| For the following sections, a distinction is made | | | | side left (L) and side right (R). |
| between the number of discrete channels encoded in | | | | One channel for both surround speakers at the rear - |
| the original signal, and the number of channels that are | | | | mono surround channel (S). |
| reproduced for playback; these can be added using | | | | One low-frequency channel using a sub-woofer (LFE). |
| matrix decoding. A distinction is also made between | | | | Describes the Dolby Digital EX discrete/matrixed |
| the number of channels reproduced for playback, and | | | | hybrid Surround system. Source media, usually DVD is |
| the number of speakers over which these channels | | | | often branded with "Dolby Digital EX" logo. |
| are played. Graphics to the right of each section | | | | Surround Sound speaker placement: (8 speakers in |
| represent the number of channels, not the number of | | | | total) Surround Sound speaker placement is different |
| speakers used. | | | | for both music and movie content. |
| Additionally, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 formats make use of | | | | For music speakers placement is unknown |
| bass management, which allows sound that is below | | | | For movie surround, the front speakers should be |
| the abilities of main channels (5.0 channels) to be | | | | placed at the edges of the screen, toed in to face the |
| redirected to the subwoofer, which is designed to | | | | central listening location, and the tweeters should be |
| handle that frequency range. There are notation | | | | ear height. The center speaker should be placed |
| differences between the pre-bass-managed signal and | | | | behind the screen (when using projection) or over or |
| once it has passed through bass manager. For | | | | under a tv, and as close to ear high as possible. Side |
| example, in 5.1, the channels are referred to as L(eft), | | | | channel speakers should be placed high on side walls, |
| R(ight), C(enter), L(ow )F(requency)E(effects), | | | | to the left and right of the listening position, equidistant |
| S(urround)L(eft), and S(urround)R(ight). However, once | | | | from the front speakers and the rear speakers. Rear |
| passing through the bass manager, they are referred | | | | channel speakers should be placed high on side walls, |
| to as L(eft), R(ight), C(enter), Sub(woofer), | | | | slightly behind the listening position, and should have a |
| S(urround)L(eft), and S(urround)R(ight). | | | | nomal hi quality monopolar construction. |
| 3.0 Channel Surround (analog matrixed: Surround) | | | | 6.1 Channel Surround (digital discrete: DTS-ES) |
| Extracts 3 audio channels from a stereo source: | | | | Delivers 6 audio channels and 1 LFE channel from a 7 |
| Two channels for speakers at the front - left (L) and | | | | channel source: |
| right (R). | | | | Two channels for speakers at the front - left (LF) and |
| One channel for surround speaker at the rear - | | | | right (RF). |
| surround (S). | | | | One channel for speaker at the center - center (C). |
| Describes the numerous matrixed pre Prologic | | | | Two channels for surround speakers at the sides - |
| Surround processors. | | | | side left (L) and side right (R). |
| Speaker placement: (3 speakers in total) Three | | | | One channel for both surround speakers at the rear - |
| identical speakers placed equidistant around a central | | | | mono surround channel (S). |
| listening position. | | | | One low-frequency channel using a sub-woofer (LFE). |
| 4.0 Channel Surround (analog matrixed: Quadraphonic) | | | | Describes the DTS ES discrete Surround system. |
| Extracts 4 audio channels from a stereo source: | | | | Source media, usually DVD is often branded with |
| Two channels for speakers at the front - left (L) and | | | | "DTS ES" logo. |
| right (R). | | | | Surround Sound speaker placement: (8 speakers in |
| Two channels for surround speakers at the rear - | | | | total) Surround Sound speaker placement is different |
| surround left (LS) and surround right (RS). | | | | for both music and movie content. |
| Describes the early matrixed Surround Quadraphonic, | | | | For music speakers placement is unknown |
| Quadraphonic Stereo system. Source media, usually | | | | For movie surround, the front speakers should be |
| records or tape is often branded 4 channel stereo. | | | | placed at the edges of the screen, toed in to face the |
