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