2.0/2.1/4.1/5.1/6.1/7.1/8.1/whateva…

If you can’t understand the title, you’ve come to the right place! They are basically ways to represent what kind of speakers you have. Let me explain them in detail:

• 2.0 setup – Only 2 speakers. Most people seem to have 2.0 speaker setups. No subwoofer, so you can’t expect great bass from this setup.

• 2.1 setup – I had this earlier. It consists of 2 small (satellite) speakers and 1(big?) subwoofer. The subwoofer handles all bass. Bass means low frequencies like deep drums and so on. Actually it’s like punctuation. For checking what bass can be, listen to ‘Walking Away (Tocadisco’s Acid Walk Remix)’ by ‘The Egg’ or ‘Smack My B**ch Up’ by ‘The Prodigy (indeed…)’

• 4.1 setup – 2 2.0 speakers with 1 subwoofer, with 1 set in front, and 1 behind.

• 5.1 setup – 2 speakers in front, 2 speakers behind, 1 subwoofer and 1 centre speaker between the 2 front speakers. This is true surround sound (as well as all the following setups)

• 6.1 setup – 2 front, 2 behind, 2 side speakers and 1 subwoofer.

• 7.1 setup – 2 front, 1 centre, 2 side, 2 behind, 1 subwoofer

And you can keep adding speakers and make more and more configurations.

Now, surround sound isn’t just about the speakers, it’s also about what the speakers make you hear. What I mean is that if all the speakers just give the same sound (consider a movie), there isn’t exactly much of an advantage. Thing is that most DVDs come with 5.1 sound. Meaning that there are 6 channels of sound, for each of the speakers. So a person speaking from behind the camera, will actually come from the rear speakers. You get it… Also in games, this feature is extensively used. I mean that as you move your character/car/whateva… around, the speakers should also reflect that change. Sound bouncing off walls, and all that.

The thing is that all this available in 5.1 setups and above. The problem with 4.1 speakers is that most of them aren’t ‘true’ 4.1 setups. The take only one input, and send the same thing to the rear speakers, with a bit of delay, or maybe even without that! Only ‘true’ 4.1 speakers take 2 inputs for front and rear speakers.

Also, your sound card is of utmost importance. If you bought a home PC from a manufacturer (like Dell, HP etc.), they probably won’t have great sound cards, and will give only one output, for 2.0, 2.1 or ‘fake’ 4.1 systems. On the other hand, if you buy an assemble PC, chances are that your integrated audio will support 5.1 or 6.1 audio, in the least. Nevertheless, it is nice to get a dedicated audio card, but it can get expensive.

Anyway, rock ON!!!