1) Will the system have any wires?

Yes, it will. In technical terms wireless does not literally mean “without wires”. It means just fewer wires. The reality is that each surround system speaker has to be connected to an electricity socket via cable. This is necessary since the speakers are really powerful and cannot be powered with batteries. Since there is need for continuous system power, you can expect to have all speakers connected to electric grid in your home, since they do not get their power from the A/V receiver.

2) What is the most popular wireless surround sound option?

Currently, the most popular option is to have wireless rear speakers. With this wireless surround sound option, the center channel speaker, the left speaker and the right one are connected to the receiver via cables. The two rear speakers are not connected to the main receiver, which is usually placed near the TV set. However, in order for these rear satellites to be able to receive signal, the receiver needs a special wireless card. In addition, the rear speakers have to be connected to a small rear receiver box. These receiver boxes come with built in decoders.

You can get a wireless subwoofer as well. Most standard systems have a passive subwoofer powered with signal via the receiver. You can even get a system with rear passive subwoofer. These low frequency passive drivers do a good job. However, you can opt for powered subwoofer driver units. These have built-in amplifiers which allow them to work without being connected to receivers. The subwoofer powered surround sound is excellent.

3) Are there any other wireless surround sound alternatives?

Yes, there are. You can readily opt for virtual surround processing. Virtual systems use a smaller number of speakers to produce surround sound. As the number of satellites is smaller so is the number of wires necessary to connect them to the electric grid in your home. You can opt for a system with three, two or even one speaker called a sound bar. The latter option is certainly extremely beneficial for those who do not want to deal with any wires.

4) Are there any drawbacks of using wireless surround sound?

It is worth pointing out that wireless surround sound systems with wireless rear speakers have sound quality equal to or sometimes even better than the sound quality of standard wired systems. With this being said, the only drawback may be interference with other wireless devices such as Wi-Fi systems. Still, most manufacturers have reduced the risk of such interference to a minimum by setting up a several selectable channels for the wireless speakers.

On the other hand, the sound bar cannot give you full wall ceiling surround sound, even though it will produce sound of great quality. Still, you will enjoy a great “wrapping” sound coming from the front, left and right.

5) Which wireless surround sound option is best for me?

This is a matter of personal choice. In general, a system with rear wireless speakers can perform as well as a standard one for home theatre. A sound bar has more limited capabilities, but it saves a lot of space and uses a minimal number of wires.

6) What to look for in a wireless surround sound system?

Go for a system with Dolby Pro logic technology. A speaker Dolby Digital system is a good choice, but you may want to have one that has Dolby TrueHD decoding as well for watching Blu Ray discs.

When it comes to power, there is no point in getting a 1000w audio receiver with high Total Harmonic Distortion (DHT). You can readily opt for a standard 50-watt to 100-watt model with DHT of 1% or less. Extra features, such as ribbed elliptical surround, are great as well.

7) Are brands imports for wireless surround sound systems?

Yes, it is best to get a system from a reputable brand, such a Sony, Panasonic, Samsun, Yamaha or Polk. When it comes to choosing between Samsung sound bar and a Surroundbar by Polk, you simply need to look at the technical parameters.

Now you know how to get the best wireless surround sound system.

1) Decide on the purpose of the wireless speakers.

You will need an entire wireless speaker system for your home theatre. Since only the rear speakers can be connected to the main receiver wirelessly, you can opt for a rear speaker kit, if you already have a home theatre audio system at home. Such a kit is called an add-on system since it comes with a separate receiver for the rear drivers, which are connected to it via cables. You can also go for a brand new integrated wireless multimedia speaker system that has rear satellites with built-in receivers.

You can choose from a wide range of wireless stereo speaker systems. There are even multi room ones. These allow you to listen to your favorite music in different rooms of the house. You can readily go for a small and compact system that connects to your MP3 player or iPod. There are great mini systems, such as the iHome iHM79 Rechargeable, which do not need any wires for connecting to a power source. The iHM79 Rechargeable Mini, for instance, can be used for several hours both indoors and outdoors before recharging.

2) Choose wireless speakers in terms of signal transmission.

Most audio wireless speakers use radio frequency (RF) transmission. However, with the advancement of technology other types have been introduced to the market. Now you can opt for wireless infrared systems and for wireless Bluetooth speaker systems. Both of these options offer great sound quality and more flexibility to the user.

3) Consider the frequency of wireless transmission.

In general, most wireless speakers operate at 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz frequencies. You can readily opt for Unlimited SPK 24GX or for a premium 900 MHz wireless speaker system. Both frequencies provide good wall penetration. This means that you will be able to enjoy good quality sound across the different rooms in your home. The 900 MHz models are generally considered ideal for this purpose. The problem with both of these frequencies is that other devices and appliances in the house, such as microwave ovens, use them as well. Hence, there may be signal interference. To avoid this, you may want to opt for speakers with 5.8 GHz frequency.

