Home Theater Speakers: Understanding the Bass

We all know what bass can do to a moviesub. An active sub has a separate power supply. This
soundtrack. It can create drama, danger, even a feelingmeans that the signal received from the amplifier
of strength depending on the visuals that go along withreceiver is enhanced by the subwoofer itself, without
it. Bass is one of the most important elements of anytaking any of the power from the other speakers.
audio format because it provides balance and contrastOnce you have your home theater subwoofer and
to the overall score of a movie, television show, evenother speakers picked out, lay them out to get the
commercial. Quality bass in a sound system isbest sound from each. Bass sound is omni-directional,
impressive while not being overpowering.meaning that it goes out from the speaker in all
In a 5.1 surround sound system, one of the mostdirection. To decide where to place the subwoofer, put
common for home theater installations, the '.1' is theit in the same position that you will be sitting in, whether
bass. The speaker for the bass sounds on ait is on the couch facing the television screen or in a
soundtrack is called a subwoofer. Lower frequencyhome theater chair. Turn on a favorite film then move
sound waves use a larger diaphragm to move thearound your room and listen. Find the spot that the
amount of air it takes to make these sounds. Whilebass sounds best and move your subwoofer to that
smaller speakers can produce these lower frequencylocation. It can be set on the ground, on a shelf or off
waves, they typically cannot produce the kind ofof a wall depending on where you feel the best low
quality that one would expect from a quality theater.tone sound is heard. Since the sounds are going out
Smaller speakers can often sound tinny when trying toand bouncing around the room in roughly the same
produce these lower sounds. Large home theatredirection, the sound should be great when you get it
speaker towers are capable of handling this part ofinto place.
the soundtrack though it may require the reduction ofWe've all heard the laments of mothers and fathers
sound quality from the mid and high range frequencyforced to deal with the incessant thumping and
speakers.pounding of boom box bass lines from their
Choosing a good sound system with a quality bassadolescent's car or room. There is something to say
speaker is not impossible, even for people who do notfor the potential for this phenomenon to occur in a
have a lot of experience. First, start with thehome theater as well. While walls, ceiling and floor will
subwoofer. Homeowners will need to considergenerally block high sound frequencies from leaving the
whether they require a passive sub or an activeroom, they can actually increase the volume of the
woofer. A passive subwoofer does not need alower range sounds. While laying out your speakers,
separate power supply. Rather it uses power from thetry to also find the right volume balance for all
same amp that is driving the other home theatrefrequencies that your family can enjoy the sound
speakers. Volume from the amplifier can usually bequality a bass can provide without driving your
controlled, there is less control overall with a passiveneighbors crazy.