| Speaker placement: (4 speakers in total) The front | | | | central listening location, and the tweeters should be |
| speakers should be placed at the edges of the screen, | | | | ear height. The center speaker should be placed |
| toed in to face the central listening location, and the | | | | behind the screen (when using projection) or over or |
| tweeters should be ear height. Rear channel speaker | | | | under a tv, and as close to ear high as possible. Side |
| should be placed high on the back wall, slightly behind | | | | channel speakers should be placed high on side walls, |
| the listening position, and can be of smaller size, due to | | | | to the left and right of the listening position, equidistant |
| the frequency limitations of the surround channel. | | | | from the front speakers and the rear speakers. Rear |
| 4.1 Channel Surround (analog matrixed: Dolby Prologic) | | | | channel speakers should be placed high on side walls, |
| Extracts 4 audio channels, and 1 LFE channel from a | | | | slightly behind the listening position, and should have a |
| stereo source: | | | | nomal hi quality monopolar construction. |
| Two channels for speakers at the front - left (L) and | | | | 7.1 Channel Surround (digital discrete: Dolby Digital Plus, |
| right (R). | | | | DTS-HD) |
| One channel for speaker at the center - center (C). | | | | Delivers 7 audio channels and 1 LFE channel from an 8 |
| One channel for both surround speakers at the rear - | | | | channel source: |
| mono surround channel (S). | | | | Two channels for speakers at the front - left (LF) and |
| One low-frequency channel using a sub-woofer (LFE). | | | | right (RF). |
| Describes the Dolby Prologic matrixed Surround | | | | One channel for speaker at the center - center (C). |
| system. Source media, usually VHS, Laserdisc or | | | | Two channels for surround speakers at the sides - |
| television broadcast, CableTV/Satellite is often | | | | side left (L) and side right (R). |
| branded with "Dolby Surround" logo. | | | | Two channels for surround speakers at the rear - |
| Surround Sound speaker placement: (6 speakers in | | | | surround left (LS) and surround right (RS). |
| total) The front speakers should be placed at the | | | | One low-frequency channel using a sub-woofer (LFE). |
| edges of the screen, toed in to face the central | | | | Describes the Dolby Digital Plus discrete Surround |
| listening location, and the tweeters should be ear height. | | | | system. Source media, usually HD-DVD and |
| The center speaker should be placed behind the | | | | sometimes Blu-Ray is often branded with "Dolby Digital |
| screen (when using projection) or over or under a tv, | | | | Plus" and/or DTS-HD logos. |
| and as close to ear high as possible. Rear channel | | | | Surround Sound speaker placement: (8 speakers in |
| speakers should be placed high on side walls, slightly | | | | total) Surround Sound speaker placement is different |
| behind the listening position, and should be of bi-pole | | | | for both music and movie content. |
| construction, due to the frequency limitations of the | | | | For music speakers placement is unknown |
| surround channel. | | | | For movie surround, the front speakers should be |
| 5.1 Channel Surround (analog matrixed: Dolby Prologic II) | | | | placed at the edges of the screen, toed in to face the |
| Extracts 5 audio channels and 1 LFE channel from a | | | | central listening location, and the tweeters should be |
| specially encoded stereo source: | | | | ear height. The center speaker should be placed |
| Two channels for speakers at the front - left (L) and | | | | behind the screen (when using projection) or over or |
| right (R). | | | | under a tv, and as close to ear high as possible. Side |
| One channel for speaker at the center - center (C). | | | | channel speakers should be placed high on side walls, |
| Two channels for surround speakers at the rear - | | | | to the left and right of the listening position, equidistant |
| surround left (LS) and surround right (RS). | | | | from the front speakers and the rear speakers. Rear |
| One low-frequency channel using a sub-woofer (LFE). | | | | channel speakers should be placed high on side walls, |
| Describes the Dolby Prologic II matrixed Surround | | | | slightly behind the listening position, and should have a |
| system. Source media, usually PS2 or Gamecube is | | | | nomal hi quality monopolar construction. |
