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Sonos je přední americká společnost zabývající se audiotechnologiemi, která je známá především jako průkopník bezdrátových multiroom systémů. Tyto systémy posluchačům usnadňují streamování hudby a dalšího obsahu v celé domácnosti. Společnost neustále pokračuje v inovacích a vytváří bezdrátové reproduktory, systémy domácího kina, sluchátka, architektonické komponenty a integrovaná řešení pro domácí audio, která revolučním způsobem mění poslech a propojení se zvukem.

Adding a subwoofer to your sound system can make all the difference in your listening experience, clarifying both low and high frequencies. (Need a bass refresher? Check out our 

 in your home, you may have come across the Phase Control setting in the Sonos app. And, if you’ve ever wondered, “What does phase mean for a subwoofer? Why would I want to adjust it?” this article is for you.

Phase refers to the timing difference between low-frequency sound waves from your subwoofer and higher-frequency sound waves from your main 

. Adjusting the phase changes where a sound wave begins. This affects how the different frequencies merge and how you hear them.

Phase adjustments in a subwoofer are crucial for finding the sweet spot where the bass blends seamlessly into the overall sound experience. If you have your subwoofer bonded to a soundbar, it’s helpful to be attuned to the phase, as the precise timing and integration of sound effects can drastically change your home theater viewing experience.

Why do I need to change the phase on my subwoofer?

Room acoustics play a significant role in how sound waves travel and interact with the environment. If your signal is in phase, the sound will feel very full. If the signal is out of phase, some frequencies are canceled out, which could negatively impact the clarity and fullness of the sound.

You'd typically adjust the phase of your subwoofer in the following instances:

Rearranging the room where your speakers are placed

Adjusting the phase control for a traditional wired subwoofer can be like finding the right combination to a lock. You might need to try it a few times before it feels just right. Typically you’d slowly adjust the phase knob while playing a bass-heavy track. You’d want to also test the adjustments by listening where you’d usually be, as the effect might vary around the room.

Adjusting the phase control for Sonos Sub or Sub Mini is more like flipping a switch. Open the 

 and navigate to the product then select Settings > Advanced Audio > Sub Settings. Choose 0° or 180° and listen for the tone; it will help you gauge the adjustment.

If you use Trueplay™ to tune your setup, you don’t have to make any adjustments to the phase control and this setting will be disabled. Trueplay will optimize the phase of your subwoofer — and any bonded speakers — for the unique acoustics of your listening space.

, bringing greater depth and clarity to music, TV, movies, and more. But for the best possible listening experience, you want to make sure every setting is just right. The Sonos app makes that easy, letting you fine-tune the phase control yourself or doing it for you with Trueplay.

White Sub 4 on the floor and Era 300 on top of a credenza

What Is Phase on a Subwoofer (And How To Adjust It)

You want that cinema-level sound experience at home. So, what speakers do you need? How many? And where exactly do you place them? Worry not. We’re here to help answer these and all your home theater questions. In this blog, we’ll look at the two most popular surround sound setups — 5.1 and 7.1 — and explore the differences, what spaces they work best in, and how to create your own surround sound system at home for your next movie night. Let’s get into it.

Picture yourself in a theater, with an action scene playing out on screen: fighter jets are weaving through the air and pilots are speaking into muffled headphones. In the theater, the sound is astounding — the dialogue is crisp, the jet engines sound as if they’re passing overhead, and you can hear the enemy planes approaching from behind before they appear on the screen. This is surround sound, powered by speakers strategically placed around the room to create a truly immersive listening experience.

Even better, you can achieve something similar at home. You’ll just need a few speakers and a little bit of know-how. That’s where understanding 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound comes in. Knowing what these setups are and your options for creating them can help you build out your system at home.

The first number in each configuration (i.e. the “5” in 5.1) refers to the number of ear-level channels — or points of audio, like a speaker — in the system. The second number refers to the presence of a subwoofer. So, a 5.1 system includes three front channels (left, right, and center) and two rear channels (left surround and right surround). While a 7.1 system has an additional two channels (left side surround and right side surround). These are typically positioned between your “front stage” (soundbar) and “rear stage” (surround speakers). The image below should help visualize how a 5.1 comes together in your living space.

