The answer to this question is a little bit complicated. It depends on what you are looking for in your home theater experience. If you want the most immersive and realistic experience possible for movies and games, then surround sound is definitely worth it.
However, if you are mostly interested in watching sports and TV shows, then you may not need all of the bells and whistles that come with surround sound.
Is Surround Sound Worth It For You?
First, you need to think about the size of your room. If your room is small, then you may not have enough space to set up all of the speakers that are necessary for a surround sound system.
Second, you need to consider your budget. A surround sound system can be expensive, so you need to make sure that you are willing to spend the money on it.
Why Is Surround Sound Worth It?
1. It Gives You More Information On The Soundscape
Whether you’re listening to an orchestra or watching a movie, surround sound lets you hear far more than the two speakers in traditional stereo systems.
We may not realize when we see someone talking on-screen that there’s ambient noise all around them (because our TVs don’t have speakers behind us).
With surround sound, however, ambient noise can be heard constantly and will give you a sense of “being there” with whoever is speaking. This includes background music, which can also move seamlessly between the rear and front channels depending on where they’re playing in the scene.
Expecting surround sounds is even more important during action scenes so that explosions and car crashes don’t just come from the front – they should envelop you.
2. You Can Immerse Yourself In Your Audio Entertainment
Surround sound gives you a much more realistic experience when watching movies or listening to music.
It’s one thing to hear an orchestra performing in a concert hall, and it’s another to have them playing all around you.
This is especially important for movie lovers because it allows us to get drawn into the story and feel like we’re really there. Whether we’re watching Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings, the extra immersion that surrounds sound provides is definitely worth it.
3. It Can Improve Your Tv’s Sound Quality
Even if you don’t have a surround sound system, you can still get some benefits. Instead of using the speakers built into your TV, try plugging some into your receiver that has to surround sound capabilities. You’ll notice a difference.
4. It’s Great For Gaming
If you’re playing multiplayer games online or just hanging out with friends in front of your console, surround sound is awesome because different parts of the game will be coming from different places.
Let’s say you’re in a team deathmatch and someone is behind you – they have an advantage over you when they sneak up on your left side.
With stereo systems, unless your friend makes noise everything will just sound like it’s all coming from the center channel speaker. With surround sound, however, you’ll actually be able to figure out where your opponents are coming from.
5. You Can Achieve The “Best Of Both Worlds” When Watching Movies Or Playing Games
Have you ever watched a movie in 2-channel stereo but wished that there was more going on behind you?
With surround sound, in some cases, not only will it come with better speakers but also be capable of simulating a multichannel environment.
There are many systems that allow you to configure for either stereo or surround, so this is definitely something worth considering when looking into what kind of system to get.
6. Great Listening Experience For Music
Whether it’s audio or analog records played through an amplifier, surround sound can give you an amazing listening experience for music.
If you’re like me, then you probably have a bunch of old records that you love to listen to but don’t always have the best equipment to do so.
With a surround sound system, not only will all your music sound great but you’ll also be able to appreciate the nuances in the different recordings.
7. You Can Get Great Deals On Them
This reason really depends on what type of system you’re looking for. I’m not talking about buying a cheap one just to save money; I’m talking about getting a good system without spending too much.
For example, if you don’t need all the bells and whistles then there are many surround sound systems out there that come with 5.1 or 7.1 channels for less than $200.
8. You Can Use It To Improve Your Home Theater Experience
Not everyone has the money (or space) for a home theater system, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get some of the benefits.
By adding a surround sound system to your current setup, even if it’s just a TV and a couple of speakers, you’ll be able to improve the quality of your audio significantly.
In addition, don’t forget about using headphones – they can also provide an amazing surround sound experience.
9. It Will Make All Your Movies And Shows Sound Better
I know I’ve said this before, but it really is worth repeating. With a surround sound system, not only will all your movies and shows sound great but you’ll also be able to appreciate the nuances in the different recordings.
10. It Will Make You Feel Like You’re In The Movie Or Game
This is, by far, the best reason to get a surround sound system. Not only does it provide an immersive experience for movies and games, but it can also improve the quality of your audio for music and other audio content.
In short, surround sound is definitely worth it – especially if you’re a movie lover or a gamer.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy a surround sound system is up to you. If you think that it will improve your home theater experience, then it is definitely worth it.
However, if you are not sure, you may want to try out a surround sound system at a friend’s house or at a store before making a purchase. That way, you can get a feel for what it is like and decide if it is right for you.