​Audio accounts for 50 percent of the cinema experience. That's why your sound system and room acoustics are every bit as important as your TV.

Good two-channel stereo can create a holographic space—but with all the sound in front of you. Conventional 5.1- and 7.1-channel surround sound can involve you more deeply in the onscreen action.
Typical surround sound setups have either 5.1 or 7.1 channels. A 5.1 system has left, right, and center speakers in front, with left and right surround speakers.

A 7.1 system adds left and right rear surround speakers. The ".1" in these designations is for a subwoofer (sometimes called the low-frequency effects, or LFE, speaker) for the lowest bass. Our Speaker Setup Guide has all the details on placement.