Diagram illustrating a typical 5.1 home theater setup

Absolutely. As you’ve probably guessed, a 7.1 surround sound setup has the ability to really envelop listeners in audio, thanks to those two extra channels. Think of these setups like a LEGO® structure. A 5.1 system will deliver quality, immersive audio. But when you build on that system, you add additional depth and detail.

Both a 5.1 and 7.1 setup will surround you in sound with the help of front and rear speakers. But the 7.1 system’s additional two channels provide that extra bit of immersion. This gives you that feeling of being in the center of whatever is playing out on the screen. It also makes the movie or show feel more realistic. Because in real life, sound doesn’t just come at us from one direction.

Choosing between 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound

Let’s explore some important factors to consider when selecting your surround sound system.

If you have a small space, consider a 5.1 setup. This system will easily fill your room with sound and, depending on what speakers you choose (more powerful speakers create more powerful sound), you can still render a similar sound quality to a 7.1 setup. If your space is larger, however, you may want a 7.1 system to really fill the area with sound.

It goes without saying that the more complex the surround sound system, the more money you’re likely to end up investing. So, generally speaking, a 5.1 setup will be more affordable than a 7.1 setup. Of course, there are exceptions to this. For instance, if you were to opt for a more powerful soundbar or rear speakers, a 5.1 system could cost more. Speakers and subwoofers range in price depending on their size, power, and features, among other things.

How much you’re looking to spend may also help you decide where at home to set up your system. For instance, if you have a smaller budget, consider creating your movie space in a smaller family room versus a more spacious basement.

You’re spending time and money building out your surround system, so it makes sense to consider the variety of listening experiences it will provide. Are you planning to listen to music from these speakers in spatial audio? If so, consider Dolby Atmos-supported speakers as part of your setup. These speakers will make your system more versatile for the times you switch from movies to music.

Couple sitting on a couch watching tv with a white Beam and an Era 100 pair

Create your perfect home theater with Sonos

Now that you understand the differences between 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound, let’s look at a few different ways you can create your own setup using Sonos speakers. Each of these setups includes a soundbar, rear speakers, and a subwoofer.

Our most compact 5.1 system delivers blockbuster surround experience without blowing your budget. With this setup, you can hear sound in front of and behind you. It all sounds real — from coffeeshop chatter in a romcom to footsteps approaching from behind in a scary movie. The dialogue is clear, the sound is balanced, and you can feel the rich, bold bass.

For a next-level experience, our best-selling soundbar, compact rear speakers, and premium subwoofer give you 7.1.4 surround sound using virtualization techniques (You can learn all about virtualized surround sound in our 

). Distortion-free and powerful bass deliver a panoramic soundstage that mimics the way you’d hear action in real life — that is to say, all around you.

To completely bring the theater experience home, look not further than this surround sound setup. Our most premium soundbar, rear speakers, and subwoofer make it feel like the story is unfolding right in your living room with theater-quality 7.1.4 surround sound. You’ll feel the powerful rumbles of a jet engine in an action film. You’ll hear the overhead groan of an attic floorboard in a horror film. You’ll get crisp dialogue without having to cup your ear or turn on subtitles. This setup puts you in the center of it all with life-like, spatial sound with Dolby Atmos and hair-raising bass.

Now that you have the basics down, it’s time to build out your system — and dream up the fun you will have with it. Whether you’re hosting a movie night or binging a weeknight show, surround sound turns up the emotion on whatever’s on screen to bring you into the action. And, let’s be honest, sometimes we need that little extra something to pull us in and help us unplug from our day. So, whether you prefer action movies or psychological thrillers, sound from all angles of your room will add that extra bit of adrenaline. Visit sonos.com to discover Sonos 

Couple sitting on a couch watching tv with a black Arc and an Era 300 pair

5.1 vs 7.1 Surround Sound: What's the Difference?

