Getting more from your home theater requires a deep understanding of the importance of sound when enjoying a movie, music, or a game.
While it’s true that internal TV speakers and affordable soundbars can deliver satisfying results, they simply can’t replicate the cinematic experience most of us look for. That’s something only stereo and surround sound systems can do.
In this article, I’ll explain in detail the difference between stereo and surround sound, what they are and how these two approaches can enhance your movie-watching experience in different ways.
We’ll talk about the different configurations, and how you can make the most of your upgraded sound system.
Why you should trust me
I’ve worked in music and sound design for over a decade, and over time I developed an interest in audio technologies for home theaters.
I’ve had the chance to collaborate with many companies developing ground-breaking audio technologies, which means I know what the best surround systems in the market these days can deliver to viewers.
Contents
Use these links below to navigate to the desired section of the article.
- What is stereo sound?
- What is surround sound?
- What’s the difference between stereo and surround sound?
- What do surround sound numbers mean?
- The biggest surround sound technologies
- Frequently asked questions
What is stereo sound?
Stereo sound requires, as you might guess, two audio channels, one on the left and the other on the right side of the listener.
This method creates a three-dimensional experience that’s more realistic and immersive than mono.
There are two types of stereo sound: true or natural and artificial or ‘panned.’
True or natural stereo is a stereo sound captured using two microphones placed in different locations to replicate the way humans naturally perceive sound.
This is the best way to recreate an accurate replica of how human ears translate the spatial dimensions and depth of the original sound source.
Artificial or ‘panned’ stereo is created by enhancing mono recordings to give the illusion of stereo sound.
You can do so by moving sounds in the stereo field, giving a coherent sense of space and dimensionality to a composition.
The separation between the two channels, left (L) and right (R), brings to life a more natural and spacious sound field, which is a crucial characteristic of reproduced sound across all media.
What is surround sound?
Surround sound in movie theaters replicates the way we experience audio in real life by placing speakers in all directions and having them reproduce certain sounds to immerse the listener in a realistic soundscape.
In a surround sound system, each channel is dedicated to specific sounds: the central channel to dialogue, the left and right channels to the soundtrack and sound effects, and the subwoofer to lower frequencies.
To achieve a cinematic experience, sounds should come from where the sound source is in the movie: a car coming from the left side should be heard from that side, a gunshot from the right side, and so on.
Internal TV speakers and soundbars can create a limited sound spatiality, but if you want to get optimal results, you’ll need to have dedicated speakers for each channel and place them where the sound should come from.
What’s the difference between stereo and surround sound?
The differences between stereo and surround sound are mostly about the complexity of the setup and the realism in terms of sonic reproduction.
Stereo systems, with just two channels, offer a simple setup that’s usually enough for music listening (although surround mixes are becoming more and more popular).
A surround sound system has multiple channels that bring to life a more immersive and realistic soundscape. With sounds coming from all directions, the listener feels enveloped as if experiencing the music or action in real life.
An in-depth comparison
| Stereo sound | Surround sound | |
|---|---|---|
| General audio quality | Clear sound, ideal for music listening. | Immersive and realistic experience, great for movies and gaming. |
| What’s to like | Precise, easy to use and place in a room, usually more affordable. | Creates a 3D sound environment, immersing the listener in the action. |
| What’s not to like | Less immersive and spatially accurate than surround sound. | Complex setup, more expensive (usually), and requires more space. |
| Music listening | That’s how albums have been recorded for decades, so a stereo system is perfect for the task. | Unnecessary for most albums, except for those mixed for surround sound. |
| Movies/TV shows | Good audio experience but less immersive or detailed than with surround sound. | Perfect to enhance the cinematic experience with directional sound. |
| Gaming | Good audio experience but less immersive or detailed than with surround sound. | Ultra-realistic spatial awareness while gaming. |
| Audio production | It’s the standard for music production. | Widely used in the film/gaming industry as these fields require careful sound placement in 3D space. |
| Ease of setup | Quick, easy to install, and space-saving. | More complex and time-consuming. Careful speaker placement and calibration are necessary. |
| Cost | Generally more affordable. Fewer items to buy. | Can get very expensive. |
| System upgrade | Easy to upgrade incrementally. | Requires careful calibration whenever a new item is added to the system. |
| Space requirements | Requires less space and can be put anywhere. | Needs more space (almost a dedicated room) to find optimal placement. |
What do surround sound numbers mean?
If you started doing some research on building your surround system, you probably came across numbers like 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1, and more.
Understanding these numbers and what they mean is crucial if you want to understand how surround systems work and find the best solution for your home theater.
