Getting home theater sound requires the right speakers to get the best experience. However, finding individual speakers that complement one another can be a real pain, both in terms of effort and expense. Buying a complete home theater speaker system package can help take the guesswork out of getting the right speakers. Pair any set with a good receiver and a DVD player, and you'll have a great home theater system that's a step above many.
Many home theater speaker systems include subwoofers, but for those which don't, look for a good add-on. Packages can cost varying amounts, from a couple hundred dollars, to a couple thousand. The higher end home theater speaker systems will offer the best sound and performance, but that doesn't mean you should discount less expensive models. Some offer great sound, attractive styling, and good longevity, although you should be careful, because they may have lower quality hardware.
You may have to experiment with layout to get the right location for your speakers. Remember that you shouldn't hear each individual speaker. Instead, the goal is to be entirely involved in the movie or music. Of course, if a sound is mixed on the recording to appear in a specific location, it's okay to be able to hear a single speaker. For movies, the dialog is usually mixed to the center channel. Play around with placement of your center speaker. Sound from this speaker shouldn't seem to be too detached from the action on the screen. If it is, your center speaker is too far away from your screen.
In the standard Dolby setup, the main left and right surround speakers should be to the sides of the listening area, and posted at about ear level. Angle them between 90 to 110 degrees for the best effect. Systems using Dolby EX will have a sixth mono channel located at the back of the room. Usually, two more speakers are used for this. Don't place them directly behind the audience, however, as this can cause confusion. An angle of 135 to 150 degrees is a better choice.
Your subwoofer can be located just about anywhere on the floor. Corners give the greatest enhancement of deep bass, but there's a risk of some sounds becoming overly booming. You'll have to experiment to find the right place for the subwoofer. Sounds from it should be smooth, but deep. Aim for an extension of the bass into your preferred seating area.
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