HD-audio - Blu-rays.se - Your guide to High Definintion

Audio formats

The sound on a Blu-ray disc is available in several different multi-channel digital audio formats, which all have one thing in common, the system reproduces sound in a way that makes you feel like you're in the middle of the action. In order to transfer the audio from the disc to your speakers, whether you want a 5.1 or 7.1 sound, requires a sound system that supports these formats. Either a complete home theater package, or a system that you build with separate components.

5.1 / 7.1 represents the number of separate audio channels in the audio track. For each channel, you can connect one or more speakers. A 5.1 system consists of right & left front channel, center channel, 2 rear channels and a channel for the really low frequenzy, hence the "5.1" a 7.1 system, in addition to the other audio channels,has 2 extra rear channels. (see further down the film for demonstration)

The most common audio formats are: PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus,
DTS-HD High Resolution, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD
(see wiki for more info about formats)

Connection to Blu-ray player

There are several ways to connect a Blu-ray player or set top box to your sound system.

HDMI - Many newer surroundrecievers has inputs and outputs for the HDMI cable, which you connect between the receiver an Blu-Ray player or TV / projector, the receiver will then take care of the audio signal and then sends image & audio signals to the TV.
Receivers with multiple HDMI-channels can also be used to switch the picture & audio between multiple sources such as Blu-Ray player and Set top box or media player.

Coaxial - the sound goes into a separate coaxial cable (RCA) to the Receiver / sound system.

Optical - The sound is sent in a separate optical cable (Toslink) to the Receiver / sound system.

Analog 5.1 - Older design with each channel (6pcs) has its own cable (RCA) to the receiver.

Type of Sound equipment

There are two main types of sound systems for home theater to take a consider.

Surround systems:
You can buy a complete home entertainment system, which is what is easiest to buy and install, everything in a box just to pack up and place speakers and you are ready to go, apart from fine tuning of course ... These system havs now become increasingly better and more powerful and it can be a good option to start with.

Separate components:
Putting together yous own system is both fun and usually gives better result then to buy a complete system. Here you can take advantage of your regular stereo system that you use to listen to music, and simply add / replace the missing parts to get a fsound system that suits your room and your taste ..

Selecting components

What we need to build a basic system of digital surround sound is as follows:

- Receiver / Surround receiver with support for 5.1 or 7.1
- 2 Front Speakers
- 1 Center Speaker
- 2 or 4pcs rear speakers, depending on whether it is 5.1 or 7.1
- 1 Subwoofer
- Cables
- Speaker Stands / Wall Mounts

Receiver

The receiver is the heart of the system and is known as home theater amplifier or surround amplifier. Today there are receivers with support for 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 9.1 & 1.11 but 9.1 and 11.1 are rare and expensive. The two most common are 5.1 and 7.1

If you should you buy the receiver today, we recommend a 7.1 even if you only plan to use up to 5.1, it allows you upgrade later.

Speakers

Do you have speakers that you are happy with to listen to music then you have a good start to a surround sound system

Front speakers.

The two speakers are placed to the right and left of the television or projection screen, and manages the left and right channels in a surrondsystem, normally the largest speakers.

Center speaker.

A center speaker is placed between the front speakers and handles the center channel in the 5.1 and 7.1 audio which contains among other things the dialog in a movie. Center and front speakers should be of the same brand / series to be equally sound image.

Surround speakers

Or satellites known as the rear speakers in a surround system.
They can be either 2 or 4 pieces depending on whether you have a 5.1 or 7.1 systems.

Subwoofer.

Are the speakers in surround sound system that handles the deepest low frequezy tones and creates eg dull rumble, or pressure from the explosions. The subwoofer is usually equipped with a built-in amplifier and is then called active subwoofer.
Since the human ear can not determine the origin of these low frequencies will then placement of the speakers be of your own choice. A hint is to place the subwoofer where you sit, put on something with very low frequencies, and then crawl around on the floor and listen, where it was heard most, which is where you should place your subwoofer, then you get the most impact where you sit.

Buttkicker

Want to be thoroughly shaken by the deep low frequencies, you should obtain a ". buttkicker, it makes, your sofa to vibrate in a way that would have been impossible without an enormous sound pressure from a number of powerful subwoofers. Easily explained is a buttkicker a powerful speaker without cone mounted on what is to be shaken eg. your couch, the result is that the couch vibrates at the lowest tones 5-200 Hz and you get a real feeling of being included in the action. buttkickers often need a separate amplifier.

Speaker Placement

This film shows the different placements of 2.1, 5.1, 7.1

1080p,1080i,720p..
16:9
2.1 / 5.1 / 7.1
Ansi Lumen
Any DVD
BDA
BD-Live
BD-Profil
Bitrate
Blu-ray
Bonusview
Buttkicker
Center Speaker
Coaxial

Home

Blu-ray Facts

Blu-ray Movies

Blu-ray Players

Tv&Projectors

Audio

Playstation3

HDTV

Contact

Blu-ray Players

Blu-ray Facts

Tv&Projectors

Audio

Playstation3

Contact

Blu-ray Players

Home

Blu-ray Facts

Tv&Projectors

Audio

Playstation3

HDTV

Contact

High Definition Audio

Audio formats

Connection to Blu-ray player

Type of Sound equipment

Selecting components

Receiver

Speakers

Front speakers.

Center speaker.

Surround speakers

Subwoofer.

Buttkicker

Speaker Placement