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Surround sound specifications

For the following sections, acenter (C).
distinction is made between the numberTwo channels for surround speakers at
of discrete channels encoded in thethe sides - side left (L) and side right
original signal, and the number of(R).
channels that are reproduced forOne channel for both surround speakers
playback; these can be added usingat the rear - mono surround channel (S).
matrix decoding. A distinction is also
made between the number of channelsOne low-frequency channel using a
reproduced for playback, and the numbersub-woofer (LFE).
of speakers over which these channelsDescribes the Dolby Digital EX discrete
are played. Graphics to the right ofmatrixed hybrid Surround system. Source
each section represent the number ofmedia, usually DVD is often branded with
channels, not the number of speakers"Dolby Digital EX" logo.
used.Surround Sound speaker placement: (8
Additionally, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1speakers in total) Surround Sound
formats make use of bass management,speaker placement is different for both
which allows sound that is below themusic and movie content.
abilities of main channels (5.0For music speakers placement is unknown
channels) to be redirected to theFor movie surround, the front speakers
subwoofer, which is designed to handleshould be placed at the edges of the
that frequency range. There are notationscreen, toed in to face the central
differences between the pre-bass-managedlistening location, and the tweeters
signal and once it has passed throughshould be ear height. The center speaker
bass manager. For example, in 5.1, theshould be placed behind the screen (when
channels are referred to as L(eft),using projection) or over or under a tv,
R(ight), C(enter), L(owand as close to ear high as possible.
)F(requency)E(effects),Side channel speakers should be placed
S(urround)L(eft), and S(urround)R(ight).high on side walls, to the left and
However, once passing through the bassright of the listening position,
manager, they are referred to as L(eft),equidistant from the front speakers and
R(ight), C(enter), Sub(woofer),the rear speakers. Rear channel speakers
S(urround)L(eft), and S(urround)R(ight).should be placed high on side walls,
3.0 Channel Surround (analog matrixed:slightly behind the listening position,
Surround)and should have a nomal hi quality
Extracts 3 audio channels from a stereomonopolar construction.
source:6.1 Channel Surround (digital discrete:
Two channels for speakers at the front -DTS-ES)
left (L) and right (R).Delivers 6 audio channels and 1 LFE
One channel for surround speaker at thechannel from a 7 channel source:
rear - surround (S).Two channels for speakers at the front -
Describes the numerous matrixed preleft (LF) and right (RF).
Prologic Surround processors.One channel for speaker at the center -
Speaker placement: (3 speakers in total)center (C).
Three identical speakers placedTwo channels for surround speakers at
equidistant around a central listeningthe sides - side left (L) and side right
position.(R).
4.0 Channel Surround (analog matrixed:One channel for both surround speakers
Quadraphonic)at the rear - mono surround channel (S).
Extracts 4 audio channels from a stereo
source:One low-frequency channel using a
Two channels for speakers at the front -sub-woofer (LFE).
left (L) and right (R).Describes the DTS ES discrete Surround
Two channels for surround speakers atsystem. Source media, usually DVD is
the rear - surround left (LS) andoften branded with "DTS ES" logo.
surround right (RS).Surround Sound speaker placement: (8
Describes the early matrixed Surroundspeakers in total) Surround Sound
Quadraphonic, Quadraphonic Stereospeaker placement is different for both
system. Source media, usually records ormusic and movie content.
tape is often branded 4 channel stereo.For music speakers placement is unknown
Speaker placement: (4 speakers in total)For movie surround, the front speakers
The front speakers should be placed atshould be placed at the edges of the
the edges of the screen, toed in to facescreen, toed in to face the central
the central listening location, and thelistening location, and the tweeters
tweeters should be ear height. Rearshould be ear height. The center speaker
channel speaker should be placed high onshould be placed behind the screen (when
the back wall, slightly behind theusing projection) or over or under a tv,
listening position, and can be ofand as close to ear high as possible.
smaller size, due to the frequencySide channel speakers should be placed
limitations of the surround channel.high on side walls, to the left and
4.1 Channel Surround (analog matrixed:right of the listening position,
Dolby Prologic)equidistant from the front speakers and
Extracts 4 audio channels, and 1 LFEthe rear speakers. Rear channel speakers
channel from a stereo source:should be placed high on side walls,
Two channels for speakers at the front -slightly behind the listening position,
left (L) and right (R).and should have a nomal hi quality
One channel for speaker at the center -monopolar construction.
center (C).7.1 Channel Surround (digital discrete:
One channel for both surround speakersDolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD)
at the rear - mono surround channel (S).Delivers 7 audio channels and 1 LFE
channel from an 8 channel source:
One low-frequency channel using aTwo channels for speakers at the front -
sub-woofer (LFE).left (LF) and right (RF).
