Audio Myth: This is why more speakers don’t make for better sound

SPEAKER

July 01, 2022 at 7:00 p.m

It’s a common audio myth: the more speakers, the better the sound. But that’s not true. We explain why stereo sound can sometimes be even better.

More audio channels equal better sound quality? A fallacy! More and more speakers ensure better and better sound. Many share this assessment – not without reason. In advertising, it often appears that a 9.1.4 system delivers “fatter” sound than a smaller 5.1 system.

Do more channels mean better sound?

In fact, however, the sound quality and the number of audio channels are independent quantities! So a stereo sound can be better than Dolby Digital. how come If you are looking for the answer, you have to delve into the theory – at least a little bit.

Sound systems are classified according to the number of their audio channels – the principle is known to most. A 5.1 system provides channels for five main speakers and a subwoofer. As a rule, this means: There are five loudspeakers and one woofer. Strictly speaking, the number of channels doesn’t have to reflect the number of speakers, but that’s another issue.

2.0, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1.4: What do the numbers stand for?

Crucially, the higher the numbers, the more speakers there are. With 3D surround sound, such as with Dolby Atmos, there are also separate speakers for the treble. They are not aimed at the audience, but at the ceiling. That should make it more dynamic. A corresponding setup could be 9.1.4, with four additional speakers for the treble.

Why isn’t more better?

So back to the core question: why are eight channels (7.1) not better than six (5.1)? The sound quality is significantly influenced before the playout! Two key factors are crucial here.

1. The quality of the recording. It sounds trivial, but it’s like this: If the sound was recorded and processed using inexpensive technology, even the best system cannot tease out a top sound from the raw material.
2. The file format. Sound is typically played from a digital source. Best-known example: MP3. This is a compressed data format. Compression means that less storage is required, but also that information is lost.

The same principle also applies to formats such as AC3 (Dolby Digital). It was specially developed for surround systems, so it should offer a particularly good sound experience. However, the raw file is also compressed for this – with corresponding losses. The sound is sometimes perceived as “hollow” because it simply lacks certain components.

A counterexample is PCM stereo. This is an uncompressed, lossless format. That means: All sound information is retained, which leads to a significantly better sound quality.