To fully enjoy action and dramatic movies, many consumers have installed speakers and systems to provide a similar effect to that of a movie theater. This might include stereo sound and ground-shaking booms that disturb the downstairs neighbors, but the avid home theater connoisseur spends a great deal of money to ensure the same experience that they receive at the local theater. Others do not even know the meaning of the term "surround sound." Before spending any money on a surround sound system for your home, there are some basics that you should know about the technology.

The basic idea behind the surround sound technology is just what the term says - to be completely surrounded by sound. As in a movie theater during an action-packed movie, the viewer is inundated with sound coming from every direction. The surround sound technology provides multiple channels of sound so that some sounds come from one direction while others come from different directions. This creates a sound immersion and clearer sounds rather than a muddled mix of sounds.

A surround sound system can increase the enjoyment of not only action-packed movies with explosions and such, but also symphonic orchestras and other types of music. Stereo sound separates different instruments to be heard through specific channels. Some will come through the speakers that are specific to the right channel of speakers while others will come through the left. This is how most of the music written for symphonies is set up, even in live performances.

For optimum effect of your surround sound system, you have to plan the placement of the speakers around your room. Putting the speakers all together in one spot will not provide proper surround sound and might not even sound good. Hiring a surround sound specialist to devise a plan for your speaker placement is one way to be certain that you can receive maximum enjoyment from your sound system. There are also websites and books that you can consult that will give you hints and tips about setting up your own sound system without resorting to the high prices of a sound specialist. You can also try the trial-and-error method to see, or hear rather, what speaker positions will produce the most enjoyable sound for you.

Combined with a good television, many people enjoy the experience that their surround sound system gives them. They can enjoy the feeling of being in a theater watching their favorite movie all the while being in the comfort and privacy of their own living room. Explosive and directed sound is one of the amenities that a theater provides, but surround sound speakers in your home can provide a very similar, and sometimes even better, sound in your home.