The first number in the sequence refers to the number of speakers: for example, a 2.1 system is a system with two speakers, one on the left and one on the right.
The second number is the number of subwoofers: you can have one, two, or even more if your home theater requires it.
In my experience, one subwoofer is enough to meet the demands of most home theaters, but if you feel lower frequencies are overshadowed, you can always place one on the opposite side of the room for an enveloping bass effect.
5.1 is a standard configuration and requires five speakers: left, right, center, left rear surround, right rear surround, and one subwoofer.
This is an excellent option for people who want to enhance the audio experience of their home theater without the hassles of an overcomplicated setup.
7.1 is similar to the 5.1 configuration, with the addition of two extra speakers placed on the viewer’s sides. In this way, you’ll have four speakers dedicated to surround effects instead of two, further enhancing the spatial dimension provided by your surround system.
You can create a sense of altitude by adding two more speakers on top of your left and right front speakers: this is called a 9.1 configuration, which adds a new dimension to the sound and makes it much more immersive compared to other configurations.
You might see a third number in the speakers’ configuration, like 5.1.2 or 7.1.2. The final number refers to the in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers, both of which can give you the sense of sound coming from above.
The in-ceiling speakers are placed inside the roof of your room dedicated to home theater, whereas upward-firing speakers are standing, directing the audio to the ceiling, which bounces back and reaches the viewer’s ears.
This is undoubtedly the best way to achieve the realistic sonic experience of cinemas.
The biggest surround sound technologies
It’s essential to understand how audio systems decode and interpret sounds coming from media sources, so let’s take a look at the most common surround sound technologies used in physical formats like DVDs and Blu-rays, as well as streaming platforms.
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is the original encoding technology that allowed a multi-channel audio experience.
Originally developed in the early 1990s for theaters, it’s still considered an industry standard for home theaters as it converts an audio signal into an efficient 5.1-channel, 16-bit/48 kHz format at 640 kbit/s.
Dolby Atmos
The evolution of Dolby Digital, Atmos upgrades the sense of spatiality by incorporating height channels, giving three-dimensionality to audio objects which can come at you from all directions.
This technological revolution allows an immersive, 360-degree audio experience in home entertainment systems.
DTS
DTS (Digital Theater Systems) is Dolby’s main rival and offers audio quality comparable to its most popular counterpart.
DTS-supported devices include the Xbox Series S and X, as well as many TVs and soundbars.
Most top AV receivers work with both technologies, so most likely, you won’t have to worry about compatibility.
DTS:X challenges the Dolby Atmos technology with similar three-dimensional audio but without the need for height speakers.
It’s hard to compare these two cutting-edge technologies, but I’d say that despite DTS’s higher bit rate, Dolby technology is most widely supported by home theater applications and cinemas, so if you have to choose, go for Dolby Atmos.
Frequently asked questions
Since I first started discussing surround sound here at Higher Hz, I’ve received numerous questions from readers. To help clarify things, here are the answers to the most commonly asked ones.
Does surround sound actually sound better than stereo?
It’s not about audio quality but how immersive you want your sound to be. Surround sound offers more immersive audio, whereas stereo provides a clearer and more straightforward listening experience.
Is surround sound really worth it?
If you want to enjoy movies and video games’ sound in the most realistic way, then yes, a surround sound system makes perfect sense. For music listeners, I don’t think it’ll make a huge difference.
Can I convert my stereo system to a surround system?
Yes, but you’ll need the right receiver. You can use the speakers of your stereo sound system, add satellite speakers, and connect them all through a dedicated surround sound receiver.
Can I use my existing stereo speakers in a surround sound setup?
Yes, stereo speakers can become the left and right channels of your surround sound setup.
Is it possible to get a surround sound experience with headphones?
Yes, some headphones come with virtual surround sound technology.
Do all movies and games support surround sound?
Almost all modern games and movies are optimized for surround sound.
Can I use a soundbar for surround sound?
Yes, some soundbars can simulate surround sound but are nowhere near as good as the real thing.
Can a small room accommodate a surround sound system?
You can have a surround sound system in any room, so long as you carefully calibrate the sound levels and find the perfect disposition for your speakers.
Final thoughts
I hope this guide helped you clarify the most crucial differences between a stereo and surround sound system.
Whichever option you choose, I recommend starting small, ensuring you’re buying audio gear that’s easy to upgrade, and gradually investing in better equipment as your desire for sonic clarity increases.
Options for good-quality stereo and surround systems are endless out there, so take your time to analyze your requirements and budget before investing in something you might not need.
Good luck!
