Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.

2.1 vs 3.1 etc...Need some clarification here on soundbars

21077 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by lawyerwatanabe, Jun 18, 2008

beachfront71

Discussion Starter · Jun 18, 2008

Hi and thanks.

So I have the Sony CT100 and the Phillips 8100, I am picking up the Samsung x810 tomorrow.

My confusion is as follows:

Knowing all 3 of these systems have subwoofers....the sony has a 3 speaker soundbar, the phillips has a 6 speaker soundbar (3 tweets/3 mids) and the samsung has a 2 speaker sound bar.

I am hoping the samsung blows me away but ....

how can I expect a 2 speaker soundbar to provide a better virtual surround experience than a soundbar that has 6 (phillips) or even 3 (sony) speakers to take advantage of?

Is there something I am missing here? More speakers seem like they should be able to direct different sounds better than 2 but Samsung has clearly marketed this system as a 2.1 virtual replacement.

If someone can shed some light here it would be appreciated as I am probably not the only one wondering about this.

Thanks and appreciate the time.

See less See more

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

HD_Lantern

· #2 · Jun 18, 2008

Probably impossible to say without demo'ing each of those soundbars you listed. You might want to check out a recent soundbar article from Home Theatre Magainze, which compares multiple models (not sure off-hand if they covered your specific models, but it gives a good overview of the current state of soundbars).

http://www.hometheatermag.com/compac...und/index.html

Save

lawyerwatanabe

· #3 · Jun 18, 2008

Here is another link. How Virtual Surround Sound Works.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com...ound-sound.htm

Save

beachfront71

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 18, 2008

I appreciate this info but let me try and be a little more specific..

How can a soundbar with 2 speakers in it create a better virtual sound environment than a sounbar with 6 or even 3 speakers?

Save

lawyerwatanabe

· #5 · Jun 18, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by beachfront71 /forum/post/14108564

I appreciate this info but let me try and be a little more specific..

How can a soundbar with 2 speakers in it create a better virtual sound environment than a sounbar with 6 or even 3 speakers?

In terms of the sound environment that they're able to produce, it doesn't have much to do with the number of speakers but rather the sound processing algorithm being used.

Having 3 speakers, it would eliminate having to simulate the center channel, but I doubt simulating the center channel is that hard to do (just play through both speakers at the same volume). I'm not sure how the Yamaha soundbars work, which I hear has 40-50+ speakers in them.

Please refer to the link for more detailed information. It does a much better job at explaining how virtual surround sound works. It'll answer your 2 vs 3 speaker question once you understand how simulated surround works.

See less See more

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month