The process of choosing a set of speakers for surround sound can be confusing, and if you're not careful, you can spend too much money, or end up with a system you're not happy with. So where to begin? A good place to start is by sitting down and deciding what you want out of a new speaker system.
Do you just want to supplement the speakers in your flat-screen TV? Or are you planning a dedicated home theater with a dozen or more speakers placed in strategic spots around the room? Before you spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on speakers, decide what it is you're trying to achieve.
If you're looking for home theater sound in your living room or another room you use for multiple purposes, you'll probably want to go with a 5.1 or a 7.1 surround stereo system. On the other hand, if you're putting together a room as a dedicated home theater, you'll want a larger sound system consisting of a dozen speakers or more.
With a typical 5.1 or 7.1 home theater setup, speakers are placed at the front and rear of the room (with 7.1 systems having speakers on both sides a well). Both types typically come with a sub-woofer for that deep base output.
On the other hand, if you're converting one of your rooms into a dedicated home theater - and you have the budget - you should consider a larger system with 12 speakers or more. These systems often have speakers mounted in the ceiling to offer an additional level of surround sound.
As you might imagine, pricing for these systems can vary widely depending on the brand and the number of speakers. For a typical 5.1 or 7.1 system, you can expect to pay $200 to $300 for an "out of the box" setup. But if you're going the dedicated home theater route, prices can climb into the thousands, especially when combined with custom installation.
For more about the right speakers for your sound system, come in store today!