Surround sound

Surround sound is the concept of expanding the spatial imaging of audio playback from 1 dimension (mono/Left-Right) to two or three dimensions.

Notation

This notation, e.g. '5.1', reflects the number of full range, discrete channels; including a ".1" to reflect the limited range of the LFE channel.

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e.g. 5 full-range channels + 1 LFE channel = 5.1

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It can also be expressed as the number of full-range channels in front of the listener, separated by a slash from the number of full-range channels beside or behind the listener, separated by a decimal point from the number of limited-range LFE channels.

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e.g. 3 front channels + 2 side channels + an LFE channel = 3/2.1

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This notation can then be expanded to include the notation of Matrix Decoders. Dolby Digital EX, for example, has a sixth full-range channel incorporated into the two rear channels with a matrix. This would be expressed:

Related Topics:
Matrix Decoder

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3 front channels + 2 rear channels + 3 channels reproduced in the rear in total + 1 LFE channel = 3/2:3.1

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Note: The term stereo, although popularised in reference to two channel audio, can also be properly used to refer to surround sound.

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