4) Make a choice in line with power, frequency response and sensitivity specifications.

In general, you need to look for powerful wireless speakers with high frequency response and sensitivity. In most cases, however, buyers focus primarily on the power. The reality is that there is no point in getting super powerful speakers with mediocre frequency response and sensitivity. It is much better to get a system or a single unit scoring above average in all three categories. In addition, keep in mind that for a powerful system, you will need a powerful transmitter. Consider getting a dual power transmitter.

5) Consider the range of wireless speakers.

Larger range does not mean better sound quality. In general, the range is of little relevance for home theatre systems. When it comes to getting a stereo speaker system for a house or for outdoor entertainment, a system with a 100ft transmitter or 150ft transmitter is a good choice.

6) Consider the size of wireless speakers.

Size has to do with power, so it is natural to get larger speakers for more powerful sound. However, you have to take into account the size of the room and the different settings. For instance, Jawbone wireless speaker models are ideal for any room size and can be placed on shelves and other hard surfaces while freestanding models require a lot more space.

7) Go for wireless speakers from a top brand.

It is important to get a model from a leading brand, such as Sony or Philips, if you want to get a product that offers excellent sound quality and durability. There are plenty of other brands specializing in the design and manufacturing of wireless speakers. For instance, you can select form a wide range of Audio Unlimited SPK models for great room music entertainment. If you want a multi room system, you may want to take a look at the IntelliTouch EOS Digital systems. You can also choose from a wide variety of portable mini models, such as the 41294 Wireless Speaker.

Now you know how to choose the best wireless speakers for you.

1) Choose between a theatre and stereo receiver.

As the names of the two types of surround sound receivers suggest, the theatre ones are for use with LCD and plasma televisions, DVDs and Blu Ray devices and stereo devices, while the stereo ones are designed exclusively for listening to music. In general, a theatre receiver product is recommended since it is more universal. No matter whether you opt for a theater receiver Yamaha, Sony or Samsung, you will find the entertainment options it provides more comprehensive.

2) Choose the number of channels you want the receiver to have.

You can choose from surround sound receivers with 5, 6 and 7 channels. You can connect 5, 6 and 7 satellite speakers to the different types respectively. The specifications are formally 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1. The point one is put to indicate that the device can support a subwoofer as well, even though most subwoofers today do not need to use the receiver’s amplifier. In general, it is recommended that you choose a type of receiver in line with the number of speakers you need. For a standard living room, 5 speakers are more than sufficient. If you have a home theatre room, however, you may want to 7 speakers.

3) Select the sound decoding format you want.

The two standard surround sound formats at present are Dolby Digital and DTS. Every model on the market works with either Dolby Pro Logic or DTS technology. There are more advanced formats for surround sound receivers as well. You can get a model that features Dolby TrueHD or one with DTS Master Audio decoding. These advanced sound processing options are available on a range of Blu Ray high definition video discs and players.

4) Pick a model with a large number of inputs.

The larger the number of inputs the larger the number of devices you can plug into the receiver. According to experts, most surround sound receivers, such as the Yamaha surround sound models for instance, have a sufficient number of video inputs. However, many of the models have only two to three audio inputs. If you want to be able to listen to music from your stereo, MP3, iPod and a number of other devices, you need to look for a model with more audio inputs.

5) Choose a model with HDMI connectivity.

You need HDMI video conversion because the HDMI components of your TV and video playing devices will send only such top resolution signals. When your receiver is equipped with such extensive connection capabilities, you will be able to switch to different inputs more easily and conveniently. It is worth pointing out that HDMI is the best connectivity option for watching 3D TV and movies.

6) Get a receiver with high clean power.

Just like connection capabilities power is major factor, when choosing between surround sound receivers. The more powerful the device is higher the surround sound quality is. Take a look at the full bandwidth power rating of the different models and select a model with a high rating. The cleanliness of the power is determined with a measure called total harmonic distortion (THD). The models with THD lower than 1% are a good choice, but you may look for a model with 0.1% THD. The latter have the cleanest amplification.

7) Pick a receiver from a top brand.

Top brands such as Sony, Samsung, Yamaha, Onkyo, Denon and Pioneer, to name a few, guarantee the quality of their surround sound receivers. They also have advanced features, such as PQLS precision quartz technology. There are plenty of models to choose from such brands as well.  You can readily opt for some of the more popular models, such as Pioneer Elite VSX, Yamaha Neohd YMC and Harman Kardon AVR or go for a receiver that matches your specific needs perfectly.

Now you know how to shop for surround sound receivers and choose the best one.

1) Get a comprehensive new system with all essential components.