You’re sitting in the theater. There’s a high-speed car chase playing on the screen in front of you, and you can hear tires screeching to your right and police sirens blaring from behind. But how? This is thanks to surround sound — with speakers placed strategically all around the theater. Each speaker projects audio in different directions, angles, and heights to deliver a more realistic and immersive sound experience. In this guide, we’re breaking down how you can create this same cinematic experience at home and feel like you’re in the middle of all the action.

In short, surround sound helps you feel like you’re in the middle of whatever is happening on screen. Like its name suggests, this technique is used to create an immersive audio experience that feels like it’s completely surrounding you. When you visit the theater, a number of speakers — in some cases, 

 — are strategically positioned around the room to project sound in every direction. While this experience is most familiar at the cinema, you can also achieve immersive surround sound at home with the right speakers and the 

You can configure your surround sound system in a variety of ways based on the size of your room, the sound experience you want to achieve, and your budget. The two most common surround sound setups are 

First things first: What do these numbers mean? Essentially, these figures indicate how many points of audio — or “channels” — are within a surround sound system. The first digit in each configuration denotes the number of channels in a system, while the second refers to the presence of a subwoofer. So, for example, in a typical 5.1 system, three front speakers (or a soundbar, which delivers the left, right, and center channels), two rear speakers, and one subwoofer make up this setup. (For a greater breakdown on channel configurations, check out our 

Generally speaking, the amount of channels in a given setup is a strong indication of how immersive the surround sound experience will be. Let’s take a closer look at each.

A 5.1 system is considered a standard layout — with most movies mixed for this surround sound experience. In this setup, the dialogue will sound crisper, effects and other ambient audio will appear to be coming from behind and in front of you, and you’ll feel like you’re enveloped in the action happening on screen. This is thanks to five channels — or points of audio — and one subwoofer. Imagine the setup having three channels in front of you and two behind for all-around audio, plus a single subwoofer to deliver those low-frequency sounds like big explosions or deep voices.

For most home theater setups, this system is a solid choice. The three front channels and two rear channels will easily fill your room with sound.

Because surround sound is all about, well, surrounding you in sound, more channels will create a more immersive viewing experience. The two additional channels in a 7.1 setup will fill some of the gaps in your sound experience. However, it’s worth noting that some speakers can provide multiple points of audio without the need for additional speakers. For example, a soundbar covers your three front channels (left, right, and center) despite being a single speaker. Some rear speakers can also cover multiple points of audio, eliminating the need for individual speakers and a whole lot of wiring.

Family sitting on a couch watching tv with a black Arc Ultra, Sub 4, and an Era 300 pair

Yes, surround sound does make a difference for those times you’re watching a movie and want to be immersed in sound. Let’s take a look at why that is.

With a stereo system, all of your sound comes from two channels: the left and the right. This is great if you’re listening to music in the car or on a pair of 

. But when you’re watching a movie, you want to feel engulfed in the action, and surround sound does that for you. Surround sound is less directional and more dynamic than 

, sending audio in front of you, above, and behind instead of just to the left and the right. This creates overall more realistic sound — mimicking the way you experience action in real life.

Adding a soundbar to your TV will give you 

, enhanced clarity, and deeper bass. But all the sound is only coming from the soundbar in front of you. Adding rear speakers for surround sound will give you that all-encompassing effect, thanks to audio coming from many different angles around the room and sound actually coming from behind you.

Picture yourself in the theater again watching that car chase. At this point in the scene, a police helicopter is now hovering above the vehicles. It feels as if the propellers are whirring overhead. But how do you replicate this same feeling at home? This is where height channels and 

In a more advanced home theater system, like a 7.1.4 setup with Dolby Atmos, you'll notice the addition of a third digit, which represents the number of overhead speakers, or 

. These speakers are typically placed in each corner of the room and help add the feeling of height to your viewing experience.

If this sounds like a lot of speakers for one room, that’s because it is. But with the help of advanced technology and acoustic hardware, you can create this same experience with less speakers using 

 is a spatial audio technology that allows sound objects to be placed on a three-dimensional canvas and moved around in space. This adds a third overhead dimension to 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound setups. As a result, sound travels more naturally around the room as it would in real life, creating a more realistic sound experience for you as a listener.

