Surround Sound

What Does Surround Sound Mean?

Surround sound is a technology that is used for enriching the quality of audio reproduction for listeners by using additional audio channels. Unlike screen channels, the sound produced by surround sound technology is from a 360° radius in the two-dimensional plane. Surround sound uses multiple channels, with each channel having a dedicated speaker within the system. Surround sound provides listeners with excellent audio ambiance and richer and fuller sound.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains Surround Sound

Surround sound is a technique that allows the perception of sound spatialization to be enhanced by manipulating sound localization. This can be achieved by using discrete and multiple audio channels.

There are various formats and techniques for producing surround sound. Its reproduction can also be varied through positioning and the addition of audio channels. True and virtual surround sound systems exist. The latter uses fewer speakers, although the audio seems to be emanating from multiple speakers. Surround sound not only helps in faithfully reproducing sound of the original audio, but is also capable of significantly improving the system’s dynamic range and tonality, even at low to moderate audio volumes.

Surround sound is mostly used in movies, television and video games, which helps provide an immersive audio experience.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…