Stupid question

[lazerin]

When something says X channel audio, what does it mean? eg 6 channel.

[BaldHeadedDork]

Not a stupid question at all.

It means how many speakers (not including a seperate subwoofer) are being used. A four-channel system uses four satellite speakers, five has five and so on.

The channels available means nothing about the quality of the sound card or the speakers. A "4.1 computer speaker system" sounds techy, and a six-channel soundcard might seem to have 50% better performance than a four channel card. But all it means is that it either uses four satellite speakers plus a sub, or it can use six speakers plus a sub. Channel specs in speakers or soundcards has nothing to do with power or audio quality.

And while 4.1 (or greater) speaker systems and six-channel cards are becoming the norm, there are relatively few applications that can take advantage of having extra speakers. Surround sound and positional audio depends on programming in the movie or game-not the speaker hardware.

In everything else (like music) it takes a lot of work to position the rear channel speakers where they will not decrease the overall sound quality.


BHD

[lazerin]

So if my mobo has 6 channel audio, that means it can support 6 satellites and no subs?

[GravY]

Damn that was stupid.. J/k :)

[lazerin]

dont make me come over and smack u!

[GravY]

*runs for cover*

[BaldHeadedDork]

Originally posted by lazerin
So if my mobo has 6 channel audio, that means it can support 6 satellites and no subs?

No, it'll support a sub. They just don't count the sub as a channel.


BHD

[james.miller]

6 channel = 5.1 = 5 MAIN channels and 1 sub
if it wasnt counted as a channel it would be advertised as 5 channel

[lazerin]

ok, thx