Couple sitting on a couch watching tv with a white Arc Ultra and Sub 4

The benefits of a soundbar are plenty. For starters, it performs the work of a right, left, and center speaker — saving you space and potentially money. It creates that immersive surround sound experience without the need for three individual speakers (with their accompanying wiring) in front of your TV. And, soundbars won’t cramp your style. The understated design blends in with existing decor, and its thin construction means it will fit nicely under a TV or can be easily mounted on a wall.

Of course, not all soundbars produce the same experience. If you're planning to tuck your speaker into a media stand, you'll want to choose 

 so that furniture won’t block the soundwaves. But if you want to create that truly immersive theater-experience, go with a 

. These speakers are designed with upward-firing drivers to project sound all around the room.

A soundbar on its own can dramatically improve the clarity and quality of your audio, whether you’re streaming a movie or listening to music. But if you want sound that comes from all directions, consider adding a couple rear speakers. Rear speakers magnify all those ambient sounds that really bring you into the movie — rustling wind, a leaking faucet, or coffee-shop chatter. If you’re a fan of scary movies, you know the importance of those details for creating suspense.

, you’ll need to position them on either side of your seating or behind you. Make sure that the side and upward-firing drivers are clear of anything that could block them. (Depending on the speaker, you can also mount them higher and position them toward wherever you’ll be sitting.) You can easily connect 

Subwoofers are great additions to your surround sound setup because they really help you feel the audio. Plus, a 

 enhances the sound of your other speakers by shouldering some of the work. That is, subwoofers produce some of the lower sound frequencies, so your other speakers can focus on delivering midrange sounds. Pretty neat, huh? When choosing a subwoofer, be aware that they range from 

 to large with varying levels of power. What size works best for you will depend on the rest of your setup, the size of your room, and your budget.

Bring Surround Sound Into Your Home With Sonos

Now that you understand how to build out your surround system, it’s time for the fun part — actually building out your 

. Sonos has everything you need to create cinematic sound at home. And the best part is you can start slow. Maybe you start with a soundbar for crisper dialogue in movies. Over time, you can add a subwoofer to feel the sound. A couple rear speakers will turn up the ambient noise and envelop you in your listening experience. If you feel overwhelmed by the options and need a little inspiration for your setup, we have that too. Our 

The Beginner's Guide to Surround Sound

Whether you're a movie buff, sports fanatic, gamer, music lover, or all of the above, a 

 allows you to experience your home entertainment in the most immersive way, right from the comfort of your living room. And when it comes to creating a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system, no one makes it as easy to achieve — or gives you as many options— as Sonos.

Not sure where to start? This comprehensive guide will tell you everything you need to know about how to choose speakers, set them up, and make sure you’re getting the best 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound experience possible.

Before we dive into the specifics, let's establish what 5.1 and 7.1 mean. These different figures refer to the number of audio channels involved in a 

. The number before the decimal represents the main ear-level audio channels, while the number after the decimal refers to the presence of a 

A 5.1 system traditionally consists of five speakers and one subwoofer, while a 7.1 system includes seven speakers and one subwoofer. The more channels you have, the more directions the sound can come from, creating a more immersive sound experience. You can learn more about these configurations in our 

How Sonos does 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound differently

While 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems usually require as many speakers placed around the room as channels, Sonos innovation delivers the same immersive surround sound experience with less hardware. For example, a Sonos 

 does the work of three speakers by reproducing the center, front left, and front right channels. This means a Sonos home theater system is not only easier to set up, but also fits and looks better in your space.

Another standout feature for Sonos is the ability of select speakers to render additional 

. In the past, height channels could only be achieved by placing speakers overhead, usually by installing them in the ceiling. Speakers like 

, however, feature upward-firing drivers that create a similar effect for 

 content, such as movies and music mixed in 

. When you see a figure such as 5.1.2, the third number, or the number after the second decimal, indicates the height channels.

