Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
with your display? Watch your monitor; frequencies as high as 2KHz can interfere with your video
display. Move the speakers away from the monitor, and check the display again.
Theater and Surround Sound Considerations
If you're a serious gamer or movie lover, you won't be content with ordinary stereophonic sound.
Most sound cards and integrated audio now support up to 7.1 surround sound. For high-end use, you
may prefer to connect your PC's audio subsystem to a home theater system.
To ensure you get the sound you expect from four or more speakers, either directly connected to the
system or via a home theater amplifier, check the following:
• Use the properties sheet for your audio adapter to properly describe your speaker setup. This
includes selecting the number of speakers you are using, setting options for 3D environmental
audio and positional sound such as reverb, and setting up your subwoofer if present.
• Make sure you use the correct cabling between your speakers and audio adapter. If you are
planning to use analog or digital surround speaker setups, such as 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1, be sure
you use the correct SPDIF, analog, or HDMI connection and configuration. This varies from
audio adapter to audio adapter; check the vendor's website for details.
• Make sure you have placed your speakers correctly. In some cases you can adjust the audio
adapter's properties to improve sound quality, but you might need to move the speakers.
• Make sure you have connected your speakers to the proper jacks. Mixing up left and right or
front and rear causes poor sound quality.
• Select the correct setting in your amplifier configuration. If you are sending your computer's
audio signals to a home theater's amplifier, make sure you select the output option
corresponding to the input jacks you used. For example, many home theater amps have
selections for various types of devices. Be sure to select the correct input for BD playback,
DVD playback, or PC audio. The PC audio input you select depends upon whether you are
sending HDMI, SPDIF, or stereo signals to the amp.
The simplest audio configuration available today is stereo, which uses two speakers placed to
overlap sound. Most audio adapters now support at least four speakers, but depending on the audio
adapter, settings, and sound output options in the program, the rear speakers might simply mirror the
front speakers' output, or you might have four distinct sound streams.
Four-point surround sound uses four speakers plus a subwoofer to surround you with music and
gaming sound effects; the four speakers are placed around the listener, and the subwoofer is usually
placed near a wall or in the corner to amplify its low-frequency sound. The subwoofer in stereo or
four-point surround sound setups is not on a separate circuit but is controlled by the same signals sent
to the other speakers. A stereo speaker system with a subwoofer is often referred to as a
2.1 speaker
configuration
, and a four-point surround sound configuration with a subwoofer is often referred to as
a
4.1 speaker configuration
.
5.1 Surround sound uses five speakers plus a subwoofer. The fifth speaker is placed between the
front two speakers to fill in any missing sound caused by incorrect speaker placement. The subwoofer
is independently controlled. This is the preferred sound system for use with DVD movies. Most
lower-cost audio adapters lack support for 5.1 Surround sound.
Some of the latest sound cards and motherboards with integrated audio support 6.1 and 7.1 Surround
sound. The 6.1 configuration resembles the 5.1 Surround setup but adds a middle speaker along with
