Virtual Surround Sound

With the arrival of DVD the interest in Dolby Digital 5.1 and later DTS has increased significantly and with that so has the interest for multi-channel speaker systems. However, not everyone has space or money for a multichannel speaker systems and some who do just don’t want to have speakers all around their space. In this article we will go through what’s required to maximize the benefit of multi-channel soundtracks when using headphones or two speaker systems, with the clear focus being on using the PC as your entertainment center. We will do so by describing the more well known virtual surround sound technologies available.

To allow users only using 2-speakers or headphones to take advantage of the surround channels in DTS and DD 5.1 tracks several products features virtual surround technologies. As the name suggests they try to make it sound like you actually have a couple speakers behind you. How effective this is varies quite a bit and in general the headphone solutions are more impressive than when using 2-speakers, just like 3D audio virtualization for games. This is especially the case for effects being positioned behind you while sound effects to your sides are quite impressive both using headphones and 2-speakers.

Virtual Surround sound should not be mixed up with stereo expansion. While stereo expansion may offer a more immersive sound experience it’s not nearly as impressive as true virtual surround sound. The key difference is that stereo expansion algorithms are not taking advantage of the surround channels but instead, just as the name suggests, expand the sound stage for people that for space reasons have the two front speakers a bit closer together than what’s ideal.