Everything you need to know to choose the right SURROUND SOUND system and enjoy the riveting feel of Home Cinema
- Surround Sound soundbars
- Individual Home Cinema devices
- Speakers
There is nothing like the unique experience of a surround sound system.
From the virtual options offered by the sound bar, to the distinctive 5.1 channel surround, to the 11.2 channel systems, home cinema can be integrated in various ways at different price levels.
Whether you choose to complete it with a single device or combine a system, the sound of your favorite movies, sporting events, video games and high-definition concert videos will perfectly complement the image on your Home Cinema screen. After all, a good picture deserves an equally good sound.
Let's see what you need to know when you start with surround sound.
Surround Sound sound bars
The simplest and least expensive way to enjoy surround sound is to buy a sound bar that offers virtual and / or 3D (3D) surround options, such as DTS® Virtual: X ™, DTS: X ™ or Dolby Atmos®, all of which simulate audio effects that give you the feeling that the sound surrounds you, even giving you a sense of height. Audio bars are relatively inexpensive and since they can be mounted on the wall or under your TV, they take up very little space. Connectivity is also easy: All you need is a standard HDMI cable to connect the audio line directly to your TV. (Just make sure it supports the Audio Return Channel (ARC) function. If not, you can also connect the audio line via optical cable.)
If you need a model to get started and have limited space for surround sound, the ultra-compact line of the Yamaha SR-C20A Sound Bar is a great choice. At just 23 "long, the SR-C20A offers Dolby® 2D virtual surround sound, a built-in subwoofer and four surround functions to suit every mood and type.
The Yamaha YAS-109 also provides an easy way to enhance your audio experience. It has a built-in Alexa, along with a subwoofer for deep bass, as well as the ability to create virtual surround sound via DTS Virtual: X.
Do you like a very strong bass sound ? Think then of the Yamaha YAS-209. With a length of 36 ″ and many of the same features as the YAS-109, this sound bar / wireless subwoofer combination helps boost your bass in central action scenes, with the added benefit of flexibility for the su
Musiccast Bar 400
ΓTo take the soundbar experience one step further, take a look at the Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400. Like the YAS-209, it supports DTS Virtual: X as well as Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Airplay 2® and Spotify Connect. plus voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant or Siri® via AirPlay 2. It includes a wireless subwoofer and because it belongs to the MusicCast family, you can easily create a 5.1 channel home theater by adding a pair of Yamaha MusicCast 20 or MusicCast 50 wireless speakers.
Musiccast 50 & Musiccast 20
Individual devices
If you are a true audio lover, you will probably want to purchase individual devices so that you can create your own custom surround sound system. This is not as scary as it seems. The heart of any such system is an AV amplifier and the good news is that most current radio amplifiers can deliver a signal of at least 5.1 channels consisting of front left, center and right speakers as well as rear left and right speakers along with a subwoofer (this is the ".1" Channel, which consists of only low frequencies).
An excellent example of a very good level AV receiver is the Yamaha RX-V4A. It has a sleek, modern design and a host of features such as 5.2 channel audio and voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant or Siri via AirPlay 2, as well as full 4K Ultra HD HDMI support. Along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, the receiver includes MultiRoom MusicCast playback options.
Yamaha RX-V4A.
If you want to avoid wiring to the rear speakers, just add a pair of Yamaha MusicCast 20 or MusicCast 50 wireless speakers.
For those who want to experience the home theater beyond the five channels, they should start with a receiver that includes more speaker outputs. For example, to play mixed movies on Dolby Atmos, you need a receiver with outputs for at least seven speakers and two subwoofers, plus, for a more exciting experience, at least two "height" speakers (which can be ceiling).DTS: X has no formal requirements regarding the number of speakers (it adapts to what your system has), but the more speakers, the better the experience. The Yamaha RX-A8A offers 11.2 channel playback for Dolby Atmos and DTS: X encoded material. It also features Yamaha Surround: AI® technology for automatic real-time surround sound optimization. Like many other Yamaha AV receivers, the RX-V8A also offers 8K support as well as voice control, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and MusicCast.
YAMAHA RX-A8A
Speakers
After selecting the AV receiver, the next step is to select the speakers for the system. This choice is largely subjective, so listen as much as possible before making your final decision. Yamaha offers many good options for front and rear speakers, including the NS-333 shelf speakers (specially designed for home theater applications), or the NS-555 floor-standing speakers, which have a three-dimensional reflective bass design ideal for home cinema.
YAMAHA NS-333 & NS-555
The center channel normally carries dialog instead of music or background effects, so the speaker you choose to carry this dialog signal should ideally be designed for this purpose. A good choice is the Yamaha NS-C444, which incorporates a two-way audio suspension and a waveguide frame that allows sound waves to reach your ears without being reflected off the walls.
YAMAHA NS-C444
Finally, you will need to purchase at least one subwoofer (although, depending on the system configuration, sometimes two are required). This is a specialized speaker intended for a single job: to reproduce low frequencies in sounds such as explosions, battle scenes and car chases.
An excellent choice is the Yamaha NS-SW100 subwoofer, which features Advanced YST II (Yamaha Active Servo Technology II) for a stable and accurate response to all low frequencies, from the thunder of action movies to the low notes of a favorite music movie or live concert film.