Describes the Dolby Prologic matrixedOne channel for speaker at the center -
Surround system. Source media, usuallycenter (C).
VHS, Laserdisc or television broadcast,Two channels for surround speakers at
CableTV/Satellite is often branded withthe sides - side left (L) and side right
"Dolby Surround" logo.(R).
Surround Sound speaker placement: (6Two channels for surround speakers at
speakers in total) The front speakersthe rear - surround left (LS) and
should be placed at the edges of thesurround right (RS).
screen, toed in to face the centralOne low-frequency channel using a
listening location, and the tweeterssub-woofer (LFE).
should be ear height. The center speakerDescribes the Dolby Digital Plus
should be placed behind the screen (whendiscrete Surround system. Source media,
using projection) or over or under a tv,usually HD-DVD and sometimes Blu-Ray is
and as close to ear high as possible.often branded with "Dolby Digital Plus"
Rear channel speakers should be placedand/or DTS-HD logos.
high on side walls, slightly behind theSurround Sound speaker placement: (8
listening position, and should be ofspeakers in total) Surround Sound
bi-pole construction, due to thespeaker placement is different for both
frequency limitations of the surroundmusic and movie content.
channel.For music speakers placement is unknown
5.1 Channel Surround (analog matrixed:For movie surround, the front speakers
Dolby Prologic II)should be placed at the edges of the
Extracts 5 audio channels and 1 LFEscreen, toed in to face the central
channel from a specially encoded stereolistening location, and the tweeters
source:should be ear height. The center speaker
Two channels for speakers at the front -should be placed behind the screen (when
left (L) and right (R).using projection) or over or under a tv,
One channel for speaker at the center -and as close to ear high as possible.
center (C).Side channel speakers should be placed
Two channels for surround speakers athigh on side walls, to the left and
the rear - surround left (LS) andright of the listening position,
surround right (RS).equidistant from the front speakers and
One low-frequency channel using athe rear speakers. Rear channel speakers
sub-woofer (LFE).should be placed high on side walls,
Describes the Dolby Prologic II matrixedslightly behind the listening position,
Surround system. Source media, usuallyand should have a nomal hi quality
PS2 or Gamecube is often branded withmonopolar construction.
"Pro-Logic II" logo.8 Channel Surround (digital discrete:
Surround Sound speaker placement: (5Dolby Digital HD, DTS-HD Master Audio)
speakers in total) The front speakersDolby Digital HD and DTS-HD Master Audio
should be placed at the edges of theare emerging 8 channel home surround
screen, toed in to face the centralsystems currently supported by HD-DVD
listening location, and the tweetersand Blu-Ray DVD. Currently there are no
should be ear height. The center speakerconsumer receivers on the market
should be placed behind the screen (whensupporting either DD-HD or DTS-HD MA,
using projection) or over or under a tv,supported receivers may be released as
and as close to ear high as possible.soon as the first half of 2007. It is
Rear channel speakers should be placednot clear at this time whether these
high on side walls, slightly behind thereceivers will be 8 channels or 8.1
listening position, and should have achannels.
normal hi quality monopolarCinematic 8 channel audio is a
construction.commercial surround sound standard that
5.1 Channel Surround (digital discrete:adds two speakers to the more
Dolby Digital, DTS)conventional, and consumer-oriented
Delivers 5 audio channels and 1 LFE6-channel (5.1) audio set-up. 8-channel
channel from a 6 channel source:positional audio utilizes the standard
Two channels for speakers at the front -front, center, and LFE (bass) speaker
left (L) and right (R).configuration, but in addition, includes
One channel for speaker at the center -two speakers positioned by the side and
center (C).two by the backside. Using such a sound
Two channels for surround speakers atconfiguration, almost every angle of
the rear - surround left (LS) andsound can, theoretically, be captured
surround right (RS).for a completely immersive experience.
One low-frequency channel using aBut the 8-channel format has another,
sub-woofer (LFE).even more well-established tradition.
