Sound

Though often overlooked, sound is an important part of your home entertainment system. A properly set up sound system will help put you in the action of the movie without you even knowing that it is there. While a poor sound system can distract or annoy.

The most common setup for sound, and the most widely supported, is simple stereo. With stereo sound you have two speakers, left and right. This method is simple, easy to setup, and fairly budget friendly, but it doesn't produce the surround sound effect. Some higher end stereo speakers feature technology that simulates surround sound, though they are still are not as good as an actual surround sound system.

5.1 is the most common surround sound setup. This system is set up with 5 speakers and a sub-woofer. One speaker is in front of you then two to your sides, one to the left and the other to the right. The last two speakers set slightly behind you, one on the left and the other on the right. This set up allows for the sound to appear as if it is coming from all directions. 7.1 surround sound is also common and features two more speakers behind you. There are also a few other variations.

Ultimately, it is the source that determines how good your system will sound. For example, while most DVD players support 5.1 surround sound, not all DVDs have surround sound included on the disc.