What it is
A lot has happened over the past year or so. Originally, this section simply introduced surround sound systems. Today, we have many new sound formats and even the addition of DVD audio.

Click here to skip the basics.

The components in a basic surround system include:

• A surround receiver - To decode the information and amplify for the 5 speakers.
• A center channel speaker - This is where the majority of the dialog comes from.
• A pair of front main speakers
• A pair of surround speakers - This is where you get the surround effects.
• A subwoofer - Preferably a powered sub to reproduce low bass that you can feel.

New Sound Formats:

Today's surround sound decoders include many new sound formats. First and most significant was the switch to Digital. This began with the introduction of Dolby Digital.

Dolby Digital brought a stereo signal to the rear speakers, full frequency to all of the speakers and a separate subwoofer channel. This was a huge change, now the sound traveled diagonally about the screen and you theater room, plus you hear lower frequencies such as gun shots and explosions from the rears and center. This format was designed by Dolby Labs, the same company who brought us Dolby Surround Sound.

Immediately following Dolby Digital, came the DTS format. This was introduced by Digital Theater Systems, Inc. DTS is basically the same as Dolby Digital, except it uses less compression, making it a bit cleaner sounding.

The catch with these Digital formats, is that they are only available on DVD or some DSS channels. The next and latest formats are Digital-EX and DTS-ES.

This new technology adds an extra surround channel for an even more exciting, enveloping surround-sound effect. This is accomplished by the addition of one or two surround back channels and a processor to decode the soundtrack from specific DVD media.

Our showroom includes a DTS-ES surround Theater. Click here for a virtual walkthrough.

DVD-Audio:

Just when you thought they had every sound format, they introduced DVD-Audio. This is very cool. Now you can get the same sound from music as you have with video. What they did was remaster plain old CDs into a DTS format. So now you can hear the crowd cheering behind you, or the guitarist playing right next to you. It's amazing and it plays on standard Digital or DTS equipment.