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| The Mission Elegante e82 in its natural habitat
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If you're looking to recreate the involving sonic thrills of the cinema in the comfort of your front room a surround speaker system is a must. Surround speakers come in all shapes and sizes, performance is improving all the time and a decent system will bring the rest of your home cinema equipment to life.
The most popular set up follows a 5.1 configuration and most DVD films with surround formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS carry six separate channels of audio corresponding to the six speakers in a 5.1 set up.
Types of speakers
Front speakers should be positioned about a foot either side of your screen. They're responsible for the lion's share of audio effects, handling a varied selection of sounds across a wide frequency range. And if music is as important to you as movies, a good front pair will do justice to both. If you already own a good pair of stereo speakers you may choose to build your system around these.
Equally as important is the centre channel, which should be placed beneath the screen if possible - they're always magnetically shielded and using Blu-tack to support the speaker helps control cabinet resonations. All dialogue is directed through this channel so it needs a neutral response to sound as natural as possible - avoid speakers with a prominent midrange as they can leave vocals sounding nasal.
Rear speakers sound best when wall-mounted above and behind you at either side of your listening position. They're responsible for ambience-inducing sound effects and don't necessarily need a wide frequency response, but you shouldn't compromise on quality. Many action films use robust rear effects and your speakers need to be able to handle them - models with 89dB/1W/1M are ideal and won't be drowned out by the other speakers. Some rear channels, especially in full-size packages, use bi-polar or di-polar (http://www.avreview.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=147&v=1&sp=) designs that fire sound in different directions to enhance the sense of spaciousness through reflections.
Last but not least is the subwoofer, which puts the '.1' (point one) into a 5.1 set-up. Subs provide the bass frequencies between 20Hz and 100Hz using their own dedicated channel. Active models with their own amplification and filter network work best. And, since bass frequencies are generally directionless, they can be positioned almost anywhere.
Additionally, you can upgrade to an advanced set-up. Surround formats such as DTS ES incorporate one or two additional centre rear speakers in 6.1 and 7.1 configurations that allow sound effects to pan more smoothly. Remember to keep an eye on possible future upgrade options when you buy.
Separates or package?
You can build your speaker system up piece by piece, starting with the front channels and upgrading as you go, perhaps even using different branded speakers for different channels. The right combinations can produce outstanding performance but you'll need to make sure that the 'sound' of your separates speakers 'matches' each another. Any inconsistencies in tonal balance will leave one speaker overpowering the other, spoiling the overall soundtrack.
Alternatively, you can plump for a surround speaker package from a single manufacturer. Packages use similar constructions and drive technology that should guarantee tonal consistency, although that's not always the case, and they also offer a homogenous sense of style.
Size matters
Aside from how much you can afford to spend on your system you need to decide what your room can actually accommodate. Smaller-sized rooms are more suited to compact speaker packages. They're easier to use, more affordable and often desirable as they're so discrete - especially if your other half refuses to litter the lounge with several oversized cabinets. For this reason, sub-sat packages are among home cinema's biggest sellers.
The latest compact designs offer greatly improved performance with far fewer compromises between style and substance. The inconspicuous size of the satellites is made possible as subwoofers mean low frequencies no longer rely on large cabinets - setting the speaker size to small on your receiver redirects bass to the sub. The similarly designed speakers offer tonal consistency, superb integration and enough power to satisfy a small room so you can free up space without sacrificing sound quality. And the tiny-shiny aesthetics afford plenty of lifestyle appeal too.
But, if you're serious about surround sound, and have the space and courage, then nothing comes closer to a cinematic experience than a big screen flanked by a full-size speaker package. They are more expensive and you'll need a large room to appreciate the audio advantages but full-size systems dwarf their smaller siblings both physically and sonically. Large cabinets carry a greater range of frequencies and are less dependent on the subwoofer, producing a less strained, better integrated overall delivery. And, as 'true' 5.1 formats like Dolby Digital and DTS require a full bandwidth from 'all channels' there's no need for compromise. Stereo music will also sound better via the floorstanding front speakers.
Trust Your Ears
Once you've decided on size and budget it's essential that you listen to the speakers in action before you part with any cash. Find a good dealer who knows what they're talking about and can give you a listening demonstration - you may be able to get better deals online or by mail order without hearing the product, but there's simply no substitute for listening.
Do your research, take advice and shop around but trust your own ears as sound is often down to personal preferences. Your choice shouldn't be dictated by price but if you can't hear the difference between a budget and more expensive system, go for the budget one. And don't forget accessories, cables and stands can greatly improve the performance of your entire system - you should budget for around ten percent of your total system on peripherals.
Three to try
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| Wharfedale Diamond 9 HCP
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A good, budget, compact sized speaker package will set you back between around £500-£800. Try:
Wharfedale Diamond 9 HCP
Price comparison:
Wharfedale Diamond 9 HCP
www.wharfedale.co.uk
Excellent balance with a crisp, coherent sound and an outstanding subwoofer for a very competitive price.
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| Quad L Series
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At the midrange price point you'll be looking to spend between £1,000-£2,000 for a top-of-the-range compact system or decent full-size system. And there are few better than:
Quad L Series
Price comparison:
Quad L Series
Beautifully finished and superb sounding in every area, one of the best sounding systems at any price point.
And, if money is no option you can spend £3,000 upwards on a high-end system such as:
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| Mission Elegante e82
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Mission Elegante e82
Price comparison:
Mission Elegante e82
www.mission.co.uk
Seven channels offering state-of-the-art sound quality all finished in a beautiful black gloss.
