Surround Sound

Should I Opt for a Dolby Digital Receiver?

Absolutely. Dolby Digital sound (also known as AC-3) is divided into six discrete channels: left and right front, center, left and right surround, and a low frequency subwoofer channel. Dolby Digital produces startlingly realistic theater audio, from crisp dialog to thrilling sound effects and lifelike ambient sound from DVDs. At the moment, only DVDs have the storage capacity needed for Dolby Digital. A new generation of satellite dish systems also offers Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.

Receivers with built-in Dolby Digital decoders have all you need to produce digital sound. "Dolby Digital ready" receivers feature inputs for connecting to an external Dolby Digital decoder. Some DVD players feature a built-in Dolby Digital decoder—but it will only decode DVDs, not signals from other sources. If you want to use a Dolby Digital 5.1 satellite system, for example, the digital decoder in your DVD player won't help you. You'll need a receiver with a Dolby Digital decoder built in.

To play Dolby Digital surround sound, you'll want to add a powered subwoofer to the five speakers required for surround sound. The powered subwoofer provides super-deep bass to add terrific impact, realism, and excitement to the movie viewing experience.

Today, virtually all DVDs are encoded with Dolby Digital sound. And some of the new satellite dish systems also offer Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Regular videotapes are not Dolby Digital encoded, nor are broadcast or cable television. But in the future, TV broadcasts, and even your local cable company may provide Dolby Digital sound.

What Do I Need to Build a Surround Sound System?
Getting True Surround Sound in a Home Theater System
Dolby Digital Receivers
Dolby Digital vs. DTS Home Theater Systems
Should I choose a DVD Player for my Surround Sound System?
What if I have More Questions about Surround Sound?




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