| often branded with "Pro-Logic II" logo. | | | | 8 Channel Surround (digital discrete: Dolby Digital HD, |
| Surround Sound speaker placement: (5 speakers in | | | | DTS-HD Master Audio) |
| total) The front speakers should be placed at the | | | | Dolby Digital HD and DTS-HD Master Audio are |
| edges of the screen, toed in to face the central | | | | emerging 8 channel home surround systems currently |
| listening location, and the tweeters should be ear height. | | | | supported by HD-DVD and Blu-Ray DVD. Currently |
| The center speaker should be placed behind the | | | | there are no consumer receivers on the market |
| screen (when using projection) or over or under a tv, | | | | supporting either DD-HD or DTS-HD MA, supported |
| and as close to ear high as possible. Rear channel | | | | receivers may be released as soon as the first half of |
| speakers should be placed high on side walls, slightly | | | | 2007. It is not clear at this time whether these |
| behind the listening position, and should have a normal | | | | receivers will be 8 channels or 8.1 channels. |
| hi quality monopolar construction. | | | | Cinematic 8 channel audio is a commercial surround |
| 5.1 Channel Surround (digital discrete: Dolby Digital, DTS) | | | | sound standard that adds two speakers to the more |
| Delivers 5 audio channels and 1 LFE channel from a 6 | | | | conventional, and consumer-oriented 6-channel (5.1) |
| channel source: | | | | audio set-up. 8-channel positional audio utilizes the |
| Two channels for speakers at the front - left (L) and | | | | standard front, center, and LFE (bass) speaker |
| right (R). | | | | configuration, but in addition, includes two speakers |
| One channel for speaker at the center - center (C). | | | | positioned by the side and two by the backside. Using |
| Two channels for surround speakers at the rear - | | | | such a sound configuration, almost every angle of |
| surround left (LS) and surround right (RS). | | | | sound can, theoretically, be captured for a completely |
| One low-frequency channel using a sub-woofer (LFE). | | | | immersive experience. |
| Describes the Dolby Digital and DTS Surround | | | | But the 8-channel format has another, even more |
| systems. Source media, usually DVD and sometimes | | | | well-established tradition. The history of 'electronic |
| Laserdisc or satellite/digital cable is often branded with | | | | music' includes the evolution of multi-channel playback |
| "Dolby Digital" and/or DTS logos. | | | | in concert (arguably the real roots of 'surround sound' |
| DTS uses a higher sampling rate than Dolby Digital, | | | | for cinema) and for a considerable time the 8-channel |
| thus DTS uses less compression and achieves higher | | | | format was a de facto standard. This standardisation |
| fidelity than Dolby Digital. | | | | was fostered, in great measure, by the development |
| Surround Sound speaker placement: (6 speakers in | | | | of professional and semi-professional 8-track tape |
| total) Surround Sound speaker placement is different | | | | recorders - originally analog, but later manifesting in |
| for both music and movie content. | | | | proprietary cassette formats by Alesis and Tascam. |
| For music speakers are placed in a circle around the | | | | The speaker configuration, however, is much less |
| listener. The center channel has 0o offset, left and right | | | | traditional, and unlike cinematic reproduction systems, |
| are offset ± 30o, and the | | | | there is no hard-and-fast 'standard'. |
| left/right surrounds are offset by | | | | In fact, composers took (and to some extent still take) |
| ±110o. Also all speakers | | | | considerable interest in experimenting with speaker |
| should be monopole, equidistant to the listener, and all | | | | layouts. In these experiments, the goal is not limited to |
| delay (ms) calculations on the surround decoder should | | | | creating 'realistic' playback of believably natural sonic |
| be turned off (0ms). | | | | environments. Rather, the goals are frequently simply |
| For movie surround, the front speakers should be | | | | to experience and understand the effect created by |
| placed at the edges of the screen, toed in to face the | | | | variations on source and imaging. |
| central listening location, and the tweeters should be | | | | 10.2 Channel Surround |
| ear height. The center speaker should be placed | | | | 10.2 is the surround sound format developed by THX |