There is no point in getting just one or two components and adding them to ones that you already have. It is much better to get a new HDTV format television set for premium picture quality as a start. Then you can choose from DVD players recorders and Blu Ray players. The latter option is to be preferred. Then you need to choose a model from a range or receivers that will give you digital surround sound. You will also need a set of speakers for channel surround sound. Do not miss to get a universal remote control too. This is the better option than a remote control extender. It is often hard to find all perfect system included components in one package, so you should definitely find out how to select each one.

2) Get an HDTV television set with high resolution and extra features.

You may have heard that plasma models are better than LCD models in terms of picture quality and this is true. This is reflected in the price as well. Still, both types will give you high-quality TV, movie and game entertainment. The important thing for a television is to have high resolution and extra features, such as HDMI input, computer connectivity options and digital video camera input, to name a few. These are all important for home theatre systems.

3) Get an HD DVD player or a Blu Ray player from a reputable manufacturer.

An HD DVD player must have good progressive scan and scaling capability, but all models from top brands do. Just keep in mind that the future belongs to the A Blu Ray player, so it is better to invest more in such a device from a top brand. Sony, Samsung, Panasonic and Yamaha models are all good choices for home theatre systems. If you find it difficult to choose between the models from these brands, you should base your selection on three major factors. These are color, brightness and sharpness.

4) Choose a receiver with a built-in multi-channel amplifier.

This is the main feature to look in a receiver, but it is not the only one. In general, a multi-channel amplifier will guarantee good-quality surround sound, but you would certainly want to get more. It is best to get a receiver working with a Dolby Digital system. This will guarantee that you will get the best sound, as this system has standard compatibility with all good-quality TVs, DVD and Blu Ray players.

There are two other important factors to consider when choosing between receivers. These are THD (total harmonic distortion) and signal to noise ration. Look for a receiver with THD of 1% or less. In general, get a model with 0.5% THD, if you are ready to make a slightly larger investment. The signal to noise ratio should be no less than 80 Db.

5) Get a set of speakers in line with the number of channels of the amplifier.

You can select from 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 receivers. This means you can get to use 5, 6 or 7 speakers respectively. The number will depend mostly on the room size and its setting. For instance, you will need 7 speakers for a large carpeted room. Do not miss to get a subwoofer as well. You may consider special speaker systems with wireless rear speakers, for instance.

6) Use professional and user reviews to choose home theatre systems.

It is essential for you to check the technical details of the home theatre systems that you consider buying. However, sometimes the difference in these parameters is so small that you wish to see how they actually perform. For instance, if you want to choose between Samsung ln32a450 LCD and Samsung ln46a650 LCD, you should definitely use a review. Similarly, if you get to choose between series iii DVD by Bose and hb954wa wireless Bluray, you would want to get a comparative review.

7) You should shop for home theatre systems at a reputable store.

At a reputable store, you will get individual theater systems consultation. The assistant will consider your theater room design as well as your budget. They will give you theater installation tips and even offer theater installation services.

Now you know how to choose between home theatre systems.

1) Choose a home audio system with at least five speakers.

You want to enjoy the perfect surround sound, especially if you are getting a home theatre speaker system. That is why you need five speaker’s driver units. You need a center channel speaker, two front ones, left and right respectively and two surround speakers. The latter are often called rear speakers, but they can be actually placed at any position around the sitting area so that they produce the best quality surround sound.

Simply put, you have to look for a model with 5.1 system speakers’ configuration. You can readily get a home audio system with six or seven channel speakers instead of five, I you can afford it and it is suitable for your home. In general, a 7.1 system is the top-quality entertainment option, but it is not considerably different from a 5.1 system.

2) Get a system with a subwoofer.

The subwoofer is a must, if you want to get the best sound. The subwoofer driver units are low frequency drivers. Simply put, such a unit will produce low-frequency sounds to give you great entertainment.

The subwoofer must have a good cone power rating. A subwoofer with ribbed elliptical surround system will give you the best possible surround sound experience. The elliptical surround power is higher than that of standard subwoofers, so you will really get the best.

3) Get a home audio system with tweeter speakers to place on living room shelves.

The driver units’ tweeter can be a great solution for smaller and/or more crowded living rooms, as these units are more compact by equally powerful. They are perfect for radios shelf systems. You can even get multi room music with such speakers, if you get ones that are powerful enough.

4) Choose a home audio system with Dolby Digital decoding capability.

Dolby Digital is the audio format that HDTV and DVD use. Basically, with a system that has this capability, you will get the best quality sound, when you connect a TV and/or a DVD player to it. The same applies to connecting a digital music system to the home audio one. It may cost you a bit more to get a model with such a capability, but your investment will certainly pay off in the end.

5) Consider the frequency response of the systems you consider buying.

The frequency response is an important measure. It measures the lowest and the highest possible acoustic wave frequency and the evenness of the production of these frequencies. The measure is usually called watts frequency response because it measures the response when the maximum amount of watts is uses to power it.