Couple sitting on a couch watching tv with a white Beam, Sub Mini, and Era 100 pair

To achieve 5.1 surround sound with Sonos, you’ll need the following products:

A soundbar for the center, front left, and front right channels.

Two rear speakers, one for the rear left channel and another for the rear right.

A subwoofer for the low-frequency effects channel.

This configuration will deliver crisp dialogue from the center, deep bass from the subwoofer, and a three-dimensional sound experience all around you.

Here are some possible product combinations:

Beam (Gen 2) + Era 100 rear speakers + Sub Mini

 (With Dolby Atmos content, this setup simulates 7.1.4 surround sound. Read more on that below.)

learn more about possible surround sound pairings

From left to right: Beam (Gen 2), Ray, Era 100 Stereo Pair, Sub Mini black

For even more immersive Sonos surround sound, you don’t actually need more speakers. You just need the right speakers that support spatial audio. Speakers like 

, for example, have the acoustic architecture to create a wider soundstage and the processing power to precisely render individual sounds all around the room. When you play Dolby Atmos content through these speakers, you will feel as though you have two additional side speakers — one to your left and another to your right — as well as four speakers overhead. It’s not just 7.1 surround sound. It’s 7.1.4.

If you're looking to take your surround sound setup to the next level, you can go beyond 7.1 with a 9.1.4 configuration. This setup adds even more rear and height channels, creating an incredibly immersive experience that wraps you in sound from every direction. With 

, Sub, and a pair of Era 300 speakers, you can unlock this next tier of home theater and hear your favorite content in stunning, multidimensional detail.

From left to right: Arc, Era 300 Stereo Pair, Era 100 Stereo Pair, Sub black

Setting up surround sound in the Sonos app

Once you have your speakers positioned, you can set up surround sound in the Sonos app:

Start by plugging in your soundbar and following the instructions in the app for connecting your TV and syncing your remote. Then plug in your subwoofer and add it to the same room as your soundbar.

Add your rear speakers to your system one at a time, giving them each their own name, like Left Surround and Right Surround. Ideally these should be placed at ear level behind your listening position and angled inward.

Choose the room where you have your soundbar and subwoofer set up, then select 

. The app will detect your rear speakers. All you have to do is select them, and in minutes your system is ready.

To make sure you’re getting the best experience, you’ll want to use 

™ to fine-tune the sound for your space. You can also 

 from within the app by choosing the room where you home theater is set up and selecting 

. From there, you can adjust the TV level and music playback according to your preference.

For music playback, you can set your surround speakers to Full or Ambient mode. These are set to Ambient mode by default, which means the rear speakers will perform as they do for home theater, producing low-volume audio within a limited frequency range optimized for the seated position you’d have when watching TV. If you select Full, the rear speakers will act as a stereo pair for more powerful and immersive sound that fills more of the room.

Your Sonos surround sound experience depends on your TV connection and content. Most shows and movies are mixed for 5.1 surround sound, so you can expect to get a 5.1 experience from any Sonos surround sound system.

For 7.1.4 surround sound, you need two things. First, your TV should support 

. (You should be able to verify this from the manual or a quick Google search.) Second, your streaming service will need to have Dolby Atmos content, which is available from services like Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. You can 

 from the Now Playing screen in the Sonos app.

Some content, especially music, will default to stereo playback through your surround sound system, so you’ll experience stereo sound from both the front and back of the room. If you have Beam (Gen 2) or Arc Ultra, you can enjoy a more immersive spatial audio experience on your system by listening to Dolby Atmos Music from Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited. Just look for the Dolby Atmos badge next to the track or on the Now Playing screen. You also have the option to 

turn off spatial audio for music playback in the app

Investing in a surround sound system with Sonos allows you to bring the theater-experience to the comfort of your home with fewer components and hassle-free installation. If you’re ready to create your Sonos home theater system and feel fully immersed in your home entertainment, explore

 our ready-made speaker sets for 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound

Couple sitting on a couch watching tv with a black Arc, Sub, and Era 300 pair

How to Get 5.1 and 7.1 Surround Sound with Your Sonos System

, is an essential part of any modern audio-listening system. But how does it work? And do you really need to shell out a ton of money for a new or upgraded DAC that promises to deliver better sound from your 

Before we answer those questions, we need to clarify what a DAC actually does. In this guide, we’ll discuss how a DAC converts audio from CDs, MP3s, and streaming services into an analog signal that your speakers can use to produce incredibly detailed sound.

