life feel so having one would improve your overall movie viewing experience. It brings sounds to life – it creates the small, but intensifying vibrations that we all know from watching movies at the cinema. In addition, since the deep-bass frequencies reproduced by the sub-woofers are non-directional (as frequencies that are at or below the threshold of hearing). It is difficult to decipher the source of the sound, so when there is an earthquake we feel that it is happening al around us.
Though you are free to place the sub woofer anywhere in the room, you still have to consider the size of the room, the type of flooring it has, the furnishing fabrics and the construction of the wall to get optimum output from it. Typically, best placement for a sub-woofer is in the front of the room, just to the left or right of the main speakers. Used speakers cost far less of course. An excellent starter choice for speakers, if its within budget is the Canton movie CD-1 (now CD-101) which has a high quality, slimline aluminium construction that makes it a real eye-catcher.
