Installing and Setting Up Your Home Cinema’s Surround Sound System

Going to the cinema is a special experience for movie buffs. Almost nothing in the world lights up their mood like watching a new movie by their favourite arthouse director on the golden screen. And it doesn’t have to be just arthouse movies.

Watching your favourite action blockbuster on the large screen is a spectacle too. Try to remember watching your favourite action blockbuster in a commercial theatre. Perhaps, it was one of the Avengers movies, or maybe it was Daniel Craig’s James Bond. Regardless of the movie, try thinking about what made the experience memorable. The answer’s likely straightforward. It was a mixture of a premium commercial-grade projector and the right surround sound system.    

Unfortunately, the last few years haven’t been too kind for you if you’re a cinema buff. The movie and commercial theatre industries have been in disarray because COVID-19 significantly impacted business.

For instance, statistics show that cinema admissions in the UK dropped considerably during COVID-19. Commercial theatres sold 176 million tickets in 2019. But, they only sold 44 million tickets in 2020 and 74 million in 2021.

Many perceptive cinemagoers realised that COVID-19 would have disastrous effects on the cinema industry. As a result, they prepared by building home theatres.

Homeowners often spend hefty sums on projectors, projector lifts, and seating. However, they make a critical mistake. They overlook the importance of a quality sound system. But can you imagine watching your favourite Christopher Nolan movie without Hans Zimmer’s epic soundtrack blaring through the speakers around you? It’s a movie buff’s worst nightmare.

Investing in a quality sound system for your home theatre setup is crucial. However, doing so is easier said than done. This blog post will help you set up a high-quality sound system for your needs.

Setting Up Your Home Theatre’s Sound System

Here’s what you need to know about setting up your home theatre’s sound system:

Focus on Surround Sound

Surround sound uses multiple audio channels and speakers to reproduce audio, resulting in more realistic sounds and noises than a two-channel stereo setup. You must choose between three popular configurations. These include 5.1, 7.1, and 9.1 surround sound. The numbers might seem confusing, but the ones before the decimal point represent the standard speaker units needed for these configurations. Therefore, you’ll need five speaker units for a 5.1 surround sound configuration and seven for a 7.1 surround sound configuration. The second number after the decimal point represents the number of low-frequency channels.

Most home theatre setups use a 5.1 surround sound setup. Dolby Atmos technology is the leading surround sound technology on the market, and you’ll need in-ceiling speakers for accurate audio reproduction when using it.  

Install In-ceiling Speakers for Accurate Audio Reproduction

Since overhead speakers pair well with Dolby Atmos technology, consider installing in-ceiling speakers in your home theatre. Various companies make in-ceiling speakers, including KEF and ATON.

The ATON A82C in-ceiling speaker is part of the company’s Storm series. It features pivoting tweeters, ensuring excellent off-axis frequency response. ATON tested the speakers with professional musicians in their sound labs, meaning these speakers will provide exceptional audio quality for all your needs. Another excellent option is the ATON A62ST stereo Ceiling speaker, also part of ATON’s Storm series. Alternatively, you can opt for the KEF Ci130CR flush-fit speaker or KEF Ci180.QR flush-fit speaker.

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