

It also facilitated the addition of a low-frequency effects channel, adding the.1 in 5.1, which is handled by a subwoofer.Īll of the information in Dolby Digital 5.1 is discrete for each channel no matrixing necessary.īy the time DVDs came out in 1997, Dolby Digital had become the default surround sound format. This format improved on Pro-Logic in that it allowed for stereo surround speakers that could provide higher bandwidth sound. One of the advantages of LaserDisc (LD) is that it provided a lot more storage space than VHS tape.ĭolby took advantage of this and created AC-3, now known better as Dolby Digital.

The surround channels in basic Pro Logic were not in stereo and had limited bandwidth. 7.1 Dts Decoder Program Code Two Extraĭolby was able to allow home audio devices to decode two extra channels of sound from media like VHS tapes, which fed the center channel and surround speakers with audio.īecause of the limited space, matrixed surround signals came with some limitations. This approach was the basis for early surround-sound formats like Dolby Surround and Dolby Pro Logic and was motivated in part by the limited space for discrete information on early audio-video media, such as the VHS tape. In this case, matrix refers to the encoding of separate sound signals within a stereo source. Well be adding more speakers later (lots more, actually), but for now, we can use this basic five-speaker arrangement as a springboard for getting into the different formats. The next step up involves the addition of a center channel: A speaker placed between the front left and right speakers that is primarily responsible for reproducing dialogue in movies. Our detailed guide aims to provide a little clarity to help you on your surround-sound quest.

With so many options, though, the technology remains confusing for many.įrom basic 5.1 to Dolby Atmos setups with multiple overhead speakers, its a lot to wrap your head around. Since then, Dolby, DTS, and others have helped advance the state of home surround sound with a variety of iterations. In 1982, Dolby Laboratories introduced Dolby Surround, a technology that piggybacked a surround sound signal onto a stereo source through a process called matrix encoding. Unfortunately, Quadraphonic sound, which provided discrete sound from four speakers placed in each corner of a room, was confusing and short-lived no thanks to companies battling over formats (sound familiar).
