After all, promise is just not the identical as ship—and simply as with these soundbars that need to replicate the results of a encompass sound setup, it’s troublesome within the excessive to create a sensation of spatial audio with out the bodily tools obligatory.
For residence cinema, the phrases ‘spatial audio’ can confidently be swapped for ‘3D sound’. Not like a 5.1 or 7.1 encompass sound setup, which creates a circle of sound across the listener, a spatial audio system creates a dome, the place sound is delivered from above, in addition to from the entrance, sides and rear.
Think about your 7.1-channel system, and add 4 overhead audio system which have their very own discrete data contained inside the soundtrack. What you have got now’s a 7.1.4 system, and any content material that’s been blended particularly for a spatial audio system has a rare quantity of scope for the steering of results inside the dome of sound the system can create.
One of the simplest ways to realize a spatial audio impact from top channels is by exactly positioning audio system into the ceiling of your house cinema room. I hardly must inform you that’s is a comparatively sophisticated course of, and by no means what you could be tempted to name “low-cost.” That’s the reason plenty of loudspeaker manufacturers have developed upwards-firing modules which might be designed to sit down on high of a number of the speaker cupboards in your encompass sound setup, and mirror hold forth the ceiling in an effort to copy the impact of overhead audio system. It’s an identical technique to these spatial audio soundbars with drivers that face upwards—however clearly on a bigger scale.
Does Encompass Sound Truly Sound Higher?
For essentially the most devoted film followers, the reply right here is undoubtedly sure—should you select to spend money on a encompass sound setup, the sound that accompanies the films you watch will likely be fully remodeled. Whether or not it is best for you, your price range and your house is a really totally different query, and it is price weighing up the opposite choices for bettering your house cinema sound earlier than you make investments.
Encompass Sound vs Stereo Sound
Which is “higher” between encompass sound and stereo sound isn’t actually an absolute right here—it’s a bit like making an attempt to resolve which is best between apples or onions. It’s honest to say, although, that in case your main curiosity is in residence cinema quite than in music, a encompass sound setup goes to carry you far nearer to the aims of the filmmaker (and their sound designer) than a stereo various has a hope of doing.
All film soundtracks can have been blended to be delivered by a encompass sound setup, and that’s true whether or not you’re getting your film from a streaming service or through legacy media corresponding to 4K Blu-ray. There will likely be a stereo downmix accessible for these listening via a TV or stereo system, in fact, however the true intentions of a encompass sound combine will solely grow to be obvious if it’s heard via a encompass sound system.
Encompass Sound vs Soundbars
{Photograph}: Ryan Waniata
For anybody making an attempt to resolve between encompass sound and a soundbar, what’s finest will come all the way down to your price range and/or the house you have got—plus how a lot you actually watch motion pictures, and need the full-on residence cinema expertise. Sure, a soundbar is extra handy than a encompass sound setup, and it’s nearly definitely extra reasonably priced. However is it a encompass sound answer? You already know the reply to that one.
