If you’re looking to upgrade your home theater setup, you’ve likely encountered the terms 5.1 and 5.2 (or 7.1 and 7.2) being tossed around. So, what’s the difference between these two systems, and more importantly, does it actually matter?
What’s the difference between 5.1 and 5.2?
Table of Contents
Woofers, mid-range speakers, and tweeters are all types of speakers, but they each specialize in reproducing different frequencies of sound. woofers handle low frequencies (bass), mid-range speakers handle middle frequencies (vocals and instruments), and tweeters handle high frequencies (cymbals and high-pitched sounds).
now, let’s talk about surround sound systems. A ”5.1″ or “5.2” designation refers to the number of speakers and subwoofers in the system. The first number indicates the number of full-range speakers,and the second indicates the number of subwoofers.
A 5.1 setup consists of five speakers and one subwoofer, while a 5.2 system includes the same five speakers but adds a second subwoofer. If you see three numbers, e.g., 5.1.2,the third number indicates the number of ceiling (or ceiling-facing) speakers for a more realistic 3D sound. It’s the main selling point of Dolby Atmos.
Note that the purpose of a 5.2 surround sound system isn’t to add directional left and right channels to your bass.Low-frequency waves are quite long (e.g., a 20Hz wave is 60ft/18.3m long) and thus omnidirectional, so in a properly set up system, you can’t discern which side of the room the bass is coming from.
With the definitions out of the way, let’s talk about the practical differences between the 5.1 and 5.2 systems. The subwoofer‘s role is to reproduce low frequencies (bass), so by adding an extra subwoofer, you get a fuller, more well-rounded bass sound. It doesn’t necessarily get louder and bassier,though it can if you turn the bass up on the receiver or subwoofer’s dedicated volume/gain knob.
The primary goal of a dual-subwoofer setup is to improve the sound quality of the bass by providing a more even and balanced frequency response throughout the room. The benefits are most noticeable in large rooms with multiple seating areas.