| behind the screen (when using projection) or over or | | | | creator Tomlinson Holman of TMH Labs and University |
| under a tv, and as close to ear high as possible. Rear | | | | of Southern California (schools of Cinema/Television |
| channel speakers should be placed high on side walls, | | | | and Engineering). Developed along with Chris |
| slightly behind the listening position, and should have a | | | | Kyriakakis of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, |
| nomal hi quality monopolar construction. | | | | 10.2 refers to the format's slogan: "Twice as good as |
| 6.1 Channel Surround (analog matrixed: Dolby Prologic | | | | 5.1". It has been touted as the audio equivalent of IMAX |
| IIx) | | | | - spectacle beyond what can be achieved by any |
| Extracts 6 audio channels and 1 LFE channel from a | | | | other format. |
| specially encoded stereo source: | | | | 10.2 augments the LS (left surround) and RS (right |
| Two channels for speakers at the front - left (LF) and | | | | surround) channels by two point surround channels that |
| right (RF). | | | | can more finely manipulate sound - allowing the mixer |
| One channel for speaker at the center - center (C). | | | | to shift sounds in a distinct |
| Two channels for surround speakers at the sides - | | | | 360° circle around the |
| side left (L) and side right (R). | | | | movie watcher. |
| One channel for both surround speakers at the rear - | | | | The 14 discrete channels are: |
| mono surround channel (S). | | | | Five front speakers: Left Wide, Left, Center, Right and |
| One low-frequency channel using a sub-woofer (LFE). | | | | Right Wide |
| Describes the Dolby Prologic IIx matrixed Surround | | | | Five surround channels: Left Surround Diffuse, Left |
| system. Source media is unknown. | | | | Surround Direct, Back Surround, Right Surround Diffuse |
| Surround Sound speaker placement: (8 speakers in | | | | and Right Surround Direct |
| total) Surround Sound speaker placement is different | | | | Two LFE channels: LFE Left, LFE Right |
| for both music and movie content. | | | | Two Height channels: Left Height, Right Height |
| For music speakers placement is unknown | | | | The .2 of the 10.2 refers to the addition of a second |
| For movie surround, the front speakers should be | | | | subwoofer. The system is bass managed such that all |
| placed at the edges of the screen, toed in to face the | | | | the speakers on the left side use the left sub and all |
| central listening location, and the tweeters should be | | | | the speakers on the right use the right sub. The Center |
| ear height. The center speaker should be placed | | | | and Back Surround speaker are split among the two |
| behind the screen (when using projection) or over or | | | | subs. The two subs also serve as two discrete LFE |
| under a tv, and as close to ear high as possible. Side | | | | (Low Frequency Effects) channels. Although low |
| channel speakers should be placed high on side walls, | | | | frequencies are not localizable, it was found that |
| to the left and right of the listening position, equidistant | | | | splitting the bass on either side of the audience |
| from the front speakers and the rear speakers. Rear | | | | increases the sense of envelopment. |
| channel speakers should be placed high on side walls, | | | | 22.2 Channel Surround |
| slightly behind the listening position, and should have a | | | | 22.2 is the surround sound component of Ultra High |
| nomal hi quality monopolar construction. | | | | Definition Video (Super Hi-vision TV with 4320 |
| 6.1 Channel Surround (digital discrete: Dolby Digital EX | | | | scanning lines), and has been developed by NHK |
| with a matrixed 6th channel) | | | | Science & Technical Research Laboratories. As its |
| Delivers 5 audio channels, 1 extracted audio channel | | | | name suggests, it uses 24 speakers. These are |
| and 1 LFE channel from a 6 channel source: | | | | arranged in three layers: A middle layers of ten |
| Two channels for speakers at the front - left (LF) and | | | | speakers, an upper layer of nine speakers, and a |
| right (RF). | | | | lower layer of three speakers and two sub-woofers. |
| One channel for speaker at the center - center (C). | | | | The system was demonstrated at Expo 2005, Aichi, |
| Two channels for surround speakers at the sides - | | | | Japan and the NAB 2006 conference, Las Vegas |