Describes the Dolby Digital and DTSThe history of 'electronic music'
Surround systems. Source media, usuallyincludes the evolution of multi-channel
DVD and sometimes Laserdisc or satelliteplayback in concert (arguably the real
digital cable is often branded withroots of 'surround sound' for cinema)
"Dolby Digital" and/or DTS logos.and for a considerable time the
DTS uses a higher sampling rate than8-channel format was a de facto
Dolby Digital, thus DTS uses lessstandard. This standardisation was
compression and achieves higher fidelityfostered, in great measure, by the
than Dolby Digital.development of professional and
Surround Sound speaker placement: (6semi-professional 8-track tape recorders
speakers in total) Surround Sound- originally analog, but later
speaker placement is different for bothmanifesting in proprietary cassette
music and movie content.formats by Alesis and Tascam. The
For music speakers are placed in aspeaker configuration, however, is much
circle around the listener. The centerless traditional, and unlike cinematic
channel has 0o offset, left and rightreproduction systems, there is no
are offset ± 30o, and the lefthard-and-fast 'standard'.
right surrounds are offset byIn fact, composers took (and to some
±110o. Also all speakers shouldextent still take) considerable interest
be monopole, equidistant to thein experimenting with speaker layouts.
listener, and all delay (ms)In these experiments, the goal is not
calculations on the surround decoderlimited to creating 'realistic' playback
should be turned off (0ms).of believably natural sonic
For movie surround, the front speakersenvironments. Rather, the goals are
should be placed at the edges of thefrequently simply to experience and
screen, toed in to face the centralunderstand the effect created by
listening location, and the tweetersvariations on source and imaging.
should be ear height. The center speaker10.2 Channel Surround
should be placed behind the screen (when10.2 is the surround sound format
using projection) or over or under a tv,developed by THX creator Tomlinson
and as close to ear high as possible.Holman of TMH Labs and University of
Rear channel speakers should be placedSouthern California (schools of Cinema
high on side walls, slightly behind theTelevision and Engineering). Developed
listening position, and should have aalong with Chris Kyriakakis of the USC
nomal hi quality monopolar construction.Viterbi School of Engineering, 10.2
6.1 Channel Surround (analog matrixed:refers to the format's slogan: "Twice as
Dolby Prologic IIx)good as 5.1". It has been touted as the
Extracts 6 audio channels and 1 LFEaudio equivalent of IMAX - spectacle
channel from a specially encoded stereobeyond what can be achieved by any other
source:format.
Two channels for speakers at the front -10.2 augments the LS (left surround) and
left (LF) and right (RF).RS (right surround) channels by two
One channel for speaker at the center -point surround channels that can more
center (C).finely manipulate sound - allowing the
Two channels for surround speakers atmixer to shift sounds in a distinct
the sides - side left (L) and side right360° circle around the movie
(R).watcher.
One channel for both surround speakersThe 14 discrete channels are:
at the rear - mono surround channel (S).Five front speakers: Left Wide, Left,
Center, Right and Right Wide
One low-frequency channel using aFive surround channels: Left Surround
sub-woofer (LFE).Diffuse, Left Surround Direct, Back
Describes the Dolby Prologic IIxSurround, Right Surround Diffuse and
matrixed Surround system. Source mediaRight Surround Direct
is unknown.Two LFE channels: LFE Left, LFE Right
Surround Sound speaker placement: (8Two Height channels: Left Height, Right
speakers in total) Surround SoundHeight
speaker placement is different for bothThe .2 of the 10.2 refers to the
music and movie content.addition of a second subwoofer. The
For music speakers placement is unknownsystem is bass managed such that all the
For movie surround, the front speakersspeakers on the left side use the left
should be placed at the edges of thesub and all the speakers on the right
screen, toed in to face the centraluse the right sub. The Center and Back
listening location, and the tweetersSurround speaker are split among the two
should be ear height. The center speakersubs. The two subs also serve as two
should be placed behind the screen (whendiscrete LFE (Low Frequency Effects)
using projection) or over or under a tv,channels. Although low frequencies are
and as close to ear high as possible.not localizable, it was found that
Side channel speakers should be placedsplitting the bass on either side of the
high on side walls, to the left andaudience increases the sense of
right of the listening position,envelopment.
equidistant from the front speakers and22.2 Channel Surround
the rear speakers. Rear channel speakers22.2 is the surround sound component of
should be placed high on side walls,Ultra High Definition Video (Super
slightly behind the listening position,Hi-vision TV with 4320 scanning lines),
and should have a nomal hi qualityand has been developed by NHK Science &
monopolar construction.Technical Research Laboratories. As its
6.1 Channel Surround (digital discrete:name suggests, it uses 24 speakers.
Dolby Digital EX with a matrixed 6thThese are arranged in three layers: A
channel)middle layers of ten speakers, an upper
Delivers 5 audio channels, 1 extractedlayer of nine speakers, and a lower
audio channel and 1 LFE channel from a 6layer of three speakers and two
channel source:sub-woofers. The system was demonstrated
Two channels for speakers at the front -at Expo 2005, Aichi, Japan and the NAB
left (LF) and right (RF).2006 conference, Las Vegas
One channel for speaker at the center -



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