Of course, promise is not the same as deliver—and just as with those soundbars that want to replicate the effects of a surround sound setup, it’s difficult in the extreme to create a sensation of spatial audio without the physical equipment necessary.
For home cinema, the words ‘spatial audio’ can confidently be swapped for ‘3D sound’. Unlike a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound setup, which creates a circle of sound around the listener, a spatial audio system creates a dome, where sound is delivered from above, as well as from the front, sides and rear.
Imagine your 7.1-channel system, and add four overhead speakers that have their own discrete information contained within the soundtrack. What you have now is a 7.1.4 system, and any content that’s been mixed specifically for a spatial audio system has an extraordinary amount of scope for the steering of effects within the dome of sound the system can create.
The best way to achieve a spatial audio effect from height channels is by precisely positioning speakers into the ceiling of your home cinema room. I hardly need to tell you that is is a relatively complicated process, and never what you might be tempted to call “cheap.” That is why a number of loudspeaker brands have developed upwards-firing modules that are designed to sit on top of some of the speaker cabinets in your surround sound setup, and reflect sound off the ceiling in an effort to replicate the effect of overhead speakers. It’s a similar method to those spatial audio soundbars with drivers that face upwards—but obviously on a larger scale.
For the most dedicated movie fans, the answer here is undoubtedly yes—if you choose to invest in a surround sound setup, the sound that accompanies the movies you watch will be completely transformed. Whether it's right for you, your budget and your space is a very different question, and it's worth weighing up the other options for improving your home cinema sound before you invest.
Surround Sound vs Stereo Sound
Which is “better” between surround sound and stereo sound isn’t really an absolute here—it’s a bit like trying to decide which is better between apples or onions. It’s fair to say, though, that if your primary interest is in home cinema rather than in music, a surround sound setup is going to bring you far closer to the objectives of the filmmaker (and their sound designer) than a stereo alternative has a hope of doing.
All movie soundtracks will have been mixed to be delivered by a surround sound setup, and that’s true whether you’re getting your movie from a streaming service or via legacy media such as 4K Blu-ray. There will be a stereo downmix available for those listening through a TV or stereo system, of course, but the true intentions of a surround sound mix will only become apparent if it’s heard through a surround sound system.
Surround Sound vs Soundbars
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Photograph: Ryan Waniata
For anyone trying to decide between surround sound and a soundbar, what's best will come down to your budget and/or the space you have—plus how much you really watch movies, and want the full-on home cinema experience. Yes, a soundbar is more convenient than a surround sound setup, and it’s almost certainly more affordable. But is it a surround sound solution? You already know the answer to that one.