. It’s that simple — but only if you understand the difference between digital and analog signals in the first place.

When you listen to a live performance, your ears are picking up an 

 signal. This signal is smooth and constantly variable, with no sharp edges that separate one part of the sound from the next. When you listen to a speaker, you’re also hearing an analog signal — one that’s produced by a constantly fluctuating stream of electricity.

Some physical mediums use analog signals, too. Vinyl records have a tiny groove that moves back and forth in a wave-like fashion, never fully stopping at one fixed location. A record player picks up the vibrations made when a needle moves through this groove and sends it through an amplifier and into a speaker. No conversion is necessary here, because you’re starting with an analog signal and ending with an analog signal.

That’s great if you only listen to vinyl. But most people these days listen to music from laptops and smartphones, which store songs in MP3 files and other digital audio formats. These formats are 

, which means that they store audio information in discrete increments rather than as a continuous signal. These increments are essentially tiny snapshots (or samples) of the original analog signal captured by the microphones during the recording process.

Digital audio formats help us store audio in a conveniently tidy package, but they emit digital signals that can’t be interpreted into sound by an electrical speaker. The signal must be converted 

into an analog electrical signal that the speaker can use — and this conversion is exactly what a DAC does.

Port placed on top of some books on a bookshelf

 takes a digital signal from a stored audio file and transforms it into a curvy, continuous analog signal. But how? 

DACs work by taking tiny snapshots, or samples, of the digital signal and stitching these snapshots together into an analog waveform. A DAC might take thousands of samples from a single second of an audio file (the exact amount of samples it takes per second is referred to as the 

). It then plots these samples on a graph and creates a curved analog wave that intersects all of the individual sample points.

Ideally, a DAC should follow a consistent timing sequence when it converts a digital signal to an analog signal. To accomplish this, a typical DAC relies on a master clock that is precisely tuned to the sample rate.

But in some DACs this clock can be more prone to errors. If a 

 occurs, you may be able to detect a slight degradation in sound quality. This is because the individual samples aren’t being converted at consistent times, and the sound is thus distorted when played back.

This generally isn’t a problem with modern DACs, as many of them decode digital files at a rate higher than the human ear can detect. But it may be something you run into if you’re relying on the built-in DAC in your phone or laptop, which may not be as good at handling clocking errors as a high-quality DAC (such as the 

So, do you actually need to upgrade your sound system with an external DAC? In most cases, 

your sound system likely has a great DAC already built into it

. This is the case with Sonos Port and our other 

, all of which come with a high-quality DAC.

But if you’re relying on the DAC built into your smartphone or laptop, then yes, many external DACs are superior at limiting clocking errors. Whether you’re able to actually detect those clocking errors, in any case, depends on how well you can hear; it’s not a given that you’ll be able to tell the difference.

If you’re streaming music from a digital device into a DAC-less sound system, you might want to experiment with a USB DAC that connects to the USB port of your computer (it can also connect to your phone via a USB adapter).

Can I get better sound by using two DACs instead of one?

No. You only need one DAC to do the job. So, if you stream music from your phone to a Sonos speaker, you’ll only need the speaker’s built-in DAC to convert the digital signal from your phone into an analog signal the speaker can interpret.

This makes intuitive sense — since a DAC’s job is to convert a digital signal to an analog signal, it doesn’t make sense to stack two DACs on top of each other. Once the digital signal has been converted to analog, it isn’t digital anymore. Simply put, an analog signal can’t be converted to analog 

With that said, you can bypass the internal DAC of your phone or laptop by connecting to an external DAC with better components. Your device will send a direct digital signal to the DAC of your choice, which will convert it into an analog signal and send it through to your speakers or headphones.

Sonos takes care of the DAC question for you. 

 seamlessly converts the signal from your favorite streaming service or digital media player into a smooth analog wave, ensuring that your audio is as crisp and clear as possible.

For a wired setup, you can connect one end of a digital coax cable to the digital coax input on your receiver. The built-in DAC will convert this digital signal before sending it onward to the speaker.

Though a weak DAC can be a limiting factor for your system, your overall sound quality depends on a lot more than just your DAC. Your speakers and other components also matter — a lot! We’ve taken any possible weak links out of the equation with our 

, which include options with powered all-in-one speakers, subwoofers, and more.

What Is a DAC (And Do You Need It for Home Audio)?

When HDMI first appeared more than 20 years ago, it set a new standard for high-definition home entertainment. Today, HDMI — which stands for “

” — remains among the most popular digital interfaces used to transmit high-definition video and audio signals over a single cable.

HDMI cables connect the output from any number of HD sources (streaming devices, soundbars, gaming consoles, etc.) to the input of an HD display, such as a high-definition TV or projector. Since you probably use at least one of these devices on a daily basis, chances are that you’ve already plugged in an HDMI cable without even knowing it.

In this guide, we’ll give you a brief introduction to HDMI. We’ll also walk you through the basics of HDMI ARC and HDMI eARC, two audio-focused technologies that simplify your life by reducing the cables needed to connect your TV to a compatible 

To understand what HDMI is and what it does, it helps to simply break down the acronym:

The best new TVs support stunning crisp image and audio quality. But higher quality means a huge amount of data. Not every cable or connection is capable of transferring all this data from an input source to your TV at the speed or bandwidth required for optimum performance. HDMI was created to solve this problem, and newer versions keep ratcheting up the bandwidth to keep pace with ever-increasing levels of video and audio quality.

When we say “multimedia,” all we mean is that HDMI can support more than one type of media. HDMI supports both uncompressed video and multi-channel audio; that’s why we call it a multimedia interface.

An interface is essentially just a connection between two devices. It’s the place where those two devices communicate and share data back and forth with each other. In this case, HDMI acts as an interface between an input device (the source of your entertainment) and an output device (the thing that plays or displays your entertainment).

Say you have a source of audio and video data that you want to connect to your TV. This source could be a streaming device such as a Roku or Apple TV, a modern gaming console such as a Playstation or Xbox, or a Blu-ray player.

 (in other words, a physical connection) that allows you to transfer all this 

 (i.e. audio and video) data. But not just any interface will do. You need one that can transfer a huge amount of data at an incredibly fast rate, in order to achieve the 

 quality that has become standard among modern TVs, projectors, and other entertainment devices.

You may notice that we italicized some words in the above description. When you combine these words together, you get 

, or HDMI. This interface is widely used to transmit digital audio and video signals across devices, and it eliminates the need for multiple cables by consolidating different signals into a single connection.

HDMI cables can be used to transmit uncompressed digital audio and video signals between compatible devices.

What Is Phase on a Subwoofer (And How To Adjust It)

5.1 vs 7.1 Surround Sound: What's the Difference?

The Beginner's Guide to Surround Sound

How to Get 5.1 and 7.1 Surround Sound with Your Sonos System

What Is a DAC (And Do You Need It for Home Audio)?

The Beginner's Guide to HDMI, HDMI ARC, and eARC

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Nápověda

Nápověda

Nabídky

Nabídky

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O Sonos

Pro obchodní partnery

Pro obchodní partnery

Kategorie

Kategorie

Produkty

Produkty

What Is Phase on a Subwoofer (And How To Adjust It)

.css-4c3m2r{color:#ffffff;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}The Beginner's Guide to Surround Sound

Nápověda

Nápověda

Nabídky

Nabídky

O Sonos

O Sonos

Pro obchodní partnery

Pro obchodní partnery

Kategorie

Kategorie

Produkty

Produkty

The Beginner's Guide to Surround Sound